//------------------------------// // Repercussions // Story: My Little Teelo: Masquerade // by Ardwolf //------------------------------// In which our heroine discovers one’s own conscience often condemns actions the world solemnly accepts but secretly applauds. Stomper took in the scene with a single glance, his face impassive. His companions weren’t quite as stoic. The mare in the group almost managed an equally blank expression, but her stance was stiff and her steps as she surveyed the room—and Jern’s corpse—were choppy and abrupt. The two remaining stallions were wide-eyed, ears laid back and teeth exposed. One was looking at the blood and brain splattered Teagan, the other at the griffin’s corpse. “Are there any prisoners?” Stomper asked the room after a moment, not focusing on either Teagan or the flat-maned mare. “Just one,” Cerise replied easily. “After all I promised Heavy Hoof. The unicorn mare’s tied up and snoozing in the other room.” “What about the stallion?” He asked, focusing on the pink pony. She wasn’t covered in blood, he was relieved to note, but there was something about her eyes that made him want to back away slowly. “He teleported out,” she replied with a shrug. “I hate it when they do that. Celestia better keep an ear out or he’ll set up shop somewhere else and then this will happen all over again.” “Her Highness,” Stomper emphasized the title, “won’t let this go. Whoever that stallion was, he’s going to find it impossible to hide from the Royal Sisters. Night or day, nothing can move without the sun or moon seeing it. And then,” the stallion said grimly, “we’ll deal with him.” Teagan stepped back from the troll’s remains, instantly gaining the squad’s undivided attention. She let Crush’s tip sink to rest on the floor. The adrenalin from the fight began to leave her, making her shake. The reaction hit her harder than she’d expected it to. I can help, Crush said inside her head. This is just your body slowing down from the demands you made of it. I can ease the symptoms. No, Teagan thought back. I killed him. I’ll deal with the consequences myself. That is foolish, Crush replied sternly. There may be more fighting soon. We don’t know what the dragon’s part in all this was. Unless I help now you will be useless for at least a day! “Are you all right, Lady Teagan?” Stomper asked carefully. “Give me a minute. Crush and I are having an argument,” Teagan snapped. She didn’t notice the squad exchange uneasy looks. “Cut her some slack, ponies. This was her first time,” Cerise said with a smirk. “Bound to be a big deal, right?” Stomper gave her a chilly look. Cerise beamed at him. “Show us the prisoner, please,” he growled. “Right this way,” Cerise lead them through the door into the barracks, leaving Teagan alone with Crush and the dead. You are the queen, Crush argued. You have responsibilities. This renegade was banished for a reason. You should not feel guilty for killing him. You acted within the Law. I know he was a monster, Teagan said tiredly. I know that. But I killed him, Crush! I murdered another sentient creature! And he’s not the first one, either! You executed him, Crush retorted. His own actions doomed him. You may have sought him out to kill him but it was a fair fight. He nearly killed you—twice. He would have eaten you had he succeeded. And remember he wanted to eat the filly as well. Alive. The only way you could stop him was to kill him. You know that. We’ve already had this discussion once. Do not make a habit of this! That stopped her growing angst. A flicker of rage reignited. All right, Crush, you win. Teagan thought tiredly. Do it. Almost instantly her shivering slowed and the cold was replaced by warmth that spread through her. The guilt and shame of what she had done faded but didn’t quite disappear. Although she wasn’t sure what Crush had done, she suspected it involved manipulating her neurochemistry. This is not without cost, Crush warned her. You must have food very soon, or your body will begin to consume itself. Also, you will not be as fast, nor can you call upon my full weight. I can maintain this state in you for only a few hours. But without this you would not be able to fight at all. Understood. Thank you, Crush, Teagan replied. Her mind at least was clear again, although she felt curiously detached from her emotions, as though they no longer had a part in her decision making. It wasn’t mushin, that calm state she and Crush could achieve in combat. It almost felt as though she weren’t directly involved, as though someone had asked her opinion on a civil war raging in another country. Obviously, Jern’s