Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR
Honor for all
[Whitetail Woods, Changeling Cairn, Tuesday 700 hours]
“So did we have a plan of getting out of here? You're still too injured to fly and Applebloom doesn't want me doing anything at all.” Pip whispers to Daring Doo.
“You could let me sleep longer. That's a good plan.” Sweetiebelle mutters. From the other side of the room they had claimed in the ruined city. The place was mostly flooded still, though some of the buildings had second floors that were dry and mostly intact.
“I wasn't talking to you.” Pip hisses. “ Besides I caught you asleep on watch again, so I shouldn't let you sleep at all.”
Scootaloo ignores them both and continues to snore.
“Not directly no. I figure we can just follow all the paw prints out and slip out of the forest down river towards the ocean. The Elk settlement is on the other side of the crater and the patrols should stop once we move further away from it. I need to get this book back and I'm sure your cousin wants to make sure you are well enough so your mother doesn't lock her away for letting you get hurt.” Doo mutters back.
“Nah Ma knows I do a lot of things like this to myself. Besides we already decided that if we get in trouble Sweetiebelle is taking the fall.” Pip responds.
“Oh, HA HA” Sweetiebelle grumbles.
“You act as if ah'm joking.” Pip states.
“Where is Applebloom any way?” Daring Doo asks, sitting up with a yawn.
“When she woke me up at the end of her watch she told me she was headed over to the garden to see what she could harvest that might be decent for breakfast. Pity we don't have any potatoes, I could go for some hash browns.”Pip admits.
“Just need some coffee here.” Daring Doo yawns again,putting a hoof over her moth this time.”I'm not much a morning pony.”
A scream ended the conversation and snapped Scootaloo fully awake, even Sweetiebelle sat bolt upright.
“Applebloom!!” they all shout rushing out of the building and their makeshift camp, galloping towards the garden.
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[Crystal Empire, 700 hours]
The shouting and rush of the Guards down the halls was the first thing that caught Luna's attention. She was on her way to check on Dawn and speak with Shining that morning, having taken the night to recuperate from her hatching and plot out her next moves and plans on how to proceed.
The memories she had from the millions of changelings that had lived since Crystal was created offered new strategies, interesting facts on native wildlife, the lay of the land and location of quite a number of bunkers and tombs that dotted Equss that were still likely undiscovered. Even baring the fact that much of the information was from before the events of Nightmare Night and several other events changed the very face of Equss before that, there was enough that recent enough to be useful.
Luna shifts slightly taking the form most ponies would recognize her as, the Princess of the Night before she followed some of the Guards along the halls towards buildings exit.
She had remembered to lower the moon on time today, though the sun was still left at the horizon, not being scheduled to end the night for another half hour or so. She had not even made it within sight of the main doors when she found herself flanked by Shining Armor and Briar Rose. Both the ponies were armed and armored with another flanking of Guards behind her armed with star metal tipped weapons.
Luna chuckled a little.
“Don't trust me?”
“Not entirely, though you have to agree with my skepticism given your sudden change of species.” Shinning snorts.
“Nope. Never did before either.” Rose snaps.
“Yes well.” Luna rolls her eyes at Rose as the trio and the Guards move through the hall.” I do apologize for not meeting with you yesterday , but there is little time and i doubt I will get much sleep in the next few days. I had planned to check up on Dawn then speak to you over breakfast, but it seems something else has come up.
“Really , this ain't yours?” Rose grumbles.
“I have yet to do anything but torment Tirek and wish Bleu, Spike and Troph off.”
“Something I wanted to talk to. What is that creature doing?” Shining mutters.
“Same as he is always doing. Seeking his love.” Luna sighs.
As they stepped out side finally the conversation cut off as their gazes were immediately drawn upward
There was just enough light to show the mass of figures and shapes against the back drop of the skies. Massive air chariots and several airships flew along the still dark sky with numerous figures gliding and moving among them. One of the larger dark shapes Luna recognized as a Griffon made warship.
“Oh dear.” Rose muttered.
“Griffons?” Shining comments”... armed for bear too.”
“Something is wrong. Shield your eyes.” Luna states.
Luna narrowed her eyes looking up at the airship her horn glowing as the sun suddenly jerks up over the horizon bathing the entire armada in a golden glow of the hastily risen near noon day sun.
A number of the Griffons squawked and fell out of their formation wheeling about as they were suddenly blinded by the blast of sunlight. In the light the ponies on the ground could easily see that the Griffons were indeed armed for war, though there were far fewer soldiers than would be expected from an invasion. Most of the griffons they could see were civilians and what they mistook for combat gear was little more than packs and claws full of possessions. Many of the craft as well were not part of a typical military convoy. There were a few airborne warships and troop transports, but there was also a great deal of civilian transports, freighters and things that looked like hastily rigged cloud homes being pulled along by their owners.
“What is this?” Rose mutters.
“It looks like a refugee flotilla. An airborne one like what came out of Gallopagos.” Shining comments.
“That's the Demon of Dullahan mkII.” Luna chuckles.
“What?” Rose asks.” Some bird brain named a ship after Kaisur?”
“Indeed and i know which ones did it too. It's the Royal flagship of the Talon Aerie.” Luna states taking to the air, the down draft of her wings as she launched herself into the air clearly annoying both Rose and Shining. A glance back showed Shining shouting orders to clear a landing field for them in the fields to the east of the Empire as Rose glared up after her.
“Well now I've not seen Breezy or Dusty in a while. Not since that nonsense we had to help with dealing with the proper succession. Shall we go see what's going on Princess?”Starfall states causing Luna to jump a little as the pegasus seemed to appear right next to her. Glancing to the other side she watched Rainbow Dash, Spitfire and Soarin fade into view as well. All of them were wearing their Shadowbolt's uniforms as they took up a holding pattern around her. Seems they were not as trusting wither, though Starfall at least seemed to be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. In truth after the Nightmare Moon fiasco she expected Starfall to be one of the ones who trusted this change the least.
“ Hello Spitfire. I did check up on them last night. They are all fine and seem to have met up with Miss Doo. Pip and Miss Doo have a few injuries and they seem to have wrecked their cart, but they are not near any major city and are camped out in Whitetail Woods. They are safer than we are right no in truth.”
“Great so they have to worry about Elk and monsters rather than Tirek.” Spitfire growls as they glide towards the landing deck of the warship.”That does not make me feel much better Princess.”
“I trust Pip and Miss Doo to keep every one safe. Would that you could trust your own daughter to do the same.”Luna comments.
“I do trust her, just not around Applebloom and particularly not around Sweetiebelle. I did hear about the Princess Bride in Gallopagos.” Spitfire comments. “Also Pip wasn't involved in the Noodle incident. Scootaloo was.”
“She's still terrified of pumpkins.” Soarin chuckles getting glare from his wife.
“Valid point. Though there's two of them watching the trio now.” Luna smiles.” Miss Doo is quite adept at dealing with trouble.”
The small group winged up towards the flag ship, several Griffon in armor eying them warily, though pointing them in the right direction. Luna noticed the tang of fear, depression and anger filled the air around her with emotion. She couldn't say any of them were to her taste.
