//------------------------------// // Comfort and Fear // Story: The Monster Below: Nightfall // by Greenback //------------------------------// “Beakbreaker?” There's no answer. I gently knock on the door once again. “Beakbreaker?” Silence. I don't expect her to answer, not after what happened last night. No one should ever be awoken by doctors trying to save their parents, furious at how their warning monitors didn't go off (an act, I would later learn, that came from an exhausted nurse accidentally forgetting to turn them on). Nor should they see the doctors finally give up and announce the time of death. No one could see that. Beakbreaker couldn't. She screamed at the doctors and nurses to keep trying. I was there as the tears came, and then the stunned incomprehension of realizing that her parents were gone. I watched as she howled, the sound of a soul ripped apart by grief, a sound that will stay with me to my dying day. Those howls became so great that the nurses had to inject Beakbreaker with a tranquilizer to calm her down. I've faced death, imprisonment, despair, and mutilation, but seeing Beakbreaker break down was one of the most terrifying things I've ever seen. I froze, not knowing what to do. Only when the drugs put her to sleep did I finally act, carrying Beakbreaker to her room, where I placed her on the bed and left her to rest. That was just before the sun came up; now it's about to go down and there's no sign that Beakbreaker's woken up. I try one last time to rouse her. When it's clear that she's not going to answer, I concede defeat. She's probably shut down emotionally, and nothing I can do will get through to her. All I can do for now is to give her space and be ready when she wants to talk. “I'll come back tomorrow, Beakbreaker,” I say. “If you want to talk before then, I'll be in my room.” Leaving Beakbreaker's door, I head to the stairs. Princess Luna is probably waiting for my daily report, and I shouldn't keep her waiting. I head to my room, and in less than two minutes I'm back in Luna's terrace. With Glasseye busy at yet another meeting, it's just Luna and myself this time. “We're almost done with the zebras,” I tell Luna. “The colonel told me that finding any more survivors at this point is unlikely. We'll be flying back to Equestria soon.” Luna nods, but she's more interested in me than my words. “Something troubles you, Silverspeak.” I nod. “It's Beakbreaker. We found her parents, but they... they didn't make it.” Luna closes her eyes. “I'm sorry to hear that. Losing one's parents is always a tragedy, even when it's expected. But as cold as it may sound, Silverspeak, we have more pressing matters to attend to. I have been informed of the large tunnels found by our troops." A projection appears above the table, and shows a tunnel. And, like I've heard, it's enormous, the top almost impossible to see even with other soldiers shining their lights up, going over deep, jagged gouges. Luna studies the projection. “My researchers have yet to conclude what made those gouges." “I wouldn't want to meet it, whatever it is.” “As would all of us. But if it was created recently, it means Chrysalis has enlisted the aid of a creature we have yet to see.” “Then what shall we do?” It's a moment before Luna replies. “The colonel informed me that, based on interviews with the surviving zebras, no one saw the creature or felt it tunneling beneath them. For all we know, it's currently burrowing beneath Manehattan. And with the sabotage attempts by the changelings, we must ensure the safety of our citizens, regardless of the cost." She stands. “Return to Genesis and have Glasseye take the city to Saddle Lanka.” My hometown? “Of course, but if I may... why send us there?” “We will need to cast spells around our major population centers to prevent this creature from causing them to collapse, or to have the changelings get in via the tunnels they've already dug. To do so will require enormous amounts of magic, and the crystals in Saddle Lanka will suffice.” I nod. "A good plan. Princess, if I may ask... will Mangus be helping us there?" "That is up to you. Mangus is a strong unicorn; he may prove useful at manual labor, and he will not get any closer to redeeming himself by sitting in a cell." "I know, it's just... Princess, I've already talked with Mangus. He hasn't changed. Sooner or later he's going to cause trouble." "Which is why he will remain under guard. He knows the consequences of insubordination." "That won't stop him." Luna frowns. "I have seen how Mangus tormented you throughout your childhood and into your adult life. My sister and I did consider leaving him in the dungeons, but we ultimately decided