//------------------------------// // Sortie // Story: Crusade at Midnight Castle // by Carabas //------------------------------// Late in the morning, dawn finally rose in the sky, as if it were an afterthought. Red light struggled to break through ranks of grey clouds that dominated the sky. Rain swept down in light sheets, punctuated by distant rolls of thunder. It was good dramatic travelling weather for some young heroines and their alien ally. Under the cloud cover and with many furtive glances skywards, they cut a direct line from their clubhouse to the Everfree Forest. The scattered buildings on the outskirts of Ponyville and the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres passed them by, lying cold and empty. “Comin' home soon, Granny and Big Mac,” Apple Bloom whispered. “Don't you fret now.” She took the lead, knowing the trails they would need to take to reach Zecora's house. They passed under the looming canopy of the Everfree, into that gnarled maze of roots and tangled branches and a thousand staring eyes just out of the corner of their vision. Apple Bloom glanced from side to side, picking up on anything that looked familiar, and saw the correct trail. “This way,” she said, ushering the others on. Sweetie Belle came just behind her. She stopped briefly, gritting her teeth as sparks spat from her horn. A steady green light flared into existence from its tip, giving them light. She hurried after Apple Bloom, trying and failing not to stare at every moving shadow around them as she did so. Behind them came Scootaloo. Her pace was affectively casual, her gaze as straight ahead as an arrowshot. She held a length of rope between her teeth, which she used to lead Yrr along. The human was bound and gagged. A stiff splint covered his knee, and by now only little anguished meeps were elicited whenever his weight came down upon that leg. A crutch hastily whittled by Apple Bloom had been shoved under his shoulder and awkwardly pushed down through the ropes at his side. “Really sorry about the gag,” she had said to Yrr as she'd whittled the crutch. “But we don't know how to tell you to hush in your own language, and you're kinda doin' a lot of screamin' and cryin' right now. Not your fault, and I'm real sorry.” “Mmch!” Yrr had retorted, whose gaze at that point had already taken on something of a thousand-yard quality. The subsequent walk from the clubhouse and into the Everfree had done little to help that. Scootaloo turned around every so often to make sure he was keeping up or to help him up whenever he tripped over a root and fell into a puddle, and each time his pale, drawn expression indicated his soul was undergoing a slow and torturous death. But Equestria's fate couldn't wait for his knee to get better, and so on they marched. The winding trails in the Everfree led further into darkness and the strange ghost-lights that haunted the deep forest. Pale blue spectres passed between the trees on their side in a flash, will-o'-wisps on the prowl. Eyes blinked from alcoves and holes in trees. The Everfree was quiet, Apple Bloom tried to feel entirely relieved to note. Aside from the odd rustle from undergrowth as little creatures darted through, the distant sound of a rushing river, and the occasional crash as Yrr introduced himself to a puddle face-first, serenity ruled. No predators came blundering out from bushes, nothing screamed or keened in the night. It was if they'd all found somewhere better to be. Apple Bloom didn't finish that thought, and ploughed on as the forest grew thicker about them. Branches whipped at her side and clawed at her back, with water continuing to patter down from on high. Shadows further along the trail sharpened as Sweetie Belle's light neared them, and Apple Bloom groaned as she saw the familiar shapes of thorn bushes. “Hold on a moment,” she called. “I'll try and clear these so we've got a space to move through. They're growin' something fierce this year.” She briskly broke away stray branches with her teeth and bucked sections clear as best she could. As the filly worked, Yrr glanced at the small foal-sized space being created, looked down at his knee, and plaintively whimpered as no happy future presented itself. Digging his heels in to try and resist the journey only succeeded in netting him the worst of both worlds when the Crusaders pitched their combined efforts into dragging him through the gap. “We'll make it up to you, I swear,” said Sweetie Belle to the scratched and prone human, who now seemed to be having a staring