The five of them land lightly on the flight deck of the Demon of Dullahan Mk II. A cursory glance around the small platform showed it was a crowded mess of boxes and bags . Scattered among them were a number of bandaged or unconscious Griffons, ponies , and Harpies. A few guards and what Luna expected to be medical staff moved among them though all of the staff was Griffon.
“ Harpies? What the buck happened here?” Rainbow Dash demands. Her goggles glinting as she looked around, ears flat to her head.
“We were attacked. They were attacked. Everyone was attacked. “States a pegasus striding towards group flanked by a pair of Griffon Guards.
The stallions dark blue and white striped mane fell to his shoulders from under his helmet the steel mask partially covering part of his face and a number of scars along his light blue muzzle. He wore griffon made armor and had a long crystal spear across his back. The griffon armor gave the pony an air of menace and command that he would likely not display out of it as he was smaller than an average griffon. The gold and red of his gear was tarnished and scraped and he was missing a sizable a section of the left foreleg protection. Instead that limb was wrapped in bandages and dark with blood.
“Sergeant Breezy Mist.” Starfall comments causing the blue pegasus to smirk.
“It's been Regent Mist for eight years now, since the wedding any way Air Captain. It has been a while though. Pity this isn't under better circumstances.” Breezy responds.” I'd love to have the time to talk to you and Peach.”
“Indeed, though it's back to General again.” Starfall admits.” Given the situation.”
“Where's Dust Devil and your son?” Luna asks. “What is going on here?”
“They're in the main cabin. Dusty took a nasty hit and her whole right side is one big bruise, she can't even move her wing. Luckily her armor stopped most of the damage and she rolled with the blow like we were trained. The medics don't want her to move, so I expect she'll be hobbling in any moment now. Talon is with his grandmother trying to keep Dusty from moving.” Breezy sighs sweeping a wing out with a faint wince. “ As for the last part well... let me start by saying this is it. This is probably all that's left of the Griffon and Harpy races.”
“What? There's only a couple hundred birds in the air out there tops.” Starfall snaps.
“Counting the injured, the chicks, and the eggs we have here on this ship, there are seven hundred and forty one Griffons in this convoy. Most of them from Thunderbolt Aerie, though we picked up some stragglers from the more northern aeries along the way.. There are about two hundred Harpies give or take including their eggs and we have thirty three ponies and foals from a village we passed on the way here. All the adults are comatose.” Breezy grumbles.” There may be more who went into hiding, but going by what the others we encountered told us it's not likely. Based on calculations by some of our advisers most of our aeries and roosts were decimated within the first forty eight hours of hearing about the attack on New Canterlot. ”
“What about the other Griffon gods?” Luna asks.
“As far as we know, dead. They all convened to discuss the attack on Equestria. They didn't invite us of course, despite being in charge of Thunderbolt Aerie. Dusty and I are not gods so we don't get to attend. Granted being a hippogryph Talon probably wouldn't have been invited either, even if he was of age. “Breezy snorts.” Politics. Anyway Cloudscraper was where they held the meeting and it was the first one hit. A swarm of monsters matching the description of Tirek rolled over it like a wave. We have one or two here who escaped, they claimed they saw one of the monsters transform the gathered gods into ponies before they were drug off somewhere. Likely to their leader. There were far more clones reported than you warned us of.”
“We have been constantly out maneuvered and put on the defensive. One of the first ponies whose power he took was Major Kaisur's” Starfall admits as Luna winces.”That was something we were unsure of until recently. He has also claimed at least one god we know of and Twilight Sparkle.”
“Buck....” Breezy shudders.”That explains the magic power displayed how he knew most of the tactics we used save the last one. Most of the Griffon Guard have been trained from the Major's playbook. It would explain how we got away too. We feinted heading north to another aerie before going above the clouds and turning back south. The Major never was that good dealing with air tactics in three dimensional space.”
“Better than you might think Breezy, though I doubt Tirek is using his abilities to the fullest. As for the why...Cloud Dust and Storm Front. He's getting revenge for their involvement in his initial capture. I expect the Minotaurs are next if they have not been hit already, it also explains why he attacked the half dragons. Simple petty revenge on creatures long dead.” Luna mutters.
“I do hope you plan on briefing me fully on whats going on Princess, General?” Breezy looks between the pair of them then over to the Shadowbolts flanking the Princess. “Anyone?”
“How many of your Griffons are warriors?” Luna asks.
“Maybe three score are left in fighting condition. Most of this convoy are civilians or injured. We have two warships The Demon and Storm Cloud, as well as three friggits and six troop transports all fully loaded.”
“Quite a navel air force there.” Spitfire comments.
“Griffons don't have much in the way of magic. What they do have is weather related much like a pegasi. They compensate by focusing on technology that doesn't require magic. Steam primarily, interesting stuff. Any way we brought enough supplies so we shouldn't be a drain on anything the Empire has. A couple of the cloud buildings out there used to be warehouses for food storage. We can get by with less if we can gain hunting clearance, and if fishing is good in the river.”
“The half dragons are already fishing and some are hunting, though there are not many who eat meat.” Luna states “ Still, I want you to put any one willing to fight under the command of Guard Captain Shining Armor. He's heading the defense...... And I wish to commandeer the Demon and the Storm Cloud once everyone is off loaded.”
“That's fine, though they listen to my wife more than me, I don't think she would have any issue aside from not being on the offensive.” Breezy comments.
“None of you are qualified for the offense I have planned, I have my own crew who can fly the ships so you will not need to offer any soldiers. We will talk more at the palace. Air Commander Spitfire you and your second head out and guide the airships to the farm on the east side, There should be a number of clear fields near the Apple farm there that they can use, keep them off any plowed fields. Captain Dash head back to the Palace and let Lord Armor and Major Rose know what is going on. General I would like you to come with me, I doubt any one trusts me enough just yet and the important ones will believe you if you say you are keeping an eye on me.”
“I AM keeping an eye on you.” Starfall snarks.
“Regardless there is much to do and if he is attacking the other nations like this I am running out of time.” Luna pauses a moment before looking to Breezy.”Regent Mist there is going to be a large number of Changelings moving around the Empire today. They shouldn't be near your landing zone, but please try to spread the word not to attack them they are here to help.”
“Changelings? I knew there were a lot here, but what's happening?” Breezy asks blinking as Luna looks back at him a bit of green fire flicking around her eyes.
“Lord Armor will put you in the loop fully, but I'm taking the Changelings to war.” Luna states.
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[?]
“Ah don't like it.”
>”Don't give me that. You were already going to do it.”<
“But ah don't want to though. Ah'll be breaking a promise. But mai backs tah tha wall here.”
>“You were Honest when you promised that. But words such as 'Always', Forever', and 'Never' are impossible to keep sometimes. You needn't worry about losing touch with me simply due to a failed promise you fully intended to keep. Changes of circumstance can make a truth a falsehood through no fault of your own. I will warn you however, what you think of as a dragon's power is not from a dragon. They have a connection, but not nearly as strong as the ones who truly are bonded with earth. That is what you are asking for.”<
“So the whole thing with the dragons is a lie?”
>”It is a untruth. Dragons drew on the power for so long and it was all but forgotten by those who first had it. Because of this it became widely believed that the power can from dragons. But like many things the dragons simply borrowed some one elses power and found another use for it. Still so many believed it, it became it's own sort of truth. Still that it was even a slight falsehood might explain your disdain for the power.”<
“No... ain't got nothing to do with the source. Jus some of tha results.”
