//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: The Filly Without a Name // by Scribble Script //------------------------------// Chapter 10 - THE DAY BEFORE FULL MOON The name Discord made certainly different impressions on each of them: For Firefly it bore no meaning whatsoever, and neither did it for Dawn (and also for Cloud Dash, she said). As far as he was concerned, this name had crossed Sliderule’s path at least once, but it had been not much more than an ominous hoofnote in one of the old hoofwritten spellbooks. Silver Blaze on the other hoof, who once had been reasonably close with the royal court, recalled having heard or read the name on several occasions during his study and training in Canterlot. It had always given him quite the bad premonition, although he knew no details. Discord was one of those things all kept silent about, of which at best they whispered, but that was never spoken about openly. Much like the real cause of death of Princess Celestia’s younger sister, Princess Luna, Silver Blaze thought. Nightshade was the only one who understood the full scope of his own suspicion, and he was aware of that. In fact, he was of the opinion to know Discord’s story better than anypony else, maybe except for the demon himself. However, after being surprisingly talkative this morning, the moment Discord’s name had come over his lips he was all buttoned up, kept what he knew to himself and wasn’t willing to share his knowledge anymore. He only told them this much, that Discord was supposed to be dead and cold as a rock, because he had actually been turned into one. But obviously, as Silver Blaze pointedly mentioned, this Discord chap did not let himself be stopped by such trivialities as being dead. It was quite clear that the swordstallion disagreed with the way Nightshade was tackling the issue. He could see at least a vague outline of the problem and was annoyed that he was still left in the dark – or perhaps was left in the dark for that very reason even, as he straight-forwardly told Nightshade. The sorcerer was wondering whether the captain-off-duty maybe distrusted him, because he was coming from Canterlot; after all, he hadn't been particularly fond of the capital lately. But even more importantly, Nightshade wondered whether Silver Blaze himself could be trusted. To Nightshade, he was a strange character he couldn’t quite range in, both older and younger than he should have been: Physically, he had barely grown older (if he had grown older at all, that was hard to tell), but he was neither the idealistic young stallion anymore, he had been when they first had met. He was more cautious in his actions, more secretive in his motives, and he was downright disillusioned with the conditions in Equestria. That was no wonder, because Nightshade had heard that Silver had met every deplorable state of affairs in Equestria that one could meet, after some resentful members of High Council had made sure he was transferred to the outskirts of Equestria. Especially the north of the country was wide and wild, few ponies lived here on wide space. Canterlot was far away and without the trading centre of the north, the city of Stonehaven, which had been destroyed sixteen years ago, the small villages and towns were suddenly left all on their own again. Nature was still largely untamed here and therefore live became harsher and more dangerous, a problem which the High Court simply seemed unable to get under control. Well, it probably was understandable why Silver Blaze eventually had asked for a garden leave in the end: One could well resign a little if they had to fight fires at all corners and ends and only had a single bucket of water to do so. In a manner of speaking… However, Silver Blaze had taken commitments to several parties here, despite his leave, and it was still unclear to Nightshade what promise he would feel most bound by. For the time being, though, he expressed his will to help, even if he disagreed with the sorcerer’s secrecy. And to Nightshade, that was sufficing, at least for the moment. “All those who serve the good of Equestria in their own way shall stand united”, Silver Blaze said. “These words are not my own, as ye may recall, Master Nightshade. It was Her Majesty who spoke so in the High Council. I have her trust (or at least I hope so), as well as ye do. So, against all common sense… I will also trust you.” He sighed. “What is the plan, Master Nightshade?” “Your help is indeed invaluable”, the sorcerer explained. “Your knowledge about the town and its surroundings will come in quite handy. And I believe you can also help me with the biggest uncertainty in my plan: Calm Mind. I think not that she is directly under the Discord’s control, she seems not the kind to be bewitched so easily. If she decides to take action against us, if we have to waste time dealing with her, it can only help Discord. I know not if he considers Calm Mind in his plan, or if he has a plan at all for that matter, but there is a connection