to allow him the chance at redemption." I've annoyed Luna. I'll have to choose my next words carefully. "With all due, Princess, you don't know him like I do. I know how he thinks. He'll want revenge for what we did to him. He's just biding his time." "We've seen Mangus' mind, Silverspeak. My sister and I are well aware of his anger and his desire for control. The only way for ponies like him to be set on the path to redemption is for those stronger than themselves to make sure they don't fall out of line." "But why? He killed hundreds of ponies in Manehattan! Not even Tirek or Discord did that!" "Yes, he did. And he will pay for that crime. Even if he goes to Saddle Arabia, he will never be free. He will be forced to serve others for the rest of his days until he takes his dying breath. It will not be an easy life, and any rebellion will be harshly punished. This is not a ticket to freedom, Silverspeak. Remember that... and remember that you, too, were given the chance of redemption. You took it. We hope Mangus will do the same, and that he may one day turn himself around." He never will. Of that I have no doubt. Still, it's satisfying to know that Mangus isn't going to have things any easier in Saddle Arabia. If I can tolerate Mangus for a few months, I'll have that knowledge to cheer me up in the years to come. *** With Luna ordering Genesis back to Equestria, the colonel wraps up the military operations in the zebra empire. The last units are brought back, and the last zebras are given shelter in Genesis' hotels (free of charge on orders by Glasseye himself). As the colonel and his forces board their zeppelins and take off, Genesis' massive engines roar to life as the city begins the three-day trek back to Equestria. When I wake up the next morning, the newspaper carries a front-page article about the new security measures put into place throughout Equestria. It's grim reading:  There's a nation-wide curfew now in effect, with no one allowed outside of their homes after sunset. Any violators will be subject to immediate detention by the garrison in charge of each settlement. Identification cards will be issued to everyone that will have to be scanned at checkpoints set up around all the settlements, in addition to random screenings with the changeling detectors. In the transcript of her press release, Luna stresses again and again that she doesn't want to do this, but it's the only thing we can do now to ensure that everyone remains safe as Chrysalis and her changelings ramp up their attacks. Yet, there's no mention of the large tunnels or whatever might have made them. It's probably an effort to prevent mass hysteria by a public terrified of monsters bursting out from beneath their hooves. I put the paper away; I don't feel like adding any more depressing news to my day, especially when I have to go check on Beakbreaker. I wait until nine before heading down and knocking on her door. “Beakbreaker? It's me, Silverspeak.” There's still no answer. I wait a minute before trying again, and once again there's no response. Disappointing, but not unexpected. Hopefully I'll have better luck around mid-afternoon. The longer Beakbreaker spends sealed away from others, the greater the chances of her sinking into a depression she may never escape. To see her parents alive one day, and then wake up the next to find them dead... how would anyone react to that? How would I react? I try not to think about the question as I wander through the Monolith, turning my attention to Saddle Lanka. Being a major settlement, the city is well-protected, but Chrysalis has to know that destroying some of the most powerful crystals in Equestria would be a major blow to our defenses. The city's defenses are heavy, but that wouldn't stop Chrysalis; the crystals are too tempting a target. The route back to my room has never felt so long, and my hooves can't dial the number on the phone fast enough. “Hello?” “Mom? Mom, it's Silverspeak!” “Silverspeak? Where have you been? We haven't heard from you in days!” Wait. Something's wrong. Her voice is too raspy and wet. “What's the password?” “Quiverquill.” Okay, at least she's not a changeling. “Mom, are you okay? You don't sound so good.” She coughs again. “Just came down with something, that's all. I'm afraid your father did, too. He's sleeping it off. I was about to join him.” I can't beat about the bush here. “Listen, Mom, you've read about what happened in the zebra kingdom, correct?” “Oh yes. The poor things; Saddle Lanka is going to open up some shelters for any zebras who want to stay here.” “Mom, I want you to come to Genesis.” “Silversp-” “Chrysalis is getting bolder, and there's no sign she's going