Not everyone is happy with their destiny. Just because something is predetermined does not mean it is perfect.
I've read over a bit of this, and realized that it's bad, it's ok but I'm gonna move onto other works that use what I've learned since I began this work. <---> It's not like unusual travellers have never passed through Ponyville, Diamond Dogs, Griffon, and even Princesses are not unusual sights. Usually there is some trouble, and the resident Princess and her friends muddle through and manage to make new friends.
So while it's not strange to see a new mare passing through town, when she manages to avoid a Pinkie party the Cutie Mark Crusaders decide to figure her out.
But will their curiosity cause trouble when it reminds somepony of memory's best left forgotten?
First story on Fimfiction, I know it's not perfect and would like advice if anyone can give it. Changed name from Broken Hearts and Hidden Secrets, because the name doesn't work anymore.
Applejack rolls her eyes "Pinkie, I'm telling yah, someone has been working my orchards, every morning for a week we've come out to find half the work done with the buckets all full. Are you sure you don't know anybody who could be messing with the apple family? I mean it's not the first time it's happened, but I wish I knew who was messing with me."
"Nope, I don't, so their aren't any, maybe you apples just picked themselves. Or some animal, maybe some chipmunks are moving! I bet Fluttershy would know." Pinkie says as she bounces around sugarcube corner like a giant pink rubber ball. Applejack sighs, and turns to leave, "Just need to figure out what to do with the rest of my day then." she murmers to herself.
Moments after she leaves something stops Pinkie dead, a little hoof pressing her as the little Sweetie Belle pokes pinkie. The little filly whines "Why are you making me bake, I already know my cutie mark isn't in baking and you didn't even make my friends come."
"I throwing Twilight a surprise party (Don't tell anyone it's a secret) and I wanted to make a big special cake for her. I was going to get rarity to do the magic I need (It's a doozy cake with levetating bits that I need spells for) but she said that she was going to be up making a dress for Princess Luna (Though my cakes more important it was quite pretty, and totally gonna get her brownie points in canterlot) When the Brownie points are cooked we can eat them and invite Rainbow for the dash... Silly Filly you can't eat brownie points, I just need your magic to do the levitation spells on the cake." says the bouncing pink mare, giving a list to the little filly of things she would need to enchant.
Sweetie Belle sighs and gives up, the fourth explanation from pinkie being just as disjointed as the first two, so she get's to work, from what she can tell Pinkies carefully sculpted the cake into a host of little floating islands, and she needs to put a different levitation spell on each to make them float at different heights, if it hadn't been for Twilights endless lessons she would never have a hope of doing it.
She's just in the middle of the fourth little cake rock, an elegantly carved statue of her sister standing fabulously atop it, when the little bell above the door rings, signaling a new arrival. Bored with the incredibly intricate work she peeks past the cake to see who is visiting the bakery now. It;s a little hard because the new arrival comes in cloaked, it takes a moment before she manages to peek under the hood, noting from the tiny path of fur visible that the newcomer is a grey mare. The mare walks to the counter and waits, Sweetie notices that the mare fidgets and moves obviously burdened by the heavy cloak, an odd choice for the warm summer day outside.
Pinkie is at the counter in a flash, despite Sweetie actively looking at the area, the does not witness the crazy pink mare moving through the intervening space. Predictably the first words out of her mouth are "I haven's seen you before, I'm gonna throw you a welcome to Ponyville party!"
The mare seems to almost ignore her stating simply "I'd like a cake please, chocolate, with cherry filling, iced with the words 'Happy Birthday to me.' how soon can you have it ready, I have to leave pretty much within the hour." Her reactions surprised the little filly, most of the time the pony's that Pinkie intercepted were either screaming at this point, or accepting the inevitability... and this one just attempted to delay it, she puts down the little cake rock and watches the two adults..
As it turns out Pinkie seems taken aback not sure how to react to this as she exclaims "What about your party!" "Next time" the grey mare answers "I have to get back, today was only an hour long excursion to this town anyways. I'll be back for longer another day." and while that seems to placate Pinkie, Sweetie Belle can tell that the mare has no intention of ever returning from the way she glances over her shoulder, almost eager to leave. As pinkie goes to work rushing to make the cake Sweetie finished up her current step and then takes a break walking closer to the mare to take a closer looks at her and maybe talk to her.
The mares mind seems to be elsewhere, she completely misses the little filly approaching her, from here Sweetie can see a little under the cloak and see barely can make up the pretty mare's horn. Peeking she notes that the mare even appear to be wearing stuff beneath the cloak, as if it alone isn't hot enough. With a sigh the filly attracts the mare attention to her as she says "Hi I'm Sweetie Belle, So who are you? and if your new to Ponyville why are you leaving already, do you not like it here?" she makes sure to put in a little sob and a whine, just as Rarity showed her, hopefully enough to squeeze something interesting out of the stranger.
The mare looks at her in surprise, as if she is not sure what to do about a whining little filly, she starts to automatically say her name, but curts out after she's already bleated out the first part "Serene V..., I only came to get a birthday cake, I heard that Sugercube Corner made the best, and I thought I would treat myself, but despite how nice this town is I must continue on my journey, not because I don't like it here." The little filly takes a good look at the mare, noting the odd earthy smell that radiates from her, pausing for a moment she trys to find a way to distract the mare and get her to stay a little longer "Surely you could stay tonight, the last train left an hour ago, and you can't get to the next town before nightfall." She makes sure to put extra care and cuteness in her voice, accentuating the 'can't' enough to melt hearts.
The mare tilts her head a little looking at her as if a little confused, but after a moment laughs just a little nervously brushing off the filly's attempts "I do not fear the night, as it is I am running late, so will have to brave it as I have on so many other occasions." With no movement Pinkie is before them, a nicely packaged cake presented to Serene. Without a word the unicorn hands over several dirty bits, that smell as earthy as she does. Sweetie Belle turns back to say goodbye, but she is already gone, the bell ringing her absence. Sweetie sees her just out the window and memorizes the direction the mare travels as she heads out of town, cake in hoof.
