//------------------------------// // Advancement // Story: My Little Teelo: Masquerade // by Ardwolf //------------------------------// In which our heroine advances while her enemies smile. Needless to say their return sparked fireworks among the Council when it was finally assembled to the grumbling of newly awakened ponies. Celestia appeared at the crescendo of the shouting, her measured pace silencing even those nearest to blind panic. “Greetings, Luna, Dronning Teagan, members of the Equestrian High Council, and esteemed stipendiat klanen født. From the lateness of the hour and the volume of the discussion I see my slumber was not disturbed lightly. Your Majesty, if you would be so kind, would you inform me of the reason for this rather large and raucous assembly?” “Emma and I were coming back to the castle after spending the evening with Faerie Mist and Sun Hammer at a club called the Watering Hole,” Teagan said in the silence. “We were attacked by a pack of shadow wolves—the trolls call them skygge ulver. They’re very dangerous creatures from the World Below. Someone clearly brought them here and let them loose.” “To what purpose?” Celestia asked after a moment. “To provoke a war,” Teagan said drily. “Consider: the death of the troll queen in the heart of Equestria, while under your protection.” Teagan shook her head. “Whoever is responsible knows exactly how to twist everything trolls think is good and right into a weapon of hideous wickedness. And as an added bonus, once the pack killed us they would have started killing ponies here in the very heart of Canterlot! Someone wants ponies and trolls at each other’s throats. We must not allow that to happen, Your Highness. I for one will not stand idly by while some evil villain tries to kill my family—two legged or four!” “Well said, Your Majesty,” Princess Celestia responded, nodding her head. “I am with you in this. Equestria will stand with the World Below against our common foe. They seek to slay every clan—including the ponies of Clan Hest. We will root out every single one of them, this I promise.” “Your Highness, do you intend to commit us to war? When we have no idea who attacked Lady Teagan?” Duke Shimmerling asked carefully. “We know exactly who attacked her, Your Grace,” Celestia said grimly. “We know who and we know why. What we do not know is where to find them. I had hoped to gather more information about the threat before informing the Council, but it appears our enemies have forced my hoof. We now face an enemy unlike any that has come before.” “Who is this enemy, Your Highness?” Duke Shimmerling asked angrily. “They shall feel the full weight of Equestrian hooves!” “They call themselves Duisternis, Your Grace,” The Princess replied. “And Dronning Teagan is not the only ruler they sought to slay this night.” “What? Who else then?” he said in puzzlement. “How could you learn about another ruler being attacked so quickly? The closest country is Gildedale, was Prince Curvehorn attacked?” “No, Your Grace,” Celestia said calmly. “Prince Curvehorn has, to the best of my knowledge, not yet been targeted by Duisternis. Although I’m sure it is only a matter of time.” “Then who, Your Highness?” he asked with furrowed brow. “Me,” Celestia replied calmly. “Had I not taken extraordinary precautions I would be dead right now.” ooOoo The windigo solidified and respectfully bowed its head to the unicorn seated behind the desk. “Well?” The pony asked in a growling hiss, eyes narrowing. “Your gambit has encouraged the troll queen to scurry back to her hole, Master,” the windigo’s voice slithered around the room. “She will be gone by morning.” The dark gray unicorn smiled, revealing oversized incisors. He chuckled. “Excellent! Soon the trolls will retire from the board, no longer a factor in the game. Have you found Rimor yet?” “Neigh, Master. But our spies tell us the Blinder has not captured him, although she has sent a warning all across Equestria to arrest him on sight. Glitter, however, still lies in her dungeons.” “If Celestia has not arrested him he will undoubtedly be in touch sooner or later,” The black maned unicorn said with a dismissive wave of a hoof. “When he does I want him brought to me. Failure he may be but he’s still our only source of draugrs. As for Glitter, her capture was quite unfortunate. Duisternis expended considerable resources augmenting that half-breed so I would really rather not lose her, she is quite impressive. Perhaps Caramel can be spared in a few months to go fetch her…” Glowing eyes narrowed in thought he studied the plans on the desk before him. “Well, no matter. Trivial losses mean nothing. How goes Verlei’s scheme?” “The griffin was with the troll queen’s party when the ulver attacked, Master,” the windigo reported. “It appears she has made contact at the very least. Verlei has great hopes she will actually manage to reach Hejm and gain the queen’s trust. Especially since our forces will be doing their best to kill the queen at every opportunity. It would only be natural for the queen to offer the