>“I will not pry. I do applaud you at figuring out the trick you did however. But I am not happy with how you will use this information.”<
“He killed family and some of mai closest friends, ah want first crack.”
>”And you will not be lying telling them what you are going to. Selective omission is nearly as bad however.”<
“Ah get it I'm skirtin tha line. You gonna help or not?”
>”Of course I will help. I will not refuse to give my aid in a situation this dire. I have a condition however.”<
“Oh?”
>”When he asks, you will agree. Then you will ask the Goddess of Night for what he needs.”<
“He? Why you being cryptic all the sudden?”
>“Because if I told you outright you would try and convince him otherwise before it is time. You would easily succeed. You cannot do that. You will need his help if you are to survive, I do not wish you to throw away your life needlessly. Too many depend on you. With him you will live, without him you will die. Without my help you will die before even gaining any of the vengeance you seek. Do you accept my terms?”<
“It ain't vengeance . It's justice.”
>”There is only some truth in that. You want to believe that is what you are doing, but in your heart you know it is more about payback than anything else. I am glad that your own realized self deception sits poorly with you.”<
“ Ugh.... fine. Seems ah ain't got a choice.”
>” You could walk away, or tell them what will happen. We both know that will not happen however. There is always a choice. We simply have to make sure that we make the right one.”<
“Alright. Ah agree.”
>” Thank you. We should get to work. We are running out of time.”<
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[ Everfree forest.700 hours.]
Angel Bunny would rather be herding thousands of Opals. It would be easier by far than this.
Of the foals perhaps a pawful were either trusting enough or brave enough to venture into the forest at the animals direction. There were a large number with dead eyes. Ones who had seen loved ones killed and knew terror, those were the ones he was most worried about as their survival instincts were numbed from what they had witnessed. Thankfully the Caretaker had shown him and some of the others how to tend to those who could not care for themselves. They would live through this, but they would need far more help later on than his soldiers could provide.
The remaining foals did not worry him, but they annoyed him. Some refused to go into the woods, others tried to run off and hide when they realized that was what was going on. A few of them even thought the animals were going to eat them and tried to fight back. Nothing was more pathetic than a group of foals swarmed and drug along by a group of gerbils and hamsters.
He had a number of birds scouting the path ahead with some bears and a couple of larger dogs bringing up the rear and hauling the comatose adults.
Despite having foals wander off and taking time to find them again they were making good time towards the ruins in the forest the ponies called Winnysor. The under tunnels had been destroyed, but the above ground structure had a number of still intact rooms and halls that they could move the foals into.
What worried him the most however was that Minoan was missing. His general had run off earlier in the day to scout and had not come back for several hours. With Tirek on the move they could not afford to wait for her return before setting out. The monster had set up shop near the New Canterlot train yard a few hours ago according to his scouts, thankfully they were already in the forest by that point.
The first growl should have been expected with how well everything was going. Angel wished again that he could have gotten up with the Tank that lived in Froggy Bottom Bog, but there hadn't been time. It was a pity, as he was friend to children.
At the growl one of the foals cried out and the others followed suit, rushing backwards and hiding behind the bears and dogs. A number of his own soldiers had run back as well.
Angel snorted in annoyance drawing the Mursame and striding forward with the butter knife to see what the issue was with Tank moving along beside him. It was then he saw what was causing the panic.
A massive timber wolf stood in the middle of the path they had been following. It was easily the size of the conjoined one that had attacked the Apple farm years ago, only this one had a pack or two of smaller wolves around it. Angel growls in annoyance his ears flattening back at the sight, they didn't have time for this. This was a fight his troops could win, though at high cost, Timber wolves didn't stay down easily.
The sound of barking drew his attention as Wyoming bounds out from the midst of the timber wolves hopping over to Angel and yapping excitedly.
Angel listens for a moment more looking between the Timber wolves and the farm dog. He rolls his eyes a little at the explanation before putting the Mursame away and nodding.
The timber wolves look to each other and moved to circle the convoy as a outer permiter watch. The large Timberwolf turned and pushed on ahead as a scouting patrol.
Angel wasn't sure what sort of deal had been made, but the timber wolves seemed willing to help the farm dog simply because of who her owner was.
Angel was certain there was a long and drawn out complex explanation that didn't translate well from canine somewhere in all this. But it all seemed to stem from some sort of agreement the Timber Wolves made.
He was also certain he didn't care as long as the Timber Wolves were willing to help. If this was a trap they would regret it.
================================================
[ Whitetail Woods, Cairn 700 hours ]
Another shriek filled the air as the trio skidded to a stop at the edge of the garden. A huge bramble rose bush had grown up into the air, the thorny growth had spread to cover the garden and was expanding winding up and around one of the pillars and stretching out across the cavern floor expanding quickly.
“Is that a rose bush?” Scootaloo gasps.
“Looks it.” Daring Doo states.
“Where the heck did that come from?” Sweetiebelle asks. “I was just here last night!”
“APPLEBLOOM?!” Pip yells.” Where are you?”
“Ah'm stuck in tha middle of it. Help me, this hurts..” Applebloom calls from in the middle of the writhing mass of thorns.
“Hang on we'll get you out!” Pip yells back looking at the shifting mass of thorns and biting his lip a little and he cobbles together a plan.. “Okay Sweetiebelle grab as many as you can with your magic and try to pull them up and away from Applebloom. Scootaloo you burn them off as close to the base as you can when Sweetie pulls them away. I'm gonna try and cut my way past through the opening you make, Doo follow me and pull Applebloom out as soon as we get to her.”
“Right!” Sweetiebelle salutes with the wrong hoof, her horn starts glowing as a number of the writhing vines are caught and pulled away, green fire lashing them burning the thick thorny vines at the base as Pip and Daring Doo rush into a opening made in the rose hedge.
“These things are green Pip. They don't burn well.” Scootaloo calls.
“Then crank it up a notch , I've seen you make metal sag with those wings of yours. Just watch the aim.”Pip calls out slashing through a vine with his blade
These things are squirming but I don't think they are being grabby.” Sweetiebelle calls.
“Rigot, keep them away anyway.” Pip calls back chopping through another vine as thick as his forearm and kicking it aside. Daring Doo followed close behind kicking the cut vines out of the way to give them a clear path back.
In the middle of the thorn hedge was Applebloom, her hooves lifted up off the ground as the vines shifted and moved around her, digging thorns into her skin. She flinched, her legs and body wrapped tight in the vines, the thorns were thick in her mane and tail as well. Pip winced pushing closer and hacking away at the vines holding his cousin. Doo and he chopped and yanked at the vines pulling the pale yellow mare loose getting jabbed and cut a few times themselves from the dagger like thorns. Pulling her free the trio made their way out of the writhing mass cutting a few vines clear that had moved over the hole and pulling Applebloom out into the open.
Applebloom staggers a bit getting her hooves under her, panting hard. The vines still wrapped around her still shifted and grew new sprouts even as Pip , Sweetie and Scootaloo removed them.
The young earth pony was a mess of blood where the thorns had pierced her, thankfully none of them seemed life threatening, or even any deeper than to just draw blood. Still there were a lot of wounds and Applebloom was nearly dripping with her own blood.