The bounce of the voice brings the over curious young one back as Pinkie bounces back to the counter "Well, that cake used up all the stuff I had already cooked for Twilight... Be a sweetie dear, and lend me some magic so we can get back on track" Turning back to help Pinkie Sweetie Belle groans.
A few hours later she climbs into the Cutie Mark Crusaders tree-house, still dusting flour from her body. She can't help but note Apple Bloom and Scootaloo look like they have been bored for hours waiting for her, and they probably had, their fault though they had duck out of helping her help Pinkie. Still, that made spinning her maniacal plan easier as she says "I found a pony who was avoiding having to deal with Pinkies party's, so why don't we track her down and find out why." Both girls look at her blankly, and she remembers the most important part "Then we can find out if our cutie marks are in tracking, or if they are in joy bringing like Pinkies." Predictably they shoot out of the treehouse, leaving Sweetie spinning, and a moment later they are back as Scootaloo asks "Where did you meet her." She giggles at the silly ponys and leads them back to Sugurcube corner.
It is getting late they note as they gather near the bakery, but that's soon forgotten when Scootaloo points out a broken fern, and a few hoof-prints hinting that the Mare had come this way. Slowly they creep along, finding clue after clue. The light is just about gone when they hear eerie singing in the distance. Hauntingly singing "Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me..." and sounding more than a little sad.
"We found her!" yelps Apple Bloom, excitedly looking at her flank, the others follow suit, but after a few moments of blank flesh they sigh "Well I guess we should go home she probably don't want to see us." However as they are turning to head home they pause, hearing the pretty voice singing alone in the forest, on what appears to be her happiest day. At almost the exact same time the three of them say "Maybe we will go home after." as they trot towards the voice.
As they enter the small clearing they see a small campfire, a tarp covered wagon, and a tent. The grey mare, her hood now down to fully reveal her purple hair, and green eyes, singly alone in front of the fire, eating probably her fourth piece of the cake, already making a minor dent in the party sized cake. She hasn't noticed them, not even once the three of them plop their hindquarters down on the bench, each taking a slice of cake.
They sit in silence for a moment, until Apple Bloom speaks up "Hiya Serene, mind if we have a piece of your cake." right before she takes her second bite, startling the grey mare and causing the poor girl to jump out of her trance. "Wait, what, but... where are your parents?" she says, looking around nervously. "We're big girls, we can look after ourselves, everyone in town already knows we are trying to figure out our cutie marks." Sweetie Belle answers as she eats "So if your camping just outside of Ponyville, why can't you come to a party."
Serene looks almost taken aback, like she's never been caught in a lie before and isn't quite sure what to do. "I, I just don't like talking to people. You kids should go home, it's dark and dangerous out here, your Cutie marks aren't worth anything." Apple Bloom's cake falls from her hoof as the three filly's look at the mare like she had just slapped them. They glance at one another and mutually decide not to say anything about it. After the pause, watching the mare squirm wondering what she said Scootaloo speaks up, "Fluttershy doesn't either, but she enjoys Pinkies Parties, come back to town and we will show you a good time."
Serene presses her forehead with her hoof, "This is why I hate children, go away, I don't need to suffer another Marehunt." Her face is no longer friendly as she gestures back towards Ponyville, expecting them to go, and the filly's suspect just a little hopefully.
Apple Blooms picks up her cake and finishes the piece, shooting a look at Sweetie Belle who steps up to distract the mare "We aren't gonna go anywhere. you lied to Pinkie, she would be so upset if she found out. We need to know why." She glances over at Apple Bloom who hitches herself up to the wagon, Scootaloo is already gone into the night, the faint sound of buzzing already fading. The mare snorts in annoyance "Your a bunch of useless kids, I don't have to explain myself to you, go home and cry to your mothers." She glares darkly at Sweetie Belle, and takes another slice of cake.
Feeling just a little insulted by that remark. Sweetie Belle nods to Apple Bloom, "That's no way to be friendly, I'll see you in town." Sweetie says, and seeing the look of confusion on Serene's face she gestures to the rapidly disappearing wagon, Apple Blooms excess strength sending her away in a moment. Sweetie follows but a moment behind, gleeful as she hears the cries of frustration behind her. A tiny tang of guild hit hers as she things about how much those cry's sound almost fearful.
As predicted Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle easily keep in front of the mare, their smaller size making it easier to dodge through the forest, even with the wagon. Apple Bloom is sweating a lot as they burst out of the forest and back into ponyville as she says "My what da heck does she have in this, it's heavier than one of our wagons."
They slide into the main square, slowing down to pass all the pony's with slightly confused looks on their faces, Scootaloo waves from where Pinkie is finishing the party diligently stirring a humongous bowl of punch and they quickly trot over there, depositing the wagon next to the punch. "I though you would need a little longer." Sweetie Belle says, Scootaloo shrugs "I did to, but Pinkies was already preparing it, not sure why." They all look at Pinkie, and drop the line of questioning. Instead they take a looks to see if the guest of honor has arrived, and while they do see Twilight and the rest of Pinkies friends the grey mare is nowhere to be found.
They see her then, looking out of breath and just creeping behind one of the houses, avoiding the party as she makes her way towards her wagons. Sweetie grins mischievously "Oh deal, I don't think she knows anybody at this party."
The three filly's look to the side, Pinkie is no longer stirring punch.
She very carefully edges her way around the buildings, noting that their is a huge party, and somehow the banners hanging everywhere even have her full name on them. 'Serene Valley' while she had mentioned her first name to the filly while in town, she appears extra skittish at the addition of the latter. She finally finds her wagon, and from her hiding spot in the shadows of the building she notes how many pony's are milling around it an shudders, pulling her cloak tightly around her she works on a plan for getting out of here without being notices by anypony.
It wasn't a teleport spell that's for sure, even the great Celestia would have triggered one of the 4 wards she keep up against that, but somehow the baker is standing in front of her, instantly shattering any plans she had to be unnoticed. "Surprise!" the pink one yells into her hear, and despite her unnatural calm she jumps in fright. "My tail told me a doozy was gonna happen when you visited me earlier, so I KNEW I'd be throwing you a party!"
