Chapter Seven: Stories from the Past
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“...and then I said to the lass, that’s not a jackrabbit! That be one of those pre-war phonebooks!” Ballpoint cackled as we trudged along down the old highway.
To be honest, nopony thought it was funny. Nopony thought any of his “travel jokes” were funny. I let out a sigh and just shook my head, he hadn’t kept his bloody mouth shut for more than a second since we got out of the forest...
The road we were traveling down was a direct route to the nearest location on my pipbuck. By chance we stumbled upon the old highway that cut through the forest. Dusk said that this highway was once used before the war to transport lumber that was cut from the forest long ago.
“Ballpoint, please, spare us the jokes. Unless you have anything useful to say, keep it to yourself.” Captain Dusk grumbled as he glanced back to Daisy, who for her part, hadn’t said a thing since the captain’s outburst.
Ballpoint let out a huff and a puff of vapor trailed behind him into my face. I shook my head and trotted up to Dusk’s side.
“Hey Captain, I actually had a few questions about earlier, at the outpost.” I inquired looking at the dark red and white pony.
“Just call me Silver. Fire away.” Dusk smiled over to me.
Ohhh his name is Silver Dusk. I concluded in my head. Huh, I guess I never looked passed his title as Captain.
“Well Silver, you see, back at the outpost, you bucks kept acknowledging me as the Scarlet Angel? Now mates, don’t take me wrong, I’m flattered if you think of me as that, but just Scarlet will be fine.” I chuckled.
Silver looked forward and took in a deep breath, he squinted his eyes in thought and was about to say something when Ballpoint blurted out from ahead.
“Ah here’s a good story at last! Well ye see lassie, way back when equestria was but a wee little laddie... or lassie? Actually I don’t know what equestira really is. Let’s call her lassie, mares are sexy afterall-.” Ballpoint was interrupted by a firm kick in the flank from Silver and faceplanted into the road.
Silver sighed and stopped trotting, turning to me.
“As I was saying, and I guess as he was saying as well,” he gestured to the now groaning Ballpoint.
“Yes, back before the war, and in fact even centuries before the arcane technology era, somepony wrote one of the most well known tales of transylvania: ‘The Eternal Night’. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of the story in your stable?” He asked.
I shook my head and sat down on the road too. Daisy, for her part. Just huffed and sat a little back behind us. Her chained hooves clinked on the cracked asphalt. I guessed if she tried to run away now, whatever was in the dense pine forest surrounding the highway would probably get her.
Ballpoint sat up and rubbed his head, sitting back as Silver nodded and continued,
“Well my mother told it to me a long time ago, and her mother told her as well, so the story isn’t exactly as it used to be but I can try and give you the theme of it.” Silver cleared his throat.
“‘Ages from now, when the moon rises on it’s own, and all of known equestria is bathed in an inferno. The Scarlet Angel will be born. With her, may bring the destruction of Transylvania. One of two simple outcomes will come to exist; utter destruction, or salvation. Guided by the Guardian of the Spirits, her spirit will be tried time and time again, great sacrifice will be made, and she alone will be the key factor of what is to befall the Thestral race.’ it was written by Umbra Lebel on Tidus first: the first day of the lunar calendar, at the peak of autumn at midnight” Silver scratched his head trying to paraphrase.
“‘-And shall the Blood Maned Thestral’s spirit falter, evermore will a those deemed inferior fall. The land will become free of it’s enchantments and the righteous will rise. No more will the monsters who plague the land swoop into the night and murder those who are not careful. The land will be purged of its nightmare.’ Written by Libertatem Terra, Solare first: the first day of the solar calendar, during the peak of spring at noon” Daisy spoke up from behind us. Glaring with hatred in her eyes.
“That was passed down for generations among our ponies as well.” She continued.
I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. It was obvious both of our races had our tales, and the fact they intertwined so neatly was unsettling. Especially to think of the current events happening around us now.
“B-But that doesn’t mean it’s me, right Silver?” I nervously asked.
Silver, who was glaring at daisy snapped his eyes to me. Softening his expression.
“I can’t answer that Scarlet, you’re the first mare we’ve seen to be born with a mane of such a color. And with what these fuckers are doing, I myself am worried if these stories aren’t just stories.” Silver gestured to Daisy.
“Oh little monsters, these are not mere stories, they’re prophecies! Our cohorts grow more powerful by the day, soon you will no longer b-” Daisy’s unnecessarily dramatic speech was interrupted by a firm punch to the face by a white hoof.
“Oh can it ya bloody twat.” Ballpoint shouted as he shook his hoof.
Daisy spat out blood from her now bleeding nose and glared at Ballpoint.
“I still don’t know what the hay you ponies think we are, but we sure as hay don’t go around murdering ponies in the night. Unlike ye did to us not long ago.” Ballpoint huffed.
Silver stood up and started trotting down the road,
“Save it for later Lieutenant, we have to get moving. We’ve spent too much time speaking of ponies long dead and of stories long forgotten.” he spoke with authority as we all got up and followed.
I sighed and checked my pipbuck to see how far we were from the nearest location. Questions swarmed my head and I was bloody scared. I didn’t want to be put into any position like this, I hoped to Luna that a tale is just a tale and no more than that.
“We’re about half a mile from the building mates, I have a feeling it’s not going to be the air base.” I groaned. Nothing in the middle of this massive forest even resembled a military structure. Hell, no bloody structures were out here at all!
“Then let’s double time it ladies, we have no time to waste.” Captain Dusk commanded as we broke into a brisk canter.
I couldn’t feel how tired I was from all this running as I sat within my swarming mind. The only things that I heard were our hoof clops and clinks of chain on the pavement, the clacking of Silver and Ballpoint’s barding, and the rustling of the autumn wind.
***
“Hey, are ye alright mate? Lemme, go grab another rag, this one is going cold again.” A North Braytish mare’s voice woke me up.
I shivered and felt my ears twist as I heard the shuffling of hooves off to my right. The air felt a lot warmer here than… wherever I was before. I cracked open my eyes and tried to focus on where I was. My blurry vision slowly came into focus.
