//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: Seperation 
// Story: Where Evil Sleeps 
// by Nanrite 
//------------------------------//

“If any p-p-pony is out th-there, ph-please respond,” Bow said into the radio transceiver he had set up at the old Colt Scout cabin. He set the corded microphone back down and looked around the room. Nothing was out of place, but as the minutes turned to hours with no word from his team he began to grow uneasy. He trotted over to a window and peered out; sometimes he swore he saw the shape/figure of a pony in the forest, but his team had yet to return. 
“I hu-hope Re-Re-R….” Bow stomped a hoof and bit his tongue in frustration. “F-Fucking stutter!” He went back to the radio transceiver and picked up the microphone again. 
“Ph-Please…” Bow closed his eyes and focused everything he had into speaking. “Please, if you guys can hear me… please respond.” 





“Is she going to be okay Remy?” Lance asked, watching intently as Golden Remedy put one last herbal patch on a large gash across Sky’s right flank. 
“Yes, these patches are a marvel of modern Equestrian medicine. Her wounds should be healed within an hour,” Remedy said, turning up to meet the stallion’s gaze. 
“Good,” Lance began then stopped, as if choosing his next words carefully. “I want to go look for Captain Swift Hoof.” 
Remy glared at him. “No way Lance,” she affirmed. “Separation is suicide. We’re stronger together.” 
“I understand that, but the Captain-” 
“I’m worried too!” Remy screamed. Lance stopped and looked to her, frowning. 
    “Sky is in bad shape; even with the patches she’s defenseless like this. I don’t like going out there alone either, but the captain could be worse off than Sky right now!”
Remy looked up at him with pleading eyes. She knew he had a point, and while separating was dangerous, it could save Swift Hoof’s life. Inside she was protesting, yelling at Lance to stay with her and Sky, but on the outside she was silent. She felt tired, powerless to stop the events going on around her. Suddenly a hoof on her shoulder zapped her back to reality. She looked up to see Lance smiling at her, just like her brother would when she needed it most. 
“I’ll come back, Remy,” Lance stated. “I promise.” 





Crystal Sip narrowly managed to hide behind one of the many statues in the plantation’s art gallery as a young stallion walked through the door at the far end of the room. She peered out from behind the base as the unicorn walked through the room, a spear in his magical grasp. The room was large, with many statues and tables to hide behind, but Crystal wasn’t taking any chances, not in this place. 
The stallion peered around the room and slowly made his way to the door Crystal had come through—the door which led to the twisting hall with the scary moving pictures. She had wanted to avoid that room, but she was chased into it by those ponies in the library. 
The stallion didn’t look like the one who had taken her, maybe he was from the outside? Maybe even he was here to rescue her! That thought was quickly brushed away; this place was unnatural, the things here were monsters, and even if this stallion looked normal, he was a monster too. But as quickly as he had arrived, he had left, through the door into the picture hall. 
Crystal stayed still. Minutes passed and the door the stallion had entered had remained shut. Slowly, the little filly trotted towards the door the stallion had came from. If her mental map of this place was correct, this room was the lounge area for the ballroom on the first floor. She fluttered her wings and twisted the door knob. 
The door opened slowly and Crystal trotted in before quickly freezing in place. Looking at her was a mare, younger than the stallion she had seen just a few minutes ago but older than herself. Crystal’s mind raced. She couldn’t go back to the picture hall and the stairs to the ballroom were blocked off by this mare. 
“A filly?” the mare asked. 
Crystal’s heart was pounding, she had to get out, had to escape. 
“Calm down… it’s okay,” the mare said as she stood up, smiling at Crystal. 
“S-Stay back!” Crystal yelled. 
“I’m not going to hurt you,” the mare said in a warm, calming voice. “My name’s Golden Remedy, what’s yours?” 
Crystal was silent then finally spoke. “C-Crystal Sip.” 
Remy stood up and started to approach the filly, but Crystal backed away. “It’s okay Crystal, I’m with a team from Canterlot, we’re here to rescue you.” 
“You...you are?” Crystal replied.
Remy nodded. 
“You’re not one of the monsters?” 
“Not that I know of,” Remy chuckled. “You must be really brave to have made it this far alone.” 
Crystal smiled and slowly approached her. Remy leaned down and offered the little filly a hug. Crystal smiled even wider and jumped into Remy’s hooves.  
“How long have you been here?” Remy asked, setting the little filly back down. 
“It’s… I’m not sure…” Crystal said frowning. “Who is that?” The filly asked pointing a hoof over to Sky who still lay unconscious on the floor.
“That’s Night Sky,” Remy began. “She’s with me.” 
“Why are her wings like that?” 
“She’s a bat pony,” Remy stated. “I’ll introduce you when she wakes up!” Crystal nodded and smiled. “By the way Crystal, did you see a stallion walking around? Blue coat? Blue and white mane?” 
“Yeah, a few minutes ago, he was-” 
Suddenly there was a scream. Remy could tell it was Lance.