Chapter 3
Resentment
Angelica harrumphed. She shot an arrow back up into the tree where her initial outpost was. She sighed.
If only there was something else I could do… If only I was still… Me… She thought to herself.
The cathedral bells rang out, loud and elegantly. Angelica followed along a long hall of pillars, that reached out, open to the floral courtyard that surrounded the half-walled halls that lead from one section of the Chapel to the other sections. The bells rang from the center of that courtyard, of which stood a royal Campanile, made up of gold and masonry.
Angelica and two other ponies made their way through the pathway, and enter the Cathedral. They keep walking until they reach the far side of the nave, in front of them stands the most elegant of ambulatories. Carved were the two pony sisters, standing tall next to the altar on each side, as if to be guarding it.
Angelica, and her two arch-priests began to make their way down the isles, as the choir sang out in an angelic tone, that bounced off every inch of the inner sanctuary of the Cathedral. Angelica took her place on the apse, before the altar. The worshippers stood from their seats, saying a short prayer that grants the High-priestess to take her position upon the altar, and teach as a religious deity almost.
Angelica takes her place upon the altar, speaking out to everyone, a prayer, of which everyone in perfect harmony recite as well.
Above her holiness, lies a great mural. Painting the story of the responsibilities of the two sisters. Luna, holding a display that resembles stars, a moon, and a shadow leading away from the glowing moon. Celestia, a sun, with various magical spots here and there, with pegasi, flying around, baring crowns of green leaves around their manes.
After the prayers of the day were over, Angelica retired to her quarters. Smaller, but still decorated with the grand decor that was found throughout the Cathedral. She undressed herself from her Priestess attire, setting her staff and cloak in the drawer for stow away. She sat on her bed, covering her head and face with her hooves. She sighed. She looked over at a picture frame with a picture of a small filly. She talked to it.
“Oh sister… I don’t know what to do now. Things are falling apart little by little. The two royal sisters are separated, and now, it is changing all of our religion… We are no longer allowed to preach the ways of the moon and stars, like we had so freely before. They’re taking the statue of Luna down, and re-painting the grand mural above the altar… Everything that has a moon on it, is being destroyed and replaced… I don’t know what to do Silver Wind... “
She paused a moment. A tear falls from her eyes. Then, she notices a small glimmer on the picture frame. She looks up to a small window that sat shining in the light of the moon. A glimmer came over Angelica’s eyes.
The next morning, a day of which she did not have to preach, she marched into the Cathedral. The painters and constructors were there chipping away at the Lunar side of the Cathedral, changing it into another statue of Celestia, adding more pegasi and clouds to the paintings above.
“Stop this at once!” She demanded, her voice loud as it rang through the wide room.
The workers stopped at once, surprised about her sudden appearance.
“Just what do you think you are doing?” She asked as she approached the altar.
“Sorry Priestess, you can’t do anything about it. Orders directly from the Princess herself.” One of the workers stated nonchalantly.
Angelica felt herself fill with frustration. “This is a complete outrage! We are fighting for a free Equestria! How could this benefit our lives in any way? We are merely oppressing our citizens in fear of losing them!” She stomped her hooves hard against the ground.
The racket she was making was attracting the attention of the guards standing just outside the main entrance.They rushed in, looking at the almost crazed white mare.
“Hey, you! What’s with all the noise?” One of the guards yelled.
Angelica turned to the guards. “I am standing up for a free Equestria!” She points to the statue. “This is vile!”
“Priestess... There is nothing you can do about this, I’m sorry. Celestia herself has pushed this project forward.” The guard said to Angelica. “How about you come with us?” One of the guards asked gently.
“No! This isn’t right!” Angelica yelled. She stepped up to the altar and began to say a prayer of Moon. This being illegal now, the guards reacted quickly. Running and taking her into custody. She did not stop chanting the prayer.
Being dragged along the smooth stone floors and hallways, She felt furious. She did not squirm however. The big elegant doors opened to a wondrous throne room, where Celestia sat proudly on her throne. A smaller throne of sorts was positioned to her left from the throne room doors, and sat a tad lower than hers. A bruting unicorn sat, posted with a stern face, waiting for the trial. The guards dragged her into the throne room, throwing her upon the floor just below Celestia, as her and her advisor stared disrespectfully down upon Angelica.
