//------------------------------// // IX // Story: Mark of Baen // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// Hollow Shades was abuzz with activity as ponies of all ages gathered at the town square which had been decorated with banners, flags, and other assorted decorations.  The ponies were all chatting happily as Baen and Twilight entered the town limits. Both ponies looked around for Stardust, but found no sight of her for the time being. “This isn’t right,” Twilight said, “they’re honoring a pony who’s been deceiving them this entire time.” “Indeed,” Baen said with a nod, “We have to remedy this quickly.  If she is indeed the one who’s controlling the Wraiths, this deception must end, then we must get back on track.” “Right,” the princess stated firmly only to have her attention drawn to a stage as The Mayor took to the podium. “Fillies and Gentlecolts, I come to you today with a grand announcement,” The Mayor stated happily, “For close to a year now we have been beset by those horrible shadows known as Wraiths and for that exact year, with no help coming to us, one mare stood before them,” he gestured his hoof offstage as Stardust entered from stage right giving a nervous, but convincing, smile, “And we are all here to honor her today.” Stardust stood on the stage watching all present until her eyes fell upon Twilight who in turn fixed her with a scowl.  The blonde mare quickly averted her eyes as she continued to stand tall. “Now Stardust, I know you came to live in Hollow Shades and were not technically not born here like the rest of us,” he fanned a hoof to the crowd, “But I think I speak for everypony when I say that we have come to consider you one of our own.” Everypony stamped in agreement while The Mayor brought forth a trophy the resembled Stardust’s cutie mark much to her surprise, “Which is why today I am honored to award you the Hollow Shades Trophy of Upstanding Citizenry which-” “YOU DON’T DESERVE!” Twilight called out causing many ponies to gasp as the crowd parted. Baen stood stoicly as he followed beside Twilight, “This so called Hero of yours is nothing but a shyster!  A fraud,” she looked at all the faces of the ponies present, “she’s been lying to you all!” Stardust grit her teeth in mild anger but quickly regained her composure as she approached the composure, “That’s ridiculous, why would I have any need to these kind ponies?” Twilight rolled her eyes as she trotted on stage and faced the mare down, “Oh I don’t know, how about you explain to them why you have an Urn inside your house with drawings that look ODDLY similar to the Wraiths?  And the fact that you were talking to it not too long ago,” she jabbed her hoof into a now annoyed Stardust’s chest. Stardust narrowed her eyes and smacked her hoof away, “Have you ever heard the old expression to ‘mind your own business?’, I can ignore the fact that you’re throwing around these obviously wild accusations, but the fact that you were spying on me in MY house?  That’s too far. Who do you think you are?!” Twilight butted her head against Stardust’s, “I’m a Princess of Equestria, and it IS my business if ponies are in danger.  Who do you think YOU are?” “A mare who’s beginning to lose her patience,” Stardust growled as the two mares butted heads visibly angry at the other. Baen picked slid both mares apart, “All right let’s not, as Rarity puts it, ‘go splitting hairs.’  We are not your enemies,” he glanced at Stardust, “unless you make us such. We’re merely looking out for these ponies well being.” “Well then you should be doing that instead of harassing me,” Stardust stated, “I only want to...fix this problem, that’s all.” The Mayor curiously approached, “But Stardust, what about this Urn they were talking about?” Stardust straightened up and went wide eyed before she chuckled, “Oh that dusty old thing,” she cast a sideways annoyed glance at Twilight as she muttered, “It’s an old relic I use for decoration.” Twilight snorted, “A likely story.” Stardust was about to to reply scathingly, until the Mayor piped up, “That’ll be quite enough,” he gazed at the three ponies, “Though I do not know exactly what’s going on here, this is supposed to be a happy day, not High Court at Canterlot,” the stallion straightened his suit jacket, “Princess Twilight, Mr. Baen, though your deeds are quite appreciated, I think at this moment,” he stared evenly at the surprised Princess, “I’m afraid you’re coming quite close to overstaying your welcome,” he turned from the two ponies, “since the hour is getting late, you are welcome to stay at our inn and fill your supplies as you see fit.  But I expect you on the next train in the morning.” “But Mr. Mayor I-” Twilight was cut off by Baen who raised a hoof to stop her, he shook his head as the ceremony continued. Starlight turned her nose up at the two and stalked back to the podium. Twilight looked from side to side and groaned in anger as she stormed off toward the Inn. Baen sighed, “I’ll be hearing about this later….” * Twilight was angrily pacing back and forth muttering as Baen organized the supplies.  He tapped his chin as he tried to figure out where to put the compass in their back until Twilight groaned a again. “Twilight,” Baen said calmly, “you’re muttering again.” “OF COURSE I AM!” She shouted causing the barbarian to stop his sorting briefly, “I’m surprised you of all ponies are so calm about this!” “Twilight, what can we honestly do?  Starlight is a hero in the eyes of the townsponies,” he said as he continued to pack the bag, “whatever we say is fruitless without proof, you need to calm down.” “Calm down….CALM DOWN!?  I can’t calm down! Do you have any idea what it’s like for ponies who,” she raised a hoof, “Me and the girls have saved countless times mind you, look at you and not only think you’re a liar, but refer to you as such?!  IT’S INFURIATING!!” Baen sighed and placed the packed bag on the ground, “And what do you propose we do?  We have no way of getting proof, or for that matter, to oust Stardust as the culprit of these attacks.  