It took them less than an hour to leave behind the forests that surrounded the coven’s castle, and by noon, they were ascending the mountain with unadulterated speed. Hemorrhage was able to maintain most of his strength through arcanic boosting, but from time to time he and Argon were forced to pause so he could catch his breath. While he was able to keep up physically, his older physique and an old wound in his leg prevented him from going too long without a brief pause. During these little breaks, he would take short naps to regain strength and counter some of the effects of the long night he had lived through.
Eventually, however, the trees along the base broke away to rocky terrain that he was able to glide over while Argon kept up on foot. Thanks to his lithe werewolf form, he was able to move along the loose ground easily, his paws and claws providing the grip necessary to race across the gravel. It had taken a little bit longer than he expected to reach Canterlot with his short breaks, but within three hours, they were approaching Canterlot from the side to avoid detection.
There was very little traffic that went through the unused hunter trail that had originally been established by long-gone griffons, and on a cold, windy day as it was, there had been nopony using it. In all estimations, it was probably a longer trip up using it rather than the Great Staircase, the stone tablets that led all the way up to Canterlot, but it would have been crowded with peddlers and merchants moving along it no matter the weather. Even though they probably wouldn’t have been too bothered by the travelers, it was safer to avoid normal ponies in any matter.
Cresting the crow’s nest that shielded the southern portion of the city and hugged the Canterlot River, he and Argon paused once again, staring over the town. Canterlot had been established some fifty years ago, and while it had certainly grown since he had last seen a map of it, it had retained much of its small size. There were only a few hundred buildings, mostly single-story thatch-roof houses that were condensed along the four major roads leading to the palace. The fields were empty, but most certainly present, and took almost all of the unused space in the little valley at the top of the mountain.
The river ran right through the center of the city, cascading over the edge of the mountain just a few dozen spans away from the castle. It was the only majestic thing about the city, the only thing that made it look significantly different from other small cities. It stood hundreds of spans tall, marble and granite spires tipped with gold and silver, banners flying from every spot that wasn’t marked with precious stone. The dwelling of the Princesses, the true rulers of all Equestria, amid the stone and wood buildings of every common pony was certainly a contrast, but with a snap Hemorrhage remembered he didn’t have the time to worry about splendor.
Without a word, he spread his wings and took off, soaring over the unsown fields and cottages, mindful of the few citizens who stared up at him as he passed. On the ground, Argon was lagging behind, but seeing as he was probably going to meet resistance and questions anyway, Hemorrhage was fine with leaving the stallion behind momentarily. He kept low to the ground, close enough that when he flew over the houses within the small walls of the city the thatch became unsettled. It only took him a few seconds to reach the castle, and as soon as he arrived, he swept down to the gate at the base of the castle, injecting his wings back into his body before approaching the entrance.
It had become harder and harder to approach the Princesses without a formal invitation, and seeing how he was only a count of a small, unpopulated area south, the polar opposite of where the fighting occurred, he was most likely in the very back of Celestia or Luna’s minds. Still, being so far away from the conflict at least cleared him of most suspicions, hopefully making the process easier. Stepping out from around the backside of the two story stone building he had landed behind, he confidently stepped towards the guarded gates into the palace grounds.
Immediately, the two unicorn guards drew their swords, grasping them with their magic as the left one shouted, “Halt. Under the orders of the two Princesses, no stallion, mare, or foal shall enter on these grounds-”
“Yes, I know the orders you’ve received,” Hemorrhage lied, drooping his eyelids to look unimpressed. “However, the matter at hoof is a regard only to be discussed with the Princesses, also as ordered by them.” Quoting from memory one of the orders he had read that was still in effect, he stated, “‘All legislature and warmongering involved in the matters of King Sombra and the Crystal Empire or his vassals shall be hitherto discussed within the confines of the Canterlot Castle walls, with no exception save in the war camps of Equestria.’”
