//------------------------------//
// Lies Within Lies 
// Story: The Super Awesome Story About Stuff 
// by BlackRoseRaven 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Nine: Lies Within Lies
~BlackRoseRaven

While they were very close to their destination, the growing darkness and the damage their caravan had taken compelled the small army to halt its march. Fortunately, they happened across a settlement of farms that was more than willing to let them set up camp in their recently-harvested fields, and they were even offered some of the bounty of the crops.
But the fresh, good food didn't bring nearly as much rejoicing as discovering that there was a large tavern nearby, and that it was offering a free drink for every soldier. After some heckling, Marina and River Styx ended up joining the crowd of soldiers headed to the bar: Luna and Twilight were more than happy to keep an eye on Scrivener, and Luna had heard that Ignominious would be present at the bar, and wanted them to keep an eye on him.
Admittedly, Marina liked being in the welcomingly-positive, relaxed energy of the soldiers: off-duty, close to safety, and now able to put their hooves up in a bar, they were very different from the coarse, strict, and suspicious ponies they had traveled with. They were able to let down their guard, relax, and since the bandits had attacked and they had worked together to fight them off, the soldiers had apparently become far more accepting of the quirky group of misfits.
River Styx felt himself wanting to relax, too: even though he had never exactly been a 'share a drink with the colts' type of pony, all the same, their merriment was infectious and, whether he liked it or not, it was hard to resist playing the role of his 'character,' who was far more talkative and merry than Styx could manage even at his most social. All the same, though, even while that part of him that had decided to be 'Loki' prattled away, he kept his eyes sharp and his ears pricked, as if waiting for an alarm.
Marina and Styx both paused outside the tavern, the group of soldiers they had been traveling with barely noticing as they left the two behind, with how caught up in their laughter and eagerness for a good, stiff drink they were. The chocolate mare looked quizzically at Styx as he turned a smile towards her, but she knew it wasn't genuine: neither in nor out of character. “What's wrong?”
“Absolutely nothing. And that's exactly what's bothering me.” Styx replied after a moment, and even he wasn't sure if he was speaking as himself or the character he was playing. “All I know is that it's when everything seems to be going right, that everything starts going wrong.”
Marina smiled a little despite herself, nodding slowly as she allowed her eyes to travel slowly over the front of the building: it looked warm, inviting, and there was happy, delightful music streaming out of the open doors and the wide windows, and she could hear the laughter of soldiers and see them celebrating along with the merry townsfolk... “You're right. It's like everyone's forgotten why we're here.”
“I'm sure they have. But we have a job to do, and we should stay on our guard. Don't let yourself get separated from me inside the tavern.” River Styx ordered, and Marina smiled despite herself as his genet chirped loudly on his head, battering at him with his little paws until Styx sighed and gave the slightest nod, adding almost awkwardly: “Please.”
Then he frowned slightly as his genet chirped again, looking up at him for a moment and seeming oddly ruffled. But then he seemed to relent to whatever it was his insistent little companion was asking, and he gestured awkwardly at Marina as he mumbled: “Here. He'll keep an eye on you, just in case one of us does get pulled away.”
Marina blinked in surprise as the genet hopped suddenly from River Styx and onto her head, and then she blushed and laughed as the ferret-like creature happily clambered all over her before she turned a warm smile towards Styx.
Styx was already looking back at the tavern, though, although she could swear she saw the slightest blush at his collar as he grumbled: “Come on. Let's get going. We have to find that paladin, Ignominious, first.”
“Alright.” Marina nodded to the stallion as the genet scrambled down into the lush fur of the animalistic armor covering her body, the mare hesitating for a moment before she asked: “So what do you think of the others?”
“I think they're all insane.” River Styx muttered, shaking his head briefly as they entered the warmth of the tavern: the conversation was oddly welcome, though, because it helped distract him from how, well, distracting the rest of the world was. “But they seem to be able to take care of themselves, too. And for better or worse, we're stuck with them.”
“I don't mind them. I mean, I do agree, they're all a little... eccentric...” Marina glanced around the tavern, for a moment losing herself in the bright chaos of it all. It brought back so many memories, and half-remembered dreams that had felt so real...
She shook her head quickly as she realized that Styx was looking at her patiently, and she gave him a lame smile before murmuring: “Sorry. But... they might be a little strange, but I think their hearts are in the right place.”
“Their minds just aren't.” Styx said dryly, and Marina giggled a little even as she gave him a pointed look. “But... I suppose I agree. Something about them though... it strikes me as strange.”
“Do you think they're just part of this story?” Marina asked curiously, and River Styx couldn't help but give her a slightly-surprised look, before he gave a slight smile as the two ponies made their way through the cheerful crowds to a far table in a quieter corner, where ponies were mostly chatting amongst themselves and enjoying their drinks in peace, more than shouting stories and roaring laughter and dancing to the music played by the bards across the room.
As they slid into seats at a table, River Styx shook his head and answered: “No. I don't think they are. I guess in a way they're too... different.”
“But you know, when you're sure of anything with chaos...” Marina smiled a little, and then she shook her head slowly before saying quietly: “I know what you mean, though. And I'm glad they're here and... I'm glad you're here too, River.”
River Styx grunted, and then he simply shrugged awkwardly even as his genet leapt up to Marina's shoulder, purring and rubbing its little face against hers, making the chocolate mare smile. They sat in silence for a few moments, until River Styx looked towards the bar and asked: “Do you want anything?”
“No, thank you. I want a clear head. It's... it's funny in here, you're right.” Marina briefly glanced around, before she frowned a little as she caught sight of several strange-looking ponies: they wore bright red cloaks over some kind of uniform, and they had funny little caps on their heads... “Did you see-”
“I did. Maybe we should go to the bar and get drinks after all.” River Styx said slowly, and Marina nodded. But before they could push away from the table, several soldiers suddenly joined them, almost forcing the two back into their seats.
“Hey there! You two are quite some warriors!” one of the soldiers said cheerfully, and Marina gave a lame smile as River Styx opened his mouth before his eyes locked on the badge on the soldier's breast: he was a Knight of the Holy Order, which gave him an idea.
