E.S.S 8
Assassination and the Castle of the Two Sisters
After another hour or so of searching, Alloy and Sugar find Muffins at one of the houses she was delivering mail at.
“Hey guys!” Muffins instantly notices them and rushes up to them, “BonBon's been trying to get a hold of you two!”
“We have been trying to the same, that's why we came here, where is she?” Alloy asks.
“Oh, I dunno anymore, last time I saw her, she was at the hospital looking for clues or something.” She says.
“I meet Notts this morning, he gave me a mission” Alloy tells her.
“What?? Are you changing sides now?!” Muffins takes a hold of Alloy and shakes him, it causes Sugar to laugh.
“No no! It's just to see what he's up to I swear!” Alloy struggles.
“Oh okay.” She lets go and smiles. Alloy dusts his vest.
“Yes, that why it's important, this means Notts more than likely doesn't know what we have going on with our E.S.S. That's good news, the bad is that his mission for me was to get rid of A...I'm having a hard time in thinking of what to do.” Alloy explains.
“That's a tough one! Hmm, maybe you can tell him you got rid of A, or frame his death!” Muffins suggest.
“I'd need to arrange something with A, anyways this would cause Notts to gain his trust in me, getting me deeper into his organization.”
BonBon goes up to them, having over heard part of their conversation, “Interesting, what have you found out about him?” She ask. Sugar is startled by her sudden appearance.
“He's planning on taking out the royals one step at a time.” Alloy says. Muffins and Sugar gasp a little.
“Notts….doing this...” BonBon is just as surprised as everyone, “We need to take him out.”
“I think so” Alloy says worriedly.
“This deal with A you need to take care of, do it quickly so we can have more insight on Nott's plans.” Sweetie says, “And you can't be with Notts alone all the time, you need a partner to join you from a distance to watch over you. I'd suggest Jackson but...he's not here.”
“I could arrange it with Jackson, I spoke to him the other day, he'd joining us at the office when it's up.”
“Really now? Looks like you've got your bases covered.” Sweetie says.
“He's not it for the field work, but I told him he might have to do some, so this is it.” Alloy adds.
“Perfect, you get in contact with A to prepare this framed death.”
“Oh we're going with the fake death? Alright I can arrange it.” Alloy agrees.
“I saw A today at his house when I delivered mail, he wasn't disguised to well” Muffins chuckles.
“At least he's still in town” Alloy laughs a little.
“Okay guys I gotta go!” Muffins says and heads off. They all wave to her and she waves back, nearly tripping on a random pony.
“One more thing, Sugar.” Alloy turns to her.
“Yes Alloy?”
“I'm going to have you stay with BonBon here in Ponyville okay?” Alloy also turns to Sweetie to see if she agrees. BonBon nods her head.
“I can do that” BonBon says.
“B-but why..?” Sugar saddens.
“I want you closer to the office so you can take care of it, but most importantly I want you to be safe. As I start dealing with Notts, if something were ever to happen, I want you to be safe.” He reiterates.
“And my things..?” She tries to distract.
“I'll have them sent to you, don't worry” Alloy says.
“Okay...um..thanks” Sugar's voice shakes a bit.
“Don't worry, your safe with BonBon. Now, I need to get going, see you both later” He leaves, feeling he should have said more. BonBon goes to her.
“Alloy's right you know, it's hazardous having others close to you when you can have them in possible danger.” BonBon says. Sugar doesn't respond and looks down, “What the matter Sugar?” she asks.
“It's..it's nothing” Sugar says softly.
“It's is something I know that look, you like him don't you?” She says to her, well knowing it was true.
“Is it that obvious…?” Sugar looks at her.
“Saw it from a mile away” BonBon smiles a little, “Come on, it's starting to get cold” They get up and leave.
They arrive at BonBon's house, and they sit on the couch. Lyra is not home.
“This is a nice place, do you live with someone?” Sugar asks.
“Just my friend Lyra, don't worry she's a nice pony.” BonBon chuckles.
“Oh, okay...do you think Alloy will be alright?”
“He's good, I've told you this before, but if I can assure you some more, I'll say this. His partner Jackson is one of our best, he's a good fighter, they'll have each others backs.”
