//------------------------------// // Ch. 2-4: A Furious Fire // Story: Seeking A Quiet Afternoon // by Tired Old Man //------------------------------// A flying chariot bound for Canterlot was moving at higher speeds than it normally did. Two pegasi pulling it were frantically flapping their wings to give as much speed as they could as they were being chased by two other pegasi and a unicorn riding one of them. The unicorn was firing bolts of magic at the chariot, trying to hit one of the pegasi pulling it, but to no avail. The pegasi pulling the chariot knew precisely how important this delivery was, and so they deftly dodged every magic bolt that was fired at them. The second pegasi proved to be a bigger problem, as they were now gaining on them. Canterlot was less than half a mile away, surrounded by a midnight blue barrier. With those three chasing them, the two pegasi realized they probably wouldn't make it to the checkpoint stationed on the ground outside the barrier. There wasn't any time left for following standard procedures. No, they had to make a beeline for Canterlot's Medical Research Facility. If they went down with this delivery, it may as well be near a hospital. They both wore magical amulets bearing the Royal Canterlot Seal, which would allow them and their chariot access. They hoped the ponies chasing after them would stop at the barrier. The two pegasi picked up the pace as their wings seemed to flap harder than ever before. The unicorn noticed this, and screamed in anger. Nile charged up her magic for a large beam of raw energy. No more little bolts that were easily avoidable. It was either now or never. This would not miss. ------------------------Friendship Express----------------------- "What in tarnation's goin on in here?!" Mender stood there along with the three fillies in the middle of the train car. All of them were avoiding Applejack's accusing eyes as she glared at the group. Mender considered telling her what was happening, but before he could, Apple Bloom spoke up first. What he didn't expect was for her to tell the truth, though. "We wanted to help Mender, sis!" Applejack's accusing look turned to shock in an instant. "WHAT?" she asked. Before the fillies could speak and make this situation more of a headache for Mender, he spoke up to clarify things. "Applejack, these fillies feel bad for almost killing me twice," Mender stated. "Twice? I thought they only did it once!" At this, he turned around to face the fillies, casting a hard glance at the group. "You three didn't mention your little archery incident to anypony, did you?" They all nervously smiled, saying nothing in response. Of course they didn't say anything about nearly killing him a second time. Mender turned and nervously smiled at Applejack. "Uh...it was twice. Remember that assassin that I fought?" "Uh-huh...what about it?" Applejack asked. "These three...may have decided to try archery around that time." "ARCHERY?!" She turned to look at the fillies. "Are you three crazy? You could have gotten somepony kill-" Applejack paused for a moment, then her eyes opened in shock. Realization hit her hard as she knew exactly what happened at that time. Mender rubbed the back of his neck while the fillies nervously looked around as they fiddled with their forehooves. "Yep, that's what happened. They apologized for it already. I forgave them right in the middle of the fight, too." Applejack was stunned, and said nothing. This made Mender nervous a bit, so he continued to talk. "I-In any case, I'm alive, the assassin's been dealt with, but they still feel bad and want to help me somehow. So they sneaked onto the train, and I just found them here. That's all that happened, honest." Applejack shook her head and processed his words carefully. He wasn't lying, that much was certain, but she was still mad at the Crusaders for sneaking along like this. "Mender, I believe ya. However, these Crusaders shouldn't be here." She turned to face the Crusaders. "As soon as this train stops, you three are going home!" "Aw, but Applejack-" They all started. Mender interrupted. "I agree." He turned to face the girls again. "Sorry Crusaders, as much as you want to help, I think you'll actually be in more danger here than back in Ponyville." At that moment, a voice over a loudspeaker on the train spoke. "Attention passengers. We are now arriving at Canterlot Station. All passengers departing for Canterlot, please double-check that your belongings are with you before you leave the train." ---------------------Canterlot Station----------------------- The station was packed tightly with Celestia's royal guards. One could hardly see the exit to the station past the blue mohawks and golden armor and helmets. As soon as the train stopped, the guards began to comb the train in a quick and secure manner. Guards outside were checking the exterior for any unwanted passengers above or below the train, handled by pegasi or earth ponies respectively. Unicorns boarded the train with glowing horns passing over the passengers. Mender figured they were checking for changelings. Given the shield that they passed through, this was unsurprising to him. Still, as a unicorn colt passed his horn over