//------------------------------// // Chapter 51: Expounded Horror // Story: Princess Essenta // by Pone_Heap //------------------------------// Antecedence Arc The Princess of the Dale was in better spirits than she may have been. She and Orni had completed preparations for their journey back across the desert. It had been quite a time, considering the last 24-hours… A lot of fear… and uncertainty. But Essenta had made reliable and strong friends. Ama’s steadfastness had saved her from despair and she had faith in the others… particularly Delia. Yes, things had been scary. But Dechaa and Delia were alright… Ama found the others and was most confident she would be able to lead them out of the jungle. It was only a matter of time before the six mares rejoined her and Orni. With their tasks done there wasn’t much to do. They were well away from the bordering jungle, having pulled back onto the savanna; while they had a good lay of the land they were protected. Orni was keeping an eye out for things, having relieved Essenta an hour earlier; they’d been watching out for anything… friends or trouble. Currently the princess sat in the shade of their wagon, munching on an orange. They had enough fresh fruit to give an entire garrison of soldiers the trots so she and Orni saw no harm in enjoying some of what they didn’t preserve. It was pleasant out… The fog had lifted, and it was agreeably warm. It wasn’t bad… the jungle noises… once one was able to ignore them. Still, if she ever got ahold of one of those howler monkeys, she’d pull out its voice-box and shove it knee-deep up the simian’s fetid asshole… and laugh as it tried to shit it back out… if she didn’t—by some small miracle—perforate its worthless viscera while stowing the offending object… or ramming her hoof down the animal’s throat in the first place. Unicorns were lucky; they could pull off such an act without undue damage. Yeah… I could sell tickets… Essenta was near dozing. A little nap might be nice… Closing her eyes, she- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Essenta bolted upright; looking around wildly, she cried, “What the fuck was that?!” The sound had been far-off but unmistakable; the jungle came alive with the cries of its inhabitants, birds flying from the canopies. Darting her eyes about, she spotted Orni. The little mare couldn’t answer the princess’s question, but she could see, “…!” The cyan Knollwing stood quaking, eyes locked on the direction of the noise; not a few seconds after the blast, inky-black smoke began to drift up several miles into the jungle. Essenta had been startled; now she was alarmed, “Oh, God…” Later... Thunder rumbled over Salvatrix; a considerable storm was brewing. Delia had no way of knowing but she’d been dragging the cart for two hours. Slogging through the jungle she was quickly falling into delirium. While prepared for the planned trek out of the country, such preparations fell through like a Terran on thin ice. Delia still had the sacks of supplies she and Dechaa obtained but they’d lost most of their water. Delia had had two canteens, and both were now empty. Not only had she had her share—trying to keep herself up and moving, she was concerned about the others. There enough mentally to take water, she’d seen the girls drink a little. Hauling the cart with her five friends was taxing; it was a job better suited to two healthy stallions. But the former maid kept pulling. She’d had a lick of salt a bit earlier and finished off the last canteen… and she was on the verge of collapse. Not even thinking anymore, moving as a machine, she kept going, putting one hoof in front of the other. Hell… her vision had even gone; she was just walking. It was only a matter of time before… Delia! Huh…? Delia groaned. Delia, stop! Fuck off… the messy-maned mare grumbled to the air. I’m going… somewhere. Again, the voice came, Delia! Meh… Orni! Get the bucket! Another voice joined, Really?! After all the trouble it was to get it?! We have plenty… and before long we’ll have more water than we’ll know what to do with! I told you…! Fuck off! Delia flailed her legs at some unseen foe. Splash! Delia gasped at the cold water. She screamed and felt hooves restrain her. Another hoof covered her mouth. “Delia! Calm down!” Delia croaked, “Huh…?” The covert custodian felt herself put on her side. “Hold still!” said the voice again. Not really by choice but out of necessity, Delia quit struggling; she hadn’t the energy. Then Delia