//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - Royal Inquiry // Story: The Scrapper // by J8ck78 //------------------------------// Near the rear edge of the Palace in Canterlot sat the Royal Garden. It was full of majestic plants from near and far, and inhabited by just about everything that was native to Equestria. In the middle sat a vast and majestic Courtyard where parties and other social gatherings in the palace were often held, but now it was quiet, peaceful, and still. Scrapper landed with Luna a few steps behind him. It had literally been a thousand years since the two had flown together as they just had, and it was just as enjoyable as they had remembered. The two walked under a tree and sat down, looking up to the moon. "Is it easy raising and lowering that thing all the time?" asked Scrapper "Not really." answered Luna, "But it is satisfying to see it every night." "What's it like? You know, on the moon?" "It's a rocky desert, but most of my time there was spent as Nightmare Moon, and she did not partake in fun." "I would bet." commented Scrapper Luna rested her head on Scrapper's side and the two didn't say a word. Time seemed to stand still for the two of them, until they heard the flapping of wings from behind. They both looked to see a Lunar Guard flying towards them. The guard's red eyes pierced the darkness and she looked as fierce as Nightmare Moon could ever be. "Who's that?" asked Scrapper "My Guard Captain." replied Luna, "Captain Shadow! What is it?" Shadow saluted as she landed before speaking: "My Princess, there has been an intruder in the Palace." "Why hath the alarms not been sounded." "The intruder has been captured before she could do any harm." Scrapper immediately went into a state of panic "She!?" "Yes. She." answered Shadow, "She has refused to give her name but claims she is a messenger for some Queen. She is not a Changeling though." "Where is she? Take us to her?" "Right this way Princess-wait, us as in the Royal we, or him too?" Shadow pointed to Scrapper, who smiled nervously. "Us as in him too." said Luna "Right this way your majesty. The Mare arrived in Celestia's study a few minutes ago." They flew up to Celestia's study, which was not far from the garden itself. Inside, Celestia and Twilight stood before a strange Black Unicorn mare inside a black swirling mass of magic. Several Unicorn guards stood around the mare aiming their horns at her, while two more stood at attention holding spears. "Who captured her?" asked Scrapper, "Strangest magic I've ever seen." "Apparently she was caught in her own magic when a guard reflected it back at her." spoke Celestia "Who was it?" inquired Luna, "Such a guard should be commended!" "A Staff Sergeant David." answered Celestia "Wait, what!?" came Shadow,"David did this?" "You know him?" asked Celestia "He's my husband! Of course I know him!" "That guy is your-"started Twilight, "Never mind." "Tell us why your here?" demanded Celestia The mare just laughed. Celestia gave her a dark scowl. Glancing over to her sister, a twisted smile began to form. As Celestia backed down, Luna began to charge her horn. In an instance the black swirling magic vanished. The mare started to charge her own horn when Luna hit it, causing the horn to disappear. Everyone looked on in awe and fear. "How'd you do that?" asked Twilight "Being Nightmare Moon teaches one a few tricks." Luna smiled. She took a few steps up to the mysterious former Unicorn, who despite the loss of her power, was still not talking. Luna glanced to her sister, who nodded in answer. The Mare was still floating there when the spears that the guards were holding glowed with Celestia's magic, and came to life. Like snakes, they constricted the mare, squeezing the life out of her. Most of the Guards were in awe as Twilight, Scrapper, Shadow, and Luna smiled. "So, are you going to tell us why you're here?" Even with her breath slowly being squeezed from her, the mare just laughed. "It .... wont ...... matter ..................... so ................ long ................. as light ................ hit's ............ that .............. gem!" She passed out right after that. "You may have squeezed a little too hard sister." commented Luna "No matter! Lock her in the dungeon!" Ordered Celestia "We have to find that Guard Caravan fast!" ---- Not far away, the air was much more tense. The Royal Guard caravan escorting the Gem to Tartarus made it's way through the woods underneath Canterlot with the moon seeping through every now and then, lighting their way so the Unicorns wouldn't have to. "Don't get me wrong, I love the night and the work Luna puts into it," said Charger, slowly pulling the wagon, "But why is it so creepy?" "It's dark." said Spirit, "Luna's moon lights the way, but in these trees, the darkness seeps in." "Ignore it guard." said Shining Armor, "It's a long walk to Tartarus." "Easy for you to say, you ain't carrying this." grumbled Charger This was followed by a slap on the head from Crescent, flying just above him. Unbeknownst to them, each time the light of the moon hit the wagon, there was an ominous green glow. ---- The five ponies stood outside Everfree, the forest uninviting as always. An ominous wind blew through it, and it's eternal fog snaked it's way across the ground. Evil, unwelcoming eyes blinked at them, just daring them to enter. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood ready to enter, while Colgate and Derpy were hanging back, both mares feeling rather nervous. Meanwhile Pinkie was just giggling to herself. "Are you sure we have to go in there?" asked Derpy nervously "Yep! Ah'm sure of it!" said Applejack, "There's no other place they'd have gone." "This is the perfect place for those creeps!" added Rainbow Dash, "Come on!" Rainbow flew in, followed by Pinkie and Derpy. Colgate meanwhile was still standing there, her nerves holding her still. She looked to see Applejack giving her a reassuring smile, but was still too nervous to go in. "I got yer back." said Applejack "How do you ponies do this?" "It ain't easy!" replied Applejack, "But Ah always think of it as Ah have a job that's more important than mah own fears." "Does that help?" "Ah don't know yet. Now come on! We got to catch up with the rest." Colgate smiled, at least knowing she wasn't the only scared one was a little