“Thanks, at least I know he's safer now.” She says, feeling a little more relieved.
“We're going to have to do some research together since we're here in town.” BonBon says.
“What kind of research?”
“Just some spying, it's simple. There's a coat for you in the closest, its getting pretty snowy out” BonBon opens the closet. Sugar puts on a coat similar to her fur color, “You're still worried aren't you?”
“Yes...”
“This little mission should help get him off your mind for a bit, come on” BonBon opens the door, they walk out.
“Where are we going first?”
“I haven't gotten much on Fluttershy, she lives in an isolated area so it's been a little more difficult to surviel her.” BonBon says as they walk. There are a little bit ponies on the street as they walk, a cold wind picks up.
“It is getting really cold! Is it always like this around here?” Sugar asks.
“It's usually sunny” BonBon smiles, “It's all regulated around here, so I expect it to be gone soon. Winter is coming to Ponyville in a few days.”
“That's right, it's controlled by the pegasi here isn't it?”
“Yes, it's rather funny because any day you could come into town and it's raining, then snowing, and then sunny the next day”
“I'm going to need to get used to this,” Sugar chuckles. After sometime they approach the Everfree.
“She...lives in there?” Sugar sits at the entrance of the grand forest.
“Around here, not to deep inside the forest, that'd be too dangerous.”
“Why don't they clear out this forest??”
“My guess is that it's kept for lumber, rare ingredients and it has a castle inside.”
“Woah...a castle in there..?”
“There sure is, The Castle of the Two Sisters, as it's called.”
“Celestia and Luna's old castle...who built it?”
“I don't really know, heck I don't think anyone but the Sisters know.”
“We should build a base there for E.S.S” Sugar suggest.
“I've thought about that myself, but it's been renovated a little by the Main Six, I don't know if they have plans to do something with it, it's been a while since they've been there” BonBon heads into the forest, “Want to take a detour and see the castle?”
“Yes! If it's not too much trouble.”
“It'll be a little more dangerous due to a possible snow test in this area from the pegasi, but as long as we're careful we should be good.” BonBon smiles. They take steps into the forest, venturing onwards.
Alloy came to A's house and entered, A was sitting on the couch lazily watching television while eating corn chips. He looks at Alloy.
“Shoot, forgot to lock the door.” A chuckles, and chokes a bit on a chip.
“I have news for you. I meet with Notts.”
“You did? Well spill the beans I want to know” A sits upright.
“He wants me to kill you and-”
“You're here to kill me! Hey man I ain't do anything to you!” A interrupts as he springs out of his chair.
“Shut up and listen.” Alloy says in a stale tone, “I'm not here to kill you, we can fake your death”
“Oh..” He sighs in relief and sit back down, turning off the TV, “How are we pulling it off?”
“I'm going to shoot you with blanks, we'll put fake blood on you, and set you floating down the river. I hope you know how to swim.” Alloy says.
“Sounds easy, is this going to be on a bridge?”
“Yes, the one near the entrance of Ponyville, I need an audience to be watching so it catches some headlines in order for it to be noticed by Notts.”
“Wow, you thought of this all on your own just coming here didn't you?” A snickers.
“It's a pretty basic plan, so yes. I even thought of my escape plan and disguise.” Alloy yawns a little.
“When are we doing this?”
“In less than an hour, I still need to buy a disguise so that's what I'm going to do, you get the fake blood. It better look real and not be just ketchup.” Alloy heads to the door, “Be at the main entrance bridge in less than an hour.”
“I will, I need to do some packing as well” A says.
“Do what you need to do, just don't be late.” Alloy leaves.
Sweetie and Sugar enter the grand palace, the grand doors weigh but are still opened by the magic of the two of them.
“It looks pretty ruined to me.” Sugar comments.
“I like the look, I can see that the Six tried to clean the floors. Look, see the old flags are held up by new nails.” Sweetie points up.
“They look beautiful, how old is this place?”
“Over 1000 years old, can't say exactly.”
“And it's all still up??”
“Impressive isn't it?” They walk in deeper, “I think it's some sort of old magic that's been keeping this place from fully being crumbled to the ground.” Sweetie says.