felt something at her lips… Water! “Slow down…” Delia smacked her lips; the canteen water was pleasantly sweet… with a pinch of salt. More fresh water—this time more gently—was used to wash her face. Delia’s vision cleared some, but it was still pretty fuzzy, “Essenta…?” The princess’s worried, tearful face came sharper to her. “Yes, Delia… I’m here…” Then all faded to black. … … … Rumble… Rumble… Rumble… Ke-rack! Delia’s eyes flew open; it was dark, other than the continuous lightning making its brightness known. Eying her surroundings—or apparent lack of such—she rolled over, a nest of blankets under her. Yipe! Just moving hurt… Everything hurt! Coming to rest on her back, she smacked her lips, which felt dry. She sure was thirsty; she had a terrible, cottony wad of nothing gumming up her mouth. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed as a shadow moved in, “Delia…?” Delia knew the voice; she breathed, “Orni…?” A sigh was heard, “Good… you’re awake.” Another rumble of lightning had Delia twitch; she’d figured out sudden movements hurt so she limited any movement, “Got any water?” Her voice discernable over the rain, she answered, “Plenty…” Orni sat Delia up in the darkness. Remembering their dealings with thirst in the past, she fussed over her friend, “Go slow…” Delia did so and lay back, “Where are we?” Orni hesitated, “… We’re a couple miles out onto the savanna. We packed up and moved this afternoon. We found this rock formation… It’s not great but it’s dry.” Delia’s mind had been hazy, but it was coming back, “How long have I been out?” Again, Orni hesitated, “… Since afternoon… It’s late.” Now Delia remembered… kind of, “Where is everypony?! What happened?!” Orni pressed Delia back to her blankets, shushing her, “Everypony’s here… They’re safe… You’re safe.” Safe…? “You did it, Delia,” Orni put her hooves on her friend’s shoulders. “You got everypony out. Good job.” Delia further recalled her day; she didn’t remember leaving the jungle, “Where did you find us?” “You’d almost made it to our old camp,” a third voice was heard. “Essenta!” Orni jumped. “Essenta…?” Delia mumbled. “I did what…?” The princess entered the light; her eyes were dulled with fatigue, “We saw you come out of the jungle… pulling a little wagon… with the girls piled on it…” Her voice had an edge to it. Delia was fuzzy. Had she? Instead of pursuing that, Delia had another question, “Where’s camp?” The question didn’t mean much; Delia was muddled. Essenta strode over with purpose. Orni hoofed Essenta, “Essenta… now’s not the time.” “I think it is. Let go.” Orni heard the rising irritation in her friend’s voice, “Essenta… please…” The princess’s voice came sharp… uncharacteristically so, “Shut up…! I’ve been waiting half the day!” Delia wasn’t good for much, but she came in, “Waiting for what…?” Essenta had gone from relatively calm to snapped-off pissed in seconds, “For ‘what’?!” Delia felt hooves roughly grab her and haul her to her hooves. “Essenta!” Orni cried. “She just woke up!” The princess wasn’t listening; she dragged Delia through an opening in the rocks. Fleetingly, in the better light of a lantern, Delia saw five ponies wrapped in blankets, strewn about the ground. “Essenta!” Orni hissed. “You’ll wake them up!” Essenta still wasn’t listening, “Get the lantern, Orni!” Delia was able to walk, some, but mostly she was just hauled along; she moaned in weak protest, “Hey…! Quit it…!” Coming out to an apparent vestibule in the formation, Essenta tossed Delia to the ground, where she landed on a scrubby bed of grass. Just outside of the drip-line it was pouring rain. Orni followed, dutifully carrying the lantern, “Essenta! Stop! I know you’re upset, but-” “Fuck your ‘but’s’!” Essenta spat. “I’ve waited too long already.” Delia lay in the grass; she was just about all there and getting upset herself, “Okay…! What is it, man?!” Essenta took the lantern from Orni and directed it in a chosen way, “You need to explain this!” Orni looked on unhappily as light was shed on the subject. Delia blinked. Before her was a cart… and… Yes, it was hers—or at least she’d pulled it. Next to the cart were a few tunics and a couple dresses laid out. It was all a mess. The cart was charred… bloody… in shambles, really. Delia was amazed it had made any trip, as it looked good for firewood and little else. Her friends’ clothes were burnt, filthy from gas and oil and other grime, singed, and in tatters… Looking down at herself, she looked the