death at her hands was bad, such things always were. But it engendered no particular emotion in her. Even looking at Jern’s mangled corpse no longer bothered her. Of course, the fact it didn’t bother her should bother her, she supposed. But it didn’t. She wondered what would happen when Crush’s intervention wore off. No doubt there would be a price. There always was. The squad came out of the barracks, one of the stallions carrying the unconscious unicorn mare across his back. Jern had called her Glitter, Teagan recalled. He had also said she wasn’t a unicorn, whatever that might mean. He could have been lying but she couldn’t see what his motive would have been. That was a problem for later she decided as Cerise and Stomper came into the chamber. Stomper paused, letting the rest of the squad leave without him. “Are you all right, Lady Teagan?” He asked, eyeing her up and down. “I can function, Stomper,” the girl replied calmly. “I will need food right away, however. Crush is doing something to help me recover but if I don’t eat very soon I’ll literally begin to starve to death. Oh, and do any of your unicorns know a spell that can get this gunk off me? I can’t show up in Ponyville looking like this, much less Canterlot.” He nodded. “Iridescent Myth knows one. She’s always been careful about keeping clean,” In spite of the grimness of the situation a tiny smile fleeted across his muzzle. “She gets no end of teasing about it.” “Don’t worry, if she can get this stuff off me I promise I’ll never tease her about it,” Teagan replied. She followed Stomper out of the cave and he led her straight to a unicorn mare. “Hey Myth, Lady Teagan requested you use your bath spell on her,” Stomper said, snickering. The unicorn’s eyes widened when she saw what Teagan was covered in. “Oh my,” the mare’s voice was a pleasant low contralto “What happened? You look like one of those griffin savages after a hunting feast!” “Long story,” Teagan said. “Stomper tells me you can get this guck off me. If you can I’d really appreciate it. I can’t go back to Ponyville looking like this. They’d panic.” “Of course, of course, come with me,” the mare led her behind some bushes where her horn lit up with an unusual multi-colored glow. “It runs in my family,” Iridescent Myth said after seeing Teagan’s eyes focus on her horn. Almost immediately Teagan felt a tingling sensation all over her body and the mess floated away from her skin, briefly outlining her like a filthy cloud. With a disgusted look the unicorn gathered the goop into a single ball and flicked her head, making it sail so deep into the woods Teagan didn’t hear it hit the ground. Checking herself Teagan noticed that not only the solid bits were gone, but so were the bloodstains from her clothes, along with the sweat raised by her fight and its accompanying odor. Her clothes were even dry. “Thank you so much,” Teagan bowed to the unicorn. “You’re very welcome. I hope it made you feel better. I know it always does me,” the unicorn replied. “Yes, it does,” Teagan said, not technically lying. She felt clean and not as cold, which was better, but whatever Crush was doing prevented her from really enjoying her newly clean state. “Now I just have to get some food.” “You’re hungry?” Myth’s eyebrows went up. Teagan nodded. “Crush did something to help me recover my strength after the fight, but it said I need to eat right away to pay for the magic.” “Oh! I’ve heard of spells like that. They’re pretty dangerous,” Myth warned her. “If any draugr show up I need to be able to fight,” Teagan said as they rejoined the rest of the herd. Myth shivered. “Yes, I heard about those things. Can’t say I’d want to fight one.” “That makes two of us,” Teagan replied just as a fluffy maned pink pony came bouncing up to her. “Hi Teelo! Cerise said you’d be pretty hungry!” The pony said cheerfully. “I brought you some cupcakes! They’ve got peanut-butter centers and lots of yummy cream-cheese icing!” There was indeed a platter of cupcakes on the pink pony’s broad back. “Pinkie?” Teagan asked cautiously. “Yeppers! Sorry for the way Cerise just dumped me in the cellar like that! She said she was super sorry, though. I guess she wanted to get Sweetie Belle back so bad she just barged in and did it. Oh! She said Sweetie Belle’s back and we should go see her after you eat!” “Sounds like a plan,” Teagan grabbed the plate. “Pardon my rudeness but I’ve got to fuel up, doctor’s orders,” She started to eat the pony-sized cupcakes (each the size of a large human muffin) in huge bites, not noticing what they tasted like, only that each one spurred her to