Pip looks back at the rose bush, noting that it had stopped growing, though it was towering and winding up along the pillar that lit up the small area all the way to the roof of the cavern. The garden was completely enveloped though nothing else had seemed to have grown like the rose did. Was this some kind of trap? Some attack? Or just something else that came about from being a CMC?
“Applebloom what happened?” Scootaloo asks.
“I dunno. I came out here tah see if Sweetie had left anything tah eat and found a rose bush that she missed.”
“I didn't miss it, I don't like roses. They taste too flowery.” Sweetiebelle explains.
The group looks at Sweetiebelle with odd expressions before opting to ignore the comment.
“Any way I bit down on a flower. An tha thing jabbed me in tha lip. After that it just started growing like crazy an ah got all wrapped up in tha vines. Ah struggled an that just made it seem tah grow faster and well. Yah saw tha rest.” Applebloom mutters.
“Seems it kept you off the ground so you couldn't just rip it free with that crazy strength of yours.” Daring Doo observes. Pip grunts a little though doesn't respond otherwise as he looks at the towering rose bush.
“I don't think it's attacking any more. “ Scootaloo comments watching her green fire lap at a few of the vines.” You can probably relax Pip.”
“Maybe. You gonna be alright Bloom?” Pip asks, stomping on a small vine near his hooves crushing it against the rock floor.
“Yeah I managed tah make enough disinfectant tending tah you and miss Doo here that ah ken patch myself up quick like. Gonna sting like no ponies business though.”
“Alright. Sweetie, take her back to camp and help her get patched up. The rest of us are gonna see if we can find a source for all this. Try and stay away from any plants.”
“Okay Pip, be careful though. I don't wanna try to explain to Bleu that a rose bush ate her nephew.” Sweetiebelle comments.”Gonna taunt Applebloom mercilessly about it though.”
“Great.” Applebloom mutters though she has a small smile of relief that she was alive to be taunted. She and Sweetie trot off across the rocky ground, carefully avoiding the few plants that were on the way.
Pip watches after them curiously. Scootaloo glides down landing lightly on the ground next to him as Daring Doo walks up her eyes narrowing.
“You have any idea what's going on with her, how did she do that?” Scootaloo asks.
“No, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who saw this.” Pip sighs. “At least we don't have to worry about any roses attacking us.”
“You kids are quite observant, even I missed it until she was walking away.” Daring Doo comments looking at the ground.
“Guard training.” Pip mutters.” Da makes sure the Guards he trains notice everything.”
“Wonderbolt training.” Scootaloo responds. “You need good eyes to fly.”
“So why didn't you say something to her?” the older pegasus asks.
“She's been having nightmares for a long time, then she claimed she heard Timber Wolves singing. Now this. I want to be sure before I cause her more grief. Somethings going on and I think it involves these ruins or this forest. We'll have to be careful with our supplies, but we can clean out what's left in the little garden if we prune back the rose bush a little.”
“A mystery, huh?” Daring Doo smirks.
“Think of it as a crusade.” Scootaloo comments with a small smile.” One that might actually finally pay off. Even so I wonder what sort of mark some pony gets from this sort of thing?”
The orange pegasus gestures to the trail of mold, moss, and fungus spots that had grown into hoof ball or larger sized colonies of their own around where Applebloom had been standing. The dripping blood trail the mare had left as she went back towards the ruined town was also sprouting numerous such growths.
“I'm less concerned over what mark she might get than I am as to why her blood is only doing something now. She's been injured before and never had anything like this happen.” Pip grumbles. “ I'm also worried about what might happen if any unscrupulous ponies find out her blood makes plants grow in seconds”.
=================================
[ Crystal Empire, 1700 hours.]
The shouts of the crowd were hard to ignore. Ponies demanding answers about the conflict, demanding something be done, demanding more food,more shelter, to know where their loved ones were, or when they could go home.
Her little ponies were terrified and weary of conflict. It had been barely ten years since the last war and there were a number of scuffles and incidents. Though even the war of Gods didn't have a death toll as high as this one had already accumulated.
The Crystal Guard, Royal Guard, and the Lion's Guard, what the half dragons had taken to calling themselves after Gallopagos, were adapt at keeping the civilians back to keep the road clear, though they would be needed to cease the panic that would likely occur soon.
Luna could sense the flood of emotions, fear, hate, anger, sorrow, despair. There was a small trickle of something else that made Luna smile however. One emotion that stood out among some since she had appeared out here this morning. Hope. There was always hope.
She was flanked by Shining armor and Princess Cadence, with Starfall and the other Shadowbolts close overhead, including Breezy and a very sore and sour Dusty. The small Griffoness had so many bandages on her she couldn't wear anything more than the mask for her uniform. Granted given her standing neither her nor Breezy needed to wear the Shadowbolts uniform, though the pair of them agreed it was the second greatest accomplishment they had ever done, the first being their son Talon.
Jer...., Troph, Spike and Bleu had gone to speak with the dragons along with that other dragon that Troph hadn't killed. She wasn't sure if they would succeed in getting them back to the Empire in time, or if they could even convince the dragons to help at all, though Troph had seemed certain they would have aid. Luna was not sure what he had planned, though she hoped it wouldn't damage Jer'rahd's body further.
The ones that worried her however were Shining and Cadence. The pink Pegicorn was worried and the White unicorn was angry. The emotions were not directed at her but at each other. This concerned her a little and she felt she needed to do something at some point, but that would be later. The two of them had another pair of ponies between them. A lime green pony in Crystal Guard armor with a Crystal spear stood near one of Pelt's Ambassadors, Agent Sweetie Drops if she recalled correctly. There was a strong connection between those two despite the fact they seemed to be bickering to each other as they marched. The pair of them seemed to be keeping Shining and Cadence apart, likely on orders.
Nearly all of the available Guards not on duty followed behind them as well. When the armory was opened the number behind them would need to gear up as it were before they went back to their stations. She didn't like waiting this long but the armory could only be opened at the last light of day. It was an old riddle. Last light of day was the first light of the moon, the sun shone on the moon all night giving it, it's glow. Despite being the harbinger of the night , the moon had no light of it's own to give, it was pretty much a really really big magically amplified rock further up in the sky than even the best pegasus could fly. The remaining Griffons and the Half Dragons made up the majority of the force there. She would be bringing some of them along despite her protests other wise. Tirek could not absorb them , but she didn't want to risk any one else if she could help it. Shining, Rose, Dusty and pretty much everyone else was insistent that she did bring them.
The parade drew most of the city out to see what was going on Refugees and Crystal Ponies all gathered along the streets to see what was happening. There was panic and anger as well as a mass of confusion. All of it stemming from her new form she expected. She hadn't bothered to hide what she had done from those in the war room, though most already knew.
Through the hive mind she retold of the offer she had made to the gathering of leaders. Passing on the information to those Changelings still of their own mind. A surprising number of them agreed to help and thus a compliment of Changelings had joined up with her as well, not bothering to keep their disguised forms as they marched along with the troops towards the warehouse holding the rest of the sleeping hive.
Locust remained in the castle under watch by both Elecktra and Talia, as well as Rose and Moskau.
