//------------------------------// // Act I, Scene I // Story: The Angel in Red // by Inkquill //------------------------------// THE ANGEL IN RED By Inkquill PROLOGUE I would like to begin with that I do not expect anyone to believe the story I am about to relate. It seems incredible even to me still as I write this, the weird and fantastic tale that unfolded before me from the yellowed, faded pages of the original manuscript. Nearly a year has gone by since I first came across it while delving into the histories of this nation Equestria during the later years of the nineteenth century, when through my explorations of history I came across a curious old leather-bound booklet of modest size and thickness tucked away in a secluded corner of the Royal University library. The University had many hundreds of original manuscripts similar to this one in particular; all having been cataloged and shelved, with very few having been studied in detail. At first glance it appeared to be just another dusty old diary of a stallion long dead, accumulated with a few scattered dry official records from the Ministry of Supernatural and Arcane Affairs. It is from these tattered accounts and the original manuscript that I have painstakingly sewed together this fantastical and Gothic tale of romance and woe. In preparation for the press, I have divided the narrative into chapters to which I have affixed fictitious names of my own devising as to help in relating the manuscript in a more comprehensible manner. At the very least if you do not find the contents of this story at all credible—and frankly I would not blame your skepticism—then at the most you could wistfully hope that what is written here is true as I have. From the tattered records of the old office of the Ministry and the mildewed manuscript recovered from the dusty confines of the University Library, we learn of a scholarly Unicorn stallion by the name of Sir Dusk Shine. A graduate of their Majesties esteemed Royal University, majoring in the fields of science and the paranormal, he was a stallion of logical, academics and rational thought, and yet it is from his diary that I derive this tale. At his side, having been pointed by the higher officials was a young dragoness named Barbara, who had been hatched and raised in the University alongside Sir Dusk, which made her appointment as his personal assistant seemingly natural. However, also appointed to his side was a young Pegasus stallion whom we shall refer to as Butterscotch. A soft spoken and kind-hearted stallion, if not in all honesty horribly shy, Butterscotch was gentle stallion with an enduring affinity for animals and a voice that would send mares a flutter and inspire great jealousy in the hearts of other stallions. It is he who shall take center stage in this tale. A tale of romance, tragedy, dark powers, and a love that spans beyond the short lives we ponies are forever trapped in; a tale of how the young Pegasus Butterscotch came to know… ...The Angel in Red. Act I, Scene I Canterlot, 1897― The streets of Canterlot were a bustle of activity as ponies returned home from their day jobs. Many filling the sidewalks while others rode in carriages, filling the air with the clamor of hooves and turning wheels on the cobblestone-paved roads. However as the city went through its bustling, evening-time bedlam, in a lofty apartment studio overlooking the city’s main plaza, two stallions were still hard at work. “That’s it, just a little more to the left!” Dusk Shine instructed enthusiastically. “Just set it down if it’s getting to heavy.” With a heaving grunt, the two stallions set down the final piece of furniture in the laboratory. They had spent most of the afternoon hauling in suitcase after suitcase of equipment, personal belongings, and other assorted trinkets, only then to spend the rest of their time helping the violet colored stallion arrange the furniture; which they would have sworn had been infused with bars of lead. “Perfect!” Dusk exclaimed. Having graduated the Royal University with flying colors, he had saved up his bits in order to rent out a large studio sweet in the city’s central plaza where he could properly establish his own laboratory from which to pursue his studies in fields of the arcane and paranormal. “I hope so.” Said a rough, feminine voice. Dusk turned to see his faithful draconic companion and assistant Barbara walk into the room carrying a large satchel in her claws. “Because it looks like the poor stallions over there are about to collapse.” Awkwardly, Dusk looked back at the exhausted stallions, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Oh! Yeah… sorry about that gentlecolts.” He said apologetically. “It’s getting late anyway. Best call it a night.” With a sigh of relief, the two stallions respectfully nodded and took their leave. With a bright smile, the excited Dusk levitated the satchel out of Barbara’s claws and removed the contents. Inside were several books and scrolls on various spells and works of Swirly Stars the Maned, which had served as his principle teachings during his early years studying magic. “Oh! And Dusk, here this arrived this morning but I forgot to give it to you.” Barbara said handing Dusk a neatly folded newspaper. Untying the paper with his magic, Dusk turned to the first page, causing a bright smile to spread across his lips. The title header read out in fine bold print: “INTREPID YOUNG WIZARD ON THE RISE” Below the title was a picture of himself standing in front of the building where he had set up shop with the following article dedicated to him and opening of his own laboratory. Beside