“Well, I don't think we did anything you fine gents couldn't do.” River Styx said easily, as he slipped into his character of Loki. At the same time, he looked pointedly at Marina, and the chocolate mare nodded hesitantly to him as she settled back into her seat, even as she fidgeted awkwardly as a soldier slid maybe a little too close to her, gazing at her fawningly. “You colts really made stallions of yourselves against those raiders, I have to say! They probably should have brought a dragon or two if they wanted to stand a chance against you lot!”
The soldiers were visibly enthused by this, one laughing and saying with almost painfully-false modesty: “Oh, we're not that great, you know! We just, you know, did what we could to hold off that entire army of bandits and thieves while you kept the princess safe, that's all. Even if we were outnumbered, we knew we couldn't let Princess Novella get taken, right?”
The stallion who had spoken lifted his drink with a grin and a distinct flex of his bicep, winking at Marina, who gave an awkward smile back to him. Styx repressed the urge to roll his eyes, forcing himself to continue to smile as another soldier added, much more earnest: “Let me buy you both drinks, please. Without you, our mission would have failed and we would have had to return to the King as less than stallions and less than failures.”
“No, no. It's alright. We survived only because we worked together. You don't owe us anything.” Marina said softly, shaking her head with a small smile. “If anyone deserves a drink, it's your Commander, Lord Ignominious. He's clearly taught you all well, and admittedly...”
“We aren't the easiest to get along with. Brynhild can be a little too proud of himself at times. And a little too proud of us, too, to be entirely honest.” Styx added, waving a hoof absently. On the bright side, it was at least getting easier to allow his mouth to run while he kept his eyes looking around, like there were two distinct people sharing his body and working in almost-perfect synchronization. “It's good to know that your Commander seems to be one of those few people who can actually put up with him.”
The soldiers chuckled amongst themselves, and then one of them leaned forwards almost conspiratorially, apparently eager to gossip as he said in a low voice: “Well, they say that the Commander and Champion Brynhild used to be very close. You know. Very close.”
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, before yelping when another soldier punched him in the shoulder with a huff. “Oh, as if. Lord Ignominious is a Commander in the Order, and Brynhild was an Exemplar. Neither of them are fags.”
Marina's eyes flicked briefly towards the soldier who had spoken as another rolled his eyes and complained: “Oh, like there aren't any homos in the clergy or the officer-class, anyway. Just look at Jubilee.” He scoffed, then shook his head before adding grumpily: “Also, Brynhild was thrown out of the Order, while Lord Ignominious stayed behind. I don't know if he paid penance or not to do so, but I do know that he was promoted around the same time as Brynhild was thrown out.”
“So maybe Brynhild was the fag, I don't know.” said another soldier with a shrug, before he hesitated, then added in a quieter voice as he leaned forwards: “But either way, I heard that Brynhild was the one who was supposed to get the big promotion. Lord Ignominious was actually serving under his command back then.”
“What, are you trying to defend Brynhild, or are you saying that maybe Ignominious was the one who ratted him out?” asked the soldier who had been complaining, the stallion scowling slightly. “Look, the rules are pretty clear. No fags in the Order. We have enough problems recruiting good, strong stallions as it is.”
“Hey, I really don't care if they're gay or not, as long as they fight and keep their hooves off me. Means more mares for me when we get time to ourselves.” replied the soldier beside Marina, before he winked at her. “Don't you worry, though, I'm a hundred percent-”
“Idiot.” snapped the complaining soldier, earning a few chortles before he added grouchily: “You shouldn't be chasing tail, anyway. One mare for every stallion. And there are two stallions for every mare out there right now!”
“Why don't you let more mares into the Order, then?” Marina asked politely, trying to steer the conversation in a slightly better direction. “Why, Morgan is-”
“Morgan is a pureblood unicorn. There are even fewer of those left, and we have no influence over their politics. But if we did, I assure you that mares would be where they belong, safe, and tending to our wounded. You mares shouldn't be forced to fight.” replied the soldier with a shake of his head, somehow missing the way Marina's eyes narrowed and her face slowly puckered.
Styx thought about stepping in, but he was admittedly fascinated with watching the way Marina's usually-sunny and almost meek demeanor rapidly changed as the soldier continued in a patronizing, matter-of-fact voice: “Stallions were put on this planet to protect mares and to serve God through commitment to the Holy Order. Mares were put on this earth to serve stallions. We can't have stallions serving stallions because that goes against the natural order, just like the thought of a mare protecting a stallion is ludicrous. Even among the treasonous mages, they usually try and keep the mares in places where they can be admired but don't have to... intervene in daily life. Mares can barely deal with their own emotions. They need strong hooves to guide them, stallions to follow behind, or they end up lost, like little lambs. Mares could never do what stallions can.”
“Mares could never do what stallions could.” Marina repeated, her voice flat, her eyes glaring at the soldier.
The soldier frowned back at her, before the knight beside her leaned in and threw a foreleg around Marina: he at least had the decency to look a little embarrassed even if he was starting to invade her personal space, saying: “Hey, don't you worry, Graw is just from an old family, and you know how-”
Marina calmly reached up and flicked her foreleg, knocking the stallion's foreleg off her shoulders, and the soldier looked dumbly at his limb like it was a branch that had just fallen off a tree. He lamely began to raise it, and Marina didn't even look at him as she said: “Don't.”
The soldier winced and hurriedly drew his foreleg back, hugging it like it had been burnt, before  Marina turned her glare towards so-called Graw, who winced back in surprise at the cold fire in her eyes. “As for you, I don't know what kind of 'Holy Order' you work for, but the God I know certainly doesn't think any less of mares than he does of stallions. Where I come from, it's the mares who have cared for their children, protected their homes, fought in wars, and ruled the empire. It's mares who protect the stallions. But I suspect that this world shares one thing in common with mine: the stallions hide behind mares while they loudly take credit for all the work they do.”
The soldier shifted awkwardly, looking lamely away, and River Styx couldn't help but smile slightly as he said cheerfully: “Well, think of it this way, colts. We have something to prove, right? And who works harder than a stallion with something to prove?
“Speaking of which, your noble commander, Ignominious: what does he fight for? Who does he serve, apart from God?” asked the stallion curiously, and the soldiers looked at him almost uncomfortably before River Styx added: “It sounds like he's the highest rank you can go and still find on the field, which means that he must be the one to deal with the first wave of rear-echelon mother-buckers.”
