“Mum can Miss Foresight come with me to school today?”
Foresight snapped out of her thoughts as SIlver asked the question out of the blue. She looked up from her own breakfast and saw the little colt eyeing Cadence from across the table with a strange expression.
“That’s nice of you Silver. Very kind of you to try and include her,” Cadence replied with a smile.
“So is that a yes?” Silver continued, his eyes aglow with expectation.
Caught off guard Foresight looked to Cadence for help, but found only a knowing grin spread across her muzzle. Mercifully Shining came to Foresight’s aid.
“That all depends if Foresight wants to go to school with you. She’s a grown up mare so she may be very busy,” Shining added with an inquisitive glance at her.
“I...er…” If she was being honest Foresight was hoping to ask Cadence about the strange underground chamber. Since its discovery Foresight had been on the lookout for other signs of mysterious activity around the palace. As of yet that first phantom had been the only one, everything else in the palace and the city for that matter was as carefree and peaceful as normal.
Buying time Foresight posed a question of her own, “Why do you want me to come to school with you Silver? I finished school years ago in Canterlot.”
Silver looked at her as if she were a wayward puppy that had failed to do a trick, “Well I told my friends that there was a black unicorn with sharp teeth and cool eyes staying with us.” His voice took on a whining quality, ”But they wouldn’t believe me. So I thought if I brought you to show and tell they….”
Cadence’s face became stern, “Now Silver, Foresight is not your pet. She’s Aunty Twilight’s friend and you can’t just try to show her off like that.”
Foresight was about to thank Cadence for an excuse when she saw the devious pattern to Silver’s thoughts. He wasn’t telling the whole truth about why he wanted Foresight to come to school with him. Intrigued Foresight changed direction quickly, “Actually I don’t have much planned for today so maybe I could go with Silver. I would like to see the school, it’s one of the landmarks I haven’t visited yet.”
Foresight was rewarded with a surprised glance from Cadence and Shining Armour. “Well if you’re sure Foresight then I hope you enjoy yourself, “ Cadence replied with a raised eyebrow and Silver cheered excitedly. Foresight couldn’t be sure, but thought she caught Silver winking at Platinum. Well something’s ahoof.
“That’s not fair, why does Miss Foresight get to spend even more time with them!” Strong Heart pouted, glaring at her two brothers with daggers.
“Not our fault you’re too young to be in our class Strong,” Platinum jeered.
“Yeah plus you’re a girly foal,” Silver added and Foresight felt the tension rise.
She could see Strong’s anger burning bright and tried to remember being so young. Being the younger sister of twin colts couldn’t be easy for her. Evidently this was an ongoing feud among the three siblings and Foresight was being drawn in.
“Enough you three,” Cadence ordered, her normally amiable face becoming hard. “Strong my precious it’s not the colt’s fault that they have a show and tell while you don’t.”
“But mum!” Strong whined while the two boys grinned triumphantly.
“And as for you two. I will not have you speaking to your sister in that manner. Apologies at once or no allowance for a week,” Cadence added, rounding on Silver and Platinum.
Foresight fought to hide her own grin as the pair visibly paled and Cadence continued on, “Well young stallions, I am waiting.” After much grumbling and folding of fore hooves Silver and Platinum both mumbled their apologies. Strong turned away and snorted before crumbling under the warning look from both Shining and Cadence.
“Okay, I’m sorry I got cross,” Strong finally said through gritted teeth.
“Good,” Shining announced as if that ended the matter.
Foresight could clearly see that this little storm was far from over and did her best to soothe the troubled waters, “I could do with Strong’s help after school’s finished. She’s just the pony I need to help keep me safe as I explore some more of the city.”
“Really?” Strong’s little wings blurred with excitement.
“That would be wonderful Foresight,” Cadence agreed with a smile as Strong saluted, her little face deadly serious.
It was Platinum’s turn to be outraged, “But mum I’m the one who knows how to cast…..” He trailed off as the two mares and one filly all gave him a look. “I guess that’s fair,” Platinum admitted and Foresight sighed internally. Well Foresight you’ve made the bed now you have to sleep in it.
The class all stared at Foresight with mixed reactions but mostly the collection of foals, chicks and calves studied her with awe. Foresight fought to remain calm, surprised at herself for being so unnerved by the attention of youngsters. All her life Foresight had been an object of fear and wasn’t quite sure how to react to this sudden positive focus.
