Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR
One More Day [To Regret...]
[ Current Day, edge of the Crystal Empire]
Spike and the other dragons had already landed, spoken with the Guards, and off loaded the luggage onto a cart by the time Bleu finally came in for a landing.
Scootaloo practically launched herself off Bleu's back shouting in excitement about a number of things and buzzing around Bleu like a erratic satellite.
“So believe dragons can be fast now?” Bleu grins.
“That was absolutely ridiculous!! The only time I’ve gone that fast was with Rainbow Dash when I was little!! You still can't turn for crap at that speed, but with your mass you'd rip your wings off any way if you tried.....” Scootaloo rambles.
“Did you just call me fat?” Bleu growls.
“Don't even start!” Scootaloo fusses.
Pip ignores the pair as they get back into bickering, though at least the aura of murder they had earlier was gone. Besides he and Applebloom were more worried about the stiff legged Sweetiebelle staggering towards them.
Sweetiebelle's hair was all blown back, her mane and tail were standing out stiff from her body and it looked like she had suddenly gained a interest in punk rock the way it was spiked back by the wind, her tail was not in any better shape.
“Umm Sweetiebelle are you alright?” Applebloom asks looking on rather concerned about the glazed expression in her friends eyes.
“Gotta go fast …..” the spike haired pony mutters before collapsing to the ground in front of them.
“Ummmm,” Pip mutters looking at Applebloom then the collapsed, twitching Sweetiebelle.
“Oh get up you wus, “Scootaloo mutters landing lightly next to the group. “She only did six barrel rolls.”
“I think I will call this the ground, maybe it will be my friend.......” mutters Sweetiebelle from the ground as she tries to hug it tighter.
“So what was our plan here any way? I forgot why we wanted to come to the Empire.” Scootaloo asks.
“Pippy!.”Bleu interrupts. Landing fairly hard on the small ponies back in her tiny size. “We need to head out of here shortly to take these three oxygen thieves back to Cindervale. I wanna talk at you alone for a moment so wander over that way a bit will yah! Mush mush!”
Pip rolls his eyes and shrugs trotting off to stand by the luggage cart on the road, leaving the others in the landing field at the edge of the Empire.
“What was that all about?” Scootaloo asks.
“Beats me.” Applebloom shrugs.
“.... I’ve had this ice cream bar since I was a child!!!” flails Sweetiebelle.
“Okay that's it, some one get me a bucket of water.” Applebloom snorts.
======================================
[Six Years ago. Sweet Apple Acres.]
“Anything?“
“No nothing. It is like she is not even dreaming. I cannot even tell she is asleep. I have never seen anything like it.” Luna mutters softly looking over at Granny Smith and Fluttershy.
“Well lets tell the others. Ah spect they're wondering if anything happened.” Granny sighs gesturing for every one to leave Applebloom's room. “Thanks fer trying tah figure it out Princess. She's likely tah wake up in a minute or two any way.”
“You are nearly family to me now Granny. I would not have refused, I only wish I could tell you more.” Luna smiles.
“Yah ain't married him yet, an tha rate every ponies going, Rhede an Velkorn's tha only wedding Ah'm ever gonna see happen afore ah kick off. Already given up on any great gran babbies from any one else.” Granny looks over at Fluttershy who flinches a little.” Calm down deary I’m fussing bout Dash an my grandson mostly. But ah figured Rhede and his wife woulda had six foals by now.”
That is something that surprises me as well.” Luna chuckles heading down the stairs.
The trio walk into the living room where Rhede, AppleJack, Twilight, and Velkorn sat expectantly. Rhede was looking through a small weathered journal with Twilight, while Applejack looked on annoyed.
“This is still all griffoneese to me.” Twilight sighs.
“That's because it's earth pony magic. This spell here helps to tap into Draconic magic. As an aura user you would be some kind of impossible savant if you understood both aura and earth.” Rhede comments. “ Probably even become a goddess yourself.”
“Pfft a goddess of what?”Twilight snarks
“I dunno Books? No, that would be Spike thinking on it.” Rhede shrugs leaning over to give the Journal back to Applejack who tucks it into her hat. “There's nothing in there that is any different from how we train the Guards who can learn to access the draconic magic. Whatever is causing these nightmares has nothing to do with her learning to tap into it.”
“Says you. She was fine before she went snooping and now she can't even sleep a full night without waking up screaming.” Applejack snorts putting her hat back on her head.
“Big Mac didn't have any nightmares at all, lest you count all tha times he was afraid he was gonna hurt some one.” Granny Smith states. “Ah keep telling yah tah burn that thing and be done with it.”
“An ah keep saying it's all ah've left of ma and ah ain't gonna burn it.” Applejack grumbles glaring at Granny smith. “ So stop saying it.”
“Where is big Mac any way?” Luna questions.
“Errr he and Rainbow Dash went back to her place earlier after I cast a cloud walking spell on him.”Twilight mutters.
“Huh, off the ground like that he wouldn't have access to that unchecked strength of his.” Rhede muses. “ Guess Dash wanted to be dom tonight....”
Velkorn was about to smack Rhede when a cane lashes out smacking him in the head instead.
“Don't you dare even start tonight Mister.” Granny Smith snorts. “Ah fer one ain't putting up with none of that subtle hinting you do. Or any not so subtle hinting neither.”
“Right, right, sorry.” Rhede grumbles.
“Sooo any way. Did you find anything out Princess?” Twilight asks.
“No, I cannot find anything.” Luna admits.
“Is it being blocked or hidden?” Rhede asks.