to stop. Now, we're heading towards Saddle Lanka and should be there in a few days. When we arrive, I want you and Dad all packed up; I can have Gusty fly you up here, and you can stay in my penthouse. You and Dad promised that if things got bad you'd come up, and that moment's here.” “Silverspeak, we can't just run away.” “You're not. You're getting somewhere safe. And if you want to help with the war effort, I can find something for you to do up here. But I can't lose you, not now.” It's silent on the other end. “Mom?” “I'll talk it over with your father... but you're right." She sighs. “And a promise is a promise. We'll be ready for you.” “Good. Get better, okay?” “We'll... we'll try.” “Love you, Mom. See you in a few days." I hang up. Thank Celestia I was able to talk some sense into her. If Dad resists, I'll blast some sense into him, too. But at least they're coming. That's a start... but if the changelings ever got here, we'd have a fight on our hooves as well. The city has a security team, but even they couldn't defend a city this big. It'd be up to individual ponies to fight back... I need to find a way to tip the odds, to give ordinary ponies a way to defend themselves. But how? We can give everyone weapons, but we need a backup plan, something we can use in case we get overwhelmed... Wait! That's it! I can- “Mr. Silverspeak?” I head to the door and find a guard waiting for me. “Yes?” “I'm one of Mangus Bluehorn's guards. He requested to speak with you; said it was urgent.” “What is it was about?” “He didn't say.” I want to move while inspiration has me, but something about this request feels strange; maybe it's just the way the guard delivered it, but I have the strong feeling I should meet Mangus. I follow the guard to the elevator and then down to the dungeons. Mangus taps his hooves impatiently inside his cell. “About time you showed up.” “What do you want, Mangus? And make it quick.” “Places to go, ponies to see?” I head towards the exit. “Wait! With these changelings getting more aggressive, I was thinking it'd be a good idea to try and find some new information on them, intel other ponies might have missed. And since this is a big, expensive city founded by a wealthy pony, it has to have an extensive library of rare books, right? So why don't we look in there and see what we can find about changelings?” Mangus can't read minds, but I still get goosebumps down my back. He and I had the same idea; if there is a library of rare texts in this city, it's likely to have more books than one pony can read alone, let alone gather. I eye Mangus, studying him. I could easily enlist anyone to help me out in the library, especially when they hear what I'm looking for, but Luna did want Mangus to get out of his cell. "Well?" Mangus asks. "You want any help?" I think about it for a few moments longer. “All right, Mangus," I say. "We'll do that.” *** With four guards accompanying us, Mangus and I take the elevator to the Monolith's library. Being backed by Genesis' deep pockets, the shelves are packed with a seemingly endless array of books, medical texts, and encyclopedias ranging from material a grade school student would read to ten pound manuals that only someone with a PhD could decipher. With any luck the key to stopping the changeling is somewhere in here. All I have to do is find it. “Gather up everything this library has about changelings,” I tell Mangus. “And once that's done, order as many caffeinated beverages as you can get.” “Why?” I crack my hooves. “We're going to be here for a while.” I expected Mangus to gripe and grumble at his thankless job, but he dives into it without hesitation. Taking one of the private study rooms on the library's second floor, I begin reading the first pile of books Mangus brings in. That pile grows as Mangus brings in a steady stream of reading material. I barely pay him any heed, focusing on my text, going through it page by page, jotting down every scrap of information about the changelings it possesses. As I had expected, most of it is already public knowledge, but that's to be expected. I'm bound to find something new eventually. The first fifty books yield no useful information. As lunchtime rolls around I eat a sandwich and turn back to the pile. Mangus, sweating from ferrying at least two hundred pounds of books, is slower to eat his hayburger. “So," he asks, "anything yet?” I put a book aside and start on another. “No." I continue through the books for the rest of the afternoon, but like the first fifty, I find nothing new. I expected that, but it's frustrating to go through so many pages and thousands of words only to find nothing useful. As night falls, I continue