between her work and Discord’s sudden interest to kill Dawn. That connection is undoubtedly Cloud Dash, though I still fail to see why or how. If there is one pony that can gain her trust, it will be you, Silver Blaze. Maybe we can avoid a confrontation with her, but she's a capable magician and I would rather find a way to get her on our side, and be it only to find out what she knows or suspects." Again, he didn’t tell them, didn’t tell them why he wanted to know the whole picture. He didn’t say that one could never be too prepared when dealing with Discord who had a-thousand-and-one tricks up his sleeve. The reason was easy: Sometimes, ignorance could also be a blessing; Discord was powerful, even his bodyless presence was powerful, but fear had always been his most reliable ally. Fear made it so much easier to sow disharmony and hatred, and after all, that was exactly what Discord stood for… **** As far as Nightshade's plan was concerned, he wanted to confront Discord while Celestia's star of the day kept his malicious illusions away. Although he could feel his presence or something he took for his presence all over town, it was kind of unclear and distorted. The only place where he had felt Discord clearly, was at the sanatorium, namely on the closed ward. They went back to the House of Healing all together, even if it almost exceeded Dawn’s strength to return to that place. She asserted that she (and Cloud) wanted to see this all done just as much as everyone else, but as soon as she set her first hoof out of the house, she began to tremble all over. Firefly felt sorry for her. She wasn’t exactly alright with returning to the sanatorium either, but she didn’t dare to imagine how bad it had to be for the filly. Hadn’t she promised to keep Dawn away from that blasted madhouse? Now she felt like she was betraying her. “Captain Blaze, sir?” she tried to address Silver Blaze in a way the others wouldn’t listen in. “Is it really necessary to drag her back to the sanatorium. Y’know, I’ve given her a promise…” The captain gave her that smile with which he so often seemed to look at others, a smile between curiousness, amusement and slight ridicule. “Well, what did ye promise her then?”, he wanted to know. Firefly’s self-confidence had obviously suffered as much from last night's experiences as her uniform, and just as she had left the worn and muddy garment in Doctor Ragstitch's house, her cheekiness seemed to have stayed there, too. She had to fairly pull herself together to give Silver Blaze an answer; the promise now sounded so silly, because Firefly had realised how much it exceeded her powers to keep it: “I’ve promised nopony would hurt her anymore.” Silver Blaze didn’t reply, and his smile stood the same although it became a little forced. His only reaction was a barely visible nod, then he left her suddenly and quickened his pace to catch up with Nightshade. “Dawn should not need to enter the sanatorium, that is my opinion”, he said to him as naturally as if he were continuing a previous conversation. “I see”, Nightshade said, pondering. “Indeed, it might complicate things unnecessarily if we bring her with us. After all, he has already tried to kill her.” Silver Blaze turned back to Firefly and gave her a nod. Satisfied? he seemed to ask. However, her astonishment was overshadowed by her discomfort, because now at the latest it was quite obvious who Nightshade intended to visit in the house of healing. The prospect of meeting the insane physician Herbal Green again was something Firefly was even less alright with than returning to the hospital, even more should a powerful demonic force be responsible for his frenzy. There was no question that the filly was never to come near him again. Actually, not even Silver Blaze seemed alright with meeting him again. Nightshade did offer to talk to Herbal Green alone, but Silver Blaze didn't wouldn’t allow it, either. Even if he wasn't comfortable, at least he wanted to go with Nightshade, let alone because it was all but sure that Green was willing to talk to him in the first place. Whether the sorcerer believed him, however, was not quite clear. Firefly for her part felt more that if he didn't have the last word on the matter, at least he didn't want to be left out. Now, Firefly didn’t want to be left out either, the case had become personal in more than one way and at this point her defiance alone was enough to make herself hang in, and if only to regain her self-confidence. She decided to accompany Blaze and Nightshade, come what may. Dawn on the other hoof was visibly relieved that she wasn’t forced to enter the sinister building of the sanatorium again and could stay in the tranquil garden instead. It fell to Sliderule to take care of Dawn, even though he didn't seem too enthusiastic about it. At this point, the first bad news of today were delivered by Doctor Ragstitch, who passed them by in the garden. He was pretty worried because Calm Mind wasn’t in her rooms; in fact, nopony had seen her for the