“Dark unicorns have many unique features,” Silver explained proudly while Platinum held a small director's stick, pointing out said features in time with Silver’s explanation, “They have really cool eyes first off, that look like a dragon’s.”
The small wand hovered by her eyes and Foresight treated the class to a sweeping look. I’m actually enjoying this, maybe if I can teach the children to not fear me the adults won’t be far behind?
“She also has sharp pointed teeth like a cat,” Silver continued and Foresight smiled. The class all gave an ‘oooo’ sound, causing the smile to become genuine.
Several of the class raised their hooves/claws and the teacher (a crystal pony mare by the name of ‘Gentle Nurture’) pointed to a little griffon chick, “Do you eat cat food then?”
Foresight blinked, “No I eat the same food as every other pony.”
“Then why do you have the sharp teeth then?” Another asked and Foresight felt the first pangs of worry.
“I was born with them. It’s just the way I am,” Foresight tried but it was no good. Several more limbs shot upwards.
“Are you related to King Sombra?” A little crystal pony filly asked with fear in her voice.
“She’s not like King Sombra at all,” Silver leaped to Foresight’s defence, “Miss Foresight is fun and nice, not a mean bully like Sombra.”
“But he was a unicorn with nasty eyes and sharp teeth, mum told me the story of how he once ruled the Crystal Empire but was defeated by ponies from Equestria,” The filly pressed, “Miss Foresight looks like the pictures of him.”
“Just because you look like someone mean doesn’t mean you are!” Snapped a griffon chick, “My friend’s a bat pony and he’s cool! He isn’t nasty at all despite having sharp teeth and dragon eyes.”
Foresight felt the situation fast deteriorating, should have guessed the talk would have turned to my resemblance of the deposed tyrant Sombra. From what she’d heard of the villain he was every bit as evil as Nightmare Moon had been.
“Very good point ‘Gradock’,” The teacher encouraged. It’s not what you look like, it’s what you choose to do that makes you bad or good.” Gentle nodded, “Silver and Platinum still have more to tell you about Miss Foresight here.”
Silver swelled with pride before resuming his lecture, “Dark unicorns aren’t the same as ponies like King Sombra. They are born the way they are and are good ponies.” He smiled and Foresight caught that little hint of calculated planning with in his mind, “They can make things really cold.”
A collective gasp from the class made Foresight smile bashfully. “Really! You can freeze things?” Another crystal foal, a colt this time, practically bounced in his seat.
Foresight glanced at Gentle who nodded with encouragement before she collected a prearranged glass of water. With the simplest use of magic Foresight allowed her normally suppressed aura of cold to rise. The frost spread across the cup until with a crinkling sound the liquid within stiffened.
Foresight held the cup upside down in her hoof and the class’ opinion rose a few notches and soon every child had their limbs in the air, “Why do you make things cold?” Gradock asked quickly and Silver looked at a loss for the first time since they’d begun show and tell.
“I’m naturally cold, I like it colder than other ponies but keep it to myself so that they don’t get uncomfortable,” Foresight explained, sidestepping the whole ‘child of the night part’. To tell them she was created for a world with no sun where Nightmare Moon ruled a frozen wasteland probably wasn’t the best idea.
“So why do you live here? It must be too hot for you Miss Foresight,” Another child asked. Again the curious nature of the youngster's caught her off guard.
“Well I would get lonely if I stayed in the frozen parts of the world, I wanted some company so I came here where the crystal ponies are very friendly,” Foresight replied but they weren’t finished.
“Aren’t there any other dark unicorns like yourself to be with?” The little filly asked and Foresight felt a hitch in her throat. That’s the trick isn’t it.
“I….” Foresight began before swallowing, “There aren’t that many of us about.”
“Why Miss Foresight?” Yet another child asked before Gentle stepped in.
“That’s enough questions everyone. Please thank Miss Foresight for her time today,” Gentle instructed and the class obliged with a grateful chorus of ‘thank you Miss Foresight’.
Her demonstration done Foresight waited outside the classroom. She gazed about the school and saw that just like everywhere else in the city it was richly decorated. Even the very basic buildings here were dripping in history and with some time to spare Foresight let her magic play out across the halls.
Generations of students and teachers had trotted these halls, learning the lore and ways of the crystal ponies. It was mostly a happy legacy, the main blemish being the reign of King Sombra.