contest with the Abyss. “Just ... please help us make it easy on yourself. Please?” “Don't talk to her. It ain't going to work,” said Apple Bloom wearily. “Zecora can patch her up once we're at her place. I think I know where to find it from here.” After a short walk, they came to the side of a river that cut right through the forest. Ferns dotted with little glowing insects sprouted along its sides, dragonflies and kingfishers swooped over its burbling surface. Even reflecting the angry, half-hidden light of dawn, it was a breath of fresh air after the claustrophobic forest. “Rest here?” said Sweetie Belle. “I wouldn't mind a drink from the river.” “Yeah, we'll take five. Knock yourself out. It's running and clear, so it should be good.” Apple Bloom turned to Scootaloo. “Take Yrr's gag out. He might want a drink too.” Scootaloo shrugged and flapped with some difficulty up to the back of Yrr's head. A firm tug in the right place undid the knotted rope between Yrr's teeth. He coughed and licked at the edges of his mouth, rubbed raw by the hemp. “Knock yourself out, big guy,” said Scootaloo, pushing at his back. “You must be as thirsty as a horse. The river's safe.” “(Where are you taking me, you wee psychopaths?)” “Ri – ver,” enunciated Scootaloo. “The thing filled with water over there. See it?” “(Braying in my ear doesn't answer the question, you demented wee equine!)” “Creator's quill, you can take a human to water ...” muttered Apple Bloom. “Give her a push. Sweetie Belle, show her it's alright.” Sweetie Belle sipped from the river, chirped,“Yum!” and turned back to Yrr with a hopeful expression. Yrr hesitantly stepped forward, and the Crusaders heaved a collective sigh of relief at what appeared to be their first successful act of cross-species communication. “(Aye, very good,)” Yrr muttered. “(Keeping me alive for as long as possible, are we?)” Reaching the water's edge, he attempted to crouch by bending his good leg alone and keeping his bad leg straight as he stretched it out. This inevitably turned into an ungainly tumble forwards, followed by a yelp of pain as he fell prone and both his legs and the crutch splayed out at spectacular and painful angles. He wriggled, achieving little with his arms still bound. “(Bugger it,)” he said after a few moments, and writhed his way towards the water. He plunged his face into it, and the sound of enthusiastic gulping followed. Sweetie Belle watched his face go below the surface, and grinned suddenly. “Oh no!” she called out, raising one hoof to her forehead. “Our poor human is drowning! Woe is us! If only there were somepony nearby who could come in our hour of need and deliver us from -” “What in the hay are you doing?” Apple Bloom tilted her head ever-so-slightly to one side as she regarded Sweetie Belle. “Sea-ponies!” said Sweetie Belle. “They have to come along at this part and save the human and maybe one of us. Then they'll later help us get into Canterlot.” Apple Bloom let her jaw hang open for a moment before shaking her head. “No, no … that's … no. There ain't no sea-ponies left around anymore, unless there's still a couple on the other side of the continent. And we wouldn't need them to get into Canterlot anyway. It's landlocked. It's about as landlocked as a city gets.” “I … well, I know,” said Sweetie Belle, slumping and scuffing a hoof. “But the story says -” “Story does say it was kinda dumb luck,” admitted Scootaloo. “They needed the seaponies' help for how they took on Tirek. We won't. We're fine.” Yrr continued to drink the river in relative peace. Sweetie Belle looked down at the ground and crooned, “Shoo-be-doo, shoo-shoo-be-do,” to herself. The forest whispered around them, and the river stirred. “Beg your pardon!” announced a purple sea serpent that exploded from the river then, waves of water cascading off his back and from his orange mane and moustache. “I couldn't help but overhear singing!” “(JESUS CHRIST!)” The human didn't manage an outright backflip away from the river, but it was a good attempt. The Cutie Mark Crusaders whirled to face the serpent, various expressions of shock and exclamations arising. “Oh, I really do beg your pardon if I interrupted anything,” said the sea serpent. Arms at its side rose into a contrite position. “I've just always been something of a musical connoisseur, and indulging that's always been very hard considering my circumstances out here. I do apologise for my forwardness. Please, ignore me if I'm being ungraciously forward, I wouldn't blame you at all -” “Oh, no, that's