One of the soldiers smiled briefly, while the others only shifted a little, until the one beside Marina said awkwardly, pointedly keeping his eyes away from the glowering mare: “Well, you know. The Knights are the sword and the shield of the Holy Order. There are the priests – and priestesses! – and the healers and the spiritual leaders and... well, the Holy Order is really composed of many different ponies, many different people, and all of them are... all of them have their place.”
“We don't serve the King. I mean... we do, but... we don't.” added another soldier, before he scoffed when the pony beside Marina glared at him. “Oh, come on, everypony knows anyway. Our first allegiance is to the Holy Order.”
“And the Holy Order is preserved by the King, who is among the highest caste.” said the soldier beside Marina. “The King contributes what he can to the Holy Order, and in return, the Holy Order serves the King. So in a way, we do serve the King.”
“Nonsense.” grumbled Graw, who apparently just couldn't keep his mouth shut. “God is above all and we serve God first, through the Holy Order
“Gosh, then I sure hope the Holy Order knows what God wants.” River Styx couldn't help but remark, earning a horrible look from Graw before he asked smoothly: “But among the Order, who is responsible for passing on the orders of God, so to speak? I know there's a council of Archbishops, but I can't imagine they have much head for earthly matters, like we do, boys. There must be go-betweens.”
“You mean the Red Messengers.” the soldier beside Marina glanced up, straightening a little and tossing a nervous little look in Marina's direction. But when she acknowledged him with a look – grudging or not – he gave a lame smile and shrank his head a little in automatic deference, continuing: “Well, they're advisers who travel around the kingdom, passing down commands from the Holy Order. They also act as the go-betweens between the-”
“You sure are happy to share all our secrets with outsiders, aren't you?” Graw asked loudly, glaring at the knight, who quailed slightly. River Styx couldn't help but note that, as loud and obnoxious as Graw was, he also was careful to focus his frustration on the soldier... and very clearly was doing everything he could to avoid Marina's venomous gaze. “Even if they're heretics, well, as long as they have a pretty face-”
“Well,we might be pretty, but we're not outsiders. We're right here beside you, friends, just looking to do what we can to help.” River Styx interjected, but even if his voice was full of Loki's charm, his eyes were hard, almost challenging Graw. “But would you excuse Hild and I? I think I just saw Brynhild and I'd like to go and buy him a drink.”
The soldiers all shifted awkwardly, and Graw snorted before he looked towards Marina... although again, didn't meet her eyes. “Well, good luck to you then, Sir Loki. I'm sure Brynhild likes his drinks served from a stallion.”
River Styx smiled dryly as he climbed to his hooves, but before he could make a witty retort, Marina simply shoved the table forwards to knock Graw sprawling. The soldier mouthed wordlessly as he grasped at his dented armor, while Marina politely sketched a curtsy to the other soldiers, saying pleasantly: “Thank you for the company and conversation.”
With that, she joined Styx as he strode towards the bar, the chocolate mare smiling a little as Styx remarked: “You're a little tougher than I thought.”
“I hear that a lot.” Marina smiled again after a moment, glancing towards the stallion before she shook her head and added softly: “I just don't like conflict. But that doesn't mean I'm about to sit back and just let people walk all over me.”
River Styx smiled briefly at this, before he frowned slightly as he thought he heard raised voices: not the pleasant kind, either, the laughter and the raucous shouting, but something sharper, angrier. It came from the floor above, and he thought he could see a black hoof resting on the edge of the railing... “I have a feeling those Red Messengers aren't here to congratulate the Commander.”
“Should we take a closer look?” Marina asked, and she hesitated a moment before adding quietly as the genet on her head chirped uncertainly: “I think I can do a simple illusion...”
“Let's try and be more subtle.” River Styx said as he turned towards the bar, before saying clearly, as he flicked his horn: “Three shots of whiskey, the finest you have in stock.”
The barkeep smiled warmly: likely more at the prospect of actually making money than continuing to pass out ale on a tab that would never be picked up by the kingdom, Styx thought wryly .”Yes, sir! Right away, sir!”
The whiskey was a fine, deep amber, and smelled like a bit of heaven. Styx lifted the drinks with telekinesis, then gestured to Marina to follow as they made their way through the busy crowd, the two staying close as the genet pawed uneasily at Marina's neck.
The stairs were guarded by two burly Dervishes, but to the surprise of both Styx and Marina, neither moved to stop them when they approached. One of them, however, glanced around as if searching for someone else, and Styx frowned a bit before he asked: “Did I lose my title of 'most wanted' while my back was turned?”
“Shut up.” one of the Dervishes retorted, which at least went to show they certainly weren't any more liked by the elites. Which meant that Ignominious or the Red Messengers – if that was indeed who they had seen – were trying to stop someone in particular from getting to them, or, on the other hoof...
“Did he tell you to let us through, specifically?” River Styx inquired, but neither Dervish paid any attention to him, and the stallion shrugged briefly before he looked over at Marina, who looked surprised at this thought, but was also clearly considering it herself now. “Well, let's find out.”
Marina nodded, following him up the steps to the second floor, which was far quieter than the first. The first thing Styx noted was that there were a lot more officers at the tables here, and many of them were decorated with symbols and badges of the Holy Order, showing clearly where their allegiance first laid.
Yet none of them paid Styx or Marina much heed as they carefully made their way around the wide, winding walkway of the second floor. They didn't seem too fond of the fact they were here, but just like the Dervishes, they didn't make any attempts to stop them, either, and nor did they give them much more than a look: sometimes it was a nasty one, other times it seemed to simply be... curious, Styx thought.
“I feel like an animal at the zoo.” Marina mumbled, and Styx grimaced slightly in agreement before the chocolate mare glanced up, noting the large seating area just ahead that overshadowed the bar, where Ignominious was loudly arguing with the strangely-dressed ponies.
The odd, uniformed ponies were seated at the tables, Dervishes standing nearby and, even through their heavy armor, looking nervous and uncertain: funny emotions to see in goliaths that were covered from head-to-hoof in sharp metal.
Ignominious, meanwhile, was standing near the railing, looking visibly displeased. As Styx and Marina approached, however, his eyes flicked towards them, and he held their gaze for a moment before he made a dismissive gesture to the side with his head.
Styx immediately grabbed Marina and yanked her to the side, behind a fortuitously-positioned support pillar. They got an odd look from an officer seated at a table nearby, but he seemed to be the only one who noticed, as one of the strange ponies at the table snapped: “Keep your eyes here, Commander!”
