//------------------------------// // Aftermath // Story: The Alicorn Academy // by kudzuhaiku //------------------------------// “So Brimstone shouts ‘My mother calls me her sweet creeping death’ and I was never more proud of him than I was at that moment.” The voice made Brimstone’s head throb painfully. Moonshine was entirely too loud. The smell of smoke lingered in the air. Brimstone could see daylight as he tried to pry his eyes open. Something warm was pressed against him. It was Ivy. He could feel her breathing. His tongue felt dry and clung to the roof of his mouth. Everything hurt. All over. Every joint, every muscle, every spot of his dingy yellow hide. He saw something blurry and blue. “Brimstone?” He heard his mother’s voice. He felt his head lifted with magic, magic cool and tingling against his feverish skin. He felt a glass of water against his lips. He drank. He felt better. “Mother.” He finally said. He opened his eyes, blinking against the light. He saw some worried faces. “Brimstone, I cannot stay. There is much to do. But I wanted to check on you. I am so glad to see you are well. We shall talk later.” Luna said. Her voice sounded strained. And then she was gone with a pop. “Brimstone?” Moonshine’s voice was full of worry. “What Moonshine?” Brimstone untangled himself from Ivy. He slid out of the bed. “I just wanted to hear your voice again and know that you are OK. You rotten little fart stain.” Brimstone smiled in spite of himself. “How is Ivy?” He asked. “Ivy is fine. She was awake and able to talk in a whisper earlier. She said something about finally being a damsel in distress. I couldn’t make it all out. Her voice is really messed up something awful. But Ivy will be OK. Dragons and dragon-kin are made of tougher stuff.” Moonshine smiled. “Through the door over there.” She added. Brimstone excused himself as he entered the restroom. Elsewhere and somewhat later… Hoodwink poked at her breakfast. Minerva sat next to her. They were in Celestia’s private quarters. Neither one had any idea what was going on. “I want to see Ivy and Brimstone.” Minerva sounded on the verge of tears. Hoodwink nodded. “Hoodwink, please talk to me, I need to hear your voice.” Minerva said, sniffling. “I did bad things again.” Hoodwink said, staring at her oatmeal. “Stop saying that!” Minerva screamed. Hoodwink looked up from her breakfast, her expression dull. Minerva stared at her for a moment, and then tackled her, hugging her fiercely. This seemed to snap Hoodwink out of her funk slightly. They heard voices outside the door, the clopping of hooves. The door opened. Ivy and Brimstone entered the room. Minerva quickly let go of Hoodwink, ran, tackled Ivy, and gave her a dose of her own medicine, squeezing. Hoodwink stood there, still in shock, watching. “I thought we lost you Ivy.” Hoodwink said, emotion finally seeping to the surface. She stood on trembling legs. “I feel so bad for leaving you. The hall was filled with gas. We had to go. I had to get Minerva out of there. Brimstone, don’t say you’re sorry. Please. No saying sorry. No need.” Brimstone stood, silent, unsure of what to say. Hoodwink strode forward slowly and placed a foreleg around his neck, hugging him. He felt better. Hoodwink gasped in surprised as she was blindsided by Ivy’s tackle. Ivy squeezed. Things started to feel right in the world again. Elsewhere and later… Luna fumed. Angry. There were lots of sleeping prisoners, sedated with magic. Before dawn, she had already combed their minds somewhat, gaining only minor details. Phantom had worked some of them over quite well, creeping into their minds, trying to find what he could. Other lunar pegasi with the gift had also been in and out, hunting for leads. Nothing. Not a thing. None of them were actually the Collective. Just unicorns who wanted a better world. For unicorns. Unicorns hoping that a grand and noble gesture, like invading Canterlot, would gain them the attention of the Collective. No hints of where the foalnapped foals had gone either. Nothing. Luna hoped that more could be learned but she feared that they had already reached a dead end. The collective remained as elusive as smoke. “I want their horns removed.” Luna said angrily. “Permanently. Time to reopen the prison for former unicorns.” “You can’t mean that.” Luna whirled on Twilight Sparkle. “Twilight,” Luna said patiently, “It may become necessary before this is over. Blackenshire was broken into last night as well. The inmates have been released. Our enemy, clever and elusive as they are, took advantage of the chaos last night. Over twenty foals dead. More than a hundred unicorn foals missing. Over a hundred guard dead, both lunar and solar. Hundreds and hundreds dead in the city, with more bodies being found every hour. Parts of the castle are a smoking ruin. Somepony tried to kill Ivy because she is your student and they wanted to hurt you. They called her an abomination.” Twilight stood, thoughtful, trying to choose her words carefully. She had been in dangerous situations before. She thought about all of the adventures she had been on with her friends. In every situation she could think of, very few things had actually tried to kill them. Discord turned them against one another. Nightmare Moon had been content to monologue. Sombra was no real threat. The changelings, for all the danger they had caused, didn’t actually want them dead. They needed food. Twilight realised