alright,” said Apple Bloom, trying to control her thunderous heart rate. Now that the initial shock had run its course, there wasn't much to be frightened about. The sea serpent didn't look all that terrifying on closer inspection. The elegantly coiffed mane and fabulously curling moustache were working against it. “Glad you, um, approve of the singin'.” “Oh, 'approve' undersells it. A new voice and a new group of ponies by my river are always a delight.” It leaned down towards Yrr, curiosity alive in its expression and serrated teeth gleaming in a smile. “You don't appear to be a pony, though. How do you do? I commend your hair.” “(This is it. This is how I die. Kidnapped and crippled by tiny horses and eaten by a river monster.)” Yrr struggled to his feet, maintaining eye contact with the sea serpent. Something had broken behind the mad calmness of the human's demeanour, and he babbled serenely on. “(If any of you wee beasts survive, lie to my family. Tell them I died well.)” “And a good day to you, too,” said the sea serpent hesitantly. “I must say, that's an unfamiliar tongue.” “Say ...” Recognition's cogs were turning in Apple Bloom's mind, and she stepped past Yrr to face the sea serpent. “You, ah, wouldn't have come across a group of six ponies a few years back, would you? Did one of them give you her tail?” “Why, as a matter of fact, I did indeed,” said the sea serpent, turning to Apple Bloom, its eyes now positively glowing with interest. “A wonderful and generous gesture, for which I've yet to repay her in full. How did you guess?” “Well, as it so happens, the one that gave you her tail?” Apple Bloom hooked Sweetie Belle closer to her with an embracing hood. “This one's older sis. And my older sis was there as well, saw the whole thing. She said you were quite the character.” “Did she? Hah! Deserved, no doubt, I was throwing quite the fit at the time.” The sea serpent leaned closer with a conspiratorial wink. “But it was a well-deserved one. Took me positively ages to grow my moustache back out to a beautiful and symmetrical extent again. Regardless, if you're all kin or friends of the six I met, then let me count you as friends as well.” “Glad to let you do so! I'm Apple Bloom. This is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. And this here … I think her name's Yrr, but I ain't so sure about that.” “Also, she might be a dude,” interjected Scootaloo. “But I'll be honest, our points of reference are kinda mixed.” “Ah? Well then, I'm very pleased to meet all of you. What are you doing out here, and may I lend my assistance in any way?” “Honestly, we're just out here to meet a friend. Zecora. A zebra that lives here. Maybe you know her?” “That I do.” Solemnity found an awkward home on the sea serpent's face. “I've heard stories from her. Awfully disturbing stuff. Something about some monster called Tirek running rampage over Equestria. Eating magic, stopping the sun and moon in their tracks – I've been feeling the effects on the tide all the way up here! Do you know any more about -?” “We do!” said Sweetie Belle, subsiding as the others glanced quickly and nervously in her direction. A series of glances followed, couriers for a brief battle of wills between the three, before Sweetie Belle turned back to the sea serpent and cleared her throat. “We .. uh, that is to say, me and the other Crusaders … we're going to stop Tirek. We found this story that described how other ponies did it once. We're going to follow their example and save Equestria. And our sisters, Tirek captured them too.” “Gracious!” The sea serpent leaned down, a frown playing about its features. “You are awfully small, you appreciate? Surely if there are adult ponies still around, they should be the ones -” “They all got their magic drained,” said Scootaloo. “They're not going to be able to fight Tirek any time soon. It's only us left in Ponyville. Only us. But we know what we're doing – kinda.” “Well … if you need my help, anything at all, then consider it merely the repayment of my favour to the generous pony who helped me so long ago. Is there anything I can do?” “Nothin' that's comin' to mind, if I'm honest,” said Apple Bloom after a moment's hesitation. “At the moment, we're just tryin' to find Zecora. Then I suppose we'll walk on to Canterlot from there. Heck of a distance, but we'll manage. We'll have to.” “I see. Is this 'Yrr' a vital part of beating Tirek?” “We think so.” “I see. Do you usually let her out of your sight? It seems dangerous to do, if you're going overland in the