The chills crept in. The north was upon us. We were knee-deep in snow, and the towns and cities of Equestria were behind us. That didn't mean we were safe, however. The clash of steel. The shouts of battle. My breath caught in my throat. There was no darkness this time. Though that feeling of being lost was still very present in the back of my mind.
Sabre's rapier was at work, like a painter on a canvas, his sword the brush, the Night Guard's blood the ink. It was a solid contrast to the gentle white of the fresh snow.
Three, he'd already taken three from the battle. One had a series of puncture wounds through one wing and several more lacerations across his side. The second held a leg bent to an unnatural angle. I could see his rage, even through his tears. They were still pointed, misguided, but still very real ponies. The third, Well, he'd not be an issue ever again. The hole was concisely placed in the center of his throat. A gentle red washed down his leg and pooled on the snow below. I felt myself shudder. Whatever I'd done before had left the guards injured, but this was the first death I'd seen up close.
The sound of the flat metal on flesh was grotesque and oddly satisfying. Spade had handled two on his own, a shovel to the face, trained soldier or not, it was gonna hurt. I'm pretty sure he'd given one some level of brain damage.
Blue had a shield up, protecting himself and Bright. The ex-prince was no slouch, but neither was he a warrior. If his boasts were true, he knew basic combat arts and wasn't half bad with a poleaxe. But, this was not a duel. This was a battle. So, he and Bright sat aside.
Thorax wasn't a fighter either, but that little bug could dip, dodge and dive like the best of them. He'd taken to wearing out the flyers, keeping them distracted and otherwise breaking their guard. I, however, simply stood amid the chaos. I felt no fear, anger, or need to battle or flee. It was an odd unexplainable calm. It was as if I knew I was in no real danger. If I could feel fear at the moment, it would be at my apathy.
The third voice pooped in every once in a while. It's been a day and a half since it made itself known. It poked and prodded, pushing me forward. It was almost desperate, even if it hid such thoughts behind a Vanier of corny jokes and whataboutisms. Bright and Blue found it fascinating. Spade found it funny, and Sabre seemed to age a year every time I mentioned it.
"What am I becoming?" I asked myself.
Four left. The odds were improving. I still felt nothing. The dark ebbed at my vision but never consumed it. I felt my wings twitch. I took a step to the right and watched as one of the flyers crashed down beside me. Spade had thrown his shovel like a javelin, knocking a surprised thestral, who took said shovel to the face. May I never land on the wrong side of my morose pegasus companion. I wouldn't survive.
"What a way to go," I said and prodded the collapsed Night Guard. His body shivered, but he didn't rise. "Hmmm," I mused. I reached down and unclasped the wing blades of the flyer. Most of the aerial forces, in fact, had on. I mean, it wasn't really my scene, but an insurance policy couldn't hurt. You know, supposing I snap back to reality.
"Star!"
The shout had me spin on end, wing blades in hoof. Sabre looked unhappy. I could imagine many reasons for that. I was several of them. Sabre pointed me towards the shielded Blue and Bright. One of the flyers was dive-bombing the pair. Blue's shield was impressive, above-average if his boasts were true. The issue here was the same as the one in my hoof. The tips of wing blades are made of mithril, a metal meant to weaken and break the magic.
"Well, crap."
So, I did what I could do. I ran. The wing blades were wrapped to my pack, more wrapped around for the moment. As I ran, I could feel my blood pulse through my legs and wings. I felt an odd mirth, a broken pleasure. Not of the violence or heroic theatre. No, it was the feeling of chaotic rebellion. The face of Nightmare Moon, the rage she felt, the folly of the guards. It all felt so completely absurd.
"Blue, lower the shield. Bright get some distance. Move, move, move."
The more mana those blades eat, the less valuable Blue would be as a backup. I wasn't even sure what I was gonna do, but I sped on all the same. Bright was dancing in place, his hoof tips barely pressed against the slush as he readied for his chance. Blue took a deep breath. The steam rolled across his muzzle and hard as his shield was hit once more.
"Parasyte."