“No it is as if she is not even asleep, there is nothing for me to find, no connection to the slumbering world. I felt her as she drifted off and then just before she started the dream she was gone.” Luna sighs sitting down on the couch. “I have gotten better at dealing with nightmares after looking after my foals, particularly Ice Berry. But I do not know what this is.”
“Perhaps she's dreaming in another reality, or going deeper into the dream world than you can see.” Twilight speculates.
“That is possible, there are many rules and limitations to my power. It would not be unheard of to encounter something I have never experienced before. I do not use this ability often.” Luna nods.
“Is that the power that came from being a goddess?” Twilight questions.
“Yes, among other things. By the standards of the gods it is not that useful.” Luna mutters.
“I dunno I can think of some nasty things to use it for.” Rhede comments.
“You said before Princess that the scrying spell I used was not unlike the dream world, correct?” Twilight asks.
“It is, though considering Tia and I designed it, it is no surprise it is similar. Tia does have the same power as I do though with day dreams.” Luna states, watching as Twilight adopts what Tia called the 'pondering expression.'
“Wait yah mean tah tell me that tha power you two have is only tah look inta peoples dreams?” Applejack questions.
“Well that and the insane amount of power that comes with being a goddess, the spells Starswirl created to move the sun and moon and our own not inconsiderable power we had before becoming alicorns. Also in my case there is a little extra that I would prefer not to think about.”Luna sighs.
“Ah don't see how that could be useful at all.” Applejack mutters.
“Celestia likes long boring meetings that drag on and on. No matter who she's talking with they always tend to let their mind wander when some one drones on. When they do Celestia can see glimpses of how they might respond, or what they might choose to do in a situation. It's actually a rather impressive power for a diplomat” Rhede explains. “ And Luna's power to peer into the sleeping mind is a great power for intelligence gathering. There are a number of reasons they were the Gods of War and Peace. On that note how come you never used it back in the day?”
“Errr... I um first used the power when I ascended and I wandered into the wrong dream and was rather traumatized by what I saw there. I attempted to do so again when Jer'rahd was having nightmares, but that only made things worse on my end. It was not until Twilight and I worked together that I found the full extent of control and a number of fail safes.” Luna explains.
“Wrong dream? What the heck could traumatize you in a dream?” Rhede questions.
“I would think that for a young mare, a young stallions dreams might offer a good scare.” Velkorn points out.
“Hey now my dreams were never that freaky....... wait no never mind there was the one with the pineapple and the yoyo. Okay yeah I can see it now.” Rhede admits getting stared at by all the females in the room, though he still manages to duck another attack by Granny's cane. Velkorn made a mental note to press for an answer on that later.
“Any way..... let's wait for Applebloom to wake up and see if she can describe these dreams for us.” Twilight states.
==================================================
[ Current day, Crystal Empire]
Bleu hops off Pips back dropping down with a faint thud against the crystal walk way. She spares a glance over at the four dragons on the other side of the field. Spike was currently talking with them and in once case, smacking one of their claws with his tail as the fat one tried to eat a section of crystal fence.
“Sorry about earlier Pippy, but I’m not that comfortable with you being in danger like that. Particularly when it was something I should have dealt with already.” Bleu mutters.”I should have gutted those three when I had the chance, but a couple of the older dragons are fond of the idiots. They might actually even be their children. Spike sees it as a good sign that they care,but I see it as a pain, still he's trying to keep the others happy and working with us so... no murders. No matter how richly they are deserved.
Pip flinches a little, it was never a good thing when his aunt started talking serious. “ Can't always stop that auntie. Yah got yer own stuff to do. Considering I’m working on being a Guard, ah'm gonna be in danger a lot whether yah like it or not.”
“Yeah yeah I know and you did great Pippy, then I show up and yell at you. Not the sort of positive reinforcement I’m supposed to be giving here.” Bleu grumbles. “Suppose I’m upset about the others being in danger too.”
“What like your star singer?” Pip smirks slightly, though the smile fades as Bleu didn't return the grin.”Really auntie you were worried about Sweetiebelle that much? It's just a high school musical thing, she's already famous....”
“Gah no, I don't give a flap about the school event or even if she never sings again.” Bleu growls lightly though it wasn't directed at Pip. “ It's just....”
“Then what....?” Pip asks.
“No one else sees it but me, but no one knew her like me, the mannerisms, her voice, buck even her cutiemark is similar........”
“What?”
“Never mind Pip. Just...., your friend reminds me a lot of some one I used to really care about and I find my self worrying about her far more than I should be. Sweetiebelle isn't her, despite what I wanna think.” Bleu sighs rubbing her head with a claw. “ Any way I don't have too long. I wanted to apologize and ask what is the deal with the orange one?”
“Scootaloo?”
“Yeah.”
“According to Applebloom she has a crush on Spike.” Pip shrugs slightly.
“Huh, well too bad I saw him first......”
“Actually they've known him well before you came to town......”
“Don't get nitpicky Pippy.” Bleu grins. “Besides I noticed something else too that I wanna know about. Rather interesting expression you had when she was doing her pathetic flirty bit with Spike.”
“What are you talking about?” Pip questions.
“You know what I mean, was that jealousy? Does little Pippy have a filly friend!?!” Bleu taunts watching Pip turn bright red. She squees at the blush only making it worse for Pip.
“Wha!? What are you talking about, nothing of the sort is going on. “ Pip grumbles.”I was annoyed cause I got yelled at is all and that we were still stuck on a mountain.”
“Uh huh.....” Bleu grins. “ Soo not interested in the cute athletic mare at all huh? The blush means nothing?.....”
“I am not....”
“......Quite the little firebrand too it seems... literally, make sure you have protection.....”
“Auntie.....”
