Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
by TDR
The Last Worthless Evening
[700 hours, 1 day after the attack on Gallopagos, Thursday. New Canterlot Castle War Room.]
“Have we gotten anything else yet?” Celestia demands.
“ No Princess.” Nicker admits. “Patrols of Gallopagos have shown no sign of him aside from the massive destruction he left behind. We are finding an occasional survivor, but none of them have any new information past an evacuation was called. It looks like a hurricane blew over the island, its been nearly leveled flat. The creature even blasted down a couple of the mountains for some reason.”
“How are the half dragons who flew here last night?”
“Tired princess, but other wise unharmed save a little wing strain. Lady Rarity had them sent out before the attack ended so they don't know much past the description of the creature and that it seemed to eat some sort of energy it draw from ponies.” another pony Guard states looking over some paperwork.
Celestia had canceled her court for the day and had moved all operations into the castle's Emergency conference room. The place was buzzing with activity, dozens of ponies on communications crystals and digging through paper work and old tomes of creatures seeing if they could find anything. Celestia still felt like they were not doing enough. She had called the Wonderbolts back from their break along with most of the 63rd airborne and sent them to Gallopagos as quickly as she could. It didn't seem to be fast enough for her still.
“Sir we have just gotten a report that they found something.” A unicorn who had been monitoring the crystal communication blurted out.
“Report.“ Nicker orders.
“Sir, the reports state they found a lifeboat moored near one of the navigation buoys between Gallopagos and the mainland. There's some sort of device connected to it. The communications officer states it looks like it was cobbled together from some spare parts and is using a crystal power source to make a wide band jamming frequency. They think it's why we couldn't get in contact with them during the attack. They had to destroy it to even make the call back the frequency was that strong.”
“Crystal communication is a rare science, the Guard are pretty much the only ones to make use of it. How would this thing know how to make a jamming device?” nicker growls.
“Nicker was one of the ponies that had their cutie marks taken a comm officer?” Celesita asks.
“Yes Princess. She was one found on the train, a one Transistor.” Nicker states. “You think it's stealing their talents?”
“What about the survivors. The report said that some sort of evacuation took place.” Celestia asks.
“Yes Princess. We have the Wonderbolts flying north right now to search. The plan for evacuation was to board any ship and head north to the Empire. They have a good number of hours head start and they were probably running like Tartarus itself was behind them. We've sent word ahead to the Crystal Empire that they should prepare for refugees. The half dragons will likely get there before we do.”
Celestia sighs dropping down into a chair.
“Don't worry Princess I am sure Twilight is fine.” Nicker placates.
“Nicker they found that spear of Lion Hearts practically sealed in rock. Most of the island looks like it was melted and set on fire then melted again. Twilight is not the sort to run, and if she is she would have found some way to contact us. After what happened to Sunshine.....” Celestia's ears droop.
“Sunshine is alive and healthy Princess, just unconscious.” Nicker sighs. “ I think it may be more of a concern to us what happened the Major Kaisur.”
“His fate is one of the last things I am worried about. He has an annoying tendency to keep turning up like a bad half bit.”
“Really, then there is another reason you have Major Starfall and Wing Commander Dash keeping your sister distracted?” Nicker questions.
“I really wish Moskau wasn't in the Empire, I wouldn't have to explain to her what my sister is capable of. You should worry more about finding out what happened to Twilight, Velkorn, the Royal Family and the location of this monster. I want this thing dead Nicker. I want it's head on my wall, and I want it mounted there yesterday.”
Nicker narrows his eyes pulling the map away from the Princess with a hoof as her mane begins to spark. He should have retired three years ago like he first planned, but noooo he had to try for that extra couple hundred bits in his pension by staying just a little longer..
===========================================================
[?]
“HE KILLED RARITY!!!I'm going to choke him to death with his own tail!!” shouts a female sounding figure.
“You are going to do nothing of the sort. We wouldn't last a few seconds against him. Especially if he grabs you.” the other figure sighs.
“Why didn't we do something?”
