“Any word from my sister about the strange writing and symbols found in the human’s quarters?”
“I'm afraid not Princess Luna. The writing appears to be in a cypher our cryptologists can’t translate, and the symbols still baffle our arcane researchers.”
Luna sighed as she surveyed the group under her command. After meeting up with Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony they had insisted they help her find the rouge human.
Where could he be? He always acted so foolish I never imagined he was this devious.
“Your majesty.”
Luna turned back to the courier from Canterlot.
“Yes?”
“Did you hear the last part of my message?”
“No. I'm sorry, I was deep in thought.”
“I said that we found wax figurines of ponies and humans hidden around his room. We believe that the symbols and the dolls are linked together. It is the Princess’s suspicion that the reason he escaped and has caused this much destruction is some twisted form of blood magic.”
“Blood magic?! Such vile and evil magics were destroyed long before Sombra himself first came to power.”
“That's not all. The squadron of guards we had in the Whitetail Woods vanished without a trace last week. So far not a single pony has been found.”
Luna grit her teeth in frustration.
“Anything else?”
“No your majesty.”
“Very well, tell my sister I shall continue the search.”
The pegasus nodded before taking flight, leaving the lunar princess to her thoughts.
“Luna? Is everything alright.”
Luna turned to the voice and saw that Twilight and her friends were making their way towards her.
“I'm afraid not Twilight Sparkle.”
“What’s tha matter sugar cube?”
“The human we are tracking appears to be far more devious and dangerous than we originally thought. Not only did he fool all of us into complacency with his brainless act, but we have reason to believe he is practicing powerful blood magic to destroy those who oppose him.”
“Blood magic? What's that? I've never heard of it and I've read every book on the various schools of magic!”
“It is dangerous magic that requires the blood of a living soul to power. Many ponies found a way around the blood price by using the blood of innocents rather than their own. It was such a barbaric and cruel magic my sister and I stamped it out long ago. The most dangerous part of blood magic is that anypony can use it, not just unicorns.”
Rainbow Dash cut in with a wave of her hoof.
“Wait a minute, you're saying that there's magic that non-unicorns can use!? Like, actually magic that I could use. ‘Cause I'm already the best flyer in Equestria, but if that's the case than I could be the best pegasus in Equestria because I'd know magic!”
“If only it were that simple. It's not so harmless as it sounds. Each ritual requires a sacrifice of blood, but not just a small amount. An entire body is required in order to fuel even the most basic of spells, and the magic itself twists the caster, making them cruel and vicious.”
“So...I'm assuming that I don't want to learn how to do that.”
Fluttershy spoke in a trembling voice.
“M-maybe if you described the human we'd have an easier time looking for him. I mean, if that's okay with you.”
“He has pale skin and a mane that is a cross between brown and yellow. Other than that, I don't know. I never really spent any time near him. If only Orchid and Doctor Carefull Observer had not been lost with the patrol in the Whitetail Woods we might have a chance. They were very friendly to him and learned much about him.”
“Wait, THE Doctor Carefull Observer!? The one who proposed the thesis about the internal cloud causing pegasi to be able to cloud walk!?”
Luna nodded sadly.
“B-but, if she was studying him, she should have left some notes. She was a master organizer!”
“I’m afraid not Twilight Sparkle. She brought all her notes with her to study the remains of the human camp. Jack truly was a genius to destroy the two ponies who knew him enough to possibly predict his movements.”
The mane six all exchanged worried looks only for Fluttershy to speak up.
“B-but if he killed the ponies who considered him a friend, why'd he save my life?”
“Wait, WHAT?” Rainbow Dash yelled.
“Yes Miss Fluttershy, I am most curious to hear this.”
“W-well, I was s-sitting at home and all of the sudden a human runs through the door. He slammed it shut and sat there for a bit before he turned and saw me. W-well, I was really scared but... um, he looked scared too. Then everything went black and... I only remember waking up to him doing CPR on me. He started freaking out saying ‘You're alive!’ and stuff like that. He told me I had died and... and then I fainted.”
Luna turned her back to the six mares and mumbled,
“What could this mean?”
Pinkie sidled up to Rainbow and whispered,
“It means he obviously has a crush on Fluttershy. I mean, why else would he be so quick to kiss her?”
Rainbow Dash toppled to the ground laughing as a guard approached Luna.
“Your majesty, we are beginning to run short of supplies. I suggest picking more up in the nearby town of Featherborrow before moving deeper into the forest.”
“Yes, that sounds feasible. Alright, at dawn tomorrow we shall make for Featherborrow. I just hope that today's scheduled storm doesn't make the road too muddy.”