Rose watched the rain outside her taxi window unconsciously trying to peer through the curtain of water into the distance. She had not gone home in such a long time, and not in such a fashion. If she were in any other state of mind, degrading her personal stature by taking a taxi would have brought shame to the family. Yet she needed to be seen; to let others know that she had headed home. At least the taxi driver would be able to tell somepony where she had gone.
That was if something was amiss. Why would she go this far? Why would she do something like this? Surely nothing would happen to her. Yet she couldn’t help but worry. And would they would come for her – wouldn’t they? They had to. Her friends from the academy. Iris would miss her. Rose knew that she would. Iris was, after all, her best friend.
As the taxi slowed to a stop near the large marble steps leading up to the main doors of the mansion, the driver poked his head through the small narrow slot-window and looked at his young passenger. “Nopony looks like they’re home. You sure someone’s here? I wouldn’t feel right dropping you off at this place all alone.”
In the bottom of her heart, Rose wanted to tell the driver to take her back to the academy right that very instant, but the thought of Lisi coming here sent chills down her spine. No, whatever her mother, or stepmother, had wanted from Lisi then the mare would have to put up with Rose instead. She would not allow anything to happen to Lisi. Nothing.
“Thank you for your concern, but this is my home. The servants have all gone on vacation, and we are renovating parts of the manor, so the lights are out.”
“Suit yourself, missy. This your home? No offence, but this place gives me the willies. Good luck to you then.” The Taxi driver nodded as Rose dumped the correct amount of bits into his hoof and watched as he trotted down the driveway and out the gates. She followed him for a while as he rode along the outside of the perimeter fence along the rim of the property, the rain soaking through her clothes and into her fur. Only when he was out of sight, the red taillights of his cart fading off into the distance, did she turn around and pull on the lever for the doorbell.
A tinkle that was much too loud echoed inside the mansion. She remembered the jingle so well and how excited she used to get when she heard it as a little girl. While she grew up, it meant only one thing: Daddy’s home. She could recall charging down the long corridors, dodging the help and galloping right to the door. There she would wait at the bottom of the stairs quickly catching her breath as dear old Vector opened the door. Then she would run straight into her father’s warm embrace. But here she stood, outside her old home with apprehension and fear. There was no warmth here anymore. There hadn’t been for a long time.
“Miss Rose?” A voice asked in pure astonishment as the door opened and a head appeared in the gap.
Rose looked up to see who had spoken and her eyes bulged in their sockets. There, standing in the doorway, was an old and very familiar face. Her father’s old butler. “Vector! What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing. Miss, you shouldn’t be here. It’s…”
Rose nodded. “I know. But mother asked for Lisi.”
That silenced the old pegasus for a moment and he immediately understood why Rose stood at the bottom of those steps. He reached towards the side before rushing out to her and putting an umbrella over her head. “Miss, I am so sorry. I came to close accounts and see to it that the new staff understood their duties, but these are not help staff. They are something else entirely.”
“What do you mean?”
“They are… forgive me for saying this, but they are thugs and ruffians. Mercenaries. Hired muscle. I don’t know what your mother is doing, but right now this is the most dangerous place for you. She isn’t herself… moreso than usual.”
“She is my mother, Vector. I am sure that she has some mundane task for me to see to,” Rose said, but she knew that this was only something to pacify her rising fear. “She probably mistook Lisi for me because she forgot which daughter was who.”
That usually was met with a slightly sarcastic remark from the aging pegasus, but not this time.
“I can only hope you’re right, miss. Come. Let us get you out of the rain.”
Vector led the way back towards the doors of the mansion, holding it open for his charge to walk through. As he closed the door behind them, a part of Rose felt that it was as if he were sealing a tomb. The entire forecourt, once so full of life and color, was now dark, bleak, the furniture covered with cloth, and the rug beneath them was filthy beyond comprehension. It was as if someone had rubbed thick wads of wet mud into it.
Rose lifted her hoof delicately and inspected the floor closer.
“It was like this when I arrived the other day. Apparently they are renovating the kitchen, but this is far more than a renovation. It is as if she is digging the entire property up. I have no idea where she is placing the dirt. I have not seen any carts leaving the property despite the amount of work going on. I am forbidden from going into the kitchen or to your father’s study, and have to complete the accounts in the western wing. I’ve made a space for myself in the old library.”
Rose looked at Vector. “And father’s old office?”
“You would be wise to stay away from there, miss. It will only break your heart. Everything is… destroyed. It’s as if your mother no longer wants this mansion and…” Vector sighed and shook his head. “I apologize. It is not my place to gossip on the going-ons of your mother.”
“I don’t mind. Please do go on.”
“Well, things here have recently changed in ways I cannot even begin to give voice to. You shouldn’t have come here, miss. It’s very dangerous.”
“But I have to protect my sister.”
The old pegasus stopped and nodded at the young filly. “Your father would be very proud of you,” Vector said, smiling behind his old grey beard. “It has been such a delight watching you grow up into such a lovely young lady. I know that if I ever had a family, I would love for her to be half the mare you are.”
At that, Rose blushed slightly. “Thank you, Vector. Will you be staying for long?”
“No, miss. I am here for another two days at the most. I have already found a new post as the butler for a pegasi noble family living in Cloudsdale. I am to start this week, but I would like to say farewell to some of the ponies I have had the pleasure of working with all these long, long years. We are having a get-together. Would you like to come? I’m sure they would love to see you.”
“You’re having a reunion?” Rose asked.
Vector nodded. “I suppose you could call it that, miss.”
“Well, I hope that it is memorable,” Rose replied. “I don’t think it appropriate for me to attend.”
“The offer stands. I know we shall all be very glad to see you. I know I was when I saw you at the bottom of those stairs.”
Again, Rose blushed. “You’re too kind, Vector. I will miss you.”
“As shall I, miss. Shall I announce your presence?” Vector asked as he stood on the threshold of the antechamber that led into the great library and common room. At least here the room remained untouched. From where she stood, she could see her mother sitting next to the large bay windows gazing into oblivion, her mouth attached to the end of one of those pipes that led to a smoking urn. It was a gift given to her by some far away noble, and was beautiful. But whatever her mother smoked in that device always made Rose feel nauseated and she tended to avoid going in when the greenish smoke arose from it. It always seemed to stagnate near the ceiling.