There was a brief and chilling pause before Celestia began to talk. “High Priestess Angelica. You have been brought before the council of the Solar Empire today on charges of treason, and attempted assault. Your ferocity will not be rewarded, or easily disregarded. You are the High Priestess, and therefore, act as a guide to those who worship under your whim. You could have very easily tricked people into rebelling.” Celestia calmed herself, pausing.
“I may forgive you of this-” Celestia paused again. She looked to her left, as her advisor was staring intently at her.
“Commander…” She looked almost confused. Then her expression regained to a normal one, back to her stern posture, she continued to speak. “Commander Bloodhoof, what do you think?”
The Commander smirked. “Treason is a high charge with a death penalty. But, given the fact that you did fight in our war, and that you were loyal in teaching the prayer of our church, I believe we should give her a more… Forgiving... Punishment.” He said, looking down upon Angelica.
“ I believe that she shall be dubbed a traitor to the Empire and cast out. Go and join your traitors cause, and watch from a cell within their walls as your mistake boils into your very soul. Soon, you will understand why Luna shall never be stood in that cathedral again!” The commander shouted out.
Angelica began to rouse at hearing such maleficent words. “You talk of a peaceful Equestria, one that is free to do as ponies would please! Worship whomever they want! But now, I see the truth! You are both insolent! ‘Tis not freedom, it is complete and totally dictation! I will never be loyal to you ag-” Angelica was cut off by two guards. Putting a tight grasp upon her, they gagged her mouth, and stuffed a sack around her head, dragging her out of the throne room.
“Get this traitor out of my sight. She is not worthy of being in the eyes of our Empress! Throw her to the Crystal Caves. Let us never see her, and let her never see the light of the burning sun again!” The commander ordered the guards.
Celestia sat upon her throne, blanked, almost in a daze. She sat quiet, saying nothing against her punishment.
Chanting her prayer of moon still, Angelica was bound a magic block and tossed down a dark hole, of which lead into the abyss that held nothing but Crystals.
Angelica woke suddenly. Her eyes darting the forest trees and ground around her. She was frightened for a bit, but as the dreams visuals faded, so did her panic. She put a hoof to her head. “Dammit.” She said. “Fell asleep…” She looked down on the small campsite. She sighed. Swooping down from her tree, she peeked into Terras tent, who was passed out at her desk with a cup of cold coffee at her side and a plant at hand. She warmed herself at the fire for a minute. The temperature had dropped about ten degrees, so she quickly went to her tent, finding a bag with a fluffy overcoat in it, and threw it on. She checked in on herbal as well, who was also asleep. Angelica didn’t feel very tired, so she climbed back up onto her branch and kept watch, hopefully this time without falling asleep.
Her eyes scanning the treeline, then scanning the ground. She sighed, finally sitting down on her branch and resting her head on her upright hooves. She listened to the wind that blew through the snowy trees, and finally concentrated, eyes closed, calm. Her ear twitched in an instance, and she opened her eyes, looking deeply within the forest. She heard something… Leaves rustling. Her gut had a bad feeling, and she shouted out to her team mates. “Heads up! We have company!” She said, sinking into the shadows the trees provided.
Herbal Remedy and Terra Nova came rushing out of their tents, half of their armor equipped, and still trying to put the last few pieces on, they began to hear the trees around them erupt in the whispers branches against the wind made. Then, they heard the trots of what sounded like a stampede, hooves crushing against the snow, coming closer and closer. Herbal lit her horn, creating faint shields around the other two, and summoned a full shield to herself, and a circle of smaller ones, levitating around her. She commanded they both take up tactical positions, and Herbal summoned another spell saying “Shadow Phase” as her eyes lit with power, pushing it over Terra Nova. The noises had stopped, and they feared their presence had been noted. Terra looked back to Herbal, and Herbal nodded. Terra began to fade, courtesy of the spell, and she silently went to the direction of the noises origin. She slipped into the bushes without a peep.