last two days. Considering the fact that the mare could plan Celestia-knows-what, Ragstitch agreed to watch of Dawn, too, although they all had mixed feelings about what unknown perils they might have to face now again. At least Dawn was content, she couldn’t remember Calm Mind and wasn’t keen on refreshing this acquaintance either. It couldn’t be helped, anyway. Calm Mind was absent and there was no way to find out where she was and what she was doing. All the more important, Nightshade said, that they they now took their only actions as quick as possible. Without further ado, he went for the closed ward, accompanied by Silver Blaze and, now even more reluctantly, by Firefly. She had the distinct feeling her temper was once again getting her in trouble. **** Herbal Green had stuck his front hooves through the bars of his door. They were stained red with paint. It looked like he had dipped them into a puddle of blood. “ ‘eaven and ‘ell, what do we ‘ave ‘ere?” Herbal Green’s voice was dripping with malicious satisfaction. “The ‘eroes have returned. ‘ave ya solved the riddles yet? No, no surely not. You surely still ‘re clueless, aren’t you?” He threw himself against the door with astonishing force, his hooves trembled as if he couldn’t wait to wrap his legs around their necks. Firefly took a hasty step backwards although they already were out of Herbal Green’s reach, but Nightshade and Silver Blaze stood seemingly unmoved. “Painting colours?”, the dark unicorn asked conversationally, frankly ignoring Herbal Green throwing a fit. “He had no such things when I last saw him.” Silver Blaze replied in the same manner. “Yes, that was my idea”, he said. “I can ‘ear you, ya kna?”, Herbal Green barged in; he didn’t sound very amused. “All could feel, and see for that matter, that he was getting more and more aggressive during the last month”, Blaze continued, still ignoring the madpony. “The nurses were getting worried he might attack them. He has proven his murderous intentions more than once. I thought maybe he should be able to reduce his aggression somehow. In a way that cannot hurt anypony. And maybe we would be able to see what is going on in his sick mind.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You really are wasting your talent and intelligence as a soldier, Silver, but I have told you that before.” “QUIT IGNORING ME, YOU IMBECILES, OR I WILL SNAP YOUR NECKS!” Herbal Green roared. He had eventually lost it. “AT ONCE TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME!” Although Firefly feared a little that the madpony’s fury would be hot enough to make the iron bars melt, she realized how skilful the Nightshade had arranged that: Of all the everchanging moods of Herbal Green, he produced the least enigmatic answers when he was snapping, Firefly had experienced it herself. If Herbal Green was free, he probably would have tried to kill them all, but at least they had his full attention know. She had barely time to finish this thought, when Nightshade sprung into full action. With a flash and loud bang, Herbal Green was thrown back from the door. The signs engrave in the cell’s ceiling prevented the inmate from performing any magic, but they didn’t protect Herbal from magic casted outside. The door lock cracked and the door sprung open, Nightshade stepped into the doorframe. Firefly tried to stop him, but Silver Blaze held her back. He said nothing but just shook head. He was looking very worried. Indeed, it would have been no good idea to get in Nightshade’s way. With his horn burning bright like a magnesium torch he radiated an incredible power. He was frightening. Not even in possession of his full magic would Herbal Green haven been a match for him. “Discord”, he simply said. “Where is he?” It wasn’t a question but an order to tell him immediately. Herbal Green didn’t stay unaffected. He laughed, but it sounded a bit pitiful and he retreated to the back wall of his cell before Nightshade. “ ‘e’s everywhere”, Herbal Green spat at him, his back pressed against the wall. “I can feel Discord’s presence on you, Herbal Green.”, Nightshade growled, not at all satisfied with the answer. “I must talk to him.” The expression on Green’s face became somewhat chased. The sorcerer looked like a spirit of vengeance. The red gem of his necklace burned on his chest and his blinding light spell illuminated the red hell Herbal Green had turned his cell into with his paintings. The madpony grinded his teeth. He rolled his eyes so he could see the picture behind his back. It was a painting of black, serpentine body wrapped around a towerlike building with a red outline. However, the whole picture was crowned by a pair of giant evil, red eyes above the top of the tower and the head of the serpent. “I will burn him out of you if you will not help me!”, Nightshade threatened, and it looked like he was only too willing to fulfil his threat. Then suddenly, Herbal Green’s smile returned, more distorted than ever. His gaze was mocking and satisfied. “Well, well, well, we