We’ve hit a wall” Twilight was about to reply back, only to pause and go into deep thought. “I know that look,” Baen said with mild worry, “Twilight...what are you planning?” Twilight’s eyes flicked with an idea, “We do have proof,” she smiled knowingly, “we just have to get it.” Baen blinked as Twilight sighed, “The Urn?  Remember?” Baen tapped his chin, “True...but Twilight, what if you’re wrong?” Twilight stopped for a moment and looked to the side as Baen continued, “If you’re wrong, not only will we have accused an innocent mare, but your standing in the public eye will be tarnished.” Twilight set her jaw and looked out the window to the forest trail, “That’s a risk I’ll have to take,” she stared at him, “you coming?” Baen smiled as he stood up and sheathed his ax, “Do you have to ask?” Both ponies nodded and left their room quickly out into the night. * An hour passed by until the two ponies made it to Stardust’s home.  Twilight scanned the house with her magic for a brief instant before turning to Baen. “There’s no sign of alarm enchantments,” she then curiously added, “Or Stardust for that matter...strange.” “Maybe she went out for a nightly walk?” Baen suggested. “Maybe,” Twilight muttered as the two approached the front door. Twilight stared at the lock and, with a quick spell, made a key out of magical energy and inserted it into the lock.  Twilight and Baen slowly stuck their heads into the open door, gazing into the dark entryway. After a bit of silence, the two silently entered and the door was swiftly shut. “Okay,” Twilight said as she lit her horn, “The study is at the back, near the window we peeked through.  Stick close and don’t break anything.” Baen rolled his eyes, “Break a castle once and suddenly you’re treated like a living wrecking ball,” he muttered as the two made their way through the darkened home.   As the two walked, something out of the corner of Baen’s eyes caught his attention.  A small glint in a hall closet just away from the stairs leading to the second floor.  Baen tilted his head curiously and ventured over and ushered Twilight to his side. Twilight curiously came over as Baen opened the closet and stared in mild shock as Twilight shed some light. “What….,” he muttered. Inside the closet...were tokens, trinkets, and even bags of bits.  The recent trophy sat in the middle of the floor, all the things shining in the light. “Are these,” she picked up a music box, “gifts?” “Why would she keep them in a closet?” Baen wondered as Twilight shook her head and closed the door and turned back toward the study. “It doesn’t matter,” she said as she came to the study door, “we need to get that Urn.” Baen nodded as she opened the study and looked around at the clutter, “Now we just have to find it, figure out how it works, and then we can expose Stardust for the fraud she is.” The two ponies started sifting through papers, opening cabinets and drawers, and found nothing.  Twilight groaned in annoyance. “Darn it,” she said agitated, “Where’s the Urn?” Baen sighed, “Who knows,” the two ponies left the studies and entered the living room, “it might be somewhere in the house, or maybe-” “It’s here with me.” Baen and Twilight sharply turned as all the lights in the house lit up at once revealing a stoned face Stardust, who was currently standing with the Urn levitating near her head.  The door behind her was locked. “I consider myself a reasonable mare,” she stated as she advanced on the two, “I try to be nice, I keep to myself with my studies, and I try not to bother others.  But here I stand now debating whether I should have the local authorities lock the two of you up for breaking in and attempting to steal what’s not yours,” she then lowered her voice, “or forcibly eject the two of you from my house myself.” Twilight’s horn lit up warningly, “Whatever you have planned for this town, I won’t let you get away with it.” Stardust groaned, “What is the matter with you?!” Twilight narrowed her eyes, “Give. Me. The Urn.” Stardust backed away, “No!” Twilight flew straight at the mare and tackled her to the floor as she tried to wrestle the Urn from the mare’s magical grasp.  The two scuffled on the floor as Baen stood there, his mind piecing the whole situation together. The Barbarian looked at the two mares as they continued to wrestle, then something clicked in his head.  Stardust flung Twilight from atop her and into a couch. She made a break for the door, only for Twilight to fire a magic beam in a spur of the moment. “No you don’t!” Twilight yelled. The beam hit Stardust in the barrel and knocked her to the floor, the Urn falling and shattering to the ground. “No...NO NO NO!!!” Stardust crawled over to the Urn and desperately picked up the pieces amidst black sand-like ash, “What have you DONE!? Twilight stood over the mare, “Saved Hollow Shades from you!  Now you’re going to admit to what you’ve done and confess to the Mayor!” “What I’ve done?!  Don’t you get it you moron!” Stardust said in anger, “The Urn of Styx was the only thing allowing me to control those monsters!! Now that it’s broken-” The whole house shook dangerously as a loud creaking and groaning was heard from the foundations.  Stardust looked around in fright as the black sand-ash swirled and churned, a ghastly screech emanating from it.  The three ponies backed up as a skeletal black shape started to take shape. It stood on two cloven hoofed legs, with sharp fingers, four ghastly horns, and a faceless skull.  Black shadows filled in the gaps of it’s bones and covered it’s body in a layer of darkness. The darkness fizzled every now and then revealing the skeleton beneath as it screeched loudly.  More Wraiths surged for from the shadows, beneath the floorboards, from the walls, outside, and even upstairs. The Master Wraith then melted into the shadows with the rest of the Wraiths and surged from the house. Twilight stood shocked, “I...I….What just…” Baen then heard the sound of sniffling as he turned to a teary eyed Stardust. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” She said with tears falling from her eyes. “You never wanted to bring harm to this town,” Baen said slowly, “Did you?” Twilight looked at a saddened Stardust, “No...I was trying to destroy that stupid Urn.”