that very few things had ever tried to actually kill her. Until recently. Things had changed, Twilight reflected. “I agree Luna.” Twilight said. “What?” Luna said in disbelief. “I agree. I believe that it has become necessary. I was not aware of Blackenshire. If we cannot keep dangerous unicorns contained, then we may have to resort to more drastic measures. I don’t like them, and the idea makes my skin crawl, but we must keep ponies safe.” Luna nodded. As she did so, a scroll poofed into existence near her horn. She snatched it in her magic with a frustrated snarl. She snapped the scroll open, her eyes moving, taking in the words. As she did, the air crackled with ozone. Twilight felt her mane standing on end. Luna let the scroll drop to the floor. She stood there, shoulders slumped, wings drooping, her head dropping low. Twilight brushed a wingtip against Luna’s cheek. “What happened?” She asked, fearing the answer. “The harbours in both Horseshoe Bay and Vanhoover have been set ablaze. Many ships were sunk in port. Pegasi weather teams are still combating the blazes. The factories that make manipulation shoes in Baltimare have been put to the torch. Do you know what this means Twilight?” Twilight’s mind reeled. Manipulation shoes were vital to pony society. It was how pegasi and earth ponies were able to handle things with their hooves. The minor manipulation fields allowed for all kinds of dexterous actions to take place, such as grasping and holding. The shoes didn’t last forever, the charge wore down over time, requiring the shoes to be replaced regularly. And now the supply was gone. The great leveler that allowed pegasi and earth ponies to live comfortable lives and deal with objects that unicorns took for granted. The shoes allowed society to function in equal parts. Many unicorns wore them as well, unicorns with minor magic that could barely lift a sheet of paper with their magic. Twilight stood agape. “Horrifying, isn’t it?” Luna asked. Twilight stared at the scroll. “How will bakers bake?” Twilight said, her brain failing to come up with anything better to express the dire situation. “There is going to be famine.” Luna said. “Equestria was crippled last night. Dealt a blow that I am not sure we can recover from any time soon. When Celestia hears about this…” Luna’s words failed her. Twilight fled the room. She departed suddenly and swiftly, running through the door. She ran down the hallway, deep in the bowels of Canterlot. The new and hidden section under the castle that had been added after the changeling invasion, rediscovered when Twilight and Cadance had been cast down below. The halls echoed with her hoofbeats. She stopped finally after running her panic out of her system. She stood there, sides heaving, mind reeling, taking it all in. “Twilight Sparkle?” Twilight whirled. She saw a ghostly figure approaching. “Palus Somni.” She said, trying to muster up whatever was left of her good graces. “Thank you for saving me last night. I owe you my gratitude.” “I had hoped to speak with you.” He stood, still sooty and grey, dirty, the remains of his ear scabbed over. “Now is not the best time.” Twilight said. “Now may be the only time.” Palus Somni answered. “Many are dead. Many more will probably die. We are not promised another day.” Twilight chewed her lip. “Twilight Sparkle.” He said, moving forward. Twilight began to back up. Fear gripped her. Odd fear. Twilight ran out of room, her backside brushing up against the hallway wall. Palus Somni continued forward, leaning his head down. He reeked of smoke. And sweat. Twilight tried to say something, and found that she could not. Palus Somni drew closer. He kissed her gently on the cheek, there, in the dark, deep in the bowels of Canterlot. “One of my best friends died last night.” He said, his voice a soft whisper. “Many others that I knew also died. I have lived in fear too long. I don’t want to die leaving certain matters unresolved. I hope you will forgive me. I hope you do not take offense.” He backed away, bowing his head. “I exist to serve.” He added, starting to turn away. “Phantom.” Twilight said. Phantom turned. “When everything calms down, when there is breathing room, when this dreadful moment passes, we’ll talk.” Twilight said. Phantom bowed again and then raised his tattered wing in salute. He stood there for a long moment. And then he vanished into the dark, becoming one with the shadow. Gone. Twilight shivered. She knew Palus Somni. She knew what he did. She knew his function. It used to frighten her. He still frightened her. Only now there was a strange sense of comfort there too. Palus Somni would be needed in the near future. Twilight stood in the dark, remembering what she had been told about last night. One of two things might have happened. She might of died, or she might have taken her first steps towards being an immortal. Neither option appealed to her. After her collapse, Phantom had gone to catch her body at great personal risk to himself, in a race against those who might kill her, and against Twilight crashing into the earth. Her surge had knocked her out while hundreds of feet in the air. Many had flown to collect Twilight as a trophy. Phantom had killed most of them. Some of them had lived after crashing into the earth, asleep. They were in Luna’s care now for the time being. Twilight shivered again. Her and Cadance both had no desire to be immortal. Phantom had potentially