same. She looked like Hell. Noting blood on her hooves she could then smell herself; it was awful. The burning flesh smell was no longer evident but that of burning hair and wool was. Taking note of a heavier stink and an unpleasant weight, she realized she’d soiled herself; there was no telling when it may have happened. She began to quake. Essenta’s voice cut in, jarring Delia from her surfacing horror, “We didn’t bother cleaning you up; we knew you were dead on your hooves and all you needed was to sleep… Once we gave you a little mineralized water, we let you do that. Even the others could stand on their own for a wash.” Delia heard all this but began to shake more violently… and not from the cold; it was still warm out, even in the middle of the night. Essenta went on, “Now… I need to know what happened.” Orni realized the anger in Essenta’s voice was fading; the princess was mainly scared… and she couldn’t blame her. Still, Orni tried to dissuade her leader, “Essenta… try to calm down. Now’s not the time to-” Essenta screeched, rounding on the Knollwing, “I don’t give a fuck what you think! No more!” And all this time, the former maid’s memories of the terrible day were only still flooding back. Delia, too feeble to resist, felt herself dragged to her hooves. “What happened?!” Essenta was face to face with the other Earth pony. “What in the fuck happened out there?!” Delia felt her eyes heat up, a whimper building in her throat. Looking over Essenta’s shoulder, she again noticed the blood on the cart; it was unmistakable, even in the low light. Essenta shook her, barely waiting more than a few seconds, “Say something!” Delia’s eyes flooded, and she murmured, “I… uh…” “You ‘what’?!” Delia began to cry, limp in Essenta’s grip. Essenta shook her, “Out with it, you shit-smeared serf!” Delia just cried harder; Essenta began doing so herself. “What did you do to my friends?!” Essenta bawled in Delia’s face. Delia only shied away, blubbering. Orni jumped in, “Essenta!” Delia fell over, no longer in Essenta’s grasp. In the low light she saw Orni struggling with the princess. Orni was just a bit stronger, of course, and it didn’t last long. Orni shoved Essenta towards the entrance, “E-nough! Go lie down, right now, or I’ll beat you ‘til you can’t stand up!” Whether Orni would or wouldn’t do a thing, Essenta wasn’t cowed. But Essenta wasn’t stupid either—knowing well enough she would sling her ass if she was serious—and giving Orni a very dirty look, she slunk back inside. Orni watched a moment and then turned to Delia, “Oh, dear!” Delia was sobbing quietly, curled up in a ball. Little did Orni know, but she’d recalled the day, fully. There wasn’t much else for Orni to do at the time; she grabbed some soap and a scrub brush they had. Gently helping Delia to her hooves, Orni knew it would at least help, “Let’s get you out of those clothes and wash you up.” Helping strip off the ragged dress, Orni then led Delia out into the rain. As she had with those that needed it, she washed her friend. In the early light, Orni carefully wrapped Delia’s burnt rump. Her mouth holding the corner of a bandage, she wasn’t the easiest to understand, “There… tha’ shoul’ do i’.” “Thanks, Orni,” Delia winced as she lowered her fresh tunic; her bottom hurt something terrible. Everything hurt… but it kept her mind off other things. Orni looked tired; she’d been tending to the others most of the night, the only pony both mentally and physically able to do so. She’d tended to them all. “It’s a pretty nasty burn but it looks worse than it is,” Orni sat down next to Delia. Delia looked out from under their hiding spot. All she could see was mucky savanna; the storm the night before had saturated the land. She hoped it took care of any trail she may have left… Orni hadn’t asked much about the day before but Delia knew she was anxious to know. The other girls were… out of sorts. “I made sure to follow the instructions you gave… I gave Dechaa and Zyra another dose last night, after…” After that ugly fiasco with Essenta… Delia thought unhappily. Delia nodded, “Don’t give them anymore… They need to come out of it. By lunch… they’ll be among the living again.” Orni nodded. Delia couldn’t remember—at all—but she’d been adamant that Essenta and Orni lightly sedate the unicorns. Even as messed up as Delia was, she still thought of them before all else. Delia shifted her weight; sitting on her rump hurt, “How are the others?” Orni looked between her