“Yes, please.”
Vector walked in silently and stood next to the Baronet for a long moment before she eventually caught on that he was standing there. She slowly turned to him and he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. She looked at the butler for a second then pushed him aside with a long golden stick to see for herself.
“Darling,” came the melodious sing-song voice. “What are you doing here, Rosie? I didn’t ask for you to come and visit. What a pleasant surprise.”
“I am here on behalf of my sister,” Rose replied bluntly and without emotion. “She has a school event she must attend to and I have come in her place.”
“Oh? I see. I do recall something to that effect. Wasn’t it something droll? A trip to someplace?”
“You mean that zoo trip.”
“Yes, yes. Oh how boorish. If she wishes to go, then I guess she may. But you… you are here on her behalf, so you say?”
“Yes. I am.”
“And… how long have you decided to stay for?”
Rose bit her lip. “As long as need be, mother.”
A smile the likes of which Rose had never seen before crossed the face of the Baronet. “Is that a fact. Well, isn’t that just convenient. You may go. I take it that you’ll find yourself something to eat. If not, just have Vector make something for you. Off you go.”
And just like that, Rose was dismissed without another word. Not that she didn’t mind. She walked out of the study and exhaled. The stench of the smog permeated from every pour of her body. How could that mare just sit there like that? In that filth.
“Miss, this isn’t for me to say, but you have to get out of here. I fear for you. The way she looked at you…”
Rose turned to Vector. “Fear for me? Whatever do you mean?”
“I just don’t feel safe, miss.”
“I must stay. If I don’t, Lisi might get in trouble.”
“There are other more productive ways to protect her, miss. Right now this house isn’t a place for you. You cannot stay here and–”
“Hey you! You old goat!” a gruff voice shouted and two young stallions and a mare slipped into the corridor. “Where have you been, and who is this lovely creature? Is this your sweetheart? You have a thing for young’uns?”
The others laughed crudely.
“This is the daughter of the Baronet. You will show her the respect she is due,” Vector replied dryly.
That immediately made them pause.
“Sorry, miss. We didn’t know,” one colt said suddenly and smacked the others upside the head. “On your faces! Show her some respect!”
They all immediately threw themselves onto the ground in reverence. It was clear they were completely mocking her.
“You’re a… little older than expected.”
“And I’m the eldest of two daughters.” Rose stated, her eyes narrowing at the expression of ridicule they had. “And whether or not you didn’t know, that is no way to talk to a mare.”
“Speak for yourself,” the mare muttered under her breath.
Rose chose to ignore that comment. “Let me pass. I would like to get to my room now.”
“Sure, princess,” one of the colts replied and again bowed. She quickly realized that the gesture was meant to mock her and she felt his eyes focused on her, which made her feel suddenly very exposed and vulnerable. He moved aside with an over-polite gesture for her to proceed.
As Rose walked past them, she stole a glance at the mare who stared right into her eyes. The expression there chilled her to the bone. It wasn’t hatred or anger that she saw, but pure cruel elation. A sadistic glee that could only come about from something terrible.
“Vector. Will you stay in my room tonight?” Rose whispered as she started up the stairs towards the second floor.
“Of course, miss. I was just about to ask if that is what you wanted.”
Tourmaline kept behind Misty as they marched deeper into the tunnels. This time the going was slower. Although there were no sudden ambushes yet, Irons did find a few traps that would have proven fatal if they had been triggered. There were ingenious ways in which the traps were manipulated, and the way they had used the bodies of fallen Guards as bait was incredibly clever. Deplorable, but clever.
They came to a halt at another fork.
“I can’t see which way they went,” Irons muttered looking at the trail in front of him. “I say they went thataway, but the hoof-prints are difficult to read, yeah? It’s likely they knew, right? And maybe they decided to trick us. There are two sets going in these directions, but we can’t waste time and follow both. So either we split up, or we take a guess.”
“What’s your take?” Valor asked the tracker.
“Well, mate. I says they went that way. Cause it’s goin’ up, see? Why would they take ‘er deeper down? Not unless they got their own dogs to dig ‘em out the other side.”
“What did you say?” Valor asked, suddenly taken aback.
“About them dogs, sir? If they’ve managed to get ‘em to work on the ground below, they’ll be able to go clear through the mountain if they’re inclined to,” Irons replied. “But a dog working for a pony?”
“It’s not that rare, actually. There are many breeds that we use to help us dig, and some Canterlot dogs are actually quite wealthy digging foundations for homes and…” The Day Guard stopped when he realized what he was saying. “Oh no.”
“They took her down,” Valor spat out anger raking his voice. “And I hope to Celestia that it isn’t a Silver that we find at the end.”
Tourmaline did not miss that. “If you’re implying that Semper is part of–”
“I’d watch your mouth if I were you,” the Day Guard who spoke moments before muttered and nudged Tourmaline. “Not here, not now.”
Tourmaline looked at the Day Guard before looking back towards the Solar, who was now standing inches from his face. Surprised, Tourmaline took a step back and gulped.
“You say something?”
“N-n-n-n-n-n-no, s-s-s-s-s-sir.”
Valor narrowed his eyes. “Watch yourself.”
A scream suddenly brought their attention to their immediate surroundings. Misty was frozen in place next to Irons. Both of them had gone on ahead and both of them just stood where they were.
“What’s going on…” Valor stopped and stared at what he saw. His face was a mixture of shock and disgust.
Ponies, or pieces of them, hanging from the ceiling, their mouths ajar in silent agony, the look of pain and torment frozen on their corpses. Some of the ponies were tied to the ceiling with chains, heavy bolts holding them in place. Others found bodies hanging via nooses over the high wooden beams that helped support the tunnel’s structure.
“What is this?” Misty asked, wanting to look away but knowing she couldn’t let her guard down.
“This is beyond barbaric. This is sick.” A Day Guard walked over to a corpse and prodded it with the tip of his spear. It slowly turned around to reveal a face, half of it torn off. Perhaps from a quarrel, the blood that pooled into its skull dripped over the rim and onto the ground. The Guard hopped back out of reflex.
