“Keep it steady colts. No sudden moves,” Repose’s calm voice called out and Pip drew confidence from it.
It had been a tense morning even before they’d stepped out to watch the meeting. The soldiers were all edgy, the officers tight lipped and Pip could clearly see why as he stood with the others upon the snow shrouded ground.
Princess Twilight was standing proud and confident before the gates of a massive ruin. It had once been a tall and majestic building if Pip was any judge of architecture, but its glory days had long since passed. Its towers were tumbled and decrepit while its walls held gaping holes as if some giant maw had taken immense bites out them.
What made it worse were the creatures squatting among the dilapidation. They turned Pipsqueak’s stomach to see the horrors for himself. None were alike, each one a conglomerate of misplaced bones and flesh merged with fouled ice. They crawled, slithered or hopped about the fallen masonry in a parody of true soldiers.
He didn’t understand all the details of this event, but trusted that Twilight knew what she was doing. Pip had to hope she had a plan. It couldn’t be true that she was willing to deal with these things or their master. The very thought of working with such ‘allies’ made Pip physically ill.
“Eye on the task tech,” Repose cautioned and Pip gripped his wrench with trembling hooves.
They were not going to be caught out again, that had been very clear in the briefing this morning. The soldiers were all armed with stun rifles and barrier armour, the engineers, which included Pip, had prepared portable shield emplacements and the new ‘shock mines’. Simple devices by Equestrian standards now, a clear indication that they detested making weapons, but as times demanded.
If the opposite forces were concerned about their preparations they gave no sign, simply repeating their patrols as if the small army camped outside was of no consequence. The very small army Pip noted glumly. It was hoped that fighting wouldn’t break out, but they planned to be ready if it did.
Twilight was to meet with this ‘Orzana’ to discuss matters, the small force was simply there for protection. Should things turn ugly they were to buy time and allow her highness retreat back to the Bloomberg. So it was with nervous hooves that Pip placed and primed the last of his mines. Like everything else in the growing Equestrian arsenal they were made to stun and disable, not kill. But what effect they would have on the undead monsters before them? Pip had no idea.
The unadorned brass ball chimed as Pip set it, the tiny crystal sensors popping out and twinkling in the cold sunlight. The delay gave him thirty seconds to get clear and with his task completed he rushed back to the awaiting soldiers with Repose and Spear close behind.
The unicorn hadn’t let Pip out of his sight since they’d deployed, his reassuring presence keeping Pip’s own twanging nerves in check. He suspected that Applebloom, ever persuasive, had told Repose to keep a close eye on him and once settled safely behind the portable array he asked Repose just that.
“No more than any of the other’s under my command tech, but I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of your missus,” Repose said with a small grin and the other soldiers chucked in a knowing way. “Plus I would never get to sample her cooking again if I let you get hurt now would I?” Repose added and Pip felt the stress ease.
That anypony could be so calm and good humoured with the world going to Tartarus around them gave Pipsqueak some hope for the future. He spared a look for the other teams assembled in a rough semicircle, following the line of the Bloomberg’s prow shields.
As with everything Twilight had been exact in her plans and so the force was aligned down to the meter with set out lines of retreat and safety buffers. It was way over Pip’s head but looked impressive nevertheless. It gave him confidence that things really had a chance to work out alright.
“Look sharp, here he comes,” Repose called and Pip snapped his head around to see the gates begin to open. They were gradually encased in a sickly blue aura and Pip felt his chest tighten. Everyone looked on as the gates shuddered and then with painstaking slowness crept open. The splintering sound echoed across the landscape as chunks of ice cracked and sloughed away, tumbling to land with a crash on the ground below.
Pip hadn’t been there the first time Orzana had ridden out, but the descriptions he’d heard lived up to the spectacle. The gurgles and screeches were simply dreadful, causing those around him to tense and grimace.
“Your Highness, I am glad to see you’re recovered and that you accepted my invitation to speak together,” Orzana’s voice boomed, self importance dripping from every syllable.
“Invitation that’s rich,” Spear Tip muttered and Pip saw scratches left by his talons. He’d come to know the small squad better since their first assignment together in Sal Palomino and even hoped they had forgiven Pip for the loss of Tempest.
“Hush Spear. We all know what the real situation is, let the politicians play their games and be ready for when the manure hits the fan,” Repose replied levely.
Orzana’s entourage came to a halt, the wendigos pawing at the ground as the ram dismounted a few feet from Twilight and her own guards. Orzana looked ridiculously small compared to the beasts either side of him, but still the ram carried himself with a confidence that suggested he was far more than his slight frame would imply.
