//------------------------------// // August 6th - August 31st, the Year MCCCXLV // Story: Love Letters of the Princess of the Sun // by Echo 27 //------------------------------// August 6th, the Year MCCCXLV There has been flooding in Appleloosa and much of the desert badlands for three days now. A weather system has been moving slowly across the region, and the drought that has carried on through most of the summer has made the area vulnerable. Four people have been killed due to flash flooding. Damage to homes and towns has, thankfully, been minimal. But many farms and ranches have been severely damaged with entire plantations and fields being washed out by the heavy rains. Some of my people have lost everything they own. Whatever aid can be given for relief has been sent. Luna’s troops are maintaining curfew for now, as well as keeping watch on water levels. Those of my forces in the area are working as part of rescue crews, aiding those who have become stranded or injured by flooding and debris. As soon as the flooding has ceased and the rains dissipate, I will be making my way there to examine the region myself, as well as say farewell to those lost. It will not be a happy day. August 11th, the Year MCCCXLV I was finally able to visit Appleloosa today and survey the damage. I hadn’t expected it to be quite so severe. To make matter worse, there is a distinct possibility that some of the damage may have been intentional. I arrived early this morning, having raised the sun and promptly left Canterlot, along with Hearth Fire and a trio of his hand-picked soldiers as guards. Ford remained behind at the palace, making this one of the few times in recent months we have not been near to one another. We were forewarned in regards to the heat, as Appleloosa is not known for a temperate climate. The typically arid desert was humid and stank of filth, the destruction caused by flooding churning the badlands into a nigh-traversable marsh. It was not a pleasant sight to bear witness to. Appleloosa is almost totally gone, along with much of her surrounding orchards. Entire farms have been washed away. Seeing the once-vibrant region, the last jewel before the harshness of the desert, now turned to disarray and shattered trees is disheartening. Speaking to some of the farmers here is worse; many do not know how they will survive the eventual winter now that their crops, as well as their farmland, has been destroyed. “The dam at the end of the valley should have held the floodwaters in,” I was told by Hearth Fire. “I don’t understand it. Nothing here in the region should have been so badly hit.” “What is the condition of the dam?” I asked. “Totally destroyed,” reported the Mayor, a man known as Wild Hank. “I agree with your Guard, Your Majesty, the dam should not have fallen. It is only a year old, meant to be an aquifer for the valley.” “I wish to see it,” I said. “Take me to it.” We bid our goodbyes to the farmers and made our way east, following the trail of heavier devastation. As we approached, various bits of concrete, steel and rebar could be seen jutting through the mud and debris- remnants of what was once a mighty structure. When we came close, the damage was not all that apparent- primarily because the dam itself wasn’t there. “Heaven above, how could just a few days of flooding do this?” Hearth Fire muttered, looking at the vast chasm with distrust. “No dam should fall so easily, especially one as modern as the one placed here.” “You said it was a year old, Mayor Hank,” I said, turning to the distraught politician. “Were there any issues during its construction? They would have been reported to you.” “None that I know of, Your Majesty,” he replied. “It was a government contract from a company that is highly reputable. The Rainbow Falls Dam was built by the same men, this should not have happened.” “Was the dam near the point of overflow prior to the storms?” I asked. “No, Your Majesty, when the storms began I checked with the team manning the dam,” Wild Hank answered. “We were at tolerable levels. Besides, even if the dam were to overflow, it would be done in a controlled flow, not as a mass cascade of water. The entire project was built to the highest standards of safety.” “Where is the operating team that was in charge the night it fell?” Mayor Hank gave a sigh and pointed to the massive detritus that was once the Appleloosa valley. “We haven’t found them yet, Your Majesty,” he answered. “The control room for the dam was destroyed when the dam itself fell. We haven’t yet found the bodies, and the three men who were on watch that night are among the approximately twenty still missing.” “Assign an investigative team to the matter,” I commanded. “When the results are complete, send them to me. Begin looking at records of guesthouses and hotels in the area as well, any unusual visitors that could be remembered. Also check the records of convicted felons that were in the area, anyone who could be considered suspect.” “You believe this was an intentional disaster?” Hearth Fire asked. “Neglect or sabotage,” I replied. “Either way, there is no sufficient, natural explanation that can be found here. We continue with the recovery efforts, and let the investigation commence. We will act further from there.” I returned to Canterlot with Hearth Fire that evening, both of us now only able to play the waiting game. There is little else to be done until the results of the investigative team’s efforts come forth. August 