Luna looks up at the warehouse as the formation stops before it. Every pony was waiting to see what would happen here. Luna already knew, as did those who had come from the war room with her. She was going to try and make sure that every pony was suitably impressed so that order and calm might keep hold long enough for them to realize that the Changeling army was there to help them, not harm them. Her subjects should not be afraid of her and her new subjects, but if it turned out they were.......
Well....., Luna's horn began to glow, she was used to being feared at this point.
=================================================
[West of Cindervale 1000 hours]
Troph landed hard on the ground as he jumped off Bleu's shoulders. The Bleu dragon winced a little as the weight was lifted from her shoulders. She glared down at the pony like creature she had flown here with a mild curse. She had transported freight that was lighter than Troph was.
He was still lighter than Sweetiebelle's luggage, but not by much.
Spike landed near by folding his wings and quickly shrinking down to slightly larger than a pony. He was much better with that spell than he had been when Bleu started teaching him to control his size, but he couldn't go much smaller than he was now. Which was a pity because he was freaking adorable when he was smaller.
“So why did you want us to bring you here? “ Spike questions.” Cindervale is down in the valley about two mountains over.”
The trio was currently atop of a rather large plateau that might have once been an active volcano though it had long since gone dormant. While it was not the highest peak in the area it was far from the smallest of the range. Some scrub grass had started to grow atop the plateau though it was still mostly rock and volcanic glass. Spike had considered this place for rebuilding Cindervale, though the active volcanoes of the current location were better.
>”This is the best spot for what I have planned Drake. Besides if I went all the way to the dragons they would have started the conversations with an advantage because I came to them.”< Troph growls. >” Dragons have not changed that much mentally over time. We will have an easier time if we make them come to us.”<
“Yeah that will be a good trick, none of them even knows we're out here.” Bleu snorts.
>” They will soon whelp.”< Troph grins.
“Don't even start that shit again. I flew your heavy ass out here, you can at least thank me for that.”
>”It served your ends to bring me here. I owe you nothing.”< Troph chuckles watching Bleu burst into a six language swear fest. >” Cover your ears.”<
“I've heard all this before.” Spike comments.
>”Not for that.”< Troph snarks.
Troph moves to the edge of the plateau looking out over the valley bellow and the mountain range ahead of him. The six glowing eyes on his head close as he starts to inhale.
Bleu and Spike both wince as they watched Jer'rahd's body seem to swell around his chest the sound of cracking and popping ribs making both of them wary of what the first was doing. Before Bleu had a chance to yell at Troph the creatures mouth opens and a bellowing roar emerges from the mutilated ponies open maw.
Bleu and Spike both stagger back slapping their hands over their heads where there ear spines were, wincing as the cry reverberates through them, seeming to shake them to the bone and rattle their scales.
The roar continued for nearly a minute, the explosive cry not seeming to diminish at all as it bounces off the mountain ranges sending birds flying in a panic and small creatures running for cover across the entire range of mountains.
Bleu and Spike removed their hands, though Bleu added a few more colorful swears in four other languages before going silent as the possessed pony coughs up a few splatters of blood onto the rock shaking his head and wiping his muzzle off on one forelimb.
“What the buck was the point of that?” Bleu growls. ”Seriously if you keep screwing up Boss's body for no reason like this I'm gonna lock you in the steam room until this is over.”
>” You feel nothing because you are already here. Others are not?”< Troph mutters.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Bleu snaps.
“Bleu … look.” Spike demands stopping her tirade.
The blue dragon looks to where the purple one was pointing , not seeing anything but fleeing birds at first. Then she realized the birds were approaching, not leaving, and getting much larger as they did so. There were thousands of them approaching from every direction around the plateau. All of them drawn here as if in a massive migration to this spot.
“Dragons.... there's not even that many at Cindervale.” Bleu mutters.
“He called all of them... look at the ground too.” Spike mutters.
The trees at the edge of the valley below them were shaking or being pushed aside as some of the rare ground dwelling and subterranean dragons moved heeding the call, though they lagged behind the fliers.
“I didn't even think there were this many dragons.” Bleu mutters.
>” Dragon kin are coming as well. I was specific in my roar to avoid calling the half ponies away from the Crystal Empire. But all others were summoned. None of dragon blood will be able to resist the call of the first. Perhaps it is something I might be able to teach you later drake. But for now you will need to convince them that they should help you. The most I should do is bring them here. Getting them to listen or cooperate might be too taxing on this body if I need to put them in their place.”<
“Don't worry. This is something we have been dealing with for some time. I can get them to listen if I can keep them together. And if they want to be angry, Bleu can put them were they need to go.” Spike assures.
“Piece of cake. Even the dragon gods are scared of me.” Bleu grins evilly. “Politics and locating all of the reclusive jerks was always the issue.”
“I'm done playing politics.” Spike snorts. “Far too many of my friends are dead and my sister is in a coma and might as well be dead. They are going to do what needs to be done this time if I have to throw them at Tirek myself.”
“OOOOH that is the sexiest thing you have ever said Spiky!” Bleu coos.
=================================================
[Crystal Empire 1700 hours]
The panic and fear running through the Crystal ponies , ponies and the griffons was almost over whelming as the first of the changelings emerged. These were the ones that kept their sentience, though were still wiling to fight. Luna had not expected any more of them aside from the small number that had come with her, but nearly a hundred of them had emerged on their own from the warehouse where they had been waiting. A small number, but she could feel their drive, their desire to be viewed as something other than what the former queen had made them. Some came from the crowd, normal ponies moments before and the flash of green flame as they shifted back to normal brought a great number of shocked surprises. Luna was impressed herself that the ones that had been hiding in Gallopagos, and with the Griffons and New Canterlot were willing to reveal themselves like this. Only a few remained hidden still, the rest had opted to throw all their cards on the table with this gambit. If the succeed in ending Tirek they would be heroes, if they failed, there wouldn't be anything left any way. It wouldn't do away with all the issues ponies had with creatures that amounted to emotional vampires, but it would take the edge off the hate.
They were the first, ones joining willingly to the combat. Luna's horn glowed brighter willingly sharing what she knew of magic and combat with them through the hive mind. The hundred or so that had gathered froze like statues as the memories and skills filled their minds, flickers of green flame dancing over their forms as their physicality changed developing muscle, hardening skin and carapace, their bodies changing to deal with the rigors of what they would need to face.
A low hum filled the air growing ever louder as the sleeping ones began to stir, starting to filter out of the warehouse. All of them including the mindless joined the growing rhythm, a song forming. Luna was not sure what memory this came from, but she let the song go as the sound of the warehouse doors being flung open and the march of hooves sounded the underlying drumbeat.
“Oh... Honor for all
Of the big and the small
Well the taller they stand
Well the harder they fall.”
There were screams now from the ponies who had gathered to watch, as near two thousand freshly awoken Changelings moved out of the warehouse onto the field before their new queen. The Guards were doing their best to keep them calm , though a number had run off in a panic, there were a large number who stayed however, but they looked ready for a fight. Luna took to the air looking down at them as they emerged feeling the mass that was still awakening and moving out of the warehouse hive. Stiff limbs and unused joints creaked and scraped as the swarm below her continues to emerge.