I was laying down on some kind of cushion with a few blankets stacked on my back, ahead of me was some nice furniture with a few odds and ends on a table. The room I was in was dark and smelled of burning wood. The walls were a cozy maroon and the entire room, with its compact design and wooden furniture, felt homely.
Apparently it was still night out, rays of soft yellow light from hearths warming eve lights pierced a stained glass window behind me, only a few candles and the crackling of a nearby fireplace lit up the room.
I looked to my right and came nose to nose with a familiar green-grey face leaning uncomfortably close to me.
“I- Uhh-” was all that escaped my mouth.
Penny's golden eyes widened and she quickly back peddled with a yelp blushing hotly. A steaming rag still held in her mouth, her small fangs just barely poking over it.
“I- I- I-” Penny mumbled around the rag. She quickly spit it into a steaming bucket of water by the fireplace.
“Ye were so cold ye probably had hypothermia, I mean Luna above you appeared in me living room outa thin air, an- and I was just, uh, putting the rag back on ye head an-” Penny frantically blurted out, rubbing her foreleg against the other.
“Hey, calm down Penny. I appreciate you doing that for me.” I smiled. She nodded and visibly relaxed a little.
“But, uh, sorry for just popping into your house… you said I just appeared here?” I asked as I sat up. I started to feel a lot warmer under the blankets.
Penny nodded and looked at me really confused.
“Aye… I just finished packing me saddle bags when I heard something like a fire cracklein’ and saw smoke pouring into me kitchen! I hurried into me living room t’find ye laying unconscious on me floor!” Penny exclaimed.
“Ye were deathly cold and shivering like.” She frowned and shook her periwinkle mane from her eyes. “What were ye doing? Are you real?” She took a step closer and poked my forehead with a hoof.
“Ow quit it, I'm real alright.” I mumbled and swatted her hoof away. “I… I don't really know.” I half lied.
I remembered Ignis, the realm of Lupus, the order, everything. But would I really want to explain that experience to Penny? Maybe later, when I knew her better, and especially when I knew what it all was about.
“Lad, I'm gonna be frank here, what happened isn't normal… are ye sure yer okay?” Penny's eyes grew with concern.
I nodded and got off the cushion, thankfully all my of my gear was still on me the way I left it.
“Look, thanks for helping me again. But a lot of things happened that even I am not too sure about. I want to find out what they meant, and I want to see how I can help against the black daylight.” I sighed and sat down locking eyes with Penny. “I can't guarantee you'll find your doctor, and I don't know what lies ahead. Are you sure you want to travel with me still?” I asked. I would never risk another pony’s life just because I wanted to help Transylvania.
Penny glanced to her pile of equipment near the door to her house. It was meger, only a single left saddlebag, and a yellow first aid kit with pink butterflies on it. Her only weapon was a well used pistol of some kind sitting atop the bag, it looked more complicated than a regular pistol. A black pea coat hung on a peg by the door frame.
She steeled her expression and nodded to me sternly.
“We need a new doctor here, especially after the battle.” Her eyes softened. “Besides, it's about time I go out and make me some friends. And I- I’d like t’get to know ye better Midnight.” she finished with a light blush.
Oh that's kind of her. I obliviously noted and smiled a friendly smile.
“Alrighty then, let's get going huh? The first thing I want to do is figure out where Scarlet is, she went to Raffael right? How do we get there?” I trailed off.
I would be under cutting my emotions if I said I wasn't concerned, I was terrified to think of how she might be. After encountering ghouls, Raiders and trained soldiers, I've quickly learned how dangerous this world has become. I had no doubt she could hold off on her own, but I'd give anything to have her by my side again. And I was going to do just that.
Penny perked up at the sound of Scarlet’s name, a small frown appeared on her muzzle. She cleared her throat.
“Well actually lad, the pony we’d need to talk ta is th’Colonel…I doubt anypony but him knows where the exact location is. But didn't ye already speak with him?” Penny asked.
“Uh, well I think I did. We didn’t really cover too much. I guess we’ll just have to talk to him again.” I avoided. I really would have to explain it all to her later.
Penumbra gave me a weird look then sighed. She stood up and made her way to her supplies.
“Aye.. .well let’s go to th’headquaters, or what's left of it anyway. The big buck in charge is most likely gonna be there, ‘specially after the funeral.” She spoke as she just finished buttoning up her pea coat and placing her fancy pistol within it.
She fastened her saddlebag over her left flank, and I was able to finally see her cutiemark on her right side. Or rather, lack thereof. Instead, the coat was darkened and a light scar of a thunderbolt took its place. It almost looked like she was branded there instead.
Penumbra caught my gaze and quickly placed the medkit over her right flank, cutting my stare.
“Penny… what happened to your cutiemark?” I asked, meeting her sorrow filled eyes.
“A- ah well, I took meself a nasty hit from a bloody energy weapon. It scarred pretty badly…” Penny stumbled.
Some scarring, it looks exactly like a thunderbolt. If I have my secrets, she can have hers. I nodded skeptically to her.
“Right… Let’s get moving.” I concluded. I didn't want to press her if it wasn’t something she was willing to talk about.
Penny let out a quiet sigh and nodded. She turned around and headed out the door. I quickly followed behind her and stepped into the chilly autumn night. Penny gestured I move out of the way from her door, and grabbed a key from her saddle bag. I stepped aside and took a look at the town square.
The funeral was completely finished, ponies continued about their way, visiting the market, or making the last repairs on buildings and roads. The rocket attacks from earlier were more maiming than destructive. The little pockmarks in the road were easily repaired with packed dirt and cobblestone, while the buildings were patched with some kind of hoofmade plaster.
It was obvious that the mood wasn’t as cheerful as the night Scarlet and I first stepped into this town. Ponies passed by with pained expressions, the guard was missing nearly half of their ponniel, and the market was eerily quiet as ponies shopped and left. Everypony lost something in the attack and the cheerful hearthwarming eve lights hanging everywhere didn’t help but add ironic contrast.
