//------------------------------// // Nightwatch: Short-Lived Pleasure Cruise // Story: Sigil of Souls, Stream of Memories // by Piccolo Sky //------------------------------// “Road closed! Check in or move along! Road closed! Check in or move along!” Twilight frowned at the Appleloosan National Guard member shouting this same refrain, beckoning people along on the road. Just ahead loomed the Hyperborean Mountains. A deep ravine cut through this part of the landscape, made by the Shell River running from north to south. There was a Mount Aris port city stationed on just the other side of it, and Appleloosa was connected to it via a rather large bridge. Unfortunately, the Appleloosan end was currently closed and blocked off by a large number of national guard members. The previous customs post they had was replaced by much stronger barriers and even a touch of barbed wire, as well as far too many guns for Twilight’s taste. Nevertheless, there was already a line stretching half a mile long off to one side of the road leading up to it; mostly individuals with large wagons or parties who couldn’t afford to stay on the road any longer. Far more people were walking by, perhaps groaning or cursing but obeying the directive to keep walking. These types had quickly gotten impossible to avoid when her group reached the main roads, and they were growing more numerous all the time. Finally, she began to walk back to her own group. The animals Fluttershy had insisted on bringing with her were seated to one side and, apparently, enjoying a bit of snack time in the form of nuts, grains, and vegetables the woman had brought. She herself was looking uncomfortable as Applejack was practically in her face. “Can we pick up the pace just a mite? The Nighttouched’ll be here ‘fore we even get on a boat! Or the airships!” “Oh, but Eustice was getting a sideache. He never was that athletic and at his age he’s doing so well to begin with… I didn’t want to make him feel bad by letting him think he was dragging the rest of us behind.” “He is draggin’ the rest of us behind!” She gasped, quickly leaning in and looking back. “Don’t talk so loud! You’ll hurt his feelings!” “Hurt his…ugh! Which one is he, anyway?” Fluttershy, after making sure he wasn’t looking, extended a finger and pointed to a mouse gnawing on corn kernel. Applejack nearly fumed. “Ya’ gotta be kiddin’ me! I could carry that varmint in my breast pocket!” She gasped a second time; this time covering up Applejack’s mouth. “Don’t say that! We don’t use that language in my house!” The farmer rolled her eyes and twisted her way free as Twilight approached. “So, what’s the story?” “A bad one. This road is blocked, so there’s no chance of getting into the port city here.” “Ya’ ain’t scared of a few boys with guns, are ya’? Ain’t like we’ve done anythin’ illegal.” Twilight stared deadpan before holding up her gloved hand. “You haven’t forgotten about these, have you? Take another look at the custom’s post.” She looked and, this time, Fluttershy looked with her. In particular, they watched where people were being let in. It seemed to be taking a while, no doubt leading to the pile up, but after only a moment she noticed two of the soldiers were going along and looking at each person in the line. Their hands in particular. Her eyes widened in realization. “But…but why would…?” “I don’t know, but if I had to guess it probably wasn’t so much what we did the other night as either those airships looking for more people like us or more people acting like Braeburn and that photographer. And with the Nighttouched also getting ready to come across, the military is going to be so on edge that I don’t think we should try and show our sigils off that much.” “Oh my…” Fluttershy remarked. Applejack frowned and crossed her arms. “Fine. We’ll just head down the river to the next port.” “That won’t be for another seventy miles, and these crowds might already have them taken up. Thousands of people already have to have been turned away. Even if they aren’t, do you think they’ll let Fluttershy’s animals take up so much space for passengers?” “Well, what other choice we got?” Twilight’s shoulders slumped. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing… We don’t even have any money to get on board a ferry in the first place.” “Don’t that just beat all…” Applejack groaned; snatching off her hat and scratching her head. “I’ve been nervous as a cat in a room fulla rockin’ chairs all day thinkin’ every odd sound I hear is another airship, and now we gotta worry ‘bout the national guard too if they do show up. ‘Til yesterday I’d have loved ta’ stay in Appleloosa the rest of my life, and now the last place I wanna be in is in it and gettin’ out on foot ain’t gonna be the way ta’ do it.” She frowned as a bit of shouting came from their surroundings. “It’d be a helluva lot easier ta’ think if that fella over there’d quit yellin’…” Twilight looked puzzled at the comment and glanced up. There were