Herbal looked to Angelica, who was still focussed on the forest in front of her. “Can you track her? See who all is out there?” Herbal asked.
Angelica shook her head. “That spell took too much of my mana, all I have enough for is Moondip arrows, Duplica, and Rainfall. Herbal looked uneasy at her arson abilities and nodded, regretful. “Alright, we’ll just have to have hope in Terra.”
Herbal was concerned for Terra, wondering if she was fully focused on what she was doing, and not worrying about Brax. She had always been worried for him, and it seemed like she kept forgetting that Brax was one of the best Heavies in the Republic.
“You got any Mana potions or spells you could give me?” Angelica whispered loudly back to Herbal.
Herbal nodded. “I have a spell. It doesn’t give you very much, but it might be enough to help you use that spell. I know it isn’t easy to see through living matter.” She said. She summoned a blue glowing spell to her horn, and in turn, the gem on her cape glowed with power, giving Herbal the mana to cast her spell. “Manatrans.” Herbal said as a circle of symbols appeared, hovering in front of her face. Mana began to drain from Herbal, and transfer into Angelica. The circle disappeared, and Angelica summoned the spell to her eyes. It took all of her might to summon the spell, and her eyes lit up with a golden glow, however, only for an instance. She was able to get a peek at the positions of the bodies. “I can’t make out who the suspects were, but Terra seems to be doing alright. She’s about 3 meters out from their location. Should I shoot one of them?”
Herbal shook her head again. “No. We need to wait for the report from Terra before we engage. We don’t know if they have heavy armor or not.”
Angelica nodded. It seemed like a life time went by. They had waited, and waited, and wait in silence. Then the leaves started to dance again from the bushes, and Herbal and Angelica steadied their positions ready to attack. However, a laugh erupted from the bushes that caught them off guard, and as a figure started to appear from the bushes, Angelica shot at it with an arrow out of her instincts. A spell circle appeared in front of the arrows path, and redirected it back towards Angelica, who jumped to miss it.
The figures appeared with wide eyes, and Terra Nova yelled. “Hey, whoa whoa there! Why did you shoot?” Brax and Infinity Shift looked up to the tree that Angelica landed back on. Infinity Shift repealed her spell circle and raised an eyebrow. Angelica harumphed and pulled her arrow out from the tree base behind her. “Sorry…” She said. Herbal deactivated her spells and they recycled back into the Gem on her cloak. She smiled at them. “Hello everypony.” She said, and they turned their attention to her. They both smiled. “Welcome back.”
Infinity Shift and Brax approached Herbal, giving her a friendly hug and saying “Good to be back”. Infinity looked around at the campsite and stated, “Seems you all are doing well.” Brax nodded in agreement. Herbal nodded and said “Well, we thought you guys might be later than you were, so we tried to get comfortable, start gathering intel and planning so when you came back, we would be ready. Guess now that you’re here…” Herbal paused a moment, taking a head count. “Wait, where is Shuriken?” She asked.
Brax and Infinity turned to one-and-other. They both looked back at the trees behind them. “Somewhere in there.” Brax said a tad confused. Herbal yelled out to the trees. “Hey, Shuriken! Why don’t you come down and greet us, we were worried about you!”
“I’m not really one for greetings, Herbal Remedy.” Shuriken replied. “I just like to watch from afar.” She said sternly. Herbal nodded sighing, a little bit dumbfounded at the lack of reaction towards how much they had worried about their well-being. She turned back to Brax and infinity. “So then, shall we settle in and start our planning?” She asked. They both nodded. “Alright, I’ll summon up your Cozies, and you all can settle in a little better before we meet in the war tent.” Herbal said, summoning a glow to her horn, putting two orbs to the ground just as she had before, taking up the rest of the empty space around the fire. One tent began to grow considerably larger than the other, and as it shaped, it looked spiked almost, and two flags lined the top two corners, as well as a sewn emblem in the middle top of the tent’s entrance. The other orb formed a small Cozie, for Shuriken and Infinity Shift to settle in to. Really the only person Shuriken hung out with was Infinity, and refused to firstly, leave her side, and secondly, sleep alone. Brax wasn’t in need of one, since he always slept by Terra’s side.