“Aye it’s bloody dreadful isn’t it? This is something I hope to Luna they will pay for.” Penny spoke from behind me. Hoofclops told me she started moving and I turned around and followed. She couldn’t have been more right.
We headed towards the headquarters at an easy trot, it was just up the road to the left of her house. Even from here I could already see half of the second floor was caved in. The rubble was mostly cleared off the streets, but repairing the second floor would take months. It may have been slow going, but I spotted ponies flying up and down the sides, busy trying to reconstruct the walls.
When we approached the door, I could hear the bustling of guards on the other side. Even with the headquarters damaged, this didn’t stop the army of professional soldiers from continuing their duties. Outside, two armed guards stood vigilantly, they were dressed in their usual black barding. One of them nodded to me and allowed me to open the door.
Penny and I entered the familiar room from before, this time it was positively alive with activity. Ponies dressed in digital camouflage uniforms like my own, with their respective painted roses on their shoulders, quickly trotted between stations set up around the room. A radio desk was set up delivering orders, the desk of terminals before me was busy with ponies typing away, even the armory was alight with bustling guards as they cleaned and loaded weapons.
In the middle of the room were a few of the high ranking officers I’d seen at the funeral. They sat around a table covered in papers, their camouflage was exactly the same as the other guards. The only difference however, were little roses of their own respective rank pinned on their collars and their shoulders left bare.
I cautiously made my way up to them, the other ponies only sparing a few glances as they rushed by, at least I wasn’t kicked out yet.
“But ma’am, we need at least six thousand more caps to get a fraction of the medical supplies we used!” Captain Angel argued. Her uniform sported a red cross on the left shoulder.
“If we had the money to spare, we would have already given it to you Captain. Your unit will have to suffice with five hundred while we wait for our caravans to return from any nearby towns still standing. Once the route to the capital is declared safe, you’ll get your dividend.” A grey coated, blue maned mare spoke. Her rank looked kinda like the Major rank that Aurora was given.
“Ma’am with all due respect, we could just take the money from logistics. If we’re attacked again, we might no-” Angel was cut off by the Major’s hoof raising.
“My words are final, you’re dismissed Captain Angel.” She spoke with authority.
Angel sighed and shot a strict salute, quickly met by the Major’s. She then about faced and gave me a quick nod as she passed me and Penny, headed for the door.
“I recognize you, you were the pegasus that Aurora rescued correct?” The Major directed to me.
“Yeah, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be standing here right now.” I nodded solemnly.
“Aye. My name is Major Bonfire, how could I help you…” the Major trailed off rolling a hoof in the air.
“Midnight Wind, I was looking for Colonel Sterling, I had a few questions I was hoping he could answer.” I said. Penny, was awkwardly standing behind me. Poor filly didn’t have much to say here.
Bonfire scoffed and looked at me crossly.
“A civilian as yourself doesn’t exactly get the privilege of walking up to the Colonel and asking him questions. You have to take it up the chain of command.” Her tone taking a harsher edge.
“Well the lad already spoke with him earlier, I’m sure the Colonel wouldn’t mind speaking with Midnight again.” Penny spoke as she took a step forward.
Ahh well, I kinda did? I mentally facehoofed, I should have remembered Penny didn’t know either.
Major Bonfire’s skeptical look deepened and she gestured to the staircase along the back wall.
“If that’s so, his office is the second room on the right. Knock once and wait for him to tell you to come in.” She said carefully. “If I hear any funny business, I’ll fly up there myself to kick your sorry flanks out of this facility. Am I perfectly clear?”.
“You betcha!” “Aye lass.” Penny and I spoke simultaneously and nodded vigorously.
We quickly made our way to the stairs, excusing ourselves from the guards who were passing in front of us. We cantered up the stairs and I approached the second door on the left and raised a hoof.
“No not that one!” Penny whispered and jumped up grabbing my hoof. “The lass said second one on the right lad.” She rolled her eyes and whispered, still holding my hoof.
“Oh, well why didn’t you say anything then?” I could have sworn otherwise.
Penny did a double facehoof with hers and mine still in her grasp. She looked down and quickly let go of mine, falling silent with a blush again. Mares, so confusing sometimes.
I shook my head and turned around, coming face to face with an open door, and a strong, well worn stallion standing in the doorway. He was giving us a look of both confusion and anger.
“What’re you two doing holding hooves in the officer’s hall? And how did you two even get in here?” He asked hotly.
His voice was that of Colonel Sterling, but he looked nothing like before. When I last saw him, he was dark grey and had a pure white mane and tail, now he was dark brown and had a black mane and tail. Based off of his uniform, he was definitely Colonel Sterling however.
“Bwa- wha- you dyed your coat and mane!” I pointed at his face and blurted out in confusion.
“Are ye daft Midnight, what’re ye talking about?” Penny hastily whispered behind me.
Colonel Sterling was not pleased, he turned around and entered his office taking a seat behind his desk. He gestured us in.
Inside was a cozy room filled with bookcases and a few small desks, maps and charts covered the tan colored walls and a simple overhead chandelier of hearthwarming eve lights lit the room. Two chairs sat in front of his desk which we took seats in.
“Who are you two? You better give me a good explanation before I call security.” The Colonel spoke with a glare. His voice sounded like a sophisticated Braytish stallion. It kinda reminded me of how Dusk spoke.
“Are you Colonel Sterling?” I quickly asked.
For the second time that night Penny facehoofed next to me.
“Oh, so I’m the one answering questions here? Yes. I’m Colonel Sterling. Now who are you two?” He asked once more. I was probably pushing the patience of a stallion that had none to begin with.
“I’m Midnight Wind, this is Penumbra. Me and my marefriend are the ponies from the stable not too far from here.” I answered my name for what felt like the billionth time that night.
“Oh, you’re those ponies.” He sat back, then looked over Penumbra. “I had reports your… marefriend... was the special maned mare? I don’t see anything special here?” He asked as
Penny quickly shot him a glare.
“Excuse me! What’d you say about ‘nothing special’?” She growled.
“She’s not my marefriend” I let out a huge sigh. What was up with these stallions in command and making assumptions like that all the time? “Anyway, I actually came here looking to see if you knew where Scarlet went, supposedly you sent her with a few guards to Waff- Rafael? How would I get there?” I asked.