him, Mender felt slightly violated at the probing magic. However, he shrugged it off, and the guard walked past without casting him a second glance. The fillies and Applejack were given the same probing treatment as well, but it set off no alarms to the guard there, either. That was of some small relief to Mender, surprisingly. After a few more moments of thorough inspection, the guards gave the all-clear, and all the ponies finally got to leave the train and enter the station. "Sheesh, these guards are uptight, aren't they?" Rainbow Dash asked. "They're just doing their job, Rainbow Dash. After the changelings nearly succeeded in their invasion, it's no surprise to me they upgraded their security procedures," Twilight responded. "Augh, but did they have to be so uncouth with their searching? They had to sift through all five of my bags!" Rarity complained. Mender blinked. "Wait a minute, you brought five bags?" Rarity giggled. "Oh, Mender, this is nothing. When I came here to mingle with Canterlot royalty some time ago, I brought twenty bags with me! Though I was also busy doing some clothes designing too, so that makes it sound MUCH more reasonable, don't you agree?" Twenty bags?! Mender silently offered his condolences to the bellhop who dealt with that. Mender narrowed his eyes. "I've only ever had one suitcase, Rarity. The army's taught me to keep the essentials and forgo little else. Was it really essential for you to bring twenty bags?" "Of course, darling! Whatever would I be able to accomplish if I didn't bring everything in case some inspiration struck me while I was there?" Mender sighed and gave up. Her definition of "essentials" vastly differed from his, and he didn't feel like arguing about that right now. "Nevermind. Twilight?" "Yes, Mender?" she replied. "What's the quickest path to the castle?" "Right down the main street as soon as we leave the station, why?" "What's the matter, Mender? Don't feel like sightseeing?" Dash asked. "We were summoned here by the Princesses," Mender bluntly stated. "I'd like to get that business sorted out first before I even consider looking around." "Good point," Dash conceded. Before leaving, Mender decided to approach one of the guards who had inspected the train. He wanted to know when the train was going back to send those Crusaders home. "Hey, when's this train going to get back up and running?" he asked. "Train's shut down for the rest of the day," the guard gruffly responded. Mender blinked. "...Come again?" "The Friendship Express won't be making any departures for the rest of the day, sir." Oh no. NO! The guard didn't say that. He did NOT say that! "WHAT? Listen, we had a few...stowaways come along on this train uninvited, and they need to go back to Ponyville ASAP." At this point the guard was getting annoyed. "Well, they won't be going back on this train. Not today. Princess's orders. Now, sir, I've got duties to tend to, so if you'll excuse me..." The guard left, leaving Mender flabbergasted at this development. Princess's orders?! Oh Tartarus, were they serious? "Mender, what's wrong?" Twilight asked as she and the other mares came up to him. Fluttershy was wisely keeping her distance. He slowly turned with wide eyes, still processing what he had just heard. He then closed his eyes and held a hoof to the bridge of his nose. "The Crusaders...have to stay," Mender spoke. He didn't need to see the faces of those six to know they were all surprised to hear this. "WHAT?!" Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, even Pinkie shouted in shock. "I honestly wish I was telling the worst joke in the world, but I'm not. The train's not going back to Ponyville today due to an order from Princess Celestia." Mender swore he heard jaws dropping to the floor of the station. However, he heard something else that flipped his stomach again. Cheering from the three Crusaders. "Woohoo! We get to stay in Canterlot!" Scootaloo was beaming at this development. They were all bouncing around in merriment. Mender felt a headache forming yet again. Yep, this day just got worse. ----------------------------- As they all left the station, they saw that even with the shield up, the city of Canterlot still seemed to function normally. The buildings all looked wonderfully regal in design, safe for a few street vendors with painted wooden stands set up with ponies peddling their wares. The bright cobblestone road sounded loudly from the hoofsteps that landed on it. There were a few nervous ponies walking around looking up at the shield, but not many seemed all that concerned. Mender shook his head. These ponies knew how to live carefree if the shield didn't bother them that much. The fillies were told to be on their best behavior as they walked. