Reaper

by CherryTune

Ch. 4 Searching

Celestia and Luna carry Twilight to her chambers in Twilights castle. “Take good care of her Starlight.” Celestia says softly.

“I will Princess Celestia.” Starlight replied.

“You too Spike, she’s going to need you the most during her time of grievance.” Celestia said while Spike reveals himself around the bedroom door frame.

“Is she going to be okay?” Spike asked.

“So long as she has you and Starlight she’ll be ok. Though it might take time.” Luna said.

“We must get back to finding Reaper.” Celestia said. “If he is even a fraction as powerful as the six spirits we faced then Equestria is in danger.” She continued.

They say their goodbyes to Spike and Starlight and head to Canterlot. “Our scouts have come up empty in Equestria.” Luna said. “We might have to send a special force beyond the badlands” she continued.

“I agree. It’s time we send a small scout team to Klugetown and see if they can find any indication of Reaper.” Celestia said. “I’ll send my day shift liaison Sunny Side and two of her best investigators and you can send your night shift liaison Nightfall and two of your best guard.” She continued.

“Yes sister, that’ll grant coverage during the night and day.” Luna said. “I know just the two I am going to pick.” She continued and flew off.

Luna rests while Celestia calls on Sunny Side to explain her mission. Sunny Side is a light tan earth pony with a bright yellow mane-hawk and yellow tail. She’s the liaison between day operations and night operations. Sunny Side enters the throne room to respond to Celestia's summons. “Princess Celestia, I am reporting as ordered.” Sunny said sharply.

“Please Sunny Side, no need to be so formal.” Celestia said. “Though this is a serious matter, please be relaxed.” She continued.

“Yes Ma’am, of course.” Sunny replied still rigid in posture.

“Right! You and two others from the day guard are headed to the badlands to seek out signs of Reaper. You and an additional two investigators will head out with Nightfall and two of his accompanying guard. You’ll set out at sunset after you’ve met up with the other team.” Celestia said.

“Of course princess!” Sunny replied. “Ma’am. I have one question.” She continued.

“Yes?” Celestia said.

“My little sister and I run a Barn and Stable in Ponyville. When I go who’s going to take care of her?” Sunny asked.

“I see, and as the day and night liaisons are new positions due the reinstatement of Luna's guard there’s no one else that can go in your stead.” Celestia said. “I can show you to our guard assistants program and they will help with your sister.” She continued. Celestia points Sunny in the direction of the agency.

Sunny arrives at the agency, goes in removing her helmet, and approaches the clerk pony saying “Hello?”

“Oh hey dear how can I help you?” the clerk asks. Sunny explains the situation and the clerk pony responds quickly and efficiently, “I know of an ex-guard pegasus who was part of the Wonder bolts reserves. She’s now a very prominent dancer here in Canterlot but is currently seeking employment through our agency due to the harsh conditions caused by recent magical disturbances caused by the defeat of Torment.”

“Okay….” Sunny says.

“Oh you’ll like her she baby sits for me every now and then. Delightful young mare. And very trustworthy!” the clerk pony said. “Her name is Promenade and she’s a wonder with children and she’s super smart so she’ll be able to run your Barn and Stable while you are gone. Don’t worry all your bits will go to you on your return as this agency pays the salaries of our workers! Sign here.” She continued.

Sunny signed the contract and was given the rest of the day to meet with Promenade and talk to her little sister Meryl about the deployment.

Luna woke up to lower the moon just as Celestia was setting the Sun. Celestia informed Luna that the two teams would be setting out tonight and that Luna will have to conduct the briefing for the departing group. Cherry Tune, Moonlet, and Nightfall met up with Sunny Side, Bulldoze a rather large and uncharacteristically strong unicorn, and Sunspot a petite but agile and witty Pegasus. Luna filled them in on their mission.

Luna greeted the six and explained, “You are going to set up a working headquarters in Klugetown. There we have a rather resourceful ally named Capper. He’ll receive word of your arrival before you get there but be sure to keep a low profile as ponies don’t normally travel that far and if you’re in too large of a group you could tip off Reaper of our intentions.”