“Yes, sir.” Ignominious said moodily, and Styx and Marina carefully leaned out from either side of the pillar to peer out at the strange meeting, as Styx carefully set the glasses of whiskey off to the side. “You have my full attention and my full respect.”
“I somehow doubt that.” said one of the ponies coldly, before he continued with distaste: “You know your mission, Ignominious. Why haven't you apprehended the heretic?”
Styx narrowed his eyes slightly at this as Marina shifted nervously. For a few moments, Ignominious didn't respond: he seemed to be gathering his thoughts, even as the six ponies glared holes in him.
“Well?” one snapped, and the black stallion finally looked up with a scowl.
“Right now, we're marching directly to the capitol. There is an Abbey inside the Castle where I can bring the heretic for judgment. There's no point in disturbing the peace right now by arresting him.” Ignominious replied with a shrug and a snort. “As the Order itself teaches, we must not make haste when doing the work of the holy.”
“Don't quote scripture at us, boy.” growled one of the ponies. “The Red Messengers carry more than just the word of the Order, you know.”
Ignominious shifted with visible discomfort, which rippled through the Dervishes as well. One of the armored soldiers began to shift away, before one of the Red Messengers suddenly ordered: “Patrol, go and check the area for intruders. I feel like there's a mouse.”
The genet on Marina's shoulder whimpered quietly as the mare ducked back behind the railing, but Styx reached out a hoof to steady her, even as the strange ponies shifted their gazes around. Two of the Dervishes excused themselves from the meeting to slowly begin down the walkway in either direction, and even as Marina fidgeted, Styx stayed resolutely in place.
One of the Dervishes passed the support and looked directly at them, the two looking back at the armored warrior before he slowly stepped forwards. Marina tensed, gritting her teeth, but Styx didn't move as the armored stallion reached down... and picked up some kind of pin from the ground, the Dervish turning his glower to one of the soldiers at the table as he said contemptibly: “You should take better care of your rewards, unless you want them taken away.”
One of the soldiers sheepishly held out his hoof, and he winced when the Dervish slammed the badge down into it before he turned and strode away. Marina watched with disbelief as the genet chirped uncomprehendingly on her head, but Styx only turned his attention back towards the Red Messengers and Ignominious.
“I think you happen to be forgetting something, paladin.” said one of the ponies at the table, as he tented his hooves and looked coldly at the Commander. “It does not matter what you think. It does not matter what is 'easiest.' What matters is that we give the orders, and you do as we say.”
“I just think-” Ignominious started, but he was cut off by another Red Messenger's derisive snort.
“There is your problem! You 'think.' You are not here to 'think,' Ignominious, you are here to do. So do as you are told. Take the heretic into custody. We do not want him hailed amongst the heroes when he marches into the capitol, we want him ashamed and in chains.”
Ignominious shifted and glared at them defiantly for a few moments, but then he sulkily dropped his eyes and nodded moodily. He fidgeted, then tried to argue, almost childish: “I just don't think-”
“Then that's perfect, isn't it?” mocked one of the Red Messengers, and there were a few nasty laughs before the pony continued in a colder voice: “You have been doing too much thinking lately, after all, Ignominious. Some might even say that you have been engaging in blasphemy. And eyes have not failed to notice the special treatment you've been giving Champion Brynhild...”
Styx frowned slightly at this, as Ignominious defended, his voice sharp but his eyes nervous: “No, I have not given Brynhild any leniency or special treatment! He will not be a problem, he is not a problem for me. But he is Champion. That is why it is better for me to keep the peace for now, to march the heretic into the capitol, and-”
“How quickly you return to defending your actions. It's pathetic.” jeered one of the Red Messengers, and Ignominious flushed as he lowered his head, gritting his teeth but quickly dropping his eyes. “You know that we have the support of the King. The rank and file does not matter: you have the backing of the Holy Order, and Brynhild is an outsider. Whether the outsider is a peasant or an aristocrat, it does not matter: no outsider will ever outrank even the lowest member of our congregation.”
Ignominious remained silent, and the Red Messengers studied him before one of them continued, voice quiet and deadly serious: “And while it is important that you accomplish all the goals of your mission... do not forget your ultimate objective. Everything will be for naught if you do not succeed in your task.”
Ignominious nodded once, looking uncertainly away as he chewed at his lip, before one of the Red Messengers mused: “It is actually quite fortuitous that we have been given this opportunity: the extra night has allowed us to make preparations at the Castle we would not have been able to complete otherwise. We just hope that you are ready to complete your part of the mission as well, paladin.”
“I am ready! I... am ready.” Ignominious fidgeted all the same, and Styx thought he saw his eyes flick back and forth, as if he was afraid. “I... simply... well, I... I will do what is necessary but-”
“There are no buts, if you are ready to do what is necessary.” cut off one of the Red Messengers, and Ignominious grudgingly bowed his head in agreement. “Then you understand what it is you must do?”
“Yes, I do.” Ignominious said quietly, even as he looked moodily away from the group of ponies. “I will accomplish this task, and all the others that you have set before me. I will place the heretic in chains, and deliver him to the abbey. Likewise, I will ensure that it is the Holy Order that returns Princess Novella to the castle. I will make the sacrifice necessary, and I will see to it that the protections are all in place against the Wild Hunt. Everything will be readied for... the final task.”
“Good. We will be eagerly awaiting your success.” one of the Red Messengers said, before there was a pause. A pause that made River Styx feel uneasy, as he ducked quickly back behind the pillar, Marina hiding herself again as well.
The silence spiraled out for a few long moments, before one of the Red Messengers said quietly: “I hope that you took care of the flies on the wall, Ignominious, and that your soldiers are trustworthy.”
“My soldiers are stallions of the Holy Order. They know who we must all obey.” Ignominious replied evenly, and River Styx listened closely as the stallion began to walk in their direction. “If there is nothing further, my lords, then I will head out to-”
“We will accompany you. We would like to see you take the heretic into custody ourselves.” said one of the Red Messengers abruptly, and River Styx grimaced before he looked quickly at Marina, who bit her lip before she nodded hurriedly as her horn began to glow.
Ignominious hesitated only a moment before he nodded to them as the Red Messengers rose up almost as one from the table, the stallion grimacing slightly as he resisted the urge to look over his shoulder, at where Brynhild's friends were hiding. He turned away once the priest-lords were ready, turning and striding down the walkway.
