//------------------------------// // Meetings // Story: Stars in the Shadow of Night // by Melody Song //------------------------------// "Pharynx!" Thorax ran up to his brother, who turned to face him. "What is it Thorax?" "This can't be right! You know we can't fight the ponies. They won't survive!" "I know." Pharynx pulled off the helmet to his armor. "But what choice do we have Thorax? The Queen will kill whoever tries to object. I can't let that happen, you're all I have." Thorax looked aside, giving a small sigh. Pharynx placed a hole-filled leg on his brother's shoulder. "Just keep your head low, don't draw attention to yourself, and whatever you do, don't leave my side." he ordered, then grabbed Thorax's hoof and dragged him off. Neither noticed, but one of the rocks in the hallway shifted, and eyes appeared in it. A young, slender female changeling transformed back from her hiding form. She watched the brothers go, then turned and trotted away. --------------------------------------------------- "But dad!" Ember yelled, voice raising. "Why?!" "It's too dangerous for a Princess!" Dragon Lord Torch replied. "I'm not just some Princess! I can take care of myself!" "I said NO Ember!" "Ooh, I'll show him. He'll be sorry." Ember stormed into her room and lifted the golden armor that would keep her in disguise. "I'm more than just a dumb girl who can't take care of herself." "Princess Ember?" Ember turned and sighed. "Oh, it's just you Smolder. For the last time, it's just Ember." "Whatever cousin. Look, my brother says there's an impending war with the griffons, ponies, and some creatures called changelings. Figured he might be lying, but you know everything that goes on, so... is he lying?" "No. It's true." Ember glanced down at the armor she held, and looked up, smiling. "How would you like to help your Princess sneak onto the battlefield, cousin?" Smolder smirked, leaning on the cave wall. "Your Majesty, all you had to do was ask." --------------------------------------------------- Grandpa Gruff stifled a cough and raised his fist. "To war! To war!" the griffons chanted. A hooded figure peeked around the side of a house, then slipped in through the window. It reached the apparent kitchen and snatched some dry, crumbled biscuits from the counter. The figure then crept back out of the house and made its way to an old abandoned library. The figure pulled down its hood to reveal a tan body, white head, and white feathers with purple tinges. "I'm home!" Gilda called into the crumbling library. Two more griffons emerged from the rubble "Did you bring food?" one griffon asked. He had blue fur and feathers, with yellow tinges. He and the second one, a griffon with gray fur and feathers, with darker tinges, went up to Gilda. She smiled half-heartedly and produced the stale biscuits. "Did you steal food again Gil?" the second asked. "Gab, we need it more then they do." Gilda said, and Gabby sighed, nodding. "Why did they exile us Gilda?" the blue griffon asked, biting into a biscuit. "Because we don't want to go to war Gallus. I know there's a better way." Gilda said, and Gabby nodded. Gallus coughed a little. "You okay Gal?" Gabby asked. "Y-Yeah, just a bit cold." Gallus replied, though Gilda looked at him in concern. "You sure?" "Yeah." "Anyway, who needs those other griffons? We're doing just fine on our own, just three friends, making our own way together!" Gabby added. She reached, pulling both the other griffons into her grasp. Gilda pulled away, shaking her head to re-do her feathers. Gallus coughed again and leaned into Gabby, laying his head on his friends' shoulder. "Yeah...just fine..." Gilda sighed, glancing at Gallus and wishing she had Gabby's optimism. ---------------------------------------------- Sandbar peered around the corner of the military room. He snuck into the room and gazed wishfully out the window at a lake in the distance. He closed his eyes, remembering days spent playing with his sister on a sandy beach, splashing in the waves as saltwater lapped at his hooves. Carefree days in the summer sun, joy and laughter filling the memory. "Come on Sandbar, let's go." A stallion remarked, passing by. Sandbar's memory faded as he opened his eyes again. He turned away from the window, glancing back one last time. He made his way out of the room and sighed. "I wish there was a better way." Sandbar thought. He ran to catch up with the stallion. "Captain? I was wondering if I might try the medic ward again, I just don't seem to be getting the hang of-" "Sorry recruit, but at this point the only ones who should be medics are the ones who know what they're doing. We need all available soldiers." the