“Now this is more like it.”
Sam briskly rubbed his hands together and walked to the nearest bloodstain, but Shining stopped him.
“Get back! Don’t touch anything, alright?” Shining grimaced at the sight. “This is a crime scene. Cadance, hold everypony back. Lieutenant, report this to the princess, full speed!”
“Yes sir!” Sky High saluted, and he and Cadence flew out the forest like bullets.
“Captain Shining Armor?” Mayor asked from behind. “What’s going—?”
“Stay back,” Sam said. “You don’t want to see this.”
Mayor could not see the scene well from behind him and Shining, but a sight of a bloody severed leg was all it took to turn her green.
Calling the scene “a mess” would be the understatement of the year. It was as if someone had taken the world’s biggest tube of paint and splashed blood everywhere like a pre-schooler. Segments of flesh and entrails were scattered along with their owner’s limbs.
“I told you you didn’t want to see this,” Sam repeated, shaking his head. “All of you shouldn't see this. You heard the cop.”
“Wasn’t he talking ‘bout you too?” Applejack asked. She sniffed the air and blocked her muzzle. “Ugh, what in Equestria’s that stench?” Before her friends could see the scene themselves, Mayor and Zecora blocked them off.
“Blood. Lots of it.” Sam bent next to a severed head and poked it. “Looks like Sundowner entered the building.”
“Sundowner?” Shining asked, covering his own nose.
“The pegasus’ description fits, and this scene has his M.O.” Sam kicked at the trunk of a fallen tree. “Excessive use of force and violence. Look at where the trees are cut. An HF Blade cut ‘em.”
“And pray tell, how did you come to that conclusion?” Shining eyed him warily. Maybe this was part of his scheme: distract him while a second perp ambushed the guards?
Sam counted the number of guards dead. Seven, judging from the number of heads. “Did the lieutenant look injured to you, other than the blood on him?” When Shining shook his head, Sam smiled. “He probably wanted one alive, to tell the authorities that he’s here. He was never one for subtlety. As for the weapon, smell the wood burning?”
Shining sniffed the trunk. “Yeah, it smells like ash.”
“An HF Blade vibrates at a super-high speed to cut materials. This also has the side-effect of burning whatever it cuts. Besides, smell the corpses if you don’t believe me. It smells like barbecue.”
Shining struggled to keep from retching. “Be serious about this, would you? If you were a Royal Guard—”
“Thank God I’m not.” Sam walked towards him with arms crossed. “I told you, I’m experienced in this kind of thing, and I am being serious. When can your backup get here?”
Shining saw Mayor, Twilight, and Spike already running back to town for parchment. “Depending on how fast my sister writes, anywhere from five to ten minutes.”
Sam sighed. “It’s already been ten minutes. By then, you’re going to lose him. He’ll be halfway through the forest.”
“Not if you follow him now, Sam.” Zecora stepped up and pointed to a trail of blood. “I counted seven bodies, yet only twenty-six hooves. The killer must have taken them, so you might find him if you move.”
At this, he glared at her. “Is that a job?”
“No, just something only you can do,” Zecora answered, just as sternly. Sam did not seem like the type to take orders, especially from somepony like her. “If you stop this “Sundowner”, everypony will start trusting you. From there, the guards will stop sticking to you like glue.”
He grumbled to himself in thought, eliciting a chuckle from Zecora. “How do you know I will, regardless?”
“You can refuse. Like you said, you’ve no obligation.”
“Damn you.” He chuckled but crossed his arms. “I’m no tracker, just a cleaner. If I find him, I’ll handle him, but I can’t track him in this terrain. I would probably just get lost.”
“So what, we can’t do anything?!”
His head jerked to Rainbow Dash, who was anxiously flying in place. “You can’t be serious!”
“If you want to find him yourself, go ahead,” Sam said. “Can’t guarantee you’ll live when you do.”
“He’s right, Rainbow,” Applejack said. “We need to be careful, and the guards will come any minute.”
“Didn’t you hear, we don’t have a minute!” Rainbow grumbled. “Whoever did this is getting farther away by the second!” She faced a random direction and left a rainbow trail behind her.
“Rainbow Dash!” Everypony screamed after her, but the blue speck faded into the sky.
