//------------------------------//
// 16 - The Return: Part 2 
// Story: The Crescent Pact 
// by Chromentazol 
//------------------------------//

Steady woke up in a jolt as cold water was thrown onto his body. Immediately, he felt a radiating pain in his shoulder as well as cold metal around his hooves and his barrel. Looking around in confusion, Steady quickly noticed the large chains attached to the damp walls of what looked like an abandoned cellar. His wings were pinned to his body due to a strange metallic contraption that looked like an ominous ring of metal, with spikes pointing outwards. As he tried to figure out where he was, a black earth pony with a wild neon green mane in front of him cleared her throat.

"Wake up, shithead. You've napped long enough," she said with a sadistic glee in her voice. One of her hooves was holding a now empty water bucket. Observing his surroundings, Steady understood that the water used to wake him up was anything but clean, the pools of water underneath him being almost brown. He cringed, then stared at the mare in front of him.

"And to whom do I have the displeasure of talkin' to?" he asked, looking at the room behind her. It looked like a circular room with a spiraling staircase in the middle. Across the room's walls, Steady could see many other cells equally space out, with many prisoners in varying states of pain.

The black mare smirked. "You can call me your new best friend. You and I, we're going to have a lot of fun, together," she giggled before reaching into a bag on her flank. Grabbing something with her teeth, she threw it into his cell, letting it fall into the muddy water. "Here's breakfast. Enjoy it while you can."

The 'breakfast' consisted of a moldy chunk of bread, now soggy with sewer water. Steady watched in silence as the mare left while laughing to herself before grabbing his food. He sighed, then forced himself to eat it as fast as possible. Wherever he was right now, Steady knew he would need all his strength to get out. Skipping breakfast, however disgusting it may be, was simply not an option.

He kept an eye on the mare as he ate, observing her as she went from cell to cell feeding the prisoners. Steady noticed that everypony else was silent, except for the mare gleefully insulting the ponies as she went. Eventually, she reached a cell on the opposite side of Steady's, containing a sleeping griffon.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite pin cushion!" she loudly exclaimed. "Wake up and get your grub.'

Throwing another piece of moldy bread at them, Steady didn't see any movement from their part. The mare took another bucket and dumped it on the griffon. "C'mon, I ain't got all day... Bucking prick."

The griffon remained motionless. Steady didn't need to get any closer to understand that the griffon was dead. The sadistic jailor quickly noticed it as well and groaned in annoyance. Then, remembering something, she turned back and looked at the other prisoners.

"Hey, guys! You're in luck! Looks like meat's back on the menu. I'll get the chef to whip up a real meal for you all, don't you all worry."

A deafening silence befell the entire dungeon, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in for Steady. He watched in horror as she continued making her round before finally exiting the room, going up the staircase. As soon as she was out of sight, Steady attempted to get out of his bind. He knew he could potentially rip the chains off the walls, as the bricks seemed old and about to crumble into dust, but that would draw too much attention. Trying to unfurl his wings, Steady tested the resistance of the strange contraption on his chest. At first, it felt as if barely any resistance prevented him from unfurling his wings, until Steady felt a sharp pain on his side.

One of the spikes on the outside rim of the apparatus had retraced inwards, stabbing Steady. Though it was not very deep, the wound still caused a lot of pain and pinned one of his wings further into his body. He groaned as he observed the torture device across his barrel and quickly counted the spikes. He counted 24 and guessed that there were probably around 12 more behind him, in his blind spot. Steady groaned, both in pain and in annoyance. Today was going to be painful.





A kaleidoscope of memories filled the void around Misty. She knew she was asleep, recognizing this familiar nexus of past recollections as her subconscious. Letting herself float towards memories of happier days, Misty felt calm. Every night, she found herself in this place where she was able to control her sleep in a way, every dream a lucid one. This was another part of her talent, though she never understood how or why. Misty did know, however, that she could only reach this state when she was sleeping in a city that had accepted her, in a sense.