“I don’t give orders to specific ponies. I simply requested that all remaining witnesses from the special operations units report there. If your Scarlet happened to be a part of that order, then it came from below me.” Sterling replied carefully. “As for the location of the air base, what kind of self proclaimed privilege do you have to just waltz in here and ask?” He narrowed his eyes.
“B-But didn’t you two meet earlier?” Penny mumbled, the poor mare was so confused.
“What the hay are you talking about?” Sterling barked.
“Before you dyed your coat and hair, you approached me on the rooftop and raced me. Then you went all ghostie on me! A- And then you turned into a wolf and told me about spirits and made me follow floating fire!” I stood quickly and blurted out.
“He’s daft, I knew it.” Penny groaned and put her forehead on the desk.
Sterling’s eye twitched as he tried to process what I said.
“Okay that’s it. Security!” He hollard and stood up quickly.
“No, no, no wait!” I widened my eyes and reached a hoof forward to calm him, bumping my holster on the edge of the chair and spilling the Tidus 11 onto the desk.
Sterling jerked back and pulled a pistol from his leg holster pointing it at me.
Shit this is not going to plan. I panicked.
The world suddenly froze in place and turned a slight tint blue, I saw my breath come out as vapor is the freezing air. I could still move perfectly fine however, and I let my hoof - no - my paw, drop. I was back into my timber wolf body.
“Midnight.” The voice of ignis filled my mind as he sighed.
I yelped and looked around me hurriedly. Behind me, near the door, sat the pure white wolf. Around him wisps of fog floated and he was slightly transparent. His eyes were faintly glowing blue.
“I see you’re confused. Earlier, it was me summoning you. I used an illusion of Colonel Sterling as to not alarm you. However as I feared, my natural colors projected through to you since we share the same embodiment. I didn’t expect you to seek out the Colonel. It is my fault, I apologize for my oversight.” Ignis lowered his head in apology.
“Oh, well ...okay, that explains a lot. But why did everything just freeze?” I cocked my head in confusion.
Ignis smiled, “When you were alarmed, you instinctively triggered a Spirit Roaming spell. Coincidentally, I was trotting through this spot checking up on you.” Ignis explained.
Ignis let out a grunt, and stood up to all fours.
“I am growing tired holding my end of the spell to communicate with you, however before I depart, I’d like to let you know I am proud that you have discovered this so quickly. It spares me some teaching.” Ignis chuckled.
“Wait what? Checking up on me? I can cast spells? I’m not a unicorn! I have so many questions!” I exclaimed.
“Excellent, and I have many answers. I will summon you once more when I prepare your course, this gives me an excellent idea where to start. For now, try moving to a different location, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” Ignis smiled once more and vanished into a puff of smoke.
I let out a sigh and a shiver, my muscles were aching for some reason. I quickly trotted around the desk and to the right of the frozen Colonel Sterling. I cautiously grabbed the pistol out of his mouth and placed it back into his holster. Then did the same with my own and my holster.
Now what? How do I make time resume? Uhhh. GO? I thought to myself worriedly, my body was starting to hurt from exhaustion.
A rush of wind overtook me and everything resumed once more. I let out a huge gasp as my legs trembled from soreness. I looked around me as the smoke cleared, thankfully I was back into my regular body as a pony.
I saw Penny yelp at the Colonel and stand up, then do a double take of me.
“Am I daft?” She mumbled blinking rapidly.
The Colonel sputtered and looked around him quickly, then met my eyes with panic.
“What the hell is going on here?!” He backpedaled.
I heard a yell come from down the hallway as Major Bonfire was probably rushing upstairs at this point.
“Ya know, I don’t even know where to begin explaining.” I deadpanned. “Look, before we’re kicked out, let me at least offer a proposition for you.” I said cautiously, I was not gonna walk out empty hoofed without knowing where my marefriend was.
Colonel Sterling narrowed his eyes and nodded, I didn’t expect him to actually listen to me, maybe my display spooked him. Stomping hooves up the stairs reminded me I was really short on time here, something told me the Colonel wasn’t going to wait for much longer before evicting me and Penny.
“I overheard you needed scouts to see if one of your major trade routes were clear, I can check it out for you as long as you give me the directions to get there.” I hastily offered.
“You’re bloody insane you know that? But you’re one helluva special pegasus.” Sterling sighed. “I just don’t have enough ponypower to send some guards to the road to check it out. That trading road is essential for our supplies. I’ll take you up on it. However, when you’re done, call me on the radio at Rafael and report back to me. You’re going to owe me a favor, and with what I just saw, I think you’re the perfect pony for the job.” He smiled dryly.
“Your pipbuck should recognize these coordinates; forty-seven degrees north, one hundred-twenty-two degrees west.” He spoke clearly and slowly.
A ping on my pipbuck drew my attention and I raised my left hoof to see it. The map screen was up and navigated to a location north of here. The device highlighted a location labeled “47.6097° N, 122.3331° W. Rafael Air Base”. The indicator then panned down and highlighted a road leading from Renaissance to a fork leading to Rafael. I guessed that was the trade route they needed check out. The smart little bastard on my foreleg even gave me a way to Rafael after I complete his request.
“You can follow the lumber roads heading east after you check out the route, that should lead you to Rafael.” Sterling said more calmly. “Now get the hell out of my headquarters.” And there went his calm demeanor.
I nodded and looked at the doorway, Major Bonfire stood with a pistol drawn in her mouth, beckoning us to go down the stairs. Penny was already in the hallway, her face was guilt ridden, looking like a filly who got caught stealing sweets.
I stood to all fours and trotted out the door, following Penny down the stairs and out the front of the headquarters, Major Bonfire promptly holstered her pistol and slammed the door on my flank. I gave a nervous chuckle to the guards who were now glaring at me by the door and we slowly trotted down the street.
“Bloody hell Midnight.” Penny groaned and sat in the road. “I don’t even know where t’begin. How about, what the hay was that?” She cried out.