a number of groups like theirs stopped alongside the road—no doubt due to seeing their way shut and reassessing their situation. Most of them were talking and many of them were yelling. However, there was one in particular louder than all. A rather stocky giant of a man with a drooping hat was perched on an overturned broken wagon, cupping his hands to his mouth and yelling at the top of his lungs. “Vet! We need a vet!” Twilight perked up. Moments later she turned and began to move over to him. “What…? Where ya’ goin’?” Applejack called as she ran off, but she didn’t stop. Sighing, the farmer looked behind. “Fluttershy, jus’ stay here with Spike and yer critters.” She muttered before taking off after her. Even going against the flow of the people, it didn’t take long for Applejack to catch up to Twilight, but it took the latter even less time to run up to the feet of the man and hold her hand up waving until she got his attention. “Excuse me? Sir?” He glanced downward. “Did you say you needed a ‘vet’?” “Sure do,” he grumbled back, although based on his look there more than a little worry on his voice. He motioned behind him. Twilight, and Applejack now arriving behind her, looked and saw twenty to thirty head of cattle grazing idly on the grass by the side of the road with various ranchers fussing about them. “All that’s left of the ranch after the Nighttouched came through last night. Got ta’ herd ‘em south as soon as possible. The owner’s got a friend with a boat he uses as a ferry to move them down the river, but one of the bulls is lookin’ sick and one of the heifers is pregnant and just about on her last legs. It’s bad enough after losin’ everything else we may lose the mom and the calf, but that’s the prize bull. The owner doesn’t want to put him down if he can avoid it but if he gets the rest of the herd sick it won’t be worth it. It’s a long shot but we need a vet real bad. Know one?” Twilight, put on the spot, held a moment. “Um…well…” The man picked up on her hesitation, and quickly spoke again. “Ma’am, if you know a vet, we’ll be happy ta’ take him or her down the river on the boat too. ‘Bout all we can offer up right now.” Twilight stared back a few seconds before her look grew thoughtful. “Could you excuse me a moment?” She turned around. Applejack was about to say something, but Twilight immediately advanced on her, took her by the arm, and began to lead her back toward Fluttershy. She looked at her confused. “What?” “You heard what he just said, right?” The farmer frowned. “Fat lot o’ good it’ll do us. Don’t look at me ta’ be able ta’ take care o’ no sick cattle. Sure, we had a couple livestock back home, but it was always the older folks who-” “Not you.” She pointed ahead. “Her.” Applejack looked up. It took her a moment to realize that she was indicating Fluttershy. She nearly questioned why she would choose her but, before she could, her mind clicked and she came to the same realization. She ended up holding her tongue all the way back to the pink-haired woman. As soon as they arrived she turned to both. “How did it go?” Applejack didn’t split hairs. “Fluttershy, ya’ think ya’ can cure a sick bull and help a heifer push out her calf?” She went wide-eyed. “Wh…what?” “Fluttershy,” Twilight joined in, “that man over there is some sort of rancher. They’re trying to move their cattle down the river but some of them need help from a vet. Since you’ve taken care of all of these animals, we were wondering if you could do the same for him. If you do, he’ll take us all down the river along with him.” “Oh…oh my…” she swallowed. She immediately began to nervously cringe again—much to Applejack’s chagrin. “I’ve…I’ve never done anything for animals that big before… I’m…I’m not sure…” “But you handle the rest of these animals so well,” Twilight added. “And you’ve cared for all of them when they were injured. Besides, if they have a boat that’s big enough to let a whole herd of cattle on, they might be the only boat around that could take all of your animals as well.” “That’s true…” Fluttershy quietly admitted. “It’s just…well…um…” She nervously wrung her hands together, playing with a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. “Did…did he happen to say how many people are going to be on the boat?” “How many…fer cryin’ out loud!” Applejack groaned. “Yer gonna blow a prime opportunity like this ‘cause yer still scared of folks?” “I just…don’t get along with other people that well…” she softly answered, looking again to the ground. Twilight’s face looked like it felt a little of Applejack’s frustration, but she stayed level-headed. “Please, Fluttershy. This might be our best way out of Appleloosa. Besides, you saw how the military is starting to look for people with symbols on their hands. The longer we stay in this country the more thorough they’ll get. Can you please try?” Fluttershy remained timid and quiet for a few moments, but she finally placed a hand to her chin. “Well…those animals