Chapter 5
Twilight yawned tiredly as she woke up. Her arms stretched out while she allowed the day’s sunlight to enter her vision. The events of last night’s storm and the new girl Rarity had brought back had caused her to sleep in, much to her annoyance. It was a waste of daylight that she thought would be best used for walking to the next destination or checking the town more to learn about Sapios and humans in general. The room around her was rather spartan with wood covered most of it’s surface. It was not luxurious but it did its job as the wooden floorboards below her bed creaked with each step she took. The group had split into two separate rooms, each with its own bathroom. Rarity and Twilight had originally shared a room while Luna had her own next door with an extra bed to spare.
After the incident with the river, Twilight had gotten less sleep than she usually did with Rarity trading her bed for the one in Luna’s room. Now the blonde girl named Jenith laid in the bed next to Twilight’s, still tired and sleepy. She looked better as her fever had left at least. Is was then Twilight noticed how young Jenith actually was. Barely out of her teens, she had a very round and youthful face with a small nose and a very small and round chin. Her blonde hair was cut short with strands of it covering a bit of her forehead. Her now dry white dress seemed to have seen better days, indicating she didn’t have much money on her to afford cleaning or doing repairs as a few rips were noticeable. Her grey jacket sat on the bedpost with blue parallelogram shapes sewn into the cuffs. Sitting just below Jenith’s bed were a pair of grey boots with dirty white socks balled up in them. The boots still had mud encrusted in them but were not waterlogged anymore.
After showering and getting into a simple set of clothes Rarity had bought for her, the bookish girl looked at her bed nearby to see Jenith sleeping still. With a shrug Twilight went to the other room to check on Rarity. Spike slept next to Rarity, curled into a cute little ball of scales. The small snoring he gave off seemed a little cute to Twilight as she looked around. One bed sat empty while Rarity slept in the other.
“I guess Luna woke up earlier before I did,” said Twilight as she walked back out to the hallway.
Twilight quickly decided to see where Luna was and began walking downstairs to the lobby of the inn before heading outside. The storm had made most of the dirt streets a mess of congealed mud with the audible sound of it squishing under Twilight’s boots. The local townspeople were moving about at their own accord as Twilight wandered around. From the sun’s position the girl quickly surmised that it was past noon. A small rumbling of her stomach confirmed the time. She remembered how long it was since she last ate and it only served for the rumble to worsen. It didn’t take long for Twilight to decided that she would visit the local market for a bite to eat right away.
The market section of town was simply a row of stalls. Some sold produce while others sold trinkets and tools. The purple haired girl quickly noticed an unusual smell in the air. It somehow made her mouth water as Twilight began following it before finding its source. One of the stalls was a wooden table in front of a small mobile kitchen. A stove powered by a simple wooden furnace sat in the back while a block of dry wood sat in the center ready to fuel the inferno that powered the stove. As Twilight examined the stall, her appetite quickly left upon realization at what it was. Sitting there open to view was slabs of uncooked flesh peppered with spices and herbs. Defeathered beheaded pheasants hung from hooks among the stalls as the sound and smell of flesh burning on the stove filled Twilight’s ears and nose.
“What can I get you?” said a gruff and calm voice.
Twilight quickly looked down to see a rather large man with brown hair. He wore a makeshift apron that was covered in blood and residue. A large cleaver sat in his hand as he looked at Twilight waiting for an answer.
“Um... What is all this?” The girl pointed around at the meats with a small hint of disgust at their sight.
“We got pheasants, pork, beef, you name it! All arrived from the farms and local game! You seem like a nice girl. So, you want me to cook you a steak or something?” asked the man.
Twilight frowned as she thought of what the man said. Princess Luna had told her humans were omnivorous but seeing animals slaughtered for food out in the open was still sickening to say the least. Twilight slowly walked back thinking of what Fluttershy would think if she saw all this. Even a large skinned rabbit was there, waiting to be bought for someone’s next meal.
“No, that’s ok... I don’t eat meat...” said Twilight.
The cook sighed, “I don’t get you vegetarians... Why don’t you go run off and eat some cow feed or something then, huh?”
Whatever Twilight said had annoyed the man. “What are... vegetarians?” she thought to herself. The purple haired girl quickly went and left the market while she waited for her appetite to come back. She had gotten a little sick back when what Rarity told her was a Giga Cobra had been killed unceremoniously by Luna. Her mind told her it was different back then as it was either them die or the creature die but now, seeing animals dying just for food was a different thing altogether for Twilight.