“....And I don't mean just wrapping your junk, though do that too, I mean like a fire proofing spell. I hear pegasi tend to lose control of their wings when excited and nothing kills the mood faster than third degree burns....”
“BLEU!!”
“Yessss Pippy?” Bleu grins leaning closer to her nephew.
“One, I am still considered underage so keep it clean....”
“Please, you hang out with Guards ponies... this is clean compared to the normal conversations they have.....”
“TWO. Applebloom said she was interested in someone already.”
“Yeah, but that's Spike. That ain't gonna happen......” Bleu grins wider.
“Three. Do not play match maker with me auntie. I have enough issues without you trying to pair me up with some pony. Ma is bad enough.”
“Wait Luna knows who you're interested in?” Bleu blinks grinning even wider making her look uncomfortably like her face was all teeth..
“What, well yes she's seen her in my dreams but...” Pip begins.
“EEEEEE that is PERFECT!!” Bleu squees. “We can get together and plan it out like a story book romance hahahhahaha. Well gotta go, see you soon Pippy”
Bleu cackles fluttering off leaving Pip starring after her slack jawed. She flags down Spike and the group launches into the air in a rush.
“By Auntie Celestia's pointy horn, this will not end well.” Pip groans.
===========================================================
[ Six Years Ago Sweet Apple Acres]
Applebloom swallowed a little as she looked up at the adults staring at her.
Her uncle Rhede had his usual unreadable smirk, Aunt Velkorn, Twilight, and Fluttershy all looked worried. Princess Luna didn't have an expression she could read, and Granny Smith had fallen asleep waiting already. Apple Jack though, her sister had the same expression she always had when some one mentioned the dragon spell. Angry and disappointed. Applejack was convinced she was having the nightmares because she read her moms journal and learned how to tap into the 'strength of the land', as uncle Rhede had called it.
“If possible Apple Bloom, would you mind describing the dreams you have?” Princess Luna questions softly.
Applebloom looks up at her still feeling tired, though also knowing she wouldn't get back to sleep. It had been blood tonight, she almost never got back to sleep after those. She exhales as the Princess looks at her with a bit of concern. Princess Luna was no where near as scary as when she had first met her, it might have something to do with her caring for the foals she adopted, but Applebloom didn't know for sure. Still she was practically part of the family by this point, even if she and uncle Jer'rahd weren’t married yet.
“Which one you wanna hear about? They're not always tha same, but it's like ah see um from different view points. There's ones about fire, which're scary, but ah ken usually go back tah sleep from them. Then there's tha ones about blood, that's usually tha worse ones cause I feel like ah'm in them, not just watching. Usually they end up with me getting killed....” Applebloom explains.
“We can't see what you are seeing so would you please describe everything you saw as best you can?” Twilight asks. “ Any little bit might help us understand how to stop them.”
“Ah'll try.” Applebloom mutters focusing on trying to remember everything as she starts to tell them about the dreams.
========================================================
[Current Day, Crystal Empire Palace dining room.]
“Hi Auntie Cadence.” chime Pip and Applebloom as the small group walks into one of the dining rooms of the palace, with Shining Armor right behind them. The pink pegicorn looks up from the end of the table with a bit of surprise though she smiles seeing who it was.
“Pip and Applebloom and … errr Sweetiebelle and Scoobaroo right?” What brings you all here?” Cadence asks. “Oh and please try to keep it down Shin might be used to surprises but Glimmer is still getting used to everything and loud noises frighten her.”
“Right auntie. Sorry.” Pip chuckles. “We saw Uncle Shining and Grandpa Rose on the way to the hotel and we asked if it was alright to visit. I haven’t seen you in a couple of years since you and shining crashed that last Apple family reunion.”
“And I haven't seen you since that time we saved Canterlot!” Sweetiebelle chimes.
The two of them trot over to cadence looking down at the dark form Of Shin in one basket and the pale rose colored form of a little filly in the other.
“Seriously it's Scootaloo, not Scoobaroo....” Scootaloo grumbles stopping Applebloom from heading over to the foals as well.”Hey Bloom, when did you wind up related to Princess Cadence?”
“Well Auntie Cadence is Princess Luna's niece, in name any way, and since Pip's her son and my cousin that ties us tagether. Then of course there's uncle Jer'rahd who's related tah tha Blueblood family same as Auntie Cadence is so there's another tie in, one by blood an not just name.” Applebloom explains.
“Geez is there any important pony you are not related to?” Scootaloo grumbles.
“Ah don't think we're kin tah tha Sparkle's aside from marriage with Shining Armor, an ah'm pretty sure we ain't related to Rarity an Lion Heart.” Applebloom grins. “Dun tell me yer still mad that Rainbow Dash is mai sister in law now, which kinda relates me tah Starfall as well.”
“I told you not to bring that up.” growls Scootaloo.
“....... so Princess Luna had her foal finally? I heard something about a message earlier today about that but I have yet to get all the details.” Cadence explains talking to Pip as Sweetiebelle and Shin stared at each other from either side of his basket.
“He doesn't really look like a changeling.” Sweetiebelle comments softly as she lightly boops the little foals nose with her hoof.
“Careful he's a nibbler.” Cadence warns as Shin latches onto the white unicorns hoof.
============================================
[ Six Years Ago Sweet Apple Acres]
Fluttershy had already left the room and Both Applejack and Twilight looked a little green. Rhede was no longer smiling and rose to leave the room as well. Luna and Velkorn both looked at each other and rose to follow him with Twilight joining the pair, which left Applebloom alone with her sister.
“So … you doing alright?” Applejack mutters, no longer looking angry though she stills seemed worried and a bit disappointed.