“There wasn't anything we could do. Neither of us has the power to stand up to any thing that was going on. We would have been in the way. He got here before we did so we couldn't even warn them. The best we could manage was the steam and even then I think Tirek noticed.”
There should have been something.... Rarity........” The figure whimpers getting a hug from the other.
“I'm sorry, there wasn't anything that I could have done... you know that.”
“It doesn't make it any easier.”
“Twilight was rescued, so there is at least that. Velkorn too... I think.”
“She's not going to make it you know. “
“Anything is possible.”
“Maybe once, now..... now I don't know.”
The male sounding figure sighs reaching down and ruffling the first figures mane. “Don't go moody on me yet, we need to get to New Canterlot before he does. If what we were told in the Crystal Empire is true he's going to go after those two next.”
“What about the trap?”
“If he had gone to the end of the train line it would have worked. Still we managed to stop the train from hurting any pony when it crashed . Now that he ate Twilight, the same trap wouldn't work. Not sure I can muster that much power again soon any way.
“So let's get going then, I'm not letting him get away with this without tasting my vengeance.”
“Does your vengeance come with sprinkles?”
“Yeah.... black licorice sprinkles.” the female sounding voice growls.
“Blargh. You are horribly evil.”
=====================================
[800 hours, Luna's quarters. ]
“So she's been making these things?” Rainbow Dash asks looking at a black crystal preying mantis that was crawling across the table with a plate on it's back offering the three of them a biscuit.
Luna smiles glancing over to the rainbow maned pegasus on one side and the purple haired pegasus on the other side of the table. Dash was just starting to show signs of her pregnancy and Starfall was only a bit further along. It would be a question whether her second foal would arrive before or after Dash's first. Granted mentioning that Starfall's first child was born over a thousand years ago tended to bring a lot of confusion if it was mentioned so the knowledge it was her second was not brought up often. Starfall seemed content with this plan.
“She has ever since she started as Twilight's assistant. Berry has gotten progressively better at constructing them as well. She still has every one of them she's made however though a number of them are in her work shop in Twilight's lab I think most are here either serving as decoration, or small aids. She even made a crystal Tiberus that Tibbers can play with.” Luna smiles remembering when the crystal Tibbers first met the real one, it was quite funny watching the two play fight. “Not that I am not pleased with your visit, but I am some what surprised by it. With the Wonderbolts on vacation I figured you two would be spending as much time with Peach Blossom and Big Mac as you could.”
“Ugh if I wanted to be treated like a invalid I’d crash more often. Big Mac, Fluttershy, Apple Jack and Grandma here are all treating me like I’m made of glass. I'm not even three months along.” Rainbow Dash smacks her head against the table. “She won't even let me go flying on my own and she's further along than me.”
“This isn't my first and only by a month.” Starfall adds. “I'm just trying to make sure you're alright and.......I'm doing it again aren’t I?”
“Yes.” Dash moans.
Luna chuckles a little at that. It had taken some time, but Starfall had curbed some of her more excitable notions involving Rainbow Dash. Luna expected her restraint would be thrown out the window the moment Dash and Mac's foal was born though.
“Right. Any way Princess Celestia asked us to come by and keep you company this morning since Jer'rahd's not back yet. The trainees should have gotten there today so he's probably overseeing them.” Starfall explains.
“He should be here with me and Dawn. He's getting put on foal monitor duty for the next three months now.” Luna smirks.
“Where is she any way? I never got a chance to see her.“ Dash admits nomming a biscuit the mantis gave her. “ And your other foals for that matter. I know Pips off with the CMC some where, but what about the others?”
“Dawn is asleep for the moment Dash. I'm content to let her stay that way so please keep your voice down. Berry and Brush are outside in the court yard. He has a date tomorrow of sorts and he is trying to figure out what he should do. Berry is teasing him about it.” Luna sighs.
“How? I thought she still didn't talk?” Dash blurts out ignoring Starfall's attempts to shush her about the subject.