“That girl,” Shining mumbled. “I’ll get her. You girls get to a safe place. Find Twilight! And you-” he pointed at Sam “-just...stay there with Zecora and don’t touch anything!” Sighing, he sprinted in the fleeing pegasus’ direction.
With a nod, everypony ran back to town, leaving Zecora and Sam alone. The zebra looked around, shaking her head at the sight.
“Is it scary?” Sam asked. “Seeing something like this?”
“Uh...no, not completely.” Zecora answered, surprised. She took a breath and fell to her rump, rubbing her forehead. “Why, how, could anyone do something like this? I’ve heard of murders, but nothing like this.”
“Same words? Boo.”
Zecora frowned at him. “How can you make laughter when there are seven ponies slaughtered?”
“You know what they say,” Sam said, leaning against a tree. “Can’t spell “slaughter” without “laughter”. That’s Sundowner in a nutshell, and he’s plenty nuts.”
Zecora covered her muzzle to block the smell. “How can you stomach such a sight?”
“I told you all this before: I’m a cleaner. I make and clean up bodies. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Zecora shivered, looking around. Her house was close by. What would have happened if she stayed there instead of following Sam?
“You are acquainted with Sundowner?”
“Worked with his private military group. He’s one of their higher officers.”
“Do you know why he would have done this?”
“Either he did it for kicks or they were onto his trail. He’s been a soldier for the majority of his life.” He smiled. “Why do you want to know? Want to help me find him?”
“No, I just want to return home. But I must stay with you, what with a crime scene and a killer on the roam.”
“Good idea. When the guards get here, stay out of the forest.” He looked up and saw a large flock of birds. “You know, that pony’s got the right idea.”
“Who? Rainbow Dash?”
“Yeah.” Sam pulled out his sword and pointed at one of the severed heads. “Guards like them, they only investigate when the crime’s already done. Wouldn’t it be better to stop crimes before they happens?”
“Is that why you have taken on a vigilante life?” Zecora frowned. “That reasoning is often poor justification for itself. How can you judge one for doing wrong when he has yet to himself?”
Sam sighed and rubbed his forehead. “You don’t get it. Look at them. What if they’re not enough, or even—”
Before he could continue, he heard several hoofsteps behind him. He readied to attack, but saw the source of the sound: Sky High, leading a large group of guards behind him. Some of them carried large bags. When they saw the crime scene, their faces paled through their coat, and one even turned his eyes away.
“You haven’t touched anything?” Sky High asked, looking around for signs of vandalism.
“Ask her–” Sam pointed at Zecora “–if you doubt me. If you’re done, I’d like to leave.” He patted his suit. “Where’s that thing? Do you still have it? You know, the caramel crickets?”
Zecora ‘ah’-ed and fetched the brown jar from her bag.
“Thanks.” He tipped some of the bugs out and stretched out his hand. “Want some?”
Zecora pushed his hand away. “No, thank you for your consideration, though. I, as well as many of the guards, seemed to have lost our appetites.”
“Oh yeah.” He faced the guards with a grin, who stared back with confusion. “Sorry. I’m just so used to seeing corpses that I nearly forgot this was here. And you,” he said to Sky High, who shot him the deepest scowl he could. “You actually want to see your fellow men sliced like bread?”
Sky High flinched at the simile but held his ground. “They were my subordinates. I am responsible for them.” He motioned to his guard. “Get them into the body bags. I don’t want a single limb missing.”
“Too late for that,” Sam interrupted. “Two legs are missing.”
“What?!” Sky High scanned the area but only counted twenty-six legs like he said. Snarling, he turned to his guards. “All pegasi, split into two groups and scan from the sky. The rest of you, clean this up. Do not mix up the corpses.”
“Sir!” The group saluted before separating to their respective duties.
Sam and Zecora saw their haste, the former with an amused expression. “Well, let’s get going.” He started walking, pouring crickets into his mouth.
“Go where?” Zecora followed behind, hesitant about leaving the scene.
“Your little cottage,” Sam answered through a mouthful of bugs. “If Sundowner’s found it, he must have checked it out at some point.”
He could practically hear the gears clicking in her head. Her confusion quickly turned to fear.“Let’s go, now!” she screamed and sprinted past him.