“Well, we know what to do now, we just have to head north and fin-” I was cut off by a hoofstomp.
“No lad, what was with yer wizardly display? Ye bloody teleported before me eyes! Are ye also part unicorn? Ye may as well be with all o’ye mixed blood!” Penny exclaimed.
I let out a slow sigh and looked down the road leading north out of Renaissance. I was way passed the point where I could ignore telling her.
“Let’s just head over to the trade route, it should be about thirty minutes by flight. I’ll explain on the way.” I looked over to Penny’s steely gaze.
“If ye want me to trust ye mate, ye better have one bloody good explanation. Let’s go.” She spread her wings and took off into a hover.
I joined her in flight and we climbed to a comfortable height above the treetops.
“Well, for starters, apparently I’m actually a timber wolf.” I explained hesitantly as we gathered speed in our slow spiraling climb.
“Yer a bloody what?” Penny looked at me with even more confusion.
“Well, actually just my soul, I’m still a pony!” I defended.
“Yer what is a what?!” Penny asked again.
Luna guide me, this is gonna take a while. I moaned internally as we got into formation and followed the road far below us.
The Moon was at it’s peak in the sky and the chilly air was still, at least it was gonna be a simple flight. Goddesses was I wrong.
<><><>
“I don’t know mate, they look awfully menacing and scary to me.” I mumbled from my branch to ballpoint on the other side of the tree trunk.
We were just a few hundred hooves from the ancient castle ahead of us. Now, when I say castle, I mean a jumble of rocks and a single standing stone tower. The bloody thing had been torn down by the weather throughout the years. There were a few heavily armoured ponies at the top and walking along the base of it however.
We positioned ourselves almost a hundred hooves up across the street from the tower. Personally I didn’t think perching ourselves in a tree was the best decision, especially after last time, but what Silver says, goes. Below us, Daisy was unhappily chained to the trunk as we scouted out the building.
“Ye know mates, I don’t see any white trim, I doubt they’re Daylight forces.” Ballpoint spoke quietly, settling down this rifle.
“Yeah, but these blokes are armed to the teeth, do you see that barding? It’s got to be Steel Rangers.” Silver called down from the branch above me.
I remembered the brief description Aurora told me and Midnight about the Steel Rangers. Supposedly they were at neutral standing with the inhabitants of Transylvania. Scout reports from the largest city in Transylvania said there was only one small chapter of them in the nearby mountains, more of an outpost to keep an eye on us. Aurora said they don’t really pay too much attention to us due to our lack of technology, or any pre-war goodies. I can’t blame them, we lived in a giant bloody forest, in houses that resembled classical equestria.
“Well mate, why don’t we say hello? I’d rather they know we’re here, so we don’t scare em and get an explosive surprise to our flanks.” I spoke to Silver above me, looking up.
“And get yer bloody foreleg sawed off? Be me guest lass, go and give em yer pleasantries.” Ballpoint sarcastically called out.
“Get my foreleg sawed off?” I poked my head around the tree trunk to see Ballpoint roll his eyes.
“One look o’yer fancy pipbuck and those steel rangers will be all over ye, they may not be hostile to us yet but they’ll jump on the opportunity to interrogate a fresh stable mare as yeself.” Ballpoint explained with a shrug.
“I think our best option is sneak by them, if we stay this far away we should stay out of their scanning range.” Silver spoke as he hopped down to my branch.
I flinched and tried to balance myself as he shook the bloody thing. His barding and equipment probably made him twice as heavy.
“Aye, that may be the best option, let’s get daisy and skirt the edges of the road for a while then.” Ballpoint nodded and he slung his rifle across his back.
We all spread our wings and hopped off the tree, leaving a slight rustle of the sickly pine needles above us. We circled down in a slow, and quiet glide, landing on the soft pine needle bed that coated the whole forest. When I turned around to face the others, something was definitely wrong, the golden coated and white maned earth pony was nowhere to be found.
“Aw bloody hell Captain, ye done it again!” Ballpoint moaned and unsling his rifle again.
“I beg your pardon mate? I secured her to this branch, see?” Silver pointed to the smooth, branchless tree trunk.
“There not be a branch on this tree until at least forty hooves up ye soddy muppet!” Ballpoint exclaimed.
Without warning the tree next to us exploded halfway up the trunk in a shower of splinters, causing both well trained stallions to drop to their stomachs and point their guns to the tower. I, for my part, stood there confused for a few seconds and then quickly dove behind the tree trunk, unslinging my carbine. I put a foreleg over my head as the rotten wood rained down on us, covering us in dust and dirt.
“What the hay was that?!” I yelled in confusion, my ears ringing slightly from the explosion.
“Two blokes on the top of the tower facing us, one of em’s got bloody artillery on a battle saddle. He’s reloading.” Dusk calmly spoke out looking through his spotter’s scope.
“Aye, I got him.” Ballpoint called out and fired his rifle.
The sharp supersonic crack of the gun echoed into the forest as I watched the vapor trail of his bullet spark off of something on the tower.
“Bloody nora it just bounced off his armor, he’s loaded, let’s move!” Silver cried out as the two quickly stood up and galloped to the right.
Not knowing what else to do, I galloped as fast as I could trying to keep up with them. They both dove down behind a tree and set up again. I joined behind them and finally raised my scope to my eye, looking at the tower. The power armored pony had a huge cannon strapped to his side, it looked like a seventy millimeter howitzer. On his other flank sat a can of ammunition, with a belt being fed into the cannon. We probably had a few seconds between each shot as it loaded.
I watched as the gun silently fired, recoiling backwards on springs, the round’s tracer lead to where we were only a few seconds before. The ground quaked as a huge explosion erupted only a tens of hooves away from us, showering more dirt on top of us. The report of his cannon quickly followed, echoing off the mountains.
“Alright, fire when ready, aim for the ammo belt!” Silver barked, intensely looking into his scope.
“Aye Captain.” Ballpoint racked his bolt and fired again.
The report of his rifle resounded and I watched the vapor trail hit the barrel of the cannon, ricocheting into the night sky.
“Aw shite, the bloke moved.” Ballpoint cried as he racked his bolt again and aimed.
