//------------------------------// // Strange Figure // Story: Blood Ties // by bestponydash //------------------------------// The hour was half-passed six on a warm spring afternoon. The sky was clear and the ponies of Ponyville were leaving work, hanging out with friends, shopping for dinner, going out on dates, or finishing up their day by talking with their five best friends and dragon companion while sitting around a large table/magical map of all Equestria. "So what's new at the boutique?" asked the princess. The four other ponies present also turned and faced Rarity. "Well, I've received a new order from a very promising client living in Hoofington. I knew my newest design would bring some new interests, but I had no idea that ponies had heard of my humble shop from such a distance away!" "How many dresses do you have to make?" asked Fluttershy. "Well that is just the thing. This one client is asking for two weeks' worth of dresses, but I only have four days to make them all." Rainbow Dash casually waved her hoof, "So what, you've taken on bigger projects than that. I bet you'll finish with time to spare." "Well normally I would agree, but this latest design is particularly detailed and must be prepared with extreme caution and attention." "Do you need any help?" offered Fluttershy with a smile. "Oh no no no. I knew what I was getting into when I started the boutique. I cannot burden my friends with my responsibilities," she turned back to Twilight, "What about you, dear? Any friendship disasters in need of remedy?" "[sigh] Nope, everything is quiet." Pinkie Pie turned her head sideways much like a confused dog would, "What's wrong?" "Well to be honest things have begun to get a little dull around here. The map," she said pointing, "hasn't called any of us in a while and I guess I'm just starting to get a little bored." Pinkie grinned, "That's easy! We'll just have to do something super exciting and amazing." "Like what?" Spike jumped up on his mini-throne next to Twilight, "I've got it! We could- [ggrrrrrrrr]" The ponies all raised an eyebrow, "Uh Spike, was that your stomach?" asked Twilight. "I uh...I- [burrrp]" Spike's mouth spat fire and threw out a scroll. The ponies watched as the sealed paper flew from the dragon and onto the table. "Huh, looks like ya got yer wish, Twi," chuckled AJ. Twilight lit up her horn and unsealed the letter with a smile on her face. As she read her eyes began to move faster and faster, eventually her smile faded and when she was done she was in a sweat. The rest of the mane six and Spike straightened their faces. "Everything okay?" asked Dash. She stared at the page. The other ponies glanced at one another. "Ahem," grunted AJ. Twilight slammed the scroll down on the table, "We have to get to Canterlot now!" Rarity stood up from her throne, "Darling, calm down. Whatever it is-" before she could finish Twilight lit up her horn again and surrounded everypony in a large orb of magic. Then, before anypony knew what was happening, POOF. The next thing they knew, the ponies and dragon were standing outside the throne room in Canterlot castle. "Everypony here? Good, let's go!" "Wait, wait, hold on. Go where? What're we doing here, Twilight?" asked Dash. Twilight quickly ran and burst through the doors of Celestia's throne room. "That is what we're doing here," she pointed. The ponies looked in and gasped. Celestia was in mid-air, locked in a magical duel with a hooded figure. The princess of the day was sweating and losing her edge. The ponies looked to the ground; Luna was trapped in a large cage of blue magic, laying on her side unconscious. Spike retreated back into the hall. He glanced around to find the castle guards subdued on the ground in a dark corner, their eyes shut. The mane six burst into action: Dash zoomed forward while Fluttershy headed to Luna's aid. Twilight shot beams at the assailant while Rarity tried to counter the magic of Luna's cage. Applejack sprinted towards the enemy while Pinkie Pie tried to dig a tunnel under Luna to allow her to escape, she was after all an expert at breaking through rocks much like the rest of her family. The ponies charged forward; the stranger let go of his lock with Celestia and jumped out of the way of the yellow magic. Dash missed her attempt to tackle the assailant and flew back around for another go, Twilight continued to shoot at the pony, and Applejack gained ground on him. The pony fired back at Twilight, sending her on the defensive with quick miniature force fields blocking his strikes. Celestia landed and collapsed out of exhaustion. Dash and AJ were right on top of the stranger, but before they could get to him he shot a large beam of magic at Twilight, giving him the opening he needed to create a shield around himself. Dash slammed against the magic and AJ turned to buck the bubble with all of her might. The shield glowed brighter and burst outwards, sending the Pegasus and earthpony back. The shield was gone and Twilight had regained her balance, she seized the opportunity. She zoomed forward and fired several shots in quick succession. The pony used his glowing horn to block as many shots as he could, but Twilight was faster than he. Eventually a shot broke through his defense and blasted his shoulder, flinging him back. He let out a squeal and clutched the blackened, smoking wound. Twilight, Dash, and Applejack ran forward. The three of them jumped at the attacker all at once, but he lit up his horn and poofed out of harm's way. The ponies missed and looked behind. The hooded pony fired off more magical shots, limping toward the door. The friends were busy dodging and they couldn't advance. The attacker was almost out the door when a sudden cloud of yellow magic erupted in the doorway and Celestia appeared to block her attacker's escape. He tried to jump out of the way but was too slow, Celestia shot a beam of magic and knocked the assailant on the ground; he stayed down and remained still. The magic around Luna disappeared and she soon woke up. The panting ponies surrounded the stranger and Twilight tore his hooded cloak from his body, finally revealing