“She has her ways. Her nightmares have significantly lessened since she became Twilight's assistant as well. She's improved more in the last few years than anything we have done before. She still seems to have no desire to speak however.”
“Oh as a side note, we saw Rhede when we came in, he seemed preoccupied with something and ran off with some of his ambassadorial staff of his before we could say anything to him.” Starfall points out changing the subject, still not sure if Luna viewed Berry's silence as a failure on her part.
“Ugh he probably left the twins with Fluttershy again. Knowing her she couldn't say no and now I’m gonna have to be on tippy hooves around the farm when I head back there again.” Dash moans.
“Hehe, don't think badly of AJ's little mama bear. I'm sure you'll be asking her for help quite often too. Once your foal is born.” Starfall chuckles.
“Nah, I'm not gonna dump one of my kids on Fluttershy, she'd never be able to keep up. Besides I don't need Flutters to foal sit, I got 'granny Starfall' to help out.” Dash grins wide causing Starfall to flatten her ears to head and stare daggers at the younger mare. Luna covers her mouth with a hoof trying and failing to hide her laughter.
==================================================================
[1000 hours new Canterlot Castle War Room]
“We have word back from the Crystal Empire. They are preparing to receive the refugees, but they are asking aid from Canterlot as the Changelings they are are housing are already taking up a great deal of resources.” Nicker comments.
“How? The bugs are just feeding off the heart shove them all in one room and leave them they'll be fine. Or better yet put them to work building shelters.” Celestia snaps.
“Princess you need to calm down. I'll have some of the Guards gather supplies and load a train or two to send north. It should be there before the refugees if we utilize the warp tunnel Miss Sparkle enchanted....... bugger....” Nicker sighs as Celestia's mane bursts into flames at the mere mention of Twilight Sparkle. Thankfully he was saved trying to calm Celestia down again by Guards shouting outside.
“Hey, stop, you're not allowed in here!!! Turn around and I won't have to hurt you. Wha are you.? Hurrk! GAAAAAH!!”
There were several clangs of metal before the door exploded inward, the limp form of a Royal Guard smashing through the wooden door and tumbling to a stop before Nicker with a groan.
Looking up at the door he could see two other guards laying in whimpering heaps on either side of the hall way. Striding into the room and making a beeline towards Celestia was a tall red stallion with a long black mane and tail. His left foreleg and hoof were a solid black coloration and his left side was covered in black slash mark of scars giving him an odd appearance of a half zebra. He wore a black harness covered in small pockets and bristling with blades. He had clearly gotten to big for the harness, a few extra pounds and a bit of fat sagging around the straps showing a sign of his easy living for the last ten years. His crystal blue eyes met Celestia's as he storms across the room towards her, stopping nearly nose to nose with the alicorn Princess. Nicker only had a small glance at the look in the stallions eyes and he was backing away preparing to rush out of the room as fast as he could to rouse the entire Royal Guard to get in here to prevent the two from leveling the castle.
Celestia met that gaze equally, though in the end it was the Princess who looked away first.
“What are you doing here?” Celestia questions.
“Cut the shit Celestia, I've been getting second hoof reports for the last hour. Now what the buck has happened to my wife?” Rhede Pelt snarls.
=============================================
[ Tartarus. Everywhen]
Troph looked back with concern at Grace. She had been progressively getting weaker once the gates were sealed. The pair of them had searched everywhere, though all of the exits from this plane to Equss were sealed. While probably a good thing for the ponies on the other side to not have a dimensional rift or four in their world, it was much worse for the pair of them. Despite being separate from the Elements of Loyalty and Compassion, the two of them still drew their energy from the artifacts. With the gate sealed, that energy was cut off.
In short, Grace was dying in front of his eyes. Troph was not sure what that would do to the Element of Compassion, and he didn't honestly care in the slightest. He was more concerned with Grace herself. He had been carrying her around for the last few months they spent searching, doing everything he could to prevent her from using her dwindling energy. She no longer held onto her zebra form and was little more that the collected pile of bones most ponies knew as the Ferry Mare, the form she was bound to when she was first pulled from the Element of Compassion. She couldn't muster the energy any more to do anything else.