Hemorrhage paused, looking at the both of them for confirmation of his words, and after a brief moment, the two guards looked at each other, before glancing back at him suspiciously. “What’s your business here, then,” the one to the left asked.
“Well, I am here to give a report on the going abouts of the Bastard King according to the word of my spy who was only able to return to my house,” the mordigan replied confidently. Lowering his voice and stepping slightly closer to the pair, he muttered, “The news that my spy brings me is concerning to a degree where thousands of lives could be lost. He speaks of a new campaign the Bastard King is planning, and though the word was received yesterday, the Crystal Empire is known for its speed. If we are not swift in retaliation we could find ourselves facing a grim number of casualties, even defeat, if we aren’t careful.”
Hemorrhage watched guards’ brows furrow, the pair thinking for a moment before the one on the left questioned, “Where is your proof of this?”
“The word of Count Hemorrhage of the Southern Forest Extensions, a land holding about thirty miles southeast of Bitsmoth,” Hemorrhage proclaimed, straightening himself. Suddenly, Argon came around the bend, nearly colliding with the trio as he came to a jerking stop. “And the word of the heir to the region, Argon Neighn.”
“At your service,” Argon greeted formally with a dip of his head. The guards hesitated a moment more, but with a glance around, they moved their swords aside, allowing the pair of nocturnals entry. Hemorrhage immediately began moving forward, nodding in acknowledgement of the guards’ graces, Argon right behind him. Without wasting a moment, the two moved up the slight bluff leading up to the castle, approaching yet another pair of guards at the door.
Upon spotting them, the pair immediately began to open the doors to the castle, a long groan escaping the opening doors. Walking in between the two, Hemorrhage noticed how pensive they were, a strained stress on the both of their faces. Whatever was happening behind these walls was a dangerous matter, something that he suddenly realized was affecting the whole of the town. He paused briefly after crossing into the palace, listening past the groan of closing doors for the noises a growing city should be making.
Silence.
“I hear it too,” Argon suddenly said. Hemorrhage glanced at the stallion as he added, “Running through the city, everypony was… off. There were only a few merchants out today, and they weren’t calling prices or hollering after me to buy anything. There were no foals out either, and the few ponies in the streets I did see either disregarded me or stared intensely as I passed. The entirety of Canterlot is all up in the eaves over something. I’m just unsure what exactly.”
“Yes, I noticed the same from the guards, the both of them, I think,” Hemorrhage agreed, pausing to think. Beginning to walk down the short corridor to the right, to where there would surely be somepony to guide them to the Princesses, he surmised, “We can’t concern ourselves with the city right now, though. The tension is borne from within these walls, anyways. If we’re lucky, not only will we get our messages across but also learn a few things as well pertaining to what exactly has everypony’s fur rustled.”
The pair reached the end of the corridor, standing in front of a smaller set of double doors that he knew from past experiences led to a spire. Surely enough, when he knocked on the door, they opened up to reveal a short platform and then a circular staircase. Taking a deep breath, he began to ascend the white marble steps, the castle all around cleaner and brighter than his own. While he didn’t necessarily mean to compare his own residence with the Princesses’, especially knowing how grand the castle truly was if he were to stop and observe it, but it was a natural thing for him to compare. Years of leading the coven had made him rather proud in what they had achieved, and compared to this city, it really wasn’t much.
His thoughts were left unfinished as he reached the top of the stair steps, a wooden door blocking his path. He raised a hoof to knock, but before his hoof made contact with the grains, it swung open. A young mare stood behind it with wide eyes, silently ushering the pair in, signaling for silence. Hemorrhage nodded, stepping carefully into the only room that seemed to not be built out of white marble. Maps and weapons were scattered all over the wall, which itself seemed to be made of regular brick and mortar. Frowning at one particularly concerning one that showed annexed regions of both the Crystal Empire and Equestria.
A conversation had been going on when they had entered, but as soon as they set foot into the sight of the Princesses and several other ponies in their company silence had fallen. The Princesses glanced at their advisors and each other in earnest confusion, before looking back at them.