Captain said "Well, are there any positions near the oceans? I was training to be a lifeguard, and-" "No such position exists soldier, now enough talk, let's move." Sandbar sighed and nodded, following him obediently. ---------------------------------------------- Months later, citizens of Equestria and beyond have been tasked with fighting. They have fought for six months now. Though not all of their own consent. ---------------------------------------------- "Pharynx!" Thorax cried as he was shoved away from his brother in the battle. "Thorax!" In a flash of green light Pharynx had transformed into a giant bugbear. He began swatting away griffons and dragons. "Ahh!" a young changeling screamed as she was batted out of the way. Thorax reacted, flying over and pulling her up. Pharynx transformed back and was suddenly tackled to the ground by a Earth Pony, making cracks in his carapace. They fought until Pharynx managed to push the Earth Pony back and stand. "Ph-Pharynx?" Thorax asked nervously. "You okay?" "I-I-" Pharynx staggered, then fell. His helmet slid off his head and his eyes closed. He lay limp at his brother's hooves. "Pharynx!" Thorax cried again. "U-um, we should get him out of the way." the changeling said. Thorax and the other changeling lifted Pharynx's body, pulling him to the forest nearby. "Who are you?" Thorax asked as the new changeling leaned over his brother, examining him. "O-Ocellus. A-And he's alive, just unconscious." Ocellus looked over at Thorax. "I-I don't want to fight either." "How do you-" "I-I was in rock form, hiding from the guards, when I heard you and your brother talking." Ocellus replied shyly. Thorax sighed and removed his armor, throwing it to the side. Ocellus joined in, showing him she was telling the truth. There was a sudden rustling from the bushes, and Thorax leapt in front of his brother. "Woah!" a green Earth Pony tumbled out of the bushes, looking up at them. He scrambled backwards. "I-I'm not going to hurt you, I-I promise! Just let me go free!" "We're not going to hurt you either." Ocellus said. "I'm Ocellus, that's Thorax, and that's Pharynx." The Earth Pony glanced at Pharynx, and stood up. "I'm Sandbar. And that friend of yours needs help." "He's my brother. Can you help him?" Thorax asked. "I...I can't. But there are rumors that there's a Zebra in a nearby forest that can cure anything." Sandbar glanced around. "She lives south of my hometown, Ponyville." "Then we need to get him there." Thorax lifted Pharynx in his hooves. "Just hold tight big bro, it's my turn to protect you." Thorax murmured. "Y-you don't want to fight?" Ocellus asked Sandbar as they started walking in the direction Sandbar said his town was. "No. I was forced, like the rest of my town." Sandbar said, and Ocellus nodded. "Us too, we don't want to hurt anyone." The three creatures didn't notice, but a red-orange eye flashed in the dark, as well as a shine of gold. Blue wings unfurled, and a blue eye joined the red-orange one. ---------------------------------------------- "Here. The Everfree Forest. Just the thought of going in though...it's enough to make even the bravest pony shudder. It's full of monsters and all sorts of unspeakable things." Sandbar trembled. Thorax looked back at Pharynx, head lolling, carapace dented and cracked. The changeling hissed in his unconscious state, groaning. "I have to go in, Pharynx needs help." "You won't last an hour in there changeling." A orange and purple toned dragoness landed before them, donned in armor. "Wh-who are you?" Ocellus whimpered. "Oh, Smolder. My Princess and I have been following you, and we've decided to join your gang." Smolder said, taking one knee. "G-gang?" Thorax repeated. "Wait, Princess?" Sandbar asked, and another dragoness appeared. She was blue, wearing golden armor. When she took off the helmet, she revealed white horns that curved around her face. "Princess Ember, daughter of Dragon Lord Torch." Ember said. "What were you saying about a gang?" Ocellus asked. "A gang, it's a dragon thing. They join gangs that follow the same morals they do. I don't want to fight either." Smolder said. "And I want to show my father I'm not some namby-pamby Princess who just sits around waiting for the big strong dragons to save her. I'll show him by winning this war for the sake of our people." Ember growled, clenching her fist. "If you allow us to join your 'gang' we can protect you." Smolder offered, gesturing to the forest. "Please. My brother needs help." Thorax agreed. "Then let's get going." Ember said, walking over and eyeing Pharynx. "Something tells me he won't last much longer without help." ---------------------------------------------- They