“We live for today
But we die for the next”
The black mass of the Changeling swarm shifts as the others did and forms up in a orderly formation, the joint mind of all of them coupled with the years of love energy that they had been amassing from the heart made a number of them jittery, though most remained still as statues save the movements of their mouths as the entire swarm spoke the words of the song. The words sounding like a chant, but the music playing through the minds of every Changeling.
“With blood in our veins
And the air in our chest”
Luna looks over them all and nods slightly turning with a flap of her wings , landing on a larger path cleared by the Guards.
“So we step into war
With our hearts on the line
The dirt on our hooves
It shakes free over time”
As one the army turns with her and marches towards the palace. Changeling ponies, Griffons, Diamond Dogs, Ram's harpies, Cows, Pig and a number of other creatures and beasts, all marching in perfect time. Luna didn't even look back at them a the massive formation followed her, every hoof step in perfect sync with hers, all in time with the music's base line.
“The music it fades
The violin slows
The darkness it rises
As the sun goes”
Luna's horn glows brighter the humming music reaching the crystal palace. She could feel Chrysalis in the tower and the magic she was producing. The former Changeling Queen was doing her best to ensure that Shin was blocked off from the collective. She couldn't feel the Changeling god directly, but through the eyes of Locust she could see the foal sitting up at rapt attention staring through the side of his crib and the wall towards where she was.
“Love is a distant aroma at best
A withering smile that's stuck deep in your vest”
Her horn glows brighter as the front tiers of the place before the Crystal heart glow. Hidden in plain sight, Yet at the same time far under ground. If Twilight survived this Luna would have to show her how to make a gate spell this stable. It would make what was done with the train tunnel far less taxing on the unicorn if she ever made another. The sun dips fully behind the horizon, her moon rising. Despite having the power of both, she still felt more of a connection with the night, using it as her focus and simply channeling the sun and the changelings power through that focus. The day ended, Luna focused her magic on the gate.
“At night air it wraps its fingers around
Your body it shakes from the now distant sound”
The magic from her horn strikes nothing, then spreads out like water spilled on a table, revealing a dark space beyond that looked more like a cavern than a armory. The music picks up along with the hum as white crystals within the cavern ignite, displaying row upon row of shelves and weapons racks. Spears, swords, shields and armor meant to fit every creature known to pony kind, and several that didn't exist any more. The cavern seemed to stretch on for leagues seeming far larger than even the Crystal Empire itself. The Empire was not build on top of this cavern, but it was in the shadow of it. White Plume mountain. The place where Scorpan fell. One of the massive mountains in the range around the empire was hollowed out to fit the armory.
Slate's Armory.
“Of the sound of her voice
A sweet symphony
Played over and over Until' you are free”
Luna pauses at that portion of the song. It was a deviation of the one playing in her head and it seemed to be focused on her as the new queen. The former alicorn shivered a little at the implication and that over a thousand compound eyes were suddenly focused intently on her..
“The music it fades
The violin slows
Darkness it rises
As the sun goes”
The swarm moves into the gate fanning out among the gear there. Much of it was unusable to them, Hammer had spent the remainder of his life forging star metal into random sets of armor, he wouldn't make any more weapons of it after finding out what it might do to his friend Crystal. The forging was something Chrysalis had picked up after his death, though she was unable to forge Star metal she was an artisan level smith. The former Changeling Queen was quite adapt at making normal armor and weapons then enchanting them. There were suits for every species that could become a changeling forged of steel, crystal, leather and other things, nearly all of it brimming with power. Far more than even this swarm could use. But then again, they were never supposed to be using this to begin with.
“Can you feel
The new day rising
Climbing up the
East horizon
They can't hold us
Now we'll fight through
Each and everyone will start new”
The music seemed to pause save the humming and a low chanting howl as the swarm armored themselves up. Some of them taking suits that would change with them, others wearing armor that would make even Jer'rahd envious. Luna remained at the entrance as Shining Armor, Breezy and a number of other Guards moved up looking into the armory in awe. Luna glanced towards Shining and Breezy before nodding.
“Well we shall not stumble
No we shall not fall
We shall not crumble
No we shall stand tall
With death it will come as sure as the night
But we will not run
No we live but to fight
With blood on our hooves and dirt on our knee's
We'll tear at the one who brought the disease”
The pair bark out orders to the host of Guards, Half Dragons, and Griffons behind them. The soldiers surge forward after the Changelings going to gather armor and weapons as well. Despite their yells it all seems to fade into the background as the music continues.
“The music it fades
The violin slows
The darkness it rises
As the sun goes.”
Tirek...... They couldn't kill him, but they could wipe out his army, perhaps cut off his legs and arms.
Luna blinks looking down as Starfall, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash approach. The earth pony seemed annoyed, the other two each carried something that seemed to buckle their knees with it's weight. Luna blinks as Applejack looks up at her, still waiting for the answer to her earlier question, the Element of Honesty hanging from her neck. Luna nods softly and the orange farmer turns heading back towards the palace, the large form of her brother following. Luna was unsure why the farm pony had asked about what she did, but she wouldn't deny her. At least some pony would be getting a use out of it with both Twilight and Jer'rahd unable too do so. t would be useful if Tirek did attack here. Applejack claimed it was coming and soon, but she wouldn't give the how or why she knew. Luna believed her, but the mare was being stubborn about her source so her words were taken with a grain of salt. Still Luna was going to make sure every one she left in the Crystal Empire was as ready to fight as they could be.
Luna turned her attention back to the pegasi noting that Rainbow Dash was wearing her Element. It seemed dead and lifeless as it had been in the past, though perhaps it was a comfort. She expected the others also wore theirs... those that still could any way.
“Can you feel the
New day rising
Climbing up the
East horizon
They can't hold us
Now we'll fight through
Each and everyone will start new.”
The song begins to fade as armored and armed Changelings and Guard begin to emerge from the Armory. Luna blinks as the two pegasi reveal what they were carrying, causing Luna to grin as her magic takes them.
“Can you feel the
New day rising
Climbing up the
East horizon
They can't hold us
Now we'll fight through
Each and everyone will start new”
The Princess of the Night, Goddess of War, Queen of the Changelings turns to face the swarm of Changelings and the Guard now gathered before her Some of them were still collecting in the formation and others were still gearing up in the armory.
Luna glances to her left, at the stoic silent swarm to that side of her, Her gaze turns to the right at the soldiers gathered there with the same expression. There were emotions, feelings and memories locked away behind walls put up by Chrysalis. Personalities and lives that had been stolen and kept from those she had changed against their will. When this was done, those that survived would easily be freed.
But that was then.
Luna's magic holds Two items aloft. To her left, the smooth curved blades of the Waning Moon, the weapon glowing brightly as blue flame dances along the blade. To the right, the simple straight double blades of the Brilliant Dawn. The fiery aura around it meshing with the power of the sun she held from her sister. Where the blades energies mingled was a spot of darkness that held no light.
She could feel the blades, they had their own emotions which surprised her. There was anger. At each other and those that would stand against their chosen wielders. Both of them practically hummed with the desire to strike out against the threat and destroy it. Luna brought both of them directly before her staring at the blades. She had never felt anything from them before, but now? Perhaps it was her new ability to sense emotions. To find that something she and her sister had crafted held such strong emotions was some what jarring.