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle split up to move with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity respectively as they moved through the town. Rarity was wearing three of her bags and gave Sweetie Belle the other two as her own form of punishment for the filly, which Mender appreciated. Rainbow Dash decided to walk with Scootaloo as opposed to her usual hover to make the filly more comfortable. Twilight led the group as they traveled, Mender close behind her. Pinkie and Fluttershy brought up the rear, leaving the filly-mare pairs in the center where they could be watched carefully by their guardians and two extra pairs of perceptive eyes. Mender breathed a sigh of relief. With so many eyes bearing down on the Crusaders, he was convinced they wouldn't harm him any more than they already had today. The fact that nothing happened as they walked up to the castle gates was refreshing news as well. Mender was sure they'd get distracted doing something ridiculous, but the mares were focused on the task at hand and made no detours. As soon as the guards at the gate saw Princess Twilight, they bowed their heads in acknowledgement. "Good afternoon, Princess Twilight. What brings you to Canterlot Castle?" a guard asked. "Princesses Celestia and Luna have summoned me, Mender, and the Elements for a meeting." "Ah...and what of those three fillies?" the other guard asked. "Extra baggage." The mares shot Mender a hard glare at that statement. "What? I can't be sarcastic at a time like this?" He responded with a sheepish grin, and they all sighed in response. "Could we please have some rooms prepared at the castle? The train's shut down for the day, and my friends and I could use some time to rest," Twilight requested. "Of course, Princess." One of the gate guards bowed, then left through the gate to tell the servants inside to begin preparations. The other guard merely nodded and opened the gate the rest of the way, letting the group through into the castle. The walk toward the castle was pleasant. Expansive gardens lined a very intricate concrete and stone road leading up to the castle front door. Outside of Pinkie bouncing around and giggling every so often, this was the first time in this city that he didn't hear the hustle and bustle of the town. He admired the Princesses for that moment, having such a quiet setting beyond those golden gates. That would be short-lived as a loud explosion was heard in the sky. Everypony in the group directed their heads toward the sound. The sight before them was shocking. A flaming chariot had just come through a rather large hole in Luna's barrier. Whatever hit that barrier was incredibly powerful to blast such a hole. Was the attack happening already?! Apparently not, for nothing was coming through that hole outside of the chariot, which was now aiming for a crash landing right in the middle of the Canterlot Castle gardens. ------------------------------- Nile had taken far too long in setting the spell up. Casting such a large beam while in high-speed pursuit was a stressful affair, but she succeeded in striking the chariot. She didn't expect it to put a hole in a barrier surrounding Canterlot, however. Regardless, it was too late. The chariot, despite the damage, flew through and began to land. It wouldn't be a good landing as they observed carefully through the hole that it was going to impact in the gardens. Nile cursed to herself. Royal guards would be on that scene in mere minutes, and that meant there would be no time to go down there and get the body before this barrier would reform itself and seal off their escape. She had one last shot to salvage what she could of this situation, and that was to burn the chariot and the body. If the body wasn't recovered, Locus would want it eradicated, she reasoned. She cast a spell that struck the chariot as it fell through the hole, igniting it in a blaze. The barrier then closed at that instant, and she prayed it was enough. Lord Locus wouldn't like this one bit...but if she was to be punished, she would accept it. Nile's loyalty to him was too strong. With a small, silent gesture, the unicorn and two pegasi began their return back to the mineshaft. -------------------------------- As the chariot impacted within the gardens, the blaze upon it began to spread like wildfire to the bushes and flowers surrounding the area. A brief flashback came to Mender showing his burning home, which he quickly pushed away. Smoke quickly began to rise from the chariot, and in that instant, Mender found himself delegating orders to the mares. "Fluttershy, take the fillies inside the castle and get them to safety. Rainbow Dash, if there are any clouds in here, gather them for some rainwater to put out the blaze from above. Rarity and Twilight, if either of you know any water or wind conjuring magic, use it to help make a path towards the chariot so I can get close enough to pull out any survivors. Applejack and Pinkie, gather dirt and use it to smother the fire extending out to the surrounding area. Crusaders...don't do anything stupid." He expected objections, but received none. Fluttershy acted first and gathered the fillies, ushering them toward the castle's front door. They didn't bother resisting as they moved of their own accord toward the castle. Dash took off immediately to begin rounding up clouds. Pinkie disappeared as she drilled a hole in the ground to kick up dirt (Mender didn't bother questioning how she does things anymore) while Applejack pulled off her stetson to use it as a makeshift bucket. Twilight dashed off towards the fire, her horn glowing as she prepared a wind spell. Rarity was the only one