griffin shelter from such an onslaught once they reach Hejm, would it not?” The smile that split the fanged unicorn’s muzzle was chilling. He waved a dismissal at the undead spirit, who promptly vanished. “Soon, Celestia, soon,” he promised the desk, slamming a hoof down in great satisfaction, allowing himself a brief indulgence, picturing the long slow fate of every single alicorn on Equis. Shivering in pleasure he returned to considering the forces arrayed at his command and how best to play them in this grandiose game of empires. ooOoo Celestia’s calm announcement sent the Council ponies into either panic or rage, depending on their natures. The dozen trolls in the room remained quiet, taking their cue from their queen, who was watching the shouting ponies with a neutral expression. Celestia, for her part let the bedlam continue for several minutes before emitting a brilliant flare from her horn that turned the room as bright as day for an instant. It reminded the humans watching of the world’s largest flashbulb. “Now, if Equestria’s august council members will pause for a moment in sober reflection, I’m sure we can have a productive discussion,” Celestia said in the shocked silence. “Forgive us, Your Highness, but I’m sure I speak for every pony here when I express amazement at your blasé disregard of this attempt on your life!” Duke Shimmerling said, clearly forcing himself to speak in a level tone. He blinked rapidly to dispel the flash’s afterimages. “When you have lived as long as I have, Your Grace, the novelty of attempted assassination quickly wears off,” Celestia replied drily. “I was merely laying out my reasons to the Council for our military alliance with the World Below.” “Your Highness!” Duke Shimmerling said, aghast. “Such things take a great deal of time to coordinate! One simply cannot wave a hoof and accomplish it in a single night!” “Your Grace, I am perfectly aware of both the logistics and diplomacy required,” the princess replied mildly. “None the less, a respectable fraction of the physical might of both Equestria and the World Below now sits in this room. What say you Dronning Teagan? Will the World Below join Equestria in a military alliance against Duisternis?” “Yes,” Teagan said firmly. “By attacking you they attacked not only Equestria but the entire world—including the World Below. As a famous human leader once said, united we stand, divided we fall. But if we fall, every living thing will join us in a frozen grave soon thereafter.” Her grim words hit the ponies hard. The representatives from the troll clans nodded solemnly, accepting the pronouncement as self-evident truth. “For the moment, I advise discretion, Your Majesty,” Celestia said, raising her head. “I will focus all of Equestria’s covert operatives on this mission, and assure they have the needed magical and military assets to capture and interrogate any Duisternis members we discover. Equestria will supply all recovered intelligence to the World Below.” “So what do you need us to do?” Teagan asked. “Stand ready to strike once we find their base of operations,” Celestia replied. “No doubt they will continue their efforts to divide us, perhaps even attacking the World Below to prevent your moving to assist us.” “They will be sorely surprised, Your Highness,” Alene Hule spoke for the first time. “Surface dwellers cannot truly appreciate how difficult it is to keep trolls penned underground.” “I expected no less, Alene Hule,” Celestia said, bobbing her head in respect. “Gentlecolts, frender, my sister and I must consult in private with the Dronning and her advisors. I leave it to you to solidify our alliance in the coming weeks.” ooOoo “Were such histrionics truly needful, sister?” Luna asked hours later after the two of them were finally alone. “We have seen thee at many such meetings in the early days of Equestria—but never didst thou act thus.” “You mean act like my ponies always expect me to act when the world is threatened?” Celestia asked with a yawn. “And are always so disappointed when I don’t?” Luna hesitated. “Meanest thou that thy actions were deliberate tonight? We had wondered why thy acting was so blatant. I was sure the Council would call thee on it. Thou art usually much more subtle than that.” “Luna, you’ve known me since we were foals,” Celestia chuckled. “When have I ever been blatant?” “Hmm,” Luna actually thought about that. “There have been a handful of times, we admit. Usually when thy opponent lacked subtlety them—ah. Thou wert playing to the trolls.” “Exactly,” Celestia nodded. “Lady Teelo shoved them the way we needed them to go and I just played along.” “And when the stone was well and truly rolling thee nudged it somewhat,” Luna commented, shrewdly eyeing her sister. “The trolls are crucial to defeating Duisternis,” Celestia said, turning serious. “They will not hesitate where unicorns or earth ponies would. And hesitation against this enemy will cost far too many lives, Luna.” Luna sighed. “We note thee dost not mention pegasi, sister. They would not hesitate.” “No, they