grab and devour the next. She demolished the entire dozen in a matter of minutes, raising her head to find Iridescent Myth and Pinkie Pie staring at her in amazement. “That took the edge off,” Teagan said, feeling her hunger fade to the point she could ignore it for the moment. “Wow, Teelo! That was fantastic!” Pinkie enthused. “You, and me, and Applejack have got to have an eating contest one of these days!” “Once I get some time to myself,” Teagan nodded, “that sounds like fun. Maybe we can do it just before I go home.” “Yay!” Pinkie enthused. “Where did the cupcakes come from?” Myth asked, perplexed. “I always carry an emergency supply of cupcakes in case there’s a cupcake emergency!” Pinkie said proudly. “You never know when a pony’s gonna need a little pick-me-up,” she smiled beatifically at the unicorn mare. “Yes but—” Myth started to protest. Teagan shook her head at the soldier. “We learned not to ask—it’s better that way, trust me.” ooOoo They couldn’t leave immediately because there were far too many loose ends to tie up. The largest, of course, being the dragon. When Teagan joined Heavy Hoof and Meteor Swarm both stopped speaking and turned to her. “I see you survived your fight with the troll,” Heavy Hoof said snidely. “Any thoughts on what we should do with our large scaly friend over there?” The end of the dragon’s snout was just visible sticking out the cave entrance. The two ponies didn’t seem overly concerned so Teagan assumed they were out of the dragon’s firing arc. “How long is he going to be stuck?” Teagan asked. “Until the spells fail,” Meteor Swarm replied, “Knowing Red Rhyme, that’s at least twelve hours.” “He seems quiet now,” Teagan observed. “Did you offer him a truce or something?” Heavy Hoof snorted. “A truce with a dragon? Not likely. He knows we won’t kill him while he’s helpless, so he’s just biding his time and conserving his strength. Once he’s free we’ll be the ones in trouble.” “So we either need to kill him now, make a deal with him, or run. That about sum it up?” Teagan asked, stifling a yawn. “Pretty much,” Heavy Hoof agreed. “But running’s not an option. He’s really angry with us. We no doubt cost him a good bit of treasure, a lair and glued him to the ground. He’s gonna want some payback. Ponyville’s the obvious target. But I can’t let you kill him, either. That would have political,” he spat, “ramifications. Other dragons might get their scales in a twist and decide Equestria needs to be taught a lesson. We would win, but a lot of good ponies could die.” “Which leaves making a deal,” Teagan said, “but that definitely rubs me the wrong way. He was working for that monster, and probably knew what was going on. As far as I’m concerned that makes him as guilty as the rest of them.” “He’s a dragon, Lady Teagan,” Meteor Swarm retorted. “Dragons consider the rest of us to be lesser creatures. I doubt very much if he cares what ponies do to one another. Remember, dragons are solitary creatures, they aren’t noted for their empathy.” “True,” Teagan admitted. “I don’t suppose we could arrest him?” she asked idly. She just couldn’t seem to find the outrage she should be feeling. No doubt due to Crush’s intervention. Part of her felt mildly disappointed she was analyzing this so calmly. Meteor Swarm chortled. “Arrest him? How, pray tell, would we do that? He’s a hundred feet long and weighs Celestia only knows how many tons. Besides, even if we could arrest him there’s the little matter of not having a jail cell big enough to hold him—not to mention feeding something that big!” “Okay, so we offer him a deal. How do we talk to him without getting charbroiled?” Teagan asked the unicorn. The unicorn looked toward the dragon and then looked Teagan up and down. “Your species are primates, right?” He asked with a big toothy grin. ooOoo Meteor Swarm is so lucky I’m in a mellow mood, Teagan thought to herself as she stared at the dragon’s hindquarters. With only a soft sigh to mark her displeasure she leaped, using Crush to extend her jump, landing on the dragon’s back ten feet above the ground. And this is with him plastered flat on the ground, she groused. If he were on all fours he’d be twice as tall. The dragon jerked violently under her, making her stumble. “Hey! Settle down, Godzilla!” She shouted. “I’m coming up to talk to you, so no funny business!” “You dare, you puny insignificant worm?” The dragon’s snarling bellow answered her. Even with his head glued facing straight forward it was loud enough to make her clap her hands over her ears. “Yeah, yeah. Bellow all you like. You’re still not going anywhere until we say