“Yes, master!” cried the twin earth ponies, hooves reaching into their cloaks and producing a pair of daggers.
“Curse and slow them down while I rest back control from whatever amatuer reanimated my soldiers,” barked the count, horn already glowing brightly.
Though not far from their opponents, the half dozen undead ambled forward at a slow, sedentary pace. Giving the trio ample time to cast their spells, the first of which came from one of the hooded mares. Tracing the dagger over her heavily scarred pink foreleg, the pony drew a primitive skull with her blade.
Upon completion, she muttered several words in an ancient language, bringing forth a haze of red that fell over the zombies. This haze settled into their bodies, creating an aura that both slowed and weakened the creatures. Her twin followed her a moment later, sticking the dagger into her own forehoof and drawing forth an eruption of blood.
Which pooled in the air, where it was shaped by a strange teal aura into a dagger that was quickly flung at the closest enemy. Who stumbled only briefly upon being hit by the flying red projectile and quickly returned to its stumbling walk. A second later, a groan spilled forth from its rotting lips, the creature rearing up, forelegs outstretched.
“Useless,” cursed Flintheart, his horn flashing brightly.
Bright magenta energy formed into a thin line of magic that shot out and connected with the closest undead. In an instant the confident expression on the count’s face faltered and quickly morphed into one of confusion. His attempt to regain control of the monster was abandoned a second later, another spell building on the tip of his horn.
Though the male didn't speak a word of his failure, the fact that they were still fighting the creatures made his assistants share a wary glance. Whatever they were fighting, it was evidently stronger than anticipated, and they quickly returned to their spellcasting. The pink-hooved earth pony drew a line down her hoof with her knife and then slammed it into the ground directly in front of the leading zombie.
Flesh began to immediately melt and slough off the creature in a wave of rotten gore. Her confidence wavered the second she noticed it was only barely affected by this, stopping for only a moment to glance down at itself. It then surged forward, an unearthly groan spilling forth from seemingly nowhere.
“It's not working. These things are too strong,” she stated, backpedalling to stay out of reach of her opponent.
“Give me a moment, and I will rip the negative energy from their rotting bodies,” Flintheart stated, his horn now pulsing with magic.
The two earth ponies exchanged another glance and followed after their master, keeping one step ahead of their enemies. As time passed, and the living gave more and more ground to the dead, the hooded mares grew increasingly nervous. Until an unnaturally cold wind suddenly billowed in from nowhere, chilling them both to the bone.
As the strange breeze blew over their foes, a dull reddish mist began to emanate from their rotted forms. Magic dissipated out from their bodies, as if it were being torn away by the biting draft, where it quickly fizzled into nothing. They didn't initially fall, however, and for several seconds it seemed like the spell didn't have any effect.
Then the lead undead fell into a pile of inanimate bones, followed closely by the nearest monster. After that it was only a matter of moments before the rest collapsed into a heap, their bodies losing all cohesion.
“Good job, master,” exclaimed one of the ponies.
The unicorn wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and stood a little straighter. “Nothing I couldn't handle. Now then. Let us see about raising the Apple family to…”
He trailed off when he noticed that there were three ponies standing on the porch. Two he recognized as Applejack and Big Macintosh, though he had never seen the last one before. Standing taller than the other two, with a horn longer than even his own, this strange unicorn had an otherworldly aura about her.
“So you’ve defeated more of the chafe,” Flintheart exclaimed. “It matters not what manner of help you have. I will lay claim to this land. One way or another.”
“Err, yeah, that's not happenin’,” Applejack remarked.
“Eenope,” Big Macintosh added.
Flintheart snorted derisively, turning his attention to the unicorn. “You there, stranger. I don't know how much these hicks are paying you, but whatever it is, I will double it.”
The mare blinked. “To do what, exactly?”
The count paused, the unicorn’s voice carrying an odd reverberation to it that briefly put him off. “Why, deal with these buffoons, of course!” Flintheart shouted, gesturing to the earth ponies she was standing next to.
“Nah. Double of nothing is still nothing,” replied the other unicorn.
Flintheart snorted and stomped a hoof. “I don't know how you dealt with the rest of my soldiers, but you will die like the rest! Attack them, my minions!”
