//------------------------------// // A New Quest // Story: An Ancient Threat // by Professor Tacitus //------------------------------// The last remnants of morning dew that clung to the grass was just about to evaporate before being trampled underhoof by the small procession of ponies, accompanied by a baby dragon, made their way toward Ponyville’s hospital. Concerned looks were plastered on their faces, except Pinkie who continued to smile and bounce the entire time, as they neared the building. “Why do you think the princess asked us to meet her here?” asked Rainbow as she hovered above her friends. “I’m not sure,” Twilight responded, “but a lot of ponies have been getting sick lately. Maybe that has something to do with it.” Tacitus looked over at Twilight. “Yeah, that’s as good a guess as any. I saw Zecora earlier today, and she said she was going over there to help out.” Applejack spoke up. “Whatever it is, it must be serious. Did the letter really say that Equestria could be in danger?” The look of worry on her face only intensified. Twilight nodded. “She didn’t explain any more than that in the letter, so we’ll just have to see what the princess has to say. Honestly, I’m a little worried.” Pinkie bounced over to Twilight’s side and wrapped a hoof around her shoulder. “Aww, come on Twilight! This isn’t the first time Equestria’s been in danger. We’ve fought tons of baddies and saved the day more times than you can shake a stick at. By the way, why would you shake a stick at something? If you shake a stick at something, are you mad at the thing you’re shaking the stick at or are you mad at the stick. But then, why would you be mad at a stick?” “I think,” Rarity interjected before Pinkie could continue, “what Pinkie is attempting to communicate is that you have nothing to worry about darling. This isn’t the first time Equestria’s been in danger and it’s not the first time we’ve been charged with saving it. Whatever is wrong, I’m sure we can handle it.” This reassurance caused Twilight and the others to relax slightly. “Still,” said Twilight, “we should treat this seriously. Whatever it is.” As he listened to them, Tacitus couldn’t help but wonder at them and all they had done for Equestria. They were the Elements of Harmony, they saved Equestria from Nightmare Moon, Discord, the Changelings invasion (which he had witnessed), King Sombra, and even Tirek. They were heroes. A feeling of self-consciousness and jealousy crept into his heart. They had done so much, and what was he? He wasn’t a hero, and yet here he was, walking with them as they went to receive what was most likely another call to be heroes. Did he even deserve to be there with them? He looked at his friends sullenly. “Hey…is it alright that I came with you guys? You know, to see the princess?” Twilight gave him a confused look. “Of course it’s alright. Why would you even ask that?” Tacitus looked down at the ground. “Well, it’s just that…I feel like I’m intruding a little bit. You’ve all saved Equestria before, which is why Celestia asked for you. But I’ve never been part of your adventures and so I’m not sure I’m really supposed to be here.” Tacitus felt an affectionate nudge come from Twilight. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “Celestia asked for me and my friends to meet her, and you’re our friend. Ergo, you get to come along. We’re all friends first, and heroes second.” Her words comforted him, and he was about to respond when the sight of the hospital doors cut him off. Twilight stepped forward and opened them, and the sight that greeted them caused a collective gasp. The waiting area, which was normally empty aside from a few ponies waiting to be admitted or for relations of patients, was now full of ponies, all lying in makeshift beds with curtains around them as nurses and doctors scrambled frantically around them. Groans of pain were the only sounds the patients made, while the hospital staff shouted panicked orders. The only empty space in the room was a pathway down the middle, in which stood Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna. The princesses noticed their arrival and beckoned them forward. “Thank you all for coming,” Celestia spoke before her eyes moved to Tacitus, who shifted his hat nervously. “Who is this you have brought with you?” Her face was serious, but kind. Twilight motioned for Tacitus to introduce himself. Living in Canterlot, he had seen the princesses on numerous occasions, but he had never actually met them, let alone stood this close to them. He bowed low to the two princesses. “My name is Tacitus, you Majesties. It’s a real honor to meet you both.” As Tacitus introduced himself, no one noticed Rarity walk over to one of the bedsides where Zecora stood. They both gave him soft smiles. “It is good to meet you as well,” Celestia said before her face grew grave. “I only wish we met under happier circumstances.” Twilight spoke up. “Princess, what’s happening? Why exactly did you call for us? Does it have something to do with all these sick ponies?” “I fear it may be even worse than that, my faithful student. All these ponies-“ Celestia was cut off by a shriek of pain that caused their blood to curdle. “OH GOOD HEAVENS!!!!” Rarity cried. Her friends saw her standing by a bed next to Zecora and rushed over to see what had caused the outburst. When they saw the pony that was writhing on the bed, their eyes widened and they gasped at the sight. Fluttershy covered her eyes and the color seemed to drain from Pinkie’s face. Tacitus stood in horror for a moment, before backing away from the bedside and gasped for air as if a stone sat on his chest. The pony was so emaciated that he looked as if he were slowly wasting away. He looked as if his skin had just been stretched over his skeleton, with no meat or muscle in between. His coat, which looked like it might once