He blinked a few times before cracking up. “Yes, ma’am!” he responded and followed suit.
“Rainbow Dash, what’s wrong with you?!”
“I should be asking you that!” The mare struggled but only managed to glare back. “Whoever did that to the guards couldn’t have gotten far! You think I’m going to let him get away with this?”
“You’re just going to get yourself killed!” Shining screamed back, holding her tight in his telekinesis. “Seven ponies that were under my command are dead. You think you’re the only one angry?”
“So what then? We wait until more guards show up?”
“I’ll go back to the crime scene and meet back with Lieutenant Sky High. You go to Cloudsdale and warn everypony about this.”
“What good’s that going to do? It’s not like he’s going to attack—”
“We don’t know anything about who did this!” Shining was now actively resisting facehoofing. “All we know is that he’s a cyborg who killed a group of guards. We don’t know if he can kill more, where he is now, or if there was even one of them. You’re not a Wonderbolt, Dash!”
“I know that, but…”
Rainbow’s face fell and her body slacked. Shining nodded at her resignation and put her down.
“Do you know what it’s… forget it. Let’s just go.”
She walked past him, but she could feel Shining’s stare burn her head as he followed her.
“Look, I’m sorry for raging, alright? I’ll contact Cloudsdale, see if they’ll help us with this.”
“Since when did you get so worked up? What, you didn’t want anypony to help you? Get hurt?” Shining asked.
“No!”
“Then what? You just flying off like that is foolish, even for you!”
“What’s that supposed to mean!?”
“I mean this you’re going to get killed if you keep this up, or worse, create more casualties!”
“If I get to help whatever I can, that’s fine!”
Armor stepped back, grimacing. “So that’s what it’s about?”
“No!” Rainbow stepped back as well but could not look him in the eye. “I mean, that’s not…”
“It better not be.” Shining rubbed his head. “You’re letting the whole “heroes of Equestria” get to your head.”
“This coming from somepony who could defend Canterlot by himself?” Rainbow chided, turning her back on him.
“And we all know how that ended up,” Shining said, anger evident. “You’re not the only one down in the dumps. You know how embarrassing it is for me, a ruler of the Crystal Empire, to leave its saving to my little sister?”
Rainbow stopped and turned around. “So I don’t have to waste time explaining myself?” she scoffed.
“I won’t make you, but—”
“Good, now let’s go.”
“Where’s everypony?” Rainbow asked. Other than a few guards keeping watch, the forest’s edge was barren.
“Back to Ponyville. Hopefully getting ready to barricade the town.” Shining faced her. “Get to Cloudsdale. Tell them to get every flier available to search for a large, black, bipedal figure, maybe more than one. Lieutenant!” Sky High handed him a portfolio. “Take this. It’s some extra photos of the crime scene. Take him with you. With an Element of Harmony and a Royal Guard, I’m sure everypony will see we’re not joking.”
“Alright!” Rainbow punched the air. “Now this is more like it!”
“If you’re good, get going. Remember, we all got our jobs to do.”
“Right! C’mon, Sky!”
He sighed and gave a weak smile to Shining. “Something happened in there? Gave her some pump-up speech?”
“Not that much. Just knocked her down a peg." He smiled. "Now go.”
“Sir!” Sky High gave a salute and took off behind Rainbow.
Shining made his way back to Ponyville and scowled at the lack of hustle and bustle. Did nopony get the news from Mayor and Twilight?
Eventually, he made it the town hall, where Twilight and Mayor was talking heatedly with several officials.
“…evacuate the town? Mayor, that’ll take too much time—”
“We can’t defend ourselves against this, Twilight. We’ve already received a reply from the princess, we— Captain Shining Armor!”
“Yes, Mayor? What did the Princess say?” he asked.
“Here.” She passed the letter. “She’s sending more guards for protection and hopefully subjugating the...you-know-what.” She whispered her last words, looking around nervously. “It even says that Princess Celestia might have to get involved in the defence effort.”
Shining grimaced. He did not know which was more worrying: Sundowner’s presence or the fact that Celestia had her hoof forced into this. “Any more instructions?”
On cue, Spike burped out a giant scroll. “Huh! It’s for you, bro.”