"Bugger that, I was dragged against my will by a bunch of foals. I'm going to get my wagon, and leave this town getting out of your mane forever." Pinkies mane seems to deflate and she looks depressed, her eyes watering. Serene stares at her for a moment "Eh, Cake was good but nope, go cry on someone else." She turns her back on the pink one and carefully creeps out of sight.
Pinky slumps and following the creepy mares orders turns and goes off to find one of her friends, the first one that she finds is Twilight and Applejack who are currently badly dancing along with several other pony's. They break it off in a heatbeat and walk over, Twilight wrapping her wing around her pink friend. "Are you ok?" she asks Pinkie looks at her and with her mopey eyes, just a few tears leaking from them and says "The guest doesn't like her parties." Applejack snorts and leave the two of them, determined to find the pony who make Pinkie cry.
Apple find the cloaked mare behind Rarity's boutique, peering over an old crate watching her wagon, barely paying attention to anything else. She entirely misses as Applejack trots up behind her and snorts in anger. Completely oblivious even for a second as Applejack starts telling her off. "Why the Hay were you so rude to Pinkie, she's gone to all this trouble to throw you a party and you go and make her sad." Her voice was not even a little quiet, bringing a few eyes towards them.
As the mare turns around Apple takes a step back, the dark expression sending shivers down her spine. "Then you should all leave me alone, and you will never see me again, now but off." and a moment later she turns her attention back to her wagon. Applejacks eye twitches and she grabs the cloaked mare, and starts marching towards the dance floor, dragging the unicorn behind her, her incredible earth pony strength unbeatable "Your going to enjoy this party, and like it."
Finding herself in the middle of a dance floor with a angry Apple farmer on one side of her, and wall of dancing pony's on the other side she waves from side to side, dancing, not well, but still trying. Applejack smiles when she sees this "That wasn't so bad, but you need to get a handle on that attitude, it's like you don't know what's acceptable." Serene smiles not entirely sincerely, but enough. "I'm sorry I upset your friend, but I'm on a tight scheduled... well I was on one until those Crusaders and your friend destroyed them, and I don't have time for this, so if you will excuse me." she attempts to get past the larger earth pony, but Applejack stands firm.
"That's not good enough, I've met better behaved bats, you need to apologize to Pinkie, and stay for the duration of the party, it is in your honor after all. I'll get the crusaders to apologize to you for their antics." She smiles softly "They do mess up the best laid plans." Serene's dark expression passes over her face again, replace by that smile, that is just a little creepy, and the Apple family member can swear she can taste fear hiding behind that. "Ok, but I'm leaving once this party is done, don't try and stop me."
"There they are now" says Applejack looking over and gesturing as the still sad looking Pinkie approaches with Twilight by her side, Pinkies mane re-inflating as she sees the guest dancing alongside Applejack, but when she turns back to look at Serene she sees that dark expression covering the unicorns face, her gaze looking away from the two.
Just as Applejack is about to speak to the obviously troubled pony someone screams, and all eyes turn to a Lyra and Bonbon, who are backing away from the wagon in fear after having peeked inside it. Closer pony obscure whatever is happening there from sight, but waves of panic start washing over the revelers. Applejack hears some disgusting words behind her, but when she turns to look back at Serene the grey mare has bolted into the crowd.
It appears pony's are stumbling over each other in the panic and as Apple joins up with her friends they start running against the crowd, trying to find out what is causing the panic. The last few pony's move out of their way, and the three girls stare as they see the problem. The wagon is overturned and out of it scrambles a pony, one of six that stand around wearing what appears to be rusty armor. These pony's however lack flesh, their grinning skull horribly on display on top of empty bones.
One of them appears to be standing on Lyra, and another approaches her, looking more than a little menacing as it closes. The three heroic mares look at one another and a smile crosses their faces, a few skeletons not a match for the elements of harmony, even if several were absent. Before they can charge however, the skeletons freeze, and step off Lyra, letting her escape as they move back to the wagon and turn it back, appearing to take up an escort configuration, two pulling, and four, armed with various weapons standing beside, taking no hostile movements towards any-pony. The three look questioningly at one another, then charge.
The Crusaders watch as the three elements enter combat with the skeletons, grimacing as a flesh-less hoof slams into Applejacks face with amazing accuracy, and as another of the skeletons rams it's head into Twilight's wing sending her bouncing across the ground. It appears to be going badly, the skeleons moving with a practiced ease. Scootaloo taps both and points to the side where they see the grey mare Serene apparently dancing, not paying attention to the nearby fight.
As they approach her however to ask for help they notice something off with her movements, as one of the skeletons knees the breath out of Pinkie the mare mimes it, as a hoof collides with Twilights horn second before she can get a spell off, the Serene stretched out in a fake punch that she did just moments before the skeleton. As they notice the glowing purple strings stretching out from the mares body towards the skeletons Apple Bloom yells "Charge!"
The fight suddenly becomes easier, as if the skeletons slow, now fighting defensively, barely matching the Elements, but the bruises and battered mares have also had enough pulling back, their movements compromised by their injury's. Running in between Pinkie and Applejack runs the party's guest of honor, and they are about to tell her to stop when a battered Scootaloo finally falls to their feet, her hoofs wrapped around the mares cloak. The skeletons ignore her as she jumps on-top of the wagons and screams out in some unknown language "Tolle, Tolle, Tolle!" the skeletons breaking into a gallop, pulling the wagon behind them the mare riding it, her figure covered in much newer armour. As they fade into the darkness, the mare appears to extend a pair of wings, the look on Twilight's face priceless.
"Away, away, away." Twilight translates helping Scootaloo to her feet, the other bruised Crusaders following up behind her. "I think this require a letter to Celestia."
After Twilight has finished listening to the cutie mark crusaders she heals her wounds and walks over to Spike to take a letter.
Dear Celestia
This isn't a letter about friendship, we were a little frightened tonight when a horde of skeletons. We've avoided them, and have gathered most of the town in the main hall while waiting for the crisis to be over.
Normally we wouldn't be worried, but while I've read about the undead rising and attacking before. These seemed to have a purpose and a master, several filly's told us that they were being controlled by a unicorn, using a form of magic I've never read about before. They manage to fight off the half of the elements of harmony while she controlled them, so we are more than a little worried.