wouldn’t,” Celestia admitted. “And that is not a good thing in a pony. You know that as well as I do.” “Neither of us would hesitate either,” Luna observed. Celestia closed her eyes. “I know. But we’ve always born that burden, Luna, ever since the Great Spell. We two, and to my eternal shame the hoof-full of ponies that have volunteered to bear it with us. But better that a few bear it than everypony.” “What of the trolls then?” Luna continued, playing Devil’s advocate. “Trolls do not see it as a burden,” Celestia said softly. A hint of sadness crept into her voice. “Neither does Dronning Teagan. I wish this were not necessary, Luna. But it is and we both know it.” “Would that it were otherwise, sister,” Luna bowed her head. Celestia said nothing, bowing her own head in grief. ooOoo Teagan and Emma were drooping the next morning when they stumbled out of the castle. It was seven o’clock and Celestia would be raising the sun any minute. There was just enough light that the magical lamps around the city were going out. They had been woken by Søyle less than fifteen minutes previously and hadn’t had anything to eat or drink. Teagan was actually thinking wistfully of Matt’s catnip tea—or coffee, which she normally avoided like rat poison. She’d been assured of an early (and large) breakfast once the train was underway. It was the only thing keeping her moving. The large group of trolls set out at what to them was a leisurely stroll, the rumble of the porter’s wagon wheels loud in the stillness of the still sleeping city. The air around them was filled with silent pegasi wings as their escort kept an eagle eye from overhead. The two humans grumbled silently as they were forced into a brisk walk to keep up. Twenty minutes later Teagan and Emma were finally alert from the forced exercise, both eager to board the train clearly visible at the station. They were escorted to what the earth pony conductor called the “Queen’s Coach” at the end of the train. The three trolls with them were rather pleased that the typical pony interior had been replaced with a more open plan, a pair of human sized padded chairs and a half dozen troll-sized reinforced stools, which gave Søyle and the troll brothers a far more comfortable ride. “We’re expecting a trio of griffins,” Teagan told the conductor as he was ready to withdraw, “Lady Silkwind and her bodyguards. I suggested they arrive fifteen minutes before we departed. Would you make sure they’re settled comfortably?” “Of course, Lady Teagan—I mean Your Majesty,” The conductor said smoothly. Bowing quickly he closed the door behind himself, leaving the five to themselves. “I can’t believe we’re finally on our way to Hejm,” Teagan said, settling back into her chair with a contented sigh. “You wouldn’t think a simple trip to summer school would be this hard.” “Tell me about it,” Emma stretched before settling back. “I mean this whole thing’s been like living in a Pirates of the Caribbean movie or something! Pretty intense for a cartoon, if you ask me.” “Cartoon?” Søyle asked curiously. “What is a cartoon?” “It’s a kind of play in my world,” Teagan said, feeling a flash of déjà-vu. “The ones about Equestria were aimed at younger girls. That’s why Emma and I were so surprised to find Equestria is a real place. And why she still can’t get over how dangerous it is here.” “Dangerous?” Søyle asked in puzzlement. “Equestria is the least dangerous place I have ever been. Well, aside from the changelings and the forførere, of course. The Dyp Mørk is far more dangerous than anything in Equestria.” “Oh, that’s encouraging,” Emma said sarcastically. “I thought Hejm was safe!” “It is,” Søyle said with furrowed brow. “Nothing can come in or out of Hejm without troll permission. The Dyp Mørk is another matter.” “Didn’t Hjördís say something about that to Ynsiv back when I first met the trolls?” Teagan asked, trying to remember. “It seemed to make Ynsiv pretty angry.” “Hjördís said that Ynsiv’s clan was more comfortable walking in the Deep Dark than the World Above,” Søyle replied. “Clan Langtpunkt is often viewed as stupid, so stupid that they are oblivious to the dangers of the Deep Dark—or allied with them, since they are too stupid to survive the Deep Dark otherwise. I myself do not believe this.” “Ouch,” Emma said. “No wonder Ynsiv got mad. Didn’t Alene Hule call Hjördís on it? I couldn’t understand what he said but his tone sounded like he might have scolded her.” “He said only the Alene go into the Deep Dark, and that she should be kinder to her cousin,” Søyle replied. “While Hjördís may be of my clan she does not always take as much care in her words as she should.” “So what, exactly, is the Deep Dark?” Emma asked curiously. “It is any cavern deeper in the World Below than Hejm is. Trolls seldom visit them,” Søyle said. “Even large well-armed patrols do not venture there. Only the Alene have the hemmeligheter to pass through it safely. There are many dangers: falling rocks, thin stone floors over deep pits that will not bear your weight, narrow passages, bad air, sudden