One of the Red Messengers glanced to the side, and scowled as they passed a large hunk of ugly wood on the floor, muttering about 'peasant architecture' as he turned his eyes back ahead. As their hoofsteps faded down the hall, the hunk of wood trembled before dissolving, revealing Styx and Marina as the chocolate mare wheezed, grasping at her chest and muttering: “All my magic is being affected by my... character, I suppose. I don't know if I'll be able to do that again.”
River Styx only nodded before he strode quickly to the railing, leaning over it and watching with a grimace as Ignominious led the Red Messengers out of the tavern. “I don't think we can get to Brynhild in time.”
“Are you sure that's who they're after? I just...” Marina bit her lip as Styx looked at her with a slight frown. “It doesn't seem right somehow.”
Styx opened his mouth, but then he shifted a little before nodding once and muttering: “You might be right. There's something strange going on here.”
The stallion halted, then he leaned over the railing again, looking down over the tavern below before his eyes narrowed as he saw several new faces entering the tavern. They looked like nothing he'd ever seen before, except- “We have a problem, Hild. Orcs.”
“What?” Marina's eyes widened as she almost threw herself over the railing, looking down with disbelief at the huge, pony-like creatures: they all had mottled, dark-colored coats, however, with large tusks sticking out of their mouths, and beady little pig-like eyes. Two of them had ratty black manes tied back in thick braids, while the other two had heads covered in tattoos, and all of them had primitive armor on that looked somehow even more animalistic than the leathers and furs Marina was wearing. “What are they-”
“Orcs are cheap labor and cheaper muscle, so a lot of places keep them around. Somehow, I get the feeling these ones are the latter.” Styx muttered, gesturing down at them before he grimaced as one of the orcs pointed out the stairs, and the four slowly plodded their way towards the steps. “Contrary to popular belief, orcs also aren't stupid. We should find a back door.”
“Alright.” Marina said, and before she even realized what she was doing, she hopped the railing in front of her and dropped to the floor below, landing with only a dull thump that was lost amidst the music and the laughter still dominating the tavern. A few eyes stared at her, but Marina only smiled politely at them as she straightened, feeling a strange magic thrumming through her as she quickly looked around.
River Styx began to hop the railing after her... except as he began to drop, he felt the charming personality of Loki vanish and leave him half-hanging from the railing, the unicorn staring at a floor that suddenly seemed a million miles away before he winced as his hoof slipped, his genet squeaking in fear as his master fell-
Marina spun around, reacting on instinct, and she caught the stallion in her forelegs with a grunt as the magic flowing through her body bolstered her strength. Styx looked dumbly at her, and Marina blushed even as she grinned a little, saying before she could stop herself: “Nice of you to drop in.”
“Are you serious.” River Styx said flatly, and then he sighed when Marina giggled before he wiggled his way hurriedly out of her grip, brushing at himself as the slightest blush crawled up from his collar before he looked away and mumbled something that sounded a little like a 'thank you.'
Marina smiled, before Styx quickly glanced through the room and gestured quickly with his head towards the back of the room. “Let's get moving.”
Marina nodded, falling in line behind Styx as they headed through the crowds, the mare unable to stop herself from looking back over her shoulder as she felt an uncomfortable crawling sensation along her spine. She felt like something was watching them, but she couldn't see anything... not that that meant a whole lot, considering the things they were dealing with, and how the play could change.
Right, this was a play, a fiction, an interactive novel, almost: she had forgotten for a few moments that she wasn't a druid from the northlands, that Styx hadn't been her friend for years, that she couldn't speak to animals like the genet that had hopped back up onto her head and was scoping the tavern nervously for any possible threats. Styx, she knew, got into character, but just as smoothly seemed to bring himself out: on the other hoof, she never felt 'in character,' only that she was... here, part of this world.
As they pushed through the crowd, everything smelled like it should to her, everything looked like she felt she had always known it: she recognized the soldiers of the Holy Order and their symbols and knew what god they worshiped, what creeds and tenets they followed.
She knew what the orcs were, even though she had never even heard that word before now: misshapen and twisted ponies that had been warped by exposure to the Deep World... whatever that was. Not everything was clear in her mind, like there were half-formed thoughts and ideas floating around in her head, knowledge that wasn't fully-grasped or understand simply waiting for... she wasn't sure. Something else, to trigger some grand epiphany? Some daydreamed answer, to fill in the gaps?
Marina shook her head quickly to try and clear it as she tried to focus on just following River Styx, while the genet chirped nervously in her ear. But she smiled reassuringly to it as she shifted a little to the side, murmuring: “It's okay. I'm okay. It's just... a strange new world.”
“But it doesn't feel that new.” River Styx muttered, and Marina nodded in agreement as they slipped their way through the crowd. The stallion paused as his eyes locked on the back door, but he felt a strange crawling along his spine as they drew closer: there was nothing wrong, and yet-
River Styx shoved his foreleg out, halting Marina, before he quickly looked back and forth. He grabbed her without letting himself think, half-pulling her off towards a side table: he felt himself automatically veering towards one in particular, which had a few drunken, rowdy ponies seated at it, laughing loudly at some story a soused soldier was telling.
“Hey, private, there's some mares out back who want to meet you.” River Styx said mildly, gesturing quickly with his head, and the private looked up dumbly before River Styx continued: “They look Balikun, twins-”
The soldier leapt up from the table so fast he almost overturned it, almost hopping towards the door as the other ponies shouted and whined, but River Styx was already moving again, half-tugging Marina along as she started: “What are you-”
Then she winced as there was a yelp behind them when the soldier was knocked flat by a black hoof, before an enormous orcish horse simply strode over him, glaring furiously towards Styx and Marina. Both of the ponies looked back, before Marina suddenly gritted her teeth and leaned aggressively forwards, shouting: “I'll send you back to the marshes, corrupt ones!”
“Smash them both. But take them alive.” growled the large orc, and River Styx grimaced before he spun around even as Marina readied herself to fight-
The orcs that they had seen originally enter the bar landed with loud bangs in front of them as they leapt down from the floor above, apparently not caring in the slightest that their sudden aggressiveness brought the party in the tavern screeching to a halt. Several soldiers started to stand, but before they could, the big orc that had come in through the door held up some kind of scroll wrapped in gold ribbon, roaring: “Get back! We are here under authority of your King!”