I'm hoping you've heard something that I've yet to read in a book, the unicorn was called Serene Valley, and I swear as she fled I saw wings, so I'm not sure if their is an Alicorn you just haven't mentioned running around.
Princess Twilight, your faithful student.
The paper dissipates, and moments later a reply appears in a puff of green smoke.
Do nothing, say nothing, do not leave the building until I have arrived, I will be six hours.
Celestia.
Is all the letter says Twilight's eyes open wide, not sure what to do with a response like this, already sure that this was the worst response she could have gotten.
It gets worse a second later when Applejack says "Where did Apple Bloom get to."
"Stupid adults, never listening when we tell them that we are fine." says Apple Bloom as they trot out of ponyville."We can take care of ourselves." her friend nods in agreement, "She didn't eat us or anything while we were alone with her, but why do you think she is still there." asks Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle speaks up, for the first time in an hour "She has to pack up, she had boxes and crates and a tent, gonna take a while, and she doesn't think anybody will have followed her."
It's not long before they find themselves at the campsite, sure enough as they peek out of the bushes they can see the skeletons shambling around in the dark, the fire having been extinguished for obvious reasons. Barely they can make out Serene sitting atop the wagon, sobbing even as she direct the skeletons to pack up. Slowly the creep out, ready to run, but the skeletons appear to ignore them. But as they get closer she screams at them "Foals, haven't you done enough to me!" Every skeleton freezes in place, their skulls staring at the foals barely visible in the moonlight.
The three look guilty and Sweetie Belle apologizes "We're sorry, we didn't mean to upset you, we just thought we could get our cutie marks making you happy." Serene snorts "Well I'm going to be on the run for probably a year, this is the worst birthday I have had. Cutie marks, always ruining my life in one way or another, give up on them, blank flanks are better, at least they won't ever cause you trouble."
"No, Cutie marks are the most important thing, they show you your special talent." says another shadow, landing in front of the children, "Run home, I'll take care of this." Twilight says igniting her horn, moments later her other friends land beside her, or trot out of the forest, until the Crusaders are surrounded by all six of the elements.
A hiss, and Serene dark purple glow creeps out, her eyes barely visible in, her body less so. "No they should stay, they should see this, this is what happens foal when you go searching for your Cutie marks." and with a spell the light illuminates her, lighting up her body, her armor sits in a pile beside her. Standing proudly, for once her cutie mark is visible, a grinning skull, cheerful, and somehow not intimidating, beneath it a scythe, the silver gleaming from the magical light. That is not the worst surprise, The elements and the crusaders grimace as they see the wings that had been hidden under clothes, not pegasus, nor alicorn wing, not even bat wings. No from her body stretches two skeletal bone wings, decaying flesh still clinging to them. Worse they extend from her body from a pair of decaying mounds, proving their unnatural origin, Fluttershy almost seems ready to run to the grey mare to try and help her, but her fear keeps her back.
"Don't let anyone fool you foals, I once spent years searching out my cutie mark, delving deeply into the library's of Canterlot. I was young and brash, not unlike you. So when I stumbled across the darker volumes of that library I was thrilled, sure enough I 'found'" she spits the word "My cutie mark, apparently my talent is death magic, or necromancy." every word manages to sound vile when it comes from her, she screams the next part "JUDGEMENT IS FOREVER PASSED ON THE NECROMANCER! LEAVE ME ALONE!" With that she leaps into the air, those decayed wings flapping as they propel her out of sight her flying clumsy, her unicorn body never meant to fly. Just barely her voice can be heard as she cries "Curse all of you."
The six skeletons appear to have packed up the wagon and again take up escort position, they watch the four girls with ever staring eyeless sockets. When nobody makes a move to engage them they trot off into the night.
The crusaders recover first, and with the help of the rest of the elements they wave their hoofs in front of Twilight who seems almost stunned. "Let's get back to town before Celestia arrives, I think the threat has passed."
As the friends trot back into ponyville they chat about the strange events of the night. Rainbow seems especially obsessed with Serene's "Did you see them? it's like they were attached to her body by one of you spells Twi I don't think they were hers, they were two big, like they were from a pony much larger than her." Twilight sighs "Grafted Rainbowdash, I think she stole them off a corpse, probably from a graveyard."
Just as they pass the first few houses a voice calls out "Halt" as a dozen Royal Guard materialize out of thin air, the tips of their spears inches away from the pony's. Moments later a battery of anti-changeling spells hit them, but even after that the spears stay firm. "By order of the Sun and the Moon you are in our custody." A large stallion with the rank of Captain says, somehow managing to sound bored.
The way Applejack and Rainbow tense up hints at a future conflict, but when Twilight waves them down they relax "Oh is Celestia here?" she asks, the soldiers remain silent and lead her back to the town hall. Despite only having been in the forest for 2 hours, the town interior has changed greatly, soldiers march down every street, guards watch from aloft, keeping the entire town in their sight. They arrive at a massive tent set up outside the town hall and after a moment one of the guards steps forwards and addresses Twilight "If you don't mind we will escort the children to their homes while you talk to the other Princesses." Twilight nods and even as the troublesome crusaders start complaining they are led away.
Both Celestia and Luna sit inside, at the head of a huge table, a map of ponyville and the surrounding areas on display. Three generals sit around it who look at the new arrivals Stoically. Celestia doesn't even glance over at them two engrossed in a conversation with one of the generals. Luna however perks up from what must have been a bored expression, and standing she trots over to the Five Elements, her huge form spilling several of the chairs, including one unlucky general who barely scrambles out of the way.
Luna dismisses the guard, though does not react when they fail to obey her order "Twilight Sparkle, Dost thou know why we are here?" she asks simply, a concerned look on her face "I hast heard only the name Valley, I am concerned when my sister does not telleth me these things." Her concern is infectious as the expression quickly spreads to the whole group. Twilight opens her mouth to explain, but a sharp rapping sound of Celestia placing a large stack of paper on the table stops her. Celestia look directly at the group, gesturing to the seats.
As they all sit she begins "I am afraid few of you are used to this, as of an hour ago ponyville has been place under a state of emergency: Truth, until further notice rumours and gossiping are illegal, if you don't get the information from me or one of the royal guard, than it is to be considered a lie. If you have important information you must bring it to us. This is backed up by several magic spells, most of the time you will not be able to vocalize rumours."