so,” Teagan retorted, jogging up his spine. She saw his wings instinctively try to spread, slamming into the tunnel walls. It elicited another bellow, this time of outraged pain. “See? Misbehave and you’re just going to hurt yourself.” She stopped at his shoulders, not caring to risk the narrow neck lest the dragon try to shake her off and bite her in half. She sat down, straddling the relatively slender portion of the dragon’s neck where it was still thin enough for her to do so. The lower portion of his neck was a full yard across. “All right, tall, blue, and gruesome, listen up. I’ve got a proposal for you,” Teagan announced. “What makes you think I care?” The dragon said, one ear swiveling back to face her. “Well, the way I see it there are two ways this can go,” Teagan said. “Either we let you go or we kill you. Now personally, I’d rather kill you. At least three ponies are dead because of that monster. Since you were working for him in my eyes you’re as guilty as he is. On the other hand, I’m told the other dragons might get in a snit if we do that. Since this is Princess Celestia’s country and she’s a friend of mine I really don’t want to cause her any more trouble than you already have.” “The alternative is we let you go. You leave Equestria and never come back. We know what you look like and very soon we’ll know your name. You come back and it’s open season on a certain cerulean Draconis Occidentalis, politics be damned. Understand me?” Her perch started shaking, as the dragon began to snicker. The snicker grew to a chuckle, then the chuckle became laughter, and the laughter soon turned into helpless gales of mirth. Teagan waited patiently for the dragon to settle again. “Oh my scales and talons! That was hilarious,” the dragon finally managed. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in two hundred years!” “Glad I could make you laugh. Now what’s it going to be? Because I really don’t care if you live or die right now,” Teagan said calmly. “Wait, you were serious?” The dragon asked incredulously. “As if a miniscule little pony could ever hurt me,” he started to chuckle again. “Not only can’t you hurt me, you’re a pony. You won’t even try! There’s not one predatory bone in your entire body and we both know it.” “Really?” Teagan laughed gently for effect though she didn’t feel amused. “Care to bet your life on that? Because I’m not a pony.” “So what are you then? A troll? Maybe a griffin?” He snorted. “Please! I’ve spent the last two months enduring the posturing of those two lame-brained rabbit eaters. If I were a hatchling you might be a credible threat, pinned down like this, but I’m a big dragon now, little missy. My scales can shrug off a troll’s claws, much less a griffin’s talons.” “Funny you should mention that,” Even under Crush’s emotional muting Teagan felt stirrings of amusement. “I’m kin to both ponies and trolls, but biologically speaking I’m neither one.” “Oh?” The dragon sounded curious. “I didn’t know a troll and a pony could produce offspring. Mind coming around where I can see you? I can’t even imagine what you must look like.” Teagan laughed, genuine amusement seeping through Crush’s emotional buffer for the first time. “Nice try, but I don’t feel like getting roasted. Besides, I’m not a pony/troll hybrid. I’m actually a human. But I am Queen of the trolls.” “Is that supposed to impress me?” The dragon asked in a bored tone. “I don’t know what a human is but I doubt you’re any more dangerous than a troll. A queen of rabbit eaters is still just a rabbit eater.” “Ever heard of Discord?” Teagan asked casually. “Of course,” the dragon replied. “Are you claiming to be him now?” “Oh no. But I did defeat him in a one-on-one fight,” Teagan said. “I helped defeat his sister Tišina too. She was a dragon—well, dragon shaped. She was actually a goddess.” “Bravado is one thing,” the dragon said in a warning tone, “but lying isn’t even slightly amusing. No rabbit eater could defeat a dragon, much less a god.” “I did. Two of them, although I did have some help. My name is Teagan Laoise O’Gara. Maybe you’ve heard of me? Perhaps as Lady Teagan or maybe the Dronning av Fjellet?” “Sorry,” the dragon said, yawning. “I don’t pay much attention to the lesser races. They’re like mayflies. Most don’t live past a century. By the time you get to know one they’re already dead, so why bother?” Teagan sighed. “You’re going to make me get your attention then.” Teagan drew Crush and laid it across the dragon’s neck. She kept it balanced with both hands. “What should I call you, dragon?” “My name is Caelum Tonitru Genuisset,” the dragon said