“Who are you? You aren’t expected, are you,” Celestia asked, looking genuinely concerned. Then, realizing that she didn’t even recognize the pair, she turned to the mare who had bid them entry, asking, “Why did you let them in.”
“I-I-I’m sorry, Princess,” the mare stuttered, looking down in shame. “I thought they were expected. Please, forgive me.”
“No harm has been done, Mallow,” Luna suddenly spoke, stepping forward with a soft smile. “I recognize one of these two. Hemorrhage, isn’t it?”
“Yes indeed, Princess,” the mordigan confirmed, ducking his head respectfully as he bowed. “Humbly at your service.”
“And what is your purpose for being here,” asked a stallion he didn’t recognize. He was an older, gray unicorn with a blue mane who wore a simple tunic over his back with an insignia that Hemorrhage could almost remember seeing once.
“Well, it must certainly be important if the guards at the gates allowed you through in spite of their instructions,” Celestia commented, looking concerned. Circling around a large table that took up most of the room, she stepped up towards the two, leaning down as she asked, “What news do you bring about the war.”
Hemorrhage steeled himself in the face of the Princesses, a firm set to his jaw as he questioned, “Do you trust everypony in this room with the lives of thousands of ponies?”
There was the briefest of pauses as the alicorn glanced back, her brilliant rainbow mane flowing in contrast to the darkness of the room. Looking back to Hemorrhage, Celestia declared firmly, “I’ve trusted them with Equestria. I won’t stop now.”
“Good,” Hemorrhage stated, “because what I’m about to tell you will most likely shock or concern you, and it may already be too late to stop it.”
“Well then, best to speak quickly and think precisely,” one of the other counselors, an older, grayer unicorn who sported a much more colorful ensemble. “We haven’t time to waste with suspense and dubious words.”
“Well, Princesses, I present to you my spy who I sent into service some moons ago into the Crystal Empire,” Hemorrhage bowed once again, stepping aside to allow Argon to take the attention. The stallion stepped forward as he stated, “It is his tale that should concern you, though I also bear more terrible news.”
“My Princesses and her trusted advisors, my name is Argon, and for the past eight moons, I was in the service of King Sombra as one of his guards,” he introduced himself. Opening his saddlebag, he retrieved a token of the Crystal Guard, tossing it to the floor in disgust. “While I was there, I learned a number of things, many of which I’m sure you also have come to know. For one, the Crystal Empire is weak and overextended, the occupied lands it has annexed abandoned all of its guards in hopes that they could reinforce their border. They also are suffering from a terrible drought, mass starvation, and, among other things, a crisis of politics. On the day that I was found out and forced to escape, Sombra executed his queen.”
One of the other counselors in the room, a large, imposing stallion with multicolored blonde and brown hair laughed softly. He stood almost as tall as Celestia and Luna and was holding a large spade casually against his chest. In a thick, Neighdrick accent, he commented, “Then they deserved each other.”
“Enough of that, Rockhoof,” the elderly unicorn sharply corrected, his eyes narrowed at Argon. “There’s more to it than that.”
“Yes, there is much more to it,” the werewolf affirmed, a dark look passing over the eight individuals in the room. “The whole reason I was caught in the first place was because I had managed to slowly build up trust with the Queen and become one of her guards. Well, just a few days prior she had scared off one of Sombra’s favorite… unwilling servants. It was part of the reason she was executed, and I was right outside the doors to his governing chamber when it happened. However, immediately after, one of his servants entered the room and gave him a few ideas, but I didn’t hear what until the order was given. Sombra himself was the one who gave it, telling us to prepare for a march into the heartland of Equestria.”