do sound like they need help. And if I’m really the only one who can, then I really can’t ignore it…” She hesitated a little longer before finally looking up. Taking a deep breath, to assert her own bravery, she stood. “Alright. I’ll help.” Twilight sighed in relief. “Thanks a lot.” “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about,” Applejack answered, before spinning around and waving her hat in the air to get the man’s attention. “Hey over there! Got yer vet right here!” The arrangement took very little time to work out. There were seven ranchers in all including the one who had been calling out, and they took Fluttershy right to the affected animals. In spite of her tension and anxiety, to say nothing of the fact that she refused to work until everyone stood at a distance, she knew her stuff as Twilight had hoped. It took about a three hour delay, but not only was Fluttershy able to help deliver the calf but, seemingly miraculously, the sickness on the bull left him after she tended to him long enough. The ranchers were able to get the cattle moving soon after, and, true to their word, they invited them along. “We’re much obliged for the help, ladies,” the first rancher said as they moved along. “The truth is a lot of them got bites and scratches from the Nighttouched last night we were worried might get infected, but we weren’t gonna try and deal with all that when we had stuff that could cost the herd. Once we get on board, we’d be mighty appreciative if your friend would tend to those too.” As it turned out, Fluttershy ended up agreeing far more readily. Tending to the first two cattle had seemed to make her more amiable in general, although she remained shy and withdrawn and stayed close to Spike while keeping Twilight and Applejack between her and the ranchers. The group explained the boat was going to dock at a simple local pier two miles down from the crossroads, and both the three women as well as the ranchers and what was left of their herd plus Fluttershy’s “herd” all headed that way. Halfway there, Applejack leaned into Twilight. “Smart move back there. Didn’t think ta’ see if Fluttershy could fit the bill, and even if she could she seemed like she’d never be able ta’ pull it off.” “I knew she’d be fine,” Twilight quietly spoke back, so that only the farmer could hear. “I got a good look at her symbol. It’s the sigil for the Healer.” “What? Healer?” “Remember how I said you’re a Warrior and I’m a Caster? You were good at fighting and strong before you used your Anima Viri. The same with me and magic. Fluttershy must have the innate ability to heal too. That’s why she’s able to keep her animals from turning into Nighttouched.” Applejack looked to Fluttershy and her herd. An idea popped into her head. “Say…ya’ don’t suppose, if she could get her hands on an Anima Viri of her own, that she’d be able ta’ actually stop Nighttouched cold? Turn ‘em all the way back? Maybe even…even do somethin’ against Light Eaters?” Twilight sighed. “The thought did occur to me, but even if Fluttershy was brave enough to do that, Anima Viris don’t just grow on trees and even when one arises it’s hard to get. If she really is a recluse, I’m not sure how many souls would resonate with hers to begin with.” The farmer frowned. “Got a point there.” “My main worry right now is the Tantabus and the airships. Let’s get away from them first and then we can focus on what comes after.” A mile later, they reached a point where the ravine edge had worn down enough for them to descend next to the bank of the river. The group made their way there and soon came to a stand of two buildings. Both were weather beaten, old, and unused, but there was a small personal pier that had been built there. There were also about twenty additional people already gathered; most of them looking akin to the laborer ranchers. However, they also looked in much worse shape. Several of them had dressings and were limping or moving stiff. Some of those dressings were bloodstained. Nevertheless, they picked themselves up as soon as they saw the group coming in. “Who are all of these people?” Twilight asked. “Other families who got hit last night,” the big rancher grumbled back. “Much as I hate that we lost all but twenty-six cattle, at least we ain’t ruined. Unlike the rest of these poor bastards. Owner figured the least she could do was get the rest of them out. Once the Light Eaters move in, there’ll be no gettin’ that land back.” Twilight said nothing, but Applejack herself frowned while Fluttershy cringed at the thought. The ranchers didn’t take long moving the cattle onto the boat, and as soon as they were all loaded the people came on next, in spite of the many awkward stares Fluttershy got as she loaded her own animals. Luckily, the ship had enough room for all of them. It truly did seem to be an older livestock ferry, and while it bore a resemblance to a barge or overgrown pontoon with mostly just a large, wide space on one deck, it