“Yeah ah guess.” Applebloom mutters as Applejack drops down onto the couch next to her. “You still mad?”
“Have been most of tha year now. Ah ain't happy, but ah ain't that mad any more. Least yah didn't have tha same problems as Big Mac.” Applejack sighs. “ That he can't turn it off caused all sorta problems. Ah know he did it with tha best interests of tha farm in mind, but it caused more trouble than it's been worth.”
“Ah just wanted my cutie mark, nearly every one else has theirs an ah ain't even a clue. Everything Ah'm good at ah tried an nothings working.” Applebloom mutters. “ Thought maybe this might be something.”
“Well Twilight and tha Princess don't think tha dreams are cause of what ya learned. Shoot, Big Mac never had nightmares, specially not ones like what you just talked about.” Applejack sighs.
“How come you never wanted to try out tha spell? Maw and Paw used it to get the farm to what it is and you never even tried it?” Applebloom yawns.
“Never wanted to before ah saw what it did tah Big Mac. Felt like magic was cheating. Still feel that way and ah ain't never gonna use it. Got no need to, specially now with as much help as we got on tha farm with all tha new family. Shoot money ain't even ah thing any more when both Jer and Rhede practically throw it at us if they even catch hint of that we might be in a spot. Can't hide nothing from either of them either.........”
Applejack trails off noting that Applebloom had dozed off leaning against her side. She reaches back yanking the blanket off the couch to drape over her sister but doesn't move away from her.
She takes off her hat, pulling the journal from it and flips through the book with a sigh. This little thing had caused all sorts of trouble. Even now, knowing that the instructions inside of it were not any sort of curse, but just a different way of doing magic, she didn't like it. She slowly flips a few pages looking over the writing, remembering watching her mother write in the little notebook when she was as young as Applebloom. Those memories were the only reason she kept the thing at all. She couldn't even picture her mother doing anything else but writing in this any more.
When they died she had left the farm to try to live in Manehatten, a different life away from what had killed her folks. She found she couldn't do it and came back without hardly having done much of anything at all but feel even more miserable.
Her idea for even going out there had been to ease the burden on Granny Smith for taking care of three foals, one not even out of her cradle yet. In the end she wound up taking everything on herself. She didn't want that for Applebloom. She wanted her sister to have a normal foal hood, something she and her brother weren't allowed to have. Of course with the war, the journal, and the dreams, it didn't seem like Applebloom was having a very normal foal hood either, but at least she wasn't ever on the verge of starving or working herself to death to make ends meet.
Applejack blinked feeling another blanket settle over her shoulders and glanced up to see Fluttershy draping it over her. The pegasus smiles softly before floating over the couch and slipping under the blanket as well nuzzling lightly against the farm ponies side.
Applejack smiles tucking the journal back into her hat. It might have been tough getting to this point in her life, but she wouldn't change the results for anything.
========================================================
[ Current Day, Canterlot Hospital.]
Luna sighs softly, tracing her wing along Dawn's back , the small filly nuzzled closer against her side breathing softly, and making what for now was an adorable little snoring noise. Luna was quite sure after a few months of it the sound might get annoying, but for now it was immensely cute.
She looked up as the door clicked open and her sister poked her head in. Luna holds a hoof to her lips in a shushing motion as Celestia slips into the room. The white alicorn moved over to the bed and sinks down on a stool next to it looking down at the foal at her sisters side with a soft smile.
“Despite all his other faults he did provide you with an adorable filly.” Celestia chuckles softly.
“Jealous?” Luna smiles sticking her tongue out at her sister.
“A little, not enough that I would run out to get knocked up or ask Twilight to.” Celestia grinned.
“Knowing Twilight she would probably develop a spell to make one of you a stallion for just long enough to do it.” Luna chuckles, the smile fading from her face. “Where is she any way?”
“Twilight went to Gallopagos with Velkorn to see Rarity's foal. Likely planning to add more to that book of hers. The birth of a new god is a rather historic event. Almost as much as a Princess giving birth.” Celestia states watching Luna's expression dim again. “ What's wrong?”
“Nothing really, just worried.”
“What about? Dawn has been cleared of any issues, the doctor even said he has never seen a healthier foal. I doubt it is about Kaisur and his mission. You know better than I do that nothing short of a swarm of gods can stop him, and even that is questionable.”
“While I am worried about him, I know he can take care of himself. It is Pip I am worried about.”
“Why? I know he's with those girls, but they are not nearly as bad as they were when they were younger. Besides I received word from Cadence they are already in the Empire. Bleu brought them in earlier today.”
“It's not that... it is.....how do I put this. You know how I got when Orange moved out of the palace.”
“I do, but foals do grow up.” Celestia sighs.
“I know.... but every day reminds me that I’m going to out live them. That Jer'rahd and I will be there to bury them.... even Dawn..... and it will be the second time I have buried Pip.” Luna muses.
“Do you often get depressed like this?”
“Only when I have nothing to do but think. Why do you think I enjoy the games so much? I was never as good at handling loss as you were.”
“If you call having a secret shrine to everyone I knew 'good'.” Celestia sighs blinking a moment.” What do you mean the second time you would bury Pip?”
“You know how I have told you before that in a dream I can some times see ponies as who they were. With the very young in particular, if they are not new souls, I can sometimes see who they were before......”
“It is the same with day dreams of the very young, often they imagine their own past.”
“When Pip was younger and had nightmares like the others I spent a long time trying to quell them. Pip shook them faster than the others. Even Berry still has a nightmare occasionally though far less since she has spent time with Twilight.”
“I am sure Twilight would like to hear that.”