The Steel ranger paused, and looked over to his companion. The rest of the Steel Rangers climbed onto the rooftop from a staircase in the tower, they all seemed to be pointing into the sky. Suddenly two steel rangers with twin twenty millimeter flak cannons opened up and a roar of explosions filled the night air.
I quickly gazed up to the spot they were hitting, a trail of midair explosions contrasted the clear night sky as they followed a pair of bat ponies. One of them rolled and dodged another explosion, and I suddenly realized he wasn’t a batpony. He was a pegasus, my pegasus!
“That’s Middy up there!” I cried out and pointed a hoof.
“What the hell is he doing all the way out here?” SIlver hollard and looked up to where I was pointing.
“Mates, they’re not gonna last long with that flak, we need t’cross the road while they’re distracted. and try to get em’ off their flanks.” Ballpoint called out and stood up.
I nodded and braced my carbine in my mouth ready for action. We all took off and I pumped my wings as hard as I could to reach the base of the tower, slamming into the stone wall with a grunt.
“Ballpoint, do you still have the AP rounds from earlier?” Silver asked as he checked the magazine of his IS-16 that he’d picked up earlier. I saw green tipped ammunition stacked in there before he put it back in the rifle. Green tips were just armor penetrators for light armor, not piercing like the black tip ammunition.
“Mate, do ye take me for anything less than professional? I’ve had ‘em in this whole time, we were just too far for me rounds to penetrate anything that thick.” Ballpoint huffed and opened his bolt to hoof load a few more rounds, topping off the internal magazine.
“I thought you two said these blokes were neutral?” I whined as I looked up back to the flak cloud, Midnight took a steep dive followed by the other bat pony as they landed somewhere behind the tower, the flak came to an abrupt stop.
At least he’s safe, but since when was his wing well enough to fly? I made a mental note to find out when this was over. After I slapped him for being in danger like that.
“They are neutral!” Silver exclaimed, peaking around the radius of the tower.
“I would bet a million caps that Daisy ran over here and played these rangers like a harp. She probably told them we were slavers or something.” he continued.
“Well, as long as this lass has a pipbuck, they’re gonna be rough with us. Let’s hope we can talk some sense int-.”
Ballpoint was cut off as the silent night erupted in a loud chorus of shrill screams and unequine howls. I looked around to the forest and saw the tree tops shuddering as a dark mass approached us.
“Aw shite, I shoulda guessed all this noise would attract something from the forest. Alright, up we go, we don’t have a choice now. Let’s meet them up from the steps, I don’t want to surprise them and get blown to a million pieces.” SIlver hastily spoke as he rushed around the tower to the door at the base. These Ranger’s shot at me and my special somepony, I was less than happy at that moment.
“Bloody hell.” I moaned as I shouldered my carbine once more and entered the doorway.
***
Penny and I glided in silence once more, only the radio on my pipbuck kept us entertained with its smooth jazz; some stallion singing about flying to the moon. The road was pretty quiet except for the occasional wandering ghoul far below. As we would have it, the trade route was clear. We slowly banked to the right, following the fork in the road. This new road would lead to Rafael, and I could finally meet up with Scarlet again and figure out what the hay we’re gonna do.
“Yanno lad. I still don’t know if yer just a daft drug addict, or if yer telling the truth.” Penny cut the silence, interrupting my thoughts. “But having seen yer sorcery before me own eyes… Luna above, I have t’believe ye.” She finished with a sigh.
“Trust me sister, I don’t even know so much for myself. I just told you what I saw.” I flapped my wings lazily.
I had left out the parts about ignis wanting to summon me again, as well as his plans to teach me more about being the ‘Guardian’. According to Penny, that name came from an old Transylvanian tale regarding a bat pony mare born with a red mane, supposedly the Guardian was the guide of her travels and her protector. Like hell if I knew where we were supposed to go, maybe that odd dream I had about Vanhoover had something to do with it?
A bright flash followed by a thump in my chest from an explosion echoed below us. I shot my eyes down in time to see a stone tower with a few armored ponies standing on it looking up at us.
“What the hay was that? Do you think they’re shooting at us?” I looked worriedly to Penny, who was sharing my expression.
“I donno lad, that was an airburst round, maybe the-” Penny was cut off by another explosion tearing the sky just a few hooves behind us.
I heard the air fizzle as shrapnel shot past my head, the percussion from the shell racking my bones. I started to feel panic swell in my chest as a chorus of explosions surrounded us, slowly getting more accurate in both position and altitude.
“We need to get out of here!” Penny yelled over the deafening roar.
“No shit!” I yelled back, my ears were already ringing at this point, and I felt nauseous from the constant bombardment jarring my bones
I looked down just in time to see a tracer shell headed my way, I quickly rolled to the right as the shell combusted where I just was. I felt something slam into my barding on my left side, knocking the wind out of me.
“Bloody hell Midnight, you just took a hit! We can’t outfly this!” Penny screamed over the explosions. Whoever was shooting at us was getting too damn close for comfort..
Penny was right, our best option right now was to dive below the trees and try to make our way with our lives, no way in tartarus was I going to die now.
I steeled my nerves and looked down to find an appropriate spot to dive into. A familiar shape and red color caught my eyes as I scanned the base of the tower.
What the hay is she doing way out here? I guessed we didn’t have to go all the way to Rafael, but Luna above, of all places to find her.
“We’re diving vertically. Now.” I commanded, Penny looked scared but she nodded and folded her wings with me as we entered a sickening zero G dive.
I felt my guts lurch as we gathered way too much speed for this altitude. My instincts were telling me to slow down, but my brain knew if we did, a lucky shot would easily cut us in half. The mid air explosions continued to erupt from above us, trying to follow our increasing speed.
Right when I guessed my tail cleared the tallest branches of the treetops, I flared my wings as wide as I could. I grit my teeth and my muscles screamed in agony from the strain. They were going to be sore for days, that’s for sure.