hooves, “Not great…” Delia tried lying down; it wasn’t much better, “Not even Wilka?” “Wilka said she doesn’t remember much… Otherwise she just lies there. She’s awake inside … if you want me to get her.” Delia shook her head, “No… let her be… Ama? Loress?” Orni sniffled, “Loress… isn’t much better off than Dechaa or Zyra… She just sits there.” Delia rolled to one side, facing away from Orni; she couldn’t bear to see the little Knollwing cry… even after all the last day had held, “I’m guessing Ama’s still…” And Orni did cry a little, “She’s sleeping… but… when she’s not sleeping, she’s sobbing,” Orni lamented. “I can’t get a thing out of her…” This didn’t surprise Delia. It wasn’t lost on Loress that it was her own idea that led to the second bit of chaos the day before. Yes, Delia had “pulled the trigger”—twice—but Loress had supplied the fuel for the second instance. No, it didn’t surprise her at all… that Loress had shut herself off. And Ama… was devastated… simply and deeply. There was no better word for it. The arguably strongest heart among them—odd, given her peculiarities—was cracked. And Wilka… Wilka was a kid. Sure, they were all kids, really, but Delia knew seeing that murdered family… the violated filly… had opened wounds none of them were ready to deal with—and that all of them weren’t even fully aware of. In a way, Wilka was fortunate if she didn’t remember all the things after that. Delia thought back to their final escape… and the explosion that cleared their way out. She hadn’t seen it, at least the initial ignition. The second she knew the fireball was going to succeed in its brief journey, she’d ducked, trying to keep the other three girls in the wagon—and certainly herself—from whatever might have happened. She hadn’t heard much, either… other than the discord of incredible noise brought on by the mixture of sludgy gas and flame. All those ponies in Nuinhof… Delia could picture it; she could hear it in her mind. The terror that must have been on their faces… and how brief that terror must have been for some… and how long it may have been for others… and the screams… And now the city may well have been a ruin. There was no telling just how much damage they’d caused in their desperate escape. Swallowing down a batch of vomit threatening its way out, Delia quickly sat up; she’d had enough of getting sick. “Delia!” Orni hoofed her. Delia waved her off, desperate of anything else to talk about, “How’s Essenta?” Orni faltered, “Uh… I, uh…” Delia took a sip of canteen water, “Say it.” Orni gulped, “Don’t be angry with her… I know what she said… but she’s upset… I’ve never seen her this shaken up. She’s just scared! Don’t look into what she said too much.” That wasn’t what Delia meant. She knew Essenta was rattled—and badly—even though her problems didn’t hold a candle to the Hell the six in the jungle had been through. And she didn’t hold it against the princess for calling her a “shit-smeared serf”; she’d been just that some hours earlier. “I know better than to worry about that, Orni… I mean, how is she?” Orni looked relieved, “Well, I got her to sleep, earlier. She wanted to stay up, but I don’t think she could’ve if she’d tried. She hadn’t slept since yesterday morning.” Delia nodded, “And when’s the last time you slept?” Orni blinked heavily, “Yesterday morning…” “Grab a blanket and lie down,” Delia said. “I can keep an eye out.” Orni couldn’t hold back her enthusiasm for such a thing; but she tried, “I’m tired, but I can’t leave you up alone.” Delia didn’t mean to be coy, “I won’t be…” Orni hadn’t noticed but Delia had: Essenta stood at the entrance to the hollow. “Essenta…!” Orni hissed. “You need sleep!” “I’ve had a few hours. Do as Delia tells you.” Orni slowly stood and paddled off. Waiting a moment, Essenta sat down. “How long have you been there?” Delia asked. “I didn’t hear you… Caught up in my own mind, I suppose.” Essenta sat another moment, “I saw Orni rewrap your burn… It looked awful yesterday…” Delia tried lying on her stomach, “Yeah… but you two did a good job cleaning it up… Thanks.” “And we made sure to keep Dechaa on her back.” Delia knew she’d also lectured the two that missed out on the fun about Dechaa’s neck, “Her neck’s fine… It’ll be sore no matter what we do…” Essenta was itching to ask how it happened, but thought to wait, “I… know you forgive me but… still, I’m sorry.” Delia heard the raw emotion in her friend’s voice. “And I accept… Don’t let it cloud your thinking… We’ve