The Equine Scrolls: SkyFiM

by FireOfTheNorth


Chapter 76: The Spread of War

Chapter LXXVI: The Spread of War
“Any hope to stem the tide of pegasus rule over all the Northlands is dimmed.”

After we finished up in Valgroom, we returned immediately to Whitetrot, a brand new Element hanging around my neck. I knew it was dangerous staying there when the Dominion could launch an attack at any moment, but we needed Faniar to help us find the remaining two ruins, Ragnfoald and Labyrinthian. We would stay the night and be off in the morning, before the pegasi had time to launch an attack.

I was hoping for a peaceful night, but instead it was restless, and I soon found myself wandering the streets of Whitetrot to tire myself out. Over a month had passed since the Battle of Whitetrot, yet signs of it still remained. Still, the city was beginning to heal, the damaged and destroyed buildings repaired, and the city square cleared of the debris left over when the temporary barracks were destroyed.

Stormcloud soldiers were in the city, sent by Jarl Stormcloud in case the Dominion launched an attack. Yet, they were only here as a precaution, and Whitetrot guards alone patrolled the streets at night. A few of them saluted me, greeting me as Thane as I passed. I got a few odd looks from them as well, but the guards had no interest in bothering their Thane and simply patrolled past.

I had circled the city several times before I found myself approaching the Bannered Mare, one of Whitetrot’s inns. It was the largest of the resting places for weary travelers, and though I had no need, I found myself entering the establishment.

I’d had a look around before, but usually during the day, when ponies sat around the fire, drinking mead and recalling tales of valor. Now, the place was silent, and the fire burned low. Even the pony behind the bar, who was supposed to rent rooms to those that asked, was asleep, her head lying on the counter next to a tankard and the rag with which she’d been cleaning it.

Excellent, I thought. I was so very hungry at the moment. I went around to behind the counter and started rooting through the food stores, before I realized what was going on. Before my vampirism could take control, I trotted around the counter and headed for the door.

The mare behind the counter continued to sleep as I ran into a table, stumbling as a haze began to descend across my vision. I stumbled toward the door, reaching out for the handle with my magic. If I could just get away . . .

The handle for the door was in my magic, but I released it, turned back toward the perfect meal behind me. I strode toward the counter, staying out of the light where possible, and hopped over it. A paralysis spell ensured the mare wouldn’t wake, and I held her in position, slumped over on the bar.

My fangs sank into the mare’s neck, and I quickly drained the blood from her body, stopping before she lost a critical amount. My thirst was quenched, and things started returning to normal. As my body morphed back to its original form, my mind cleared as well, and I realized what I had done.

I stumbled away, running into the same table as I made for the door again. Hyperventilating, I burst out into the night, breathing in the crisp winter air. A light snow was falling, the flakes settling on my coat as I regained my composure.

Once again, my vampirism had got the better of me, and I’d harmed yet another pony. I had to get rid of this affliction fast, before I hurt anypony else. But so far, I’d had no luck finding a cure. The College of Winterhorn’s library had had no mention of what I needed, and it was the most promising lead I’d had. Of course, there was another library that might just hold the answer.

◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊

The next day, we left for the Imperial City immediately, traveling by land. There was no time to take a ship around the Pegasari Dominion, and I doubted any ship captain would even dare to attempt such a thing with the war on anyway, so we traveled to Splitten, and from there braved the Pale Pass, which was mostly snowed shut. After making it over the drifts that filled the twisting pass, we stayed the night in Kvatch, and I got to have a bit more quality time with my parents.

The following morning we were off again, right away. Near midday, the Imperial City loomed ahead, and we crossed the bridge to the island in the middle of Lake Rumare. No longer did the bust of Emperor Brass Tax adorn the walls of the city, but rather dark banners of mourning. Apparently even a week and a half after the Emperor’s death, the city was still grieving for him.

At least, that’s what the Imperial government wanted everypony to be doing. Everything was business as usual in the streets, however. The vendors still sold their wares, the Imperial Legionnaires stills stood at attention, and the beggars still pleaded for coins. If there was any mourning for the dead Emperor, it wasn’t among the common ponies.