Everfree.” “Out of our sight? I don't -” Apple Bloom glanced to either side, and then whirled round. There was no sign of Yrr, nothing but a distant and ever-distanter galumping through the forest at their backs. “Flying feathers!” Back in the forest, Yrr ran. Or at least, he stumbled. Stumbling away was the main thing, stumbling to could come later. Right now, he had a wide expanse of open forest before him, which he intended to put as much of between himself and the twisted little horse-creatures and that river-monster as possible. Roots tripped him up and slammed him into the ground or against the sides of tree trunks, and a manic energy drove him each time to struggle upright with nothing more than his entire flopping, bound body. Dull waves of pain pulsed upwards from his knee, making advanced thought and planning all but impossible. Flee, flee, said the ape instinct at the back of his mind. He broke his skin open on bark, caught and twisted his ankle more times than he cared to keep a track of, and let it all accumulate into one great full-body ache. Adrenaline and fear could carry him past that. The prospect of being inevitably sacrificed to the river-monster or whatever else the little horses had in store gave him wings on his back and a fire in his gut. He crashed out of the forest and into an open clearing. Wan sunlight, tinted the colour of rust by the cloud-choked dawn, beat down upon his shoulders and face. He turned to face the forest he'd emerged from, eyes skittering across anything that seemed like it might move to reveal a horse-creature, still pacing backwards all the while. Something came crashing down to the ground at his back, and he spun to face it, his heart rate once again spiking to something measurable only with notation. Before him, having come flying down from out of the sky, there stood a pegasus. They were bigger than the other one, their withers on a par with Yrr's own shoulders. Their mane was the colour of roses with all the life bled away, their coat was as grey as ash. Their eyes, however, were huge and turquoise, and disconcertingly serene. Yrr stood stock-still, unsure of whether this represented his inevitable messy demise or an uptick in his fortunes. Fluttershy, meanwhile, just let herself smile at all the pleasing prospects that ran through the grey corridors of her mind. “Why, hello,” she said, her voice shifting down to its lowest, gentlest, and kindest pitch. “I've not seen one like you before.” “(As I told your compatriots before they broke my kneecap,)” stammered Yrr, “(There's a language barrier at play here, so you might be wasting your breath. Like I'm doing just now.)” Flutteshy stepped closer, careful to keep her eyes wide and intent upon Yrr. “We don't get many bipeds around these parts. Are you a minotaur? You don't have any horns, though.” “(...Stand back. I'm ready to defend myself. How, I'm not exactly sure, but -)” “Come here,” said Fluttershy in the most soothing tones her vocal range allowed. “I'll tell you something interesting about bipeds.” Yrr, with obvious great reluctance, stepped that little bit closer. Something in her demeanour had rubbed off on him. Fluttershy trotted up, her movements unhurried and non-threatening. For the first time, Yrr's heartbeat dropped to something measurable by science. “(I hate today so far, I'm not going to lie,)” he whispered to himself. “The thing about a bipedal gait,” said Fluttershy, stepping up until she was at Yrr's side, “The thing is that your kidneys just dangle where anypony could reach them.” And with one smooth, unhurried, non-threatening movement, she slammed the edge of one hoof right up under Yrr's ribs. The human didn't scream, didn't recoil. He just slumped to the ground, a low hiss of agony escaping his mouth as he tried to not throw up. Another hoof slammed out and into his stomach, knocking him windless to the ground. He writhed feebly and choked for breath as Fluttershy loomed over him, her turquoise eyes narrow and bright against the grey of her face and her mouth contorted into a sneer. “Poor lost thing, left alone and tied up out here with nothing to do but pray for mercy.” Her sneer sharpened and she drove a hoof into Yrr's crotch. He did throw up then, his arms uselessly struggling within the ropes and his hands clenching into fists. “How's the praying working out for you?” Fluttershy rose another hoof over Yrr's face, hovering until she was sure she could drive it down onto an eye. “You get away from him!” From the bushes, a small orange miracle the size and shape of Scootaloo emerged, wings buzzing like motor blades and raw anger in her eyes. