//------------------------------// // Wave of Pain // Story: Terror Puppet // by Windrunner //------------------------------// ' Words have become my ghosts. - "Princess Celestia, urgent news. Something seems wrong towards Canterlot." A guard burst into the throne room of Twilight's castle. The entire group looked toward him appearing somewhat puzzled by his statement. "I uh, mean something more wrong. There is a very strange rumor going around saying ponies that were known to be in the city when it was attacked are now walking around randomly as if in a daze, attacking and biting anything that moves!" The guard hurriedly explained. That didn't make any sense. Why would any ponies that escaped that disaster be wandering around hurting anyone? "This is one great big mess. What do you think we should do?" Twilight looked to Celestia, but the expression on her face did not instill any confidence. Whatever they were facing now was nearly incomprehensible. The possibility it might be some pony her mentor once cared for made it doubly problematic for several reasons. Not the least of which was what to do when they did make some kind of move. Six hours passed since the assault. A cadre of elite guards only consisting of unicorns was now assembled outside the castle doors awaiting orders. Regular forces would not engage in battle if it was avoidable. Some select powerful wizards and archivist researchers were also summoned with all haste to assist. "At least we don't have to sneak around pretending anymore. I was getting super creeped out near those things. There is something really wrong about each of them." Rainbow Dash still looked somewhat shaken by the whole ordeal. It was no exaggeration to say everything about the puppets felt and was wrong. There was no better way to put it. They all exuded auras of some disjointed feeling like they didn't even belong to reality. What was the secret to them? Stopping only one of them was just short of impossible, but now something even stranger was happening in the countryside. Ponies roaming about biting at others? That sounded like something which could not be real. What could possibly be done? "Without access to the Canterlot archives, we are at a disadvantage here. There is only Twilight's personal library, many smaller libraries and the great library in the Crystal Empire, but that is so far away it might prove futile to even ask. Even so, we have sent word to them about what is happening here." Luna was poring over a stack of books herself, along with some scholars. None of them were having any luck finding much of value in regards to the unusual constructs. "At most we know they are not golems or any other type of known war magics. This is so unusual. So far we haven't found anything mentioning something even remotely like them." Twilight was pacing back and forth, thinking. "Have the captain send a few of the regular guard to look into these rumors of biting ponies. Tell them to be extremely cautious and not get too close. Only observe and report back." Celestia informed the waiting guard and he ran off to carry out her orders. Lacking information on what was happening could prove dangerous on many levels. "I hope it isn't really him." Celestia said unexpectedly. It was somewhat shocking to hear. "Not ta put too fine a point on it but, how could it not be? Sounds like he knows everything about you, and acted like he was?" Applejack was not trying to be hurtful, it was just true. Celestia sighed forlornly. "Yes, it seemed like him. Even felt like him, but I cannot believe it is him. After what happened, war and further death were the very last things he truly wanted. He lost his way and I could not sway him. However, if it is him or even someone that knows what he knew then they know all too well how to wage war. As war seems to be the intent, we should prepare defenses around the town at once. This would be his first target beyond Canterlot." Celestia finally seemed to have snapped out of her misery over it a little bit and went to oversee fortifying the area. Could she be correct? Actual warfare and the miseries it brings were nearly consigned to textbooks. Now an actual war might be bearing down on top of them? "How can this be? War? There hasn't been a real war in Equestria in so long I'm not sure how well we will deal with it." Said one of the berobed unicorns assisting Luna in her reading. For all this time Fluttershy was huddled in a corner looking through books as well, looking a slight bit catatonic. Nothing new for her. "Fear not. We shall put an end to this evil, whatever it takes." Luna stated somewhat coldly sounding, but it was not unusual coming from her. She'd been through a lot lately as well. Torment was on her face. "She's right. Fear and pain are things that our enemy seems to thrive on. Let's not willingly give it to them." Twilight stopped pacing and said. "Twi, could it really be him? Is it possible? He would hafta to be like eight hundred years old. No offense." Applejack looked at Luna but she just shrugged while continuing to read the book before her muzzle. "Maybe. Age spells exist, but they aren't for that kind of thing and certainly not for long term use. There are other methods, but most of them are just terrible. Not things you would willingly do to yourself. What I know of them is, in the end, they all amount to torture." Twilight looked at the small wooden replica Discord left behind of the puppet king. Why did he leave it there anyway? It might mean nothing, but knowing him it could also be a useful clue. It was hard to tell. "All ah know is we best come up with something fast, this fella has already caused a great deal of grief to lotsa ponies and that ain't fair." Applejack was obviously concerned for her family as well. If whatever happened in Canterlot might happen here as well, then they were all in trouble. --- Beware the quiet calm which comes in the middle of a storm..