//------------------------------// // Pony and Dog Show, epilogue 3 // Story: Twilight gets a Puppy // by TDR //------------------------------// Twilight Gets a Puppy By TDR Pony and Dog Show, epilogue 3 [Some where in Ponyville] Panic. That was the only emotion she was getting from any of her kind that were still in the town. The taste was bitter and acidic, almost painful to feed on, but the feeling was strong and even a bitter meal was better than none. Only just. Most had fled to a fall back point in the Everfree, an old hive near the Castle of Whinnyshire, a hive long ago abandoned when the castle was. “Mother answer.” the female repeated in hushed whispers as she shook the mirror with her hooves. The crystal mirror finally flickered to light showing a dark silhouette on the other side. “ This had better be important child.” “Mother she killed them.” “What?” “The Diamond Dogs, one of the packs outside of town they are all dead!” “Good one less hassle for us in the town.” “No mother you do not understand. The Nightmare killed them all at once as if she was swatting a group of flies. “Saturnia snapped. “She filled the warren, took all of their gems and left their bodies to rot as if it was nothing to her. The scout I had watching the pack is having a break down and I cannot see how I blame him. She does not have the same code of conduct as Celestia has. THIS is what you wish us to face?” “Why?” was the only response after a few moments. “Why?” “Why did she kill them? What was her reasoning. I do not see that Celestia would let her loose like that unless there was a reason.” Saturnia blinked and tried to calm down a bit more“ The Sparkles... the dogs, they took him, stole him away to their warren and she went after them. All three of the prime targets went after him, but the Nightmare stayed and destroyed them.” “The pink one is there?” “Yes, but you are not listening how can we fight that......” “Saturnia silence.” The panicked female stopped swallowing hard. Her mothers tone had not been angry, but it was a tone that demanded obedience. “My plan has not changed. We will do as planned and take them out one at a time. Separate them. At full power I am a match for them one on one. Stay calm. Continue your observations and do not antagonize that family. Their connections clearly make them far more dangerous that I thought and provoking them early could ruin everything. We wait for our chance and then we take it.” the figure in the mirror said simply. “Do not fret it is unbecoming of a future hive mother.” “Yes.... I am sorry mother.” “It is fine child. This is the sort of information I have tasked you to gather. Information on the new goddess is always good, though it pains me to see she does not have the same hang ups as her sister. The plan may need adjusting, but it shall not be stopped. Continue your observation, though use more caution now. The ponies will likely be on high alert for some time. Once I have taken over there should be nothing stopping you from claiming the secondary targets. Though perhaps it would be good to make sure they do not show up in Canterlot when the time is right.” “Yes mother.” The mirror went out and Saturnia sighed. Her chance to become queen of her own hive was looking slimmer and slimmer as time progressed. But if her mother succeeded then the chance she would increased greatly. If a pack wanted him there was likely more to the one she had chosen to give her her first clutch than she had thought. She gripped her long pink mane in her hooves twisting it lightly, a bad habit, but one she fell into when stressed. For now she needed to work harder on ensuring no one would find out about the plan before it was too late. A black stone monument stood in the middle of a rocky field. Various scrub bushes dotted the area but anything of any real height or durability was cleared away by the former inhabitants leaving a rocky wasteland. <”Blood.”> The words were spoken softly, nearly unheard as if they were little more than faint breeze rustled in the leaves of a tree. And even if anything was around to hear the words, only a hoof full of those alive would even understand the words. <”Blood.”> There was a crack that resounded through the air though no clear source could be seen. <”Blood.”> The voice was louder now and it sounded like many voices rather than just a single one. Another loud crack sounded though it seemed closer to the monument now though still from an unidentifiable source. <”Blood.”> Another crack as a rock near the monument split, small shards of stone erupting from it falling to the dirt, burrowing into it. There was silence for a few moments as little puffs of dirt were flung up from the holes as the rock shards sank into the dirt. There was a sudden cry as the muted voices that had been speaking suddenly roared out in a great chorus that sent the few birds that lived in the scrub land to wing. <”DEATH!”> The wind over the scrub land picked up immensely, dozens of small whirl winds forming and played over the ground, kicking up dust around the monument. One of them whirled close to the black obelisk, dissipating with a flash as it touched the black stone. The other whirlwinds pulled away from the stone watching as the one that had dissipated, slowly began to spin back up pulling away from the stone. <”It is her.”> A single voice stated. <”She lives!”> The multitude chimed in. The whirlwinds suddenly sped away from the monument heading to the edges of the scrub lands leaving only the one that had faded to do so again leaving the area free of even a small breeze. Rocks splintered suddenly around the monolith with echoing cracks. The shards falling to the sands and burrowed into the soil around the obelisk at various points, Points which mirrored the locations of the great hall and other highly populated areas of the former warren. A short time later the whirl winds returned, small objects spinning fast in the tight vortexes. The objects were carried over the small holes made by the burrowing rocks and dropped into them, the zephyrs covering them up with loose soil once the hole had been filled. <”Now?”> A single hesitant voice asked <”Wait. Grow. Strike.”> Another answered as if it was taking charge. Seemingly the one that had first touched the obelisk. <” BLOOD!”> The other voices chorused before everything went silent once more, the dust devils fading into nothing. One of the objects that had been dropped down the hole clattered to the ground as the dust devils faded a spot not found for it. The simple oak seed rested on the dirt, unplanted.