The two hooded mares exchanged a wary glance before pulling out their daggers once more.
“Sorry about this, Applejack,” one of them stated sorrowfully.
“It's our mother, you see,” added the other.
“Don't worry about it, Aloe, Lotus,” Applejack replied.
“Less talking, more stabbing!” Flintheart shouted angrily.
Aloe pulled back her hood, revealing her scarred features before raising her weapon, an action her sister shared a moment later. Together the twins charged at the Apple family, blood still dripping from their freshly injured forelegs. Behind them, Flintheart began to weave a potent spell, rising up onto his back hooves in order to better control the strands of magic.
He had no doubt that his minions would do little to slow them down, but that didn't matter to the necromancer. He had a plan to make them useful. Whether they wanted to give their lives to attain his goals or not, they would do just that. His only concern was the strange unicorn who had yet to move a muscle.
“Adrrica, attica, volmus, and wren,” he chanted, hooves outstretched and pointing at his servants.
Purple energy swirled before him, creating a dense web of interconnected points and arcane symbols. Unlike the clean lines of most spells, these dripped with a greenish arcane residue, and pulsed balefully in the open air. It also pulled at the darkness, as if gathering it for some foul purpose that would soon be realized.
“Interesting. You intend on turning them into living bombs,” remarked the unicorn as she strode towards the stallion.
“I-” Flintheart stuttered for a moment, his spell nearly falling apart.
Neither Aloe nor Lotus noticed this however, as they were both attacking the Apple siblings with swift, rapid strikes of their daggers. Neither seemed very adept at close-range fighting, though it was clear that they were at least well-rested while their foes were exhausted. Even still, Applejack and Big Macintosh had a clear advantage, even if they were pulling their punches as best as they could.
“Yeah- that's not happening,” claimed the strange unicorn.
With a single pulse of her horn, Flintheart’s spell collapsed, fizzling out and turning into a spattering of acid which burned into the earth.
“How did you-”
“Ah!” cried Aloe, stumbling to the ground, her dagger flying from her grip.
“Aloe!” yelled her sister, who tried to run over and help.
Big Macintosh was faster though, and dropped his weapon over her head, pulling it tight against her neck. “Let's take a break, eh?” he muttered.
Lotus sputtered and kicked, bringing up her dagger, only to feel the hold on her throat tighten significantly. Realizing the situation she was in, the mare dropped her blade and went limp.
“Please, don't hurt Aloe,” she whispered.
Applejack cocked back a hoof as she loomed over the other mare. “Ya give up?”
Aloe nodded meekly. “Y-yes,” she stuttered.
“What are you doing, fight them!” Flintheart shouted.
“Shouldn't you be more worried about me?” asked the strange unicorn who now stood mere feet away from the stallion.
“I…” He scowled and reached within his coat, quickly producing a strange glass jar topped with a stone head of a screaming earth pony. “I didn't want to use this, but you leave me no choice. Call off the hicks, or else.”
“Or else what?” questioned the odd mare.
“Or else I’ll send their father’s soul to Tartarus!” Flintheart exclaimed, his horn now glowing brightly.
“W-what?” Applejack stuttered, mouth agape.
“You heard me,” Flintheart shouted, raising the jar in emphasis and revealing the swirling yellow essence contained within.
“Isat really…” Big Macintosh began.
Aloe nodded meekly. “He gathered it before coming here. Said it would make for good security.”
“We hoped it wouldn't come to this,” Lotus added grimly, pushing at the weapon hilt which pressed against her throat.
“Wait. How did you even acquire such a thing? Bright Mac died over a decade ago,” claimed the purple unicorn.
Flintheart shrugged. “I know not why, but this soul seems to have some unfinished business on this plane. Not that it matters anymore, as it will serve only one purpose. Adding new slaves to my army.”
“Is that even possible?” Applejack questioned.
Flintheart scoffed. “Don't believe me? Come and see for yourself, but be wary. One wrong step and your father’s soul will be sent to the pits!”
“It's real,” confirmed the strange unicorn.
“I, er… thank you. I knew you had a keen eye the moment I saw you,” Flintheart exclaimed. “Are you sure you are not willing to join me? I could use someone skilled to lead my forces against Ponyville.”