Blue growled between breaths as the flyer pulled back. The shield dropped, and like the summer, Bright was gone. The little thestral zipped away wings wide, eyes smiling even as he hid a growl of his own. I unfurled and flapped my wings. I may not be able to fly, but I could use the extra lift to assist with the cold, wet mush beneath me. The flyer seemed to puzzle the change in tactic for a moment. That was more than enough time to let out the loudest roar I could as I glided atop the snow. The flyer gave me an odd look. His attention had been pulled. That was his first mistake.
His second was assuming Blue was no longer a threat. The magic bolt soared true and managed a stunning hit to the side of our foe. He fell, wings still out and holding him to an uneven glide as he fell to the snow. The white blanket meant the Nightguard was fine. He was dazed as he made it back to his hooves. His third mistake was not getting back in the air. He turned to Blue. He snorted and pawed at the ground. He never even saw it coming. I'd decided that valor was overrated, and like any untrained peasant, I rammed into the soldier head first. I was atop him in an instant. I planted myself atop his prone form and belted his with repeated stomps to the chest and head. He brought up his hooves to deflect the blows. The issue was with my pack's extra weight. He was only able to squirm as I rained down blow after blow.
"Enough, Star. The tool is broken. No more use from this one."
Blue tsk'd, and with one more flash of his horn, the thestral beneath me went limp. I lifted myself up and readjusted my bag, the pack shifting hard to my rear and had me stumble away as I tried to correct myself. A sleep or knockout spell, I guessed. It really amounted to the same thing.
"Well, well, so the wayward bat can fight. I'm impressed, well impressed by your standards. A win is a win after all."
The voice said. I took a deep breath and rode out the anger that stormed within me. My feelings had returned, and my apathy abated for now. It had a source, but judging by the voice's reaction. It wasn't the one at play here. That left the other voices, my own insanity, or maybe even Nightmare Moon. The questions piled without end.
"The voice is back," I said with a sigh.
"Oh, what'd they say, huh?"
I attempted with all my might to jump out of my skin as Bright leaned in over my shoulder. The bastard did it on purpose too. He grinned happily all the same.
"Surprised I helped take down, ugly over there."
I pointed to the incapacitated thestral in the snow.
"You know, even the ones who aren't dead might die of hypothermia," I said.
"True, but luckily for this one." Blue nudged the unconscious thestral. "My spell will wear off with time to spare. So, if they're wise, they'll find shelter. If they aren't."
"They'll follow us deeper," I agreed. Blue looked down at the thestral and shook his head. It didn't sit well. None of this sat well at all.
"Now, now, no time for regrets, I'm afraid. You've come this far, and the Nightmare follows. If you give up, you die."
"Oh great, the voice is idly threatening me."
It was enough to make me sick. My guts churned, and the dark flecked across my sight. Bright rested a hoof on my shoulder. Then he turned and whistled. My ears flicked back. Did he really have to do that right next to me? Who am I kidding? Of course, he did.
"Thorax, you good?" Bright asked.
The gentle buzzing of insect wings signaled our favorite bug's arrival. If he was joining us, it meant one of two things. Either we won, or Sabre and Spade would need a hero's burial. The snow might even do it for us.
"Oh goodness, you two don't look so well."
"Those damnable wing blades have exhausted my mana. That's all. I will be fine with time," Blueblood assured. "Now, I believe Star could use a hoof or two."
"I'll be fine," I huffed.
My mind raced. My stomach wouldn't settle. I could feel myself grind my teeth. This stupid chase made me ready to bash my head on a rock. It was in these thoughts that I felt a gentle heat settle on me.
Thorax's horn glowed gently as he pulled me into a hug. "It's fine. You can lean on us." the glow felt nice. It reminded me of sunlight. I breathed out and let my anger dissolve.
"Thanks, Thorax."
"Of course, there's no reason to thank me. I'm just doing what I can for our little Hive."
I couldn't resist a laugh. "What about your queen? What about that life, huh?" I asked. I nudged the bug who pouted.
"Queen Chrysalis wants me here. She wants you to succeed. You're here, champions, which means you are part of the Hive."
"I could get behind that. I bet the actual Hive is digging glory," Spade said. He and Sabre had made their way over. So at least we wouldn't need to bury anyone. That's a load off my back.