"A bit of an exaggerated reaction isn't it?" asks Twilight "Serene Valley wasn't much of a threat, she fled without even attempting to engage us..." she trails off seeing the intense stare Celestia is giving her "I did say in my letter not to pursue her didn't I, I'm sorry Twilight Sparkle, your wrong, Miss Valley is the most dangerous liar we have ever encountered. She has an uncanny knack for getting good pony's to believe in her." Celestia glances at one of her generals "She was good enough to deceive my royal guard into believing her to be dead 20 years ago, and thinking of her having free reign on Equestria gives me shivers."
She glances around "We need to know what she was doing in ponyville, so I would like you to go around town and find out if anything has changed. No matter how insignificant it might seem it might be part of a larger hidden picture. When you get back at lunch tomorrow we will together piece together the puzzle." dismissing the pony's she turns to Luna she speak softer, "I'm sorry I've kept you in the dark, I have a few more things to do then I will fill you in." can be heard as they are ushered out of the tent.
Each of the Elements separate and start heading towards their respective homes, noting that they are being escorted by half a dozen guards each, each of them has a deep look of concern on their faces as they are escorted through the heavily militarized Ponyville. Even the Library has a temporary guard-post set up on top of it, where several Pegasi Guards glare at passers by.
The next day is worse, the number of guard seems to have doubled overnight, and even as they gather a search squad comes out of the forest, rotated for a fresh squad.
Each spend the morning checking up on the people they know, searching to find anything odd as Celestia requested, all five head back to the Tent, noting that it not long is alone, as several smaller tents have been set up to care for the troops.
Inside their appear to be 4 more generals and a bunch or other officers preforming duties that non-military personnel would hardly comprehend. Whatever it was, it involved the map on the table, pins and metal discs being moved across it in seemingly endless patterns.
The room goes silent when they enter, one of the generals turns to face them and with authority in his voice orders them to "Report!" Only to bow his head and move out of the way when Celestia coughs, a moment passes and she requests gently "So what have you found out my little pony's."
As each of them speaks the military personnel move around the table making notes and moving things, appearing to dance to what they say, the first to speak is Pinkie as she says "She came into town yesterday around lunch, and asked me to make a birthday cake for her, she told me not to through her a party because she was leaving to go home. Later Scootaloo came and I threw her a party anyways!" She giggle madly. "Yes that coincides with what we know, her birthday should have been yesterday." Celestia says looking on to the next.
Rarity sighs at her fiends laughter "When I found something interesting, Despite it's rusty appearance, that armor was not actually old, the style is quite a recent creation, I suspect it was made by a griffon blacksmith, I have his details if you want to follow it up." One of the generals raises an eyebrow and again things move on the table, Celestia speaks again "Griffon, I hope it's just a purchase and not a sign of something bigger."
Applejack speaks up "For the first time no mysterious force have harvested our apples, it could be because of the military, but...." "No that's right, you produce food, something her magic is incapable of, so it make sense that she looted some from you, probably thought she'd pay you in labor."
When eyes turn to Rainbow Dash she crosses her arms "Not like I could do anything, not aloud to leave Ponyville to track her." Every one looks at her expectantly "Alright, the wings kinda bugged me, so I snuck out to cloudsdale and found that seven pegasus burial sites have been desecrated, and all seven corpses are missing their wings." The inside of the tent goes silent, the only sound the odd twitching sound of Pinkies Mane. The pegasi officers in particular throw looks that could indeed kill. Finally Luna breaks the silence, quietly speaking, though it could be a shout for how clear she speaks. "Well... I guess it was to be expected, she did have to get those wings somewhere after all."
Twilight speaks up carefully choosing her words because of the dangerous look on the Pegasi's faces "Other than the desecration, what has this Serene really done? she's withdrawn from every fight, and from what you have said worked to pay off her food. Isn't bringing the entire royal guard a little bit of an overreaction?" Luna looks at Celestia, expectantly, after a pause as Celestia reflects on something she says "Twilight, I need to speak to you in private." motioning for her student to follow her into an adjoining tent. Luna turns to continue the discussion with the other elements.
"That was a bad time to say that Twilight." is the first thing her mentor says as they enter the tent seeing Twilight starting to cringe into a panic attack she adds "Minor mistake, but the Pegasi will think less of you for a time until you impress them, you'll do it eventually." She pauses and just before Twilight speaks up Celestia continues "No need, your questions are all related to the quality of information you have, and your uncanny penchant for analyzing the situation without feelings. Let me tell you about Serene Valley, the truths that I feel I must hide from almost all, don't let it spread into gossip and rumors."
Another break "The truth is, Serene is my failing, as you well know you were not the first student I have had, in my lifetime I've taken countless foals under my tutelage. Let me tell you about the last students, the most important being a Foal from the once famous Valley Unicorns. I look her under my tutelage young, younger than you. After her I didn't take another pupil for 300 years." Seeing Twilights eyes open wide she nods "Yes, from what I've been able to gather she is far older than she appears. For years I trained her, taught her, but she was unlike you in one major fashion, she didn't have her cutie mark, and had an unnatural craving for knowledge, yes even more than you. I didn't see it at first, but giving a foal unlimited access to knowledge, giving her infinite resources to find her Cutie mark was a grave mistake."
"She got it, late, and I'm afraid I didn't witness it, all I know is she had broken into the restricted section of my personal library, where ancient treaties and knowledge was stored from my oldest ancestors. The only knowledge she had not read lay within those tomes, even I have not read them. Five years later we were in a war, one of the wors..."
The moths wings rise and lower, turning to displays it'self to the massive pair of cyan eyes the binoculars display. With a flutter it lifts off, flittering away from the eyes. With the distraction gone the binoculars turns the attention to beyond where the moth resided. They eyes blink as they watch from the deep darkness of the forest.
The wagon trundles along, still missing their leader the six skeletons look lost, occasionally doubling back, the eyes watch them, completely still, from their vantage point the eyes don't have to move for hours, just watching the aimless wandering of the skeletons. Branches and leaves cover her, flawlessly blending her into the forest.