Troph wasn't sure why he didn't feel the drain like she did. It was there of course, the seeping away of his life force. Perhaps it had something to do with his time inside Kaisur, though he probably just had a much larger reserve of power than the small zebra.
There were a few more places they had to check for holes before they went back to where the gate had been located. Grace had already told him he couldn't burrow out like Forge Scale did, as even the dragon god had followed a hole that had already been there out into the Darklands. There was no way to make a new hole from this side.
Troph growled despite himself, the massive blue first dragon stormed through the twisting realities. He was going to find who did this, and they were going to learn new definitions of pain for making his love suffer.
===================================================
[1500 hours new Canterlot Castle War Room]
Both Rhede and Celestia were looking over the map now ignoring the hammering of some ponies putting the door back up behind them. The Guards had resumed their post at the new door. Thankfully Rhede had not hurt the trio before too much in anything but their pride. It was unlikely they would live down that they were beaten in seconds by an aging ambassador. Nicker didn't bother to inform them fully of who Rhederic Pelt was. The ambassador preferred to not be known that widely for what he was in the past.
He and Celestia had explained the situation, and Rhede had not calmed in the slightest, he did however refocus where that anger was directed much to every pony in the rooms relief.
“If Lion Heart's plan hasn't changed they should be traveling up the Sapphire river from this tributary here. The water is deep enough for the barges to pass. The issue is this spot here further up the river. If they have the ore barges like we think the water there isn't deep enough for them to pass.” Celestia points out.
“It's summer, the melt water from the mountains has the river flooding the banks almost this time of year. They won't have much issue passing there if the ship captains are even remotely skilled. Still there's a chance they may be pushing it and we can catch up with them at this point. Have the Guards look for water displacement, not the ships themselves, if they are running from this monster of yours they probably have all the unicorns aboard doing what they can to hide the ships under illusions. It's a whole flotilla with sea pony escorts, there will be signs of it passing. Did any pony think to check with the sea pony cities around Gallopagos?”
“Yes all of them are abandoned and in the same state as the island. We've sent word to Sandy Shoal, though we have not gotten word back from Princess Tidal yet.” Nicker adds in.
To be truthful things could have gone a lot worse. Nicker was one of the few ponies who was fully informed of what the Five Beasts had done a thousand years ago. He was very much aware of the fate of the Elk after Pelt found out that a foal, he didn't even know he had, was killed. Nicker didn't want to think what he would do if his pregnant wife was killed.
Thankfully Rhede and Princess Celestia had turned their attention to the matter at hoof instead of trying to argue or place blame. He doubted it could be the same if it was Kaisur, or Princess Luna. He was not relishing the moment when she found out that the Guards sent to deal with the Red Hoof bandits had all gone silent. A messenger had been sent out, but he had not come back yet either. Nicker only hoped that when the training group arrived there they could send some pony back with information. That should be later today if they were on schedule.
An explosion rocked the castle causing every one in the room to freeze in place. A second explosion sounded and he could hear the thunder of hooves down the halls as the Guards mobilized. Wait......... they sounded as if they were running away from the explosions.... what was going on?
“Oh buck this! This is way above my pay grade.“ The Guard outside the door suddenly shouted, before there was the clatter and crash of the Guards outside the door diving for cover.
The newly rebuilt door exploded, and then imploded into a swirling mass of shadow before any of the splinters could harm any one in the room. The clatter of the toothpicks the door had become was the only sound for a moment until the heavy hoof steps approached again and a figure stepped into the room.
The figure was a mass of blackest night. A tempest of dark blues and purples whirled around it's head, tiny points of light filling the mane at various points that seemed fixed in the swirling mass of shadowy darkness. Eyes glowed green with wisps of energy flickering out of the sides of them as the mare growls, teeth bared flashing sharp fangs, her horn glowing a bright, yet some how dark color of blue. The imposing figures wings were tight against her side, though they twitched, as if ready to explode into movement. Behind her a gray pegasus mare with a purple mane and tail sighed softly rubbing the back of her head, though her glare was no less fierce than the other mares. The pair of them shifted their stare between Celestia and Rhede who were frozen in place.