his face. He was a large stallion unicorn; brown with a silver mane and a small scar running up his snout. "Who is he?" asked Fluttershy. "Yeah, and why was he trying to kill us?" added Dash. Celestia tried to catch her breath, "He...is somepony I had known....a long time ago...Come," she gestured, "bring him to the dungeons under the castle." Twilight lit up her horn and levitated the strange pony above her head as she followed Celestia. Pinkie shot up her head, "Wait, this place has a dungeon!" As they walked, Luna limped her way up to her sister. Twilight saw the two begin to whisper something, Luna turned and glanced toward Spike who had rejoined the group. The princess of friendship stopped walking, "Okay, what's going on? Who is this?" The other ponies stopped as well. Luna and Celestia looked at one another and sighed. "His name is Lennox," began Celestia, "and many years ago he betrayed Equestria and tried to take the throne." Luna spoke up, almost seeming to attempt to cut her sister off, "We managed to banish him to the pits of Tartarus, but it seems we underestimated his capabilities, our cage was inadequate." "But if that is true, and you two faced him together, he would have to be over one thousand years old. He hardly looks any older than us." asked Rarity. "Time works differently in Tartarus, even we do not truly understand such a place." "What does he want? Is he still after power?" Twilight asked. Luna looked down and paused. Celestia answered for her, "I can't think of anything else he would be after. Now we must hurry, before he wakes up!" Twilight hesitated, glancing up at her captive with a raised brow. She turned to Spike and scratched her chin, but eventually followed along. The rest of the ponies nodded and continued to the dungeons. The ponies trotted further down to the lower levels of the castle. Soon enough the maintained and pristine state of the rest of the castle disappeared and the walls became bare rock. The ponies slowed their pace and continuously glanced around at the walls as if they were closing in on them. Celestia and Luna walked on with no signs of discomfort or hesitation. Eventually the rock walls led to a stair case down which ended at an old wooden door with black iron locks. "We're here," said Luna. She lit up her horn and the door glowed with magic as it creaked open. On the other side was a never-ending darkness which filled the room in front of everypony, the size of which no pony could guess. Celestia slowly walked in and sent a large orb of light through the darkness, eliminating the shadows. Once the room was in sight the ponies could clearly see a long hall featuring cell after cell on each side. Before they walked on, the ponies paused and listened; there was no sign of any activity, just a piercing silence that made you feel as though you were being watched. The friends gulped and followed Celestia and Luna to the farthest cell on the right. As they walked, Celestia's light followed, sending the shadows back behind them and making the doorway disappear. The cell had a large wooden door as well, very similar to the one leading to the dungeons. "There," she pointed to a pair of shackles latched to the back wall in the damp and dark cell. Twilight hesitated yet again, taking another look at Lennox, "Are you sure about this, princess?" "Twilight, please." "But-" "We don't have time!" Twilight sighed and did as she was told. She walked through the door with her former teacher and wrapped Lennox's legs with the iron shackles. "These are magically enhanced, they will hold him here until we can prepare another, stronger, cage for him in Tartarus where he belongs." Twilight looked back; Luna had stayed outside the door with the rest of her friends. She noticed the princess of the night's behavior: she refused to look at the prisoner and spent most of this time looking down. "How long will he be down here?" "Not long, it should only take a few days or so. Now let us go back up and find you all a place to stay for the next couple of nights." "What? We're staying here?" Celestia turned and began to walk back out, "I hope it's not too inconvenient, but I thought it would be best if you and your friends stayed here until we completed his new cell. If he were to escape before it was done, I may not be able to send another letter for your help." "I suppose you're right," she walked out with Celestia and watched as the light inside of Lennox's cell slipped away as the door closed. The ponies exited the dungeon and took a room for the night. As they were laying in their beds later that night, Twilight couldn't help but stare at the ceiling...thinking. "Does anypony else think something strange is going on?" "Twi, you keep askin' us that and we keep tellin' ya it's nothin'," answered AJ. "I just have this feeling. Why was Luna acting so strange?" "Maybe she and this Lennox guy have bad blood between them," said Dash, "All I know is he better think twice about trying something like that again, because next time I'll be ready for him." "Well why hasn't either Celestia or Luna mentioned him before. If he was able to take on both of them at the same time, and win, you would think they would at least do that." "Like they said, he was in prison. They thought he was locked away for good. And why does it matter anyway? You saw him, he nearly fought off US. As far as I'm concerned he'll go back to prison and Equestria will have one less power-hungry psycho to worry about." "Well since when has any pony had to make a 'new cell' in Tartarus? I was under the impression that Tartarus had several prisons too spare." Rarity slid her sleeping mask over her eyes, "Darling, if you keep getting yourself all worked up, you'll never be able to sleep." "[sigh] I guess you're right." Twilight turned over in her bed. The rest of the gang closed their eyes for the night, sleeping somewhat soundly, somewhat confused, and somewhat curious. When she was sure everypony else was asleep Twilight turned back around and stared at the ceiling once more. "There's something off about this entire situation.... And I'm going to find out what it is."