all had a rough couple of days.” Delia could forgive it as well as understand. Essenta had lashed out. Delia knew she was an easy target for it: not only was she the only one standing… she was new. Essenta’s actions were not pretty, not “leader-like”, but understandable from anypony. The last days had been fucked. Essenta sighed, “I’m glad to hear it…” Delia gave a crooked half-smile, “I’ve been called a million things… but never a ‘shit-smeared serf’…” Essenta blushed a little, “Yeah… Can you walk?” Delia gladly stood up, “It’s more comfortable than anything else…” Essenta got to her hooves, “Okay… Let’s walk. I want to check around the openings.” Delia followed Essenta. As it turned out there were three ways into the rock formation. Orni had treated Delia at the east one—their debatably most important watch-point—but they had another facing north—where they’d stored their wagon and supplies—and one facing west. They didn’t talk until they hit the west opening. This was where the six sets of soiled clothes and the exhausted, stolen cart resided. Essenta shifted uncomfortably, looking at the wreckage, “Orni and I got anything of value out… We made sure to check the clothes, too. We have all the ‘talk-rocks’… all the money.” Delia tiredly stalked over and looked over the cart that had spirited them back to their original camp, “…” Essenta nervously shuffled her hooves, “If you… I suppose you…” Delia turned to the princess, “I’m ready to tell you, if you’re ready to listen... Keep your voice down.” Essenta stared back to her baggy-eyed friend; she wasn’t much better off herself, “Okay…” So, sitting at the east entrance, Delia told Essenta the tale. She began with the climax—no reason to keep the princess dangling—and then back to getting pulled “through time and space” by Dechaa… meeting Cassia… the last few years… the civil war… why the unicorns had suffered so… the murdered family… and their reunion in the jungle. Essenta found herself weeping some, but mostly held it together. “We managed to land ourselves in one fucked-up situation, Essenta…” Delia stared towards the jungle; smoke still rose from the likely drowned-out city. “And we got pulled into the thick of it…” Essenta could no longer question why Ama and Loress were so out-of-touch. The same could be said of Wilka. The horror was difficult to fathom. Essenta wondered, desperate to think of other things, “Delia… you’ve said… that Wilka has some hurts we don’t see…” Delia glanced over; she realized Essenta was dodging the situation, “Yes… not all of us though…” Essenta perked, “So, can you…?” “Now’s not the time, Essenta,” Delia took a sip of water. “Now’s not the time…” “I see…” Delia thought, “I’m glad Orni’s found strength the last couple days.” Essenta nodded, “She’s been a life-saver… I mean, she’s been terrified, but she’s held up better than me… in some ways.” “Yeah?” Delia knew she’d pegged it… what was bothering her friend. And it came rather suddenly. Essenta spouted, “Before Ama entered the jungle, I… I fell apart, Delia…!” Delia sat, not betraying her thoughts on the statement. “I fell apart… and she tried to knock some sense into me. She told me… it was my responsibility to see you all through this… Even if you all came to hate me… I had to protect all of you that I could… even if it meant leaving you and Dechaa behind…” Delia continued listening. “That was before I knew you two were safe… or even alive… But after all this…?” Delia wouldn’t let Essenta state her failure… as she hadn’t failed, “It’s still your responsibility. And we’re all safe. We’re not well, but we’re alive and we’re together.” “This is all my fault,” Essenta moped. “If I hadn’t brought us-” “Fuck off with that nonsense, Essenta,” Delia grumbled. “You and your ‘if’, ‘if’, ‘if’… We’re here… We’ve gotten involved here and nothing can change that. I mean… how the fuck were we supposed to know there was a civil war going on? Nopony can predict much of anything, Essenta. It seems stupid to say it, but it’s true. It’s been one shock after another, but we’ve made it to this point.” Essenta mused, her thoughts wandering some, “Maybe you should be in charge…” Delia rebuffed, “No dice…” “Right…” Essenta stared at her hooves; the attempted joke wasn't even close to being funny. Delia glared, “Try to focus, would you…?” Essenta did try and they sat a while. “Delia… we’re broken…” Delia considered, “Yes…” “But you… how do you do it?” Essenta asked. The former maid wasn’t sure, “We’ve