slightly reluctant (being the only one to care about her looks) but understood the situation. She had set her bags down on the ground and joined Twilight by preparing a wind spell of her own. Mender followed after the alicorn and unicorn, waiting for them to finish their spells before he made his move for the chariot. --------------------Canterlot Castle Interior----------------------- Princess Celestia heard the explosion and the impact of something landing outside the castle. She knew Luna's barrier was breached, so the first thing she did was check on her sister's well-being. The guards would update her later as she had just sent them out to quickly let her know of the situation. She quickly ascended the steps leading to Luna's bedroom in her tower, and thrust open the door with a strong telekinetic force. Luna had hastily repaired the damage to the hole in the barrier, but was visibly sweating a bit. Her stance was slightly wide as well, another indicator of her tiredness. "Lu, are you okay?" Celestia asked. "I'm...fine, Tia," Luna responded as she took a few breaths. "It's just...been a thousand years since I've had to repair a barrier so soon after putting it up." At this, Celestia smiled and nuzzled her sister. It warmed her heart to know that she's put Nightmare Moon behind her enough to even joke about it at a time like this. Despite that, Luna was tense and tired, and Celestia knew it. However, the touching moment was short as two guards entered the Luna's room. They both promptly saluted before one spoke. "Princesses, we have an update on what breached Princess Luna's barrier. It appears to be a royal escort chariot that was attacked and set on fire as it approached Canterlot. As to who or what attacked, we haven't been able to determine yet, but nothing has breached the barrier other than the chariot. As I speak, Princess Twilight and her friends are working to contain the blaze. Other guards are scrambling to help them right now." "Thank you. You are dismissed," Celestia spoke. The two saluted and went back to helping with the fire containment. Still, a royal escort chariot attacked just as it was reaching Canterlot? Celestia thought that either the Changelings were very bold, or something else was ahoof with this assault. There wasn't time to dwell on it, however. "Lu, I'm going to help Twilight contain the fire. You stay and rest, alright?" Luna wanted to refuse, but she knew her limits. "...alright, Tia. Be safe." Celestia nodded, and left Luna in her bedroom as she flew out the balcony window to survey the scene. The fire in the gardens below was spreading rapidly. Rainbow Dash had collected a few sparse clouds to get some rainwater to contain any fires that were branching too far outward. Twilight and Rarity were using gusts of wind to maintain a clear path to the burning chariot, where she could see Mender pulling out a badly wounded pegasus from the wreckage. Applejack was using dirt to put out embers that had spread to the bushes, while Pinkie was digging trenches along the edges of the fire to cut it off before it could ignite anything else. She couldn't spot Fluttershy, but it seemed like the fire was being contained at a good rate. However, one branch of fire was spreading rapidly, long before Rainbow Dash or Pinkie could move to cut it off. Acting upon it, Celestia dove downward and blasted the stray flames with a gust from her wings, which she then turned into a larger windstorm by amplifying it with her horn as she touched down on the ground. The storm blew out most of the fire, save for a few small embers. The windstorm caught the attention of all the Elements and Mender, who stopped what they were doing momentarily to watch Princess Celestia assist in tackling the fire. The moment was awkward for Mender the most, who was surprised to see the Princess getting her hooves dirty. He figured the guards would be doing most of the grunt work containing the blaze. It didn't take long for the guards to come, bringing with them buckets upon buckets of water to fling upon the remaining embers that had survived the windstorm Celestia had summoned. Mender continued to pull out a second pegasus from the wreckage and set them down next to the first pegasus. Confident in that her guards would finish containing the fire, the mares stopped what they were doing and cheered for Celestia, causing her to blush slightly. Mender caught the blush she had and smirked as he went back to the chariot a third time. It was then that he noticed a grey hoof sticking out from one of the sheets. A third one?! Mender quickly lifted the sheet off...and took a few steps back in shock, his eyes reflecting a fear that had long since been buried. "No...NO! It...it can't be!" Princess Celestia and all the Elements turned at Mender's words. They all saw the fear in his eyes, and their smiling, cheering faces quickly turned to ones of concern. What he saw on that dead mare...this was not the same nightmare that had claimed his family's lives. No...this was something deeper and darker that had reared its ugly head in Mender's past. The black, pulsating mass on the corpse's flank was the last thing Mender saw before he did something nopony expected. He fainted.