Through the binoculars they reside, pupils so wide and dilated that the beautiful cyan Iris barely encircle them. Silently she brushes a errant strand of pink hair from her yellow furred face. Her endless patience does not waver even as the skeletons get confused for the tenth time. As she waits she thinks of how all the hours watching birds and bugs have done a great job of preparing her for this.
Movement, just on the edge of her vision, but she hold still, not letting her movements betray her position, as expected it pays off a moment later as her target enters her field of vision. The rotting wings flap again and clumsy send the unicorn mare to the ground with a thump loud enough to rustle Fluttershys leaves.
The mare stumbles from the impact, mumbling more than a little bit agitated, the yellow mare twinges with guilt feeling just a little sorry her friends had apparently ruined the mares special day. She watches as the mare carefully straps her armour on, covering her cutie mark, and covering most of her body with purple and golden steel. Once armoured up she clambers onto the wagon and curls up, looking extremely vulnerable, reminding Fluttershy of a scared animal. With their master back in control the skeletons are more certain and soon round a corner.
A few moments after they are out of sight she stand, shaking the leaves and twigs off her. She wraps the dark brown cloak around her, putting the binoculars back she check her map making sure they are heading in the direction she suspects, lifting off she softly glides over to a tree, and using her delicate wings lifts herself on top of the tree, slowly poking her head through so she can make out the wagon, giving her a clear view for the next few hours. Curling up she begins the long wait.
Opening her eyes for the seventh time Fluttershy sighs, wondering how many more days it's gonna be until they arrive wherever they grey mare is going. An owl hoots nearby and she pulls out the map, looking at it questioningly "Really, that's not towards any town, I guess if she lives in the middle of nowhere, but the mountains are that way." She hoots back at the owl, thanking it for the assistance, and packing the map away takes flight.
The skeletons proved to have unlimited stamina, enough that they never stop travelling, luckily Fluttershy has a whole spy network to keep an eye on them while she's sleeping. It turns out animals keep track of undead abominations, being able to sense them at great distance. At least they aren't flying so it only takes a couple of hours to catch up to them with her information.
This time she catches up to them as they ford a river, she hides herself in a bush on the far side, wrapping the brown cloak around her rustling the leaves into place over her as she watches the 4 skeletons clumsi... Four... where are the other two, she risks turning her head, rustling the leaves a little more than she likes. There, apparently they forded first, and are searching this bank for enemy's, she curses mentally at her carelessness, watching as they stab their spears into the bushes nearby.
She was lucky they missed her before, but they just moved into sight, she hold perfectly still as the two of them make their way towards her. They appear quite thorough, and she shivers, not looking forwards to being in any bushes they search, those razor sharp spears slicing the foliage quite neatly. One of the bushes explode as a few squirrels flee, dashing before the spear stabs, and the skeletons move onwards ignoring it, giving the yellow pegasi an idea.
It's not easy for a pony to speak to animals, but it is her talent after all, though methods that are undetectable push even her skills, she whistles, just a little to high for pony's to hear, hoping that the undead have a similar range. Alas all that tells her is that any dogs, deer, bears, or any other animal that could have heard her cry for help. Ok, next attempt, haven't had a lot of luck with this one but... grimacing she shifts her body, letting certain scents drift from her location, trying to emphasise the right emotions to get any bugs or snakes to help.
Nope, well it was worth a try, she has one last, but it's risky, makes just a little sound, hopefully they won't be able to hear her. She has to hurry to, the bush nearby shudders as the two spears slash through shredding a few leaves in a deadly duet. Taking advantage of the sound she clipity clops her hoofs on the ground, sending out tremors. Indeed she feels a responsive tremor, and she relaxes feeling help on the way. Relaxing is dangerous however as the first of two spears plunge down, narrowly missing her wing. Feeling the tremor just below her she rolls to the side, as the ground that was below her churns, another spear whizzing over her head and bringing a 'meep' from the ponys lips. One of the skeletons turns it's empty socket at the sound and starts pulling back the spear for another attack.
She decided then, as the massive badger erupts from the ground, that she will have to make sure that he get's a special treat. As Barry collides with one of the skeleton, he get's clipped with one of the spears, she risks another couple of hoofbeats to send him a thank you as the badger throws the skeleton out of the way and scampers off. She makes a note to bring his mate and children some extra food next winter. The two skeletons glare back at the bush, putting a few bones back, before they move on to the next one.
She relaxes again, waiting until the wagon finishes fording and the two return to it. The six skeletons continue to escort the wagon, and once they are all out of sight, especially Serene, she lets out a sigh of relief, standing she shakes the leaves off her, and goes to the river to clean up.
It's harder from that point, the skeletons start following procedures she's heard of from Dash, military procedures meant for rooting out spy's. Relying on animals is hard, but becomes very necessary in the next little while. She begins to suspect that they had planned this to trick pursuers. They double back one time, almost catching her as she stands up, only a lucky distraction keeps her from being seen.
Even animals got hard to trust, as they entered the mountains, the number of wildlife around almost much reduced, and the ones that Fluttershy actually knows... well. The last animals she is able to use are a wolf-pack that halfway up the mountain turns back, telling her to turn back from the stench. The wagon and Serene keep on up a beaten track that is missing from any of her maps, so even after the wolfs turn back Fluttershy creeps on, sticking to brush and the occasional rotten tree, flying only when she feels the risk is worth it.
The snow is sent from Celestia, the skeletons slow right down, trudging through it slows them greatly, despite her shivers Fluttershy is grateful for the snow, her own half fluttered steps keeping pace with the group.
Near the top of the mountain they pause for a few hours, day turning to almost night, and with her binoculars she sees them dumping the apples into a small building, freezing them to prevent rot, she sighs in relief as she sees this, knowing the journey is almost at it's end. They then disappear into a snowy pass, probably the front door to the mares hideaway.
She waits for a bit, shivering in the cold for about an hour before trudging into the pass, stealing an apple from the building, the flavour reminding her of home, and idly she wonders if she should have told her friends where she was going. Seeing the royal guard had made it to town made it to risky, but not for the first time on this trip she wonders...