“No, I don't think that will be possible,” stated the strange pony.
“What, why?” Flintheart demanded.
“Well, for one you’ll be dead, and secondly, I’ve got things to do,” the purple mare stated, her expression becoming distant for a moment.
“Things to- what is that whistling noise?” Flintheart asked, too distracted to notice that his jar was suddenly missing.
He never received an answer, as several hundred pounds of armored demon slammed into his torso, instantly pulping his organs and liquefying his bones. The impact was so tremendous that the stallion barely even understood what was happening before his head was disconnected from his body. The force had severed his spine just above his shoulders and sent his skull bouncing across the ground.
It inadvertently gave the male a strange view of his body as it was obliterated under the sheer force of the reddish blur that had hit him. Limbs went flying, blood splattered everywhere, and nearly everyone was painted some mixture of crimson. None of his enchantments even had the chance to flare to life before they were rend asunder by his aerial foe.
Caught in the strange magical grip of the other unicorn, Flintheart gaped silently, his mind whirling. Unable to speak due to the loss of his vocal cords, he could only mouth the words he was trying to utter. Though no one knew what he was trying to say, it was probably a question aimed at the other unicorn, given that she was holding a certain jar.
“Yeah, that's the thing with sudden decapitations. You don't realize that you need to push air between your lips to make noise,” she calmly explained.
The stallion blinked and looked around in fear, his face beginning to droop.
“Say goodbye to Equestria, and hello to Tartarus,” she whispered. “I’m sure you’ll love it down there.”
Flintheart tried to speak one final time, only for his eyelids to flicker closed and his features to suddenly fall slack.
“Might need this,” Kanathara remarked before tossing the head into a magical window.
“How… who… what is going on?” Aloe whispered in shock.
Rainbow Dash rose up from the gore-filled crater she had just created and shook herself like a wet dog. “Damn, this guy really came apart,” she complained, flicking a piece of liver from her shoulder pad. “You’d think he would have been a little tougher than that.”
“W-what about the other soul jar. He said he had our mother’s spirit with him!” Aloe called out.
Rainbow Dash blinked and looked down. “Well, if it was on him, it's gone now.”
“Don't worry though,” Kanathara quickly interrupted. “If a soul jar is destroyed, it releases its contents.”
“So… she's okay?” Lotus inquired.
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh exclaimed, dropping his weapon to the ground.
Applejack extended a hoo, and helped her former foe rise from the ground before trotting over to the keeper of secrets.
“So all we gotta do is bust the thing open then?” Applejack inquired.
“Woah, what happened here?” Pear Butter exclaimed, tossing aside the corpse of a formerly undead bear.
“Killed the bad guy, saved your husband’s soul, and freed these two from their indentured servitude,” Rainbow Dash swiftly summarized.
“I-what?” Pear Butter gaped, her gaze falling on the soul jar. “Is that really Bright Mac?”
As if to answer the question, the reddish-yellow soul contained within began to pulse brightly, pushing against its glass container.
“Yes, it is. All you have to do is remove the top, and he’ll be free to go to whatever afterlife harmony has deemed him worthy of,” Kanathara replied, extending a hoof.
Pear Butter, Applejack, and Big Macintosh trotted over to the keeper of secrets, who gently placed the jar in an open hoof.
“I never thought I’d see him again,” Pear Butter murmured, lifting the jar in order to peer within.
The soul swirled energetically within its container, its ethereal, almost whisp-like shape shifting rapidly.
Kanathara took a step back, walking over to the necromancer’s assistants while her familiar turned to smoke and reformed, shedding the gore that had stained her.
“Are you here to kill us?” Lotus whispered.
Kanathara snorted. “No. Though we will discuss what to do with you in a minute. For now, let's just sit back and let them have their moment.”
Rainbow Dash plunked down next to the mares. “I’d just relax if I were you. Oh, and don't worry. Nothin bad’s gonna happen. We just need to figure out what to do with the other people like you.”
“That is… a relief,” Aloe muttered, a hoof running down a jagged scar on her cheek.
“So do we just break it then?” Applejack muttered.
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh stated.
“Now hold on a second. This might be the last time any of us can say goodbye. Dontcha think Granny and Apple Bloom deserve to say a few words?” Pear Butter hastily exclaimed.