“Princess Twilight, I come to offer you a proposition. Your exploits are known even in this distant land and I humbly ask for your assistance in an important matter,” Orzana’s voice sounded anything but humble to Pip. The condescending overtones were impossible to miss.
Twilight stood for a moment as if studying the ram before giving a small bow of acceptance. Orzana approached right to the edge of the Bloomberg’s barrier, two bulky flesh horrors in tow. Still Twilight didn’t speak, watching the ram with an impassive face.
“Let us be done with this posturing Highness, I have made no move to harm your people and we both know you’re in no position to oppose me should I wish to. I extend the hoof of friendship, something that Equestrian’s hold in high regard if my memory serves me right?” Orzana added with a glint in his red eyes.
Pip held his breath, if things were going to go south then it would be now. For several moments where Pip’s heart hammered in his chest until Twilight finally responded, “We are of course grateful for your timely assistance Orzana and will be happy to talk with you about repaying such. But I must ask you to release our ship and crew. Once I can be certain of their safety then I will see what I can do to help you.”
Orzana seemed to smile, “There are few safe places in Azganeth these days. I can only promise they will have nothing to fear from me or my minions if you cooperate.”
Twilight’s stance didn’t change, “Say what you want, we will think it over and then give you our answer.”
For the briefest of moments Orzana frowned before the confident grin returned, “It is better that such matters of import are not spoken before curious ears. Might I suggest a more personal meeting? My home, such as it is, is welcome to you, or aboard your own ship if that doesn’t please you?”
“It will take time to consult with my crew Orzana,” Twilight replied coldly and Pip felt his hooves twitch. This was it.
Orzana’s body seemed to ripple with dark energies before the facade of confidence reappeared, “Of course your Highness, but I warn you my patience isn’t without limits. The longer you are here the more chance that others may come seeking you. I would not be able to ensure your safety should that happen.”
The moment passed and with a sense of relief Pip saw Orzana turn around and make his way back to the awaiting chariot. Orzana paused before remounting, “One more day your Highness, after that things could get difficult.”
With that final comment the delegation retreated back within the ruin’s confines and Pip let out the breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding.
“Do we have something?” Twilight addressed the council but saw sadly that none of them could meet her gaze.
“There’s just too many of them your highness. We don’t have the numbers to break out,” Javelin admitted in defeat.
“A.B?” Twilight turned to see Applebloom was just as dumbfounded.
“Well I could try overchargin the shields, but the best that could do is buy us time n probably just end up blowin us up anyhow, Sorry Twi,” Applebloom’s face was a mask of frustration.
Twilight took a deep breath and steadied herself for what came next, “Then I see no other choice, I’m going to have to submit to Orzana’s demands.”
“He still ain’t told yer what he wants yer to do Big.D we can’t let yer….” Applebloom began only for Twilight to hold up a hoof for silence.
“Part of being a ruler is knowing when certain sacrifices need to be made. The situation is untenable. If any of us are to survive then I will have to keep Orzana off your backs for as long as possible,” Twilight could have wept. Not for herself, though she truly was scared, but at the expressions of the others.
They’d all given so much and it looked like it might all be for nothing. Twilight was in little doubt that whatever Ozrana had in mind for her it couldn’t be good, But if that meant the others were safe then that was what she had to do.
“It was I who made you all come on this trip, it was me who pushed us into danger to fix a wrong not of your making and so I’ll take the responsibility and consequences,” Twilight stared at each of them in turn and wished she could do more than to thank them for all sticking with her this far.
“I want you to take the Bloomberg and head back south, let the other princesses know my situation and seek their counsel as to what actions are to be taken. This isn’t a discussion, this is a royal order,” Twilight hated using her authority in such a manner, but felt there was little choice.
“We can’t leave you your Highness, we’d never forgive ourselves if we did,” Boldstorm said and Twilight’s heart broke to see his lip was trembling.
“You can and you will. It’s better for me to suffer an unknown fate that makes your escape possible than for you all to be killed trying to protect me. As Applebloom said, we don’t know exactly what Orzana wants with me. It may not be as bad as all that.”
The words sounded hollow even to Twilight, but her mind was made up, “You all have your orders I will meet Orzana in his home and you will head south.”
“We should have him here Princess!” Bold’s tenuous composure broke, the tears running freely. Twilight was shocked at his reaction but even more so at what came next, “We can see what he has to say for himself and if it’s no good we can take him out.”
Twilight’s face became dour, “You would have us violate the rules of parley and assassinate him? Have we really become so desperate?”
“He ain’t exactly playin fair either Twi,” Applebloom added and Twilight felt her grip on events slipping.
“From what I understand if he’s using true necromancy then the minions under the spell caster should become directionless if they themselves are slain,” A unicorn officer suggested before Twilight stamped her hoof down on the briefing table.