The unicorn had left his mark on the whole city, the brief but tyrannical rule showing just how vulnerable the crystal ponies were. The school practically screamed it’s emptiness during his reign, a time of hopelessness and misery. For the few years Sombra had sat on the throne, ponies hadn’t come here to learn.
Foresight’s thoughts again turned to the secret chambers under the city, the more she thought about it the more Foresight was certain it was something to do with Sombra. The bitter magic and emotions of the place were akin to the dark history held in the strata of the Fiefdom.
Her thoughts scattered as the bell rang. Foresight waited as the little ones came out of the classroom until finally Silver and Platinum trotted out. She fell in besides them with a knowing smile before lowering her head to be level with their ears, “Okay you two, why did you really have me come huh?”
Both colts started guiltily before Silver tried his best to look innocent, “What do you mean? We proved to the class you were real.”
Foresight cocked an eyebrow, watching the guilt pour off both Platinum and Silver in waves. “Don’t play innocent with me, I know you’re both up to something.”
They continued down the corridor, sidestepping other gatherings of children as they went. The final chimes for school summoning the youngsters from every room to begin heading home. Even above the roar of the sudden flood Foresight could clearly ‘hear’ Silver and Platinum’s frantic discussion with their eyes.
“She knows, gah she knows!” Platinum slowly looked up at Foresight’s stern expression, “Now she knows that we know that she knows that we know….”
“You’re wanting me to use my mind magic for you is that right?” Foresight’s frown changed into a little grin and was quickly rewarded with both the colts stumbling. She continued to grin as they both stared at the floor, the walls and even the ceiling so’s not to meet Foresight’s eyes.
“How about we head somewhere private and talk about it huh?” Foresight suggested levelly.
“You’re not angry?” Platinum asked in astonishment.
“You’re not going to tell our parents are you?” Silver added with a frown.
“That all depends on exactly what it is you want my help with,” Foresight concluded with a wink.
“Somepony really doesn’t want us here,” Pipsqueak said wearily as he checked the power levels again.
It had been days since the initial attacks had begun, the never ending scraping and screeching of frozen talons against the Bloomberg’s shield were almost becoming a part of life. Pip was amazed at how being assaulted both night and day by screeching ice monsters could become so routine.
Life had stagnated into a ritual. Pip would wake up, shower, have his simple rationed meal and make his way to the generator room. Once there he oversaw the rotation of the crystal cores, uncoupling the near exhausted gem and reattaching a freshly recharged one in its place.
“Well that’s their loss,” Applebloom smiled, but Pip could see the strain starting to get to even her indomitable spirit.
Between them they heaved the latest crystal into the place, the glowing core fitting snugly into the receptor and with a slight tremble began feeding power to the shields. The spent core was cold to the touch, its glow muted.
“I’ll give the crystal ponies their due. They really know how to make these cores to last,” Pip said, more for something to say than anything else.
“Yep,” Applebloom replied as she secured the bulky crystal, a little bigger than a bowling ball, into a specially sized saddle frame across Pip’s shoulders.
“Do you remember the first power core they made? about the size of a pony they were. So glad they’ve managed to scale them down,” He continued and Applebloom nodded with a resigned sigh.
“Yep, just like the last time yer told me Pip,” She finished adjusting the straps holding the power core in place, “Right yer ready to go.” Applebloom gave Pip a peck on the cheek and a little fire returned to Pipsqueak’s weary soul.
The cores were a marvel, self charging they would recover their power stores by absorbing energy from the background magic in the air. If there was one good thing that the attacks had in their favour it was that they held a great deal of magic. As the ice monsters expended themselves against the shields it left enough residue power to be soaked up by the ‘resting’ crystals on board.
Another salvo from the defence guns pierced the ever present sounds of those beasts and Pip pondered on the situation. The Bloomberg was holding its own, but the ice monsters were relentless and sadly ponies weren’t so resilient. They grew tired and needed food.
Twilight had theorised that they must have destroyed the same actual ice again and again by now. The ‘creatures’ simply reformed after a time before driving against the Bloomberg’s barrier once more.
The gunnery crews had given up shooting the monsters outside the shields, they were endless. But with the barrier up constantly the trapped slush that gathered like a lake within their protective bubble was another matter.