“I suppose that sounds reasonable. Mac, would ya mind?” Applejack asked.
“Eenope,” replied the stallion, who gestured at the slew of blood and organs littering the front yard.
“Err, good thinkin’. We should probably head inside,” Applejack replied.
“Don't worry. I got it,” Kanathara interrupted, the demon swiftly dealing with the gore by burning it away, and blowing away the smoke.
“That works,” Applejack muttered. “Damn, this whole thing feels kinda unreal.”
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed, turning and walking back inside.
“I can't believe I finally get to say goodbye,” Pear Butter whispered, peering intently at the jar. “I always thought you would move on.”
The wisp swirled twice one way, and then once in the other direction, as if attempting to communicate.
“Err, yeah. Me neither,” Applejack awkwardly added.
“What's this about… well, would ya look at that,” Granny Smith muttered.
“What's that funky-lookin’ jar thing?” Apple Bloom asked, pie crust still clinging to her lips.
“It's yer dad,” Pear Butter explained, reaching down to clean the mess from her daughter’s face. “Or his spirit at least.”
“Wait, are you telling me that…” She stared at the jar with a mix of awe and confusion. “Can he hear us?”
“Oh yes. A spirit contained in such a way can hear and see everything around it. Though its ability to respond is minimal,” Kanathara explained, only to wince. “Err, sorry. I’ll uh, let you guys have your moment.”
Pear Butter nodded. “Thanks all the same, Kanathara.”
“So free the poor guy already,” Granny Smith exclaimed.
“Well, I was thinking we could say our goodbyes. Who wants to go first?” Pear Butter offered.
Granny Smith stepped up before anyone could respond. “You had but one fault, my boy. Your taste in mares. Save for that, you were the best son I could have ever asked for.”
The wisp bobbed sadly, seemingly glancing at Pear Butter apologetically.
“I wish I could have known you better,” Apple Bloom whispered, tapping her forehooves together. “I feel like I do though, what with all the stories Big Mac and Granny have told me about you.” Apple Bloom sniffed and wiped away a tear. “I hope I get to see you again one day and do all the stuff we were supposed to.”
The soul fell to the bottom of the jar and remained relatively still, its focus remaining on the young filly.
Apple Bloom trotted up to the side of Granny Smith. “Was that good?”
“That was perfect,” Granny Smith replied, hugging the filly tightly.
Big Macintosh cleared his throat and walked forward. “Thank you.”
He then took a step back, a stoic expression remaining firmly on his face. Bright Mac’s soul bobbed once in reply, an understanding passing between the two laconic individuals.
“Let’s, uh, do this, I guess,” Applejack muttered, trotting up to the jar. “I’m sorry it all came to this. If I’d have known you were still lingering by that there tree, I woulda visited more.”
The spirit moved left, then right, as if shaking its head.
Applejack grunted. “Right. Not like I coulda known that anyway. I ain't gonna say nothing that hasn't already been said, but well. I miss you. I wish we could have had more time together, and I hope I get to see you again one day.”
The earth pony took off her hat and stared down into it. “It's the same one, ya know? I’ve gotten it repaired more times than I can count, so we might have a ship of Theseus thing going on, but it's yours. Like your memory, I’ll treasure it. Always.”
Bright Mac’s soul bobbed once, nodding in thanks.
“Guess it's my turn, eh?” Pear Butter muttered, lifting the jar up to her eye level. “First off. I wanna say I’m sorry. I was a right git, and I can understand if ya don't forgive me.”
The reddish orange mass pressed insistently against the glass.
“It doesn't feel right to me, if I’m honest,” Pear Butter began. “You being there, and me being out here. You were always my better half, and if anyone deserves to see our kids again… well, it ain't me.”
Bright Mac’s soul shook rapidly from side to side.
Pear Butter sighed. “Either way, I’ve stopped you from moving on for long enough. Goodbye, Bright Mac. I hope your next life is better than your previous one.”
With a soft clink, the stopper was removed and the seal broken. The spirit, now freed of its enchanted glass container, twirled up into the air, spinning in jubilation. It didn't go far though, swiftly falling back down to earth and landing atop Applejack’s brow. There it pressed against her forehead, as if giving the pony one final kiss goodbye.