were making their way down the path when they heard noises. "What's that?" Ocellus asked, transforming into a rock. Smolder just picked her up. "I'm not sure. I've never been in the forest before, my mom and dad always warned me not to step hoof in it, or Timberwolves would come and gobble me up." Rock Ocellus transformed back, so Smolder was suddenly holding a changeling. "Timberwolves?" "Uh-huh. Creatures made of enchanted wood, that reform every time you break it apart. They've attacked Ponyville citizens before." Sandbar explained. "All the more reason to get to this Zebra fast." Ember replied. "Right. I think we go this way..." Sandbar led them down the grassy path, and Ocellus suddenly leapt out of Smolder's arms. "Stop! That's Poison Joke!" She transformed into a big dragon, blocking their path. When they stopped she transformed back. "It's really dangerous, if it touches your hoof, it plays a joke on you." "Nice catch." Smolder complimented, and Ocellus smiled, ignoring her fangs making it seem like a snarl. They continued walking, careful to avoid the Poison Joke. Sandbar took the lead again once they were on the other side of the flowers. They soon saw a tree in the distance covered in weird masks and vines, with rocks all around it. There were windows and a door carved in it. "I'm no expert, but I'm assuming someone lives there." Ember said, gesturing to the tree. Sandbar went up to the door and knocked on it. "Um, hello? We-we need help. Is somepony there?" "A pony, no, I daresay not. Though I believe I can be of some help to you lot." A striped mare with earrings, necklaces, and bracelets opened the door. Her coat was gray, her mane black and white, eyes a shining blue. Smiling kindly at the strange group before her, she spoke again. "I have not had visitors in many a moon. However, I am able to welcome them soon." "Uh, do all zebras talk like that? With the rhymes?" Smolder asked. "Yes, they all do young one. Where I am from, this speak is passed down, mother to daughter, father to son." the zebra said. "I am Zecora, now, please come, I see there is work to be done." "Can you heal my brother? Please, he's really hurt." Thorax said, stepping forward. "Indeed, to heal, it is my forte. Please, come this way." Zecora took them into the house. "Woah." Sandbar gasped. The room was full of bottles and a cauldron stood in the center. Zecora beckoned for Thorax to lay Pharynx down on the bed. "Please, set him down, and we will see what I have around." Zecora moved to the bottles on the shelves and picked up a few. "Ah, yes, let's try this Zebra's brew, it should make him good as new." Thorax waited nervously by the bed, looking on as Zecora opened his mouth and poured a bit down his throat. "How long does it take to work?" Thorax asked worriedly. "Only a moment, just two. Then he will wake and we'll see what we can do." Zecora responded. "What do all these do?" Smolder picked up one. "Many can cure, while others simply show what is pure. Much of my stock is from ancient folktale, of a mare who could cure any ail." Zecora said. "You mean the Mystical Mask? I remember that story, it was my favorite." Sandbar said. "Yes, with her power to heal, much of her cures are actually real." Zecora took another bottle and walked to where Pharynx lay. Pharynx began coughing, and Thorax went to his side. Pharynx raised his head, blinking his solid purple eyes. "What happened?" "Pharynx!" Thorax hugged him, and Pharynx yelped. "Oh, sorry Pharynx." "Who are all these creatures?" Pharynx asked, and they all came forward. "They helped me get you here. That's Ocellus, she doesn't want to follow Chrysalis's lead either. And that's Sandbar, he's really nice, he thought to bring you here. Those dragons are Ember and Smolder. And the zebra's Zecora. She's going to heal you." Thorax said. "As for that, I can't be sure. But I will try my best to cure." Zecora held out a potion. "This may help, though I must admit. The potions are meant for ponies to be made fit." "Okay..." Pharynx took the potion and gulped it down. His body glowed light red, and he sighed, closing his eyes. "Did it work?" Smolder asked. Pharynx tried to stand, then fell back down, gritting his teeth. "No." he muttered. "What now?" Ocellus asked. "We try again. It is the trick with medicine." Zecora looked out the window. "Did you bring griffons with you? Or have more creatures yet to pass through?" "Griffons? No, we didn't see any." Ember replied. Zecora opened the door, and they heard a frantic, high-pitched voice. "We heard there was a zebra here who could heal creatures. Please, our friend is really sick! You have to help us!"