to read, and Mangus continues to bring me books. It isn't long before we're the only ones left in the library. “Just when are you going to call it a day?” Mangus asks as he loads up another cart with books I've read. “When I find what I'm looking for.” ”Wouldn't you rather be with your marefriend?” I give Mangus the strongest glare I can. “Then again... she's probably not doing too well.” “You think?” Mangus goes back to his books. He says nothing more for an hour, coming and going in silence. He's unusually sullen as he sits down to rest his hooves. “You know... I know how hard it is to lose your parents. When I was locked up, they only visited me once. They didn't come to make me feel better or give me hope and love. You know what they did? They told me how disgusted they were at me and how they... they..." Mangus fights to keep his voice steady. “They said they never wanted to see me again.” For the first time in my life, I watch a tear drip down Mangus' cheek. “I haven't seen or heard from them since. No letters, no visits... nothing." He sniffs, and then gives a cheerless laugh. “You gotta love it, though. After all those years of telling me I was the greatest Unicorn in Saddle Lanka, they cast me out like trash the minute I screw up!” Mangus stops, barely able to breathe. I say nothing. Another hoof wipes a tear away. “Sorry... I don't think I'm up for this anymore.” I nod to the guards, who escort Mangus from the room, shocked at seeing such an emotional side of the sociopath who tried to become a god. *** I stay in the library for a few more hours before calling it a night and return to my room. When dawn's first light shines through the windows the next morning, I eat a fast breakfast and run back down to the library and begin the process all over again. But just like yesterday, I learn nothing new. I expected this to take a while, but this is taking too long. Out of all the books in the library, at least one should have something new! I have Mangus brought back up at mid-morning, and he once again resumes his duties of gathering books. He's more subdued, though. There's no attempt at chit-chat or cracking jokes. Mangus doesn't even smile. Morning gives way to afternoon, and then to evening, and Mangus gathers the final books about changelings the library has to offer, now down to history texts and old manuscripts that haven't been read since being removed from whatever chest they were originally stored in. “Looks like that's it,” he says as he brings in one last cart. “I've got... two history books and this old journal." He pulls out a little book that's bound in cracked leather that almost falls off the cover as its put on the table. “Why that?” “The librarians said it was from the period of the Unicorn-Dragon war. Might be something in there you can use.” I nod. “Thank you, Mangus. You may go." The guards escort him out. I continue reading well past the library's closing time; because of my emissary status, I can stay when everyone else has gone home and the doors have been locked. I light a lantern as the study room goes dark, and go through the last few books, hoping and praying that all this hasn't been for nothing. I put the journal back on the cart a few hours later. It was my last book, and there's nothing in it. No new ideas, no new revelations... nothing. Over three hundred books read, and it was all for nothing. But how? There has to be something here! I rub my eyes. I need a break; I've been at this for hours. But I can't stop; there has to be something I missed. But, oh, Celestia, I'm so tired. Perhaps getting some sleep is the best thing I an- “Silverspeak?” I jump, my heart kicking into overdrive, only to calm down a moment later. I know that voice. Beakbreaker's standing outside the study room, lantern in hoof. “Silverspeak? You okay?” The day's frustration melts away as I go to her. “I'm the one who should be asking you that.” Beakbreaker sniffs and rubs her eyes. “I'm... I'm hanging in there. I... I just needed some time to myself.” I hug her. “I know. Now let's get you back to bed. You shouldn't be up this late, anyway.” She tries to smile, her cheeks are red and covered with the crusted remains of dried tears. “That's what I was going to tell you. I went looking for you, and one of the guards said you were down here." She looks around. “What are you doing here, anyway?” I indicate the shelves around us. “Trying to find a changeling weakness we can exploit. But there's nothing new. Now, come, let's get you back to your room.” She shakes her head. “No. No, I've spent too much time there already.” “Then my room, perhaps?” Beakbreaker's relieved at the idea. “Yes. I'd like that.” The two of us leave