There, at the end of the pass, through the snow she sees dark green grass protected from the cold by the mountain, stone pillars and what might be a tomb, and she wishes for a moment that she had read some of Dash's Daring Doo books, maybe then she would know what lost tomb she had just stumbled across. Hugging the walls of the icy pass she stumbles past huge creaking icicles, and deep snow, only disturbed by the wagons wheels.
Wait... Icicles aren't supposed to creak, turning she sees the icicles move, revealing themselves to be skeleton soldiers, almost frozen solid, before she can react the skeletons drop, each holding a huge boar spear. Fluttershy screams as the massive spears plung into each of her wings, pinning her to the ground, the skeletons staring at her with their eyeless sockets, ice still falling from their bones.
The sergeant runs into the war tent "No mam, nobody has seen your friend Fluttershy since before the attack." Twilight sighs, face-hoofing as she says "She was with us after the necromancer fled, so she wasn't kidnapped. She's got animal friends so she should be ok."
Luna looks at the remaining elements "We will start making plans to follow up the leads, hopefully Fluttershy will send us word, but we can't risk her going undetected, we need to find them." Luna looks at each pony in the tent, and the way she speaks hint of her days as Equastia's war leader "I heard 3 possible investigations we can begin immediately.
-The first, and most important to explore is the desecration of Pegasi grave sites. It sounds like her wings don't last forever, so if we investigate we can see if thier is a pattern to it.
-Second, Fluttershy talk to animals, we need to get some experts in here to try and follow the animals she talked to, with luck one of them knows where she went.
-Finally, Rarity has generously pointed us to Valley's Armour manufacturer, I suspect it's well concealed, but their has to be a connection, we will find it."
The elements can help me plan these missions. Sister, we interrupted your explanation, go finish while we do this." Celestia nods and leads Twilight back into the side tent.
"As I was saying not even five years later we were at war with one another, my other students fighting against her, their once friend. Yes at the time I had multiple student's, a mistake to be sure, one at a time is enough. She desecrated thousands of graveyards, and all sorts of undead flocked to her banner." Twilight give Celestia a look, and she pauses "I know about the undead, but I've never heard of somepony who can control them, I know it sounds bad, but why did you go to war, as gross as it sounds, it appears the undead are just her elaborate levitation spells."
Celestia pauses, and laughs "Oh dear, that does make a sort of twisted sense, but Twilight you must understand, their is such a thing as evil in this world, you've witnessed it first hand. The real problem with Serene's magic isn't that she has control over the dead, though that does make it hard to support someone, it's that her powers are powered from this darkness. You remember Nightmare moon and Sombra? Both of them used power from this same wellspring, just using it twisted their minds and body's. My sister Luna is a wonderful pony, I love her dearly, but even you saw what that dark magic did to her."
Twilight smiles "Of course, and until recently you haven't had access to the elements of harmony, so you couldn't attempt to use them. That solves it, we will use them on her, and purge the darkness from her." she sees the sour look on Celestia's face "It is true that I was unable to use them, but before the war I did try a ritual on her, in fact it's the same ritual I used to help you ascend to an Alicorn, in theory on her it should have let me change her talent, but instead it almost killed her, one of the largest reasons she fled."
Pausing Celestia looks at the other tent, where the shadows of Twilights other friends and Luna dance, as they plan and scheme. "I thought her dead, at the end of the war, her last living friend escaped to tell of the horrors that lurked under her control, I cast one of my most powerful offensive spells at her castle, and melted it to prevent their escape, I don't know how she escaped, even Luna would have died in that inferno."
Twilight shakes her head "Cutie mark in death magic right, probably related, in a few years I could probably develop a spell for it. I'd like to know something else, why the communications blackout? it was strange to say the least." Celestia looks at Twilight with sorrowful eyes "I had to be sure you were, well... still pure, later in the war... well miss Valley started fighting me with my own people, twisting my words and corrupting people close to me. Only half the army's my own fought against were undead, the others were living, ponies that had risen up to overthrow the 'dictator' that ruled Equestia. It was only through luck and ingenuity that we manage not to kill any of them."
Pausing she adds "Twilight, while you can tell the others anything you want, don't tell them this... assuming the worst, that Fluttershy has been captured, their is a very good chance that she's being tortured. During the last quarter of the war, as we were winning, every pony we captured from her dungeons was tortured... I mentioned her last living friend? that friend died right after from a broken heart, and blood filled lungs."
A sharp pain bring her back to conciousness. Her eyes flip open, though their isn't much of a point for darkness clouds her vision. A voice speaks out, all she can tell is it's not a pony. "Oh it appears our little spy has awoken, tell the mistress." The same sharp pain dives into her shoulder, agonizingly painful, she tries to pull away, but chains hold her fast, one wrapped around each hoof, and one for each wing.
"Not so fast my pretty..." the voice begins again, she struggles, ignoring him as she pulls through her memory trying to recall anything, and for a moment nothing comes, but eventually it comes back to her, and as her Cyan eyes franticly search for purchase in the dark room she recalls the long trip, the careful stealth, and her eventual capture.
It has been such a shock when the two skeletons pinned her wings to the ground, before she could react she had been trussed up by the two skeletons, shocked that they weren't in the middle of murdering her. Still as they dragged her into the ancient graveyard she had managed to sneak a look around, it was surprisingly peaceful, not unlike the graveyard back home, only a handful of skeletons maintaining the area. She was dragged past a cute little cottage, where the wagon was parked, and down to a small lake. As it is she's pretty sure bled out about there, as it is her last memory.
She twitches her wings experimentally, and searing pain lashes her, barely she feels something inserted into the holes, undoubtedly stopping the blood-flow. Her antagonist apparently has better darkvision than her, as whatever it is starts ranting about her crippling disability a moment later it causes her more pain and the creature hisses in her ear "I wish I could really hurt you, but mistress doesn't want you to die... shame, your soul feels delicious."
Light flows into the room, revealing the gruesome form or a rotting worm, wrapped tightly around a pony skeleton, animating it like a puppet, it's little beady eyes flittering around, holding an array of needles. Fluttershy can't help but cringe, seeing the wing clippers, a horn shaver, and hundreds of other torture devices spread throughout the room. By far the largest collection of tools are an assortment of pins and needles, several covered with blood, blood she realizes is her own. Some appears to be from the hunk of something sewn into her wings, but little blotches across her yellow hoofs betrays the truth.