“I've told her, she was. But in regards to Pip, I recognized who he was. I recognized what he was dreaming about as well. Since he has gotten older it's changed and the memories of his past life are faded behind the images of his new one.”
“You recognized him?”
“Even the globe that makes up part of his cutie mark is the same Tia. Pip was Hooper.”
“Ahhh.... and?”
“What do you mean and?”
“Exactly what I mean 'And?'Nothing else has changed except some one you used to care about is now still some one you care about. Also it's been ten years since you adopted him. If there was any sort of issue you would not be cradling Kaisur's foal.”
“What? Oh no eww. No I am not attracted to.... by the stars Tia you are sick sometimes.”
Celestia blinks a moment before catching on and flattening her ears to her head with a snort.“Lulu please, my words were innocent. It is clear hanging around with Bleu and Rhede has made your mind easily go to the gutter.”
“Right....” Luna rolls her eyes. “ Any way that was not the point I was trying to make. The point is I don't want him to be a Guard and that is all he seems to want to do. I do not wish to see history repeat itself.”
“I doubt any one will create another smooze. And if they did we know cold weather kills it now so it wouldn't manage to eat any one before we destroyed it.”
“I meant in his dying to defend us. It is always a possibility for the Guard. But Jer'rahd was eager to teach him and Pip was eager to learn so I didn't stop him. Now they are out in the world and I worry.”
“Pip was trained by Kaisur, Lulu. I doubt there is anything he wouldn't be prepared for. Besides this is a little trip. The worse that could happen is they spend all their bits in Las Pegasus. And he's too smart a colt to do that. You are worrying for nothing. “ Celestia states. “At any rate onto why I am here.”
“Oh ? Not just come to see your sister and her foal?”
“Well of course that, but also to speak of your now upcoming wedding. I expect it to happen within the month. It needs to happen before we need to worry about Velkorn's next foal. So I am thinking perhaps pink. You would look lovely in a pink wedding dress, it wouldn't take much magic to change the color of the one Rarity made for you. Berry would look adorable as the flower filly, and Kaisur would be annoyed at all the pink, it would be perfect.....”
“By the stars...” Luna mutters rolling her eyes.
=====================
[ Six Years Ago Sweet Apple Acres]
Rhede plops down in the grass leaning back against the picket fence near the house. A chill wind blew over him as he stared into the night. He lets out a long sigh and smacked his head back against the wood a few times with a growl.
[“ So I take that was indeed what it sounded like?”] Velkorn mutters her hoof stopping him from smacking his head against the fence again.
“In nearly every detail. She even got the armor right and what parts I had them hit first.” Rhede growls.
“And the stallion on the cliff?” Luna asks looking down at Rhede as she trots up with Twilight. “ That was you?”
“Yes and the darkness behind me was Dogwood. It's barely even symbolic, it's almost exact.” Rhede grumbles.
“You had them drag foals out of their homes and kill them?” Twilight states coldly.
“No.... no... I ordered it to start with, that every one of them was to be killed, but my second didn't relay that fully and had two groups, one razing the place and the other taking the fawns and putting them some where safe. When I managed to calm down enough, I agreed with it, but the fawns were all killed any way. We took over one of the tree houses on the edge of the pit, put them all in there along with a few expectant mothers. We put up a guard on the place as well a group of ponies there to keep them in side and away from the fighting. I didn't trust the adults at all , expectant or not. The elk thought it was our HQ. They killed the Guards sealed the doors and windows and set fire to it. They held us off long enough for it to burn to the ground. Medic said the smoke killed the ones inside before the fire even got to them.” Rhede sighs his ears flattening.
“Then what is this she calls the dreams of blood?” Luna asks. “ The killing of young ones is exactly what she described in those dreams in...., well, rather graphic methods of torture.”
“I don't know. We never did any of that. I don't know how she saw herself watching herself either. The ones she calls dreams of fire... yes that was me all the way.... the ones of Blood. I don't know.” Rhede mutters.
Twilight considers a moment as Velkorn strokes Rhede's back with a hoof sinking down on the fence next to him.
“Perhaps we should go back and have a look at the place for clues?” Luna offers.
“I have been back. It's nearly all over grown except in two places. The crater is nothing more than a pit of black soil, stumps and burnt fallen trees. Where Dogwood was strung up is also a black place devoid of life. The tree he was nailed to has petrified into almost black stone. His skeleton has long since worn away, but my daggers are still in that tree. Rusted, but there.” Rhede smiles a little. “There are elk there however. Seems I missed a bunch of them. It's a small tribe, but very rambunctious. They did a nice job driving me off and trying to kill me , but there's barely a hundred in a village on the lip of the crater.”
“That is promising.” Luna states.
“She's not dreaming......” Twilight states.
“What?” both Rhede and Luna ask.
“Well not in a sense. Alright this is just a hypothesis but hear me out. The dream world is connected to the starry void that we witness when two or more unicorns share spell power. They are also connected to the starry void that I saw during my study session. That was also the first time I met Harmony... or Bonnie, the Element of Magic. I met her when Jer'rahd died, I saw her, he saw his grandfather. I've also met your previous Element Bearers.” Twilight states pointing a hoof at Luna.
“Err.....” Rhede blinks and Luna simply stares in confusion..
“What you are saying when she goes to bed, it is not dreams she has but visions of the dead?” Velkorn muses.
“I think so. I think there's a connection there some where.” Twilight sighs. “ Not sure what though.”
“Any idea why Applebloom is doing this?” Rhede questions.
“Not at all. Keep in mind this is all just speculation on my part. I've never heard or read of anything like this at all.” Twilight tilts her head thinking. “Who knows it might actually have something to do with her cutiemark. If we can figure it out she might actually get one.”
