Chapter 7: Disaster
After the unpleasantness of the past few days I receive good news. Kasson is up and about, and eagerly awaiting our return to the new tunnels. I have had a growing sense of unease in the tunnels I call home, and have decided to wear my armor at all times. Neela has been busy working on the large quantities of acid to seal the tunnel to the surface so I have been left to my own devices.
Kilanna has grown increasingly demanding of me and my scouts, trying to push us further and further into the tunnels away from home. Fortunately as scout commander I can override any order I feel unnecessary in regards to my own troops, and have done so at every turn.
This has upset mother to my chagrin. All my life I have endeavored to make things easier on her, and now when she is at her worst I have suddenly become yet another thorn in her side. Her condition seems to worsen by the day, and more often than not she sleeps for hours on end. When she does wake it is long enough to summon and chastise me for being so uncooperative toward Kilanna’s wishes.
After my morning meal I stride from my chambers in a more pleasant mood than I have known in some time. Kasson and his squad are awaiting me to join them, that we may continue or expedition into the new tunnels. Of course my smile immediately reverses upon seeing my eldest sister berating the scarred veteran.
“I am ordering you to join the front lines! You are warrior caste, I am royalty! You WILL obey!” She was practically frothing at the mouth…it is embarrassing to see.
I do not attempt to hide my scowl as I approach. “This is my personal squad Kilanna. You have no more authority over them than I do over your own bodyguards. Even mother would need my permission to send them elsewhere.”
She rounds on me, eyes blazing with a fierce rage…a rage that calms quickly to my surprise. “…very well scout
commander.” She spits my title with the same venom she typically reserves for ‘sister’. “Take your little troop out to the new tunnels then. I expect a detailed report upon your return.”
A snort is my response. “Where is Spinner? He and the warriors have been gone for days with almost no word.”
She brushes by me without answering of course. One of her legs ‘accidentally’ slapping my side and sending me stumbling into the wall. Kasson bristles and to my alarm looks ready to attack but I hastily raise a leg to stave off such a suicidal course. He complies though I can see he is tensed and ready to leap should she harass me further.
I salvage what dignity I can and nod to the tunnels ahead. “Let us be away from here. Perhaps our expedition will keep us occupied for several days.”
My scouts chuckle at my ill concealed reasons for wishing to be gone from home, but depart without comment. Kasson takes his place at my side. “I am glad you have recovered so completely Kasson.”
He is still angry and does not attempt to hide it. Mandibles constantly clicking and each step he takes dig little grooves into the stone beneath his legs. “Thanks to you of course Commander.”
Once we are clear of the tunnels of home I speak more candidly. “You were not seriously considering attacking a member of the royal family were you?”
His ire seems to have calmed somewhat during our walk. But he still snaps his mandibles as he speaks. “You are our Commander; the queen named you and your brother such and granted you unopposed authority over us. Even she cannot override an order from you without extremely extenuating circumstances. Just as the warriors first loyalty lies with Prince Spinner, the scouts lay with Princess Umbra.”
I do not hide my smile at his generous words. They warm me a good deal. “Be that as it may…attacking one of us is akin to treason for any reason.”
He glances at me from the corner of his good eyes. “And if one of your siblings attacks YOU Commander?”
I have encouraged my men to speak candidly with me at all times, so I suppose I have only myself to blame for his argumentative attitude toward me. “While Kilanna is obnoxious and over bearing she did not attack me Kasson. I believe the stress of her new position is clouding her judgment. That is all.”
His next snap I think sounds disturbingly similar to one of my own snorts of frustration. “If you say so Commander. She has always been something of a bad egg in my opinion. I do not like that we have only a token force of warriors protecting our home.”
It is unsettling how close his thoughts mirror my own. “I do not disagree, on either count. There has been something…off about our home the past several days. And I do not just mean the queen’s illness.”
I am met with a general murmur of agreement from my troop, and I do not know if the fact that they too have noticed something amiss should make me happy or upset. “Let us make haste. I wish to be through the mushroom chamber shortly.”