Shining unravelled it and read with relish, but his expression fell deeper and deeper as he went on.
“What is it, Shining?” Twilight asked.
“Nothing, just to stay at my post and aid with the evacuation,” he grunted. He rolled the scroll back up and looked longingly at the nearby trash bin. “Please tell me this will work, Mayor.”
“I’ve already sent somepony to spread the news,” Mayor said. “With guards stationed at every road leading out of town, everypony will take the trains to nearby towns. Afterwards, we’ll start a search with the guards from the forest, spreading outward.”
“Honestly, we’re not sure if this will work,” Twilight said. “And when we have to break the news down to everypony, I can’t help but think they’ll all panic.”
“That’s why we need you, Princess Sparkle, to lead the evacuation,” Mayor said. “Everypony trust you’ll do the right thing. I’ll stay here and help clear out the town until everypony else has left.”
With nothing more to say, everypony nodded, some eagerly while others forcefully.
Shining left with Twilight, who looked around nervously. “Oh dear...maybe I should have thought this through more.” The streets were almost barren, save for some ponies running to their houses.
“That’s why I’m here,” Shining said brightly. “Come on. We need to hurry.”
“He’s been here,” Sam said. “But he didn’t touch much.”
Indeed, other than a few out-of-place containers and ajar cabinets, the place was untouched.
“Didn’t you say he was not one for subtlety?” Zecora asked, correcting her furniture.
“Looks like he can be quiet when he has to be.” Sam walked to the door. “This place is clear. But you’ll have to leave this place until Sundowner’s dead. Criminals almost always return to the scene of the crime.”
“Agreed.” She loaded several items onto her back. “Please wait outside. I have to load my cart and leave nothing to hide.”
“Alright, but get moving. I’m starting to get why ponies avoid this place.” Even after all the destruction a few days ago, the forest had somehow recovered its lost greenery. Magic or not, this place was weird.
Zecora gave a nod, pulled out a wooden cart from behind the building, and filled it to the brim with her belongings.
“Alright, then?” Sam asked. “Let’s go.”
In a half-hour, they could see Ponyville again. This time, however, there were hardly anypony around. They even saw a couple tumbleweeds pass by, as if it wasn’t empty enough.
“Strange,” Zecora muttered. “Ponyville Is usually so full of life and motion. Did Sundowner already strike, or is it another notion?”
“I don’t think that’s how the word “notion” is used, but you’re right.” Sam looked around. “Did all of them evacuate already?”
“Zecora! Sam!”
The pair turned and saw Twilight and Spike running towards them.
“You two?” Sam asked. “Mind if I ask why this place is completely barren? Did the world’s weakest hurricane come through or something?”
“No, we just evacuated the town,” Twilight said. “This is the town closest to the Everfree Forest, after all. The only road that connects to the forest is through here, and with guards posted everywhere, we’ll spot him eventually.”
Sam scratched his chin. It was a solid plan. “Sounds like you got everything covered.” He turned to Zecora. “Mind if I leave now? They seem like they know what they’re doing.”
“Huh? But you can’t leave now!” Spike said. “What if this Sundowner guy shows up? We could really use your help!”
“Spike!’ Twilight was uneasy. If the two of them were to meet, how much collateral would they create? “We’ll be fine. Me, Shining Armor, even Princess Celestia will be protecting the town.”
“Aww, come on!” he whined. “Don’t you think we could use the help?”
“Kid, if you want my help, you should know I don’t work for free.”
Everypony stared at him in shock.
“How can you say that? Now, of all times?” Zecora spat. “Don’t you feel some obligation to—”
“Obligation?” Sam faced her, frowning. “Hard to say this is my obligation when I'm not part of the defense force. If I find any of the Winds, I'll deal with them, but if you think you're ready for them, good luck.”
“Wait, Sam,” Zecora said. “Are you certain? You promise you will stop him if you find him?”
Sam shrugged. “I told you before, didn't I?" He looked around. "It was smart to evacuate. Minimize casualties. Put civilians into a sheltered space. But Sundowner’s not going to show with no spectators.”
“So what? Evacuating was pointless?” Twilight asked, appalled.
“No. Now if Sundowner shows, he’ll have a hard time getting them with so many guards.” He walked away. “But fighting him when he shows up? That’s another problem entirely. Hell, we don't even know why he's gonna bother showing around town.”
