//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 - Well now, this is getting ridiculous. // Story: A Bhaalspawn in Equestria // by Thadius0 //------------------------------// After a few days worth of digging and training the dogs, I had a passable basement. The rooms that I'd specified were there, they just needed furnishing. Which, of course, left us with options on how to do it. The first was, we could do it legally. Not bloody likely. The town had seen me, and the Guard had likely passed out word as to who slash what I was. I was lucky Pinkie still hadn't told anyone where I lived, otherwise I'd have a small horde on my metaphorical front lawn. Another reason we wouldn't be doing it legally was because all of my apprentices informed me they were less than welcome in Ponyville. So that left the options of getting another apprentice and doing it legally, or doing it illegally and damn the consequences. ... Of course, first they would have to catch us... ----- "Shh!" I hissed to Fido. "Your job is to tell me when ponies are getting close. That's what a lookout does!" We were outside Ponyville's hardware store, it was the middle of the night. The stores, unlike the vast majority of the town, did lock up at night. Not that it would help. The reason we were here was simple: Gilda had taken Rover and Spot with her to the lumberyard so that we'd have the wood we'd need for my various projects. It wouldn't take long, especially if she flew it back. The dogs were mostly there for lookout purposes. But we would need all sorts of tools and supplies, and Fido could haul. Which is good, I intended to pick up a few safes while we were here, to round out my collection of lockpicking materials. Speaking of, my skills paid off, and the lock clicked open. I held my breath and carefully turned the knob, pushed the door a little bit, and winced at the sound of the hinges. One hand still on the door, I procured every thief's friend from under my clothes with the other: a can of oil. I spotted the hinges and quickly applied the oil, then pushed the door a little further before stopping. I looked up to see a string attached to a bell and frowned. Once again, my free hand found a job, that of keeping the bell silent while I opened the door the rest of the way. I looked around the darkened shop before my eyes adjusted to the lack of moonlight. Perfect. Nobody here. I turned to Fido and whispered. "Right, you stay here and keep an eye...and ear out. You see or hear anything suspicious that doesn't give our signal, you know what to do." Fido nodded and proceeded to his lookout post, which was just off to the side. What he would do was simple, scream out the word 'Mockingbird' and run like his life depended on it. Our signal was also simple, the old 'shave and a haircut' routine. The first thing I took notice of was, in fact, the safes. I dragged one of each model over to the front door and lined them all up, I'd tell Fido to haul them back once my 'shopping' was done. I then turned to the aisles and grinned. Wrenches, hammers, gears, nails, paint, paintbrushes, screwdrivers, screws, springs, cogs, nuts, wires, especially wires. I used up wire like you would not believe. Shame we couldn't pick up any of the more...vicious things. But seeing as this was an herbivore-dominated town, I wasn't expecting to find traps for catching animals anyways. That'd be a thing Gilda would have to procure, probably legally, from her homeland. I'd managed to get my 'shopping' together and near the entrance when Fido poked his head in. "Uh, sir?" I groaned internally. Externally I gritted my teeth. "What, Fido." He seemed to notice my hostility and backed off a bit, but continued. "Got somethin' you'll wanna see." I pulled my 'shopping' out of the store and actually said "Huh" at what Fido had wanted me to see. It was a Thestral. Light gray coat, black-and-blue striped mane and tail, slitted green cat's-eyes, tufted ears, and bat wings. I absently noted that the cutie mark was that of a covered lantern and decided not to guess. "And you are?" He looked to me and smiled. Actually smiled! "My parents named me Whispered Secret. My talent is being able to see in the darkness better than any other. Downside is easy enough to guess: I get hit worse than the rest when I step into the light." I nodded at that. He'd make an excellent Night Guard. But then why wasn't he in the uniform of one? "And the reason you're here?" He shifted a bit at that and sighed. "I'm not very physically fit. Flunked out of Guard training. Something about not putting on enough muscle." And then he turned to me and smiled again, this time displaying his fangs. "But you. Word spread in Canterlot about you. And I really want to put my talent to use." I frowned and crossed my arms. "You