//------------------------------//
// What Waits on the Mountain 
// Story: What Followed The Dawn 
// by Anemptyshell 
//------------------------------//

The smell only got worse the closer to the actual mining we got. Tempest and Babble took turns rolling their eyes at my gagging. I returned their dismissal with melodramatic staggers and whimsical fainting tilts. Nightmare did not, however, have to worry that the yetis would hear her, and thus. She lectured me the whole way up. Every single step was met with her vast disapproval. It was funny, actually. I would never tell her this, nor anyone else, lest I be killed in my sleep by my oh-so-friendly sleep paralysis demon. The thing was, she sounded so much like Celestia. Well, situationally, anyway, the actual content and delivery were far more snide and far less motherly. Even the way she stood screamed Celestia. 

"Stop," Babble whisper-yelled. Tempest and I froze in place. My ears swiveled on end as I tracked the chinks and crunch of picks on stone up ahead. "We're coming up to the watched zone. Stay quiet and follow me exactly. Got it?"

I nodded, and Tempest tsked, but we both fell in line behind Babble. We crept along the wall, dancing from a shadowy crevice to shadowy crevice. The plinks and plonks grew louder and over those, the rumbling growls of angry guards taking out their repressed self-image issues on poor, defenseless, enslaved birdhorses. It sent an unpleasant chill up my spine.

"Scum," Nightmare hissed in my ear. On that, she and I were in total agreement. However, I had to ponder if they weren't too dissimilar to Nightmare's hierarchical systems in place not too long ago. To such a degree, in fact, that Thestrals even now were held in suspicion and, in some places, outright hate. 

"Alright, puny diggers, hurry up. We got a qu-quo-quota to get done before the boss comes back. So, Move it!" 

The shadows rallied in the corners of my vision. My breath hitched as I struggled not to grind my teeth. Babble had slowed but otherwise showed no other outward signs of rage. Tempest, well, she looked as she always did. She was complicit in all of this not long ago.

"Stay focused," Tempest whispered, pointing from me back toward the encroaching miners. I repressed a retort and focused ahead. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we beat Starlight. The sooner we do that, the sooner everyone will be freed.

The first of said miners was now in view. Hooves up, pick down. The rhythmic agony etched on each face was appalling. It was evident by the ruffled feathers, matted fur, and somewhat unsightly protruding ribs. These Hippogriffs were not in good health or well-kept. The shadows had completely wrapped my vision in a dull monochrome. Black and white, everything but the firelight from the torches and lanterns. The brilliant oranges and yellows contrasted with the rage that festered deep in my chest. It hurt like a caged animal trying to escape a trap. It called and tore at my ribs with reckless abandon.

"Sloppy, mindless, and shortsighted. These insipid creatures have no right to rule. Lost in their own greed. They are better off dead," Nightmare preambled from her place in my mind. She watched a disgusted sneer on her face. Her words buzzed in my ears. Which only added to my growing anger. 

Then, something collided with the back of my head. I was now staring at the ground. I gingerly placed a hoof where the affront to my well-being collided. The shadows had retreated for the moment, and color returned in full. 

I looked up to see Tempest glaring at me. I wanted to leer back, point and scream, tell her to go buck herself. I wanted to, but I didn't. She was right. There was a better time and place to get rattled. I needed to focus, Get Starlight's goon, her, then crack some skulls. Focus, I just needed to focus.

So, the three of us slowly crept around the rock and through the dark, dancing around the salvation of the lanterns. The Yetis were too busy picking on the weak to look for intruders. They were nowhere near clever enough to expect intruders to come in through the mines. Sure, over the years since the Storm King took over, that is precisely how their prisoners were rescued, but who am I to correct the invaders' indifference?

I was impressed if by nothing else than the infrastructure of the mines, large natural caverns connected with wooden walkways in place where cracks and holes would otherwise make passage impossible. You know, if you are a yeti or chained up starving native. The fact that the caverns were natural was the reason we had the room to snake about. The yetis were far too focused on their one job that they neglected the remainder of their surroundings. It was sad how easy it was. Nope, no, shut up brain. That was just begging for karma. I shook my head and stuck my tongue out in rebellion to the mighty tropes of nature.

This earned me an odd look from Tempest, but I otherwise ignored her. The mines were beginning to widen further, and the dancing lights of the various fires were washed away by the gentle light of the night. We were getting close. 