“Enough! I will not have Orzana aboard this ship. The very fact that he’s so willing to do so makes me think he’s planning something in that regard. I don’t want him or any of his undead inside the Bloomberg,” Twilight felt her mane begin to waver with heat, as sure a sign she was close to losing her temper and forced herself to calm down.
“I know things have been hard but that doesn’t justify us abandoning the very principles Equestria is based upon,” Twilight said with a mournful sigh. “We do this with integrity or we don’t do it at all! Am I clear?”
The council all stared at the floor and Twilight’s face softened, “We’re not finished yet and I certainly don’t plan to spend my last days trapped in Orzana’s clutches. I’m counting on you all to bring help while I distract him.”
“But yer might not come back Twi,” Appelboom said quietly.
“We all risked something coming here. We hoped to make the world a better place for the lithi because it was the right thing to try,” Twilight announced in her best authoritative voice just like Celestia had taught her. “I still think we were right to try and by the heavens I’m going to keep trying. Doing what’s right is seldom easy, but is always worth it.”
It was a good show Twilight had to admit that and she really did believe what she said. It eased the fear in her heart and Twilight was happy to see her words seemed to have inspired the others. They stood a little taller, their backs a little straighter. “Now this is how we’re going to play this….”
“They will be looking for you by now Foresight,” Impasse’ constant interruptions were painful for Foresight to ignore, but she just couldn’t find the heart to block him out.
She had poured over the books and manuscripts almost constantly, losing track of time. Had it been hours or days? Foresight simply didn’t know and if she was being honest, she didn’t even care.
Every new secret was one step closer to the answer - she just knew it. Amidst the horrific experiments and investigations detailed there was a pattern forming, but it wasn’t one that Foresight wanted to see. Foresight had hoped that once she could see all the research done here that a common link would become apparent, some key element that could be gained without resorting to….
But all the spells, all the reactions required unwholesome ingredients. It shouldn't have surprised her in hindsight. They all demanded something to be given, something which was a terribly heavy price to pay. Foresight was determined, but would only stoop to such means when there was absolutely no other choice left to her.
That threat was looming however, nothing here pointed to any other option. In order to bring something back with the magic shown here something had to be given in return. Foresight was quickly coming to the conclusion that whoever this library belonged to had been a mastermind, but with such a hatred for living things it was nauseating.
Whoever they had been they harboured a special loathing for equines in all their forms. A consuming hatred for the freedom and joy they had. What could have made such a genius feel in such a way?
Foresight knew it was the empathic nature of her study giving her this insight, both her blessing and curse to be able to experience the past through what her magic touched. The bottomless resentment and anger had bled into the very rock of this place. That was the only clear message and no matter how many times Foresight tried to examine it she came to the same conclusions. She would have to do something terrible if she was to save the lithi.
“They will find you and stop you Foresight. Give this up,” Impasse said again with such cold certainty that she wavered for a moment.
Foresight hoped to find something, anything redeemable here. Some insight that would give her a chance to rework the spells written to make things all better. Maybe…. A dark flash caught her attention, it wasn’t an actual light, more a beacon in her mind. Drawn by its touch Foresight found another spell and a grin slowly formed on her muzzle, “They won’t.”
Foresight was surprised she’d missed it but now there before her was a spell of concealment, what was more it didn’t need all that much to cast. Once again Foresight drew on her own fears. Fears of failing, of letting herself and others down and fed those emotions into the spell.
A cold wind swept out from her, forming a sheet of crystals along the walls and floor and even the ceiling above. Foresight smiled as the hole Impasse had made in the wall was quickly sealed by black tinted ice. The door itself was recreated with a lattice work of the same, the temperature within the library plummeted before Foresight finally finished. It was becoming easier to cast powerful magic each time.
They were now completely sealed in, the world outside blocked by a barrier of ice and darkness. Foresight was safe to continue her studies and Impasse’ threats now meant nothing, “I told you, I’m going to solve this and nothing is going to stop me.”
looking up Foresight could see the small cocoon that now held Impasse utterly immobile, only the lithi’s burning black eyes were visible and they watched her with all the warmth of a statue, “You still have not done what you know will have to happen if you want to make the magic contained here work Foresight. We both know where that leads, there is still time to change your mind.”
“No!” Foresight screamed into his mind, “Don’t you see? This is the only way to be sure!” She panted, great clouds of frozen mist forming around her. “I can’t take a chance with Twilight and the others, they might fail.”