him to his left stood Barbara wearing a rather uncomfortable dress that clearly made it difficult for her to smile as she faced the camera, and on his right stood his other trustworthy assistant Butterscotch. The adopted son of a family friend, Dusk had known him for several years now and had placed a request to have him work with him after he had filled out the legalities of setting up his laboratory. He knew Butterscotch as a kind and helpful stallion, though he did have trouble in crowds. In the picture he could see the nervousness in his eyes as he forced a smile for the shot. It was then that it dawned on him. “Hey Barbara?” Upon hearing her name, Barbara looked up from the sack of papers she had been sorting through. “Yeah?” “Where is Butterscotch?” Down on the ground floor, the cream-colored Pegasus stallion quietly swept up the dust that had been tracked in while the others had brought in Dusk Shine’s equipment. The room was relatively dim as the sun was beginning to sun. He would need to light a few candles very soon to make sure ponies could see. Besides for the sound of his broom tracing across the wooden floor, the room was deathly quiet, which he honestly enjoyed. With all the hustle and bustle that had gone on through the day, he was glad there was a moment for calm now. As he continued to sweet he heard something stir to the right of him, causing his ear to twitch. Lifting up the broom he inquisitively investigated the noise, nudging several boxes aside to find its source. “Oh! Well hello there. What are you doing in here?” Butterscotch asked in his characteristically gentle, coddling voice. Staring back at him from the dusty floor was a small white and grey potted mouse that muttered a few petit squeaks while twitching its nose from side to side. The rodent looked afraid at first but sensing the cream colored Pegasus posed him no threat, he let his guard down and approached Butterscotch with a tiny smile. Reaching out with his hoof, Butterscotch let the little mouse hop on before he lifted it up again. “Oh come here.” He said tenderly, “Are you lost? Do you live here?” The mouse replied with a few chitters and squeaks. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I was just cleaning up a little. Where do you live?” Again the rodent replied with a few squeaks before pointing towards the overhanging bookshelf just to the right of them. Looking at it for a moment, Butterscotch nodded and flapped his wings softly, lifting himself up to the bookshelf. “Here we go.” He said noticing a small knot-hole tucked away behind a few books. The mouse thanked him, giving him a quick nuzzle on the cheek before hopping off onto the shelf and scurrying out of sight into the knot-hole. Butterscotch smiled knowing the good he had done for the little mouse. However, his delight was interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. Fluttering down to the floor he set the broom against the wall and trotted over to the door, promptly opening it. Outside stood a grey-coated Pegasus stallion with blonde and tail dressed in a postcolt’s uniform and a satchel tucked under his wings. However the most peculiar feature of this stallion was his eyes, as they both seemed to wander in different direction. “Evening good sir,” the postcolt said in a gruff but cheerful voice. “Dopey Hooves at your service sir. I have a letter for a one Sir Dusk Shine?” Butterscotch for a moment felt his lips and tongue go dry as the stallion addressed him. It wasn’t something he was too terribly proud of, but he had always had a real trouble when interacting with other ponies. He had been trying to get better at it, but his shyness always managed to crop up when he least expected it. “Um… uh, yes,” He managed in a quiet tone. “He’s here. I’ll give it to him.” Seemingly oblivious to the cream stallion’s awkward shyness and body language, the cheerful postcolt reached into his satchel and pulled out a decent sized maroon envelope with a red wax seal stamped on the front. Butterscotch quietly accepted it and thanked the stallion for his service. “Righty oh! You have a good night sir.” Dopey exclaimed before fluttering his wings and flying upwards, accidentally knocking into the sign hanging above the door. Shaking it off, he waved farewell before zipping off into the air and out of sight down Maine Street. Butterscotch watched him until he was out of sight and closed the door behind him. Looking over the envelope he noticed the seal had both a sun and moon pressed into the hardened wax, the Royal Seal none the less. “I better get this to Dusk.” He said, quickly fluttering up the stairs towards the third floor. Meanwhile in the laboratory, Dusk and Barbara were busy sorting through and unpackaging the seemingly endless amount of suitcases and boxes that the two mover-stallions had brought in. “48, 49, 50.” Barbara counted to herself. “Dusk do you really need this many ink wells?” “I like to be well stocked.” Dusk Shine replied. “What if I run out of ink and it’s the last line of an important letter or spell but I can’t finish it because I ran out of ink and had to run all the way to the market to get more?” Barbara rolled her eyes as she tucked away the last ink well into the cabinet, “Oh dear oh my, how horrible that would be.” She said in a sarcastic deadpan tone. “Ah uh uh, none of that sass.” Dusk replied shaking his hoof. “Yes Mom!” Barbara chuckled. “Honestly Dusk, if you didn’t want this sass than you should have asked for another totally awesome and cute dragoness to be your assistant.” Dusk sighed and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Oh Barbara, don’t