In silence, they proceeded, the mud beneath their hooves making the ground slick and slippery. Tourmaline raised his hooves and could barely hold back his stomach. The metallic, sickening stench of blood was overwhelming. The ground was soaked in it.
“What happened?” Another Guard asked.
“Fear. The Elites are trying to make us fear them,” Valor said quietly. “But it’s not working, is it, Guard?”
The speaker gulped. “No, sir.”
“That’s what I thought.” Valor pushed past the rest and got to Irons. “I told you this is the right way, didn’t I?”
“Don’t know, sir. Most of this… display looks hurried. Not to downplay their handiwork, but it’s clear that this was thrown together as an afterthought.”
“Why would they waste their time doing this if not to get us to turn back around?” Valor retorted. “I thought you were the best tracker!”
“I am! This isn’t the way’d I’d do things!” Irons shouted back, not having any of the nonsense from the Solar Guard.
“I don’t think they’d carve up ponies like this for fun!” Valor narrowed his eyes.
“These ponies were dead before they were carved up! They weren’t alive when this was done to ‘em!” Irons countered.
“And how do you know that?”
“Because I know dead when I see ‘em, right? You think you can survive in the deserts of…”
Out of the corner of his eye, Tourmaline saw one of the dead swinging. The chain around the neck slowly making the body turn around. A crossbow was in its hooves. Then, just as suddenly and as fluidly as possible, the ‘dead’ pony pointed the bow straight at Irons and Valor. In that moment, Misty threw her magic barrier with all her might and the quarrel made a dull sound as it collided. In the moment it took for the others to react, a blinding explosion, similar to before, erupted in a fury of fire.
“Incoming!” a Day Guard shouted. “They’re everywhere!”
A shout grabbed Tourmaline’s attention as he slipped and fell hard. Something fell on top of him, but he couldn’t see, and he found that the more he struggled, the more he was getting stuck in the sickening slop beneath him. He felt the bloody mud around his mane and ears and gritted his teeth and bore the feeling. The blood wasn’t liquid, but a sludge that seemed to seep into every orifice he had.
The ringing in his ears was just getting better, and now this?
The Watu were indeed excellent ambush warriors. That was the second time they had successfully caught them unawares, and with such an obvious trap too. Now that Tourmaline thought about it, the ‘rushed’ job at carving up the bodies, as Irons pointed out, didn’t make sense. Not unless they were hiding with the bodies. It was probably a method to use badly wounded Elites to slow them down. It would have been an easy exchange. A few drops of the narcotic in their mouths as a send-off, and the ability to inflict heavy damage against their foe with a swift and relatively painless death in return. That, or die painfully and slowly from the narcotic and their fatal wounds.
Not a very hard choice.
Just as quickly as it started, the fighting came to a quick and precise conclusion. Four more Guards had been killed in the fray, their deaths came within the first few quarrels that were fired from nearly point blank range as other Elites fired, stabbed, or threw them at their closest targets. Three more Guards were severely injured, which meant that six others would be needed to move the injured back to the surface.
“They’re cullin’ us is what they’re doin’,” Irons pointed out in the silence as Valor used his hoof to close the eyes of a deceased Day Guard. “They know they cannot fight you head-on, so they’re just delayin’ and tryin’ to keep us from catchin’ up.”
“We’ve already lost too many Guards. We proceed with caution and hope that the Guard on the surface seal off any exits before they can escape with the filly.”
“They’ll tunnel deeper and deeper! They’ll stay down here until she dies!” Irons barked.
“What do you suggest we do?” Valor shouted back, his horn suddenly flaring up like Celestia’s sun. “I just lost my father!”
Irons stopped and bowed his head. “I’m sorry ‘bout that. I really am, but your pa asked us to save ‘er, and I intend to.”
“As I. But we cannot sacrifice ourselves for no good reason. We need to come up with a better plan,” Valor stated, his horn’s light slowly fading.
“Sir, if… if I might make a suggestion,” Tourmaline said.
All eyes were focused on him now.
“The Elites are interested in keeping the filly alive. I highly doubt they’ll stay down here. There’s no supplies, and I don’t know about clean water. Despite everything, the Elites are still ponies, and will need nourishment. They will have to get to the surface for that. And let’s not forget that the filly still needs to be kept alive and they’ll do whatever they can. And considering the state she’s in, I don’t think they’ll risk waiting us out.”
“That is quite an observation,” Valor said after a moment.
“There’s also one other thing,” Tourmaline quickly added.
“Yes?”
“It’s just that… they didn’t take any of the medical equipment with them.”
“By Celestia’s sun!” Valor quickly pushed past Tourmaline and headed back the way they came. “Everypony, to the kitchen!”
At once, the entire group chased him. They charged as fast as they could, soon catching up to the six ponies carrying their wounded comrades. Upon seeing Valor and the rest rushing by them, they gently placed the bodies to the side and took up their weapons and followed.
It was Valor who reached the room first. Using his horn, he lit up the small room and cursed. Most of the equipment was gone.
The others soon caught up.
“We’re too late,” Valor whispered in frustration, slamming his hoof against the wall placing a sizeable dent in it.
“Over here, sir!” a Day Guard shouted from near the entrance.
Valor headed towards the sound of the voice.
“What is it?”
“They’re bolts, sir.”
“You called me here to look at bolts?”
“B-but, sir! Look!”
Valor took a moment then saw it. These bolts were laid down to create a large arrow pointing down a specific tunnel. It was unmistakable.
“What now, sir?” Misty asked, examining the bolts carefully. “They’ve been laid like this on purpose.”
“What do you think?”
It took a moment for Tourmaline to realize that the Solar Guard was referring to him. “I don’t think the Watu would’ve laid a trail for us to follow, sir. I think they expect us to continue our chase through the tunnels we were in. This must’ve been set by one of our own.”
“How can you be sure?”
“These are typical Guard markings, sir,” Tourmaline began, “we were trained in recognizing these type of markings for our patrols along the border. If a Guard had to wander around, he would set up a trail for backup to follow if required.”
“They teach you quite useful things in the Border Guard don’t they,” Valor replied dryly. “And who do you think set them?”