We continued through the city on the way to our true destination. If there was mention of a cure for vampirism anywhere in the Northlands, it was likely held within the Mystic Archives. We passed through Green Emperor Way, taking a shortcut through to the Arboretum. As we entered the palace grounds, we saw a pair of very familiar faces.

“Sapphire, Steadfast, Mephalda, Mystic!” a cream-coated mare exclaimed as she sighted us, “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you!”

“Hello, Gilded Armor,” I replied, before bowing to the stallion with her, who was surrounded by guards, “Your Highness.”

“I’m afraid I’m not Emperor yet,” Silver Cuirass replied, “The Equine Council is still debating whether or not my claim to the throne is genuine. Brass Tax’s sons are fighting me as well, of course. For now, I am merely Potentate, temporary steward of the Empire.”

“You’ll be Emperor someday,” Gilded Armor reassured her father, “And then you can right the Empire.”

“I’m afraid there’s no Empire left to rule,” Cuirass replied with a sigh, “When I’m crowned, it will only be over Unicornica, a position more fit for a king than an emperor.”

“Well, you’ll still make a fine king,” his daughter said.

“Not as fine as you’d be as a queen,” he replied with a snort, “I’m afraid I’m more talented in planning a war than in governing a land.”

“Well, maybe a warrior is just what Unicornica needs to lead it right now,” I said.

“What do you mean?” the Imperial Potentate asked suspiciously.

“You know that the Pegasari Dominion has attacked Horizon,” I said.

“Of course,” he said, “When I haven’t been busy providing genealogies to the Equine Council and defending the Emperor’s last act, I’ve been keeping a sharp eye on the events going on there. Wasn’t their initial attack repelled at Winterhorn?”

“Correct,” I said, “But they plan to try again, and we have reason to believe they intend to attack Unicornica too.”

“And what gave you that idea?” Cuirass asked.

“We overheard them discussing it when we were in the Blackwing Headquarters,” Mystic said.

“You were in Pegasor?” Gilded Armor asked incredulously.

“I don’t know what to think of you,” Cuirass said, shaking his head, “I don’t agree with you siding with the Stormclouds and driving us from Horizon, but you saved not only my life, but that wretched Blackwing Stratus. And now you bring us this information, warning us before the pegasi appear on our doorstep. Whose side are you on?”

“I’m on nopony’s side,” I said, “I just want what’s best for the Northlands.”

“And you thought breaking up the Empire, the force that’s held the Northlands together for centuries, was best for it?” he asked.

“You know as well as I do that the Empire’s been in decline since it ceased being the Alicorn Empire,” I said, “The system doesn’t work anymore. In order for the Northlands to survive, each race must have its own nation and be free to pursue its own destiny.”

“There’s truth in what you say,” Cuirass admitted begrudgingly, “But the world you imagine is idealized. The process to get there is much harder than you would make it sound.”

“I’m just one mare,” I said, “But I’ve been doing my part. It’s time for you to do yours. Be the Unicorn King.”

I left him with that thought as we headed around the White-Gold Tower and through the Arboretum. After passing through the gardens and across the bridge to the Arcane University, we made our way to the Mystic Archives. Now that we were here, we had a lot of digging to do.

◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊

We found a great variety of books on vampirism in the Mystic Archives, but no cure. There were some mentions of ponies trying to find a cure, but all the attempts had ended in failure. Like lycanthropy, vampirism was a disease few really understood.

After searching through the endless books, we decided to ask the Imperial Battlemage for help. If anypony could help us in this situation, it would be Star-Swirl. However, none of us had seen Star-Swirl walking the grounds. He was most likely in his office, which few knew how to reach.

“You sure about this?” Steadfast asked as we piled into one of the teleportation alcoves.

“I understand the basic principle of the spell,” Mystic said, “It’s directing it where we want to go that’s the tricky part.”

“Let’s try it,” I said.