“And you will not? You would kill innocent foals in front of their parents and harvest the pain you caused to try and change me into a normal pony?” Impasse’ words bit deep, raking at Foresight’s heart. “You would lure ponies like Strong Heart or Platinum shield to a fate more horrible than my curse? I’ve been linked to your mind and saw every book you did Foresight. I know what I speak of.”
“It won’t come to that, it could never come to something like that…” Foresight replied, but deep in her aching heart she suspected it to be true.
“We have fought monsters and evil mages for years Foresight, they all had the same thing in common. Like attracts like Foresight, the darkness here will only call and cause more darkness,” Impasse’ words rang true, no matter how much Foresight desperately didn’t want them to be so.
“But these spells, they must have been written by a genius Impasse. They could remake the world if used correctly,” Foresight tried but it sounded feeble even to her, yet she wouldn’t let go, “Look this one can change the minds of creatures, just think we could take all the evil thoughts and monsters and make them good!”
She thrust a leather bound book up for Impasse to read for himself. It was all there, a spell to dominate and reshape the very nature of a creature's mind, “It can be used for good Impasse! I can make it good!”
“You say that now, but see what that book is bound in? That’s skin Foresight,” Impasse replied, only making her more angry.
“That doesn’t matter! I…” Foresight began before she saw the book as if for the first time. There was a cutie mark on it. A simple depiction of a little toy house and a hammer. She dropped it recoiling and looked at her own hooves in disgust.
“It is the same tune we hear everywhere Foresight, anywhere darkness has taken hold and strangled the goodness out of a place. When we put our focus purely on our own needs it only leads to misery and pain,” Impasse’ words struck Foresight one after another like a hammer blow.
“The creature who made this place may have had a brilliant mind, but they were foolish beyond reason. They let their own desires cloud and destroy them,” Impasse finished and Foresight looked up to the mural again.
“Though I burn, my works live on. Order will prevail.”
“It, whatever it was, had lost. Bitter and twisted it came here and sought to cause as much harm as possible in the name of ‘good’. I know where a world of total order leads Foresight, it leads to things like me,” Foresight looked about herself and it was as if a shroud had lifted.
She saw things she’d done, imprisoned Impasse and cut herself off from the world to hide in a dark pit of misery. They were little steps, but still steps away from what she really wanted, “I was just so frightened of losing you Impasse, I...I don’t think I could bear it. Not to lose someone I love, again..”
“If you want to lose me Foresight then you stay here, become something evil that will need to be destroyed, then either you or I would fall. Let us be done with this place and return to the light above. ‘True’ answers aren’t found in dark places Foresight, they are found in the light,” Even before Impasse had finished Foresight was searching her mind for the spell to undo the binds that held him. But they had vanished, the knowledge had gone from Foresight’s mind!
She felt the whole chamber shift, not in a physical way but like a starving dog whose last bone had been snatched away. Foresight felt the sudden pressure on her own mind, the scrabbling claws of a frenzied predator against the door of her soul. It was angry.
Foresight jumped as the ice she’d summoned began to tremble, it was slight at first but grew in power. Looking around she caught sight of her own reflection in the black surface, but the eyes were wrong. They were pupiless and had a strangely insect quality to them.
She jumped and spun around, the reflection had held an imposing shadow behind Foresight, all legs and a single massive horn sprouting from a mandibled head. Mercifully there was nothing there, yet the feeling of rage and a hunger denied continued to grow.
Then Foresight heard it. like the buzzing of thousands of wings in her mind, “Return or I crush him.”
The creaking sound from above caused Foresight’s heart to skip a beat, the tethers holding Impasse in place were writhing and constricting. The words were disjointed, as if the speaker was struggling to remember what speech actually was. It was all intent and no thought, just like the first dark cloud that had drawn Foresight to this place.
“Who are you?” Foresight yelled her fears flooding back as she saw the bonds pulling Impasse into an unnatural shape. There was no reply and Foresight had the impression that the force, whatever it was didn’t even know the answer itself.
“Return or I crush him,” The same buzzing call screeched inside her head.
“If you harm him then I will leave and make sure no one can ever come back,” Foresight sent like a frozen knife, forming her anger into a blade that could cut through. The creature squirmed before, to Foresight’s horror, seemed to laugh.
“Come back to me or I’ll crush him,” The voice was clearer now and Foresight shuddered as she recognised it. It sounded horribly like her own.
“It is feeding off you Foresight, you must not….” Impasse began before the sounds of grinding stone caused Foresight to pale.
“You have no choice if you want to save your stallion friend,” The voice came again and Foresight sank to the floor.
She could feel the presence lurking all around her. Snapping up every little morsel of fear and worry Foresight had unwittingly thrown it, it had awoken again. It was here and it was hungry, “By Celestia what have I done?”