The moon behind her rises higher into the sky, covering the land with a silvery light as she again looked out at the armies before her.
Luna smiled.
“Yeah let's hope this night doesn't last forever.” Rainbow Dash mutters behind her.
“Seriously Dash? Way to kill the mood.” Starfall growls.
====================================================
[West of Cindervale, 1700 hours ]
Chaos.
Pure and plain as the scales on her face.
Dragon's had always been solitary creatures and it was only through force of personality or violence that they ever gathered in one place for long. Even then it was only the few who saw the benefit of a city and the younger generation that Spike could even convince to join Cindervale, and even they were argumentative.
Right now there were close to four thousand dragons on the plateau and on the mountain side with more still coming. Fighting and arguments spawned quickly from this gathering and only a few of them had put aside the petty rivalrys and territorial instincts long enough to question what had even managed to give a summon that they couldn't ignore. Even during the migration old feuds showed themselves conflicts over food, even when there were plenty of gems.
Troph was quiet and had let Spike handle the talking to the few that would listen, and Bleu was using her time trying to quell the worst of the infighting, rather violently in some cases She had no plans to let any of them think they might be stronger than her. It was a tense and possibly explosive situation that had only started to develop a semblance of order when the five dragon gods managed to meet in the middle near Troph. Of course then it was more that the other dragons were content to watch the five gods bicker and argue hoping for a fight between them..
Spike was the youngest of the gods, though given his upbringing he was probably the smartest, definitely the cutest in Bleu's opinion. Unfortunately despite his knowledge he was also the weakest of the five.
The next was a large red called Crimson Wing. He was proud and argumentative. When they first met him, he bragged about being able to trace his linage back to the great Forgescale. Granted after the War of the Gods he wasn't as boastful as he once had been, and when he found out who Bleu was he never brought it up in her hearing. Of them all his power was the most useless, he produced great quantities of thick magical smoke that hung about him like a aura. He couldn't control it, it was simply thick smoke, it could choke and blind, but it had no physical force to it, or a way to direct it.
Bleu however liked that he was terrified of ponies. He evidently had a encounter with a group of them ten years or so ago that still gave him nightmares. Even now he was the furthest away from the silent Troph.
The next was an green female, named Copper. She was the most indifferent of the lot of them. Bleu wasn't sure what her power was as she had never seen it displayed. She was pretty as far as Dragoness go Bleu had to admit. Still she did listen more than others, though it was a fifty fifty shot on how she would side in a given situation. She was also far too flirty with Spike for Bleu's comfort.
Then there were the problem pair.
Grim Jaw was a ancient Black dragon god. One that had survived the fall of Cindervale and knew Bleu and was terrified of her. Not terrified enough that he didn't do everything he could to screw with Spike's plans just to spite her however. His power had something to do with the refraction of light off his scales and given a bright enough source he could form an impenetrable shield , have some sort of energy blast or even turn himself invisible.
He hated being around Crimson Wing as the red's power blocked out a great deal of the light and his power didn't work well in shadows.
Then there was the white, Ice Talon. She was cold, calculating, violent, powerful and seemed to hate everyone and everything. Despite her name her powers drew from the fiery earth and were very similar to the command of flame that Forgescale once possessed. The main difference was that she needed a source of flame for her power to activate where Forgescale did not.
Granted given Equss was full of underground tunnels of lava, and every dragon had an internal flame thrower built in made her the most dangerous one here.
She was the biggest voice against Cindervale. She hated other dragons almost as much as she hated the other races of the world. Bleu could sort of understand. After the fall of Cindervale the conflict with the Linorm to the north escalated as the demonic dragon kin pushed for larger and larger portions of territory. The support that Cindervale had promised to push back the Linorm had been sent instead to the war effort with Equestria. And when the Dragon nation was wiped out, she and a claw full of others were all that were left at the northern edge to try and protect their territory.
.
The dragons kept the small numbers of Linorm at bay, but the thousands of years of conflict cost Ice Talon everything. The white dragon was old having been around long before the first Dragon war, but she was still only the age Bleu's mother would have been if she survived, which was young still for a dragon,and younger still for a God. She was also the only dragon Bleu had ever seen with more scars than Jer'rahd.
Ice Talon feared nothing, and agreed to nothing. If she was not doing all she could against Spike and Cindervale purely out of spite for what happened in the past, Bleu might have even liked her. Out of all of them Ice Talon was the only dragon Bleu wouldn't talk shit too. Despite her own training, Bleu didn't fancy her chances against a warrior like Ice. When ice spoke every other dragon listened out of simple fear she might tear them apart.
They had spent the better part of two hours explaining what was happening as more and more dragons arrived, from Troph's call. The small group of gods listened and didn't seem to have issue with the 'pony creature' being there, though the end results were as expected.
“Why the shard should we help those inferior beasts? Let the creature eat them, it will make claiming their territory that much easier when they are all dead.” Grim Jaw rants.
“I agree with GrimJaw. reluctantly. The affairs of ponies do not concern us. Their wars have meant nothing to us for a thousand years, why should this one be any different than the last?” Copper comments.
“Tirek will not rest with just ponies. He will come after us next.” Spike protests.”In the past he fought the dragons as well as everyone else and we didn't fare well back then on our own when we were better organized.”
“You said he only goes after ponies and zebras, the ones with the marks on their rears? Why would he come after us?” Crimson questions. “This united front thing seems like another one of your plans to get the dragons together.”
“He's gone after Griffons, Diamond Dogs, and Half Dragons already. None of them have marks and yet he sought to destroy them.” Spike explains.” He nearly succeeded in the half dragons case.”
“Perhaps we should take more time to consider this, or simply send a few of the more interested ones?” Copper offers.
“No, while I do not expect all of us to rush off to the aid of ponies it will take more than a scattered claw full to even make Tirek notice we are there.” Spike grumbles.
“Let him come.” Ice finally states, glaring at Bleu. ”We will destroy him. It has been some time since I had a good challenge.”
“I'm sure that was what they said when Cindervale, right before we destroyed it.” Bleu states calmly, meeting the white dragons golden gaze, though she hoped Ice took that as a statement of fact rather than a challenge.
Further argument was halted as screams and cries of panic rose up from the gathered dragons. It only took a moment for Bleu and the others to find the source. Many of the dragons were moving away from a group approaching from the north. From that was a large flock of something was being pointed out by a number of the gathered dragons. Perhaps there was a score at best of the dragon like shapes approaching. They were smaller than most dragons, though far too large to be griffons or pegasi. It was Ice Talon who recognized them first, her cold, tight lipped tone explaining all Bleu needed to know about the approaching group.
“Linorm....”
==================================================
[Whitetail Woods Cairn, sort of, 2300 hours]
“.........And that's the brunt of it Ma. We haven't figured out why, but we got some corn kernels to sprout into full plants with just a drop of blood we squeezed from her bandage. Sweetie's still oblivious, and we haven't told AB yet, but there's no issue with supplies when we can take a few seeds and make a plant ready to harvest in seconds” Pip sighs flattening his ears and staring up at Luna. “So you gonna tell me what's eating you now Ma? Pretty sure it's not that we went off track in our lil venture”
The pair of them were sitting at a table in a simple room that was a copy of their dining room at the castle. Pip knew it was a dream and dreams tended to be a little odd, but he kept hearing voices and seeing things move along the corners of his eye in this one. He had never seen anything like that before when Luna brought him here. Either she wasn't in full control of this dream scape or something else was wrong. Given her questions and how she was acting Pip was certain it was the latter. Particularly since she hadn't offer to come get them out of the hole they were in. That was something he had expected to be the first thing out of her mouth since they started talking tonight.