the library, bid good night to the guards, and head to my penthouse, where I light several candles to give the place a warm, inviting feeling. “Are you hungry?” I ask as I blow out the match. “I can order some food to be brought up.” “No, no, It's... well, maybe a little." Beakbreaker wipes her cheeks clean. “To be honest, I just want some company.” “I'd be happy to oblige.” She smiles. “You're sweet.” “I try.” Tossing her tissue into the trash, Beakbreaker sits on the sofa. “I heard you knocking, earlier. I wanted to talk to you. I really did. But I just... I couldn't." She closes her eyes. “I just... I just can't get them out of my head.” I sit beside her. “Beakbreaker, please, don't. You'll drive yourself mad thinking like that.” “But it's true. It's-” “It's not your fault.” Beakbreaker struggles not to cry. “You're wrong. I could have found them sooner-” I take Beakbreaker by the shoulders. “Don't blame yourself for their passing, Beakbreaker. Blame Chrysalis. She's the one responsible, not you. She's the ones who took your parents. She's the one who deserves to suffer, not you.” She shakes. “I know. But I... it just..." She finally breaks down. Tears fall onto me. “It hurts... It hurts so much!" Beakbreaker's lips quiver. “They're gone... they're gone..." She looks to me. “Tell me it's going to be alright, Silverspeak. Please tell me it's going to be okay! I don't care if you lie, please tell me it's going to be okay!” Can I honestly say that? When I was in prison, all the books I read about relationships said that the grief at a lost loved one never really goes away, and, in worst-case scenarios, can remain for years. Even if Beakbreaker does get better, there's still the war with Chrysalis and the changelings, and whatever abominations helped to destroy the zebra kingdom. Beakbreaker's tear-filled eyes plead for an answer. “Yes,” I finally say. “Things will get better.” “Really?” “Yes. History shows that all conflicts end, and that-” The tears come again. “I'm not talking about the war. I don't care about it.” I shift focus focus. “I don't know how long you'll feel like this, Beakbreaker, but I can promise you this:  I'll stay with you.” “You mean it?” I can't believe she's even asking the question. “Even if you were taken to Tartarus, I would come for you.” Tears hit my face as Beakbreaker laughs. “No need to get so melodramatic.” I put a hoof beneath her chin. “You... you meant it?” I did. I nod. Beakbreaker realizes I was telling the truth. She tries to say something but the words don't come. Instead she cries once more but they aren't tears of grief. I wrap my legs around Beakbreaker and we sit on the sofa, holding each other as the candles flicker in the darkness. Even if it's only for a little while, the world seems a little less dark. *** I wake to the warmth of sunlight streaming onto my face. My side is warmer than usual; Beakbreaker and I lie on the sofa with her legs still wrapped around me. I remain motionless so as not to wake her. Beakbreaker looks so calm and peaceful in sleep. Has she dreamed of her parents, or has peaceful oblivion granted her a reprieve from her grief? Either way, I want her to enjoy it for a while longer before returning to the world and its problems. Shifting myself ever so slightly, I stare up at the ceiling. Despite my efforts in the library, I'm no closer to finding a way to help in the war effort. I still can't believe all that was for nothing; there's always some new solution to be found when considering one's options. One exists for our changeling problem, I know it. I just have to find it. Maybe there's a technique to fight them that hasn't been done before, something I... Wait. Wait a moment... Oh Celestia! I slap my face. How could I have missed it?! Slipping out from Beakbreaker as gently as possible, I throw on my tie and badge and take off. The library's already open; I run inside, ignoring the librarian's hushing for me to be quiet. My study room's empty. Oh buck, all the books from yesterday are gone! I run back to the lobby, and the librarian on duty. “The books in study room six! What happened to them?!” “We removed them because we thought you were done,” she says, surprised. “Where are they?! Have they been put away?!” “Mr. Silverspeak, I-” “Where are they?!" I'm a second from leaping over the counter and running into the back, but the librarian realizes I'm not messing around. She runs into the back room and returns a moment later with a cart piled high with loose books. I rush through them, tossing aside the ones I don't need. “Mr. Silverspeak, what in heaven's name are you-” There! I grab the book. “I'll return this later!" I run out and race back up to the