“Sister. What hath happen to mine husband?” Luna snarls.
===================================================
[Crystal Empire, Nursery. 1400 hours ]
The room was silent save the faint humming coming from a back carapaced mare with green hair standing over a pair of cribs. The humming was soft though the tune seemed to be a some what sad one. Her green eyed gaze shifts between the two foals, lingering on the bundled form of a baby changeling colt. The changeling mare sighs softly her ears flat against her head.
“Locust? Are you in here?” calls a voice.
The changeling mare shifts to her pony form briefly her ears perking up, though she lets the disguise fall away seeing Princess Cadence peeking her head in the door.
“I am Princess. I was just checking on Shin and Glimmer.” Locust states.
Cadence smiles walking over to the cribs with a light chuckle.
“The way you dote on the foals like this makes me believe you will make a wonderful mother yourself one day Locust.” Cadence states leaning over to lightly nuzzle Glimmer then Shin. The action made her completely miss the wince and crestfallen look the maid had adopted at her words. “ I've been looking for you. Shining wants you to ask the Changelings to all move into the shelter with the ones who are comatose. We will also need to adopt the Ladybug tactic.”
“You want us all to imitate ponies with ladybug cutiemarks? Why, what is going on?” Locust asks her ears perking up.
“I'm not sure. Canterlot has sent us word that there are going to be a number of refugees from Gallopagos incoming. Seems they had to evacuate for some reason, something about a monster attack. We'll know more when they get here, but if it's as bad as they say we don't want any issues between the Changelings and the Half Dragons, best if you all lie low a bit until this is all sorted out. The Crystal ponies might be used to undisguised Changelings here but I doubt any one new will be.”
“Why are you telling me this any way? I'm just a nursemaid.....”
“Because they all listen to you Locust. They listen to Shining and me as well, but when you say something they fall over themselves to do it without question. Nightlight thinks it has to do with you being the last contact with the previous royal family. I'm sorry to have to use you like this, but I have a feeling this is going to get worse before it gets better.” Cadence sighs. “ Barely ten years of peace and something else happens......”
Locust nods. “Alright Princess, I'll go talk to them. Keep an eye on Shin. Something seems to scaring him greatly, and Glimmer picked up on it, it took me forever to get them to sleep.”
“Really? We haven;t made any changes to the nursery? I wonder what's scaring him?” Cadence mutters glancing back as Locust changes to a blue mare with green hair and a lady bug cutie mark before heading to the door.
“I am not sure Princess, but I will ask to see if any other Changelings might know.” Locust states heading out the door.
“Thank you Locust.” Cadence nods watching her leave, despite Shin not being her actual child she still treated him as such, and worried about him.
Locust nods to the Guards as she leaves, heading down the hall towards her quarters. She pushes the small door closed behind her as she enters. She manages a few steps into the room before the Changeling mares disguise drops and she sinks to the floor shuddering heavily, her teeth gritted as she quivers in what seems a mix of rage and fear.
“He's returned.......Why now....?”
====================================================
[New Canterlot Castle 1600 hours.]
Nicker had watched Princess Luna's face get steadily angrier and angrier as Princess Celestia explained the situation.
“And thou did not think to inform us as soon as thine knew mine consort was missing and an entire city was destroyed?!” Luna snaps, slipping back into old Canterlot as her anger grew. Nicker was happy for his eardrums that she hadn't started using the Royal Canterlot voice yet.
“Forgive me for wanting my sister to have at least a day or so of happiness after her child was born before another disaster strikes. We know nothing about what happened to Jer'rahd and until this morning we thought it was a sickness.” Celestia snaps. “In case you were not listening Twilight is also missing and my daughter has been claimed by this monster as well.”