The conversation ends and we quicken our pace. I find the lack of any worker or builder in these tunnels odd. I have been receiving the valuable mushrooms from the Grabber’s chamber the last few days for my alchemical work and expected there to be a number of the lesser family here busy working. The chamber is deserted however. There are signs that they were here recently, but it is as if they were recalled and ordered not to return. A possibility I find likely given Kilanna’s antagonistic attitude toward me.
We pass through the chamber filled with the massive fungi and proceed into unexplored territory. The troop’s attitude shifts instantly. The casual formation tightens up, two scouts ahead two at our sides and two in the rear. All conversation ceases as we move on with more caution.
We pass through several more chambers without incident. One houses many precious gemstones that could be used to augment our armory, and they are marked for harvesting. The air grows uncomfortably warm once more, and the ground is…softening? Curiously I look down and scuff one of my hooves onto the floor, and find it yields to my scraping. “…the floor is not stone?”
The squad halts and begins their own inspection. It is Kasson who confirms my query. “No Commander, looks like it is dirt.”
Dirt. I have seen it of course, here and there. Never like this, sprawling out as far as my field of vision could take in. It is…curious. I take a few more steps, and am embarrassed to admit they were almost…prances. The look on my scouts’ face is enough to tell me I am acting foolish and I reign in my unexpected enthusiasm. “Ahem…yes we shall carry on. Mark this chamber for further study. Perhaps…digging this dirt wi-“
Suddenly a massive clawed fist punches through the dirt and catches me directly in my abdomen, launching me into the air and blasting the air from my lungs. I manage to gather my wits enough to enact my jumping power…the crimson glow from my horn fills illuminates the cavern as I land on all fours with a grunt.
“Hulks! Form up! Don’t look em in the eyes!” Kasson is rallying the scouts as I collect myself…then my thoughts flee as another of the huge insectoid brutes rises directly in front of me. They tower almost four or five times my height. Thick shells protect the soft flesh beneath. Two bulbous eyes glare over clacking mandibles, as a pair of antennae twitch above their head. I find my gaze transfixed by its own and then…
“The commander is hit! Deal with the hulks while I neutralize her!” Treachery! I whirl at the voice and see…I do not know what it is. It is horrible to behold. It LOOKS like kin, but malformed and twisted. Sneering cruelly at me it approaches menacingly. I paw the ground preparing to charge.
“Sorry about this commander, just need to get your hooves off the ground.” It leaps forward impossibly fast; I turn to keep it in my eye line, then feel thick webbing splatter against my eyes and face. I snarl in rage and begin to thrash my head. I am satisfied to hear a shout of alarm from the foul creature trying desperately to contain me.
I grunt as it lands on my back. “Hope you do not execute me for this…” I gasp as sharp fangs pierce the flesh beneath my neck where my armor does not protect me. Immediately I feel my strength ebbing, as the beast leaps off my back leaving more stands of webbing. Then I feel myself flipped upside down to hang dangling from the ceiling. I thrash and scream in rage but it is no use. My movements are slowing as the paralyzing toxin works its way through my blood, and soon I can only dangle helplessly to await my fate.
Below me the battle is being ended decisively. The well trained squad operates as one, quickly subduing the brutes. I hear the creature that assaulted me issue orders. “Return the prizes to the web, I will wait for the commander to regain her senses and return soon.”
They obey it without hesitation. More traitors! I…where is my squad? Where is Kasson…I cannot believe he abandoned me. My breath freezes in my chest as I feel the creature lowering itself to meet my gaze. I glare defiantly, determined to meet my end with dignity. …then I blink. The creature is gone, and an annoyingly amused looking Kasson is studying me calmly. “Back with us?”
I groan at my own ineptitude and he laughs. “Do not feel upset Commander, we have all been on the receiving end of a Hulks gaze before.” He gently lowers me to the floor and slices through his webbing.
Slowly I climb to my hooves and shake my head. “A rite of passage hm?” I smile now as he does. “Still I apologize for the distraction and…” I tilt my head. “…you said hooves.”
There. His eyes widen and he shifts to avoid meeting my gaze. “You must have heard wrong in your addled state.” His normally steady voice falters.
I move, forcing him to look me in the eye. “I know what I heard Kasson. How do you know this word?”