---
Luna looked around with each step she took wandering around town. She had seen numerous guards moving about and they seemed unbothered about most of the towns people carrying their own weapons. Almost everyone had something at their side ranging from a small dagger to a long sword. Luna had surmised that due to local bandits and other dangers it was always important to carry a weapon at all times. Those who seemed to have stayed within the town had rapiers or daggers instead of the larger weapons. Only a few noticed Luna as she walked. She was slightly out of place with her deep blue clothes but it only made her look like some well off traveler who could afford looks with function. The ever blazing burgundy red of uniforms seemed to always creep into Luna’s vision no matter how much she looked away. Guards took their patrols and seemed to cover a good portion of the town. From the looks of the locals, nobody paid any attention to their existence. It was like as if they were invisible eyes that constantly kept vigilant.
“Luna!” exclaimed a familiar voice.
The lunar princess quickly turned around to see Twilight smiling as she ran up to her. “It’s good to see you’re up Twilight. I hope the storm last night didn’t rob most of your sleep.”
“I’m fine, if not a bit tired. I just can’t seem to find a library in town and the trip to the market quickly killed my appetite...” The girl quickly released her friendly grasp from Luna.
Luna listened as Twilight told her how her day at began and when she actually saw prepared meat. She could sense that the sight of meat had made Twilight feel uneasy when she explained her experience at the market. “Well... Let me go and buy some fruit and we’ll eat inside. The girl from last night and Rarity should be awake by now. I’ll meet you back at the hotel.”
Twilight nodded and watched Luna leave for the market before returning to the hotel. The lunar princess slowly moved about as she examined the numerous fruits available. Most were well known in Equestria with a few new fruits here and there that only grew in exotic farms and orchards. As she did, she overheard numerous conversations around her.
“Did you hear what happened? Those magic users were taken to the barracks nearby in the north.”
“... I hope they get rid of them! I survived a plague outbreak when I was a little girl. I’m too old to survive another one!”
“King Mortem makes them gone. They deserve whatever happens to them.”
As Luna listened on, she continued to hear more contempt for the magic users. Each insult seemed to feed a small fire of anger in her mind. The jeers quickly conjured images of how she was herself held in contempt by her own subjects. As she began thinking about what had happen back home, a small plan formed in her mind. The innocent were currently being held in a barracks nearby and it wouldn’t be hard to go in and free them. The magical humans were innocent and she was going to show everyone that.
---
Luna sighed while opening the door to her room to see Spike and Rarity staring at the unconscious girl laying on the extra bed across from where Twilight was napping.
“Her fever’s gone down but she’s been asleep since we brought her here,” Rarity spoke softly.
“Is Twilight ok?” asked Luna.
Rarity idled for a moment before remembering the small conversation she had with Twilight when she returned. “I guess seeing the gruesome sight she described would knock the energy out of anypony. I’m happy Fluttershy isn’t with us. Poor darling would have gone into a coma if she were in Twilight’s place.”
Luna nodded, “Yes but it’s understandable. Humans are a predator species who need to consume others to survive.”
“Really? Do humans have to go and slaughter innocent animals just to survive? It’s just... unnatural...”
“Rarity, it’s unnatural to us because we’re not human. We’re not made to eat the flesh of other creatures to survive. We make the land grow us food. Humans need to force things their way to survive. It’s just how the world works.”
“Well if you ask me, it’s some sick joke. I bet it’s possible for a human to survive on fruit and vegetables alone and I hope neither of us are pushed into eating the flesh of others.”
Spike pulled on Luna’s leg while he listened into the conversation, “We should keep this quiet. What if that girl from last night hears us from the other room?”
“Spike’s right. This is a pointless argument. We know humans have to eat animals to survive and that’s how it is. Bickering about it won’t change that fact.”
With a frown Rarity pushed the conversation away. “I guess that’s one way to end it. Anyways, let’s eat some lunch I bought from downstairs. A good hoofful hearty fruits should do the trick, darling.”
The princess nodded and sat down with Rarity and Spike at the small table each room was furnished with before Rarity pulled out lunch from a basket nearby.