“It's rather dark in here..are there any candles?”
“Let me get some on” Sweetie cast a fire spell. All the near by torches turn on at once showing the grand throne room in full light. They both sit in awe.
“Does anyone live here?” Sugar asks.
“As far as I know, no, but you never know some creature probably lurk around here.” Sweetie says in a way that frightens Sugar.
“Do..they have a dungeon here too..?” She shakes.
“They sure did, chances are it's filled with forgotten prisoners when the castle was abandoned.” Sweetie goes on into a hall, Sugar quickly follows close to her.
“Oh...that's..nice, where are we going..?”
“Hmm, maybe to the dungeons” Sweetie laughs a little.
“You aren't serious are you??” Sugar's eyes widen.
“Nah, it's too dangerous. This place is likely filled with old traps. Stick close by me” Sweetie smiles.
“Hehe I wasn't going to go wander off” Sugar chuckles, “So where we headed?”
“The elements of harmony used to be housed in one of the towers here, I want to see if there's anything left here that will aid in my research”
“Ohh this is like a treasure hunt. I like it” Sugar smiles. They go up flights of stairs, through grand halls, and come to the top of the same tower Nightmare Moon had been defeated.
“This is a historic place, a very ancient legend was created here.” Sweetie sits there amazed.
“Tit's the spot Celestia took out Nightmare moon isn't it? There are holes on the ceiling” Sugar observes.
“Yes. It's a shame the Everfree is blocking this place from being a museum or an excavation site. Or maybe it's done on purpose to keep anyone from finding out certain...things” Sweetie wonders.
“You thing the Princesses are hiding something here?” Sugar asks.
“I think it's a possibility, remember I mentioned the dungeons? Imagine all those dead that were there when it was abandoned, it must have been horrible.” BonBon says. Sugar feels horrified at what BonBon said, and doesn't respond. BonBon picks around in the place where the elements had been held by six small circular platforms. She spawns her notebook and starts to take note of the little things. Meanwhile Sugar begins to wander around the same room, seeing different paintings and statues of random long forgotten ponies. She touches one of the guard statues and is suddenly dropped into a hole. She yells out for help, luckily BonBon had seen just as the trap door closed and went up to it.
“Sugar??” She shouts. Nothing is heard, so she begins looking around the statue and pokes at it, until she too is dropped into the hole.
It was already passed an hour, Alloy was nearing the bridge, he had on a dark coat and had painted his fur and tail into a dark blue so he wasn't easily recognized. As planned A was on the bridge casually picking at his teeth with a pick. At that time, the town was having a sort of celebration near there to celebrate the coming of winter, and that bridge was being used frequently by both visitors and townsfolk alike. In a few moments Alloy executed his plan and shot three blanks towards A's direction causing anyone near there to instantly look that was in horror as A fell into too water, supposedly dead. Alloy then ran away as fast as possible, making sure he was seen enough to cause the ponies there to shout at him and begin chasing him. In a flash he teleported inside a random home and washed off his paint and burned his coat with a fire spell. He then teleported someways down the river in search for A.
“There ya are, took you long enough!” A calls from a bush. He is shivering, cold and wet.
“It's a bit cold.” Alloy says, also feeling the elements of nature upon himself, “I think it worked.”
“Ya think? They were all freaked out!” A laughs aloud.
“Heh, yep. Let's get out of here before they come searching the river for your body.” Alloy and A walk away.
“Where do we go from here?”
“I didn't think this far into my plan, right now I suggest we just get out of the town.” They walk at a steady pace. Far off sounds of police and panic are heard.
“What happens if I'm caught man?? I need to change my face or something! I need a new id, a home, and my bank accounts!!”
“I thought you took care of all that” Alloy says.
“I kinda did...like I switched the ownership of my accounts to your account.”
“What??”
“I 'donated' all my money to you. You'll see it mark up on your account”
“Oh. Alright, I'll give it to you when I get a chance.” Alloy says. Shortly after their talk they reach the edge of the Everfree, “Be careful and stay close” He says. A nods nervously.
BonBon falls atop of Sugar, nearly knocking her out of breath, “..sorry” She says.
“It's okay...where are we..?” Sugar dusts herself off.