“I don’t know, sir. Maybe Semper since he’s the only other Board Guard here,” Tourmaline replied.
“Then what are we waiting for! Let’s move!” Valor shouted and, with Irons by his side, they headed down the designated trail.
“Waky, waky,” a voice purred as she felt something on her face.
Rose opened her eyes and immediately backed up into the headboard as the three ponies from earlier were sitting on all sides of the bed staring at her.
“What are you doing in my room?” Rose shouted, trying to make herself look as intimidating as possible. “Where is Vector?”
“You mean the old fart?” The colt of the left asked. “He’s over there, sitting in his chair.”
Indeed he was. The cut across his throat still oozing with blood. Rose covered her mouth as the realization of what she saw hit her. It was all she could do not to scream. Not to scream in horror and anger at the stallion sitting there. She would not give these ponies the satisfaction of hearing her scream. Finally, she managed to find her voice. “W-why?”
“No idea. We only follow orders. Seems like your ma didn’t take too kindly of his… inputs. Too bad. I kinda liked him, but what can you do? Orders are orders after all. She told us to off him, so we did.”
“My… my mother ordered you to…”
“Yes. And, well, since she’s the one paying us, she gets to tell us what to do. And since we don’t like not getting paid, we oblige. That’s just the way things are. Don’t like it? Talk to your mother. Oh wait! You can’t! She doesn’t want to see you.” The colt pulled out a knife and held it in his hoof. “We are going to take a little trip, and you’re coming with us.”
Rose looked at the knife. “Where are we going?”
“Don’t worry your pretty head about that,” the colt replied. “Let’s get going.”
Slowly, Rose got out of bed. She was aware of the three ponies watching her every move. She watched them move around her, one staying in front and two following her from behind as she approached the door to the room. Before she exited, she turned around and looked at the back of Vector’s head with tears in her eyes. The reality of her situation hit her hard, but what could she do? She was helpless.
“Don’t get any funny ideas. We can’t kill you, but you can be sure as Tartarus that we’ll break every bone in your body to get you to listen.”
Her eyes shifted to the speaker. “You’re going to regret this.”
“Probably, but likely not. In our line of business, you take what you can get.”
“Ponies do not do this!” Rose shouted, taking a step towards the speaker. “And you’re not taking me anywhere!”
“No. We’re taking you. You see. If you don’t follow, and you do something stupid, like kill yourself, then we’ll just have to find your sister and bring her with us instead. In fact, as far as I know, she was the one that was supposed to come.”
Rose’s blood turned to ice in her veins at those words. “Mother would never hurt…” She didn’t finish the sentence.
“Good. You’re now thinking. In some ways I’m glad you came. It would be a real shame to have to drag your little sister into this instead of you. The pony you thought was your mother ain’t the same mare she once was. I mean, considering how long Vector had been involved in your family, and telling us to off him… you get the idea.”
“You’re all monsters,” Rose whispered and took a step back. “You would harm a filly barely old enough to spell her name?”
“Bits talk, honey.”
“I can pay you. More than what she is offering. I will give you all the bits I have to let me go.” Rose looked at the mare with a steady expression. Her eyes seemed to soften slightly.
The colt smirked. “Really? I somehow doubt you can afford our services.”
“I am the daughter. You don’t think that my father would have thought of safeguarding my wellbeing? I am also related to royalty. I have a stipend that would—”
“Not happening. You may have the bits, but I have seen first hoof what your mother is capable of and there is no way in Celestia’s name that I’ll be on her bad side. Sorry, girl, but you’re coming with us whether you like it or not.” The mare who spoke pushed her hard. “Get going.”
“I’ll… I’ll… I’ll let you have me,” she said looking at the stallion in front of her. “Just let me go.”
“If I wanted to, I could have you. Sadly, you’re not my type. Too… feminine. Right, Arty?”
The other colt smiled lewdly. “I know. And nothing you will say can make us change our minds, right, Brick?” Arty continued.
Brick held up a hoof. “Now, hang on guys. Give the gal a chance. She says she’ll pay us; I want to hear what she has to offer. Purple?”
The purple mare in question slammed Rose against the doorframe. “Alright. So, what’ll it be?”
“I have a vault full of bits. I’ll give it to you if you let me go and let me turn my mother in. Once I inform the Guard, I’ll withdraw it all and you can do whatever it is you want.”
“And… how many bits are we talking about here?”
“Thousands. No. Tens of thousands. The rest of my father’s estate is in non-equity assets, but I can sell those too if you want. Just… let me go. I beg of you.”
“Oh? Scared, are we?”
“Yes. Terrified. I have to be there for my sister, and for that I’ll do anything.”
The mare loosened her grip on Rose. “You… you… that’s quite admirable.”
“Then come with us. Quietly. If you do, I guarantee your sister will be safe.” Arty smiled. “Believe it or not, I too am a father. Wife left me when I got in trouble with the law, but I still love my little boy and I’ll do anything to protect him. Even this.” He gestured with his head towards Vector. “So I can relate.”
Rose refused to glance in the direction of the deceased and focused on Arty’s eyes. “Please. Let me go.”
“Sorry,” Dizzy placed a firm hoof on her shoulder. “But we can't do that. You don’t know your mother or what she’s capable of. Even if Arty here would like to let you go, you think he’ll live much longer? Unlikely. Your mother is sadistic. Evil. Perhaps worse than us, but I kinda like Arty and his… assets, so I’m going to tell you no on his behalf.”
“Like the guy says,” Arty sighed and shrugged, “we just can’t disobey her.”
The mare shrugged as well. “Guess that failed. So, let’s go.”
As Rose exited the room, she stole one more glance at the back of Vector’s head and tears formed in her eyes. She wasn't sure if she was crying out of sadness for the loyal butler, or if the raw fear that weighed down in her gut was overcoming her. She felt like she was going to suffocate. All she could do now was follow the pony in front as he led her towards her destiny.
“At least take comfort in one thing,” Dizzy said when they reached the end of the hall. “You’re keeping your sister safe. Keep that thought in your head and you might not be so scared.”
“W-what are you going to do to me?”
“Me? Hopefully nothing. You got spirit, gal. I like that. I kinda hope I don’t have to put a knife in you.”