be silly. I wouldn’t do that for all the ink wells in the world.” With a smile on her face, Barbara once again rolled her green eyes, “Well gee, don’t I feel special.” Dusk pouted and stuck out his tongue in a most colt-like fashion. Barbara gave him a smirk and stuck out her tongue as well, knowing this was all just friendly banter. “Love you too Dusky.” She mused. It was then that they heard the door open with a slight squeak. Looking towards the entrance way they saw their fellow colleague Butterscotch step in. “Oh there you are Butterscotch,” Dusk said warmly. “Were you downstairs?” Butterscotch nodded and smiled back at him, “Yes. I was cleaning up a little bit when I heard a knock at the door. This just arrived for you.” He said reaching out his hoof and presenting the maroon envelope. Upon seeing its vivid color and the royal seal printed on it, Dusk Shine erupted into a giddy, almost school-colt-like level of excitement. “Oh good Solaris! It’s here! It’s finally here!” He exclaimed taking it from Butterscotch and breaking the hard wax. Inquisitively, Butterscotch leaned in to try and see what all the excitement was about. “What is it Dusk?” Reaching into the envelope, Dusk pulled out a sheet of fine quality folded paper and flipped it open to reveal it’s content. “It’s our invitation!” Dusk replied. “To the International Science and Sorcery Exhibition in Geneighva, Sweetland!” “Oh my goodness, that does sound exciting!” Butterscotch commented. “Oh yeah! It’s one of the most renowned conventions in Equestria.” Barbara added. “Showcasing all the latest achievements in the sciences and the arcane! All the most important and prolific scientists and sorcerers of our time will be there!” Upon hearing that, Butterscotch couldn’t help but feel a slight worried tingle press against his stomach. So many important and famous ponies all collected together? He didn’t want to feel this way but confound his shyness the idea made him feel very uncomfortable. Dusk and Barbara noticed the worried expression that washed over their friend’s face, and Dusk Shine laced his hoof around his neck. “Don’t worry about it Butterscotch.” Dusk reassured. “We’re all going to be there together.” “Yeah Butters!” Barbara added. “Every step of the way. It will be fun.” Hearing his friend’s words of reassurance managed to comfort him, giving him a fair amount of confidence. “Thanks guys.” He replied thankfully. “Just as long as he stick together.” “You got it buddy.” Dusk replied, giving his friend a hug which Barbara sooned join in with. “Besides, you helped us get to this point. Without your family’s donations we probably wouldn’t have been able to secure this prime location and all this equipment.” Butterscotch blushed a little bit at the praise he was being given. “Well papa always was a generous contributor to the sciences. He always said that you couldn’t put a price on the pursuit of knowledge, and Blue Belle and I just felt it would be good to honor that.” “That reminds me, how is Blue Belle doing?” Barbara asked pulling away from the hug. “Oh she’s been alright. She’s been travelling abroad as of late.” Butterscotch said with and shrug. “I got a letter from her a few weeks ago saying she was going to host a charity ball in Trottingham and that she may not be home for a few more months…” Dusk nodded seeing the glum expression wash over Butterscotch’s face. “You miss her huh?” Butterscotch nodded and let out a sigh. “Yeah. Ever since papa passed away, she and I have always been so close. But she has to live up to the family name. I just do what I can here.” Dusk patted his back, “Well I’m sure she’s missing you just as much. But for now I think we should all call it a night. It’s getting kind of late and we’ve all been working really hard today. Let’s just all go home and get a good night’s rest?” “I’m up for that!” Barbara exclaimed happily. Butterscotch nodded his head with a smile, even though his ears were still tucked back against his head. He couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness, despite his friend’s kind words, but decided that it would probably be best if they just tried for the night. “Yeah. Let’s all get some sleep. We have to get ready for the Exhibition. When did it say it was?” “A week from Friday.” Dusk replied. “I think it would be best if we leave by Thursday so we can get a head start on things. Should give us plenty of time to get packed and ready to head out.” “Sounds like a plan.” Butterscotch agreed. And with that the three friends went on their ways back to their respected households, giving each other a pleasant goodnight as they parted. Butterscotch gasped as he suddenly awoke. His breath heavy and uneven he darted his eyes back and forth in confusion. All around him he saw a vast forest cloaked in thick, choking mist that blanketed the ground and obscured his hooves from view. Above him a bright august moon hug looming, scowling down its auburn light upon the dark forest floor, casting faint and creeping shadows on the landscape. “Hello?” Butterscotch called out. “Is anypony there?” The only answer he received was the faint whisper of the wind as it blew through the gnarled green branches of the thick woodland around him. He heard a screech echo through the mist, causing him to jump in fright. Then came the sound of fluttering wings which tickled at his twitching ears before finally the wood fell silent. “Hello?” He called out again nervously. His breath growing more rapid and uneven by the minute, he scanned the dark tree line for signs of any movement. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he swore he saw something move. Squinting his eyes, he peered into the stygian blackness to try and see what could be, if it was still there at all. From the inky blackness he saw nothing stir at first, but finally, after a few minutes staring into the tree line Butterscotch saw something. From between two great trees he saw something move, followed by two glowing yellow eyes. They stared back at him maliciously, filling his heart with dread. Then came another pair, then another, and another, and another, until over twelve different pairs of glowing yellow eyes stared back at him from the darkness. “Oh my…” He whimpered as he heard a growl rise up from them. The eyes came forward, stepping into the light of the moon, revealing a massive timberwolf; its jaws dripping with saliva. Then came another, snarling and baring its teeth at the little Pegasus. Butterscotch's heart was pounding at a million miles an hour as the pack confronted him. Overwhelmed with fear, he obeyed the only impulse his body would allow him to. He ran. Galloping frantically through the mist and trees, Butterscotch could hear the wolves behind him. He could hear them barking and howling as they pursued their prey, and he could practically feel their rancid breath brushing against his flanks. Suddenly, his ears perked up with his eyes following suit. In the distance in front of him he could see something moving just above the mist. It looked like a whispering cloud of shadow shaped like a pony and he could hear it calling to him. “Butterscotch...” It called in a strange, hypnotic voice. “Butterscotch... Come...” With his options very limited at the moment, he ran towards the shadowy figure, hopping over roots and fallen trunks of trees in mad dash to save himself from the hungry jaws of the pursuing beasts. However to his horror, he found himself soon coming upon a steep stone cliff and the shadowy figure nowhere to be seen. He heard a snarl come from behind him and he turned around to face the hungry pack that was closing in around him. He pressed his back against the cliffside as he watched the beasts encircle him, snarling and baring their fangs. “Help! Somepony!” He cried. “Anypony!” It was then that he heard the voice again, this time coming from above him. “Butterscotch…” Looking upwards he could see the shadowy figure from before reaching down with a whispering hoof. “Butterscotch…” In desperation, he reached up to try and take the figure’s hoof, though no matter how hard he tried he was just could not reach. It was then that he looked back and to his horror saw one of the massive predators lunge at him, the last thing he saw being the gaping jaw clamp around his neck. “AHHH~!” Butterscotch screamed as he sat up violently in his bed. He was panting frantically, his body covered in a cold sweat that had soaked his sheets. His tongue was dry and his lips quivered as he collected himself in the dim light of his bedroom. “It… it was just a dream…” He said quietly to himself trying to even out his breath. Hopping out of bed, he changed his sheets, touching the soaked ones in the hamper and dressing his mattress in fresh, clean ones. Laying his head down on his pillow he laid there quietly for a moment, staring out the large balcony windows of his room at the bright orange moon outside. “It was just a dream…” he said to himself before settling back down to let sleep claim him. Meanwhile, miles away to the far east of Canterlot, over rivers and valleys, through woods and wastelands, to the high peaks of the Capricornian Mountains, to the land known as Tramplevania, dark things began to stir. Nestled in the lofty spires of stone, in the Tramplevanian province of Orlokia, there stood a large, looming castle. It’s walls and battlements baring the scars of time and bygone wars, it towered ominously over the rugged valley below. In it’s heyday, the castle would have been a sight to behold. A towering monolith of Gothic spires and lofty palisades, but only now a grumbling shadow of its former glory; its walls blackened by the slow march of time and overgrown with moss. However, even despite the remoteness of it, the efficacy of the Equestrian postal service knew no bounds, as a lone mailmare approached the the long stone bridge that spanned the gap over the valley. Nervously she approached the castle, practically shaking like a school filly. In her hoof she held a few letters and a newspaper designated for this address. The air was deathly quiet as she approached, and the sky was overcast with thick dark clouds that bathed the landscape in darkness. However her fear soon got the best of her as she suddenly felt a gust of wind brush against her back. She squeaked and dropped the mail where she stood before she turned around and gallivanted away, leaving the scene once again vacant. As the mailmare disappeared down the road, the doors to the castle slowly opened. A dark figure stepped out and proceeded down the stone causeway to where the mail had been dropped. Not even walking, almost gliding over the bridge, the figure scooped up the assortment of envelopes before coming to the newspaper. Flipping it over she untied the string that bound it and looked over the front page. On the front was a large header, “INTREPID YOUNG WIZARD ON THE RISE”, with a picture of a violet colored Unicorn Stallion and two others. However, what stood out most to the darkly shrouded pony was the little Pegasus that stood to the right of the Unicorn. Her breath becoming soft and profound, the figure eyes the stallion with disbelief and amazement. “At long last my love,” came a smooth, feminine voice. “You have returned to this world...”