“Alright everypony, if you want some resting time, then now is that time. I will be casting a twenty-four hour camouflage spell over this whole campsite, that’s as long as we can spare.” Herbal said, casting a dome overhead. It consumed the campsite with a great glisten, then turned iridescent, only pulsing in magic every so often. The ponies all excused themselves into their Cozies, and the camp rang quiet.
Herbal went back to her tent, knowing now that her team was assembled, her ponies would be more focused and relaxed. She couldn’t rest however, especially on such an important job. Instead she began planning for every single possibility. She even started to create potions for several different boosts. She researched the different kinds of landscapes that would be around the battlefield, possible escape routes and even different plants and natural surroundings that may aid them in any way. She was the only pony here who knew all the specifics of the job. It helps to eliminate the possibility of the enemy gaining intellect if somepony were to be caught.
Herbal hadn’t known when, but eventually she passed out; awakened by her timespell. A small green butterfly had landed on her nose, tickling her awake softly. It was about an hour before the shield spell was to wear off, and she must be prepared to brief the others on their job. She gathered all the plans she had made, picking out only two to present, and making her way over to the war tent. She looked to her butterfly on the way there, and said “Go my little spell, awaken the others peacefully.” She smiled, sending it off. She entered the tent, and laid in the middle was a giant wooden table, that looked like it was made from a hollowed tree trunk. Nothing was really in the tent other than a few small fire lit lamps. Herbal laid the plans out on the table, summoning a battlefield illusion to the wooden surface, marking a red circle on one part of the map, and a few other blue dots on another side.
She yawned, and waited for the others to arrive. She had almost dozed off when the first of her tomb finally entered the tent; which was of course Terra Nova. She was levitating a big kettle of coffee in, sipping at a small tin cup she had prepared before her entrance. She looked well rested, for the first time in a while the dark bags that resided under her eyes had faded. Thankfully because Brax was back, she could focus almost wholly on the mission. She greeted Herbal and set the Kettle down on an exposed part of the table, setting a few more cups down as well.
“I didn’t have my Mothium set, what time is it?” Terra said, rubbing her eyes. Herbal looked up from the battle chart. “ It’s half-rise right now… Or would be anyway. Make sure to set it for tomorrow. We’re mainly working out the plan today, and I’ll need you up scouting early for the mission start. Nothing much, just two or three miles .” Herbal stated, taking a tin cup and levitating the kettle, pouring a full cup for herself. She began to sip at it.
Shuriken’s eyes eased open, as she felt a soft touch on her nose. She sat up, seeing a small green glow on the tip of her snout. She was able to see it better as she woke, and figured out it was a iridescent green butterfly. She smiled at it as it flew from her snout on to her now extended hoof. “Why thank you, my delicate little friend. I’m sure you have somewhere else to be. Go on and tell Herbal I’ll be there in a little while.” She said calmly to the spell. It lifted from her hoof and slowly fluttered off out of her tent.
Shuriken sat all the way up, taking a minute to gain her bearings. She went to the entrance of the tent and shivered, as she took a hoof of snow and closed the tent. She put the snow on a small porcelain plate, and payed her attention to a small stick of incense that lay next to the plate on the wooden table. She lit the incense, and scooped the snow little by little onto her hoof, placing it on her face. After all the snow had been placed on her face, she put her hooves together, and took deep breaths of incense. After a few minutes, she finished her meditation and took a towel out from under the table, wiping her face clean. She stood, taking one last deep breath and straightening out her mind into being focused. She armored up and headed out of the tent.
“Yushi… Look at me! Everything is going to be fine. We’re going to make it out of this, alright?” Shuriken shouted, the bruises and scratches on her face more defined than before, as a fire arrow swooped past her face. She hugged the pale mare closer, as the ground started to catch fire next to them. Shuriken pushed the smaller mare along, making her gallop along side her. The two ponies ran as fast as they possibly could, through a forest of bamboo and tall grass. a flash of black zoomed on their sides, within the bamboo, and Shuriken reacted with a dagger heading that way. She decided she couldn’t spend any time on the one soldier, and continued running.