At the mention of the word ‘knife’, the image of Vector’s open throat flicked across Rose’s mind. She tried to close it out, tried to shut off her mind, tried to lie to herself convincing herself that he was alright. That he was alive, somehow, living in the room next door. She wanted to believe in it so much, but knew it was impossible. Vector had died trying to do something so simple, yet it made all the difference in the world to her. He just wanted to make her feel safe, and he had been murdered.
It was all she could do not to collapse from the emotional strain. Yesterday she was a filly oblivious to the cruel nature of her mother, and now she was a witness to a murder, being transported to Celestia-knows-where, and being forced to go somewhere? And why was her mother intent on making her go? No, that wasn’t right. Making Lisi go. And what did the colt mean by ‘keeping her safe’?
She listened to his advice and clung to that thought. Clung to the knowledge that what she was about to do was to protect Lisi. Rose would never let anything happen to her. No matter what.
As soon as the Elites saw the Guards in the corridor, they broke off into two detachments. The first took as much of the equipment on their backs as they could, and the rest formed a crude line and raised their shields.
Tourmaline stood at the rear with the other support unicorns. His focus in the Unicorn Academy at Canterlot had been on using his magic to enhance and improve the assault teams’ effectiveness. And now it was time to put his training and practice to work. IT was time to do his job. He knew that his magic was not as strong as his peers, but it took all sorts to be in the Guard and it meant working as a team. They had taught him the basics and left it up to him to come up with other uses for his powers. With an analytical eye, he quickly looked over his surroundings, and understood what he needed doing. He readied himself and prepared a spell.
Two Night Guards charged hard towards the Elites who raised their crossbows and fired. The Night Guards shields were already up, but Tourmaline used his magic to create a convex effect on them, as part of standard procedure. As the quarrels hit the shields, the convex magic barrier helped push away a substantial brunt of the destructive force, dulling the blow almost completely. It was automatic, something that they did out of habit now. This allowed the unicorns advancing to use their magic in other ways. Like controlling a sword like a whip.
It was risky spell and used a lot of power, but in short bursts and with the element of surprise is was incredibly effective. This attack had its advantages. The two Night Guards swung their blades down trying to get them over the Elite’s shields. To most laypony, this would have been an effective and fatal blow. Too bad for them, the Elites were anything but that.
The two blades were blocked easily by two well positioned shields that used their hooves instead of magic to hold up their defense. Immediately they stood up on their hind legs and used another spell to sever the link the Night Guard used to hold the swords. At once they fell uselessly onto the ground. Seconds later, three Elites leapt onto the raised shields, using it as a platform and launching themselves into the air. Their higher vantage gave them clear line of sight on the two Night Guards at the front, and the defensive line just behind them.
The Night Guards, still rushing forwards, slid on their haunches angling their shields to block the inevitable new salvo. In that moment, three Elites stabbed forwards towards the ponies on the ground with their spears.
Using his magic, Tourmaline cast a spell along the ground and instantly a two-foot stone wall pushed up from the ground. The spell exhausted him almost instantly, but it served its purpose. The spear tips slammed into the wall and the Night Guard were able to stop themselves as soon as their hind legs touched.
But the Night Guard were in deep trouble. Already, utilizing the wall’s advantage, two more Elites bounded over the newly created obstacle, one holding an axe and the other a scimitar, and came down on the shields raised just moments after the bolts collided their defenses.
But Misty and a Day Guard used their magic to summon a bolt of raw magic power that pushed the two Elites backwards over the wall and giving the Night Guards a moment to take a breath and back step before readying themselves for another attack.
It was Valor that really changed the stalemate. The Solar Guard’s powers were in a completely different league than the others. His horn exploded in a bright yellow, nearly white, light and he focused it on the Elite line. The beam sawed through the two Elites that had just made to attack the Night Guards before they had a chance to duck behind the shields. They were dead before the hit the ground.
The Elites knew that in a magical bout, they stood no chance against the Solar Guard. Their magic was else entirely. When Valor charged for a second blast, the Elites instantly backed away and, as the line of Guards moved forward to meet the Elites, they fired a volley of quarrels at the top of the tunnel causing a mini cave-in in front of them. The had to escape.
Tourmaline tried to stop the inevitable, but there was just too many stones and too heavy. Only a few small holes were visible when the dust settles down and the Guards could do little more than watch in frustration as the Elites retreated down the corridor and out of sight.
“How long will it take to clear this?” Valor shouted, pacing against the wall like a caged manticore.
“About ten minutes with magic, sir. Half a day with our hooves,” a Day Guard automatically replied.
“Too long! You,” Valor pointed at Tourmaline. “You use earth-based magic. Get this thing out of the way.”
“On it, sir!” Tourmaline gritted his teeth and focused his magic, aligning the right elements to perform the desired spell. It was no good. He didn’t have enough energy in him. “Sorry, sir. I’ll need a few hours to recharge my spell.”
“Unacceptable! Teach it to somepony else!”
Tourmaline looked around, but none of the Guards there had enough experience in earth magic to help out, and it would have taken longer to teach.
“Fine! Alright, you three, focus your energy and melt those stones,” Valor shouted at three Day Guards who were strong with magic, but lacked any specialist abilities. They could only use magic to generate heat, the most common side effect of magic, similar to what the Solar had done.
“Sir, can’t you help?”
“No. Those Elites are unpredictable. I can’t waste my reserves on this. It was lucky that we survived that without a single casualty on our side.”
While Valor was talking and giving orders, the two Night Guards walked over to Tourmaline and nodded.
“Thanks for that. You saved us.”
“We appreciate it,” the other commented.
“You’re welcome,” Tourmaline replied and smiled.
Rose stared out over the landscape beneath her. So many ponies going about their lives without a care. How she wished she could be one of them. Free of the horror she was living. She had not slept in the past four days since they left her mansion home, leaving in secret, getting loaded into a cart and taken aboard this airship. Now they were heading south.
Her room had very basic comforts, but what she despised most of all was that there was always somepony in the room with her. Even if she had wanted to take her own life, she could not risk endangering Lisi through her selfishness. Her three escorts made that abundantly clear. That should anything, anything, happen to her, Lisi would be the one sitting there. The thought of her little sister alone and frightened kept her fear in check.