The spirit lingered there for only a moment before moving onto Big Macintosh and floating before the young stallion. There it remained for several seconds before slipping away, some unspoken conversation having passed between them.
Fluttering on unseen wings, the wisp flew to Apple Bloom and ruffled the filly’s mane before bumping into her cheek. As tears poured from the child’s face, the spirit settled against Granny Smith’s chest, shifting back and forth in a facsimile of a hug. With tears of her own building at the edge of her vision, the old mare gently patted the spirit.
“Go on now. You got places to be,” Granny Smith whispered.
Pear Butter, who at that point had resigned herself to not receiving a goodbye of her own, was surprised when the spirit floated over to her.
“I…” Pear Butter stuttered, unable to find the words. She wanted to say something poetic, or meaningful, yet not a sound passed her lips.
The spirit stopped her attempts at speech by bumping gently against the wrath demon’s nose. Then it pulled back and bobbed mere inches from Pear Butter’s muzzle, communicating some message that no one but her understood.
“I won't ever forget you,” Pear Butter whispered.
The spirit bobbed one more time before ascending up into the sky, pausing only briefly to turn to Kanathara and Rainbow Dash. With the keeper’s attention focused upon it, the wisp rolled forward, attempting a small bow or nod of appreciation. Then, before Kanathara could even formulate a response, Bright Mac’s soul rose up, dissipating rapidly.
In mere moments there was nothing left but a faint reddish shimmer which rained down upon the small family. In the spirit’s wake, none spoke. A calm, almost serene feeling overcame all who witnessed the earth pony’s true final moments. The world remained still for several minutes, with the only sound being the soft, gentle sobs of the mournful ponies.
But all things must end, and even the silence eventually broke when Kanathara rose up once more.
“I’m sorry to ruin the moment here, but we must move quickly,” Kanathara whispered.
“Yer… yer right,” Applejack reluctantly agreed, wiping the tears from her face. “We gotta deal with the rest of Flint’s gang and break the siege on Ponyville. There are other families out there who will suffer if we don't move quickly.”
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh agreed.
“I know I can't talk you kids out of it, but would ya at least promise me to return before going to save the world,” Granny Smith gravely asked.
“Who said we were leavin’?” Applejack retorted.
The old mare snorted. “It doesn't take the wisdom of old age to figure out what's going on. Now promise me that at least.”
“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh announced.
“Wait, you’re going? I want to come too!” Apple Bloom pleaded.
“This is ain't a fight you can help with. Besides, you gotta stay here to protect Granny,” Applejack replied.
“I won't be able to do it alone anymore,” Granny Smith added.
Apple Bloom pouted. “Fine, but you gotta come back soon.”
“We’ll do our best. Now come on, y'all. Let's deal with these necromancers,” Applejack exclaimed.
“Just don't be too harsh with them,” Aloe quickly interjected. “Most, if not all of them, were blackmailed into Flintheart’s service.”
“He’s got a whole basement full of jars like this back in his cabin,” Lotus added. “It has a magical lock that no one's been able to get through, but if you deal with it, I’m sure you could end this conflict without any further bloodshed.”
“We will,” Kanathara stated confidently.
“Are you alright, Pear Butter?” Rainbow Dash whispered, nudging the wrath demon’s shoulder.
“Huh, what? Oh yeah. Just fine and dandy,” Pear Butter muttered, wiping her cheeks free of perspiration. “Just need a moment to gather myself here, and we can move on.”
“If you need a minute, we can wait,” Kanathara offered.
Pear Butter snorted. “The thing that will help me the most right now is gettin’ something done. Lettin’ the brain run on idle will cause more trouble than puttin’ it to work.”
“If you’re certain,” Rainbow Dash warily replied.
“Sure she’s certain,” Applejack piped up. “Now let's go get Ponyville out of this jam and save the world already. I got pie to get back to.”
Big Macintosh chuckled, hefting his hammer back over his shoulder. “Eeyup.”
“Well, alright then. Lead the way, you two,” Kanathara exclaimed, gesturing to the cloaked mares.
“Of course. Follow us,” Aloe offered.
“We promise not to lead you astray,” added Lotus.