Deciding to float towards one memory in particular, Misty prepared herself as if she was about to see a movie. Touching a shimmering mirror of past visions, the world around her suddenly transformed into a familiar scene: a cold winter day, a park, a frozen lake and a bench. On the bench, two mares sharing a scarf, keeping each other warm. Misty smiled. Back then, she wished for that moment to last forever. Thankfully, with her talent, it could be prolonged every night. Focusing on one of the mares, she slowly took her place, feeling herself being warmed up by the oniric Sandstorm to her side. Feeling perfectly content, Misty remained motionless as time passed. She knew her body was badly injured and that she would soon be sent to face judgment in Canterlot, but for now, all she wished for was to be comforted by the memory of her first date. All her worries would have to wait until tomorrow.

But then, Misty felt something unusual. A strange chill took over her body, one that does not belong to the dream. Nervously looking around, she noticed everything slowly becoming blurry, then smoky, as if every object and pony was made of steam, or fog. Even Sandstorm dissipated into thin air with a content expression, leaving the panicked Misty alone in a maelstrom of mist, slowly swirling in front of her. In all her life, she had never witnessed anything like this across the thousands of lucid dreams she had. The fog continued to swirl and to amass itself into a small area, slowly forming a body that became more and more defined as time went on. Eventually, Misty saw a second version of herself appear, made entirely of cold mist.

"Who... Who are you?" Misty asked, taking a step back.

The second version of herself opened and closed her mouth for a moment, as if learning how to use it. Then, with an echoing voice, it answered. "I am the wind. I am the everyday chatter. I am the constant background noise that fills every nook and cranny. I am..."

Misty frowned her eyes, then took a decisive step forward. "Stop it. I get it. You're... You're the city, aren't you?"

"Yes. I have come to..."

"No! No, I don't want to hear it! You betrayed me! You sent me to that pegasus, which led to Sandstorm and I having to run away. You're the reason I was hurt. You're the reason Dart turned into a monster. You're the reason why Steady was captured... But above all else, you're the bucking reason I fought with Sandstorm! It's all your Celestia-damned fault!" tears were running down her face as she breathed heavily.

The second version of Misty watched her vent her thoughts, her expression remaining neutral. Patiently waiting for Misty to be finished, it spoke again. "Yes. I have done these things because they needed to be done. I am sorry."

"So, you knowingly got me into this mess... Why?! I thought you were supposed to guide me, to protect me!"

"I cannot give you that answer. Not now. You will be ready, one day. Until then, there is somewhere you must go."

"No! Screw you! I don't even know if I'm going to... To wake up at all... Because of this bucking poison in my body! I just... If I can help it, I want to spend my last moments with the one I love. So please... Please leave!" Misty yelled, desperation filling her voice.

The ghostly version of herself took a few steps forward. Misty braced herself, preparing to strike at the mist, but was surprised when her clone simply hugged her. The embrace was strangely warm, even though the entity was made entirely of a freezing fog. With a soft voice, it spoke again in her ear. "I am sorry. I did not wish to make you suffer... But you will not die tonight. However, gears are moving. Plans centuries in the making are reaching their final phases. There is a place you and Sandstorm need to go."

Surprised by the sudden hug, Misty held her clone tighter and began crying into its chest. "...I don't want to go anywhere. I just... I just want to be happy. I just want to be with Sandstorm... To be safe. I can't... Do this anymore!"

"The path ahead will be tumultuous. You will face many hardships, but know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, a brighter future. I can only nudge you in its direction, but you must take the steps yourself."

"But what if... What if I get hurt? What if Sandstorm gets hurt? What if I lose..." unable to finish her sentence, Misty simply sobs once again into her clone.

"This is a risk you need to take, but do not be afraid. You shall not face these hardships alone. Many others will be at your side, all striving for a brighter future."

Taking a moment to take her respiration back under control, Misty sighed. "Alright. Just... Show me where I need to go."

Once again, the fog around her began swirling again, reshaping her dreamscape.