“Yes I am sure she would be thrilled to hear her cutie mark is giving her nightmares, she is already stressed about that enough.” Rhede grumbles smacking his head back against the fence again. “But why about something I did?”
“Perhaps with the amount of things you've killed your presence is attracting them.” Twilight suggests. “Her real ability could be like a medium or something.”
“Rhede stop trying to damage the fence post, so you think her talent will deal with a ghost?” Velkorn asks.
“There's no such things as ghosts.” Twilight says flatly.
“But you just said...” Rhede comments.
“A magical echo of a dead pony has already been proven to be possible in highly enchanted items. This seems to be an echo of some kind that doesn't require an item to hold it. “Twilight says.
“So a ghost?” Rhede repeats.
“If there was a white sheet wandering around saying 'boo', then it's a ghost. There are no such things as ghosts.” Twilight snaps. “ This is a magical echo of an event.”
“I would agree with your hypothesis Twilight save one thing.” Luna finally speaks up.
“Oh whats that?”
“Jer'rahd and I have been around her just as much as Rhede and our kill count is much larger than his. Why is she only seeing what Rhede has done?” Luna states.
“Perhaps simply because his actions were worse. Then again it could be a family curse?” Velkorn adds.
“True Rhede is the only one related by blood to the Apples.” Twilight points out.
“Rhede is related by blood to half of Equss and this is the only mention I have ever heard of a dream like this.” Luna sighs. “That is not the connection. Or at least not the only one.”
“So there's something else going on too. I was a little worried that this was Dogwood's 'Spirits' revenge or something.” Rhede sighs.” Keep checking on this for me would you Twilight? If I can do something to stop it, I will.”
========================================================
[ Current day, Red Hoof Bandit encampment.]
“What I want to know is why the heck they went back to being bandits. It's been thirty years since any one saw any of them. They could have gone and melded back into society and no pony would have noticed. Especially not after the war.” states a lime green pegasus Guard.
“It's easy for a peaceful pony to pretend to be a violent one. It's not that easy for a violent pony to pretend to be a peaceful one.” blue and golden maned unicorn states.
“Well sir, what about Major Kaisur?” The armored pegasus questions looking up as a chariot flies down. “ He's a violent pony whose doing pretty well being peaceful.”
The unicorn twitches a little at that.”Him peaceful? You do remember your training don't you colt?”
“Well yeah, Sir. But I was mostly trained by Drill Sergeant Sterling, Major Kaisur wasn't in that class very often due to something with the changelings.”
“Lucky bastard. Don't ever let it be said that Major Kaisur is not a violent pony. He simply directs his violence in ways that are more agreeable to civilized ponies.” grumbles the unicorn starting forward as the chariot lands and the gray unicorn gets off.
The Guard camp was seated on the side of a massive chasm between two sheer cliff faces. There was only a small flat area with which to make a camp along a trail leading along side the cleft. A number of Guards had arrived here and set up here a blockade long the road, just out of sight of the bandit stronghold.. Another camp was on the other side of the mountain along the opposing path, this sealed off the only known ways into and out of the small constructed fortress embedded into the cliff side.
The fortress itself looked rather like a demented foals tree house. Wooden walkways,haphazard walls, and sharpened stakes were every where. Walls were built out of sawn wood, stolen metal and stone. All of it was spiked into the rocks on either cliff face, leaving the rickety looking structure hanging precariously over the chasm itself.
The only way in for ground bound ponies was a massive iron drawbridge that looked like it had once been part of a train's boxcar. A few windows here and there covered the front of the structure, too narrow for a pegasus to slip through easily, though they were there to launch arrows and spells out,not let anything in. There was a two wagon length gap between the cliff edge and the hanging structure.
The chasm itself was deep, a fine mist clung to the bottom though there was nothing down there save rock, garbage from the fort and the shattered bones of animals and others that had been unlucky enough to fall into the gap. One could not even see the bottom from the cliffs edge.
There were a number of small windows and arrow slits along the top, sides and even the bottom of the structure, something a few of the pegasi scouts found out the hard way when they tried for a closer look.
“Colonel Well. Nice to see you again.” Jer'rahd states trotting over to meet the dark purple furred unicorn, his eyes traveling up to the path where it curved and hid the strange structure a short distance away from the main blockade along the road.
“Major. Shouldn't you be calling me sir?” Well asks.
“This is a combat situation. I'm supposed to rank General in those.”Jer'rahd grins. “You should be calling me sir.”
“I didn't receive any orders about that Major.” the unicorn sighs.
“Then don't worry about it. Just brief me on the way. I have a wife and new daughter to get back to.” Jer'rahd comments.
“Really? The Princess gave birth? Congratulations Major. Been stuck out here for a while, I didn't even know she was this close.””Well nods. “ How are they doing?”
“Thank you. She and Dawn are doing just fine.”
“Alright, lets get to work then and get you back to them as quick as possible. We've scouted the area, and there are only two ways in and out of that camp and we have both of those blocked. We had some Diamond Dogs check and there's no tunnels or caves that connect to that wasp nest up there. There's a well spring on the other side of the camp, but we have that blocked off too. We were going to starve them out, but they claim to have hostages so we have been feeding them with some air drops.”
“Did you try to add a knock out spell or a drug to the food?”
“We considered it but we know they have at least three mages to check for spells and we don't know the state of the hostages. A dose too strong of any potion might kill them. Any of our Guards get to close to the thing and they are fired on by the mages and archers. Same with pegasi, we can't even come up underneath it as they have some one watching the waste chute for any thing flying under the place. I've never seen such a crappy looking building more defensible than this place.