24th, the Year MCCCXLV Sabotage. Records from the dam’s operational crew that survived indicate no abnormal stress on the structure, or any sort of growing deficiency that could cause the large-scale damage. It is suspected that small charges were placed along the structure to destabilize it and allow for the water to naturally break the wall and flood the valley. Four suspects have been named in the investigation, one local man with a criminal record for intimidation and domestic violence, three visitors from other regions- only one from out of country. It is not difficult to guess where he hails from. All will be brought in for questioning the moment we have hold of them. Unfortunately, none can be found. They may have died in the flooding, and then the lead will be lost forever. If they are still alive, then we might have a chance to know what caused this. August 25th, the Year MCCCXLV Two of the suspects have been found dead in the Appleloosa Valley. Our net grows tighter. Chassis Veist, the one local suspect, was dragged from the wreckage of the Appleloosa Saloon. The other, a Manehatten-born woman known simply as Charity, was pulled alive from the wreckage of the Appleloosa Community Center where several had taken refuge from the flooding. She was severely dehydrated and found mortally injured. She made inquiries as to the wellbeing of her family back in Manehatten before passing. Only two left- one of them being our Griffon Kingdom visitor, who has seemingly disappeared into the wilds. For all we know, our suspect was killed in the flooding and we merely follow two innocent men on a wild goose chase. But if the suspected saboteur remains alive, then the hunt remains on. August 26th, the Year MCCCXLV One suspect eliminated from the list. Found alive in a logging community South of Vanhoover. Leiff Woodson, a middle-aged logger had been visiting Appleloosa that weekend to attend his daughter’s wedding to a local rancher. Woodson departed not long after the storm entered the region, returning to the isolated town of Foal’s Fury where he works with the local lumber company. He came quietly when he was brought in for investigation. He seemed amiable, through gruff and decidedly uncouth, according to the questioners. He admitted that there had been underlying tension between him and his daughter, as the distance between Appleloosa and Foal’s Fury is considerable and Woodson has growing arthritic issues that make it difficult for him to travel. However, he attended the wedding as a gesture of concession and peace, and gave a generous sum of money to the newlyweds before departing that evening. I believe he is telling the truth, as do my pair of investigators who questioned him. He is a vouched for citizen with a solid alibi, as well as good standing in his community as a hardworking man and upstanding citizen. He is dropped from the list unless the need arises to bring him in once more. That means we must focus on our one last suspect, the one who still has not been found- and, if I must admit so, the one I have been wary of all along. Keres Faal, a Griffon Kingdom immigrant who has been in the country for three months on temporary visa. He has spent considerable time in Dodge City, but went west to Appleloosa for unknown motives and resided at the Appleloosa Grand Hotel before departing the morning after flooding began, simply checking out and giving no clue as to his next destination. His residency in Dodge City has been thoroughly searched, and show no signs of recent vacancy, leading us to believe he has not returned home- and may not have any intent of doing so. A manhunt is underway, searching across every city until he is found. Luna’s Night Guard is roaming the countryside in the hopes they find him first. Tips and notices have been posted in every major city. If Faal is still somewhere in Equestria, it is only a matter of time before he is found. August 28th, the Year MCCCXLV We have him. Faal was captured early this morning at a secluded harbor in Baltimare, trying to gain passage on a merchant vessel headed for the Griffon Kingdom. A massive team of Guards was forced to take him in, as Faal gave heavy resistance when he was discovered. Armed with several low-level explosives he managed to keep himself in a standoff for about an hour, killing one of my soldiers, a fresh-faced recruit named Theo Cail. Faal is not in quality condition at the moment, the soldiers on the scene dealing severe damage to him out of a vengeful rage against him for the death of one of their brethren. While I do not condone the action, I am not surprised by the action. Even if Faal is innocent of breaching the dam (which is unlikely), he has not displayed any innocent character to aid his defense. It is likely he will spend much of his life in prison. Faal is currently being held in a high-security location in Baltimare, and tomorrow he will be brought here for questioning. For now, brave Theo Cail needs to be mourned and honored. One more death added to a growing list… August 29th, the Year MCCCXLV Faal arrived late last night, discreetly brought in when the majority of the populace would be off the streets so as to avoid detection. As hated as he is, we do not want to risk further injury to a man we need alive. The information he has may be critical to further investigation, and whatever follows. I fear that the storm of war is beginning to brew, and Faal may be the one who has set plans in motion. Captain Hearth Fire and I