But every time she closed her eyes, she would see Vector sitting in that chair, blood flowing from his open neck, down the front of his shirt and pooling on his lap before dripping onto the floor. She could always see that when she closed her eyes.
Again she glanced over and saw a few pegasi flying lazily in the distance. They paused and waved at the airship oblivious to her suffering. She wondered if they could see her through the small port window, see that she was suffering. If she opened and shouted for help, would they come? No. She wasn’t stupid. She knew if she called for them, the ponies aboard would probably hurt them. Or kill them. She couldn’t let that happen. Right now, the only thing that she could do was wait. But wait for what?
As if on cue, the door opened and another stallion walked in. He was dressed like a doctor, but the glint in his eyes and the lack of emotion begat the warmth she normally felt from someone serving in the medical profession. He looked at her and nodded.
“So, you must be her. I must admit I was shocked when they said that you were chosen.” He placed a small black bag on a low table and opened it.
“Chosen for what?”
“To be the carrier,” the doctor looking pony replied.
“Carrier for what?” Rose asked.
The pony adjusted the spectacles on his snout and smiled. It was a smile not unlike those she saw her escorts make when she first met them. A cruel, vindictive, evil smile. “A new, remade, very addictive, and actually quite lethal if you don’t take it regularly.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Rose asked, a chill running down her spine.
The doctor’s smiled widened even more. The expression made him look monstrous. She took a step back and swallowed. She knew. She understood. In that moment it all made sense. Was this why they wanted her sister? Because she was easier to control?
“I won’t get into it, but I have already perfected this version. It’s not like my previous samples, like the ones I used to make for the dragon. Oh, don’t worry, I know you don’t know what I’m talking about. No, those were far easier to make but that knowledge vanished along with the pony who gave me the core ingredient before I could completely my work. Luckily, I am a genius. This formula is even better! You know why? Because instead of creating it in a lab, you just inject it into a pony and let their bodies reproduce it for you. But it doesn’t quite work like that either!” The doctor-like pony shouted, his mouth spewing saliva as he started talking in a frenzy the excitement of his malpractice seemed to transform him. “If the blood can be used like this, then why can’t you just use another pony to make the stuff? No, no, no! That’s not good. What guarantee would we have that a pony wouldn’t just inject another pony and another and another and start their own farm? No, that won’t do at all. Not at all. Can’t do that. No, no, no. Need to retain control, that’s what we need. Make sure that we’re the only ones that can make the stuff. I need to keep it controlled! Me! Let’s see those Canterlot fools try to cure this! Call my work an embarrassment to society? Call my work evil? I’ll show them. I’ll show them all! Exile me because of my genius? Well, we’ll see who has the last laugh!”
All the while the stallion talked, Rose backed away until she was pressed firmly up against the wall. She was terrified.
The stallion saw her and immediately calmed down. He removed his glasses and ran a hoof through his hair and took a deep breath. “Well, there are worse things that could happen. Your body will become the factory. Only you. You’ll be the most important pony henceforth. But I need to give you a series of shots for that to happen.”
“Don’t touch me!”
“Oh? Would you rather we take your sister instead? The sister you love so much? You see, we can do this in two ways. One, cooperate fully and don’t argue fight or fuss, and your sister will be fine and dandy. Safe. Two, we force you to take it and then give it to your sister as well. Your choice, really. Be a good girl and obey, or we force you and your sister. Remember, your mother picked her first. Not you.”
“If I cooperate, you will not touch Lisi.”
The stallion grinned. “Oh, you have my word on that. I don’t like wasting ponies lives. That serves no purpose. No, their deaths have to have meaning, otherwise it’s pointless. I’m not a murderer, I’m… just a humble pony searching for answers. That’s why you’ll cooperate. You’ll do as you’re told without making a fuss. That’s why you’ll survive, because you have every incentive to. The last patient hung herself. Can’t have that now, can we? So this this our insurance you won’t do something that stupid. Understand?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good. I had asked your mother to provide me a foal. Foals would be easier to… adapt to the physical and emotional changes that your body will go through, but you’re still quite young so it should work. It better. For your sake and your sister’s. Now sit down on that chair. We’re going to start right,” he opened the bag and took out a long syringe with a bright glowing liquid, “now.”
The stones had melted away, but they were not going through just yet. Tourmaline and the others Guards had their crossbows ready in case there was an ambush set up, but as the group slowly secured themselves on the other side, it was abundantly clear that the Elites had not only beat a very hasty retreat, but they were not as careful at masking which way they went.
“Great. Now we’re back to square one,” a Day Guard muttered. “Who knows how many traps they’ve set up?”
“We still go,” Valor stated. “We still go and we keep that filly safe. That’s what we do.”
“Yes, sir,” the Guard answered, but his voice didn’t sound very convinced.
“It’s not about securing just the filly,” Tourmaline added, “it’s about preventing the Elites from spreading the drug.”
“But I thought you said they’d keep it to themselves,” the Day Guard responded. “Why would they share it outside of their community?”
“Power.”
“Power?”
“Power. They’d want more recruits, more ponies to be drawn into their fold. They’d do anything, anything to secure their dominance. A few dozen Elites against the Guard are nothing. But if they were to grow, if they were to spread, then what? They’d be unstoppable.” Tourmaline looked at each one of them. “They need to be stopped. Right here. Right now. Sir Valor is right. We cannot let them get away.”
“Also, whatever this substance is, it’s changing their bodies rapidly,” Misty said staring at one of the dead Elites. “It’s like… it’s like they’re turning into plants.”
“Plants?” Valor asked. He walked over to see the deceased body and looked closer. Misty pulled at the skin, which came off like the bark on a tree, the flesh beneath it still moist but nowhere near as wet and bloody as it should be.
“The skin is turning into something like a husk, sir,” Misty replied. “I’ve always been interested in plants, and this looks almost exactly like the inside of a tree.”
“The narcotic is doing this?”
“I think so, sir,” Misty took her knife and cut at the flesh, slipping a sizeable chuck of it into a plastic bag and placing it in her saddlebag. “I’m going to take this back and run some more studies on it, sir.”