with a sneer. “The lesser races know me as Thunder.” “Well, Thunder, I have a question for you. How tough are dragon bones?” Teagan asked. “Tougher than dragon scales,” he said. “Why?” “Because I’d really hate to hurt you accidentally. Say uncle when you want me to stop,” Teagan said. Start getting heavier, Crush. Start with five hundred pounds and slowly increase it. She felt the club grow steadier, pressing more firmly against the dragon’s neck. “Well?” The dragon asked after a couple of minutes. “Are you going to do something or not?” “You asked for it,” Teagan replied. Crush, what are you up to? Eight hundred pounds, The club replied. Take it up to two thousand, and speed up the weight gain a bit, Teagan thought back. The dragon grunted. “Is somebody else up there?” He asked suspiciously. “There is, isn’t there?” “Just my little friend Crush,” Teagan replied easily. “Say hello, Crush.” Go to three thousand, she thought. The club sank just a fraction of an inch and the dragon drew in a breath. “Ready to say uncle?” She asked. “After all, I’m not trying to hurt you, Thunder, just get your attention. You can ask me to stop whenever you like.” “Dragons do not ask lesser races for anything,” he said with a sniff. “I don’t know what you’re doing but it’s not going to work.” Four thousand, Crush. The club was clearly laying in a dent on top of the dragon’s neck now. The dragon remained silent. “Are you all right?” Teagan asked. “Just fine,” the dragon said blandly. “Get on with whatever it is you plan to do. I’m getting bored. I may fall asleep here.” “Oh we can’t have that,” Teagan said. Five thousand The dragon stiffened. Six thousand She could tell Thunder was beginning to struggle against the weight, three tons concentrated on a spot two inches wide and perhaps four inches long on his neck vertebra was something even a full grown dragon couldn’t ignore. “I can keep this up all day, Thunder,” Teagan said calmly. “Do I have your attention?” The dragon stubbornly refused to answer. “You’re being stupid, you know,” Teagan said. “Much more weight and you’ll suffer an injury. Injuries that Crush inflicts can’t be healed. Do you really want to risk being paralyzed? Are dragons that idiotic?” “Enough,” the dragon rumbled. “You’ve made your point and have my attention. But understand I will remember this for a very, very long time, queen of the trolls,” His tone was menacing. Teagan ordered Crush to lessen its weight fairly quickly, but not all at once. She thought she felt Thunder relax as the weight came off. “Now, let’s talk…” Teagan said calmly. ooOoo “He was a mercenary,” Teagan said to Heavy Hoof as the unit headed back to Ponyville at what was a sedate walking pace for the large ponies but a brisk walk for the girl. She didn’t know if she would be able to maintain the pace all the way back, but wasn’t in the mood to ask the Commander for favors. “Someone stole his horde while he was out hunting. Without his gems he was forced to scrounge for more. While he was scrounging he came across a certain unicorn stallion—whose name is Dr. Rimor by the way—and like any mad scientist worth his salt, the good doctor immediately offered the dragon a job. Double his normal intake of gems and gold.” “Double? For that dragon?” Heavy Hoof asked incredulously. “I know you said this organization was well funded but that’s ridiculous. Where would Rimor come up with that many gems?” “I’m betting from the dragon’s own hoard,” Teagan said. “No way this wasn’t a setup.” “What do you mean?” Meteor Swarm asked, confused. “The monster wanted a dragon, right? But there’s no way a dragon would lower themselves to work for a member of a lesser species—unless that dragon was desperate.” “So how did Rimor steal the dragon’s hoard?” Meteor Swarm asked skeptically. “Have you ever seen a dragon’s hoard? It weighs tons! More than the dragon even.” “Rimor makes draugrs,” Teagan said. “Take one or two of those and have them turn the stone under the hoard into the same kind of rock they swim through, and the hoard steals itself.” “Assuming draugr can do that,” Heavy Hoof added. “Still, nothing says Rimor himself couldn’t have snuck in and cast a spell. If so he’s one twisted unicorn—and brilliant too. That’s the last thing you want in an opponent.” “You mean like flying Sweetie Belle south while we were looking north?” Teagan asked, raising an eyebrow. “Point taken,” the stallion admitted. “Did the dragon know about Rimor’s experiments?” “Yes. But like Meteor Swarm said he wasn’t concerned with the affairs of the lesser races. As long as he got gems for his hoard he didn’t care. Mayflies, he