got the job done. Soon they were all on board, pushing off, and making much better time as they accelerated the boat to a steady 25 miles per hour. The rest of the day was a welcome reprieve. Nothing but slowly heading down the river, passing by the occasional port town or dock on either side. Naturally, many other boats were preparing to make way as well, but as everyone was going roughly the same speed things never got crowded. The ravine gradually leveled out completely, but as the Shell River ran right alongside the Hyperborean Mountains they never escaped their looming shadow. Twilight and Applejack spent most of the day on deck, although the latter of the two seemed nauseated any time she looked over the side. A few ranchers hung out there as well but, for the most part, they kept to the single large cabin adjacent to the helm, which only figured as many of them looked rather injured and didn’t want to be up or about. Fluttershy, on her part, spent all the time with her animals or the cattle. After a few hours, Twilight got up and began to make her way to walk around the deck. As the helm and cabin were a bit recessed into the ship, it was actually possible to walk around behind the cabin and see the river in back as well as in front, but other than the landscape there was little to witness. While the road they had been told to go along ran alongside the river, the large crowds and caravans on it had gradually diminished into nothing. They had to be in the area below where Appleloosa had ordered the evacuation, or at least the minimum safe distance the people believed. After searching the skies for about twenty minutes behind the boat, Twilight finally came back around and moved to the front again. At this point, the sun was starting on its way down, and the cabin was casting a lengthening shadow over the deck. No sooner had she reached the front when she saw Applejack coming up to meet her. She had something in her hand and was waving it. “Bit o’ bread and a tiny slab o’ smoked beef. All they brought ta’ eat, but they said we could have some for all the help.” “Thanks, but Fluttershy did all the work. She should get it first.” “Don’t worry none ‘bout her. I ran some out already. She only took the bread. Apparently she’s one of them er, uh…vegetariables.” “I think that’s ‘vegetarian’.” Reaching Applejack, she reached out and accepted a piece of both from the farmer. She immediately began to eat it and cleaned up in no time. (It wasn’t until she was actually chewing on the food that she realized just how hungry she was.) “See any airships?” Twilight shook her head. “No, but they can turn up pretty fast. Especially Trottingham ones. They burn less coal and don’t leave as big smoke trails. And I’m still nervous about the time. It’s only an hour or two until dark.” Applejack gave her a look at that. “Uh, ya’ know we’re well south of Equestria now, right?” “Huh?” “We’ve got to have gone at least a hundred miles since we got on this boat.” It was a moment before it clicked. “Oh…oh yeah. Heh…forgot about that…” Applejack was quiet a moment, and leveled one eye at her. “Spend most of yer time near the border?” “I guess you could say that… That’s where the road usually ends up taking me, but…well…uh…I just happen to like to stay close to Equestria and…” “And I don’t suppose hangin’ ‘round the border so much’s got anything to do with the fact that you’ve realized this Promethian Sigil thing seems to be great at killin’ Nighttouched?” Twilight was quiet for a moment, before she exhaled. She crossed a hand over one arm and looked out to the passing river. “I guess I never really gave up all hope of using my power to put a stop to this…” Applejack frowned and lowered her own head. “Guess that’s nice ta’ hear…although ever since ya’ chewed me out ‘bout it I realized the sense in what you were sayin’. Not like two of us can take out somethin’ that tore up most of the armies in Greater Everfree if we can’t even deal with one airship takin’ pot shots at us. ‘Specially if most of the other folks who got these marks are like…” She trailed off, quickly pursing her lips. Twilight looked up and saw why. At that moment, Fluttershy, looking rather dirty and her slip no doubt stained with something that probably rendered her clothes uncleanable walked up to both of them with Spike and Angel in tow. Spike went right up to Twilight while the rabbit stayed at her side. “Alright everyone, I’ve taken care of all the animals. They should be good until we get them to a nice new ranch to graze on.” She smiled at Twilight. “I need to thank you. I would never have been brave enough to speak up that I could help, but I’m really glad I did.” “Oh, uh…heh…don’t mention it,” Twilight answered as she bent down and pet her dog. Fluttershy smiled a moment more, as Applejack inched away from the bit of the stink her clothing had. Soon afterward, her face turned to concern. “So, I just realized… I talked to Clyde again, and he says that we