Penny let out a yelp as she did the same next to me. We tumbled towards the ground at an alarming rate, I closed my eyes and hit the ground hard, rolling a few times after the impact and landing on my stomach. The soft pine needles helped cushion the fall slightly, and thankfully I didn’t feel like I broke anything this time. Penny rolled passed me and finally came to a stop on her back. Above, the flak explosions shattered small branches from the tree tops, then came to a sudden stop.
As the echos of the cannons firing died down, the night finally fell silent once more. Only our heavy panting and the faint music coming from my pipbuck taking over once more. I groaned and shut the radio off with my nose. Now was not the time for cheerful music.
“Ah laddie… let’s not… do that again…” Penny mumbled to my right as she caught her breath.
“Aye.” I agreed and stood up slowly. I trotted over to penny and held out a hoof to help pull her up.
Penny nodded and blushed again, taking my hoof and rising up to all fours. She trotted in a circle checking over herself, and readjusted her saddlebag-medkit combo.
“Are ye alright? I saw a piece of shrapnel shoot into yer side!” She suddenly turned to me and inspected my left side.
I foll owed her gaze and saw a small black hole in my grey camouflage barding. A still-smoking piece of metal was imbedded in the thick cloth, having been stopped by the black ceramic plate underneath.
“I’m alright, thanks to your armor, I’m surprised we actually got away from this unscathed.” I nodded and looked around us.
We were just a few hundred hooves from the tower, and whatever crazy ponies that inhabited it who decided to light us up like hearthwarming eve trees.
“Let’s get out of here then huh? I don’t think our friends at the tower are going to wait around till we show up. They’re definitely gonna start searching. But I’m glad yer okay lad, really glad.” Penny’s blush deepened and she looked over to the tower in disdain.
She blushes a lot, is that normal for mares? I shot her a quizzical look and shook my head. I had a lot more to worry about.
“I think I saw Scarlet over by the base of the tower, she’s bound to be with Lieutenants Dusk and Ballpoint... “ I trailed off, watching Penny’s expression drop in worry.
“Alright mate, yer in charge here.” Penny sighed, and reached into her pea coat, drawing her fancy pistol in her mouth. The gun let out an electrical whine and the barrel started glowing green as she cocked the slide. I’ve never seen a firearm like that before, it looked like a regular pistol, but with magical shit thrown into it.
I nodded and unstrapped my rifle from my back, letting it stay slung across my chest. We quickly galloped towards the silent tower, nothing but the moonlight was lighting up our way, thankfully that’s exactly what we needed for our passive magic to kick in and grant us better vision.
As we reached the base of the tower, and emerged from the forest, the night air was split in half by the most grotesque chorus of sounds I’ve ever heard. I whipped around and looked in panic, trying to figure out where the hay it came from. Penny doing the same, then looking to me in worry.
“I think we just attracted a whole hell of a lot of ghouls, we need to get to higher ground, and fast.” I spoke as we made our way around the tower and into the doorway.
Where the hay is Scarlet? She was just here! I thought to myself as I turned the corner and galloped directly into Scarlets flank, causing her to yelp in surprise and send us tumbling to the ground.
“Get the hay off me you secce-wankstain-twat!” Scarlet screamed into the ground and tried to grab her carbine in front of her.
I lay dazed on her back as she finally wiggled enough to flip over and point the carbine right between my eyes.
“Merddy?” She mumbled around the firing bit, quickly spitting it out, sending the IS-4 clattering on the stone floor.
“Hel-” I was cut off as she slapped me hard across the face.
“Don’t do that mate! I almost bloody shot you!” She screamed.
“Well, I’m sor-” I was cut off once more and she slapped my other cheek.
“And especially don’t fly into flak like that! You could have died you soddy bloke!” she screamed once more.
“Look, I didn’t choose to fl-” I was cut off a third time as she pushed towards me and locked her lips with mine. This time, I was okay with the interruption. I felt my eyes flutter closed as I took in the moment.
“Glad yer here mate, now save the mouth sex for later, we have a bit more pressing matters to attend to.” I heard Ballpoint deadpan from the steps.
“P-Penny what’re you doing here?” Dusk called out.
I finally pulled away from Scarlet’s lovely face and helped her to her hooves. She smiled warmly, and picked up her carbine.
“How’s it going lads? Hi… Scarlet.” Penny smiled awkwardly and waved a hoof to everypony.
“Have ye all lost ye bloody minds? Luna’s fuckin’ moon let’s get movin’!” Ballpoint hollard with a voice crack as he galloped up the steps.
“Right, there’s time for greetings later. We need to get those Steel Ranger’s to hold their fire on us, and open up on the horde of ghouls headed our way. Let’s go.” Dusk steeled his expression and ordered confidently. We all nodded and galloped the stairs after him.
Okay, great so they were Steel Rangers. I thought to myself as we all spilled out onto the rooftop.
All four of the Steel Rangers and an unarmored earth pony were already waiting, the Ranger’s battle saddles were pointed at us as we emerged from the trapdoor that the staircase led out of. Both of our lines stood facing each other, the tension in the air would have been unbearable had it not been for the rumbling of hoofsteps coming from the forest to remind us of our danger.
“Hold your fire” Lieutenant Dusk cried out, raising a hoof to the Rangers. “You’ve been misinformed, we’re not whatever that mare said we were! I’m Captain Dusk and we’re with the Renaissance Rose Nightwatch on a mission to the Rafael Air Base.” he hastily called out, pointing to his insignia on his chest.
Huh I guess he was promoted.
“Then why the hay did this mare come screaming to us claiming you’re Slavers?” The modulated voice of a mare came out of the right-most suit. She had a nasty pair of twin cannons aimed at me. Why me?!
“Don’t listen to them!” The earth pony mare cried out in dramatic disdain.
“Shove it up yer arse! She’s an officer with the Black Daylight, we had er’ under custody to bring to Rafael.” Ballpoint spat, snapping his rifle to the mare.
I sneaked a peek over to the treeline, I could already make out the shapes of dozens of ghouls in the forest, they were nearly upon us.
“Paladin Sweet Roll, we need to make a decision now!” A stallion’s modulated voice called out with concern. It was the one with the giant fucking howitzer strapped to his side. Who the buck thinks of these things? That’s mother bucking field artillery!