Nopony knew what to say. He was right in every part of his argument. It would be best to let him do his own work. He seemed to know what he was doing, and Sam could clearly handle him.
“How do we know we can trust you?” Shining asked suddenly. He still had a sharp eye fixed on him.
“I didn’t touch the corpses, I didn’t hurt anypony today. What else do you want me to point out?” With that, he sped up and didn’t look back. “I’m going back to the forest. If any of you ponies get in my way, I can’t guarantee their safety.”
Everypony remained quiet until he left their sight. Eventually, Twilight broke the silence with a sigh.
“So… looks like we’re working without him?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Shining said. “We got guards posted everywhere. They’ll keep an eye on him. And if a cyborg shows, we’ll know. We got every guard we could over here.”
Where the heck’s all the guards?
She sprinted through the halls, her hooves clopping loudly, but there was no sign of anypony.
Shaking her head, she looked back at her bag. She had all the tools, but it tore her heart when her hunger forced her to steal meat. Meat that was meant for the princesses to coerce Sam with.
It’s not as if Sam would come back here anytime, right? Besides, if they really wanted his help, they would have gone out to find him themselves, right?
She hated it. Her habits, her lifestyle, and that annoying voice in her head. Ever since she had talked with that statue, it had been haunting her every time she could afford to relax.
She could not complain, though. Time for whining was over, and there was no turning back. If there was anything to break this repressive cycle that was her life, this was it.
She stopped and leaned onto the wall. A sharp pain rang in her stomach, and it was not due to hunger.
“No. I’m close. You promised you would help me?”
Of course. I cannot afford to lie in my current position.
She took several more breaths before running back. Soon the wolf statue was in sight.
“Here they are.” She spilled the contents of the bag in front of it. Not much. Hammer, chisel, and a vial of her blood.
I cannot see in this form, but I trust you procured the tools needed.
She nodded, unsure of what to do.
No response? Are you weakened?
“No,” she panted. “I’m just not used to walking in direct sunlight. I ate before I came.”
All the same. A piece of advice: think of what enrages you more than anything. It has given me strength every time. You are so close, yet you falter now?
“No!” She slapped her cheeks and snarled. That sun beaming down? Celestia. The reason she lived in such a state? Celestia. The cause of the death of her clan?
“What do I have to do now?”
Poor the blood onto the base. Its innate magic should disrupt the seal, even if little.
“And then?”
Hit away at the stained area. I will try to escape as you chip away at it.
“Doesn’t sound like you know what you’re doing.” Regardless, she already tossed away the empty vial and picked up the hammer and chisel.
This will work. You are not the only one suffering and trying.
“Shut up.”
Every strike shook her body, but she kept at it. The sun, even with her hood, felt like it would boil her in her skin.
There is nopony within several yards from us. Hurry!
“I know!”
But after a minute of hammering, she fell to the grass, retching. She needed to rest. She needed a drink.
“Damn!” She looked at her hooves. No matter how much she tried to calm down, they kept shaking. “Give me a minute! I just… need…”
We have no time for this!
“Shut it.” She did not even have the strength to yell anymore. “I don’t have to do this, you know. I could just wipe away the blood with a little bleach, put the tools back, and nopony would be the wiser.”
You would give up so easily?
“Yeah? And what if I am?”
And let that that sow go unpunished?
She could not restrain herself. “Ha! A sow? That’s new. Don’t kid yourself. Bet you’re just another guy who wants Celestia for some revenge scheme.”
Who are you to judge? You want the same thing.
“Yeah, except I’m not crazy like you. I know when my time’s up. I can’t do anything now.”
That’s loser’s talk. Words only a failure would utter.
“Quiet.”
Then again, you are a poor excuse for your species. It is to be expected.
“Shut up.”
Such a shame. You were so motivated a few hours ago, and now you give up. I thought dhampyrs were tougher than this.
“Shut up!” She threw the hammer at the wolf, barely making a scratch. “What would you know about us?”
I am one. Or at least, I was.
That caught her attention. “What? You’re dhampyr?”
Yes. From centuries ago. Until Celestia sealed me into this ridiculous form.