This made both Styx and Marina stare in shock as the orcs grinned, while the soldiers milled uncertainly before an officer nervously approached the goliath. He held a hoof out, then winced when the orc slapped the scroll down into it, saying coldly: “That is a declaration from your King Morebucks that we are to take these traitors into custody. They, and all other who align themselves with Champion Brynhild, are nothing but traitors who have conspired with the enemy to first steal away the King's daughter, then, in the guise of heroes, 'save' her and return her home to have access to the castle!”
“That's a brilliant plan that Brynhild would never be smart enough to come up with himself. That sounds more like something I'd do. Except for the fact that I'm lazy, and if I wanted into the castle, an open window works a lot better than fighting a dragon on the other side of the barony.” River Styx said in Loki's voice, which sounded a lot calmer than he felt as he looked back and forth: but Loki had been through worse situations than this before. The only real wildcard was Hild... I mean, Marina. But... “So I suppose we should just... come quietly, then?”
“You should. But please don't.” replied the orc with a sallow grin, his eyes glinting as he stepped aggressive forwards as several smaller orcs fanned out slowly on either side of him.
River Styx nodded a few times before his eyes suddenly narrowed as he felt the Loki personality retreat, the stallion channeling magic into his horn as he said in a colder voice: “I'd hate to disappoint you.”
The unicorn snapped his horn forwards, and the crowd of ponies around them was staggered by the hurricane of wind that erupted through the air around Marina and Styx, strong enough to lift chairs and plates flying through the air along with drinks, food, and anything that was loose. People shouted and yelled as the orcs staggered into each other, before the large leader of the band of thieves leapt through the whirlwind with a snarl... and skidded to a halt as he found nothing waiting for him.
His roars of frustration followed Marina and Styx as they sprinted out the front door into the night. Marina felt her eyes sharpening almost immediately, letting her take the lead as they sprinted out onto a dark road even as she blurted: “Now what?”
“We have to get back to camp and back to Brynhild.” Styx replied grimly, grimacing a little as he forced himself to keep his eyes ahead, on the firelight of the camp in the distance. But he thought he could already hear raised voices, shouting, chaos... “Why Orcs? Why not Royal Guard?”
“I don't know, but it must have something to do with those Red Messengers and whatever Ignominious has been ordered to do.” Styx answered grimly, shaking his head shortly before he grimaced as his genet chirped fearfully from Marina's back: but he could hear the roars and shouts himself along with the hoofsteps closing in behind them. “They're going to overtake us.”
Marina gritted her teeth before she looked quickly towards the side of the road, at the field of apple trees they were passing... “There!”
Styx didn't question what Marina was up to: he simply followed when she bolted towards the trees, the pair leaping the fence and vanishing into the rows of plants. Only seconds later, the group of orcs that had followed slowed, one of them leaning forwards over the railing as his large, ragged ears twitched before he scowled and growled: “They're hiding. I smell the stink of cowardly magic.”
“Nothing we cannot smash and bash.” replied another orc coldly, before he leaned forwards with a grin, adding nastily: “Let us drag the druid through the mud she loves.”
“Shut your maw and do not underestimate them. Do not forget they are champions.” snapped the orc leader, and the others all lowered their heads as the one he had spoken to shrank back even as his hackles raised, but he clearly didn't dare to challenge his commander. “Go.”
Four of the orcish bounty hunters leapt the fence, and the last two simply smashed through it, their leader rolling his eyes before he followed last with a grumble. Then he smiled with bitter amusement as, within seconds, there was a loud snap followed by a howl from one of the orcs as they ran into a trap, left dangling from a branch by thick, thorny vines.
“Idiot.” growled one of the other orcs as he approached his companion. He began to reach for a knife, but then suddenly swore and leapt backwards, wincing as he shouted: “Something bit me! Something... b-bit...”
He shivered violently before he collapsed, as his dangling companion flailed uselessly and tried to lift himself higher, shouting in panic: “Don't get me down, I don't want to get bit by a snake!”
“It's not a snake!” snarled another orc, as he yanked loose a small axe before viciously chopping down into the ground. “It's the brambles, they're alive! They're poison!”
“Druid coward! Stop hiding behind your magic, druid coward!” roared another of the orcs, as he stomped around in a circle. But even if their eyes were well suited to the darkness, the trees and bushes and growth all around them made for a confusing jumble, and they had lost the scent of the ponies in the stink of druid-magic and nature.
The orc leader strode forwards and roughly slapped the back of the head of the grunt who had shouted, making him yelp and tumble forwards. “You are playing into her hooves, fool! Shut up! Be calm!”
The orcs shifted and nervously sorted themselves out as the dangling one whimpered, before the orc leader gestured towards the caught hunter and said coldly: “Get yourself down or wait patiently, short-tusk. You are bait.”
The hanging orc nodded feebly before the leader reached back into his sidepack, pulling out a vial of liquid as he looked back and forth before growling: “This is firewater, druid. Enough to burn this whole field, enough to burn this whole settlement to ash. You are a coward, but are you so afraid that you will have the lives of all these soldiers on your conscience as well?”
Marina gritted her teeth in the shadows nearby, shifting silently and uneasily on her hooves even as River Styx reached up a hoof to gently grasp her by the shoulder, steadying her. Neither dared to respond: the orcs were clearly excellent hunters, and their leader wasn't blinded by the anger and the eagerness for the fight that his grunts were.
Their leader looked back and forth, smiling cruelly as he narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting the bottle of dangerous chemical back and forth as he said: “I will make this easy for you. Surrender, and we'll take you into custody. Where do you have to go? By now, your friends at your campsite have already been put in chains. The King put a pretty price on your heads, and a camp full of his loyal soldiers is not likely to overlook either reward or crime!
“I will give you until the count of ten to come crawling out of the bushes. After that, I burn this place to the ground.” the orcish leader growled, before he added coldly: “And I expect to see you both. No running away, thief.”
River Styx scowled at this, and Marina bit her lip before the orc started to count backwards, enunciating each number loudly and deliberately. As he counted down, Marina began to shift forwards, before she felt the genet leap down onto her shoulder and whimper almost pleadingly into her ear.
The mare looked with surprise at the little animal, who almost nodded vigorously before she gritted her teeth... but there wasn't really any time left to argue, and the genet hopped suddenly away, making the bushes rustle as it hurried through it.
