//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: A Kingdom of Intrigue and Blood // by Ernest Wood //------------------------------// "At the turn of the century when the white and black horses lie in a pool of blood, when the Baige Zebra's continet is covered in thick murky blue, and when the Red and Black Griffon's castle fall silent the winged reptiles empire will rise." -A fillies guide to prophecies, Fairy tales, and mysteries Widowsheart "It's dead." Snapshot said withdrawing his sword out of the Manticores heart. "Time to get our bits." He said cleaning the blood off his blade. "What if more show up, like its family?" I spoke wrapping my cloak tighter around my waist. "Fuck em' we had a job to do it's done. I want to get outta these woods anyway creepin me out." Snapshot said placing his nicked sword into its sheath. We had been hunting a greybacked Manticore for weeks a high price had been placed on its head or rather its prized wings. Snapshot climbed atop the Manticores fallen corpse and bit down onto said wings, and in one jerked motion he ripped the wing off spraying blood onto his orange tinted coat. "Ya gonna help me out Widowheart or I got to do this mah self?" He said spitting the wing onto the ground. "Why don't ya use that horn and put it to good use for once?" I sighed unwillingly but complied. My horn lit up with equally bright white light. I then closed my eyes and envisioned the wing coming off and within a few minutes she heard a strong snapping and ripping noise. When I opened my eyes I saw that the wing had be forcefully ripped off and was now sitting next to the other one. "Eloquently done." Snap said pulling out a thick sheet from his saddle bag; wrapping up the two wings into a knot. "Ya wanna pick this up?" "Do I have a choice?" I said defiantly. Starting to get sick of this shi- "Now what did I say about that temper." Snap said cutting me off his voice growing darker. "No you don't have a choice, and if you give me anymore lip you'll never find you father." He said taking one step towards her. I had no choice to comply with his request and picked the bag up with my magic. "Good girl. Now lets-" Snap was cut off by a bright purple light that engulfed the forest illuminating the terrain. "Now what was that?" Snap said drawing his sword. "I don't want to know." I said taking a step away from the point where the light was strongest. "I didn't ask what you wanted to know, were going to check it out and that's final." He said walking towards the light. Once more I had no choice but to comply. The duo continued towards the light careful to not wake any Timber Wolfs that may have been in the area. A Manticore they could handleor rather Snap could handle but a pack of wolfs? We had no chance. Eventual the we found ourselves near an abandoned castle of sorts. Vines twisted and tangled all through the cobblestone down to the gorge below. The only way across was a rickety wooden bridge that looked to be completely unsafe. "Cover me i'm gonna try to cross, if I start to fall catch me in the magic." Snap said beginning his treck across the bridge. I should just let him fall to his well deserved doom, I could rock the bridge, take a plank out from under him. But alas he had the answers to my fathers whereabouts. Since I was 14 I had been searching all of Equestria for my fathers where about's, from Detrot to Manehattan I looked to no avail almost giving up; until I came upon a small village that wen't by the name of Ponyville. There I found one of my fathers old war buddies Snapshot who was drinking himself into a coma. During his drunkedness he had mentioned serving with my father Swiftblade during the Diamond Dog rebellion and had promised me answers about my fathers whereabouts for working on a few hunts with him while serving as his non certified squire. Felt more like being a slave. Ever since then I had been his 'Squire' while simultaneously getting smidgens of answers out of him. I was starting to wonder if he even had the answers she seeked. "Hey harlot ya heard me I said cover me!" He said placing one hoof onto the first plank of the bridge. "I-I heard ya! I've got you covered." I said my horn glowing. Snap began walking across the planks slowly at first but eventually he began a trot across them making the bridge rock back and forth. I could have said something but I felt my tongue catch in my throat as low growling began from behind from behind me. I turned and saw at least 14 yellow eyes looking at me through the brush panicking I backpedaled to the point of almost falling into the gorge below. Regaining my footing I turned my gaze once away from the depths below and saw 7 Timber Wolfs creep out licking their wooden snouts with hunger. It was then I knew she had to cross the bridge less be eaten. I slowly began moving towards the bridge never taking my eyes off the Wolfs and not looking down once. Once I was far enough the Wolfs began retreating back into the forest. I breathed a sigh of relief while noticing that I was now in the middle of the bridge half way to the castle; I carefully turned to the castle to see Snap was nowhere to be found instead one large door to the castle had been opened. A feeling of disdain had taken me. "Plothole." I spoke slowly trotting towards the castle. As I entered the castle she immediately felt a sense of fear, dread, and unease. Something was very dark about this castle, but nevertheless I needed to tread on and find that arrogant fool. As she moved further into the castle shadows began dancing upon the wall's as indistinguishable painting looked down upon me in disgust, truly a castle not for the feint of heart. Eventually she found a spiraling staircase that hadn't collapsed, upon its own weight, and began climbing the dusty cobwebbed steps this was made harder due to the fact that there was no light in the castle it was bare and had few windows. "Guess i'll have to try that illumination spell. I hope it works this time." I said as I focused on light itself. She reopened her eyes to see that the staircase she was on was replaced by a grassy field. "Where am I?" I asked to know response. Suddenly a shape appeared in the distance growing larger by the minute. "Excuse me sir or madam can