top of the Monolith and into Glasseye's office, where he's just sitting down to breakfast. “Glasseye!” “Silverspeak? What's-” I grab him. “Come with me! We have to talk to Princess Luna!” “Right now? Won't she be sleepi-” “It's urgent!” Realizing that I'm not kidding around, Glasseye motions for Stonehoof to come along. His breakfast is left behind as I run down to my penthouse. I don't bother being quiet as I rush into the bedroom and yank the box from beneath the bed. “S... Silverspeak?” Beakbreaker mumbles from the couch. “What's-” I go over and gently brush her cheek. “Go back to sleep,” I whisper. “I need to go do something, but I'll be back soon. I promise." I run out before she can say anything else. Glasseye probably thinks I've lost my mind as I drag him to the security room, where Onyx Shield shows us one of the secured interview rooms, where meetings can take place in absolute secrecy. “Nobody comes in to see us unless this place is plunging to the ground,” I say. “Understood?" Not used to being given orders by me, Onyx nevertheless nods. With Glasseye and myself inside, and Stonehoof guarding the door, I lock it, sit on the floor, and take out the orb. “I'll go first,” I tell Glasseye. “Rub this in about ten seconds." I rub without waiting for an answer, and in a moment the room shifts to the ethereal. “Princess Luna?!” It's a good thirty seconds before Luna appears, and she's not happy. I probably called her away from getting some rest or from an important meeting. “What is it, Silverspeak?” “Princess, I've got it!" I hold up the book, or at least, the ethereal version of it. “I've figured out how we can stop the changelings!” That gets her attention. “Come.” “Hold on. We have to wait for Glasseye. He needs to hear this, too.” Glasseye finally pops up, and Luna takes us to the terrace. Once we're seated and comfortable, I can begin. “I spent all yesterday afternoon looking through everything the Genesis library has about changelings: their history, our fights with them, to try and find a piece of information we've overlooked, something that can turn the tide of this war in our favor.” “Every book about the changelings has already been searched, Silverspeak,” Luna says, impatient for me to get to the point. “Even the Canterlot archives have been searched from top to bottom.” “Maybe not." I hold up the book. “Mangus found this in the rare books section. It-” “Mangus? What was that ruffian doing in the library?” Glasseye demands. “He's the one who suggested I look through there, and I assigned him to bring me the books." I put the book on the table and open it. “It's the journal of a soldier whose unit got involved in a skirmish with changelings centuries ago in the frozen wastes.” “No doubt an interesting historical account,” Luna says, “but-” “But most of his unit were impersonated by the changelings." I flip to the relevant page. “They kept getting picked off, one after another, until he and another soldier put their horns together and managed to create a spell that not only exposed the changelings, but controlled them!" I shut the book. “That's the answer! This is the key to stopping them!” Luna and Glasseye are silent, their mouths slightly open, stunned at the idea. “Well, what spell was it?” Glasseye asks. “I... I don't know." I hold up the journal. "The pages were ripped out, but it's proof that there's a spell out there that can not only reveal the changelings, but control them! If we could recreate the spell, we could cast it, take control of Chrysalis and her minions, and force them to surrender themselves!” Luna's silent as she ponders the thought. Oh no, don't tell me she's having doubts. I can't let her have doubts! Glasseye! He's reasonable! He'll back me up! “Glasseye, what do you think?” “It's an intriguing idea,” he admits. “But trying to recreate a spell that's long been forgotten, has to be difficult, if not impossible. And tell me, why would the spell be lost in the first place?" Glasseye looks to Luna. "Your Highness, did you or your sister take it?" "No," Luna says. "But would it be possible to recreate the spell?" I ask. "There has to be a way!" "It would be extraordinarily difficult," Luna says. "And I worry about why the spell would be missing. It would be most useful... but the possibility of abusing it would be too great. Perhaps that is why it was destroyed." "Yes," I say, "But Princess, this spell could end all of this in a day! By this time tomorrow, the war could be over!" Luna tries to say something, but can't get the words out. Perhaps she wants to tell me that such a spell would be too dangerous, but my logic is undeniable. The possibility of saving more lives, perhaps millions, is