called us.” “That’s why you didn’t kill him?” Heavy Hoof asked acerbically. “That—and I didn’t want to cause any more trouble for Princess Celestia,” Teagan said easily. “It’s already been a busy day for me. And you know something else? Stormwind really did predict the future.” “How so?” Meteor Swarm asked curiously. “He kept saying I was going to go on a dragon hunt,” Teagan said with a faint smile. ooOoo By the time they reached Ponyville Teagan was nearing the end of her strength. When she crossed the bridge over the river she stumbled and would have fallen if Pinkie hadn’t caught her by suddenly turning in front of her. “Whoa, Teelo, you okay?” Pinkie asked in concern. “I’m exhausted, Pinkie. That march back nearly finished me,” Teagan said, leaning on the pink mare’s broad back. She straightened up. “What you need is a pick-me-up!” Pinkie said confidently. “Come to Sugarcube Corner and I’ll whip us up a little supper, okay?” “Sounds good to me,” Teagan said gratefully. “I’m starving again.” Before they could split off from the main herd it seemed like most of the population of Ponyville was surrounding them. “Did you find her?” Rarity asked desperately. “Is she safe? Is she all right?” Heavy Hoof rescued Teagan by stepping up beside her. “May I have everyone’s attention please?” He spoke in a loud commanding voice that stilled the chattering of the crowd. “I am happy to announce our mission was a success. We retrieved the filly and our medic assures me that while she will be stiff and sore for a few days, she is otherwise in good health. Unfortunately, it appears the group responsible for foalnapping the filly also abducted eight other ponies, six of whom we were able to rescue. They, however, will be taken to the Ponyville hospital for further treatment as they sustained a number of injuries during their captivity.” “You said eight ponies had been abducted,” Twilight interjected. “What about the other two?” “Regrettably, the other two ponies were so badly injured they died shortly after we arrived, but before we were able to overcome the foalnappers,” Heavy Hoof said in a solemn tone that shocked the crowd into stillness. “A description of the six mares we rescued has been created and will be posted in the town hall tomorrow. We would appreciate anypony knowing one of the rescued mares to tell Mayor Mare who they are so we can contact their families. Thank you.” “What about the other two ponies?” Twilight insisted, stepping closer to the taller stallion in an unconscious dominance display. “That information is restricted, Your Highness. I will happily brief you in private,” Heavy Hoof said in the neutral tone that warned listeners the subject was closed. “What? Well, all right,” Twilight said uncertainly. “Pinkie and I were going to have a light supper, Twilight. Why don’t you and Heavy Hoof accompany us?” Teagan said quietly. “That way we can fill you in on the details.” Twilight hadn’t been a princess for very long, but she’d learned enough to take a hint. “All right, what about the others?” Twilight asked. “I suppose the Bearers should be present,” Heavy Hoof said after a moment. “But no others.” “I have to see to my sister,” Rarity said. “I’ll find out the details tomorrow, darling.” After a few more minutes the crowd split up, citizens remaining in the square to gossip and worry while the others went their own ways. Once inside Sugarcube Corner Teagan promptly collapsed on the bench Pinkie had produced, seemingly out of nowhere, while the pink mare and Fluttershy headed for the kitchen to make everyone something to eat. “All right, Commander,” Twilight said in a crisp no-nonsense tone. “What happened to those ponies? Why is the information restricted?” “Because we couldn’t identify the remains,” Heavy Hoof said, scowling. “What? Just tell us their color and cutie marks,” Rainbow Dash interjected, “same as the others!” Heavy Hoof gave her a flat look. “I can’t do that,” he said glaring. Taken aback the pegasus blurted, “Why not?” “Because we couldn’t find their hides!” he snapped. “The monsters skinned them alive. Their hides weren’t in the cave. Maybe the Horns will be able to identify them.” The shocked silence that followed was marked with shrunken irises in the three Bearers still at the table. Applejack recovered first. “The low-down slimy varmints,” she snarled. “Tartarus is too good fer ‘em!” “You probably shouldn’t tell Pinkie or Fluttershy,” Teagan cautioned them. “But Pinkie was there,” Twilight objected. “She already knows, doesn’t she?” “Cerise was there, Twilight,” Teagan responded. “I don’t think Pinkie knows the details