“You’re just a wolf. You’re no dhampyr.”
You really are narrow-minded. Dhampyrs are half-breeds. We possess a part of the Progenitor. Ponies are just one of the many compatible species in the world. Besides, a wolf was never my true form.
“Progenitor?” she repeated.
Yes. You could call her the first dhampyr. The purest of all of us.
She did not know what to think. There was another dhampyr right in the castle backyard this whole time?
I can sense your curiosity. But I have too much tell, with too little time.
She was filled with energy she never knew she had. “Wait-wait!” She picked herself up, but a sudden glare from the sun kept her from fully rising. She looked around, but the hammer was nowhere in sight.
Grunting, she grabbed the chisel and resorted to stabbing at the stained stone.
That is it. That fervor. Let it fill you.
Somehow, the pain in her hooves dulled. A smile started forming on her face.
You cannot stop. What of your family? Your clan? You think they would want you to live and die like this?
“No.”
Then hurry up and— Stop!
“What?” she snarled. “I was about to crack—”
Hide behind me! Sompony’s running, fast!
She did as she was told, and indeed, she saw a unicorn sprinting past the hall.
Bright Shield? Isn’t he supposed to be suspended? Why’s he here?
He is distressed about something. A danger nearby? It is irrelevant to us.
“Yeah.” With the coast clear, she continued chipping away. Every crack she made sped her up, a combination of pride and anger keeping her focused.
Almost, almost!
She was nearly there – just one more strike!
As soon as she made contact, the statue exploded into dozens of fragments. She was lucky that neither the pressure nor fragments harmed her too badly. She was, however, blown back and saw stars for a moment.
Finally, I am free. Hm, rather anticlimactic than I expected.
“Anticlimactic?!” she sputtered, spitting out granite. “You blew up! Tartarus, I need a shower after this.” She rubbed her face like a cat, trying to get the dust out her eyes.
No time. We both wish for vengeance. Now is the time.
After cleaning her eyes, she gaped at the speaker. It was not a wolf like she expected, but more of a spectral… thing. It was as if black mist was clumping itself into a vaguely pony-like shape.
“What in Tartarus are you supposed to be?”
A mere shade. A ghost if you will.
“What?” She managed to look through him and saw something sticking out “What’s that, in the statue?”
My physical form.
The spirit moved aside. It looked like a pommel of sorts.
I have been sealed in this sword, and that sow trapped me in that statue for good measure. But enough of me. Now it is my turn to repay the favour. Take me.
Like a vacuum, the sword soaked in the mist, letting the sun reflect off its crystal handle.
It is now or never. You made it this far. Show me that you are capable.
A wave of inexplicable fear filled her. Every cell in her body was telling her to get out of there and report to the princesses. She took a hesitant step back.
You falter? You will retreat as you have all your life? Let me convince you otherwise.
The mist returned, this time forming as tendrils that wrapped around Nightingale’s limbs.
“Wha— Hey! Let go!” She struggled, but having exhausted herself to break him out, she could not even move her tail.
You merely need motivation.
The mist sank into her skin, and she stopped moving. Black filled the red of her eyes as she stared blankly at the spirit.
Have you forgotten? She killed your clan, had them resort to kill each other due to her ponies. She forsook your species, this being that claims to support peace. You would let her off so easily?
“No, never!” she yelled. “She needs to pay!”
Yes, she does! Your kind, OUR kind, depends on us to avenge them! Will you let them pass on unrequited?
“No!”
The time is now. Come.
She walked up to the base of the statue. Her tail wrapped around the hilt. She could feel its magic flow through her tail and fill her up.
“I have to do this. For my clan. For myself!”
She pulled out the sword, grinning at its full length. Its black mist encompassed her whole body now.
“Excellent. Now to— graaak!”
She dropped to her knees. The mother of all stomach aches erupted.
“What-you bastaahhh!”
I am doing this for your own good! You have neither knowledge nor experience to succeed.
“That’s not for you— grrk!”
What you say does not matter. Your rage for the sow is genuine, but fear not. Your revenge will be carried out.
After another moment, her convulsions stopped and she got back on her hooves. An even wider smile formed as she looked from her tail to the sword.
“But first, a hearty meal to keep this pathetic body before it falls apart.”