were present as Faal was escorted to the dungeons by Ford and Sergeant Coal. Never have I seen Ford so disgusted, the anger towards the man he brought was palpable. It is no surprise that my soldiers hold such disdain towards him. One of their own fell by Faal’s hand; it will be difficult to keep him safe, so I now consider whether the Royal Guard should be the one to keep him under watch until his trial begins. Hearth Fire was the first to inform me that Faal wanted to talk. I was deeply involved in a matter in the Day Court when I was told, so I discreetly cancelled all future visits for the day before descending into the palace depths where our prisoner lay. When I arrived, I could see my guard captain was in no mood for pleasantries. “If you would be willing, I could run him through here and now,” he offered, giving me no greeting at the sight of me. “What is his condition?” “As bruised and battered as he deserves, Your Majesty,” Hearth Fire reported. “He is awake and conscious, however- heaven knows no madman could conjure the curses he has.” The moment the dungeon doors opened I could hear the man ranting and raving, the Griffon tongue thrashing wildly about in the air as Faal unleashed a volley of curses and insults so vile I had never heard the likes of them. As I came into view of his cell he turned his eyes towards me, becoming incensed and turning into a violent rage. “He refuses to speak in Equestrian tongue, Your Majesty,” Ford reported, his eyes flickering towards the unwanted prisoner. “I don’t understand a word he says, but I’d be willing to bet it isn’t anything pleasant.” “Thank you, Private,” Hearth Fire replied. “Stand by. “We have need of him.” “Do you need me to unlock his cell, Sir?” Ford asked. Hearth Fire considered the thought before shaking his head. “Keep him where he is. Let him be uncomfortable.” Turning to the deranged Griffon, he listened as Faal continued his stream of curses. “We will get nowhere with him in a rage like this,” I told Hearth Fire, listening as Faal continued on his rampage. “He needs to calm down.” Hearth Fire snapped at Faal in the Griffon tongue, asking him for what he knew. Faal replied with a volley of curse and insults, many of them directed towards me. Hearth Fire sighed. “I tried, Your Majesty,” he said wearily. “Do you think this is a good idea?” “Not at all,” I replied, listening as Faal called me a child of the King’s dogs, and that the whole world would one day swear loyalty to the king of the Griffon Kingdom. “Tell your king that he can do better,” I yelled, speaking in Faal’s tongue so that he could not pretend to misunderstand me. Faal paused, evidently displeased at my understanding. “She speaks it,” he snarled, finally speaking in Equestrian tongue. “What pleasure do I owe thee?” “None but the truth, murderer,” I said, my disgust rising to my lips. Faal was truly a disgusting individual, greasy to the eye and unpleasantries evident in his words. While I could not openly accuse him for the destruction of the Appleloosa dam, I already knew him to be a killer of my soldiers. “You were here in my country as per my graces. You have already shown yourself to be unworthy of it.” “Then do me the favor and relieve me of it,” he said sarcastically, leaning back on his bunk. “Unworthy queen of an unworthy people. Why are you here?” “To know the truth,” I said. “You were there when the dam broke, weren’t you?” “I was in Appleloosa. Dodge City disliked me that day,” he replied. “Where you there at the dam?” “I visited it.” “You witnessed something unusual.” “I witnessed a stupid people do stupid things, for a stupid princess who asks stupid questions,” Faal answered. “I have heard better words from the mouth of chicks. Leave me unless you have something worthwhile to say, worm.” Ford, who had remained silent all this time, jabbed his spear through the bars of the prison cell at Faal. “Hold your tongue, disgusting wretch! Know to whom you speak or else I slit your throat!” “Hold your temper, soldier!” Hearth Fire commanded. “Now is not the time.” Faal laughed at it all. “What a weak nation,” he said. “No wonder you are desired to be destroyed. You deserve it.” “Why did you blow the dam?” I asked. “What is your King trying to prove? We have been allies and friends for many years, what is worth risking open war?” “I have no idea of what you speak,” Faal replied. “Let your people sort themselves out. Your disasters are your own fault.” We tried to ply him with further questions, but came up short. Hearth Fire and I admitted defeat and left, and now we are still at the same place we were before. We have no information, no confession, and no further plan. Due to matters of law, I have to inform King Peregrine of Faal’s imprisonment, seeing as Faal is not a citizen of Equestria yet. I hope no ill tidings will come of it. August 31st, the Year MCCCXLV Keres Faal is dead, found deceased in his cell early this morning. The guard had been in the midst of changeover when the discovery occurred. An internal investigation is occurring, though Hearth Fire does not believe any of his soldiers would commit such an act. Faal, after examination by the coroner, was declared dead by poisoning, leading us to believe it was transmitted via his food. Seeing as it would not be difficult to poison the prison meals, leads are limited, and suspects are multiple. My letter to King Peregrine of Faal’s imprisonment will now be of his death. I fear that this will lead to far worse tidings.