finally have gotten to the point, haven’t we”, he said, but it wasn’t his voice at all, even his accent was gone. Nightshade moved not a single muscle, but even Firefly could feel how the situation shifting. The tension between the two stallions was like a vibration visible in the air, and suddenly, Herbal Green could withstand Nightshade, not by his powers maybe but surely by his will. “Master Nightshade, you want this confrontation so badly, don’t you?”, Herbal Green or whoever was now speaking through him continued. “Then what about a little game of hide and seek? Solve this last riddle of mine and you'll find me. And as a little candy, I'll also answer all those silly questions.” And then he started to rhyme: In the house of light Where now reigns the night A damsel will wait Discord changed her fate And she will tell What was hidden so well Having spoken these words, Herbal Green’s eyes closed, and his head dropped forward, he had lost his consciousness. Nightshade’s spells died off and the glow of his horn vanished. He turned around and silently closed the cell door. The sorcerer put a hoof on the lock and placed a magic seal on it. “That will keep him in there for now”, he said. “But they should probably put him into another cell soon. Even my spell will last not forever.” “Would ye mind to elaborate what just happened?”, Silver Blaze interfered. “Ye are not going to keep this quiet, are ye?” “That was Discord”, Nightshade soundlessly replied. “He spoke to me through Herbal Green.” It didn’t look to Firefly like this was what Silver Blaze had wanted to address, and Nightshade couldn’t have missed it either. “I assure you that there is no need to worry about me”, he said instead of an answer. “I just wanted to scare him a little bit. I can withstand the side effects of the Alicorn Amulet. I know what I am doing!” Silver Blaze snorted and muttered something that very much sounded like “Did not look like it”. Firefly didn’t quite understand what the problem was now again, but at the moment she had no time to deal with it, either. “Instead of questioning my capabilities, we should discuss Discord’s words, yes?”, Nightshade emphasised. “We must solve his riddle and that before the sun sets. Silver Blaze, you know these lands better than I do. Can you think of anything he could be alluding to?” “I think the most important part is the first verse." Silver Blaze thoughtfully rocked his head back and forth. "The house of light, where now reigns the night. That is a statement of location, if ye ask me." It was actually simple, he then explained. In olden times, when the city of Stonehaven was still ruling over the White Mountains and the northern lands till Rainbow Falls and the borders of the former Crystal Empire, there were towers built across the Mountains and all over the estate. Those elaborate beacons had connected Stonehaven’s fiefdoms with their capital and in the south with the rest of Equestria. “But then came the Black Dragon and devastated the northern lands. Miles high the flames blazed into the sky, clouds of ashes and soot rose from the burning Stonehaven and coloured the mountaintops grey.” Silver Blaze concluded, and his voice suddenly sounded husky. “The Ashen Mountains, that is what they are called nowadays… Stonehaven is no more, and choking dust covers the once fruitful land, no life can thrive there anymore. Discord’s words are very poetic, but the solution is quite clear: A house of light, where now reigns the night; Stonehaven’s beacons have gone out, the towers have been abandoned and the chambers from where once light has shone are now dark.” Furthermore, Silver Blaze knew that one of Stonehaven’s beacons stood at the foot of the mountains, and in former days its fire could be seen shining over the waters of Cauldron Lake, from both Hollow Shades and the castle. Silver Blaze also recognized this tower in the painting on the back wall of the cell. The abandoned lighthouse was not far from Hollow Shades, Silver Blaze estimated that it could be reached before dusk if they hit a fast trot. His account of the downfall of Stonehaven had, although very brief, obviously affected Silver Blaze, so that Firefly was wondering why this topic was so touching him. She opened her mouth and was just about to say something, but a sudden turmoil outside the closed ward stopped her. Somepony rumbled in great haste and panting like a bull along the corridor. It was Sliderule and he was so completely out of his breath that he needed almost a minute until he was able to produce any understandable words again. And even then it was hard to get anything meaningful out of him, because he was far more confused than Firefly had seen him before. What he eventually produced with great effort, however, explained all too well to his excitement. It was the second of many blows that were still to be put on their cause today, and as unexpected as worrying: “The guards… pegasi from the castle… They're here… Dawn… They've got Dawn and the doctor!” ****