//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: YogLabs: Quest for the Golden Horseshoe // by Prisoner 24601 //------------------------------// He didn't know where he was going. He had just left camp, and headed northwest. He wasn't sure what he would find, but if he walked long enough, he would have to find somebody. Somebody to help; to direct him in any way where he might find the way back to his own world. But for now, Simon just walked. He walked and thought, mostly antagonizing himself for everything he had unrightly done. But those thoughts subsided now and again when he reminded himself that the army was in good hands, and that as soon as he found Sriviramen, he would grasp his throat with all his dwarven strength, and never let go. He would make him pay for what he did. ******** Doctor Sriviramen sat in his comfortable yet blocky chair. On his right, there was the ambassador for the changelings, on his left, his own most promising young commander: Archaenon. In front of them, Silvertongue and the Changeling Scout Tegmine told about their reports. Since Archaenon's tour of the brooding grounds, Silvertongue had returned to YogLabs, hooked up his flash drive, and had been exploring Simon Lane and Jesse Cox. "Arch," He said, looking to his left, "What has Silvertongue learned of our allies?" Archaenon eyed up his apprentice, and said, "He understands their power. He will help without question, fearing for his fragile life." "What?" Silvertongue demanded, offended. "Calm yourself, Silvertongue," his dark master said calmly, "It was but a compliment." "I-it was?" "Indeed. Those who are cowards such as yourself are by far strides more useful than the courageous and open minded. Those who fear for their life, we can trust more. Is that not right, Ambassador Blackblood?" for the first time, the changeling ambassador's shrill voice rang out in response, "True, true. Those who do not fear us, we have to worry about revolting and attacking. But this one..." He eyed Silvertongue up, "He fears us. He would not dare attack us. He knows better." "Is this true, Silvertongue?" Asked his master again, "Do you fear the changelings?" "Y-yes, sir..." he stuttered out of fear. However, he wasn't sure if it was out of fear for the gruesome changelings, or for his master. "Good." Sriviramen settled, his ravenous pet wolf lying by the side of the chair. "So," he said, "What have you learned?" Silvertongue, in his tech-y domain once more, didn't hold back a bit as he explained what he had learned, "Well, first and foremost, master, I have learned that the dwarf is not alone. If my observations are correct, there are no less than 2600 soldiers at their disposal." "Hmm." Sriviramen pondered this, "Blackblood. How many changelings to you have at the brooding grounds, ready for war as we speak?" Blackblood now thought, "If we are to leave the grounds defenseless, we should have 500 changelings, ready as we speak." Sriviramen frowned, "Even with my force of 1,000, we're still outnumbered by over 1,000 troops. What if we wait for the new ones to hatch? Then how many ill we have?" "Well, there are 3,000 eggs, each with three to four changelings inside. Even with those numbers, most changelings don't survive birthing. Combined with the 500 we have now, I'd say, if we wait for the eggs to hatch, we would be looking at about 900 to 1,000 soldiers on my part. that's 2,000, hopefully. We're still outnumbered, but my changelings are ruthless and brutal. They'll make quick work of whatever 'army' your enemy comes up with. "good, good." Sriviramen said, "Anything else, Silvertongue?" "None so far, sir." "Hmmm. You have provided me ample information... for the time being. Return to your studies. Report to me when you have found out a way to defeat him." Eager to leave, Silvertongue blurted, "Yes, sir!" and ran as fast as he could back to his lab. "Tegmine." "Y-yes, Blackblood?" The scout quivered. "What have you to report?" "N-nothing so far, your greatness." "You think flattery will sway me, scout? You are wrong. How can you have absolutely NOTHING to report?" "I just... haven't seen anything." "What was your mission, Tegmine?" "Explore the surrounding Canterlot Mountain Area for any signs of the army." "And? How can you misplace an army of almost three thousand?!" "They slipped away from me! I swear, I was a one time thing. It'll never happen again!" Blackblood looked at Sriviramen, a merciless glaze in his eye, and a dastardly grin across his face. The doctor gestured toward the wolf, and raised an eyebrow imploringly. Tegmine could figure out where this was going, and started to sweat. He was horrified. Blackblood nodded, turned back to the disgraceful scout, and replied, "You are right." Tegmine exhaled a deep sigh of relief. "It will not happen again." "No, sir, it won't. I swear on my blood!" "It will not happen again." Blackblood repeated, as he looked to the dark master, and nodded. Sriviramen rang a single toll of a deep, hand-held bell, and his wolf sprung to attention. "Gorefang," He commanded. "Kill." Like a starving wolf -which he was- Gorefang pounced upon the unlucky Changeling. As his green-as-acid blood spurted from severed arteries and coated the walls of his 'office', the room was filled with blood-chilling screams and screeches. Sriviramen grinned as he appreciated the good work of his trusty pet. After a few minutes, nothing was left but some stained walls, and some rotting flesh. Gorefang had done his job well. "Well done," Said Blackblood, "I have never seen such ruthlessness and disregard for mercy from a non-changeling." "I make a living off of it, my friend." "The changeling armies will gladly serve you to the end, Master Sriviramen." With that, Blackblood held one of his rotting hooves to his chest, a salute of sorts. "Oh, my friend," Sriviramen said, Gorefang returning to his side to sleep once more, "I am certain they will." ******** The next morning, Sjin was up early. He hadn't slept the best, still not having gotten over the fact that his best friend and former employer was dead, but overall, he woke feeling pretty ready to take on the next leg of the trip to the outcropping. And the he saw the letter. He looked at the odd oldness of the parchment, contradicted by the shiny, new Gaffa tape Simon probably bought from Asda for 50 pents. He undid the crude bindings, and beheld the writing underneath. To Sjin- If you are reading this, and the sun's up, I'm gone. I'm very, very gone. Don't bother looking for me, that'd just exhaust the scouts. I'm too far away. Don't worry, I have no intention of doing anything harmful to myself or anypony else. It's just... I have things to do. I probably won't be back. I'm sorry, but I'm not cut out for the military. I figured out who really killed Lewis, and I'm going to avenge him. Then, I won't be coming back; my job will be done. My friend Sjin, I leave full governing power over the Space Yoggerfly Army to you, my second in command, and the smartest ally I have left. Take good care of them. Lead them to the outcropping, and fulfill your quest for the Golden Horseshoe. But until then... You'll have to do without me. -Simon "Oh, god." Sjin whispered, "Oh, god."