flooding, and many dangerous creatures that strike without warning.” “Sounds like loads of fun,” Emma said derisively. “What’s the Deepest Dark then? You mentioned it the night Teagan went to rescue Sweetie Belle.” “The Deepest Dark are the walking dead,” Søyle said somberly. “Those who have died but somehow yet move. They are those who do not rest: draugr and spøkelser and other such things. Every troll child is taught that these dead things must be destroyed on sight, lest they bring disaster to the world.” “Do you think Duisternis is part of the Deepest Dark?” Teagan asked suddenly. “I do not know, Dronning,” Søyle said, shaking her head. “If they are not then they are possibly in league with it.” “Where do demons fit into all this?” Teagan asked. “I mean, they don’t have real bodies, they have to possess their victims,” One eye opened in her mind and gave her a look, “and they’re pretty amoral.” “Demons are not the walking dead, Dronning,” Søyle shook her head. “They are not dead, nor yet alive. They are hunters that stalk the Dreaming World.” “Ok, I’ve never heard of the Dreaming World. Do you mean the dreams you have when asleep?” Søyle nodded. “It is another world, one you can only visit when asleep. This is where demons stalk their prey.” “Hmm,” Teagan said thoughtfully. “I’ve dealt with demons before, Søyle. I was always awake when I did.” “Did they dwell within flesh and blood hosts, Dronning?” Søyle asked. “Um…yeah, as a matter of fact. Why?” “Then they had already found their prey,” Søyle said confidently. “Demons without a body cannot interact in the Waking World, only the Dreaming World.” “How do trolls know so much about demons?” Emma asked. “Demons dwell in the Deep Dark, they cannot abide the sun,” Søyle explained. “A demon caught in the day must seek the shadows or perish within minutes. We have had to deal with them on many occasions.” “So demons have possessed trolls before?” Teagan asked. “What happened to the trolls?” “Many different things—it is never the same, Dronning,” Søyle replied, shaking her head. “Usually the demon merely sleeps. If the troll is old the demon’s presence will cause their health to fail and they may die before their time. A younger troll may live for many years. Such demon-ridden trolls tend to be shunned thus it is rare for them to marry. If married before being taken they never have children afterward, although it is rare for their mate to leave them.” “But sometimes the demon will not sleep, driving its prey mad and causing them to strike out at every living thing with the strength of ten strong trolls. In such cases an Alene must be summoned and the troll driven to the surface and trapped. The troll is killed while the sun is in the sky. The Alene holds the escaping demon in the sunlight until it burns away.” “That’s horrible,” Emma said, wincing. “It is what must be done,” Søyle said stonily. “No single troll, no matter how strong, can face a demon-driven and live. Should the demon-driven somehow be killed at night or underground the demon can escape to possess another.” “Are there defenses against demon possession?” Teagan asked quietly. In her mind Crush’s eyes both opened, watching her with a steady gaze. “Hejm is warded against demons,” Søyle responded, “just like our other cities. Those who must journey through the caverns between wear talismans created by the Alene to keep demons at bay. Some passageways between major cities have been warded completely. Other passages have small warded caverns where travelers that lack the talismans may sleep safely.” “So the trolls guard the World Below? That’s very noble.” Teagan said with a smile. “We do it for the safety of the World Below, not from kindness, Dronning,” Søyle said without a smile. “For if a demon should drive someone even as weak as Emma mad she would become a dire threat, even to an armed patrol. Often the demon-driven are quite cunning in their attacks.” Emma looked annoyed at being called weak, but knew she couldn’t really argue the point, at least not when compared to a troll. “What does Duisternis mean, anyway?” Emma asked. “I do not know,” Søyle replied, “it is not a trollish word.” “Celestia didn’t know either,” Teagan commented. “I guess Equis is like Earth. Each species has their own language, even if some learn a second one like Equestrian. Which begs the question, what species named Duisternis?” Demons did, Crush spoke up unexpectedly. Duisternis means darkness. Wait, you know who Duisternis is? Teagan demanded silently, her eyes widening. I have my suspicions, Crush replied. Onsterflike Einde Van Die Duisternis Ewige, the Immortal Order of Darkness Eternal. Who are they? Teagan asked silently. Crush hissed—something Teagan had never heard it do before. The eyes in her mind became angry slits. The Proud Ones. The Holders Of Knowledge Beyond the Veil. Crush’s tone was vicious, acid etching every word. Teagan felt her stomach clench in nausea as Crush’s mental volume made her head reel. The ones who caused our downfall. Crush was almost screaming now. They who murdered the world!