too strong. "I could gather our greatest unicorns and ask them to create such a spell," Luna says. "It would take time, but it would be possible." "Why haven't you done so earlier?" Glasseye asks. "Because magic powerful to cover an entire continent is dangerous," Luna says. "The more powerful a spell, the more chances there are of something going wrong, with fatal results." "Maybe it doesn't have to be powerful," I say. "Saddle Lanka has some of the most powerful crystals in the world. If a spell were created that could cover, say, just a mile or two, then we could gather several of the most powerful crystals, and one master crystal to control all of them, then it would amplify the spell to cover all of Equestria. The spell would still be simple, and not have any of the side effects if it were stronger." Luna's silent for several minutes. Glasseye and I glance at each other, waiting for her to speak. "This plan... I cannot deny its potential. The lives we would save would be well worth the effort. But there is one great problem: If the master control crystal were to fall into the wrong hands, whoever uses it could enslave everyone across Equestria." "Which is why it should be under armed guard," I say as quickly as I can. "Have it be guarded by a hundred of your most heavily armed and well-trained soldiers. Keep it locked in the most secure vault and change the combination lock every twenty four hours and make it so that only two individuals know it at a time... yourself and the pony who chooses the combination at random." Silence falls upon us all once again. Please do it, I think. Please, please, please... "Glasseye?" "Yes, Your Highness?" "Have Genesis head to Saddle Lanka with all the speed you can muster. I shall send my most elite guards and spell casters to you as fast as possible." Glasseye grins. "Of course. And I promise you, we will take all necessary precautions, including making sure that no word of this leaks out.” "Good. It is imperative that no one learns about this." Luna tries to smile, but it's a fake. Something's troubling her, something terrible. “Princess? Is something wrong?” Embarrassed at being found out, Luna blushes, biting down hard. Whatever secret she carries is gnawing at her, and she wants to get it out, but can't decide if we can be trusted. “This morning, a security division on our northernmost border found someone trying to get into Equestria," Luna says at last. "It wasn't a changeling, or one of their agents.” “Then who was it?” Glasseye asks. “When the Bearers and my sister set out for Chrysalis' former hive, Twilight took her personal assistant, Spike, with her.” Spike? I've read about him, but I've never seen the famous dragon. “He was exhausted and badly hurt when the division found him," Luna continues. "He insisted on seeing me before being treated, but could only speak briefly before passing out. He said that Twilight, my sister, and the others were attacked." Luna shudders. “He shared this memory with me." Luna's horn lights up and what looks like a movie plays above the table. But this is Spike's memory; we're seeing what happened from his point of view. He's inside a tunnel lit by magic. Before him are Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and all the other Bearers. But where's Celestia? There's no sign of her. She must be behind the group or further ahead. The Bearers leave the tunnel and enter a cavernous antechamber of dried resin. It must be the center of the changeling hive, for there's a large and ornate throne sculpted from resin, one fit for a queen. But there's no changelings in sight, and the air is silent. Spike asks where everyone is. Twilight Sparkle tells everyone to be ready for a trap as the Bearers spread out, ready for whatever might leap forth to face them. I watch through Spike's eyes as he carefully walks among the others, bright green flames drifting from his mouth. He scans the area, his excellent eyesight peering into every nook and cranny. Just out of his vision, Twilight asks Celestia if she can illuminate the room. A brilliant light from behind Spike floods the chamber, dispelling any and all shadows, revealing that there truly is nothing- Wait. What's that? I thought I saw something in a tunnel. Spike saw it too, as he squints, trying to focus on what's far back in the darkness. He calls out to everyone to be careful, that he thinks he saw something- A flash of red magic shoots from the tunnel and slams into Applejack and Pinkie Pie into a wall, where they collapse to the floor. Whether they're dead or alive, I can't tell. Spike spins as Rainbow Dash yells that it's an ambush. All Tartarus breaks loose as something huge rushes