aren’t going to stop until we hit the junction to Grifftham City. I don’t think we’re going to reach that until after dark. And…we’ll be out here…” She gulped and looked around. “In a boat…without any protection…or shelter…” She began to cringe again as her eyes looked skyward. “Oh dear…” “Eh, relax,” Applejack waved off. “Like I was telling Twilight over here, we’re leaving the border of Equestria way behind us.” “Uh, technically, that’s not true.” Both Fluttershy and Applejack turned to Twilight as she pointed to the Hyperboreans. “The middle range of those mountains are actually all Equestria. The territory has mostly just been claimed by Griffonstone and Mount Aris. Before it was, Equestria almost split them in half except at the bay to the south.” Now Applejack stiffened. “Ya’ mean ta’ tell me that Equestria is right over there? And we’re sailing down alongside it?” “I…I thought all of Equestria was taken over by the Light Eaters…” Fluttershy whimpered. “But like Applejack says, that’s no reason to worry,” she reassured. “This part is nothing but rough peaks and impassible mountains. Even the Nighttouched didn’t venture into those.” A pause. “At least, I don’t think they did. And if they did, nothing’s come out in eight years.” She looked to the two girls, quickly seeing that neither of them looked terribly comforted by that. Now Applejack was glancing at the mountains uneasily. “I mean, boats go down this river all the time and not one of them ever got an attack, so…” Still nothing. Twilight winced uncomfortably. “Hey Fluttershy!” The three girls snapped out of it and looked, just in time to see Clyde run up from the rest of the livestock. He went straight to the pink-haired woman, who, once again, instinctively shrank back a little. “The cattle are lookin’ great. We’re mighty obliged to you.” It took a moment, but she eased and straightened again with a smile. “Oh, you’re welcome. It really wasn’t any bother at all. They’re so pleasant and well behaved. And I was so happy to see the look of joy on that mother’s face at her new calf.” Clyde looked a little perplexed at that, considering how expressionless cattle generally were, but he let it pass. “Anyway, you’ve already done so much for us, but I was wonderin’ if you might do just one more favor.” “Oh certainly. What is it?” He pulled off his hat and held it closer to him. “You seem to really know what you’re doing with animals, so…we were kinda wondering if you might know a thing or two about people as well. You see, one of the little boys in our group got his leg broke. The wagon wheel came loose, he got toppled out, and the whole side fell right on it. He’s been in pain ever since. Mind comin’ in and havin’ a look at him?” Fluttershy’s smile immediately went away. Applejack and Twilight had both seen her nervous before now, but never this much. Some of the color drained from her face as she began to cringe again. “Oh…oh my…” She spoke even more quietly than before; almost in an inaudible whisper. Clyde looked confused. “Somethin’ wrong, ma’am?” “Oh, I just…I…I’m sorry. Tending to animals is one thing, but…but I don’t try and take care of people. Especially children. It’s just…just…I…I don’t do well with children.” “You sure? He’s a big boy. He won’t cry or nothin’ if it hurts a bit.” “I-I-I’m sorry…but I’ll have to say no…” Clyde frowned, but he saw she wouldn’t change on this. Finally he gave in. “Alright…I’ll let his folks know you just know how to treat cattle, not kids. We only got about two or three more hours on the river anyway…” Turning away, he began to head back to the one cabin. As soon as he was inside, both Twilight and Applejack gave Fluttershy an uncertain look. “You know, people aren’t all that different from animals. Especially those cows,” Twilight suggested. “If you could make them feel better, I’m sure you could do the same for that child.” Fluttershy stood a bit more, but only to shake her head. “No, I don’t think so. I’m really no good with children at all.” “What’s the matter? Somethin’ happen?” Applejack asked. She didn’t answer, only bowed her head to let more hair fall over her face before she bent down, took up Angel, and then turned away to head back to her animals. Once she was gone, Applejack crossed her arms. “Like I was beginnin’ ta’ say, I ain’t sure how much good she’d be to most folks the way she is.” “Well, nothing for it now, but once we’re away from these people and the rest of Appleloosa I’d like to talk to her a bit more about her power. And yours for that matter,” Twilight answered. She turned and began to head over to the cabin herself, not to go inside but to find a bit of wall to lean against. “Let’s just hope we get there alright first, and that by using the river and going this far south we can get away from anyone who might be looking for Promethian Sigils.” “Fine by me. After no real breakfast for a few days, I could really go for some eggs. Maybe I’ll head over to Fluttershy and see if I can’t talk