“Judging by the dim lighting, high dust content, cracked walls, and damp air...I think, the dungeons” BonBon says in a cautious manner so she doesn't cause Sugar to freak out.
“...why would that trap door thing lead down here…??” Sugar takes a deep breath.
“Probably in case they had any 'inconveniences' up there.” BonBon says.
“How do we get out..?”
“Um, well, there has to be someway, there's always a way” BonBon smiles a bit.
“It's really dark, I can hardly see you”
“Then it's best we still close by” BonBon chuckles a bit and starts to go at a random direction.
“Hey wait for me!” Sugar runs up to catch up to her. Around them is a labyrinth of paths to go with, there seems to be worn out patterns on the stone walls which have some sort of directions on each one. Some areas are completely somber while other spots are lighted by some sunlight that some how made it from the surface.
“This place isn't to underground if we can see some light.” BonBon observes.
“What if it's some old magic, or a system of mirrors that shine the light?”
“It could be-”
“Gahhh!” Sugar squeals.
“Sugar what is it??!”
“It's a corpse!” Sugar says with horror.
“It's okay, just look away, come on let's keep going on this path.” BonBon pulls her along with her magic.
“Can't...can't we just teleport out of here..?” Sugar asks. She resumes her walk.
“It's risky, we could end up teleporting into a trap” BonBon responds.
“Oh..” They continue on until they reach a large cross section that opens into a large room filled with cages, ancient weapons, and the bones of the dead everywhere. Sugar begins to panic and closes her eyes, “I can't look!”
“I'll guide you, hold onto my tail.” BonBon says gently. Sugar takes hold of her tail with her magic. BonBon looks at the signs, there are arrows pointing to the top of the beginning of a flight of stairs. She goes that way, avoiding as many bodies as possible. As she looks upstairs she stops causing Sugar to bump into her.
“Why's we stop..? Is it safe to look?”
“No...it's just” She looks up the stairs at the chamber door, “We need to go up some stairs, but...it's filled with the dead trying to get out..”
“..let's just get it over with..” Sugar cringes.
“I agree...just, um be careful with your steps.” BonBon takes a step up. BonBon moves aside many bodies, they are positioned in a horrid way that indicates that they had suffered greatly trying to get out of the dungeons. BonBon holds back her vomit as she pulls them off the bars of the grand rusted chamber door. She teleports them both on the other side, but as they appear on the other side, they are flung across the rocky hall.
A is still shivering with coldness, “Where are we going?” he asks Alloy.
“I wanted to go to a different town, but the officials are probably checking ever transport route. We'll have to cut through the forest and walk to Cantorlot, it's the shortest route.”
“Yeah, and the most dangerous!” A complains. Alloy sighs and ignores him but A continues, “Do you now what lurks here?? We could easily be killed here! Even by a plant! Nobody would ever see us again!”
“Well, at least that'd work out for one of us” Alloy comments sarcastically.
“Hey! Just because I 'died' doesn’t mean I need to die for real” A says.
“You're moving to a town still here in the country right?”
“Yes, why?”
“It could be a liability if you're not careful.”
“I know that!” A shouts.
“Not from what I've noticed, you were way to easy for me to track. In fact one of our agents noticed you earlier today.” Alloy scorns.
“I'll be more careful” A says.
“I don't think you fully understand. If you are careless, like you have shown to be, it could be a danger to me and my colleges. And if it turn out you're found out, I'll have to clean up after you, and if that happens I may just need to take care of you for real this time.” He says with great seriousness.
“...oh..okay, I'll go off the grid. I swear” A says.
“Glad I could get that across to you. Now, you still have weapons right?”
“I might..I mean yes I do!”He says quickly.
“Where?”
“I have them stashed with some buds of mine.”
“And now they think you're dead. Try getting in contact with them once we reach the capital.” Alloy suggest.
“Ya still need em hu?” A smirks.
“I do. If you can get them, I'll pay you.”
“Good!” A says. They continue to walk until they reach the castle, “What's this place?”
“It's a castle that belonged to the two sisters.”
“The Princesses. Might be some valuables in there. I'm going in!” A says without further consideration, and dashes towards the structure. Alloy shouts after him but to no avail and decides to run after him.