As Luna told Rarity about the sights of the town, Twilight slowly tossed and turned while she slept in her bed. Her mind was somewhere else as an outside force touched her thoughts.
“Twilight’s always been a deep sleeper... Maybe it’s all the books she’s read,” said Rarity while her purple haired friend slept peacefully.
---
Twilight slowly opened her eyes as she felt the cold air brush against her skin. The room she was in had a dark and the damp stale air that gave an uncomfortable vibe. The slow dripping of water was the only sound that broke the deafening silence while Twilight sat there in the middle of the bleak dark room.
“Wake up...” said a deep voice.
Twilight slowly turned her head and noticed that the muscles in her neck were trying to fight her as if they had become stiff like steel.
“Aetas.... You seem awake as usual... A body with no need for sustenance must be nice...” taunted the voice.
The only light in the room seemed to be coming from below Twilight as she noticed a black silhouette in the only doorway to the room. She stood there thinking why the voice called her Aetas.
“Please Twilight... watch... “ A voice echoed within her mind. The voice reminded her of Celestia but there was a hint of sadness in it.
“Tell me Aetas, why is it that I suddenly felt something mess with the barrier of Sapios?” asked the voice in a hint of annoyance.
Twilight tried to move closer to find that she had no control of her body. Upon looking down, she discovered that she instead of her own, Twilight was within someone else’s body thanks to a mirror for a floor. The body was of a young woman, somewhat older than what Luna looked like. With tall and thin build it had no clothes except a thin film of an ethereal glow that hid any features to suggest nudity. Sitting on the ground with its legs crossed, the body’s hair was styled in deep silver curls that were let down in a mess as its hair rested on its back. Her eyes were grey but instead its skin caught Twilight’s attention. Lines of pitch black that turned at sharp angles covered her pale white skin. Only her neck and head were untouched as Twilight felt she had only control in those areas. Suddenly, Twilight’s lips began to move without her control like she was just an audience viewing through someone else’s eyes.
“Why should I tell you?” The echoing voice now announcing from the body’s own mouth. It was instead filled with disgust and contempt for the stranger that stood before Twilight and the body’s true owner.
“Because nobody should have more power than me and only someone with power has the ability to move through the barriers,” said the unknown figure.
“You are drunk on power. This is why man cannot be trusted with it!”
The stranger chuckled, “Your words mean little to me. The only reason why I cannot kill you is because if I did, time would be destroyed with you. Now if you won’t tell me what broke through the barrier, then I’ll just take a look myself...”
Twilight cringed while watching the stranger take his pitch black hands and placed them on Aetas’ forehead. Suddenly, Twilight felt her own mind run cold while the man’s hand began to glow with deep burgundy sigils. The dull glow revealed crystals that dotted the man with a blue artificial glow like some sort of device that the stranger wore. Slowly, the man began invading Twilight’s own mind.
“You’re not alone? Might as well see who this is... Celestia... Luna... Oh this is juicy!”
Twilight felt her mind being invaded; numerous memories of her friends and her teacher raced through her mind and each one becoming duller as the man looked at them. While he searched through Twilight’s mind, the mare began trying her best to suppress important memories of her and her companions’ location with some access. The memories stayed fresh and clean while the man scrawled the vast database called Twilight’s mind.
“Twilight Sparkle... Celestia’s student... A unicorn pony of immense magical powers... Thank you... for the information...”
“Let go of me!” shouted Twilight in her mind.
“As you wish...” Slowly the man released his metaphorical grip on Twilight’s mind. The girl could feel sweat running down her face remembering what just happened.
“He just... invaded my own mind!” Fear consumed Twilight when questions to what the man could do with such power began racing through her thoughts.
“Leave the poor thing alone! She doesn’t concern you!” exclaimed Aetas, now with pure hatred in her words.
“Tsk tsk tsk. Like you can stop me! I’ll find you Twilight and I’ll harvest that raw magic once I find you. You can hide your memories away but if Aetas slips up again... I will know where you are... The age of your kind will end and the age of humans shall be reborn!” exclaimed the male voice in a sinister laugh.
Twilight could feel Aetas’ anger as she pushed Twilight out of her body. Suddenly, Twilight felt as if she was floating now in someone else’s mind but without a body.