The orc paused in his count at the shuddering of the bushes, before he frowned as the rustling suddenly stopped. His eyes roved back and forth over the long grasses, but he failed to see anything as the other orcs stepped forwards around him, raising hatchets and machetes as he growled: “Don't try anything stupid now. I drop this, and we all go up in flames.”
The orc held the glass bottle out, shaking it once, before he frowned as a loud chirp cut the air. He looked dumbly down to see a strange little ferret sitting and looking up at him curiously, and the orc scowled at the beast before he waved irritably at it.
The weasel-thing only cocked its head, and the orc rolled his eyes before one of his soldiers grinned and leaned over, raising his hatchet high. The odd ferret didn't seem to notice as the hatchet gleamed before the orc chopped down-
The spry ferret-thing leapt up onto the attacking orc's face, and the orc yelped as he overbalanced before the agile beast leapt onto another orc, sprinting around and over his body as the grunt shouted and grabbed at himself. Another orc leapt forwards to try and slam his hooves down on the spry, strange weasel, but it easily dodged, and instead the orc was knocked in a wheezing sprawl, clutching at his side.
The ferret-thing flung itself onto the orc who had tried to squish it, and the orc commander rolled his eyes as the grunt staggered back and forth, pinwheeling his limbs and howling like he was being attacked by a wight. “Oh, shut up, it's just a rat!”
The orc leader began to turn... and then he gaped as the ferret-thing suddenly threw itself through the air like a missile, seizing the glass bottle and tackling it out of his hand. It hit the ground and rolled smoothly, the neck of the bottle clutched tightly in its jaws as it scampered away, and the orc leader mouthed wordlessly before he snarled in fury as he turned towards the bushes-
A massive blast of wind hammered into his face, knocking him sprawling backwards with a curse before several immense tree roots ripped out of the ground, one of them slapping an orc flying as others seized around the beast-ponies. One of the orcs managed to rip himself free, but another was dragged down into the ground and imprisoned in a grip of wood and soil.
Another orc hacked through a root that lashed at him, driving it back with ferocious chops of his axe, but then he was driven to the ground when a branch suddenly lashed down from one of the trees with a thunderous bang, smashing him bonelessly to the ground. The orc was only stunned, however, and the leader of the band of hunters snarled as he picked himself slowly up from where he had been thrown, roaring: “Ignore the plants, find the prey!”
“Right here.” River Styx said calmly, and the orc spun towards the sound before he was sent reeling back by a savage kick from both of Styx's rear hooves. The orc recovered quickly, however, snarling and wiping blood from his face with barely a twitch before he reached back and yanked a deadly sickle free from its sheath.
Styx grimaced as he quickly drew his own daggers, charging his horn with magic as he said coldly: “I won't hesitate to do whatever it takes to neutralize you.”
The orc only snorted at this, however, replying with a cruel grin: “Good, little one. Give me a scar to remember you by.”
Without hesitation, the orc leapt forwards and slashed his sickle down, and Styx was barely able to deflect the attack with his daggers before he snapped his horn forwards. But the blast of wind and telekinesis didn't catch the orc off-guard this time, the goliath only skidding backwards slightly as the blast washed over him like water splashing against an iron bulwark. “Pathetic!”
The orc lashed forwards, and Styx was forced to leap backwards to avoid being caught by the long sickle, the stallion swearing under his breath before he sidestepped to avoid another cut, then narrowly brought both daggers up in time to block a sudden backslice, knocked staggering all the same from the force of the blow. “I thought you wouldn't hesitate, boy!”
As the orc bore down on Styx, the other grunts that were still on their hooves slashed and crashed through the wilderness: three were left, but one was half-wrapped in roots that were severely slowing his movements, trying to tear them free from his body even as he moved.
His eyes locked on a flash of movement, before he shouted angrily as he saw the genet quivering beneath a tree, given away by the telltale gleam of the bottle in its mouth. The orc lumbered forwards as the genet whimpered and attempted to scramble deeper into the narrow hollow under the raised roots, but the orc only grinned as the bottle caught against something. “Looks like I got you, you little-”
Something slammed into the side of the orc's face, knocking him staggering dumbly before he blinked lethargically as a bit of blood ran from his ear. He blearily turned even as he reached up to touch his broken cheek before Marina slammed the heavy rock in her hoof down across the crown of his head, knocking him sprawling in an unconscious heap.
She tossed the rock away and smiled at the genet before she looked up with a wince as the two remaining orcs leapt out of the bushes on either side of her, one of them raising a machete with a snarl and the other licking his lips slowly as he ground his machete against the black material of his hoof, growling: “It looks like you just ran out of places to hide, druid. What are you going to do now, beast-mare?”
“Well, you know what they say about cornered animals.” Marina replied coldly as her eyes gleamed with eerie magic, her horn lighting up before she bared large, sharp fangs at the orcs with a snarl, as her body rippled and enlarged.
Neither orc had time to react before Marina leapt forwards with a roar that shook the trees, her hoof become a massive paw that slapped one of the grunts flying. The other uselessly attempted to hack at her with his machete, but the weapon caught against thick, bristly fur that now covered her body, barely leaving a scratch before he was smashed into a tree by a rough flick of her foreleg.
Marina leapt forwards, half-mare and half-bear, roaring again as she slammed a paw into the orc with enough force to drive him through the apple tree in a hail of splinters. He hit the ground and rolled bonelessly, but Marina pursued him all the same, batting the orc roughly again and sending his body crashing and bouncing away to finally hit a boulder and fall prone, all the fight knocked out of the creature.
The other orc stared for a moment from where he had fallen before he scrambled to his hooves and turned to run, but Marina roared before charging after him, quickly closing in before she pounced. But out of sheer luck, the orc tripped forwards and spun as he fell, his hatchet whickering out to catch Marina across the face and drive her backwards with a howl of pain that also served to drive the sense back into her.
As she stumbled backwards, bleeding profusely, she was no longer Hild the Forest Druid, but once more Marina, the Chocolate Mare. She stumbled blearily as she opened her eyes, no longer a fearsome half-beast, but just a stunned, stupefied mare with a terrible wound in her features, and the orc gave a strained, fearful, desperate grin as he spun towards her, stumbling and raising his weapon high. “Die, beast-mare!”