Mystic began to cast her makeshift spell, and we were instantly transported elsewhere in the University. We found ourselves staring out at a hall filled with doors, most likely living quarters. Mystic’s spell continued to burn, rapidly sending us elsewhere on the University grounds. In moments we jumped all over the Arcane University, until I lost track of where we were. The spell finally came to a stop as we looked out upon the hallway to Star-Swirl’s quarters. A bit disoriented, we staggered out and made our way around to his door, giving a knock before entering.

“I thought I said I wasn’t to be disturb-” the Imperial Battlemage said before seeing who we were, “Oh, it’s you. Come on in.”

As we followed our host in, I heard a distinct jingling. Apparently Star-Swirl had taken my comment about wearing bells seriously, as they now adorned his Battlemage robes. He also seemed to have taken Mystic’s advice, and a bit of a beard was growing from his chin, curling past his coat.

“I was just looking through Talhooves’s Book of Secrets,” he explained, pulling it out from under papers he had haphazardly stashed it under, “It’s remarkable all the things we never knew about him. Why, they could fill a book, which they have.”

“That reminds me,” I said, pulling the missing page from my saddlebags, “Here’s the page the book was missing.”

“Wherever did you find it?” he asked, eagerly taking it and returning it to its rightful place in the ancient volume.

“Pegasor,” I said, “The Blackwings had it.”

“So, you’ve found where the last Elements of Harmony are,” he said as he examined the page.

“That’s right,” I said, “We’ve already retrieved one of them.”

“So then,” he said, setting the book down, “If you know where the Elements of Harmony are located, why have you come here?”

“Well . . .” I said, suddenly embarrassed by the reason of our voyage, “We’re looking for a cure for vampirism.”

“Is that so?” Star-Swirl asked, “You’ve contracted it, then?”

“How did you know?” I asked.

“I have a keener eye than most ponies, and you appear to have had it long enough that some of the signs are beginning to show,” he replied, “Less pronounced ridges on the horn, paler coat, darkness around the eyes. Of course, all these are just early signs, so minute that most ponies probably don’t even notice.”

“Oh,” I said, “So, do you know of a cure?”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you there,” he said, shaking his head, “As you’ve probably already discovered, there is no known cure for vampirism. Many have tried, but all have failed.”

“So there’s no hope?” I asked, hanging my head.

“There’s always hope,” Star-Swirl said, tilting my head back up, “I’d encourage you to keep searching. Perhaps there is a cure, but it is hidden in a remote place. But, I would also consider the necessity of accepting your vampirism and working to control it, so that it does not control you. Talk to another vampire, one who’s had much experience. You can keep it from taking over your life. Count Coming Dusk did it for many years, after all.”

I remembered Coming Dusk, especially that things didn’t end too well for him. But, he had proven that it was possible for a vampire to live among regular ponies, with nopony the wiser. Well, except for Star-Swirl, who apparently couldn’t be fooled.

“Well, thanks for the help anyway,” I said, “We should probably be getting back to Horizon. Before we go, have you made any progress on the destiny spell I asked about?”

“Progress: yes, success: no,” Star-Swirl said, “I’ve created a spell, but I don’t think it will do what I want it to.”

He pulled a book from his desk and flipped to the last page. He passed it over to me, and I read what he’d written.

From one to another, another to one, the mark of one’s destiny singled out alone fulfilled.

“It’s supposed to isolate one’s destiny, and therefore your cutie-mark,” Star-Swirl explained as he took the book back, “But I don’t dare cast it, for fear of the other side effects.”

“Like what?” Mystic asked.

“Well, the cutie-mark could only be temporary,” the Imperial Battlemage replied, “Or, it could force you to do only the action you’re destined to do. Or, it could scramble the destinies of those around you. I really can’t say for sure without trying it, which I wouldn’t dare do without putting up safeguards first.”

“I understand,” I said, “But whatever you can do, I’m grateful.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep trying,” Star-Swirl promised.

Frantic knocking came from the door.

“What is it now?” Star-Swirl asked before calling, “Come in!”

A courier charged into the room, the same one that had done so the last time we’d been here.

“You’re needed in the Equine Council chambers at once,” the courier said, “The Pegasari Dominion has just declared war on Unicornica.”