saved her from a fate worse than death. She wanted to live now, more than ever. Twilight trotted off. She needed to see the sun. There was much to do. Elsewhere and later… Four foals slumbered in a pile with a large snoring lunar pegasus. The foals had each slept a little, but now slumbered a deep and restful sleep. Moonshine snorted fitfully and flicked her tail occasionally. She was like a dragon napping over its hoard. They were sprawled on the rug in Celestia’s chambers. Celestia would complain that Moonshine had plopped her filthy stinking carcass onto the rug, but Celestia complained about everything that Moonshine did. Except for keeping ponies safe that is. Celestia was clear on that point. Moonshine was brutally effective at her job. And for that, all else could be and would be forgiven. Every crass vulgarity could be looked over. A figure stood at the door… Celestia entered her chambers. She was mentally exhausted. She looked and saw a pony pile on her rug. She sighed heavily, but saying nothing, not wanting to wake the sleepers. Celestia remembered Moonshine as a foal, a foal of one of the few lunar pegasi families that remained in Canterlot before Luna’s return. It was a troublesome memory, like all of her memories of Moonshine. Celestia remembered the day that Moonshine’s parents had presented Moonshine to Celestia. The foal was bright. Curious. And full of mischief. The foal had asked how Celestia kept poop stains off of her while coat. Nopony had ever asked Celestia that. Even Discord had never been that brazen. Celestia desperately needed rest. She didn’t actually need sleep, but she needed time to focus her mind and regain her magic. She was drained. And sleep restored things quickly, rather than the gradual restoration over time. She eyed her bed. She carefully moved through the room, trying to not wake the sleepers. She paused near the pony pile. She eased herself down upon the floor, pressing up against the foals, sandwiching them between her and Moonshine. A pony pile was a rare luxury for Celestia, and she intended to take advantage of it, it was one of the few things she genuinely craved from time to time. She felt Ivy stir slightly, and a faint snort from Hoodwink. Something cuddled against her wing. She stretched out her long swan like neck and rested her head against Moonshine’s broad neck. In seconds, Celestia was asleep. Elsewhere and later… Nightfisher lay in a bed in the hospital wing, deep under Canterlot. Sunflower was there with her, in a bed right beside her. Somepony had been kind enough to shove the two beds together. They were staring at one another for time being. “You dunked me in the lake again.” Sunflower finally said, breaking the silence. “I know.” Nightfisher said. “Nightfisher, would you like to spend the rest of your life dunking me in the lake?” Sunflower asked, his voice low. “I’d really be happy if you did.” Nightfisher smiled weakly. She was heavily drugged. Her pupils couldn’t figure out which size to be. “I’m hideous.” She finally answered. “You can do better.” “No I can’t.” Sunflower said. “And you’re not hideous. So what if you are a little burned. So am I.” “You’re singed.” Nightfisher corrected. “I’m burnt. All over. Crispy. Flash fried buzzard.” Nightfisher’s voice wavered. “I don’t care.” Sunflower said. He wiggled his head closer. “If you get fresh with me I’ll dunk you in the lake again.” Nightfisher warned. “That’s what I want.” Sunflower said. Nightfisher began to sob suddenly. Sunflower gazed at her. “It snowed for hours.” Nightfisher said, sniffling. “I know.” Sunflower said. “Hailstone is gone from us. I’m going to miss her terribly. She was an excellent broodmate.” Nightfisher’s sobs died down a bit upon hearing Sunflower’s compliment. It was something few solar ponies could ever understand. She looked at him, her drugged mind struggling to think, feeling a rush of emotion. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life dunking you in the lake.” She said, her words slightly slurred. “I want fat little foals. Equestria is going to need foals. And soon. I sense trouble coming. Bad trouble. I’ve hunted all my life and suddenly, I feel like prey.” Sunflower considered Nightfisher’s words. “We’ll have to brood over it together.” “You always know just what to say.” Nightfisher said. “I’m so burnt.” Sunflower looked at her as she changed the subject. “I don’t care about that. I still have you. I’ve lost a broodmate. I don’t want to lose you. I’m content to have you. And the doctor said you’ll heal. Your kind always comes back stronger.” Nightfisher’s eyes closed and she began to doze lightly. Sunflower continued to gaze upon her face for hours. Elsewhere and later… Luna trotted wearily to her sister’s chambers, hoping to find Celestia. There was much that Celestia needed to know. No Collective. Out of all this anarchy, not one lead had presented itself as of yet. One brazen group of highly skilled unicorns had gathered, seized a passenger airship, and had invaded Canterlot, all to impress a group that nopony was actually sure existed. Most of the sleeping survivors had been former students of Celestia, a fact that troubled Luna. This group had been well organised unto themselves. They had struck in several places at once, hoping to impress the Collective with their skill. From what Luna had gathered, the sleepers themselves weren’t entirely sure the Collective existed. But most of them hoped