“I’m deeply sorry Twilight... If I had known he would feel your presence... I wouldn’t have pulled your mind out... What you saw is what could happen to your kind if you don’t stop all of this... Please... You and the others are the only ones who can free me from my prison,” said a saddened Aetas.
“What happened?” asked Twilight.
“Mankind, that’s what happened.... Luna had told you man’s greatest fault was their need for power. You see... Your kind are of pure order, pure harmony. Humankind... it is a species of balance.... Humans are like a double edged sword. They contain both good and bad in equal amounts but there is one thing that breaks their scales. They always have a need for power. It may have been the need to survive as they were a species of prey and predator.... I have little power... Go to Bigwell and look for the keys.”
“Keys? Why not rescue you?”
“I do not know where I’m being held. I’ve been driven to sleep for centuries at a time just to keep myself from losing my magical abilities... It makes me wish I was like your two princesses, Twilight...”
“Where... where am I?”
“You’re in my mind right now.... he’s already left and I’m keeping you away from his influence.... I miss Sapios... Please stay safe Twilight... I do not know what he plans to do but he knows of Equestria.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“I sense your magic. You are the Element of Magic and gifted. Though the Elements of Harmony will do no good for now, the power of friendship should be able to guide you into finding a way to stop all of this and save Sapios.”
“Why wouldn’t they work? We stopped Nightmare Moon and Discord with them! Please, tell me why!”
“They’re different... They’re the harmonistic connected of you ponies to nature itself. The universe’s natural order... Magic of us humans... it is different... it is more of the energies created by the constant imbalances within us all.... I tried to keep power away from them, knowing that it would cause only harm but in the end, it only made them yearn for it more and they killed for it... The Plague of Shadows was my fault and I do not deserve to wield this power anymore...”
“Aetas... what is this power you keep on talking about?” asked Twilight...
“I... I don’t have enough time... he is returning... Just keep Jenith safe... she can guide you. Your magic may be sealed away but she... she is powerful and can help you. Just guide her.”
Twilight frowned. “Tell me!”
Nothing replied as Twilight began falling upon feeling herself given a form. A million questions replaced the cryptic instructions Aetas ordered. While dropping down the ethereal abyss, a large glass clock face slowly appeared below. She kicked and screamed with each passing second as the bottom of the pit became dangerously close. Right upon impact, Twilight was quickly and violently thrown back into her body back the physical world.
In a cold fright, the bookish girl quickly sat up covered in sweat. She panted heavily as what had happened raced through her mind. Sitting her lap was Spike sleeping calmly, oblivious to Twilight’s night scare.
Twilight sighed, “At least... At least you’re all safe....”
The girl slowly looked around to see that she was back in the hotel room. Jenith was still asleep in the bed next to her’s with the slow rising and dropping of her chest evident under the thick blankets. The full moon sat low in the sky as Twilight examined the window. It’s white glow glistened in the leaves of the surrounding trees outside. After a few minutes of looking aimlessly at the moon, Twilight slowly checked on Rarity to see her sound asleep without a care in her room. Sitting across from her was an empty bed. It’s sheets were squared as if waiting for someone to occupy them.
“Luna?...”
---
The lunar princess frowned while hiding within the darkness of the night and the forest. Magic coursed through her veins, moon hanging low in sky in its fullest. It’s light allowed Luna to move about silently with each step while guards patrolled the wooden and stone barracks that sat before her in a large clearing. The sound of crickets and other nocturnal creatures accompanied the small chatter of tired guards.
In a quick instant, a lone guard who had passed Luna’s hiding spot quickly vanished without a trace. His torch going out harmlessly as Luna took her sword and plunged it into his throat between the plates of his armor. With her other hand, she muffled the small bit of screams he could make before his vocal cords became severed. Blood staining her sword and her gloves as she dropped the lifeless body onto the ground.
“By Celestia and I these innocent people will be saved...”
The lunar princess quickly used a spell to bend the moonlight to her will, concealing her into the shadows. As she kept against the walls, she hid her presence while guards passed her without noticing she was even existing. Luna quickly ran inside to see a few guards sitting in the mess hall eating their meals. With two quick swipes of her blade, the idle guards dropped without a sound.
“Their armor may be stronger than my sword but they are slow...” the moon princess thought to herself.