◊◊◊ ◊◊◊ ◊◊◊

By “declared war,” the courier really meant that the Dominion had launched an unannounced attack on Brumare. We followed Star-Swirl to the Equine Council chambers, where Silver Cuirass quickly prepared a defense against the invasion. Legionnaires and battlemages already put on alert because of my warning to the Potentate were being sent immediately to meet the Pegasari army at Brumare. Steadfast, Mystic, Mephalda, and I would go with them and help to drive off the airships that were also attacking the town.

General Cuirass wanted to leave with them, but the Imperial politicians forbade it. The last thing the Empire needed at this time was another dead leader. He grumbled and fought it of course, but he wasn’t Emperor yet and didn’t have the power to overrule the Council. Star-Swirl also was forced to stay in the Imperial City to perform his duties and protect the Imperial Potentate.

We left for Brumare immediately, passing through Corral in order to cross the Spine Mountains, and reached the town by nightfall. The silhouettes of three airships could be seen in the sunset as we approached. Pegasi flew over the city, laying waste to the homes below. Blasts of magic lanced up at them from the city, the unicorns refusing to roll over and give up their home.

As we passed through the city gates, we saw that they were fighting a losing battle. Most of the combatants on Unicornica’s side were townsponies who’d taken up arms to defend their homes, the guard force of the town long dead. The Pegasari soldiers, on the other hoof, were both more numerous and highly trained warriors. Our entry tipped the scales.

The Legionnaires and battlemages charged forward, taking the pegasi by surprise and winning us a hoofhold in the city very quickly. As cannon fire began to rain down on the buildings we had taken, I fixed my eyes on the airships harassing the city. They had to be taken down before they could do more damage and deploy more troops.

We headed toward the south end of the city, where one of the ships was hovering. Pegasari soldiers flocked to stop us as we did so. I drew Dawnbreaker and sliced through the armor of the first one to attack me, a mare with a spear grasped in her teeth. She fell to the dust, her shaft snapped in half.

As an archer loosed arrows at us, Mephalda returned fire. The pegasus fell from the roof she’d been standing on as an arrow struck her in the foreleg, and she landed on one of her fellow soldiers. A blast of fire from Mystic charred the flesh of both of them, taking them out of the fight.

<<YOL~TOOR!!>> I Shouted, sending flames rolling down the street.

As the Pegasari soldiers took off into the air, I shot ice spikes at them, forcing them to dodge the deadly darts. Mephalda added her arrows to the mix, making it even harder for the enemy to keep from being hit. As one dodged a spike I sent at her, she flew right into the path of Steadfast, who slammed her to the ground with his hammer, crushing in her ribcage with another swing of his weapon.

A pegasus wielding a greatsword landed directly in front of me and swung at my head. I ducked down, bringing up Dawnbreaker to block. I forced her blade away, drawing the Blade of Hoofingar as I did so. While my Draconequus sword forced the mare’s greatsword away from me, my ebony sword cut into her foreleg, piercing the armor at the joint.

She jumped back from me, assisted by her wings. As she swung her sword around at me again, she accidentally blocked an arrow shot at her by Mephalda. As she stood there, shocked that she had been so lucky not to be hit, I charged forward, knocking her greatsword from her mouth with my ebony sword and running her through with Dawnbreaker.

A pegasus with a war axe stood in my way as I tried to get to the airship, and I swung my Draconequus sword up, hooking her axe and throwing it from her mouth. I clubbed her across the side of the head with the flat of the blade, knocking her aside. I galloped forward, the two Pegasari soldiers standing in my way suddenly taken out before I could reach them, one from a blast of Mystic’s magic, the other shot by one of Mephalda’s arrow.

<<<STRUN~BAH~QO!!!>>> I Shouted at the airship where it hovered over Brumare’s temple.

The storm clouds clustered over the city that the pegasi had brought here in their invasion responded immediately to my Voice. Lighting began to lance down, tearing the airship apart and igniting the black powder used for its cannons. I backpedaled as the airship became a flaming conflagration that slowly fell from the sky, crashing onto the temple.