Paladin Sweet Roll, the Ranger mare who spoke up earlier turned to the earth pony mare quickly.
“Is this true? The Steel Ranger’s don’t have time to worry about all of your petty skirmishes. But if you made us fire upon soldiers of a group we’re trying to stay neutral with, that is unacceptable.” The Paladin spat out. Her equestrian accent something I haven’t heard in awhile, well, besides my own accent.
“What are you doing defending these monsters? Can’t you see they are the ones who need to be eradicated? Yes I’m with the Black Daylight, and any friend of these bats are an enemy of ours! You’ll all burn with the res-” The earth pony’s head and shoulders were blown off in a bloody explosion. Her body slumped to the floor with a meaty slap.
“Well that settles it, alright boys let’s get to work!” The Paladin hastily ordered, her smoking cannon automatically ejected the spent shell and rechambered another with a satisfying clatch.
The other Rangers quickly turned around and let loose a roar of firepower into the oncoming horde of Ghouls. Me, Scarlet, Penny, Dusk and Ballpoint all stood there dumbfounded as the Ranger’s lay absolute waste to the horde. Their black angry visors flashed with glare from their muzzle flashes as the rooftop quickly became littered with enormous brass shell casings.
We all looked at each other and nodded, grabbing our respective weapons and lining up around the stone battlements that encompassed the rooftop. I stood next to Scarlet and Ballpoint as we braced our rifles on the ledge.
We all started firing upon the ghouls that made it through the Ranger’s onslaught, I lined up my sights onto a ghoul whose back legs were blown off, and clicked the pressure plate. The IS-700 reported firmly into my jaw as the bullet blew a chunk out of the ghoul’s head, causing it to slump down without any further movement.
I lowered my rifle and rechambered another round with my hooves, then picking it back up in my mouth, I took aim at a ghoul that was galloping towards the door of the tower. I fired once more and saw the asphalt kick up as my shot missed behind it. The ghoul suddenly twitched and collapsed as a bullet passed through it’s right eye socket. Ballpoint rechambered a round with quick discipline and took aim again. Our group continued let loose our small torrent of gunfire until the last ghoul lay twitching.
I let out a sigh and let my rifle drop to my chest, I only fired twice, damn I needed to pick up my game. A sudden feeling of a warm embrace caused me to jump as Scarlet grabbed me and snuggled up against me.
“Bloody hell Middy, I’m glad to see you’re okay. I wanted to say this earlier, but with so much going on, I didn’t have a chance! When I had to leave while you were still in the hospital, I was worried sick.” She spoke softly into my chest. I smiled and held her back. An argument split the now silent night and drew my attention.
“Dammit! Paladin Sweet Roll we needed her alive!” I heard Dusk holler as he returned his assault rifle to his back and stormed up to the Steel Ranger.
After their deadly display, I was genuinely impressed he had the nerve to come muzzle to muzzle with the Ranger.
“I made a tactful decision to keep you from getting shot in the back. You’re welcome.” The Steel Ranger deadpanned.
She kicked a lever on her cannons and they unloaded the chambered rounds, returning them to their respective ammo boxes. Her barrels were faintly glowing red and smoking in the chilly air.
“Knight Mystery Souffle, take Knight’s Chocolate Chunk and Moon Pie down the tower and secure the perimeter.” The Paladin ordered. The other Rangers nodded and began trotting down the stairs.
“She was under our custody, and was a key factor in ending this conflict with the Black Daylight before it escalates! When the hay are we ever going to take another bloody officer as a prisoner?” Captain Dusk stomped a hoof into the stone.
I let my eyes wander as they continued to argue. Ballpoint was sitting down on the rooftop across from me, relaxing against the stone wall. A cigarette lazily hung from his lips as his looked up at the night sky. Penny was checking her pistol, and mumbling to herself as she struggled to reload it. I didn’t get a chance to see how it fired.
“Let’s move out guys, we’ve got a long way ahead of us.” Captain Dusk called out gathering all of our attentions. Apparently he and the paladin had come to an agreement.
“You and Scarlet are under our protection from interrogation for being stable ponies, as well as having pip bucks. That was her trade off for killing our prisoner of war.” He grumbled as he spoke to me.
“Thanks Silver, I was actually starting to worry, the way she kept glancing at out forelegs.” Scarlet whispered as we all gathered ourselves and trotted down the steps once more.
Okay so now his name is Silver Dusk, Luna above what else is new around here?
I glanced around as we exited the stone tower, passing the remaining Rangers and heading up the road. Penny kept on stealing glances at me, and frowning at Scarlet. I looked to my left, finding Silver doing the same to Penny. Ballpoint just spat out his cigarette butt and trotted along nonchalantly.
“Hey guys, let’s fly on over to Rafael, I have a few things I need to do there.” I spoke up, Silver nodded in agreement.
“We’re still required to report to Colonel Starry Skies, I think that’s a good idea.” He spread his wings,stealing a glance to Penny once more. Was I missing something here?
I nodded as we all took off into the night air, forming up as a gaggle and climbing. It dawned upon me that this was the first time me and Scarlet ever got to fly together outside of the stable. Maybe later when things cleared up I’d take her out for a nice flight.
I looked to the band of misfit ponies flying around me, each one of us somehow found ourselves taking action against the Black Daylight. We were all involved in the struggle, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized we had to stick together. WHatever the hell the ‘Eternal Night’ was, Ignis made it very clear that I now played a part, and either for good or for bad, so did every other pony here around me
I sighed and spoke up,
“Well, everypony.” I cleared my throat. “I figured you all deserve to know what the hay is going on. Some things have happened recently and it’s been on my mind. We’re all involved in something way more complex than we could imagine. I want us all to be on the same page.”
“Did something bad happen?” Scarlet looked at me with concern.
“No, no nothing bad. Well, maybe, I'm not sure.” I sighed as I thought about what to say. “For starters, I’m actually a timber wolf” I repeated my explanation from before.
“You’re a bloody what?” Scarlet exclaimed.
This is gonna take a while I sighed.
XXX