He stiffens, looking defiant. “How do YOU?”
“I asked you first.” I keep my calm. I have him cornered.
He scowls and shuffles on his legs. “It is not safe here. We may speak as we return.”
Knowing that without directly ordering him to speak, this is as good as I will receive we begin the trip home. “I assume you have already spoken with the queen about this?”
I nod. “Yes she told me of Colton, how it was attacked and I was found by a scout patrol.”
We walk in silence for a time before he speaks again. “It was not a patrol; it was a single scout who found you as a foal.”
My brow furrows again. “You speak pony words as if you are familiar with them.”
“Well I am familiar with them. Did the queen not tell you some of us communicated with Colton? I was one of those that ventured onto the surface to speak with our…neighbors. It was strained, the ponies found our appearance fearsome, but once we showed we did not wish to harm them they were oddly welcoming. Always had a friendly greeting for me.” He chuckled at the thought. “I came to think of Colton as a home away from home. The ponies even prepared a dwelling for me, when I had to stay for extended periods. The surface has…a light. It is nearly impossible to describe. Try to imagine a massive ball of fire burning in the sky, illuminating the land more intensely than your horn could at its strongest.”
I did try to imagine what he was describing…but as he predicted it was nearly impossible to picture. “It sounds…unpleasant.”
“Ha! Yes I suppose it is in a way. But the surface has…a beauty of its own. Everything is very…bright. And the colors, oh Commander you cannot imagine how many different colors there are.”
I frown as he speaks. His words are stirring…feelings. “What of the scout who found me?”
“Well. I was going for my usual visit to Colton. Imagine my surprise to hear a pony foal squealing in our tunnels. I followed the sound and…there you were. Some…creature trying to claw its way in to you.” His mandibles clicked softly at the memory. “It spewed flames, I shielded you. Lost half my eyes, then scooped you up and carried you to the queen. I had no idea what to do; I was still fairly young at the time.”
He spoke of these events so casually but…it was all I could do to keep from toppling over in shock. Kasson was the scout who found me? Who brought me to my mother? He was so badly wounded for my sake? “Kasson I…”
He continued, ignoring me. “The queen herself was as unsure of what to do as I was. She knew of your kind of course, but had never seen one personally. She has a bit of difficulty getting about as you may be aware. At first I thought she was going to order you returned where I found you…and let nature take its course. Then you…looked up at her. Reached with those…stubby little hooves of yours.” He chuckles again and I blush at his mirth. “The queen must have seen something she liked. She scooped you up and dumped you beside one of the stillborn royal eggs. Slitting it open and making it appears as if YOU had hatched from it. The rest I am sure you know.”
I walked at his side, my pace much slower than before as I think. “I think…I wish to see Colton.”
To my surprise he nods. “It would be a good idea I think. When your mother regains her health I will guide you.”
“…thank you Kasson. For everything. Truly.” My voice is low, annoyingly emotional.
He clears his throat gruffly. “Now…no need for all this. Remember who you are Umbra.”
That helps. I swallow the welling emotions and nod. “Yes. Yes I am sorry.”
He chuckles again. “Do not apologize for who you are Umbra. I admit I do not know how you feel, though I suspect were our positions reversed I would be confused and emotional as well.”
We complete the journey in companionable silence. My intention is to venture immediately to mother’s chamber to see how she is feeling, but to my surprise I am greeted by Neela. My sister looks rather distraught. “Umbra! It is the upper outpost! They are under attack!”
I gasp sharply and snap to attention. “Elaborate on the way, Kasson you may accompany us if you wish.”
Neela and Kasson flank me as I set out at a run through the family tunnels, the workers scattering to make way for us. “I was…visiting…” She casts a wary glance at Kasson and I shrug. “I was visiting Tak and Bleeding Heart. When I heard the sounds of a struggle in the chasm chamber. Tak told me he would investigate and that I should fetch you immediately.”
I knew Kasson wanted to know who Tak and Bleeding Heart were but I did not feel the need to enlighten him just now. “You did well Neela, we will see what the trouble is and put things right.”