you tell me where I am?" I asked to no response once more. The shape was becoming more pronounced by the second; to the point where I could distinguish features: it was tall, taller than Celestia with black hair. The thing that stood out the most though were its shape entirely, it stood on two legs instead of four, its skin a brown tint matching its eyes, and was covered in gleaming armor. Definitely not a Minotaur. It lacked the horns and muscled build, though it was menacing to say the least. Then it turned towards me piercing me with those brown eyes, for some reason I couldn't move like I was paralyzed. It began walking towards me washing over me with dread and fear. Time seemed to stop as it approached me a mere two steps away my body rattling with fear. It then leaned down and met my gaze unsure of what was going to happen next I mustered enough strength to close my eyes. I felt a shift in the wind as he or something moved to my ear, I heard a deep voice whisper. "Serlock nerraken, nishkin." Unsure of what I heard all I could utter was a silent "what?" It then laughed and placed its hand on a round object equipped to its armor. Suddenly I realized what he was about to do. A sharp *Shink!* noise echoed through the landscape as the creature pulled out a silver blade decorated in strange writing; he raised it above his head while saying these two words. "Die horse." The blade fell as I felt it connect with my skull. I fell down upon the grass spraying blood on the green grass, the shock hit me like a train and soon after shock was replaced with pain and fatigue. "W-why?" I asked as all the air escaped my lungs. "Because Nishkin. My masters tell me to." It said while walking away. The world melted around me sending me reelling around what I think was the ground. Giving up I shut my eyes and accept my fate. ...I breath once more capturing as much air as I can into my lungs, my head hurts but as I put my hoof onto my head I feel no blood no anything. Reopening my eyes I see that somehow I made my way into a large room with old tables strewn around, windows cracked and shattered and an old stage covered in dusty instruments. I breath a sigh of relief. "Just a dream." More like a nightmare I think. Regaining my composure I stood up and dusted myself off. "Buck Snap I need to get outta here, and maybe come back with a search party. See if I can find his carcass" I say while searching for a door, for a better vantage point I climb up onto the stage. I see a decorated door hidden in the shadows that looks untouched by time and has an crescent moon on it. Seeing as it's the only door in said room I make my way towards it. "Damn. Still don't have light." I say saddened "And i'm not doing that illumination spell again." I sigh "Buck it. Gotta keep on and find my way out of this 'funhouse'." I say pushing the door open and trotting into the darkness. Snapshot I had finally found some light. A single torch hung on the wall of this room, that was surrounded by columns and a large glass stained window that had now been covered with vines and muck. A real shit hole. I began walking over to the window trying to get a better look at it: Looked like it was showcasing these two ponies dancing on a moon or somethin, not worth my time I figured so I walked back to the entrance and took the torch of its handle. Another dead end room, I must have been in at least three by now and none of them had Widow or her satchel. I needed those damn wings. "Uhhssh." I jumped almost dropping the torch as I heard a moan coming from somewhere. It sounded close but there were no other openings in the room cept that barred door I had come from. "Slurrh." Another moan rung throughout the room. This time I was able to pinpoint where it came from. The window. Curiousity killed the cat, and to be cautious I withdrew my sword and cautiously crept towards the window taking a deep look into it. As I was walking I felt as though something grabbed my hoof and I fell sprawling onto the cobble floor dropping my sword. Looking behind me I saw a stray vine had protruded from the stone and I was foolish enough to trip over it. "Buckin v-" I was cut off as a loud shatter rung throughout the room, I turned to see that the glass panel had shattered revealing a large throne room with spiraling steps across from each other. I shakingly stood up. "Gettin too old for this shite." I said walking over the glass and into the room. Now I had a better look at the throne room. Old banners hung high on a nearby wall showcasing two White and Black alicorns over a moon and sun; history class finally proved useful. Those flags are Equestrian. The throne was covered in cobwebs and dust. The floors were decorated but the designs unrecognizable same as the glass pane's. I trotted towards the throne and set a torch down illuminating the room. From there I was able to fully see the whole roo-. My train of thought was cut off as I looked into a nearby corner. A mass of flesh sat still in the corner that made made my stomach turn, it was small and tinted brown, and hardly had hair cept for a small patch on one section of flesh. "Snap?" I heard a femininely voice speak behind me. I didn't turn to greet its face. "What's wrong with yo-" She stopped mid sentence to look at the creature. I turned to her and saw it was Widow, she met my gaze. "What is that?" She said slightly disgusted. Just as she said that the creature began moving and unfurling its stick like memberments till it had fully stood up. It was an inch taller than me and had brown eyes to match the patch on its head? The eyes looked us over worried and with fear, it then opened its maw. The thing that shocked us the most was its teeth, they were sharp but also flat usually the species of Terra only had one or the other but this creature had both. "Excuse me a-are you alright." Widow asked nervously. "Are you trying to get us killed?" I began. "We don't even know if this things friendl-" I was cut off by 'it' trying to formulate words. "Astup de I?" It asked in a question like tone. Widow spoke up. "Do you speak Equestrian?" Widow asked the creature. "Nu." It said unmoving. While Widow began conversing with the creature all I could think of was the money I would make off of it.