into the chamber. It's too fast for Spike to get a good look; all he and I can see is that it's enormous, probably as big as the tunnel found in the zebra kingdom. But it's not alone, for four more of the things emerge, their roars overwhelming the screams of Twilight and the remaining Bearers. A beam of golden-yellow magic smashes one of the things through a wall, causing half the chamber to cave in. But then the other forms fire their red magic once more, and a loud shout of pain fills the air. Twilight screams Celestia's name. Then, as the things turn to her, Twilight screams at Spike to run. He hesitates, and then scrambles back as one of the forms turns to him. And in the light of one of Twilight's spells, I get a split-second glimpse of a cavernous mouth filled with hundreds of jagged, misshapen teeth. And then the memory ends. Glasseye can barely form words. “What in Celestia's name were those?!” “We were not sure at first,” Luna says, shaken at having seen the memory. “But my advisers and I have studied Spike's memory, and we have no doubts now... What we just saw were Arch-Dragons.” “Arch-Dragons?” “A race of Dragons far older, more powerful, and far more cunning than those living today. They are ancient creatures, already centuries old when my sister and I were born, unmatched in physical and magical might.” “Magic? Preposterous!” Glasseye says. “Dragons can't use magic!” “Arch-Dragons can, and to terrible effect... as you just saw.” Arch-Dragons... wait, I've heard that name before. “Were they part of the Unicorn-Dragon War?” I ask. Luna nods. “They were the leaders of the Dragons. At that time, their race had dwindled in number to only a few, and by the end we thought them vanquished forever. But this memory proves they survived, and now it seems Queen Chrysalis somehow joined forces with them. Their first plan of action, as we have just seen, was to ambush the Bearers and my sister.” “To kill them?” Luna shakes her head. “If Chrysalis is like other tyrants, she wishes to enact revenge upon those who wronged her. She could not do that if the Bearers and my sister were dead. I cannot say for certain, but they are most likely alive, and in a magical sleep so deep that they are but a heartbeat away from death, which would block my ability to locate them in their dreams.” “That would explain why we haven't heard from them... but how were they able to defeat Celestia?” I ask. “She's the most powerful magic-wielder on the planet! Couldn't she have beaten them off?” “My sister and I are powerful, Silverspeak, but not all-powerful. Had she time to prepare, Celestia could have fought them off. But if she was caught off guard, she would fall like any pony would.” Then we have to find her!” I say. “We have to track these things down and-” “Arch-Dragons are not foes to be taken lightly, Silverspeak. Just ten of them almost destroyed this land long ago.” “But they can be killed." “Yes, they can. No beast is invincible, but my parents spoke of how even the mightiest of alicorns struggled to fell them. Their blows can shatter stone, and their spells focus on death and destruction, enabling them to conquer and destroy with ease." She stands. “We are not capable of fighting them directly, not yet. Even if they have been weakened from centuries of slumber, they could still annihilate our armies and leave us defenseless." Luna sighs. “As much as it pains me to say this, we cannot spare the resources to rescue the Bearers or my sister, not yet. We must focus on bolstering our defenses at all costs. "Glasseye? Continue to Saddle Lanka. If we negate the changeling's greatest advantage, we will have the high ground, and can then turn our attention to the Arch-Dragons.” “Understood.” “Princess,” I ask. “What if these Dragons attack before we can complete the chips?” Luna shakes her head. “Then heaven help us all.” *** Beakbreaker's awake and at the dinner table when I return to the penthouse. Unlike last night, she looks better. Not healed, or anywhere close to it, but calmer. “I ordered breakfast,” she says. “Made sure to get plenty for you as well.” I sit. “Thank you.” “You okay? You look like you've just seen a ghost.” Do I tell Beakbreaker what Luna said? That there are monsters in league with Chrysalis and could possibly bring all of Equestria to its knees? No... I can't burden her with that knowledge. Not now. She'll find out sooner or later, as will all of Equestria, but for now she needs what little peace and comfort I can give her. “I'm okay,” I say. “Just a few things that came up. Nothing we can't handle.” She's not convinced. “Are you sure?” I take her hoof and give her the warmest, most comforting smile I can. “I'm sure.”