“Keep me informed as to what you find, but for now we proceed. You,” Valor pointed at Tourmaline, “take point.”
“Yes, sir,” Tourmaline said, and led with his shield in front of him.
Soon they came to a fork, much like the one when they had traversed the opposite way. This time there was little doubt as to the direction the Elites went, but it was strange. One thing Tourmaline always prided himself on was his sense of direction. They were going in the complete opposite way from where they were taking the filly. Or did the tunnels literally swing around in large arc.
“… like a circle…”
“You say something, Tourmaline?” Misty asked. She had taken a position behind him.
“That’s it!”
“What’s going on?” Valor asked. “Why are you stopping?”
“It’s a ring, sir!” Tourmaline shouted, running back towards him. “A large ring.”
“What’s a ring?”
“The tunnels. They are going round,” Tourmaline said drawing in the ground with his hoof. “We’re somewhere along this side, and they took the filly this way. That means that, if I’m right, if we cut through the middle…”
“We head them off. We can rescue the filly before she finds a way out, or at least we can catch up to the Elites. But… how do you know this is right?”
“It makes sense. The Elites must have known and were using this to their advantage. That’s why they were able to set those traps so quickly. They are using our ignorance of the tunnels systems. It’s all to do with the nexus, sir. Those tunnels leading away from the nexus must have some special significance.”
“That would explain the cargo net fiasco,” Valor muttered to himself. “That Celestia-banned stallion knew. He was exploring. He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Tourmaline knew exactly what he was referring to. “Sir, what now?”
“We go back and find a corridor that leads into the nexus. Then we enter the tunnels leading away from the opposite end. Even if we’ve missed the filly, we’ll at least narrow down their exits. Two teams here. Team one will continue this pursuit. Team two will follow me.”
“Yes, sir!” The all shouted.
“Good thinking, Tourmaline,” Valor said, nodding. “You’re proven yourself quite an asset to this mission. When I make my report, I will mention you specifically.”
“T-thank you, sir.”
“Don’t mention it. Now, let’s go save that filly!”
“And how are you today?”
Rose looked up. Her body felt so strange, like it was getting heavier and heavier despite her obvious weight decreasing. She looked at the bag hanging from a metal stand next to her bed. It was halfway empty meaning she’d been asleep for around eight hours this time. She was starting to sleep longer and longer, her body had to be on a drip now. She looked at the doctor and closed her eyes and sighed.
“Already?” She asked.
“Already?” The stallion laughed incredulously. “It’s been about two days now, darling.”
“H-how much more?”
“Not much. Your body has adapted adequately. I see that.” He leaned in and shined a light in her eyes. “But it could be better. It’s not that I’m impressed with your body’s ability to change, but it is as I have feared.”
“Feared?” Rose asked, her eyes focusing hard on the stallion.
“Yes. Feared. You’re much too old, your body already set. You do not have the necessary growth potential to adapt to this. Which is, sadly, where we have to bring this to a close. I’m afraid that you are just not… cooperating.”
“I am!” Rose said weakly, tears forming in her eyes. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt her…”
“Yes. Yes, I did. Oh well. That doesn’t matter. We’ll find another filly. I’m sure your mother’s resources are vast enough to accommodate this little change. I guess she selected you, or rather your sister, so you wouldn’t be missed… after all, who questions the intentions of a good parent, right?” The stallion chuckled slightly. “Well, I don’t think you’ll survive after this. If you do, then I can finally say that this is all over. Then I can get my grant and go back to my real research. I’m stepping up the dose.”
He took out the syringe, the bright green goo glowing in the body of the instrument.
“This won’t hurt. Oh wait! It will. Sorry, I sometimes get ahead of myself. Well, if you’re still alive tomorrow, then it’ll be all done.” He pushed the plunger down and watched as the goop entered Rose’s body.
She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream. She kept her mouth closed and her eyes shut as tight as she could and bore the agony. Luckily, it passed quickly.
The stallion looked at her with those cold eyes. “I’ll be seeing you later.”
And with that, he got and, packed his bag, and left.
Despite the pain quickly receding, she felt so stiff and soon she felt numb. Like her body refused to move, and even blinking became a struggle. It was like she were being frozen from the inside, but it wasn’t a cold feeling. It just felt stiff. Like wood. Like a tree. No, something more lifeless.
Like stone.
“What is all this?” Valor asked as he picked up the body of an Elite with his magic and dropped it. “This is no mercenary kill. This is clean.”
“A Guard did this. Look at the strike point,” Misty said pointing to the entry wound directly into the heart. “These Elites died before they hit the ground.”
“Semper,” Tourmaline whispered as he stared at the bodies all around. “Sir, I think Semper must have passed through here.”
“I think you’re right. But what was he doing all the way over here?”
“Sir, I think we must hurry. Something feels… off. I don’t know what it is, just that I’ve been having this really big urge to… do something. It’s hard to explain. I am unsure how to describe it.”
“What are you talking about?” Valor asked slightly annoyed at how vague Tourmaline was being.
“It’s just, ever since we were attacked something has been off. I feel it. At first I thought it was the explosion that messed up my head, that’s what made me feel that something was off. But I think I am missing a crucial detail. Something obvious. When I first realized something was wrong, I thought about going back to the room thing. That’s when we found the Elites taking the equipment. Now this.” Tourmaline sat down on a small rock. “We Guard pride ourselves in our ability to outsmart our enemies by attacking or countering our enemy with proper responses. But Semper and the Elites are not like that. They don’t plan ahead. They’re creatures of reaction.”
“I don’t get you.”
“What I mean is that: this mission was about preventing the spread of this narcotic. That’s the bottom line. Even if the Elites wanted to spread the narcotic themselves, they first need to establish a base of operations. So, in their mind they did the same thing we’re trying to do now.”
They all stood in silence.
“Rescue the filly?” Misty asked.
“Exactly!” Tourmaline stated. “And if you were to rescue the filly, what would you do?”
“Take her safe place.”
“And somewhere close by until the coast was clear,” Tourmaline answered trying to think out what the Elites would do. “That means… they would never go down the first or second tunnels. The Elites were just watching us, from the center, watching our every move. That would explain these dead.”