We headed back through the city, retracing our steps as we headed toward Brumare’s center, where the Pegasari had complete control. Like Kvatch, Brumare had once been attacked during Mehruinous Dagon’s attack on the Northlands. The Pegasari airship was tethered to the remains of the Gate to the Beyond, which reared up in the city’s center, a dark reminder of what had once taken place here.

From the east, the Legionnaires and battlemages were trying to carve a path through the pegasi, but they were taking heavy losses from the ship’s cannons. We charged in from the south, passing between the shops and homes that had been destroyed in the earlier aerial bombardment. A few Pegasari soldiers, one with a staff, noticed us as we approached and began to defend their hoofhold in the city.

We ducked behind buildings as strikes of lightning went flying down the street, seeking us out. The pegasus with the staff ordered the others to flush us out. As one flew down the street, she was suddenly knocked from the sky by Mephalda. More arrows followed as she crashed to the ground, until the Pegasari soldier lay motionless on the cobblestones.

As another tried to fly over a building and come down at me, I sent a blast of lightning up at her. Her wings seized up, and she slid down the side of the building before crashing to the ground in front of me. Before she could recover, I struck her across the back with Dawnbreaker and then stabbed the blade through a weak point in her armor.

Mystic charged down the street, putting up a ward to protect herself from the magical attacks. As she did so, she shot lighting at the Pegasari soldier, forcing her to use her staff to push the lightning back. The bolts met in midair, energy pulsing through the air as they built into a crackling ball of lightning. I emerged from my hiding place and galloped forward, keeping clear of the beams of lightning, until I neared the Pegasari soldier.

<<ZUN~JOT!!>> I Shouted at her before falling to the ground.

The staff flew from her mouth, and the ball of lightning went hurtling toward her. She tried to dodge, but it was pointless. Bits of stone and wood flew through the air as she was consumed by the energy and the ball crashed into the building behind her. I rose from the ground and galloped through the shop the pegasus had been in front of, entering Brumare’s main square.

Pegasi owned the square, filling it as they departed the airship above and charged toward the oncoming Imperial troops. There was no way I could get close enough to the airship without the pegasi seeing me, and there were far too many for us to take on alone.

“If you can keep them off of me, I can Shout that ship out of the sky,” I said to my friends, “But we’ll have to pass through the square quickly.”

“Got it,” Steadfast said, and Mystic and Mephalda also confirmed that they understood my plan.

We galloped forward, Mystic projecting a ward around us. It didn’t take long for the pegasi to see us, and they swiftly closed in on us. Mystic shot magic off in all directions, trying to keep them at bay, and Mephalda did the same thing with arrows. If they ever got too close, Steadfast or I would take them out with their weapons. We were forced to do this more and more often as we neared the Gate at the center of town.

<<<LOK~VAH~KOOR!!!>>> I Shouted as we passed under the airship.

At once, the clouds above and around the Pegasari warship began to clear away. As terrified whinnies came from the ship’s crew, some of the soldiers around us stopped to look up. The ship plummeted from the sky, crashing into the Gate to the Beyond. The spiny obsidian cut through the armored underside of the ship, though the Gate took damage as well as the ship crashed into it. Both the former Gate to the Beyond and the Pegasari airship came crashing to pieces as they fell to the ground. As the black powder ignited, the fleeing pegasi were thrown free.

The Imperial Legionnaires and battlemages cut through the Pegasari soldiers now that they didn’t have to worry about the airship. To the north, the third ship began to retreat, and the Pegasari soldiers around us fled for it before it got too far away. The first Pegasari invasion of Unicornica had failed, and the Legionnaires and townsponies gave a cheer as the pegasi left.

I climbed to the top of one of the buildings in the center of town and watched as the airship retreated. Out over the sea, it joined up with three others and began to head south. However, whether this fleet was headed for the Dominion or Horizon, I didn’t know. We needed to get back to Whitetrot.

Level Up
Health: 360 Stamina: 340 Magicka: 350
New Perk: Inferno [Destruction] -- All flame based spells now do extra damage and have extra spread, but are less predictable.
New Quest: Breezehome is Where the Heart Is -- Return to Whitetrot and prepare for the Pegasari invasion.