“Quick Yushi! We’re almost there! If we get back to the village, we’ll be safe!” Shuriken said breathlessly. They galloped as hard as they could, then finally the end of the forest was spotted, as a bridge over a large pass covered in fog could be seen ahead. The two burst from the forest, running across the bridge without hesitation. A turret shape could be made out in the short distance ahead, and suddenly an archway was apparent.
“Samurai! The Daggertail are here! drop the bridge!” Shuriken shouted out, taking a breath for a moment. The guards in the large red turrets heard, and acknowledged Shuriken’s demands, for one banged on a bell, letting the whole village know that they were under attack, and the other pulled a lever that quickly collapsed the bridge that led into town.
The two ponies were able to rest a moment, but Shuriken paid her attention to the edge of the forest across the pass. She narrowed her eyes at it. Suddenly, bursting from the cover of the bamboo, a pegasus came flying over the pass and up to one of the sentry towers. He let his blade fly, meeting the neck of the guard responsible for the bridge. He threw a few knives over to the other tower, clipping the guard. Flipping back out of the tower, he fell into the pass, and a moment later came soaring back up, with the bridge at hoof. He smirked, laying it back down and putting knives in it, sticking it firmly to the ground.
Shuriken looked horrified at the pegasus, and put a hoof to Yushi, motioning her to keep running. They sprinted off within the town, not looking back. “Get Master Wei, he’ll know what to do!” Shuriken said, breathlessly.
The two ran down the dirt street, kicking up dust from the ground in their wake. The pegasus flew high in the sky, and blew a sea-shell horn he had strapped around him. Moments afterward, the bamboo forest began to rustle, and the ground began to shake. A roar of voices could be heard, screaming out violently, and a parade of troops in armor rained across the bridge, never fearing that it may fall. The girls had run up a hill, and was able to see such a sight; it caused more panic within Shuriken, who then wailed and sprinted off again. “Master Wei!” She said, approaching the red pagoda at the top of the hill.
An older looking Earth-pony turned himself to face Shuriken and Yushi. The stallion looked to them, sweaty and beat, and frowned.
“I know what is coming… The legends foretold this day… But I never knew that you two would have to see it in this life. This changes much.” He said, his white beard hung, beaded as he strolled over to the hillside, examining the village below and stroking his beard.
“I will help. It seems as if they have brought a small enough force.” He said, “I don’t think these barbarians can handle an old master and a couple of his finest students.” He looked back at them and smiled.
He sprung from the cliff’s edge, sliding down the side, and holding his staff out. “Suit up mares, we have work to do.” He yelled back to them. Shuriken nodded, and put a hoof on Yushi’s shoulder, telling her to hurry. “Come on.” She said gently. Yushi nodded.
They both hurried down the mountain, making it to a small shack to the South of the fight. Others had suited up as well, and were hurrying to the scene, and many of the concerned citizens were out on the streets merely watching. “Get back everypony, stay in your houses! Protect the children!” Shuriken yelled at they ran down the streets.
They stopped at a smaller shack, rushing in they went straight to the back room, revealing a rack of weapons, and two mannequins holding armor. One held a red kimono with sakura’s on it, and the other, a leotard looking red suit, with a small out-popping skirt. The two suited up. Shuriken grabbed most of the weapons on the rack, consisting of shurikens, kunais, and smoke bombs, and placing them in her sleeves securely. She took her two main weapons, and did the same. Yushi attached her naginata to the magnet on her back, and fastened magnets on her hooves.
A small displacement of her armor was apparent to Shuriken, and she started to fix it. She was interrupted by Yushi, whom pushed her hoof away, and fixed it herself. “I can dress myself… I’m blind, not paralyzed.”
