//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: Through the soul of friendship // by ShieldStar //------------------------------// Through the soul of friendship Fanfication by Shield Star 18 The guard led Reed to the princesses’ study where both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were waiting for him, the guard bowed and left. The princesses looked up from the report that they had been reading. “Reed, good you’re here, we were hoping you could take a look at this.” Celestia said levitating the paper over to him. “We thought to send for the elements, but wanted to be sure…” Reed was about to ask about what as he took the report, but as soon as he touched it images flooded in to him and he quickly dropped it in surprise. “Sorry,” Reed said shaking his head to clear it, and bending to pick up the report, but Luna’s magic beat him to it. “I have been wondering, can you read our writing?” Reed was taken a back, as he realized that he in fact could not. “Now that I think about it, no I can’t.” Luna nodded, then read the report out. “Report, urgent, Ponies from the newly settled town of whitetail, have recently fled into the seaside town of Tall Tale. Where the refugees reported a storm of unnatural power bringing ruin to their town and a never before seen creatures of shadow that attacked. There were also reports of changelings but these were vague and uncertain. Tall Tale requests a small group of guards be sent to investigate.” There was a pause. “What are your thoughts? Could this be Solus?” Celestia asked silently worried. “I think that there is a small chance that it is, but these changelings. Mixed with the storm, perhaps, and most likely, not. Either way is sounds like a problem.” “You’re probably right, but what if it is?” “Well the group I’ve been working with would be, in my opinion, best to check it out, may be leave a few here so they can help train the next group? How did you defeat the changelings last time?” “The rulers of the crystal empire repelled them, but the elements of harmony would have worked if we had not been taken by surprise.” “Okay, I would send a small group of guards to investigate, and leading from their report, either send the elements against the changelings with additional guards or as many troops and myself to combat the threat of Solus.” The Princesses looked thoughtful for a moment. “We will think on this, until our decision, you are dismissed.” Reed bowed and left to return to his guards in training. Two days later Twilight, sat at sugar cube corner listening to pinkie pie tell a group of foals a story. “Hey twilight, are you okay?” Twilight jumped a little and turned to see spike munching on a cupcake. “Oh spike, yeah, I’ve just been, well I just can’t,” “Twilight darling, just go ahead and say it already, clearly your head over hooves of that guard that saved you and Fluttershy when you met Reed.” Rarity said sitting next to twilight sipping from her cup of punch. “What?! Now that’s not, that’s completely ludicrous. I was thinking about, well Reed.” “Reed?! Now darling I had no idea you had such interests.” “Rarity! Please, you’ve got it all wrong. I was thinking about Reed’s magic and what he said about, Solus” Twilight shuddered at the name. “What’s Solus? And who’s Reed?” Spiked asked. “Shh, don’t say it so loud Spike. It is pure evil taken form and it’s been chasing after Reed for a long time. Trying to take over his body and destroy everything in its path.” “But who is he and why him?” “Reed is a human, and it doesn’t have to be him, except that Reed can with stand ITS presence and not be destroyed in a few hours or days.” “What do you mean, Not be destroyed in a few days?” Before Twilight could answer a mint colored unicorn mare zoomed up to Twilight. “You said there was a human here! Where is it!” the mare crashed in to Twilight. “Lyra!” Twilight exclaimed falling over. “He is in Canterlot, how do you know about humans?” but before Twilight finish her question Lyra was gone. “That Mare is a random as pinkie when it comes to humans.” Rarity said helping twilight up. “So what’s special about This Reed again?” spike ask lending a hand. “When we were in canterlot I was posseted but this evil, but Reed managed to drive it out and contain it. But I would have died it Reed didn’t save me. This thing feed off everything good, then off the life force of its host. For some reason Reed is resistant to it.” Spike let out a burp of magical smoke and a letter formed and dropped in from of the group.Twilight picked it up and read it, her eyes widened the farther she read. “Rarity gather the girls we are need in canterlot right away. Spike send a letter saying we are on our way.” “What is it Twilight, what’s wrong darling?” “The letter didn’t say, only to come ASAP and bring the elements. Rarity I’ll meet you all at the train station, in fifteen minutes.” Seventeen minutes later the elements and their bearers were speeding their way to Canterlot yet again. Meanwhile somewhere in between Tall tale and the ruins of Whitetail a small squad of