Swift Winds looked down at his journal. Being stuck in a hospital and unable to do anything productive beyond keeping an eye on Sandstorm, he had grown increasingly bored. Thankfully, the nurses often offered him coffee and reading material to pass the time, but he still wished for things to move forward.

In front of him laid Misty, in her hospital bed, still asleep. "At least, somepony's getting some rest," he thought. Sandstorm was sitting next to Misty, never leaving her side except when going to the bathroom. When no nurse or doctor was in the room, an awkward silence filled the air. Technically, Swift Winds was supposed to arrest them as soon as they left the hospital grounds, or when Misty's condition stabilized. At least, they now knew it was only a matter of time.

The toxicology report came in a few hours ago and cleared out any doubts on Misty's condition. The venom in her body was a modified tranquilizer, long acting but non-lethal. Something Mud's group used to foalnap ponies and carry them across long distances without them knowing it. The doctors also didn't expect any long-lasting side effects, but more tests would be required in the future to be sure.

Reading his journal's headlines, Swift Winds saw an article about this year's Summer Sun Celebration. Apparently, Celestia was about to raise the sun in a small village in the middle of nowhere, 'Ponyville'. Swift Winds frowned, knowing that organizing security in these kinds of areas was going to be a pain. Sipping on his now cold coffee, he felt better about being stuck here. Glancing at Sandstorm, he saw the mare laying her head on the bed, looking at Misty. He felt bad for her and wished he could give a few words of encouragement, but he knew better than to discuss with prisoners. Besides, he wasn't good with words to begin with.

Going back to read his journal, Swift Winds began feeling drowsy. Even despite all the coffee he drank, his body was slowly reaching his limit. The sun was already setting, meaning he had stayed up for 24 hours. Royal guards usually didn't have shifts that long, but with the current festivities and Celestia's plan to visit Ponyville, they were stretched thin. His superior promised that somepony would eventually come in to take over for him, but for now, Swift Winds would have to remain vigilant.

His attention moved once again on Sandstorm, who stood up all of a sudden, eyes wide. Misty had woken up, slowly taking her bearings. What followed was Sandstorm throwing herself at Misty, hugging her tight and saying countless 'I'm sorry' and 'are you alright?'. He stood up and looked at them. "Okay, I'll go get a nurse."

Truth be told, Swift Winds wished to leave the mares a moment to themselves. Leaving the room and finishing his coffee outside, he waited around five minutes before finally getting a nurse. Since the toxicology report claimed that Misty wasn't in a critical state and would come back to her senses sooner or later, Swift Winds didn't see the point in rushing things. Throwing the plastic cup in a trashcan, he headed towards the nearest nurse and explained the situation. With a nod, two nurses went toward Misty's room, while Swift Winds decided now would be a good time to go to the bathroom himself.

Sometime later, he approached the room once again. This time, however, many more nurses and doctors were inside, looking confused and stressed out. Going in, the first thing Swift Winds noticed was the empty hospital bed and the knocked down IV drip. Immediately, nurses and doctors began talking to the royal guard all at once, though he already understood the situation. The two mares had run off in the time he took to get a nurse. Taking in a deep breath, Swift Winds looked outside, through the now opened window.

"...For buck's sake."





As he stood in front of the castle's large entrance door, Aphelion felt a wave of confidence. He was expecting a lot more trouble as he snuck outside, but nopony seemed to pay much attention to him. "I guess I'm no longer considered to be a criminal."

His saddle bags were packed light in provisions: just enough food to spend a day or two in the wild, as well as a random blanket he stole in an empty guest room. The trip back to his father's manor wasn't going to be long, but Aphelion fully expected having to spend the night in the woods in case he couldn't reach it in time given his current physical condition. Aphelion was still recovering from his trip to Manehattan and while he could now cast spells again, they had to be basic. No more complex spell weaving like his recent 'astral projection', or rather, as Celestia would refer to it, his 'ripping his own soul and hurling it in the sky'.