We must halt sharply as our way is blocked by a number of workers who refuse to move. I am even more confused when it seems they are intentionally barring our passage. “Princess Kilanna requires the presence of Princesses Umbra and Neela in the meeting chamber. She is gathering all of her kin.”
I shake my head. “Our business is urgent; tell her we will join her when we are able.”
Still they do not move. “We were ordered to not allow you passage.”
My eyes widen in shock, Neela and Kasson look no less surprised. Only the queen has the authority to issue such orders to any member of the royal family. “Well I am ordering you to move aside. You are barring me from my duties as scout commander, and if you continue to interfere I will use force.”
Neela, a stranger to combat and confrontation shifts uncomfortably but I feel Kasson tense at my side, ready to lend aid if this should come to violence. Eventually the workers make a path. “Princess Kilanna will not be pleased.”
“I do not care.” I say it so simply, I suppose because it is a simple truth. We rush passed them, but my pace slows as I hear voices. Not Tak’s irksome accent…and certainly none of the family.
They were definitely female. I could barely make out the words. “…foun…ur…swee…sword.” My eyes widened, it was coming from Bleeding Heart’s chamber! I beckon Kasson and Neela to hide. We blend in almost seamlessly with the pitch black tunnels of course.
My eyes widen further as the intruders emerge and look back and forth. One is…very tall. Not as large as a hulk or clacker, but still at least twice again my height. Closer to Neela’s. She is…vaguely shaped like Neela’s upper half as well. Two arms, a small head…though her face resembled mine, horn included. She even loped about on two legs like many of the beasts I am familiar with.
Her companion is…a pony. A full-fledged, very much alive pony. I feel Neela’s eyes boring into my back as she too realizes the nature of the intruders. Unlike myself this pony only has wings, no horn to match. Then I see what the large one wears on her arm…it is Bleeding Heart’s shield! I tense preparing to launch myself at them, but Kasson snaps a leg out and firmly halts me. I look at him enraged, but he shakes his head once…firmly.
The big one speaks. “…guess so. I’ll feel better when we meet up with Pinkie and Twilight again.” We has to squint our eyes shut as the large creature sweeps some sort of…light about, illuminating the cavern before they begin the ascent toward the surface tunnels again.
Once I am sure they are gone I rush ahead. “Kasson continue on to the outpost! You and I will have words about why you halted me.” I do not hide the steel in my voice. I do not know why he stopped me, only that he impeded my reclamation of my dear friends’ property.
He must realize how angry I am, though I am sure he does not know why. He complies with my order without question, as Neela and I rush to Bleeding Heart’s side. I slow my run to a walk as I see her remains. They are bathed in a bright pillar of silver light…the light is consuming the bones and rusted metal of her armor. I see her then, in the center. She is smiling.
“Umbra…I am so glad thou hath arrived when thou did. I feared I’d not get a chance to bid thee farewell. ”She looks over my shoulder. “And to you as well Lady Neela…I only wish Ser Tak were here.”
I do not know which I find more surprising. That she is speaking or that she is…leaving? “What…what do you mean goodbye?”
Her smile turns sad. “I hath fulfilled my duty. The Sword of Harmony hath been passed to a new, worthy bearer. I am now free to move on to my final reward.” Her form was growing hazy and indistinct.
“You…you cannot leave me NOW! Now that we can finally speak! I have so much to ask! So much I wish to know about…about our kind!” Neela looks at me in shock, but I do not care.
“My poor lost friend. How it pains me to not be able to answer your questions. But would though deny me my final rest dear Umbra?” She looks at me with such kind warmth. The sort I only receive from mother.
I shake my head, her words make no sense. “I do not understand Bleeding Heart. What do you mean reward?”
She tilts her head. “When a pony passes from this world to the next, they go on to the Fields of Elysium. A paradise where we may reunite with already deceased friends and loved ones. Now at last…I am free to make mine own journey to the fields.”
Slowly I nod. A journey I can understand even if she spouts more nonsense words. “V…very well. When will you return? I am very patient.”
I can barely make out her form now. “…fare thee well fair Umbra. Know always thy presence warmed my weary soul in the darkness, and kept me from losing my wits. If thou truly wish to learn of thy people, seek out the filly I bequeathed my blade to. She has a good and just heart, and will make as true a friend as I have.”