Argon paused hesitantly for a moment as he seemed almost embarrassed to continue. “Given how long I have been in the guard undetected, I was pretty confident in asking him what he meant, and that was my downfall, how he realized I wasn’t one of his guards. I’m not sure how, but he was able to remember the face of the stallion I had killed for the suit eight months earlier, and even though he answered my question, he exposed me and sent me running. My escape isn’t important though. The orders he gave to the Crystal armies, it's… terrible. Before, he was attacking us head on, trying to break down our army ranks and march victoriously, but now… he’s grown desperate. He ordered an army to be formulated with the sole intent of burning the Oppotimare Valley to the ground, and any ponies with it.”
“Stars above,” Luna softly cursed as shock spread around the room. In an instant, she turned to the stallion called Rackhoof, instructing him, “Go take my new unit of twenty thousand trainees and deploy them to the town of Grandshire there. Hopefully their presence will be enough to ward off any direct assault, seeing as they are one of the larger units. Moon save them if they actually enter combat, they will struggle to hold their ground. A siege they could handle with our support, but battles will be costly and potentially fatal to the division.”
“Well, our current plans of action can handle the situation as well,” a brown pegasus mare stated, pointing to the map on the table. “You see, Celestia’s 2nd Army can be repositioned about five and a half miles south, maintaining three point eight miles from the planned area but also close to the Grandshire Roadway in case support from the army is needed.”
As the others began to theorize potential placements and positions for the armies to best defend the Oppotimare, Celestia stepped towards Hemorrhage, gesturing for him to follow her as she left the room. The mordigan bowed his head and dutifully followed her out and down the stair steps, all the way back to the bottom. She lead him through a short hallway to a random room, opening the door magically and entering in the same breath. Hemorrhage followed, a wary glance around at the empty bedroom, everything inside veiled with a white cloth.
“Hemorrhage,” Celestia said softly, almost as if to herself, her back still to him. “I remember that name well.”
“It’s not very hard to forget,” he responded courteously.
“It’s not a pony name either, is it,” the Princess questioned. She turned around, giving the stallion a hard stare. “You’re one of the nocturnal creatures, aren’t you?”
“Indeed I am,” Hemorrhage informed her with a meek nod. Retracting his wings from within his body, he spread them wide. “A mordigan, if you will. One who has the strength of the werewolf and mind of a vampyre.”
“A dangerous culmination, as Meadowbrook sees it,” she commented, her eyes scanning his fleshy wings. “Best to not reveal your true colors around the Pillars. They are most sensitive to your type, having dealt with every known coven across the land. I’m not sure how I could convince them of your innocence. You’d have to do the job yourself.”
“I’m afraid that I would be inadequate for that,” the stallion replied sadly, looking down.
“I knew you had something more to tell me than just that invasion is coming,” she revealed. Taking a deep breath in, she demanded, “Well, out with it already.”
“I need you to understand that what I’m about to reveal to you is both disturbing and could put me and my coven in danger of those Pillars,” Hemorrhage said solemnly. Celestia gave him a wary look, before nodding for him to go on. “You see, about three years ago, when you had first guided us to the Southern Extensions, I had sent out my youngest member of our coven, Leper, to go find fresh food and to test him. Instead of the usual hunt, however, he came across an attack of one lycan against two foals. One of them was dead and nigh on devoured already, but the other survived barely, left by the lycan when he sensed Leper.
“We searched for the young foal at first, but after several months of nothing, we decided he had most likely either been put down or adopted by the only other coven we’ve met. This coven is much different from our own in many ways, including an occasional attack on the wayward traveler. We came into negotiation with them during that time in hopes of preventing a coven war that could prove disastrous for both sides. You see, their coven is much larger with over thirty individuals of different nocturnal species. Their leader is a cunning and wise ompyre that upholds roughly the same moral law as we, but with so many daring individuals within his coven, enforcing those rules without true support, within or outside his coven, would most likely cost him his life.