“My wife and unborn child are there as well Luna. Excuse me for focusing on them before my nearly indestructible friend.” Rhede growls.
The three of them continue to glare at one another before Starfall finally steps in.
“Every pony calm down. This isn't helping any pony right now to have you arguing. Luna you are NOT going to rush off any where, and neither are you, Celestia OR Rhede! If this thing eats cutie marks we do not need the strongest and most dangerous ponies we have hunting for it. We don't know yet what it's capable of we need more information. I can get a couple of Wonderbolts to do a HALO patrol but it will take time to get the gear....”
“We have a sighting!” shouts one of the ponies on the com. Something the small beige unicorn immediately regretted saying as every one suddenly looked at him, including the two angry Princesses and Rhede.
Nicker trots over placing himself between the Princesses and the pair of Beasts in the room, before the poor pony soils himself. “ Where Sergeant?”
“A Guard station in the Ponyville district reported that a river pony came by and claimed that she saw some strange monster moving along the river to the south while she was on her way back from Froggy bottom bog collecting water cress.” The Guard starts rambling everything that he had been told. ”She stopped to report it because she had never seen anything like it and she said it was muttering to itself. She couldn't understand much from where she was hidden, but it sounded like it was looking for something. She said it moved away from the river heading south east. Her description of it matches the ones we've already collected.”
“What's south east of Froggy Bottom?” Starfall asks.
“Nothing but the Everfree for Leagues and then it opens to the plains. The closest town after that is Dodge City.” Celestia points out. “That the creature is this close after being in Gallopagos last night worries me at the speed it seems to have.”
“Send a Guard contingent there to start preparing for a possible evacuation. If they come across it they are to observe and not engage. We need to know more about this creature before we can fight it.” Rhede comments.
“Pull in all the rest of the Guard who might be on leave to New Canterlot. This thing is closer than I am comfortable with to us. Even if the river pony was correct about the direction, I would not put it past this creature to turn around. If the destruction of Gallopagos is any indication it is probably headed here very soon.” Luna orders.
“We don't want to panic every pony just yet, but bring in every available watch officer and Guard in. Say it's a drill, but I want every pony ready to get to a shelter at a moments notice for the next few days.” Celestia adds.
“Yes Princesses.” Nicker salutes.
==============================================
[Everfree Forest 1900 hours]
Tirek's gaze shifts over the darkness of the cave, the faint drip of water from the stalactites falling to the floor and into small puddles echoed around the other wise silent cavern. In truth he never would have believed this place existed. He certainly never would have found it himself if Twilight Sparkle had not studied it excessively after she was made aware of it's existence. Even knowing it's location it took him hours to find.
He looked down at his hand, bound up tight in cloth the stitching holding the wound together was rather rough and it still bled a little, the black icor soaking into the bandage. His lower finger was missing still, as despite having the knowledge of several dozen skilled doctors and medics, one could not sew a finger back onto ones hand after it had been vaporized by ones own spell. The attack on Gallopagos showed despite having skill and magic, he was not fully invincible. Not yet. A lesser god and a zebra god were not enough to make him unbeatable, despite their skills. Even with all Twilight knew he was very much aware that Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had depths of power and skill that Twilight had not seen yet, particularly Princess Luna. Then there was Discord and the remaining Beasts of the Moon. His Memories from Twilight were particularly focused on a one Rhede Pelt, and the knowledge that the zebra he had killed had been Pelt's mate. Twilight's memories supplied very graphic details of what happened to the Elk, the violence was enough to make even Tirek shudder and mark that stallion as a main target during his attack. At least he knew now how he had been freed of that blasted tree, he needed to thank Rhede Pelt for that, before destroying him.
And this... this was the way to do that. Such a delicious thing to have left out in the world unguarded save by a bolder over the cavern's mouth. Now how did that limerick go? There needed to be a few changes to it of course.
"And into his own reflection he stared, yearning for one whose reflection he shared, and solemnly sweared not to scared at the prospect of of his life being squared!" Tirek rants stepping into the pool at the bottom of the cave.