And then the light is gone. She is gone. Nothing remains. No bones, no armor, no light. Just…nothing. I feel…something stirring within me. A feeling I have not experienced since I was very tiny. Something mother worked tirelessly to weed out of me. I sink to my knees, and I weep.
I do not try to hide my feelings now. Just the opposite. I push them out, I force them out. I feel the tears flow freely from my eyes to roll down my cheeks. I want to scream…and I do. An anguished cry that reverberates around the chamber. Then my sadness passes. I feel something else. This is an emotion I am more familiar with…though one mother has tried to temper rather than stamp out.
I look to where my friend has vanished and I grit my teeth. The tears still flow but now…now I am filled with rage. With anger. Neela recoils as I scream again…terrified of my primal release of emotion. But I do not care. I lash out. I charge recklessly at the nearest pile of bones…dragon remains some part of my rational mind recalls. I slam into the massive bones with my hooves crushing them to dust. Again and again I kick, thrash and throw my body against my surroundings wanting only to make the world as ruined as I now feel.
I am aware of two more figures entering the chamber. I do not pay them any mind, until I feel something seize me. A force is surrounding my body and lifting it from the ground…magic. A brilliant green aura has me gripped and I see Tak standing beside Kasson. Both looked pained…why? Why do THEY hurt? I am the one who has lost!
Tak brings me closer now, he does not ask permission…but he leans forward touching his horn gently to my face. I feel him begin to feed on my emotion…and I find myself calming. The rage and pain are easing. They are still there…only now they are not a solid wall blocking out all reasoning. Kasson gently rests a leg over my shoulders. Tak breaks the contact and he looks…different. Much taller. Imposing even. His eyes have changed. No longer a solid opaque blue, they have white like mines, with vivid red ringing a slitted pupil. The same red as my own eyes.
Neela approaches cautiously, and at a nod from Kasson she crouches low and folds her arms around me. “Oh Umbra…I am so sorry. I know what she meant to you.”
“Death is a part of life Princess. It never gets easier, but it never should.” Kasson is the voice of reason of course. “We always remember those we lost and care for. And we carry on in their names.”
Only Tak remains silent. He looks so…different from the flippant creature I have come to see him as. My eyes lock with his…he feels my own feelings now. He took the burden of my crushing despair onto himself to make this easier for me to bear.
Slowly I find my voice. “…thank you. I will…miss her.” I am slow to collect myself, but I somehow manage. With a deep shuddering breath I stand. “…what did you find at the outpost.”
Tak and Kasson exchange a concerned look. I am suddenly stuck by how odd it is that Kasson has so readily accepted the presence of one of our ancient enemies so readily. “It…was attacked. One of the survivors reported a group of intruders. They were…he did not know, but they were ponies. Unsure of how to proceed they attempted contact and were attacked. One of them had powerful magic. They toppled a pair into the chasm…that must have been the two we saw.”
I was slowly shifting to rage again. “Why did you stop me Kasson? Not only are they thieves but killers as well?”
Tak shook his head. “I don’t think they attacked maliciously Umbra. Remember ponies have never seen your kind before. And spiders on the surface aren’t very popular to begin with. More than likely they reacted out of fear.” Not only did Tak look different physically but his manner of speech had changed too.
Kasson was nodding. “The changeling is right. Most of our kind cannot communicate properly with ponies. You only understand the sounds we common spiderkin make because you were raised among us your whole life. To an ordinary pony it would just sound like…clicks and hisses. Menacing I imagine.”
I open my mouth to berate Tak, or Kasson…or both. I do not care whom at this point. Before one of our patrol bursts into the room. It is one of the scouts I only recently returned with. He looks at the changeling in alarm but quickly enough focuses on Kasson and I. “Scout Commander! You must hurry the family is under attack!”
All other thoughts flee. Bleeding Heart, the ponies, the thief. “From who?” We are already running.
“Your sister. Princess Kilanna has assassinated the queen, and the other princesses. You, Princess Neela, and Prince Spinner are all that remains of the royal family.”