Luna blinked at the question though she sighed softly before responding.
“I suppose I cannot hide it, that would only endanger you and your friends. “ Luna mutters an image forming before her of a red and black creature with the lower body of a pony and the upper body of a minotaur attached where the ponies neck should be. “This is Tirek. He has attacked Equss itself and is currently rampaging across the world stealing the power of anyone with a cutiemark, and killing those who do not have one. He attacked Gallopagos and New Canterlot. I managed to evacuate New Canterlot and a portion of those in Gallopagos also evacuated. If he takes a ponies power they go comatose. Often they are killed when they fall, though we have a number of ponies and zebras like that here in the Crystal Empire....”
“But not all..... Who died Ma?”
“I do not see how you would need to know...”
“MA.” Pip snaps staring up at her.”Who do I know that was killed. You're far to nervousand dismissive of this about this and you hhaven't mentioned Da or Aunt Celestia. You said YOU managed to evacuate them, not the two of you. What happened?!”
Luna bites her lip and sighs.
“I would rather tell when you are safe ...”
“Don't wait. I need to know what to tell the others. What happened to Da and Aunt Celestia? To the Lily's to the whole bucking island we were just on a couple o days ago? Rarity and Lionheart just had their first foal.....”
“Pipsqueak language........” Luna sighs as her adoptive son glares at her. “You spend too much time with Jer'rahd. I know that look, he has it every time he manages to catch me at something. You are both far too cl.... smart for your own good sometimes. Fine. Tia and Twilight are both in comas although I have control of the sun now as well as the moon, Tirek did not get that.. Jer'rahd is..... well that's complicated to be honest, even I don't get what happened to him, typical really. The Lily's are fine if shaken up a bit, as is Orange.”
Luna flattens her own ears a bit and for a heartbeat she didn't look like herself, she looked like some sort of monster, though the change was so quick Pip wasn't sure what he had seen or if it was a dream or not.
“The rest...... I suppose Applebloom will need to know, as will Sweetiebelle. Your Uncle Rhede and Aunt Velkorn are dead. Tirek killed them both. Rhede sacrificed himself to ensure that the rest of us could get away safe. Rarity and Lion Heart Reignolds are also dead. They are the reason that any one got away from Gallopagos at all. In both cases their foals are fine including Velkorn's newborn....”
“Buck........”
“Pip...”
“Yah can't tell me that it ain't the appropriate word tah use now Ma. If ah knew stronger I'd use that too.”Pip grumbles.
“I suppose.”
“We jus saw all of them too. Ah just spoke with Lion Heart, spared with him, got annoyed at Rarity.......Ah crap..... Sweetie is gonna lose it.... What about Scootaloo's parents?”
“Spitfire and Soarin are fine. Do you think you and she can keep the others from doing anything dumb? I hate to ask in the face of this, but I know how those three are when they set their mind to something. I do not need to worry about you trying to go after this creature while I try to deal with him. He took down both Twilight, my sister and countless others. You three would not have a chance.”
“There's always hope we could do it where others couldn't, but no. My mission was to keep the trio safe... ah ain't gonna go hunt this guy. “ Pip exhales deeply mulling over the information. His ears perk a moment. “Wait, yah think this is why aunt Zecora sent us out here?”
Luna blinks at that and considers.
“I do not see the reason, but it is possible. She was quite insistent that Applebloom and you three all go on this trip, saying she felt it was the proper course of action. But she didn't know why. And now the situation with Applebloom's blood. I have never heard of anything like this, nor have the others. What about the seed she has it evidently did not get touched with her blood, what did it look like? I do not think I have seen it.”
Ah could draw it out if ah had some paper but it's a lil brown thing about yay big...” Pip describes holding his hooves close together looking up at Luna and the smug grin on her face as she watched him. “What?”
“Pip..... dream scape.”
“Oh cripes, right right.” Pip yelps, a small image forming before him out of the dream stuff. While working dream stuff into a shape while lucid was not impossible it did take a good deal of practice. Pip and his siblings had had quite a lot of practice while Luna was helping them recover from their nightmares of the War of Gods. While both Brush and Berry were artists in their dreams like in life, both Pip and Orange had wound up more practical. When crafting something they didn't add any flourishes they simply made a copy of what they saw. Jer'rahd was the same way.
What Pip was making before her was familiar some how. The chain was unimportant and had likely been changed to the simple steel chain that was used now. The necklace itself was tarnished and worn though looked to have once been silver perhaps. It held the shape of a tree, though the top had been broken off in the past and Luna could seeing Pips image where the new chain had been connected to the stump. The piece was worn to the point that the details and even that it was broken were not really noticeable. The roots remaining curled around a glass bead and inside it was a small brown seed.
Luna knew what it was immediately.
Well one of the memories she now held recognized it. It was a bit of Jewelry that had been crafted by one of the Changelings who had been a jeweler several thousand years after the races creation. The piece was supposed to be in the shape of the Yggdrasil where Tirek was sealed. That it had been broken at the base like it's real counterpart was some what concerning to Luna, perhaps prophetic? The seed within the glass bauble was a seed from the Yggdrasil itself while it was young. A seed harvested and presented to the jeweler by Star swirl the Bearded himself to be made into a wedding gift for Clover the Clever.
Luna stared not even hearing Pip mention he wasn't sure if the seed was correct. Plans ran rampant though her mind. Zecora's insistence that Applebloom leave with this seed. That she find out what it was and that the group be allowed to visit Los Pegasus. The nightmares, what Pip had seen the filly's very blood do to plants. There was far too much coincidence here to be real, and yet.... Did Sunshine's power exstend to something like this? A maddening chain of events that lead up to this point? Did she know she would get taken by Tirek? Luna didn't understand how she wouldn't. Why was she found at the Gate of Tartarus? She wasn't supposed to have gone to see Grace for several months yet. Was all this playing out because of the strange abilities of Tia's daughter?
Luna whipped her head. She was thinking to much into it. She really didn't need to ponder Sunshine's odd prediction talent. Being in the right place at the right time couldn't explain all of this past her giving Applebloom the seed and sending her out to find out what it is. Sunshine's power wanted Applebloom to go to the crater. The crater tied in with Tirek. Could restoring the tree reseal him? It was a gamble, but it was all she had at the moment and too many things pointed to it being the proper course. She just didn't like what she would need to do next.
“Ma?” Pip asks. “You zoned out there a moment. You okay?”
“Yes Pip, I'm fine. Perhaps more so then I was before. “ Luna smiles though that fades .”Pip I hate to ask with all that has happened, but I have a mission for you and the crusaders that is of the up most importance. And I regret to say it... it might be dangerous, yet I need to ask it of you.”
Pip lifts his head as Luna explains the plan. Pip wasn't about to protest or refuse. Ma had changed her tone to her Princessy mannerisms.
A true Guard would not refuse a lawful order directly from the Princess.