all lived different lives, Essenta. Some things… I’d be the one curled up in a corner somewhere.” Essenta focused on a pebble on the floor; she flipped it with a hoof, “I guess…” More time passed. Essenta took a bit to get it out, “Uh, Delia…? There’s… something I want to ask you.” Delia had had her eyes closed, trying to enjoy the warming morning, “Shoot…” “Delia… Loress has always given the best advice… She’s worldly and has a better head on her shoulders than me. She’s-” Delia saw this would go nowhere fast; the princess was rambling, “Make your point…” “I want you to be my vice.” “Your ‘vice’?” “Yes, you know, my-” “Your second-in-command, I know…” Delia sighed. “Well, yes… Loress just sort of fell into the position… de facto-like. And she doesn’t want it. And after this… And Ama too, I-” “I’ll do it, Essenta…” “You will?” “I will. I’ll help you get our little group back across the desert, though that was a given anyway.” Essenta hugged her legs close, “After this… I don’t know if there will be a group anymore…” Delia looked over; Essenta was about to choke up. The former maid exhaled; she could guess about the future, but it wouldn’t do much good, “Maybe… But that’s not important right now.” “What do we do, Delia…?” It was obvious to Delia, “You should know that. We. Need. To. Get. Away. From. Here. As soon as possible, we need to split.” “What about-?” Essenta began. “If it’s about Salvatrix there’s not a single thing we can do… not until we make it back across the desert. Once we’re there… we tell ponies—we tell important ponies.” Essenta seemed at a loss, “But what do we tell them?” Delia grimaced, “The truth… as much as is needed.” “What do you mean?” Delia couldn’t hold it against Essenta; she wasn’t there, “Loress and I destroyed a city, Essenta… And we’re all involved. Whether anypony could connect us with that… I’m not taking the chance.” Essenta felt her eyes well up, “So… this might really be the end of our company…” Delia still wasn’t fussing about that just then, “We stay alive, Princess Essenta Dale. We’re noponies… We’re nothing down here, other than to a few back across the desert… and Cassia.” Essenta forced it out, “I wonder if she’s still alive…” Delia shrugged, “Dunno…” The Earth pony with the toasted ass didn’t want to think of the old mare—alive or dead—in the miserable remains of the city. They’d laid waste to one of the last things Cassia had: her city. It sickened her. Essenta thought… and she knew better than to ask but she had difficulty in stopping herself, “Loress… and Ama… they’ll change, won’t they…?” Delia knew Essenta’s meaning; Ama and Loress… had killed before. But they’d done so to save themselves from agents of evil. They’d just had a hoof in killing a whole lot of ponies… whose only crimes—if they could be cited as such—had been driven by fear… fear of a most wicked sort. The will to live another day couldn’t be considered a crime… could it? And it went two ways. Delia didn’t mince words; it was a simple thing, in the end, “Essenta… Not a one of us will ever be the same mare again.” “What’s it like…?” Essenta let the childish question slip before she’d even thought to hold it back. Delia shuddered… Killing? “It’s awful…” With those two words, the princess and the custodian stared east a few moments. There wasn’t much else to say. Essenta stood up, after quite a long while, “I don’t know what the day’s gonna hold for us… but we need to eat.” Delia nodded wearily, “The others should start waking up soon… Hopefully they’re up to eating. I’ll keep watch here.” “Bring you something?” Delia’s stomach had been growling, “Please…” So Essenta left Delia to face the jungle’s border. Once again shifting her position, longing to find a less painful way to sit, Delia knew part of her responsibility to her friends was fulfilled. It hadn’t been easy… it hadn’t been fun… but Essenta knew what they were up against—or rather, what they hoped to escape. Whether or not she’d be able to convey it was another matter. Ama knew… but Delia felt it cruel to force the Mazan to relive what she’d seen, heard, felt… Delia knew it was up to her to tell the story... as many times as was needed. She had never enjoyed the obligations associated with being so hard-boiled. It had her thinking about what might have been… If her mother hadn’t died… If her father hadn’t given up his medical practice to be such a fucking scoundrel… She took another drink of water and figured she wouldn’t be where she was then.