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle crashed out from behind her, stepping into the clearing with similar attitudes. Flutterhsy looked up and smiled her sweetest smile. “Oh my. Applejack's little annoyance, Rarity's little hindrance, and Rainbow Dash's sad little cultist. I was wondering where all of you had ended up. What are you doing out here with this creature? Something of interest to King Tirek, perhaps?” Scootaloo took in a deep, steadying breath. “This … this isn't anything. And Fluttershy, we were there for Discord, I know it wasn't you that just spoke. Just remember the real you, remember -” “No thank you. I'd rather have a little fun right here.” Her hoof descended onto Yrr's throat, pressure building until he began to wheeze. “What's this creature?” “We … we ain't sayin'!” Apple Bloom took an indignant step forwards. “Stop hurtin' her!” “Keeping quiet? Alright.” A malevolent smirk reasserted itself. Her hoof pressed down further, and Yrr began to grow purple. “What bit of this creature would you like me to break first? One of its arms? Its teeth?” “Get away from him!” Scootaloo started forwards again, and Fluttershy casually kicked Yrr's bandaged knee. The human paled and moaned with what little breath was left to him, and Scootaloo stopped in her tracks. “Explain,” said Fluttershy. “Or I start getting creative, girls -” Past the tree cover on the clearing's other side, a figure detached from the shadows. Yellow eyes gleamed within the darkness of a cowl. The figure raised a hoof, a small object gleaming within its grasp. The hoof lunged forwards. The object arced through the air, becoming a small ceramic sphere in the murky light of day. It tumbled onto the ground behind Fluttershy, and suddenly blasted outwards with a flash of light and peal of thunder. Fluttershy yelped and tumbled forwards off of Yrr, who seemed barely sensate of what was happening. The Crusaders jumped backwards, reflexively shielding their eyes. The glow faded, and out of it, a familiar zebra strode. A hoof dipped into the cloak's recesses, and emerged with another ceramic, this one painted a vivid red. “Oh, and you join the party as well,” snarled Fluttershy, turning to face Zecora. “Where were you hiding, old witch? Not that it matters much. I can bring Tirek to devour your magic as well. Maybe he'll give you to me to play with.” “A threat, is it? I offer one in turn.” Zecora raised the red ceramic, her eyes under the hood boring straight into Fluttershy. “Depart this place forthwith. Depart or burn.” “You wouldn't hurt me. You're much too meek for -” Fluttershy started, a confident sneer emerging from her shock. Zecora threw the ceramic at a point just left of Fluttershy. It impacted the ground in a sudden column of flame, making Fluttershy jump aside and crisping the coats of the Crusaders with its proximity. Another flew into Zecora's grasp in a split-second. “Foals at your back and a hurt creature before you. This is nothing like the Fluttershy I once knew. I'm an evil enchantress, you'll recall if you try. If you want to test me, come forward and die.” Zecora absently tossed the ceramic and caught it as it fell. “Fly away home, cruel little minion. This isn't yet Tirek's dominion.” Fluttershy edged backwards. Her teeth bared, her eyes narrowed to mere slits. “Tirek will come,” she hissed. “I'd like to see what your little potions will do then!” Her wings spread, and she flew up into the air, wheeling away in the direction of Canterlot and vanishing past the tree line. Apple Bloom hadn't even realised she'd been holding her breath until she released it in one mighty heave. Before her, Zecora pocketed the ceramic and trotted up to the mercifully-unconscious Yrr. With the air of a detached physician, she poked him with a hoof. “Zecora, I ain't going to lie, that was the single best timing – or one of the single best timings – I've ever been blessed by,” Apple Bloom suddenly babbled. “That was – well -” “Mostly a lie. My first red ceramic was real, my second fake. Supplies are very low, and I'm not exactly on the take.” Zecora glanced over Yrr and heaved a sigh. “As happenings go, this is hardly a fine feature. Why are you here, and what is this creature?” “It's … kinda a long story. We'll tell it, and we were hopin' you could help.” Zecora arched one brow. “I'm hardly surprised, but I'll try to lend a hoof. Come with me.” She turned on her heel. “We'll discuss it under my roof.”