“I've heard they were a pain when they were first free.”
“Yes, I was there then which is why I am in charge now. Finishing what I started so to speak.”
“How did you get them last time?”
“A school teacher they were keeping hostage got away, snuck out of a hidden passage and showed us where it was. She went through a ton of shit while she was captured. Heard she's teaching in Ponyville now though. Any way this morning everything stopped. We dropped packages of food though no one gathered them. Sent a scout near the door and no one fired at him. We were going to head in when the courier brought word you were coming. So we held position. There should be about fifteen to twenty or so of them in there. At least five civilians, at least that's how many captives scouts have been able to make out.”
Jer'rahd stops at the edge of the barricade looking up the path to where the fortress was.
“I've been told there is a possibility they might take their own lives rather than surrender.”
“Maybe, but I doubt we would be so lucky. I actually hope they did not Major as they would likely take the hostages to Tartarus with them out of spite.”
“True, though it would be nice to have a easy one for once. I've got recruits marching up here for clean up duty in a day or so. I'll take out any resistance and once that's cleared I want your troops to check the place over for any sort of traps or anything particularly dangerous. The fools I’m training now need to get used to the shock of combats aftermath, not traps and such, that's a later class.”
“Ugh .. I still recall that hydra you had us clean up. Never thought to get the smell out of my hooves.”
Colonel Well grumbles. “ I've got PFC Brickwork with his squad in the air ready to come down if you signal him. You sure you're gonna be alright on your own?”
“I'm here to make sure all of you get to go home. I should be able to deal with everything the Red Hooves can dish out. Keep your eyes on the gate, treat any one who comes out of it as a hostile until proven otherwise. I don't want any of them trying to slip away posing as a hostage.”
“I'm not a raw recruit Major. I know protocol.”
“Right, sorry. Keep in mind what my day job is.”
“Understandable. Good luck Major.”
Jer'rahd nods smiling a little as he trots up the path further. The Guards now a days were a far cry from the rent a cops they had been when he first woke up. In a few more years they likely wouldn't need him around at all. He found himself rather amused by that and part of him was looking forward to retirement, well as retired as he could be as Luna's consort,or was it husband now? Of course he still wouldn't let any one else be in charge of Luna and the foals Guard. Though this time next year Pip would be joining the Guard training proper. He needed to make sure that Pip's trainers were picked out before then, preferably ponies who disliked him personally and would take out their frustrations training Pip. Thankfully the other Guards knew that he planned to make sure Pip went through Tartarus and back in his training. Any cries of him playing favorites with his son would be little more than that, crying.
He shook his head clearing his thoughts as he trotted away from the barricade towards the structure, he needed to focus. He stopped before the draw bridge looking up at the structure, watching the arrow slits for a moment and not seeing any movement. As he studied the structure he could see that the haphazard looking construction was mostly for show. There was an underlying solid base support that could probably hold up to even the most severe storm. Some pony clearly had a talent in building, though why that pony turned to banditry Jer'rahd didn't even care to consider.
His horn flares to life making a path of shields for him in the air from the cliffs edge to one of the arrow slits near the draw bridge. The slit was wide enough for him to push his way in though he nearly tripped over the pile of arrows and spears scattered on the other side of his access point. He drew the Waning Moon from it's scabbard with a soft whisk of cloth and poked his head out of the guard tower his gaze shifting over the inside of the structure proper.
The inside of the 'wasp nest' looked like a massive common area that one might find in a proper keep. There were a few doors and archways lining the walls leading towards what were probably personal quarters. One of them had a door and was likely the leaders chambers, though otherwise there didn't seem to be any other exits, the main door opened right into this massive room. A number of cages were set against the walls, ensuring that if the structure was fired upon the captives would be the first to die. The rest of the room was filled with crates and boxes, likely from the last raid that had gone on before the place was surrounded..
What drew Jer'rahd's attention however, were the bodies. A sizable number of ponies lay strewn about the open area, mostly stallions, though there was a mare here and there. A few of the cages had ponies, a griffon and other figures in themas well, also in the same state, though the griffon appeared dead.
Jer'rahd moves slowly over to the closest body, crouching to place his foreleg gently against the ponies neck after a moment he felt a pulse. It was weak, but there. He looked over the light brown and black pony a bit closer. He wore patchwork padded armor and had a curved sword strapped to his side. The older looking stallion looked like he had dipped his hooves in red paint, a sure sign of the bandit gang. What struck Jer'rahd as odd however was that he had no cutiemark.
Glancing around he noted most of the others also carried weapons and wore armor, clearly bandits, though a few seemed to be hostages that had been pulled out of their cages only to fall victim to whatever happened here. From what Jer'rahd could tell however, none of them had a cutie mark. Was this something new with the gang? His questions remained unanswered for a moment as he heard a groan from one of the cages and a figure covered with a ratty blanket shifted as if trying to rise.
Jer'rahd glanced around before darting over to the cage slicing through the binding holding the cage closed. He noted the ponies dark gray flank was also devoid of a cutie mark though unlike the others he seemed to be struggling to sit up. He appeared old and emaciated though he seemed healthy as he struggled to sit up, the blanket wrapped tight around his head and shoulders.
“You're alright now. The Guard is here, you've been rescued.” Jer'rahd comments lifting his head to glance back to see if his words might have attracted anything else.
“Who are you...?” the ponies wizened voice questions hesitantly.
“I'm Major Kaisur of the Guard. I'll get you out of here in a moment.”
“Major Kaisur? Major Jer'rahd Kaisur? I've heard of you.....”