Shuriken nodded. “Right… Sorry…” She said. “Let’s go.” She stated firmly. The two trotted out the door. They climbed to the tops of the houses and buildings of the village, and was able to spot the fight. It had gotten elevated to the point where houses were lit in flames. The two charged, running from house to house, getting closer to the danger. The first attacker approached them, and Yushi took him down with a swift kick of magnetic hooves. Shuriken is meanwhile jumping to the street, and unsheathing her weapons. She kicks up dust around her and begins to twirl herself. The soldiers rush her, and in result, end up on the ground with cuts all over them. She springs out of that, and jumps quickly around, attacking a string of soldiers. One of them however dodges her attack, and rebounds with his kittana. He is a heavily armored Samurai, who is covered from almost head to hoof in armor. She is able to block the hit, however unready for the immense force, she is immobilized by his strike. He takes the higher attack angle, forcing all of his weight down on her fans, and she struggles to maintain her push back. Suddenly, the soldier is knocked from his position, and falls a few feet from Shuriken. He slides and lands on his hoof. Yushi also lands on her feet as well, helping Shuriken back up.
Yushi sprints forward, swinging her weapon forward, and meaningly catching his swing, while Shuriken throws a few kunais at him, piercing the small openings between the armor. He wails in pain, and pulls back from his attack, as Yushi twirls around, and smacks his helm with the back of her naginata; the helm came flying off. Shuriken came in for the final strike, and ended him with her fan-blades.
They both rose from their position, to look at the houses and streets in front of them, set aflame. They heard a wail, and shoot their glance quickly behind them, to see Master Wei be thrown to the ground, beaten and bruised. They both rushed over to him, and help him back up. “He is not natural… He is demonic.” Master Wei said weakly. Shuriken looked up to examine the Pegasus who had beaten Wei nearly to death. He carried an extremely long kittana, with a gem implanted in the grip. He didn’t show his eyes from the shadow of his straw hat, and was dressed in merely rags and fair iron plate. He did not look as if he possessed the power to do such a thing. He was white, with silky black hair, and lined with scars on his body.
“You are all no match for me… For generations, your population has polluted this land! Taking the Samurias resources, and land and claiming it as your own… Well no more shall we bow and pardon you, for now we have the power to destroy you!” He said, laughing maniacally. He raised his blade, and it lit aflame, with a violent blue fire. He let his blade fly, bringing down a wave of blue heat, and Yushi and Shuriken barely had enough time to grab the Master, and jump out of the way.
“His blade… It is the fire of the Kitsune! He has killed the Kitsune of the Bamboo forest!” Master Wei exclaimed. Shurikens eyes bolted up at the pegasus, she began to tear and was about to charge into the sky to strike, when a hoof caught her. “Shuriken, Yushi. I know that she was very close to you two… But now, with the power that he has, there is almost no stopping him. Only I, the bearer of the rain spirit, may be able to weaken his power. Even if he were to kill the lad, the sword would forever hold Kitsune’s power. She is trapped. The legends… Are true… This village… This clan… Is lost. There is no saving it.” He expressed, with a heavy heart. He looked to the two mares, and put a hoof to both of their cheeks. “You both retain the legacy of the great Shadowhoof clan. You must escape, so when the time comes, you may tell it’s tale, and restart the clan.” He said sternly. The mares expressed uncertainty and stubbornness. “Master! No! We cannot leave this village to ruin!” Shuriken yells. “Think of your legacy. What remains of your family. Protect them, so that it can be restored to it’s glory someday.” He says, looking kindly at the two
The pegasus charged the through the air, shooting striaght towards the ponies. Master Wei puts his hooves on each of the mares shoulders and smiles. “No time to argue girls. Begone, I can handle this. I may never see you again, but know that you shall always be in my heart.” He says with happiness in his voice. Smoke erupts around the group, and when it settles, Yushi and Shuriken are on a hill, looking down upon the village. They see a fire, erupt from the town, and they look down in sorrow, and let a few tears fall from their eyes. Yushi looks up to Shuriken, and is this time the one who puts a hoof on her. “Come on… we need to go… They won’t stop until we’re dead.” She says, trying to sound strong. The two start off into the forest, towards the next big city.
They both board a ship, packs on their back filled with everything they could possibly need. They find a spot on the outside deck to unload, and lean against the side of the ship. They gaze upon the city for one last time. The ship’s horn blows, and the last few ponies board. The anchor is brought up, the ship is untied from the dock, and ceases to be stationary; and so begins their new adventure, leaving their life as they know it.