her…huh?” Twilight was just about to lean against the wall when she looked up. “What’s the matter?” “It seem…a bit darker out to you?” She stood up once again on hearing that, and looked around. Sure enough, the light around them was much dimmer than a moment ago. It had been late afternoon, but now it seemed more akin to the evening. Applejack turned her head. “We go past a mountain? Sun shouldn’t set for a while…yet…” She trailed off as she looked to the sun. It hadn’t moved. It was still in the sky in its late afternoon position. Nevertheless, it had dimmed. It was as dark as it would be if it was just about to set under the horizon. And it was getting dimmer. The two women stiffened as the realization hit both of them. It didn’t take long for the same realization to travel over the rest of the ship. Although they couldn’t see inside the cabin or helm, the sound of the engines on the boat revving from the boiler being stoked soon started to roll out. As more smoke poured from the chimney, the sun grew dimmer yet. Although it was still in the sky, it grew so faint that both women could look at it without being blinded. The stars began to come out as parts of the sky tinged from orange to purple, and then darker yet. “This far south?” Twilight exhaled aloud in a panicked whisper. Her eyes went to the mountains and began to scan them nervously. “Fluttershy!” Applejack called out, as loud as she dared. “Fluttershy! Get up here! Get to the cabin!” The sun began to fade from sight all together as the sky transitioned fully into darkness. The engine chugged louder as the boat was pushed up to thirty miles per hour in spite of the danger of driving in the dark. Applejack reached for her side and pulled out her hammer. She nearly spoke the chant right there, but stifled herself on realizing she emitted a light whenever she did. Instead, she began to look around herself fearfully too. “See anything?” she called to Twilight. She looked about a moment longer at the newly formed night, then suddenly pointed. “Look!” Applejack turned. For a moment, she only saw the fading outline of the top of the Hyperborean Mountain Range. Yet a cluster of stars suddenly seemed to arise from it, and in moments she realized she wasn’t looking at the sky but what appeared to be a moving mountain peak itself rising over the top. In spite of her bravery in the face of the otherworldly monsters, Applejack’s jaw dropped. It was clear she hardly believed Fluttershy’s description until now. She was only looking at the backside of the thing, and only the mountains were large enough to conceal it. It had to be several stories tall easily. She would have suspected she was imagining things or not seeing it properly when its body suddenly slammed down. In spite of the rushing river sounds, she heard a dull whump far in the distance, right before specks of what looked like starry dew flew from it. She realized it had just taken a step, and it shed out small bits of itself when it did. Soon after, it raised again only to drop once more. Again, more splashes of starry dew, some of them almost erupting from it. Applejack nearly stammered. “Good…good lord…” Twilight said nothing at first, transfixed on staring at the massive Light Eater as it took another step. While she did, a light pitter patter rang out on the boat as Fluttershy finally walked up to them. “E-E-Everyone…I don’t mean to alarm you, but…it started getting really d-d-dark and spooky all of the sudden and-” She froze on seeing the Tantabus. She couldn’t even muster the courage for an “oh my”. She only whimpered. “S…stay calm…” Twilight stammered. The farmer wheeled to her. “Stay calm? Stay calm? If that thing comes over here, it’s curtains! This river ain’t nothin’ but a mud puddle ta’ somethin’ that big!” “But it’s not coming over here!” Twilight harshly whispered back. “From that far, it can’t even hear us! And it’s taking big steps but we’re faster than it! We’ll leave it behind!” Sure enough, with the boat still accelerating to 35 miles per hour, the rising and falling motion of the giant Light Eater was slowly fading into the distance. Nevertheless, each time it stepped down it continued to give off more bits of itself. And on its next step, the pieces launched so far it was like a firework had gone off. All three women saw bits fly for a mile in all directions easily. On the following step, in spite of gaining ground, the three saw one starry bit in particular shoot off of its body, arc through the heavens, and begin to descend right for their position on the river. “Uh-oh…” “Hang on!” Applejack’s warning, however, proved to be unnecessary. They watched the starry bit as it got closer, seeing it was easily the size of a rainbarrel, but it didn’t land on the boat itself. It fell down in the area behind the main cabin and a loud splash sounded. Twilight and Spike immediately took off for the other side of the boat to see the impact. Applejack followed suit and Fluttershy, quickly