about the two dead ponies. I’d rather spare her that. Especially considering what Cerise had to do.” “What did she do?” Applejack asked in a voice filled with dread. “They were still alive when she found them,” Teagan said quietly. “She gave them mercy.” “I—I don’t understand,” Rainbow Dash said in a small voice. “If they were okay when she found them—” “No, Rainbow,” Teagan said. “They were alive but they weren’t okay. There was no saving them and they were in unimaginable agony. She said they couldn’t even scream anymore. So she ended their pain.” “Sweet Celestia,” Applejack moaned. “Are you sayin’—” Heavy Hoof nodded. His face was completely blank. “Don’t blame Cerise. If it had been me strapped to that table I’d be thanking her from the Elysium Fields every single day for doing what she did.” Tears started falling from Rainbow Dash’s eyes, but she remained otherwise silent and grim-faced. Applejack looked sick, and Twilight was obviously grief stricken. “Those poor ponies,” she finally said. “What did you do with the foalnappers?” Twilight’s voice was high and tight, as though she were fighting back tears. “The stallion in charge escaped,” Heavy Hoof reported. “He teleported out as soon as it was clear their defenses had been breached. Cerise killed the griffin in the group but managed to capture the unicorn mare alive. Lady Teagan killed the troll.” His voice was carefully neutral, revealing no emotion. “There was also a full grown dragon aiding the group, we were forced to banish him as there was no way to capture him. He called himself Thunder, but we have his full name and the Guard will be alerted to attack him on sight should he be found inside Equestria after this.” “Did you discover anything about the stallion in charge?” Twilight asked. “Just his name, Dr. Rimor, and his general appearance,” Heavy Hoof replied. “He’s late middle-age or slightly older. He’s dangerously intelligent, and he knows how to teleport.” “Why were they abducting ponies and—skinning—them?” The alicorn asked, shuddering. “Cerise said he was creating undead, something called draugrs. My second tells me draugrs are incredibly dangerous, that two draugrs could kill all of Rolling Thunder.” Applejack whistled. “Just two of them things could take ya’all out? Celestia have mercy! How many of them things are there now?” “No idea,” Heavy Hoof said grimly. “Worst case, we could be looking at a small army of the things if Rimor’s been at this long enough.” “Princess Celestia must be alerted at once!” Twilight exclaimed. Heavy Hoof nodded and hoofed her a scroll. “This is my preliminary mission report. It contains everything Rolling Thunder knows about Rimor and draugrs, including speculation.” “I’ll see she gets this as soon as we return to Canterlot,” Twilight said fervently. “We must leave at once!” “No,” Teagan said, shaking her head. “Crush cast some kind of spell to help me recover. I have to eat now or Crush said my body will start to consume itself.” The alicorn’s eyes widened. “Teelo, that kind of spell is incredibly dangerous! You have to stop using it!” “I didn’t have much choice. For all we knew draugrs could have crashed the party,” Teagan said tiredly. “Don’t worry, as soon as I’ve eaten again Crush will end the spell. You’ll probably have to carry me to the chariot, though. I’m likely going to crash pretty hard.” “I’d better go make sure Pinkie knows what to make for you. You need a special mix of nutrients after a spell like that.” Twilight jumped up and rushed to the kitchen. “Always an egghead,” Rainbow said, shaking her head. “You okay, Teelo?” “I am right now,” Teagan replied. “But I’m gonna need some serious downtime for the next day or so.” “Yer welcome ta stay with us, Sugarcube,” Applejack offered. “We got plenty o’ room.” “Thanks, but I need to let the trolls know what’s happened, especially Søyle,” Teagan said. “We’ll just delay leaving for a day or two. It’ll be fine.” ooOoo After dinner, including extra pony-sized helpings for Teagan, Crush ended the spell it had been using on her. The effect was somewhat dramatic. Teagan started to shiver, stood up, and would have fallen on her face if Twilight’s magic hadn’t caught her. “Man, she wasn’t kidding,” Rainbow Dash observed. “She crashes harder than me!” The alicorn would have been frantic if she hadn’t already been familiar with the aftermath of similar spells. Bidding goodnight to her friends and the wing commander she carried Teagan outside and bundled her into the chariot. She ordered the two pegasi pulling it to keep the takeoff as smooth as possible. Teagan spent the entire flight unconscious.