sure? You absolutely sure you want to go down this path? Because every guild I've ever run, I'm the only one that I know of that did not end up caught. You're free to leave whenever you want, but as long as you stay, there is the chance you'll be caught and charged as a criminal." He blinked at that and seemed to consider, but finally nodded again. I groaned at that. "I guarantee you that you'll drop out of my little training program after two days." He seemed to take that as a challenge, because I could see his eyes narrow. "Bring it." I smiled at that and turned to Fido. "They've got a lot of safes in there that we could use for our training room. Think you're up to carrying them home?" The dog poked his head in and hummed. "Two trips. Make them fast ones, get done before night is over." I nodded at him and picked up my 'shopping' before shouldering its burden. "Right. Make sure you put them down gently in the right room when you get there. I have to escort our newest Thestral home." Thestral were...interesting. They rarely left their colonies to mingle with the ponies as a whole, though that had changed a good deal with the return of Luna. They disliked sunlight because of their sensitive eyes, and they had a love for fruit. Especially anything from Sweet Apple Acres. The ugly rumor that they were vamponies were just that: rumor. They had no more need to drink blood than I- ...Bad example. Than any other pony did. They weren't as good at weather magic as a Pegasus, and those that were ended up, where else, on the night shift. Night guards, night watch, night weather duties. Most ponies slept at night, though, so they had few friends outside of other thestrals and the occasional oddball. When they did come out of their colonies, they preferred to go to cities with an actual nightlife. Y'know, now that it was a Thing that was Happening. Mostly because they enjoyed socializing, just like any other pony, but also because they were excellent bouncers. So for one to come here from Canterlot...meant he was being at least partially truthful. I turned all my accumulated facts about thestrals over in my head while we walked back to my home. Whispered whistled at the sight, partially because he probably wasn't expecting it, and more likely because Gilda, Rover, and Spot had also returned and were standing next to a huge pile of wooden planks. "Gilda, Spot, Rover, this is Whispered Secret, he's expressed an interest in the guild. Whispered, meet your fellow apprentices. Gilda, Spot, and Rover. Though Gilda's nearly a full-fledged member." The four regarded each other warily, and I turned to the two dogs. "Fido'll be here soon with some safes, make sure he's careful with them when he places them upstairs." As they nodded I turned to Gilda. "Take five, then move this wood down into the basement. I'm gonna just drop off my stuff there as well and get to work on the underground training course tomorrow." I then turned to Whispered and gave him my best stare. He eventually noticed. "What?" "You," I said, poking his chest for emphasis, "Have the important job as of right now of being the night-watchpony for the guild." He nodded at that, a slight bit of surprise showing on his face from me thrusting so much responsibility on him so suddenly. I wasn't done, however. "I have never been caught, and with good reason. Meaning that if I find out that they have been because you weren't keeping an eye out..." He gulped as I let the threat trail off, and I felt a wicked smile creep onto my face. I dropped my bag of shopping in the basement and went to my bed, keeping only the wire on me. It wasn't long before I fell asleep... ----- The realm of dreams came quickly this time, and I could feel the invader with ease. It had become something akin to a knack, these days. One I wish I didn't have to have in the first place. "Back again, Luna?" The alicorn appeared out of the darkness in front of me and nodded once. "Tis Our duty to watch over the dreams of Our subjects of Equestria...no matter how deformed they may be." I blinked, huffed as the insult hit home, and crossed my arms while looking away. "And here I thought you and I were getting along so well, Luna." I then took note that her speech hadn't been quite as bad as it usually was. I turned back to her and quirked an eyebrow. "Speech lessons, then? Or are you imitating me while you're here?" She nodded. "A fair guess, half-elf. We have been taking elocution lessons at Our sister's behest, but 'tis Our conversations with thee that help them to...stick?" I nodded at that. "Fair enough. So!" And here I clapped my hands, and the scenery around us changed to that of the Everfree. "Here to convince me to give over the Slayer for your destruction? Or perhaps aid in killing him off?" She sighed and shook