helpful. Running off down the trail, they soon caught up to Pinkie and Derpy as Rainbow lead the way. Pinkie smiled happily before looking back ahead, the smile she wore on her face was determined one. Derpy meanwhile was basically acting as a marker for where Rainbow was going so the rest could keep up. Rainbow herself was in a constant struggle between flying fast to find them quickly, and flying slow enough to look for any clues. Her rainbow trail flying brilliantly behind her as she scanned the ground looking for anything to give her a sign of where they were going. Once again, she had rushed into a situation not entirely knowing what she was looking for. Everfree was huge, larger than Ponyville and Canterlot combined. It would take days for them to search the entire forest, and even then they may never find them. However, it would take as long as it needed for these, things or whatever they were, were not going to get away that easily after what they did in Ponyville. Then, by chance, she spied a strange clearing that looked out of place, and flew down to it. It looked like a pricker bush, but the branches were broken as if several bodies just appeared in it. In fact, it looked as if they appeared right out of nowhere. This was it, this is where they teleported to. Rainbow immediately began looking for hoof prints to see where they walked off. "You find it Rainbow Dash?" asked Derpy "I think so." she replied, "They went off this way!" She pointed down to what looked like Hoof prints, but they appeared to come from several different animals.. Just the creatures they were looking for. Applejack nodded toward Rainbow Dash and the cyan Pegasus flew up in the air to follow them through the forest. The prints themselves were getting farther and farther apart, seemingly running away from something. That answer was given in a clearing. Laying in the middle was a Manticore, it's chest smoking from a magic blast on it's chest. Rainbow tapped it a few times with her hoof and recoiled in fear. "It's dead!" Everypony gasped. "Who would do that!?" cried Colgate. "Somepony who obviously has anger issues." said Pinkie. "Didn't you guys say you were about to do the same to one when Nightmare moon took over?" questioned Derpy "Not now Derpy!" broke out Dash, "I see more tracks over there!" The Pegasus flew over the Manticore and pursued her targets, now gearing up for a fight with something that could easily take down a Manticore. Her friends followed behind her, just as nervous, and just as ready for a fight. They tore through the brush and woods until coming to the gaping maw of a monster ready to eat them, its sharp jagged teeth ready to devour them. Rainbow stopped just short of it before Derpy crashed into her, followed by Pinkie and Applejack while Colgate managed to stop in time. They covered their eyes ready for the monster to eat them, when Applejack realized it was just a cave. “It's ok, it's a cave.” "A evil looking cave." Derpy exclaimed. "Well, the tracks go off in there." Applejack noted, looking at the tracks They're cornered." laughed Rainbow Dash, "Let's do this!" Derpy, Colgate, and Pinkie gulped nervously as they took their first hoof steps into the cave. ---- Whooves stepped out of the TARDIS happy and satisfied. For the past few hours, he had been modifying the TARDIS in case the mysterious power inside the gem ever reared it's face. If it did, he would be able to detect it ten minutes before it actually happened thanks to the wonders of time. He looked around to the bench where everyone had been sitting at, but saw none of them, well he saw the purple haired one, but she was talking to Fluttershy, who was not there when they came back. Walking up, the two were unaware of him as he stood looking on with a curious eye. "So, where did all the others go?" asked Fluttershy "Oh they were talking about going to Ever free forest." "Oh my, I wouldn't want to go there. It's dark and scary, especially if those strange creatures are there." "Yes, well, they decided since I was in awe of my new youth to stay around and keep the Doctor company." continued Rarity "The Doctor?" asked Fluttershy "Hello!" answered Whooves Fluttershy screamed and jumped into the air before flying and hiding in a tree. Whooves looked on surprised while Rarity facehoofed. "Well, that's the first time that's ever happened to me." mentioned Whooves "Fluttershy dear, you can come down! He's not going to hurt you, are you dear?" "No, of course not!" answered the Doctor, "I love all things, except pears. I hate pears." "You're not helping." grunted Rarity through her teeth Fluttershy poked her head out and looked down. She flew down from the tree and looked at the ground nervous and shy. She knew Rarity was not one to lie and extended her hoof to shake it. "I'm Fluttershy." she greeted quietly "I'm the Doctor!" exclaimed Whooves shaking her hoof "Doctor who?" came Rarity "Just the Doctor!" answered Whooves, "I'm a Timelord!" "Time what?" asked both "I'll explain later. Now where did you say that were going Miss Rarity?" "The Everfree forest!" "Right then! I'll just lock onto Pinkie's tracker and we'll be there in a jiffy!" "You have a tracker in Pinkie?" spoke up Fluttershy "No. Twilight does in case she goes missing in the past, or future. Only way to track it is in the TARDIS. Now then! Let's go help them out!" He and Rarity walked back to the TARDIS while Fluttershy backed away. Rarity noticed and walked over to comfort her friend. "Darling, you've been in the Everfree forest before. You live on the edge of it. Surely you've grown used to it?" "Um, no, I think I could go home." "I can take you! No walking through the dark!" "You will!? Oh thank you Doctor!" Fluttershy exclaimed happily "Yes, just don't touch anything please." Fluttershy galloped into the TARDIS followed by Rarity as Whooves closed the door. He walked over to the console and began to work his magic at the controls, setting the TARDIS to lock onto the tracker in Pinkie Pie. The musical noise that was the TARDIS warming up filled their ears until there came a loud bang followed by a rumble throughout the TARDIS. While the two mares looked on confused, Whooves felt a pit forming in his stomach as his hearts beat faster. "Uh, is that normal Doctor?" inquired Rarity "Somethings wrong." was the Doctors answer, "Hold on to something!"