Marina's eyes flashed as she reacted on instinct, drawing on her own powers instead of the powers of the druid, and the chocolate blood that had spilled over the ground shot suddenly upwards in the form of spikes, tearing through the ankles and hooves of the orc and making him howl in shock and pain as he dropped his hatchet, then fell forwards.
Marina stumbled backwards, but the orc was shivering on the ground, half-sobbing as his hooves spasmed uselessly from the spikes that had been driven through his limbs, his weapon laying forgotten beside him. For a few moments, she only stared, then she grasped at her own features, closing her eyes tightly as her head swam.
She forced herself to turn, staggering towards where she could hear River Styx fighting with the orc leader: they were clashing violently back and forth, the orc bleeding from a few narrow cuts across his frame, but the goliath seemed almost indomitable as he drove Styx constantly backwards under the onslaught of cuts and crushing blows from his sickle. Styx had already lost one of his knives and his armor had been flayed apart, bleeding heavily from a wound in his side, one of his forelegs covered in purple and black bruises from strikes from the flat of the sickle.
“You're lucky I want you alive.” the orc said calmly, before he stepped forwards and slashed out at Styx's injured side. The stallion managed to narrowly dodge back out of the way of the sickle, however, before he ducked under a backswing, and swore as he rolled out of the way of a hard dropping cut that narrowly sliced some of the mane from his head.
The orc grinned as he leapt forwards, but Styx caught him with telekinesis and slung him backwards, knocking him sprawling with a snarl. He rolled immediately up to his hooves, but Styx swept his hoof forwards, kicking up some dirt and grass from the ground before he lashed his horn forward, a blast of wind sending the clump of muck into the orc's eyes.
The orc leader staggered backwards with a roar of frustration, slashing his sickle back and forth to ward Styx off, but the stallion only used the moment of reprieve to drag himself backwards and snatch something from a hidden pocket of his armor. He wasn't even sure what it was, as he clutched it against his breast, but as the orc snarled and uncovered his eyes, something told Styx it was his only chance to survive as he said quietly: “This is your last chance to surrender.”
The orc laughed shortly at this, and then he pointed his sickle at Styx before saying coldly: “And yours has already come and gone, thief. I'll take the lesser pay for the pleasure of cutting off your head.”
The orc leapt forwards with a grin, but Styx swiftly brought up his hoof and used his magic to blast the packet in it with a cutting wind, ripping the powdery contents loose and sending them spraying over the orc's face. It blinded him, the orc staggering to the side with a roar and curse as he swept his sickle back and forth before he turned with a furious snarl towards Styx, but Styx only looked back coldly and impassively as an ugly rash visibly and quickly spread over the face of the orc, who trembled before he gasped and dropped his weapon, shoulders slumping as he rasped: “What did you... do...”
“You're lucky I'm not like you, orc. I don't kill for sport.” Styx said coldly, and the orc groaned before he tumbled forwards as the poison worked its way quickly through his system, his body shivering weakly as he stared blankly out at nothing.
For a few moments, Styx looked down at the orc before he shook his head, hating that he'd had to steal a victory this way, as the orc gurgled and twitched on the ground uselessly. Then he looked up as Marina approached, the stallion frowning at the deep cut across her face, but the mare only gave a faint smile before she reached up and touched this when she stopped in front of him. “It's already starting to heal. I just... need to replenish my strength.”
A moment later, Styx's genet hopped quickly up onto Marina's back, scrabbling up onto her head with a loud chirp. Styx gave the briefest of smiles to them both before he shook his head and turned towards the camp: now that the fight had ended, he could distinctly hear what sounded almost like rioting... “Are you strong enough to move?”
“Yes, let's get going. We wouldn't be able to run away from this anyway.” Marina said quietly, and Styx gave her an appraising look before he nodded and began forwards, limping on slightly as he breathed through his mouth, hurrying as fast as his body would allow towards their destination.
“You know... you're tougher than I thought.” Styx said quietly, and Marina gave him a small smile before he added: “You're not quite the helpless mare I thought at first.”
“I guess sometimes it feels nice to make believe, and not feel like the whole fate of the world is on your shoulders.” Marina murmured, and she smiled a bit as she looked over at Styx almost shyly, lowering her head slightly towards him. “But I never meant to lie to any of you. I just... wanted to play along.”
River Styx only gave her a smile in return, and Marina knew him well enough by now to bow her head in gratitude, words not necessary between them. Then, both brave ponies faced forward, continuing through the rolling countryside towards the camp, focusing once more on their objective... until a voice came to Styx's ears through the darkness.
Styx turned towards the sound, half-stumbling into a broken sprint even as his mind told him it was impossible, that it couldn't happen. Marina followed, disbelieving, staring after the stallion as she shouted his name, but he was lost to her as he stagger-ran around the edge of the camp to a scene that Styx had never expected to see, caught and framed in the light of several burning torches.
Luna, Scrivener, and Twilight were all being held back by soldiers, weapons pointed at them from every side. Ignominious, meanwhile, stood stoically over a prisoner who was wrapped in chains, breathing hard, looking pitiful as a Red Messenger loomed beside the paladin with a cold, cruel smile on his face,  his eyes gleaming as they flicked towards Styx. “Well, look what we have here. The heretic and the pagan came straight to us. Soldiers, take them into custody. They can join their friends and this heretic in chains.”
But even as the soldiers advanced on them with weapons drawn and at the ready, Styx could only stare in disbelief at the stallion who was at Ignominious' hooves, bleeding and sobbing and gasping through the pain of the shackles tightly binding his legs, and the bruises and that dotted his beaten body.
Even as his genet was seized with a squeal by telekinesis, and he and Marina were both grabbed and slammed to the ground, pinned by Dervishes, even as Luna shouted and Ignominous simply looked away and the Red Messenger laughed, all that River Styx had eyes for was the so-called heretic, the stallion in chains, the beaten prisoner, as he numbly tried to process what had happened, what was going on.
And the stallion looked back at him, and cried out to him, like when he had been a foal, like when they had been on the streets, like when the thugs had come to beat them and take from these homeless colts whatever they could pluck from low-hanging fruit, whatever it was that River Styx was unable to protect.
The stallion reached out for him, and Styx shouted and struggled wildly before a pommel of a sword slammed down on his head and knocked him senseless. But even as the darkness flooded his mind, he couldn't escape that sight, the sound, the memories.
He still tried to reach back, back to the one pony he had always tried to protect.
He still tried to reach back to his little brother.