ponies, mostly consisting of the group reed had trained, were investigating the report from a few days ago. Flash Post had sent a report of the ruins and requested that additional guards and the elements be sent. Believing that the destruction was caused by Changelings. Steadfast and a few of the others had gone in to the ruined town earlier that day and had yet to return. Night Watch was looking through a telescope down at the ruins from the ridge they were camped on. The skies above the town had a few dark clouds, but this was most likely from the unchecked whether blowing in from the west. Although Night Watch thought the color of the occasional lightning flash was off, maybe a bit more red than was normal. She made a note of it and continued to scan the town ruins. The storm raged on and nothing significant happened for Night Watch’s shift, her replacement’s shift and soon it was her turn again. Fifteen minutes in to her shift and through her telescope Night Watch saw a building that was still barely standing collapse revealing a group of shadows. Night Watch couldn’t tell who it was due the thick cloud of dust from the collapse. The shadows move down a side street and out of sight again. Lightning cracked over head as Night Watch made notes of the fallen building. A curl of blue smoke made its way over to Night Watch before forming a message bubble. “Steadfast reporting in, no sign of any hostels, storm continues to persist, few buildings left standing. End report.” The bubble then popped. Night Watch formed her own message bubble, “Report received, Night Watch inquiry, are you alright? That building nearly fell on you and your group. End Inquiry.” Night Watch watched her message zoom off in a green trail of smoke. But she didn’t have to wait long before a blue smoke bubble formed. “Steadfast report and inquiry, we are a little wet but fine. What building? End report and inquiry.” Night Watch snatched up her telescope and pointed it at the fallen building. There was no sign of any movement. Night Watch formed another bubble, and dropping all formality, “What is your current location? End.” She followed the puff of smoke with her spy glass, down to the town before it turn to the far end of the ruins. Far away from the fallen building. “Steadfast report, far end of town near the bakery. End report.” Night Watch immediately shot off another bubble. “Are there any other groups assigned to the ruins? End.” “Steadfast report, Negative. End report.”The Bubbles zoomed back and forth. “Night Watch Report, Possible hostels spotted on the far edge of town. Last seen near the now fallen dress maker’s shop. Group was large and employing stealth, recommend extreme caution. End” “Steadfast Report, Message received, possible movement ahead. Will investigate End-“ “Hostels in bound!” “Form up!” “Ambush!” “Requested reinforcements, hostels are not Changelings. I Repeat Hostels are NOT Changelings! End message!” Before Night Watch could Rush to send reinforcements there was a bone chilling howl. Night Watch Raced to the command tent. “Night Watch reporting in, Recon Group Steadfast is under attack, requested support effective immediately. Hostels reported and not Changelings.” The tent scrabbled to comply, and Flash Post, quickly sent a report to the Princesses. Another Howl tore through the camp and a trail of green smoke zoom to Canterlot. The Train pulled in to The Tall Tale Station just before sunset and the six friends disembarked. Before finding the small inn, they were told to report to. “What a quaint little village.” Rarity said as the group unpack the few things they brought. The inn had rooms enough for a small barracks of royal guard. This was achieved by having three rooms that could sleep up to seven each, and a few smaller rooms that slept the normal two to four. “Ah’ll Say. Hey Twi, Why again did the princess send us all the way out yonder?” Applejack ask. “We were sent here to befriend and if failing that confront possible Changeling sightings.” Twilight responded. “Oh my, I do hope befriends works.” Fluttershy worried. “Don’t worry Flutters, if things gone topsy terby I’ll protect you.” Pinkie pie bounced. “Yeah, I would love to bash those creeps head’s again.” Rainbow Dash said brashly. “Remember Rainbow, only if we have to, and besides if things to get stressed we have the elements of harmony, to banish them again.” Twilight said. “Well ah don’t know ‘bout you all but ah’m gonna hit the hay. That fancy dinner that here train plum tuckered me out.” Applejack said yawning. “Good idea AJ, we all need to sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow.” Twilight agreed. “Ahhh but I’m not even the tincey wincey bit slee- *Snore*.” Pinkie pie said bouncing on the bed, before promptly falling asleep. The other chuckled at the pink mare’s antics before they too made their way over to their respective bed and fell asleep. Fluttershy was the last to fall asleep, but before she did she thought she heard a howl in the far distance. But before her mind could wake her up again, she was also fast asleep.