"...I really need to update my spells," he mumbled as he began walking away, toward the train station. Being given a small allowance of sorts by Celestia in case he wished to explore the capital, it was more than enough for a ticket toward Stallionsfield, a small hamlet not far of Canterlot. The hamlet bordered the forest where his father's manor stood and was controlled by the Pact. Aphelion went there a few times in the past, whenever his studies required field studies. His father was always accompanying him, however.

Crossing the streets of Canterlot, many ponies were still celebrating the week-long Summer Sun Celebration. Once again, observing this many ponies living their own lives, each going in different directions, going about their day in a carefree attitude made Aphelion feel strangely relaxed. Having lived secluded from the rest of the world for so long, he expected to have developed some form of agoraphobia... Or, at least, that's what his father told him. Aphelion remembered painfully well an argument with his father a few years prior, one where Aphelion asked to visit the capital in search of rarer materials. The truth was, even back then, Aphelion longed for freedom and wished to experience the world outside of the Pact's scope, though he couldn't exactly explain it in that manner back then.

Eventually reaching the station as the sun began setting down, Aphelion brought his ticket and waited patiently for his train. Once he reached Stallionsfield, he would have to be sneaky once again. Without any crowd to disappear into, Aphelion would stick out like a sore thumb if he simply walked across the village, especially if any member of the Pacts were on the lookout. Thankfully, Aphelion knew a small hidden path next to the train station in Stallionsfield, one that would lead him directly in the woods. He knew that path too well, as a rare species of flower grew nearby. Reminiscing on his botanical lessons, the memory of him exploring that path and getting stuck in a large bramble bush. Back then, it was a painful experience that made him give up on alchemy for good. Now, Aphelion chuckles when thinking about it.

As Aphelion was deep in thought, waiting for the train to arrive, he failed to notice the green mare behind him, hiding behind a large newspaper...



Two hours ago



Apple Glaze was a lot of things. Outgoing, clumsy, annoying at times and a bit of an airhead, sure, but she was proud of that. What she wasn't, however, was an idiot. She could read other ponies like an open book, especially when they lied, a talent she shared in some capacity with one of her cousins. So, when Aphelion pretended to go to the captain of the guard for forgetting to relay some important information, Glaze knew he was bullshitting. She decided to play dumb, but her orders were clear: keep an eye on Aphelion in case he did something stupid.

And from what she could gather, Aphelion was about to do something extremely stupid indeed.

What should have followed, was Glaze going to her superior to report that Aphelion was about to exit Canterlot, probably heading for his father's manor. However, something in her pushed her to trust the stallion's intentions. Whatever he had in mind, it was going to be something he needed to do, especially now that the princess couldn't overlook his every move. Besides, as long as Glaze followed him, she would still be following her orders.

Notifying her superior that Aphelion wanted to have fun in town to justify their absence, she left her maid attire behind and quickly grabbed some essentials. Food, tools, a tent and a map. Looking at herself in a mirror, Glaze couldn't help but giggle as her reflection reminded her of her filly dreams of becoming an adventurer. Even though working as a royal maid was a much more stable and safer position with a great pay, the days were long and incredibly boring. Constantly hearing the other maids and butlers talk about Steady's adventures certainly didn't help her longing for more action.

Then, following Aphelion from a distance, she watched as he hesitantly walked across the capital's many streets. As time went on, she noticed him relaxing and observing the festivities, stopping multiple times to look at a stand or at street performers. There were multiple close calls, but Glaze always managed to stay out of his sight. Eventually, they reached the train station. After Aphelion brought his ticket, she waited a few minutes before going herself to the booth, grabbing a ticket and a journal. Sitting down on a bench behind Aphelion, she hid her face with her journal before hearing the train slowly reach the station.

Letting Aphelion get inside first, she followed soon after, still making sure to remain unseen. Then, as soon as the train left once again, Glaze knew it was time to reveal herself to him. Casually walking to his seat and sitting in front of him, Glaze beamed a smile at him.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, Aphelion staring at her in complete surprise and fear.