“BonBon! Are you okay!?” Sugar gets up from the miniature blast, heading over to BonBon who is on the floor 15 ft ahead of her. BonBon doesn't respond. Sugar lifts her up with her magic and carries her on her back as well as she can. The new place they had entered was a long inclined hall leading upward. It made 90 degree turns to another inclined hall that lead higher and higher towards the ground level. There was even less light here, Sugar had to cast a light spell in order to see a few feet in front of her.
After a brief 10 minutes she reaches the top, the chamber door is opened. Beside the entrance doors, two hollowed armor frames stand with olden-ed spears. Sugar places BonBon down and starts to take the helmet off one of the guards looking into it and attempting to put it on. Through some forceful actions she eventually snaps it on, her hair made it fit tightly. She sneezed a few times causing dust to come out through the helmet's vents as well as awakening BonBon.
“Where are we..?” She rubs her head.
“I don't know, but I think it's closer to an exit” Sugar says from within the helmet.
“Armor? Can you even take that off?” BonBon chuckles.
“Oh shoot, I dunno” Sugar pulls on the helmet a bit, “I think we're going to need oil, or a saw!”
“Haha, we'll worry about it later.” BonBon laughs, “You might as well put on the whole suit”
“You know there's two armor suits! You can put one on two!” Sugar begins to get into the whole armor.
“I'd usually say no, but there's no one here left to say otherwise” BonBon chuckles and also starts to enter an armor shell. Sugar smiles
“Yay! Come on I think we're close to getting out!” Sugar trots onwards, “This is heavy”
“I think these are male models” BonBon comments, “I wonder how much they're worth.”
“I've never seen anything like them, they're all black too” Sugar says, “Do you think these were special designs?”
“Might have been, after all, they were stationed near the dungeons.”
“Do you think they were...abandoned?”
“Could have been, we've seen no dead guards at all...” BonBon begins to wonder.
“What's wrong..? There's something not right isn't there??” Sugar asks, feeling nervous.
“It's nothing, just an old mare's tale.” BonBon smiles, the helmet vents are of so her face is shown.
“Tell me” Sugar says, interested.
“Well, I suppose it's the appropriate situation for it” She says, “Okay but don't get spooked okay?”
“I'll try heh”
“Ahem, let me think” BonBon starts, “Ah yes, so it all started over a thousand years ago just before Luna was banished, it is said that the castle itself was the front grounds for the fight between the two sisters. The guards were divided in which to fight for, but most followed Celestia's commands. While the sisters fought on, so did the guards, one against the other. It was said to be violent as they used any weapons they could. The thing with these guards is that they were far more trained than ours so they fought on for a while. Once Luna had been banished by the elements the guards were still at it, so Celestia had to fight more. She, filled mourning of losing her sister, began to destroy any enemy guards without mercy, apparently she baked them into their armors, so all that was left was there ashes in them.”
“So this...dust I sneezed...was one of them??” Sugar interrupts.
“I, well I don't know for sure,” BonBon coughs a bit, “Anyways. Since the castle was wrecked, Celestia gave the order to take the food, load up the treasury, and leave the place. The ponies in the dungeons weren't a concern at that moment so they were left behind, as you saw down below. There were magic seals, some still here, left behind so there would be no escape or entrance. Most of it has worn out luckily, that explains why we were thrown across the room. I think it was meant to keep us in, but threw us out instead.” BonBon sighs.
“That's disturbing, I've never heard of that before.”
“I found out a little bit from old stories and some from old E.S.S documents. I placed them together to see how much they matched up, it seems to be a fact.”
“I'm glad we're getting out of here for sure!” Sugar says, her voice echos.
“I was hoping to make a few lab test with some of the bodies so I could add onto the story, but I think it may be to dangerous for us two alone.”
“Do you think there's anyone, you know besides Celestia and Luna that has a collection of memories from the past?”
“There's Discord, but he's unstable. There are dragons, but they're almost always hostile, most of the young baby ones are friendly, but they don't know about the past. Of course, there are legends of old wizards that have survived all this time, but none that I've been able to track”
“So there are some??”
“Wizards, yes. Old wizards, well it's hard to tell, some are imposters.”