“What are you getting at?” Valor grabbed Tourmaline by his peytral. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that we’ve been overthinking it. The Elites didn’t know this place was round. They didn’t care about the equipment. All they wanted was to draw us away from the filly for as long as possible. That means that…”
“They would’ve gone up into the mansion!” Misty shouted.
“There are Guards out there. They’d never make it past the front door.”
“They wouldn’t need to. They could just go to the other end of this property by going through the mansion. It’s big enough to move a substantial amount of ponies without ever having to leave. I’ve been watching this place for days and I’ve always seen ponies coming in, never going out. Plus, they wouldn’t wait. They’d make for the woods in the back, break through the gates and make a getaway. No, no. They’d go towards the docks!” Tourmaline’s eyes widened. “They’re going to the docks! They’re going to put her on an airship!”
“That’s a little farfetched. How can you be sure?” Valor asked.
“I’m positive. And I know for a fact that Semper would’ve done the same thing, sir. I would have come to that thought, I think.”
At the mention of Semper’s name, the Solar’s eyes darkened. “I see…”
“What should we do, sir?”
“If what you say is true, then we have to make a tough decision. We’ve already split our forces three times, minus our casualties. We either go for the others who are making their way around the tunnels, or we wait and try to roundup everypony before returning to the surface. If we send a messenger party, we don’t know how many Elites are left around. If they could get caught they could get torn to pieces.”
“It’s your call, sir,” a Day Guard said. “I’ll go alone if you order me too.”
“No. I think we head outside ourselves. Some of the Elites were ex-Guards, they’d know how to use patterns to trick us. From now on, we trust only our own instincts. Once it’s all over we can come back for the others,” Valor looked up and sighed. “We can’t do anything for them now. Let’s move!”
“Yes, sir!” They all shouted and charged towards the room where the filly had been once again.
Rose opened her eyes slowly. She felt strange. That her entire being was slowly being taken away and something else was slowly seeping in. It was slow, like a tap barely opened, yet the steady stream was enough to feel. It scared her and didn’t. It was a strange sensation. She did not want this thing to happen, but she also felt comforted by it.
“How is my favorite subject?” The stallion asked.
When had he got there? She didn’t remember. She found it hard to concentrate on anything lately. Whatever he injected had made her head spin so vividly that she felt she would fly off the world and get flung away deep into the night sky. Could she fly then? Go far away from here. No. No matter what, she had to stay. She had to keep going. For Lisi. It wasn’t time for her to go just yet.
“Fine,” she croaked.
“Amazing. You survived. I was worried about you for a moment,” the stallion took her pulse and smiled. “Perfect. Shame about your body. It just proves that a younger subject is all we need.”
Rose’s eyes widened. “You said you wouldn’t.”
“Did I? Well, I lied. What can you do? It’s in the name of progress. Don’t worry. My research would save thousands of lives, make the pony world a better place. You’ll be a part of that. So what if I have to sacrifice a few foals along the way. All essential sacrifices for my success.” He looked at her. “It’s a shame too. You’re just over the threshold. I’ve told your mother and she has agreed.”
Again, fear welled up in her gut. “Mother has agreed to what?”
“For me to start on your little sis—”
From somewhere deep inside her, she felt her anger surpass her fear. She looked at the stallion and lunged at him, a move nearly impossible from her lying down position, but she had pushed herself with her magic. Desperation, anger, fear, and raw primal instinct made her move. Made her to what she had to do. She did not think twice about her safety, only that she had to stop this colt from getting anywhere near Lisi.
“Get your filthy hooves off of—”
Rose slumped down to the ground, the energy she had a moment ago vanishing in an instant. She felt her entire being slump downwards towards the floor. But she had to do something. Anything.
A vision of a pony’s throat sliced open flittered through her mind.
Rose felt her body as it smashed into a glass table, the shards splaying all over the place. Everything seemed to be slowed down. She saw the glass flying over her, watched it piece spin chaotically in the air. Then she felt something pierce her chest and looked down to see the end of a large transparent triangle in her chest. No. She can’t die. She must not die. She had to live.
“You clumsy oaf! What are you trying to do? Kill yourself? I warned you about what would happen if… oh yeah, guess that threat won’t work on you anymore. Well, I still need you to live so you’re not going to die on me.”
The stallion quickly grabbed his bag and knelt next to Rose on the floor. She felt him doing something to her chest, but all she could do was whimper and stare at the ceiling. The image of the throat sliced open. The blood slowly flowing from the slit. Those lifeless eyes staring up. Her friend dead right in front of her.
“Vector…” she whispered, “give me strength.”
Her body gave a fairly unnoticeable shake and Rose realized that the stallion had removed the shard and placed it next to him. She unconsciously touched it with her hoof. It felt good there. Secure. She felt safe. She looked up and saw the stallion place something on her wound, then mutter something under his breath. He looked at the filly and leaned in closer.
“I should let you die. You got my suit dirty with your filthy blood.” He grimaced as he placed more pressure on her. “You know what else I asked your mother for?”
Rose felt his hot sick breath on her muzzle.
“You. Your body, actually. I don’t really need your mind. It’s quite simple, actually. You’ll be my living, breathing doll, and I’ll get to do whatever I want with—”
Before she fully realized it, she turned her head and looked at the shard of glass in her hoof. Blood dripped from the tip. Fresh blood. Not her blood. It was too fresh. She looked at it again, then felt something drip onto her. Something red streaming out of the doctor as his eyes opened wide in shock.
In her mind she tried to understand what had happened, but she couldn’t piece together everything. All she knew was she wanted to push the stallion away, to get his disgusting face out of hers. That’s right. She wanted to push him away. She did not expect to drag the glass shard across his throat.
He gurgled, grabbed something out of his bag, and started to put pressure on his neck. He tried to shout, stumbling around, his eyes wide with fear and panic. Rose watched from her place on the ground. She looked at his eyes as they floundered for understanding, to get an answer. Deep in her mind, Rose knew that this must have been her expression. This must have been the visible abject terror she felt when she was first brought to the airship.
The stallion reached for Rose. “Help. Help,” came his gasping cries.
This time it was her who smiled. And, by the look on the stallion’s face, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of poetic justice as he slumped down to the floor.