What ever force was animating the ice would periodically reform the pool into various shapes, animals and birds of every kind would emerge before being blasted back into the shard choked pool. How long can we keep this up? Pip wondered, afraid to think of what the answer might be.
Pip headed through the press of other workers, their tired eyes mirroring his own as they all strove to keep the ship alive. The best place to collect the cast off magic was in the observation domes and so Pip was threading his way forward when he caught sight of something new.
Twilight Sparkle was standing before the entrance to one of the flight decks deep in conversation with a pegasus. She looked haggard, her mane was untidy and there were shadows under her normally bright eyes. His curiosity peaked Pip slowed down and tried to hear the conversation over the general hubbub.
“....I know Lieutenant, but unless we do something to ease the pressure this can only end one way,” Twilight said with defiance.
“But surely we could have others do it? Maybe the flight teams could carry some of the unicorns…” The deep throated stallion replied only for Twilight to snort in irritation.
“I want the least number of casualties here Lieutenant, not to double the number of crew at risk,” Twilight snapped before taking a couple of calming breaths. “I’m the best chance of this working so I’ll go, but I will need you and your teams to keep the hole secured.”
“If you’re sure your Highness….” The Lieutenant mumbled.
“I am. Now you have your orders, I expect you to be ready in ten minutes,” Twilight concluded.
“Hey move along at the front!” Someone called from behind and Pip realised he had a queue of crew behind him. With an apologetic wave Pip headed forward again.
He trotted forward with a furrowed brow. Obviously something was ahoof, something the crew as a whole didn’t know about. Still if the Princess was involved then the command crew must know about it. Celestia knew that he had enough to be dealing with. Putting his head down Pip pushed onward through the crowded walkways every so often checking that his cargo was secured.
After several tense minutes he finally reached the observation dome fitted to the keel of the Bloomberg. Inside Pipsqueak caught sight of the resting crystal cores, lined up around the edge of a grilled platform and being fussed over by several unicorns.
“Awww that can’t be good,” Pip muttered as he watched the scene before him.
The unicorns weren’t just tending to the crystals, they were charging them directly. Even as Pipsqueak watched one of the unicorns, a pale looking mare wavered before slumping to the ground, her horn winking out.
“Is that the latest core? Bring it in quickly!” A hulking black buffalo guard ordered, snapping Pip away from the exhausted unicorn who was even now being ponyhandled out of the way by her comrades. Quickly another worn looking unicorn took her place without a word.
“Well what are you waiting for? Here’s your replacement now get on it!” The buffalo snorted and quickly exchanged his drained crystal for another, its gentle glow proving it was charged.
Pip didn’t wait around to be snapped at further, but his brain was whirring. If they were having to charge the crystals directly then…. He almost galloped away from the dome, sweat beading on his forehead. Things were far worse than he first thought.
Twilight watched the hanger doors, slowly counting down in her head. In less than two minutes they’d be out and the difficult task would begin. She’d wanted to let the rest of the crew know just how dire things were, but Bold had insisted that morale came first.
Between the constant running of the barrier and the sporadic fire from the defence batteries the power drain on the Bloomberg was reaching critical levels. The field could stop a rampaging dragon Twilight knew, but against the never ending hordes of ice monsters assailing the ship they were being worn down. If things continued as they were the shields would fail within a day and then..
It wouldn’t come to that, Twilight would make sure of it. The plan was to ease the pressure. Without the need to pound the creatures within the defence field they had worked out that they could save enough power to stay afloat. So the desperate plan had been made.
The Bloomberg would descend until nearly at ground level, then they would drop the lower shields and drop their unwanted ‘passengers’. This wasn’t without risks of course, the whole sky was alive with ‘frost elementals’ as Twilight had dubbed them. Not only that, the ground was covered in a blanket of snow and ice. It was highly likely that whoever was making these things could animate that too.
That’s where the pegasi came in, they would create a gale to blow away the ground snow and hopefully keep the swarming elementals at bay for long enough to get the job done. Twilight was there to keep everypony safe.
“One minute,” the gruff tones of Boldstorm sounded through the hanger and Twilight felt her pulse quicken.
They had every pegasi on the ship here, just under sixty of them all suited up in their barrier armour. It would have made Twilight proud, had she not known what they were being thrown into.
“You all know the plan ladies and gentlecolts: A mark five hurricane directly below the Bloomberg. Keep to your positions and watch your flanks. I don’t want anything showy understood?” Lieutenant ‘Javelin’ called out his deep voice cutting through the sudden roar of claxons. The bay doors were opening.