Luna quickly used her magic to pull the bodies below the tables out of the way of any wandering eyes. Only blood stained the tables at it matched the numerous dried blood stains from rare meats and drunken brawls. Luna moved down the hallway before jumping up onto the rafts above as she noticed a large squadron of ten or so guards talking away. Some had taken their armor off, leaving only simple undergarments and clothes on while others suited up to start their shifts.
The group suddenly heard a thud and turned around to see the ethereal blue haired woman standing there.
“Who are you?” said a guard in a shaking voice as he tried to pull his blade out of its scabbard.
Luna smiled as angry bloodlust filled her eyes, “I am your worst nightmare...”
In a sudden flash, the guard watched in horror. His comrades were dispatched in seconds with the audible sound of a sword slicing the leather bands holding the armor together echoing through the room. Each stroke slicing flesh between the alloy plates as blood splattered across the guard’s face. One guard failed to catch his breath while it escaped from the new hole in his throat while another clutched his chest while blood poured profusely from his wound. Nine of the ten guards fell simultaneously as Luna stood there wiping the blood off her sword with her fingers.
“You... you’re not human!”
“You’re right... I’m not...” A scornful look covered Luna’s face as she slowly walked up to the guard.
The guard suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach before looking down. Luna stood there as she held the sword that was plunged into his chest and up into his heart and lungs. The guard simply stared in disbelief at the lunar blade before slowly turning his eyes to Luna. His soul quickly slipped away while blood splattered on the floor below. The now lifeless body slid off Luna’s blade when her grip loosened. Standing in the doorway was a young Seeker wearing a brand new jacket with the emblem shining brightly on his lapel. A standard issue sword sat in his hands. His blond hair stood on his head disheveled from being woken up. He trembled in fear and began falling backwards as Luna slowly walked towards him.
“Wha...what happened?” exclaimed the new Seeker as he found himself in a corner with his sword in hand pointing at Luna.
The princess scowled before swiping the sword easily out of his weak fingers with a quick flick of her lunar blade, “Tell me where the magic users are held... NOW!”
The Seeker quickly fumbled with something in his jacket pockets before producing a ring of keys. Blood dripped from his now cut fingertips as he stared at the lunar woman in fear. The princess eyed him back with her own form of the stare before watching him point down a hallway to the left.
“Tha..tha...that’s where they’re held!” blurted the boy.
“Try to interfere me and I’ll end your life here... King Mortem is a criminal and a monster that you oh so reverently follow like a loyal dog,” Her voice quickly made the room rumble with each syllable.
“Yes...yes... yes ma’am!”
Luna pulled her eyes away as she walked into the hallway. Cells lined both sides filled with those arrested days before. The arrested consisted of young men and women and a few children.
“Are you... are you a Seeker?” asked a young boy. He eyed the princess from behind the bars. The same dull golden bracelets were wrapped around his wrists that kept any of them from escaping, magic or otherwise. Even though she was covered in more blood than a wild manticore after a successful hunt, she smiled weakly as she sheathed her blade.
“No, I’m here to free you. Magic is not a curse but a blessing. Run and hide away from the guards and Seekers. Do not tell anyone what I’ve done and more will find freedom,” said Luna in a calm manner as she kneeled down and took off her gloves. The kid slowly felt Luna’s cool hands before noticing a sweet smile on her face.
“Where are you from, miss?” asked the boy.
“From the moon. I’m from the moon...”
Luna began unlocking each cell one by one before returning to the room she left the Seeker in. Lying there was a sword as the Seeker had made a quick getaway.
“Horse apples...” Luna cursed.
---
The young seeker ran through the woods as the scenario replayed in his mind. The guards were slaughtered like pigs with clean precision with blood splattered the walls. The woods had become a foreboding obstacle course that he found himself contending with has he tripped many times.
“Gotta... alert... the other... Seekers!” yelled the young man running towards the local town. He smiled weakly with each step taking him closer to civilization. The young seeker quickly arrived at the outpost as the guard noticed him running towards the town gates.
“What do you want?” ordered the guard.
The Seeker stopped in his tracks and collected his thoughts. “We were attacked by a woman clad in blue at the barracks. She slaughtered all the guards!”
The guard looked at the Seeker in surprise at only one person taking out the barracks “Follow me. The King’s Swift Sword is here. He should hear this...”
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Thank you Ponydora Prancypants, R5H, and Nothing_is_Constant for helping with the chapter and grammar.