“Well that's good, you know my rep then. Do you know what went on in here?”Jer'rahd asks glancing back again looking over the bodies.
“Ah, I do.”
“Oh? What happened?”Jer'rahd looks back at the pony noticing that his head seemed rather oddly shaped under the blanket.
“I happened.”
“What?!”
Jer'rahd jerks back from the pony as a red furred arm shoots out from under the blanket making a grab at him. He brings his sword around, though not fast enough to block the things other hand from gripping his horn.
Before the gray unicorn could do anything else he felt the grip on his horn tighten and his magic start to flood out of his horn like a torrent of water from a burst dam. The Waning Moon clatters to the wooden floor as his magic fades. He watches as the figure holding him rises, the sound of breaking bone and tearing sinew filling the air as the arm holding him grew thicker and more muscular, the figure growing taller. The floor creaks as the figure increases in size, the ratty blanket shredding revealing a black furred face with a white beard and mane. A pair of onyx black horns jutting from it's head like a minotaur steadily growing into an impressive set of horns. It's lower body thickened and bulked up as well though it remained that of a pony.
As the creature grew Jer'rahd felt himself slipping towards unconsciousness rapidly. He lashed out with a foreleg only to have a green paneled shield form suddenly and deflect the blow.
“You are quite the powerful creature Jer'rahd. I have been watching you for some time. Though I never expected for you to have this much power, ha ha. I feel as if I could take on the goddesses even now.” The strange creature smirks looking down as the silver shield fades from Jer'rahd's flank followed by the black fanged chess knight, leaving him blank flanked and finally unconscious.
“Pity. You faded before I could gloat fully. I suppose it doesn’t matter, but I feel I need to continue. Though I need an audience.” he sighs waving his other hand towards the wall. A blast of wind whips through the room, blowing out a wall and sending rubble and several bodies falling into the abyss of a chasm below.
The explosion did not fail to draw the attention of the pegasi group flying around and the four pony squad dove down to see the strange a creature holding Major Kaisur in the air by his horn. PFC Brickwork didn't wait for any other sign and he and his squad dove in to attack. Brickwork veered off a little flying under his wing mates making a bee line for the Major in attempt at rescue. The others drew their wing blades. The team work was flawless, all of them knew how to move without getting in each others way, a credit to their trainers, one of which was limp before them.
Unfortunately it was useless. The strange black and red creature gestured again, the blast of wind erupting from his outstretched hand, shredding armor, fur, and feathers from one of the pegasi's body. The single blast ripping the pony to shreds sending the tattered pony falling into the chasm, the only mercy was that the blast had knocked him out so he wouldn't be aware of his doomed fall. The blast also knocked another mare to the side with the force of it, before she could regain control she slammed into the wooden structure, impaling herself on a number of shattered stakes and wooden poles.
Brickwork and another mare managed to get past the attack, The mare's wing blade cutting deep into the creatures side slicing open his flesh and slashing along it to expose the creatures ribs. Brickwork was able to make a move for Major Kaisur as the creatures attention focused on the pale lavender mare.
The creature bellowed in pain, his free hand grabbing the mare's green tail as she flew past yanking her backwards by it, slamming her into the floor. Brickwork was knocked to the ground as well by the creature using Major Kaisur's body as a club.
Brickwork winced scrambling quickly to his hooves, watching as his wing mate went limp, her cutiemark fading from her flank. The creature snorted slamming her body to the floor again, before lifting his hoof and stomping down, crushing her head like an over ripe grape against the structures support beam. The monster turns it's head, glancing down at it's side, where the wound was already closing up before it's attention focused on the remaining pegasus.
“What the buck are you?” Brickwork growls, drawing his wing blades.
“Finally one of you asks.” the thing grins wide baring fangs.” My name is Lord Tirek. Not that you will live long enough to herald my coming.”
Brickwork launched himself forward. He expected the creature to dodge his attack and he would fly past and go back to the camp and warn the Colonel. Instead he slammed headlong into a green shield. Before he could recover he felt something grab his wing and yank.
He couldn't suppress his scream as his wing was ripped from it's socket and torn free of his body. He shudders hard watching Tirek drop Major Kaisur on the ground and reach up to grab Brickwork by the neck holding his bleeding form over the edge of the hole he had made. The creature studies him a moment before reaching up and yanking the blade off his intact wing looking the weapon over curiously. He glances at the pegasus's cutiemark with a small sigh.
“Another base mark. There are so few of you with any worth while skills. Still I found use for a ponies talent that was little more than closing doors. Perhaps whatever yours is will help me subjugate your kind as well.” Tirek mutters mostly to himself.
The brick oven that was Brickwork's cutiemark fades from the pegasus. As the stallions eyes roll back Tirek drops him, letting the body fall into the crevasse.
The red and black figure looks at the sword again before crouching and picking up the unconscious form of Jer'rahd looking him over.
“You seem to have had quite the suit of powers. The shields, regeneration, and a well of magical power that I could not even fantom you possessed just from watching you.” Tirek sighs. “No matter, you have simply made my task easier for your hidden talents. Though I also know you have an ability to some how defy the odds simply with your presence. I prefer a stacked deck myself.”
The monster looks back to the wing blade with a small shake of his head. “Such base tools, but useful.” Tirek mutters before shoving the blade into Kaisur's chest, the tip bursting out of his back.
The creature regards the pony a moment more watching the blood drip down from his wounds. Before with a quick jerk of his arm, he sends the impaled gray unicorn flying out of the hole in the wall into the chasm below.
“Worry not Jer'rahd Kaisur. You will see everyone you care about again very soon.” Tirek laughs watching the body fall out of sight into the depths.