that it did. They had grand dreams. Dreams of grinding other ponies beneath their hoof. Of being rewarded and placed in a grand and noble position. Even with their doubts, they had acted as true believers, hoping that their risky plan would see fruition and they would be rewarded. Luna wasn’t even sure what they had hoped to do regarding two angry immortal alicorns who were bound to take offense. It didn’t make sense. Most of the sleepers were completely unaware of the foalnapping. The few that knew anything seemed surprised to have seen the foals and their foalnappers vanish. There seemed to have been no plan for that. Yet the foals were gone. Spirited away. Powerful magic had taken place. Long distance teleportation, with multiple foals in tow. How? Luna could not make sense of it. Luna halted in mid-trot. She stood on three legs. What if the brazen invaders were completely unaware of the foalnappers in their ranks? Perhaps the foalnappers had taken advantage of the night’s events to come and spirit foals away. Perhaps the foalnappers were the Collective, and they had taken advantage of the chaos, with no intention of ever going back to reward and gather those who had served them. Perhaps, the Collective had gotten wind of last night’s plans, infiltrated the ranks of those who sought to join them, and had used them to distract and aid in their escape. Luna’s mind reeled. This seemed a little too crazy, too chaotic. For her anyway. Luna was going to have to speak to a friend of hers, and see what he made of the chaos. Discord’s magic was gone, but his mind was still thousands and thousands of years old and sharp as a tack when properly focused and motivated. Luna had the motivation. A bunch of pathetic creatures had attacked something that he loved dearly and very nearly killed her. Discord would be most attentive, highly focused, and eager to help Luna guessed. Luna sighed. Discord was aging now. Slowly. But Luna could see the passage of time. He had once been her sworn enemy and now he was a dear friend. Occasional confidant. And one creature that she trusted without reservation. She resumed her walk. She considered Brimstone. Brimstone was likely to be fragile for a while she thought. He had killed. And he was old enough to know that he had killed. It was bound to weigh on his mind. Luna felt a twinge of pity. It was going to be a difficult burden to bear for both of them. Luna could tolerate a lot of things in life, but seeing her foal suffering was one thing she couldn’t bear. This was going to weigh heavily on her mind for quite some time as he came to terms with what he had done. Celestia would have this burden as well. It was the most difficult lesson to lesson to teach any student. How to deal with taking a life. Luna pondered Celestia having to pull Twilight aside and take her under her wing again as a student, and it hadn’t been all that long ago. It was painful for Celestia to teach Twilight Sparkle one more lesson. Twilight had been nearly inconsolable. Twilight had been an adult. Hoodwink was a foal. Luna shivered, thinking of Hoodwink. Lots of ponies could enchant things. Enchantment magic was useful. It was a common school of magic that assisted with day to day life. Hoodwink’s talent was enchantment. Much in the same way that Twilight Sparkle’s talent was magic. Hoodwink could go either way. She could wind up like Sunset Shimmer… Or she could become like Twilight Sparkle. Hoodwink’s future was uncertain, but the potential was there. Celestia wouldn’t bother otherwise. Celestia could be training Equestria’s next great defender, or Equestria’s next great villain. Luna considered an army of enchanted stone statues and what they could do. A cold feeling crept along her spine. She hurried down the hall, nodding at a group of guards. Scorch marks blackened the walls. A scroll popped into the air before her. She tore it open. She read the paper. Several times, trying to take it in. She incinerated the scroll into an ash pile in rage. Just before dawn, Manehatten harbour had been put to the torch. There goes the shipping industry, she thought. They were going to have to rely on airships even more now, and airships were explosive. She muttered as she stalked down the hall, her hooves thudding heavily, her shoes striking up sparks. The corner of her eye twitched alarmingly. The air reeked of ozone. As she passed a waterfall fountain, it began to boil. Luna tried to calm her self. It wouldn’t do her any good to be this angry when she talked to her sister. Luna needed comforting. Her strength was nearly depleted. There was an enormous cluster of guards in front of her sister’s door. They saluted as she approached. One shushed her. She seethed with rage but said nothing. Celestia was asleep. Celestia deserved some sleep. Luna regretted what she was about to do, but Celestia would just have to wake up. Luna gently pushed open the door. She didn’t want her sister to get the wrong idea. Before her was a pony pile. Luna froze. Moonshine lay slumbering on the rug. Celestia lie close to her. Four foals were sandwiched between the slumbering giants. Luna’s rage melted away. She suddenly felt exhausted. She took her place next to her sister in the pony pile, thankful for this rare moment of comfort. She felt Celestia’s wing close over her, as they had done when they were small foals themselves. It didn’t take long before the Princess of the Night lay in slumber.