Then we heard it. The sound of something exploding or combusting, maybe both. Regardless, the yetis had heard it too. The closest few were sent running out into the open to see just what happened. I already knew the mighty princess of the rebellion had begun her show. Fight the power, Skystar, fight the power. I cracked a smile as several more yetis ran out of the mines. A second explosion shook the walls closest to the exit. 

That would buy us some time, and the confusion would give us a little more leeway once we got free of these horrible-smelling rock farms. As we closed the distance, the shadows grew further and thinner in between. The entrance was in full view, and so were the confused yetis who were yammering on about fires and pretty lights. I heard Tempest grumble something under her breath but didn't make out any actual words.

"What now?" I asked. 

Babble shook his head and pointed obviously to the waiting pack of yetis. It was a fair observation, but not much in the way of helping. 

"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Nightmare asked. The smile on her face was enough to chill a lesser pony to the bone. It only gave me goosebumps. Whether growing used to her chicanery was good or bad was beyond me. I would leave such thoughts to the philosophers and religious. 

"How?" I asked. 

Nightmare laughed, and I was oh so thankful this was all in my head. The whole of Aris would have heard her cackles otherwise. "Poor Stargazer, all this time, and you still underestimate my powers."

I shook my head. "No, I respect your power. I question your sanity. Those are two wholly different things."

That earned me a dismissive huff of indignation. I retaliated with an eye roll of my own. This was getting us nowhere. I sighed and motioned for Nightmare to go on. It wouldn't hurt to hear her out, or so I hoped.

"For the record. I am a magnanimous ruler, leader, and companion. As we've skulked through these tunnels, I have left a few gifts for the intellectually stunted apes we aim to best."

I blinked and looked behind me, past Tempest and into the dark recesses of the mines. Tempest followed my gaze and offered a silent question. I shook my head and attempted a smile. Even I wasn't fooled by that one. 

"What kind of gifts?" I asked. 

Nightmare's grin looked prepared to split her head in two. Her eyes flashed with a devious conviction that had me take a step back both in and outside my psyche. 

"Such little faith from one whom my power has done naught but assist. My gifts will ensure the apes are distracted and those that work these mines are given means to upend these abysmally mismanaged work camps. It is enough to make even I wretch in disgust."

"I am going to be honest. There is far too much for me to unpack there, then we have time to do so. If these gifts of yours are as you say. Then you will not hear me complain about them."

Nightmare stood triumphant and smug in her victory. So, bested as I was, Nightmare had naught but to reap her spoils. That being whatever insane traps she'd set. The fact no one, including me, noticed was a mystery to look into later, but for now. Let the rebellion begin. 

"Then let the festivities begin."

I waited, breath held as I once again looked over my shoulder to the darkness that lay behind me. There was nothing. So, I waited some more. Yet again, not a sound nor sight to be had. By this point, Tempest looked ready to slap me. I couldn't blame her. The yetis had quieted down but otherwise hadn't moved from their spot in the entranceway.

"Nightmare?" I asked. 

She looked down at me, nose to the sky. "It has been done."

I plant a hoof to my muzzle both in my mind palace and reality. Nightmare sits undeterred. Tempest finally whapped me over the head. My stalwart but unwarranted guardian mouthed a question. I didn't need to read lips to guess what she'd asked.

I mouthed the name of my mind mate. Tempest looked unamused. I sighed and offered a quiet apology. Then, the shouting began. There were growls, squawks, and more unmasked animalistic roars of challenge and victory from the dark. The yetis had also heard and were begrudgingly turning from the debacle outside and forced to confront the happenings below their noses. Tempest raised an eyebrow. I shrugged once more. 

"Do I even want to know?" I asked Nightmare. 

"I shattered the shackles of the oppressed and may or may not have severed the atlas from several yeti spinal cords." I stared slackjawed at the amused Nightmare. She snorted. "I assure you it was painless."

I took a deep breath. "So you killed them?"

Nightmare shook her head. "Paralysed from the neck down, they are very much alive. Well, they did not die by my hoof. What the Hippogriffs do is beyond even my peerless control."

Babble had taken the time since the yelling began to stare back at me. The worried look on his face was unpleasant. The flicker of his eyes between me and Tempest spoke volumes. Tempest's own look was less nervous, more unimpressed curiosity. 

"Nightmare freed the miners and, for all intents and purposes, killed several of the guards that remained in the mines." 

"How?" Babble asked. His harsh whisper would have given us away if not for the sound pollution behind us. 

"She broke shackles and severed spinal columns. At least that's what she told me. So, there is that."

"Yes, but how? Isn't she trapped in your mind or whatever?" Balled asked. 