Luna bid Cherry and Moonlet farewell and the six were off. They took the train half way to their destination and over a couple days walked through the desert toward Klugetown. At the edge of the city they formulate a plan to go in and meet Capper in groups of two. Cherry and Sunny went in first, and after a few moments Bulldoze and Moonlet, lastly Nightfall and Sunspot. The groups had ample time to get to know each other and the team dynamic was shaky at first but came together by the time they arrived.

Cherry and Sunny meet Capper and he takes them to the airship port headquarters where Capper and a group of ex-pirates were fighting off brigands who had been increasing their raids. “Cherry Tune, Sunny Side, meet captain Celeano and her crew.” Capper said.

“Hey there little ponies! I am glad to see you here!” Celeano said. “Though I had hoped to see Princess Twilight and her friends, I still feel good that Celestia sent her guard to help us out.” She continued. Cherry and Sunny look at each other and then back at Capper and Celeano.

“Haven’t you heard?” Cherry Tune asked.

“Heard what?” Capper replied.

“Twilight has been… out of commission for many days now.” Sunny said. “And her friends... they are…” Sunny paused.

“They won’t be coming.” Bulldoze said while he and Moonlet were being escorted into the meeting by one of Cappers helpers. “The great heroes gave their lives to protect all of Equestria during the battle at Torments edge. Only Twilight survived out of the six of them.” He continued.

“That can’t be.” Celeano said.

“It’s true.” Nightfall said entering the room with Sunspot. “The six of us, and many thousands more were there when the fate of the Equestria, arguably the world, was threatened by the release of the dark spirits. We all witnessed as they carted off the elements of harmonies stone bodies.”

“Boy you two certainly have a way of breaking bad news to creatures.” Moonlet said.

They worked out the details to their lodgings and place of work. The day shift would send Bulldoze and Sunspot out to search for clues while Sunny compiled the reports and organized work for Capper and Celeano. Sunny would then brief Nightfall on their findings and leads before Cherry and Moonlet worked the night looking for and investigating information.

Meanwhile Capper and Celeano would continue their operations fed by the reports from Sunny and Nightfall. Capper and Celeano had become a sort of law enforcement in Klugetown. Standing up to outside disturbances while keeping the piece in the city. The dynamics in town started changing after Twilights visit and the creatures inside began to look out for one another without a quid pro quo mentality.

However when the brigands, who normally kept to themselves since Storm Kings rule, started blatantly creature-napping during all hours of the day and night. Those taken are never seen again. The Equestrian guards, along with Capper and Celeano build lasting relations between Klugetown and Equestria over their period of time working together. Each week they’d send Celestia and Luna a report detailing the lifestyle and leads for Reaper.

Many moons go by and the team trace back the origins of the hordes to an ancient castle that has since been occupied by the bandits and renamed Sand Dune. Though no creature knows when Sand Dune suddenly became more aggressive they do say the creatures that are brigands are no longer as they were before. Rumors spread of zombies and others speculated sand golems.

One evening just after sunset the six ponies were gathering for a briefing outside the city limits about a confirmed report of Reaper. The survivor described the sighting as their airship flew nearby the ancient castle. A fireball shot out from a hole in the castles roof and struck their balloon. The only one to get away was the hippogriff telling them the story who says he witnessed a large smoke like figure walking the castle perimeter.

During the meeting a large group of brigands who had followed the hippogriff, ambush the group. Moonlet and Bulldozer pulled their spears from their packs and began fending off the offenders. Cherry and Sunspot took to the air and started striking the horde with their spears from above. Sunny and Nightfall protected the hippogriff and bucked the advancing renegades.

The hordes size grew in numbers and the seven began to fall back to the city. Moonlet gets overwhelmed and is grabbed by the horde, Bulldoze and Sunspot rush in to try and save her but they eventually get swarmed and dragged away. Cherry, Sunny, and Nightfall, push the hippogriff towards the city and they begin to flee. Celeano and her crew were patrolling the night sky when they see the skirmish.