realizing she was being abandoned, trembled once before forcing herself to follow. The three rounded the cabin quickly and went to the edge. The river had already smoothed out whatever disturbance had been made by the splash, but even without it the three spotted the after effect. A large black spot, like a mass of tar, was on the water now and slowly spreading outward. It slowed as it did, but it did leave a patch of darkness even deeper than the night they found themselves plunged into in its wake. Twilight sighed in relief. “That was close. Only about fifty feet short…” “What d’ya reckon would’ve happened if it hit us?” Before Twilight could answer, the fur on the back of Spike’s neck rose. He barred his teeth and started to growl at the water. “Um…everyone?” Fluttershy nervously spoke up. The two girls looked back and saw what was changing. In the wake of the dark spot they were leaving down the river, small yellow orbs were appearing beneath the water. Soon they began to scatter away from the initial spot and run through the rest of the river, moving at speeds fast even for strong river trout. Moments later, two more splashes went out further up the river as two more of the starry droplets struck it. Applejack’s eyes widened. “Them bits of that thing… They’re turnin’-” “Nobody panic!” Twilight quickly whispered loudly. “They can’t hear us over the river underwater, and there’s no light sources for them to target on the deck of this boat! We just keep going downstream a bit farther and we’ll make it!” “Uh…everyone?” Applejack, nervously looking at the river, groaned. “Yeah, yeah, we see it, Fluttershy…” “Um…that’s…that’s not… Um…er…” Applejack frowned. “I said we see it! What’s wrong with ya’?” Twilight turned to Fluttershy as she began to cringe and fold her arms, but she also noticed she was trembling far more fiercely than before. “I…I just wanted to say…um…that…” Her voice lowered. “That’s…not what I was scared of.” Applejack, and even Spike, looked up to her. She covered her eyes with one hand and pointed to the mountains. The two looked, and saw the Tantabus was falling farther and farther behind. However, coming out from the cracks between the mountains, emerging from caves, or perhaps protruding from old train or mine tunnels, were hundreds of Nighttouched. They poured out like living streams of blackness; their yellow eyes burning fiercely in the newly-created night. Twilight’s own jaw was agape now. She looked at it for several seconds, before finally taking a deep breath. “Ok…I still say it’s best not to panic. We’re outrunning them and so long as we can keep a good distance on them and keep accelerating, none of them can possibly catch up.” Scarcely had Twilight finished saying this when a small eruption of the smaller Nighttouched burst out of one of the holes; the result of something behind it suddenly breaking loose. All three women gaped again on seeing a much larger shape come barreling out of the cave, only to unfurl great, high-speed wings and give a mighty flap to quickly shoot itself out the rest of the way and into the night sky. None of the three had ever seen a bird like this before, but based on the fact it stood as large as two of them put together and could still fly meant it had to have been warped from its original form by the Nighttouched. Its wings and tail were built for high speed, like a falcon, but its beak was broader and a tuft of hair on top of its head indicated almost a peacock. Its yellow eyes seemed particularly burning and vivid. While the boat did indeed begin to leave the rest of the emerging Nighttouched behind, this one had scarcely emerged before its head turned fully to the boat, and soon it changed its path around to make for it. “Twilight…um…no disrespect, but…it sure looks like it’s comin’ this way…” “Just…s-s-stay calm…” Her voice was growing progressively more anxious. “It can’t key on us without light…” “Um, what…what about the fire rising from the coal boiler? Couldn’t it, um…maybe…possibly…see it from the sky?” Twilight’s pallor turned a shade wan, just as the Nighttouched bird collapsed its wings and went into a diagonal dive right for their boat. As it neared, its thick beak opened wide, and the three were surprised to see a third light coming from inside of it. Moments later, it strafed over the boat, but as it did a jet of flame erupted from its throat and blazed a line of fire straight across the rear deck. Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy all reared back in alarm, but kept from bolting as they saw the fire was aimed on the opposite side of the boat. Nevertheless, it quickly ignited into a burning blaze across the wooden structure, and in moments the darkness was broken by a fiery glow. And once that happened, the three saw the yellow eyes scattered throughout the river rapidly turn toward the boat before beginning to approach it in unison. “Alright…” Applejack moaned. “Now can we stop bein’ calm?” To be continued...