have been a beautiful light blue, now looked sickly, discolored, and slightly green. His mane was almost nonexistent, as even now patches were falling out as he continued to writhe. Despite all that, his eyes were the most horrific. Where the eyes should have been white, they were instead as black as tar. Twilight looked at Zecora in horror. “Are they all like this? What’s wrong with them?” Zecora nodded her head somberly and looked at them all with dismay. “I do not know what has caused their ails. Every potion I give them, it simply fails. Fever, aches, and pains severe. If given no cure, they will die I fear.” “That is not all,” Luna spoke as she and her sister joined them. “I have seen their dreams, and they are terrible. Whether or not they are sleeping, they live in constant nightmares and my attempts to dispel the nightmares or bring them comfort have failed.” Twilight forced herself to look at the sick pony again, specifically at his eyes. “I’ve never heard of an illness that traps ponies in nightmares, or ones that affect the eyes like that. What’s going on Princess?” Celestia spoke now. “That is why I called you all here Twilight. Ponies all over Equestria have been affected with this terrible illness, but the biggest outbreaks are near the river that runs through most of the country. I fear that some form of vile poison has been introduced into the river.” Twilight’s look of horror only worsened. “The river supplies fresh water for all of Equestria. If it’s been poisoned…” She shuddered at the thought of more ponies ending up like these. “We have quarantined the river areas,” Celestia continued, “and we have our best doctors searching for a cure. But I fear that no known medicine will cure this disease.” Applejack gave her a confused and concerned look. “Whada ya mean? Why can’t they find a cure?” “Because I believe that dark forces are behind the sickness,” said Celestia. “There have been reports coming from the Crystal Empire. Reports of strange occurrences and disappearances near the old Roamen ruins of Nova Domus.” Tacitus’s ears perked up at the mention of the ruins. “Due to the northern most part of the river being close to the Crystal Mountains, I believe that these events are connected in some way. Twilight, I want you and your friends to investigate the ruins and discover the source of the sickness. Stop whatever forces may be working there and find a way to cure those that have been afflicted.” Twilight looked worried. Despite all she’d been through, she had never bore the weight of ponies lives on her shoulders. But she had to try. She had to find a way to save them. Despite the worry, a look of determination appeared on her face. “You can count on us Princess. We’ll find out what’s going on, and we’ll find a cure.” Her confidence inspired her friends. While before they were horrified and silent at the sight of the sick, they now shared her look of determination. Tacitus, who had been silent aside from breathing heavily since seeing the pony, now spoke up. “Your Highness, with your permission, I would like to accompany them on their journey. I know Nova Domus better than anyone. I’m sure there’s something I can do to help.” Celestia gave him a curious look before it turned into a kind smile. “I don’t see any reason for you not to go as well. I believe that Twilight will need the help of all her friends on this journey.” Tacitus breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad that the princess had consented to let him go, but even if she hadn’t, he still would have found a way to go. It’s true that he wanted to help his friends and help the sick ponies, but there was a much more important reason for him to go. All the symptoms the ponies displayed were very familiar, but it still could have been anything. What had convinced Tacitus that it was the same were the eyes. They were the same sickly black eyes that his parents had when they were sick. He was positive that whatever was killing these ponies, had killed his parents. He had to find out where it had come from and what had caused it. He had to know. Twilight spoke. “Okay then, let’s all get ready to leave.” She seemed to notice something and began looking left and right, as though looking for something. “Has anyone seen Fluttershy?” The others began to turn their heads and search for her, until Tacitus noticed that the curtain of a window was shaking. He pulled it aside and saw Fluttershy standing there with her hooves over her eyes. She uncovered her eyes and looked shamefully at her friends. “Oh…um…I’m not sure I should go. I-I don’t really like scary dark forces and scary dark ruins. Maybe you should all just go without me.” Tacitus responded before anyone else could. “Fluttershy, we need you. I’ve been to the ruins before and there’s nothing to be scared of." He gave her a comforting smile. "Besides, I’ll protect you. We all will. Isn’t that what you all told me? That friends protect each other?” Fluttershy’s shaking eased and she smiled weakly. “O-Okay, I’ll go. I really do want to help, I’m just a little nervous. But I’ll be okay as long as I have you all.” They all smiled at her. She was stronger than she knew; she just needs a push in the right direction sometimes. Neither Fluttershy nor anypony else knew just how much Tacitus meant the words he had said to her. He had come to feel a love for these ponies that he hadn’t felt since his parents died. He cared for all of them deeply, and he refused to let anything happen to any of them. That was another reason why he wanted so badly to come with them. He wanted to keep them safe. Perhaps he was being too serious, too overprotective. More than likely, he thought, there wouldn’t be anything to protect them from. If he only knew how wrong he was, if he only knew what they would find, he would have forced them to stay in Ponyville while he went alone.