“While in discussion, we met with every member of that coven, but none of them were the foal we were looking for, and Leper failed to identify the lycan who had done it. It was unfortunate, but we believed for the better that the foal had perished. We went about our business as usual until last September, right on the cusp of winter, when settlers from Canterlot arrived in the small hills that my county holds. They were a group of some eighty settlers, most of them young couples looking to start a life in the peaceful hills. We had limited but friendly interaction with them, but when the cold of winter set in, we didn’t visit with them. It wasn't until the world was beginning to thaw that we finally realized our neighbors were silent and decided to visit them.”
“You’re speaking of them as if they were from the past,” Celestia noted ignorantly, a hard tint to her very pupils as she listened to his every word intently. “Go on.”
“When we arrived, all we found were bones, the remainder of sixty three pony bodies, all cleaned completely of their flesh,” Hemorrhage breathed, his gaze dropping from his Princess. “There were pieces of pony scattered all over the entire settlement, with signs of weaponry and battle all about. At first, there was only one presumption, that it had to be the acts of the other coven, driven mad with hunger due to the harsh winter. But then we found two bodies not belonging to wolves, which we could scarcely believe were behind the carnage within the village. However, Leper was with me, and thanks to his keen nose, he was able to detect the faintest trace of lycan amid the foul remains.”
“But what of the other villagers,” Celestia quickly asked, her brow furrowed. “You said some eighty, but there were only sixty three bodies.”
“We discovered that all of the dead were of older ponies,” Hemorrhage explained. “There wasn’t a single dead foal among the remains. As far as we know, however, they were either scared off and away into the forest and died there, or were rescued by a third party we don’t know about yet. We haven’t had the time to investigate their whereabouts yet, unfortunately. The discovery was made just last night.”
“I’ll rally as many residents in the nearby areas to search for them, but most likely they are dead,” Celestia agreed, her falling as she let out a sad sigh. “Please, continue.”
“We followed the scent to a hidden cavern and found the lycan inside as we had suspected he might have been involved with the wolves somehow. The scene was less than appealing, however. The remains of several other wolves, many younger than he, had been stacked in a corner, and he himself was haggard and left wounded from the villagers several months ago. To our best knowledge, he has been a member of a pack of wolves ever since he was mauled, which also explains why he attacked the village. Most likely, it didn’t start as an attack, but you see, when any nocturnal changes, or goes through a moon metamorphosis, then they will be bloodthirsty and lonely, searching for both a coven and a mate. Seeing as he had no one around him to ground his ambitions, he most likely found the closest thing within the pack. There, he was raised in his lycan state for three years, and unfortunately, that means he’s much more of a monster than a pony at this point.”
“So you’re saying that he was the one who killed all those ponies,” Celestia surmised, a hard set to her gaze.
“No, what I’m saying is that the monster that killed all those ponies also took control of the body of that foal, and while it will take time and work beyond calculation, we can bring the foal back into control,” Hemorrhage explained.
“And what of the perpetrator?”
“The monster will die when control over it is restored. At one point in every nocturnal’s life, they lose control of themselves and become the full monster that they are described as and kill somepony. It’s a bloody part of their life cycle, but ultimately necessary for their transition into a pony who can control their monstrous side. Not all nocturnals embrace that part of themselves and are usually lost in self-hate or indulgence of their sin. With our guidance, however, we hope that this foal can return to a state of being that allows him liberty of thought and action.”
“So you’re saying there will be no punishment for his actions,” Celestia questioned earnestly, curiously tilting her head slightly.
“The memory that he has killed so many will be punishment enough,” Hemorrhage assured her. “Any nocturnal who maintains their morals will tell you that from their own experience.”
“I see,” the Princess nodded, tapping a hoof against her chin. Looking up suddenly, she asked honestly, “Do you think that tactic will work with King Sombra? Do you think we could capture him and force him into a docile state with the truth of his crimes?”
“Actually, you’ve gotten to the second reason I need to talk to you in private.” The mordigan paused hesitantly, not knowing exactly how to break the news of Joint Point and her daughter to Celestia delicately. Realizing quickly that there wasn’t a way to do so, he took a breath and bluntly stated, “have in my possession the daughter of Sombra.”