I reflected on just how open about having an insane demi-god in my head, which had been a mixed bag of responses. There were my friends. They accepted it if not only for the fact they could do little about it. Having heard the stories of my and my friends' adventures, Tempest was intrigued but had little reason to doubt us. Skystar and Babble had been something else. 

If we were gonna save Aris together, they'd deserved the truth. Babble had heard most of the stories back when Bright had entertained Brook. But the frantic terror in his eyes when we told him and his princess was disheartening. Skystar had managed to hide whatever was happening in her head at the time. But I doubted it was a good thing. This, though, is Nightmare's plan. It did little to usher forth confidence in the hippogriff sitting before me. It didn't warrant much confidence in me, either.

"Umbralmancy, of course, you uninformed fool," Nightmare said. 

"She says umbralmancy. So, something with shadows seemed to be the extent of what she's done from inside my head so far. At least it is consistent, right?" I asked. I offered a wry laugh, which was met with silence from my companions. Where was Discord when you needed him?"

"We should move. We have no idea how long the mines will keep the guards' attention," Tempest said, walking past me and Babble toward the exit. Any further queries on Nightmare and her magics would have to wait. 

"Right."

I followed, and Babble slowly drew in behind me. The moonlight was an incredible change of pace. The second I walked out into the open air, I could start breathing without choking on who knows what. 

I looked out over the mountain-based home of the Hipposeagriffponies. They'd really need to decide a name for both. The whole split between land and sea was just a little silly. The sum of my thoughts and reflections upon seeing Mt. Aris for all its luster was a mix of impressive and concerned. The city and mountain themselves were nothing short of breathtaking. The kind of sight you put on the front of a postcard. The concern stemmed from the airship port, which was clearly a newer addition. A port that was not empty. I couldn't say if any of those same ships were Starlight's. I don't recall any unique markings or insignias. So, there was a chance. We might still have time. 

"Tempest?" I asked. 

She leered at the port. "Not hers, not yet. Now, move."

That was some kind of relief. Babble and I followed as commanded. The supposed location of our target was atop the mountainside, near the old Hippogriff barracks. It was a perfect place for leadership to maintain and hide away from explosions and slave riots. It was an ideal place for me to strangle that same target to death and hang him from the nearest partition. 

"My my, Stargazer, who knew you were so creative. A masterful symbol of conquest and dominance. A sight worth noting, but a sight not befitting your meeker character," Nightmare tutted. I blinked, my whole body shuddering in protest to my rather dark fantasy. Nightmare was right. That wasn't acceptable, even if it was deserved.

"You're right, my apologies," I said, giving Nightmare an apologetic smile in return for her touching concern. 

The path through the city was far more barren than I'd have thought. There was only the occasional bored sentry. Some so utterly dead to their task we could have paraded right past then, and they'd have not so much as budged. 

"Tempest, something doesn't feel right," I said. We were sneaking through a more prominent boulevard, one for what I supposed was the noble class of Hippogriffs. There were three sentries, all of which were more interested in seeing what had exploded without actually abandoning their posts outright.

"Agreed," She said. "These numbers are noticeably shorter than when we'd left. It smells of a trap. The question is where and for which team? Even if Starlight were present, she'd not have the numbers to mount such a trap for all of our teams simultaneously. She'd have to leave the rest of the city completely unguarded to manage that. What is that witch planning?"

"Are you sure it is Starlight's doing?" I asked. 

Tempest nodded. 

"So, what do we do?" Babble asked. 

Tempest smiled. "What else? We trigger her trap, then crush her for thinking she could beat me in warfare."

"I like it," Nightmare said.

"It's like Nightmare in stereo," I said. I sighed deeply and wrapped my hooves around my temples as the dull thud of an oncoming headache played slowly through my skull. 

"I will attempt to take that as a compliment," Tempest said. 

My pupils dilated, and my sigh caught in my throat as I realized I'd said that out loud. Babble offered me a shake of his head as he walked past me. Nightmare was enjoying a good laugh. We might survive walking into the lion's den between the two of them. I was still pining for the hope that Starlight was miles away.

Then, as we entered the city square, marble and fountains shattered statues that had yet to be cleaned up and pillars. There was a bright flash. The world went white as I hissed and waved my hooves in an attempt to banish the accursed beams of piercing light.

"My my, look what we have here."

"Faust, Damn it." 

"Do not speak of our mother in such a way, whelp."

"Shut up, Nightmare."

Nightmare hissed. "Make us."