her head. "Thou must comprehend that the presence of such a dangerous parasite within thine mind can only lead to ruin!" I nodded at that. "Oh, sure enough. But I'll not be giving him over." Luna stomped angrily, the scenery rippled a bit. "Whyever not?!" The scenery shifted, to show the glade where I'd first arrived. Here, in this place, the prophecy was eternally playing. And hovering, the words written in golden fire even as they were sung out. "The Lord of Murder shall perish...but in his doom, he shall spawn a score of mortal progeny...Chaos shall be sown from their passing..." I pointed to the middle portion and jabbed at it angrily. "This. This bit right here is why not." Luna did that head-tilt thing again. "A score of mortal progeny? Why doth this lead to thine keeping of that wretched demon?" I spread my arms out, and the scenery changed again, this time to the blood-plain with a black sky. The image of the Pinkie Demon and Fluttershy's twisted cottage appeared, along with the image of the three fillies. "Because the only way to save my half-brothers and sisters is by continuing to share Father's blood. Should you take the Slayer, I shall have no more connection. Already, five are saved. More could be found yet. For while a good number of his score of children were in the Forgotten Realms, he clearly Planeswalked before his death." At the very idea of me having more brothers or sisters and not being able to help them, Luna blanched. It was impressive, really, seeing a cerulean mare turn that white. Eventually she got herself under control again and nodded reluctantly. "And perchance the Slayer intervenes whilst thou are saving thine siblings?" I mulled over the question and looked into the distance. "Then I'll take that risk. Nobody else should have to." Before she could object again, I grabbed her by the chin and stared into her eyes. "But I give you this word of mine. Should it ever get so bad that I literally transform again...should the Slayer, or worse, walk Equestria..." I closed my eyes and sighed. "Then don't try to save me. Save yourselves from me, no matter the cost." A gasp was all I heard as the dream ended... ----- (Celestia POV - 3rd person) The solar mare woke up slowly and looked to the East, lighting her horn up as she looked at the clock. Her sleep cycle had been pretty well set for these past centuries, and she tended to wake up just before the world needed her charge again. She'd only just pulled it over the horizon and set it on its path when Luna entered the room and hugged her, fiercely. Caught off-guard for just a moment, Celestia quickly returned the hug, nuzzling her sister all the while. "Shh, Luna. Was it him again?" Luna nodded and hiccuped before composing herself. "We tried to convince him again, Sister dear. To give up the demonic parasite lurking within his mind. We have done this every night, ever since We helped him lock it away again after Discord addled him." Celestia started a bit at that, but after mulling it over, nodded again. It did sound like the sort of thing Luna would be wont to do. "And what did he say that upset you so?" Luna took a deep breath then. "He said...that the demon was his connection to his father's blood, and that should it be removed, and any half-siblings of his found, that he would be...unable to save them..." And here she choked a bit and started crying. Celestia hugged her tighter. "What next, Luna?" She barely got the words out. "He said...if the worst were to happen...if his demon got loose...do not save him...save ourselves...from him..." Celestia's mind flashed back to that awful, terrible night a thousand years ago, when she'd lost her sister. Luna wasn't done, though. "...no matter the cost..." And Celestia's mind was filled with scenes of horror at the mere thought. She eventually worked up the courage to ask one question. "Truly?" Luna nodded. "He meant every word. We could see the pain in his eyes as he said it. He was picturing the pain he would be allowing to pass should he not be stopped, and it hurt him." Celestia considered for a moment, and then smiled. "Methinks it's high time we met this mysterious creature in pony, Luna. Perhaps even help him...subdue his inner beast. Not remove, for if it were gone, he would be far less helpful. But perhaps we could add to the chains?" Luna blinked at that before turning to face her sister. "Art thou certain, Sister? He may not take such an invitation well. He is, after all, the grandmaster thief thou hast been looking for." Celestia giggled at that. "Fair enough. But perhaps a cease-fire for as long as it takes to help him subdue his...other side?" Luna nodded slowly. "We shall pass the message along when next we meet in dreams...though We cannot picture it ending in anything but a tragedy."