Celestia’s jaw instantly dropped, a shocked gasp escaping her as the news broke across the room. Hemorrhage gave the Princess several seconds to regain most of her composure, but her eyes remained wide in disbelief. Shaking her head, the alicorn managed to stutter, “Th-that can’t be true. I would’ve heard about it the moment it happened.”
“Unfortunately, there are many well kept secrets within the Crystal Palace walls, and one of them is his favored concubine,” Hemorrhage stated solemnly. “Have you heard the name Joint Point before?”
“Yes, she was an outstanding archer in my First Army for a few months before her disappearance after the border conflict three years ago,” Celestia remembered. “Are you implying what I think you are?”
“Yes, she is the concubine and mother of Sombra’s child,” Hemorrhage confirmed. “She attempted to assassinate him at the beginning of the war, but ultimately failed to do so and was captured. For three years, she was forced to serve him in whatever way he desired, and while I don’t know to what extent it went, we know for sure it included the forbidden desires as well.” He paused and shook his head, ice in his heart at the thought of that damn bastard with his hooves on her. His voice dripping with venom, he added, “This wasn’t her first pregnancy, but it was the only one he allowed to live. Something tells me he didn’t only kill his wife for her failures.”
“He wanted to replace her,” Celestia realized. Her head snapping up, she intensely questioned, “Where is she now?”
“Resting safely at the castle under the care of my coven who aren’t dealing with the lycan,” he informed her. “Oh, and she already knows the truth of our nature. Considering her past circumstances and the hospitality we allotted her, she accepted it and moved on in a matter of a few kind words. It’s truly a wonder how she survived and escaped her life in the Crystal Empire, but we may never be able to measure her courage or worth.”
“You’re in love,” Celestia noted almost nonchalantly, catching Hemorrhage off-guard. Watching his sputtering, the alicorn smiled and tilted her head at him, stating, “I’ve been around a while now, and have married more than a few couples in these palace grounds. I know what love looks and sounds like. I don’t blame you, but how do you expect to gain her love after everything she’s gone through?”
“I don’t quite know myself,” the mordigan responded honestly with his own blooming smile. Refocusing himself, he declared, “It doesn’t matter, right now though. My personal life will be dealt with after the war.”
“Your information and Argon’s spying have certainly helped Equestria already,” Celestia told him gratefully. “I’m sure Luna and the Pillars have established a plan to end the situation in the south. Most likely, we can let you and Argon go back to your coven now to tend to those who require your assistance more than us.”
“That’s just it though,” the stallion replied evenly as Celestia blithely began to exit. “Argon and I are here to bring news, yes, but we also wish to join you and your armies in defending the Equestrian homeland in combat. Surely you can’t deny the value of two nocturnals on the battlefield, especially those as experienced as Argon and I?”
“No that is true,” Celestia began, but saw that Hemorrhage still had more to add, pausing.
“You see, the second coven would also be able to join us as well through some negotiation,” he explained carefully. “A great many of them would join for the prospect of food, but because of an alliance made between I and the leader of the other coven, Halven, I could gain his support as well. With some dozen nocturnals, you could win any nighttime battle. Besides, we have reason to suspect Sombra is a nocturnal himself, and seeing as the only way to truly kill one is by the hoof of another, it would be invaluable.”
“You do whatever you think is best,” Celestia charged him, a trusting nod giving him control over the situation. “As far as I’m concerned, you have defended us from this new front, and therefore it is in your hooves to decide how to best handle this.”
“The war is yours and Luna’s, but I am the willing servant of the Princess sisters, and will be a subservient member of your cause,” Hemorrhage swore, reaching out a hoof. “Until this war is brought to an end and Sombra is neutralized, it will be my pleasure to give my horn and the swords of my ponies to you in combat.”
Celestia took it. “There is no earthly way to deny this request. Collect your soldiers and supporters and meet Luna’s army at Grandshire as you heard. That is where the war will begin for you.”