The world outside was surprisingly calm within the Bloomberg’s shields, Twilight had been expecting a roaring, but instead she was greeted with an ominous calm. The shields still rippled and sparked as the elementals pressed ever into them.
There was more than just eagles now Twilight noted. Manticores and other even stranger beasts battered themselves against the Bloomberg’s bubble of magic. With an unspoken command the pegasi all around her spread their wings.
Twilight had one last glimpse at the determined faces all around her before they all galloped out into the air, taking her along with them. As she cleared the launch bay Twilight got her first real look at the small lake cradled in Bloomberg’s shields.
As if it had been waiting for such an attempt the pool rippled before flocks of elementals rose out of the slush. The Bloomberg’s guns gave one last volley before Twilight thrust out her own magic. The formation of pegasi was surrounded by their own purple globe moments before the mass of teeth and claws struck.
Twilight visibly dipped as the strain was felt from the tip of her horn and right down her back. She’d never tried to shield so many ponies at once, but for the moment at least her spell held.
Twilight spared a moment’s attention for the ground below and felt her heart sink. Just as suspected the tundra below was alive with bestial shapes. Glittering timberwolf and hydra shaped elementals were prowling around the Bloomberg’s shadow.
“Dropping the lower shields in thirty seconds your Highness, Celestia’s blessings be with us all,” Bold said solemnly over the intercom and Twilight gritted her teeth. This was going to get rough.
The ponies all around began to circle, beating their wings with determination and Twilight felt the tingling of their magic begin to flow. The wind picked up and began to spiral, just like they’d planned.
Twilight winced as she felt the first cracks appearing in her own shield and several elementals began to eagerly force their way inside. Still this had been planned for as well and several pegasi broke off to intercept them.
The wind continued to pick up speed and to Twilight’s relief several of the attacking creatures were caught in its grip. They began to tumble backwards, falling end over end as the pegasi’ efforts began to tell.
Twilight heard a crunching sound and saw that the Bloomberg’s shields were beginning to crush the assembled beasts below. Ice shaped hydra began to crumble as the massive weight of the airship shattered them.
The hurricane became a true cyclone now, gathering enough strength to pluck the elementals from the air and suck them into the vortex that even now spun below Twilight. This was the moment she’d been waiting for and with a sudden inrush of air the Bloomberg deactivated the lower barriers.
The sounds of the outside world rushed in with them, but Bold had timed the move perfectly. Even as the fields at the base of the Bloomberg winked out the others closed the gap with the ground. Now it’s my turn.
With the local elementals trapped within the cyclone Twilight was able to lower her own spell. Horn ablaze Twilight flew off to the starboard side of the Bloomberg until she was almost pressed against the shield itself.
Weaving a complex set of pre planned spells Twilight made a second skin of magic behind the Bloomberg’s own. Making sure everything was in place Twilight clicked on her communicator, “Okay Captain we’re in place begin when you’re ready!”
It was a marvel to watch. The Bloomberg above her began to tilt, pivoting on its axis to slowly raise its portside upwards, lifting the protective dome just like a bowl. Twilight tensed as her own spell took the sudden brunt of the attacks from outside, plugging the gap with one exception.
She’d left a tunnel in her barrier and with perfect timing the pegasi now fired the cyclone down it. Like water rushing down a plughole the trapped elementals were launched out of the dome and sent smashing into their fellows.
“Great work everyone we’re clear!” Twilight yelled into her headset and the Bloomberg angled downwards once more. Closing the gap. Now for the hard part. Twilight closed her eyes and drew on every ounce of strength she had. They were free of hitchhikers, now they needed to close the door.
The flight crews took up stations around the circumference of the main shields and Twilight stretched and morphed her own spell to cover the edges again. She couldn’t hold it for long once the elementals attacked, but mercifully Twilight didn’t need to. Just long enough for the Bloomberg’s own shields to resume their vigil.
“Ready Captain!” Twilight yelled, sweat dripping down her snout despite the cold air. That was when things went wrong.
Bursting out of the hard soil all around massive worms made of ice scattered pegasi and rock in every direction. Twilight was forced to dive aside as a behemoth of a worm carved through the frozen ground, its crystalline jaws heaving open before it slammed bodily back down towards Twilight.