"It really is," Thorax agreed.
"So, we set, or?" I asked.
"Are you alright, sir?" Sabre asked.
I looked around at the others, who, while tired and bruised, didn't look ready to keel over. The snow was getting heavier, though. We'd need to find some shelter soon, lest we freeze to death. If it wasn't one thing, it was another.
"We're close, at least. Not bad time, all things considered. If these are all the Night Guard we meet, it'll mean for certain that Nightmare isn't positive where we are going, which means she most likely doesn't know why either."
Blueblood said, eying the horizon. I shrugged and pulled myself free from Bright, who had taken to hanging from my neck. "Well, guess we'll find out tomorrow. We won't make it if we get lost in a blizzard."
"He's right. Shelter, for now, ancient magical invisible crystal cities later."
Sabre started off, Spade right behind him, his shovel still over his shoulder. I felt a chill up my spine. I looked about at the thestral and Nightmare supporters. They weren't all dead. A part of me wondered if that was a poor choice. The one I'd beaten twitched in the snow. I had a feeling blueblood's spell wouldn't last too much longer.
"Coming Star?" Thorax asked from ahead.
I nodded and trudged through the snow. This was almost over. The dreams had become so much more vivid. The closer we got, the greater the pull. Tomorrow will answer all of this. We'd find the city and save the day. I couldn't let myself imagine any other outcome. I don't think I'd recover if this was a goose chase. This was our chance, and I'd be damned before I let Nightmare win. The flecks of shadow danced in my vision. The dark could follow me all it liked, but the darker it was, the brighter my dreams shone.
"My my, getting sentimental, are we? Better hurry along, little pony. Time is of the essence, I'm afraid. I'm afraid I'll have to depart for a while before I go. I would like to thank you, you've been quite a little hero. Oh, Lulu, you must be absolutely furious by now. Always had a temper that one, even back. The voice stopped mid-thought and coughed. "Well, never you mind that. Until we meet again, good luck. I'll be watching."
Then it was quiet. The voice was a strange one. They seemed so distant, yet far closer than I'd care to know. It was tiring. Even as it preached, it felt so fragile. A single interruption and I have no doubt It wouldn't have the energy to continue. It said we'd meet again, and some part of me was interested in hearing it again. If this all went as planned, maybe even the voices in my dreams would finally give me some answers. I couldn't go on being an amnesiac forever.
So, we stumbled through the ice and wind. The tundra was primarily rocks and plains. Oh, and lots of snow. We'd need to get creative to find someplace to rest. It was in these pursuits that Thorax stalled, frozen in mid-step. His wings buzzed as he hummed. When he finally unfroze, he seemed less than thrilled.
"Your Majesty?" Sabre asked.
"Yes, but the message was Sir Armors. He wished for an update. Things have not improved since we left. The Refugees have had to hide in the deeper crystal mines. The crystals disrupt magic to a degree, making it harder to spook them out. The Castle is the only place in Canterlot still operational. The Night Guard has started scattered attacks against our Hive. The Lady of Hearts had declared she plans to kill our queen. We really need to hurry."
"Well, you heard the Captain, we have a kingdom to save. Let's move, double time."
Sabre was off like a bolt. The rest of us struggled to keep up with the ever-stubborn Earth stallion. The chill swept on, and it wasn't just the ice. One way or another, this would be over soon. I coughed into a hoof. I almost gasped when I saw specks of the blood-spattered in my hoof's fur. That wasn't good.
I let the bloody hoof rest in the back of my mind. I had better and more important things to do right now. I'm sure it was just the cold or the fighting. We've been run ragged. It; 'd been an hour or so when Spade yelled over his shoulder.
"Found an outcropping. Large boulders, it even has a roof. It might be our best chance, for the time being."
"Sounds good to me," Bright said.
"Any objections?" Sabre asked. The collective silence spoke volumes. "Alright, let's get some rest while we can. Who knows how long the storm will last."
"Yeah, the storm, Spade's jokes, and Blue's incessant map folding," I said.
"It is not indecent. I simply wish to maximize my pack's space."
Blue huffed.
"If you say so."