“I want to meet one, I think Starlight was at a wizard level of magic.”
“I've heard she was strong from Alloy, you've been with her the longest, what do you know about her?”
“Not anymore than you know. She was manipulative.”
“In what was? Did she cast a spell to do that?”
“I don't think so, she's just naturally that way I suppose” They reach a window, Sugar looks out, “It's getting dark out”
“I'd hate to stay the night here, but it may be our only option with all the snow and creatures out there.”
“Aw….I was hoping you wouldn't say that...” Sugar groans.
“There must be some beds still left here.” BonBon says.
“But there isn't any food is there..?” Sugar asks. BonBon shakes her head.
A runs into the open castle doors and looks around chuckling, “These curtains alone are worth a small fortune!” He starts to wonder around slowly so that Alloy catches up to him.
“What are you doing?” Alloy asks taking a few heavy breaths.
“Trying to make a living my friend!”
“Did you have to run off like that?”
“No, but hey it's starting to get dark out there. And look the lights are on in here.”
“Suppose it is, what exactly are you looking for?”
“Anything and everything I can carry!” A smirks.
“Fine, but don't expect me to carry anything for you.” Alloy follows A as he goes room by room taking clothes and jewels. Eventually Alloy decides to rest in one of the rooms, telling A to notify him once he was done scavenging.
A began to roam deeper into the grand palace until he stopped in place, hearing metal clanks approaching him. He quickly hides by a statue of a stallion in armor and peers to see who it is. To his shock, he watches two knights walk past him, he drops what he is not wearing and runs to Alloy.
“Hey you wake up!!” A shakes Alloy.
“Hmm..?” Alloy asks lazily, opening his eyes.
“The things in armor! They're alive! They're going to kill us!” A panics shaking him more. Alloy stops him.
“What are you going on about??”
“I saw two knights trotting in the hall!”
“Perhaps all this scavenging is getting to your head A. You're seeing things.”
“What? No! I did! Come with me, I'll show you!” A declares. Alloy hesitates, but goes along with the lunatic.
“Come on hurry!” A says. Alloy picks up his pace until A stops, “Look” he whispers and points at the two black knights passing by one of the corridors, “Told ya”
“I wonder what the two of them are doing here.” Alloy says.
“What?? Aren't you afraid they might kill us or take our souls or something??” A looks at him.
“Nah. They're friendly” Alloy smiles.
“And you say I'm the crazy one! I'm getting out of here-” A watches as Alloy follows the knights, “Hey! No! Dammit...” He follow Alloy. Alloy stocks slowly from behind and throws a rock at one of the knights, quickly hiding. He stop A and hushes him with his magic.
“BonBon! Something hit me!” Sugar freaks out.
“Calm down, it was probably some debris” BonBon chuckles. Alloy holds his laugh. A is confused.
“Why'd you do that for? They're going to spot us!” A whispers to him.
“If they do, it'll be a surprise to them, trust me” Alloy continues. A shakes a bit but keeps following him. After a few minutes the knights stop at a room and go in, closing the door behind them.
“Okay, they're gone let's go!” A begs.
“I'm going to knock, then run” Alloy smiles.
“What? Why??” A asks.
“You'll see, just run when they open to see who it is.” Alloy say.
“Already on it!” A backs up. Alloy rapidly knocks and teleports to a safe distance to see. One of the knights (BonBon) opens the door and looks around. Sugar peers out as well, though more shyly, as she is afraid. They then close the door with a click indicating the lock. Alloy laughs out loud, quickly stopping himself.
Inside the room Sugar is panic, “BonBon do you hear that?? There was laughter out there!”
“I hear it...” BonBon begins to feel some fear.
“Who is it??”
“I...I don't know, maybe the wind howling..?”
“But the knocks!...what was that??”
“...some magic..? Or..nothing. Let's...just try to get some rest” BonBon takes off her helmet placing it in a wardrobe.
“Try...yeah..” Sugar trembles, “It's cold”
“Tomorrow we'll get out of here don't worry” BonBon says, putting her fear aside. She turns on a candle and leaves it on throughout the whole night for both light and source of heat.
End of Chapter 8.