She looks at her savoir, though her relief is fleeting as her mark, Serene stepping into the room. "How long did it take to wake her?" The worms maw opens and closes "Eight hours mistress" hisses from it. Serene nods and walk into the room, lighting a torch scone on the wall. "So spy, I think your name was Fluttershy? who sent you, Celestia? or that new sister of hers?"
"Nobody, Celestia arrived at Ponyville after you left, but I left before I got entangled in her plans. Serene snorts, and glares at her "So Celestia does care, but it doesn't answer the question..." The worm thing presses it's hoof against Fluttershys throat, almost as if it plans at crushing the fragile neck, moving in time with the grey mare "WHY are you HERE?" the glare in her eyes deadly.
Fluttershy shudders, for the first time in her life coming up to face with death "I'm sorry, I just thought you look like you needed a friend, and with Celestia around I didn't think I would get another chance." The worm-thing pulls it's puppet-hoof back.
Both Serene, and both the worm-things eyes and the skulls sockets stare at her "Are you for real?" the thing addresses it's master "During drugs she said she's Element of kindness boss." Serene says nothing and glares at the yellow pony "No, it's impossible, I'm evil." Fluttershy speaks, the worm thing speaking simultaneously, though both perhaps about separate topics "It's true."
Serene glares at the thing, then turning back to face Fluttershy she starts to sing, the worm-thing looks annoyed and starts sorting it's assorted torture tools.
-- I'm Evil, I'm bad It's true and not sad
My friends are all dead My fault it true You won't believe what I've read Not anything I knew
Dark magic and soul scarring Not the least bit jarring The friends didn't believe it Celestia even attempted to cleaved it From the depths of my mind
I'm Evil, I'm bad I'm happy and glad
Every town that I'm in I cause mayham and sin Murder's my candy Torture is sweet Conquering's dandy Your enemy's defeat
There is nothing to Heinous I'm the ultimate Bad I've done it All. with a grin Serene walks out the door. --
With it's master gone the worm thing approaches Fluttershy, holding a oversized needle "I so with injurys would heal in this place, so much I could do to you, my first victim in years, but alas, she wants that delicious yellow rump of yours intact."
Tears start to roll from Fluttershys face, her doom obvious, her friends impossibly far, and as the needle forces it's way past her yellow fur agonizingly hurting her she almost gives up.
Years of listening to the most quite bugs and the sounds of badger tremors comes to save her from surrendering, as she hears, faintly, as if it's in a room far far away.
-- But why in all Saneness Am I Depressed and Sad Do I crave my Fall
The cloud-walking spell appears to work, that let's the non-pegasi members of their team pause for a breather, the extremely high altitude of this cloud sucking the breath from them. Of course the largest Pegasi graveyard would be so high that even cloudsdale appears to be a speck below them. The clouds belowhoof smell of death, black and silent, a doomful fog that sends shivers down their spines. Rainbow Dash is the only one of the elements that seems undeterred, even the handful of Pegesi royal guard shiver uncontrollably. Even Rainbows breath comes fast in this place, her lungs barely gathering enough oxygen.
"Why did we have to come, the necromancer wouldn't be able to reach here, surely all her wings are taken from the smaller graveyards." says Twilight "200 constant guards from every clan wouldn't miss someone like that." Rainbow Dash glares at them "My grandfather is buried here, I need to make sure he has his wings." The others roll their eyes, but understandingly follow, after all since they first discovered that the mare had been stealing wings they had discovered another 50 corpses missing their wings, all over Equestria, and the element of loyalty has to take care of her ancestors.
The entrance into the graveyard is similarly foreboding, two pegisi stand guard, their armour black, so similar to the cloud that if you don't look directly at them they blend in, though only two... two... two... are on duty. The horde of two guards wave them through, an intimidating pair of heavy engraved doors opening before them, the stares of ancient pegisi warriors threatening them. They pass and start to descend down into the ill lit crypts, the doors sealing behind them.
Every so often they pass a torch, lighting a little patch, it's almost like the clouds move around them as only the next torch is visible as they trot along. After the fourth torch most are lost, not entirely sure of anything. They blindly follow Rainbow, and not that even a few of guards look unsure. After about five minutes Twilight gathers enough courage to ask the surly Rainbow "So Rainbow, how do you know where we going." hoping for a reassuring explanation, as it was never in her books. Rainbow glances over "Only important clan members are aloud to know the details, I suspect even Celestia doesn't know how to walk through these hallowed halls. I can tell you it's partly to do with the torches, you'll note they are changing colour to yellow, well that's because we are moving towards Fluttershy's crypts." She sees the looks "What they are closer to the entrance and since she isn't around I wanted to check on her family too."
They pause and Rainbow holds up a hoof, and clouds whisk away revealing a stone room... or well it appears to be stone, crisp edges, but no, closer inspection reveals it to be carved clouds. Several caskets adorn alcoves, sombre death-masks adorning each, the ones closer to the entrance looking not dissimilar to Fluttershy. Clan heraldry adorns the small simple room, and while Rainbow walks around Twilight explains "Fluttershy's clan is fairly new, appears only 20 pony's have died since it's creation." Rainbows hoof touches each casket and she returns "Cloud caskets are solid, haven't been open since their burial day." walking past she waves for the others to follow. As the last guard leave the room the clouds swirl back, taking it from sight.
Again they trot through the darkness, this time it seems to take forever, none of them can be sure how long they have been travelling. Applejack pulls Twilight off to the side "This is taking a long time, does she know where her crypt is?" Twilight makes sure that Rainbow is far enough ahead that she can't hear her. "She definitely does, I did some checking, the Dash family used to be one of the largest clans, numbering hundreds, history is foggy, but they all died out in a few years, from what we have learned recently I suspect it was during Celestia's war with Serene. As it is only a few members of her family survive, and currently it's just her and her parents, so yes I'd say she know exactly where we are going."
Dash stops, suddenly and without warning and holding out a hoof she banishes the clouds around a blue torch. A door looms out of the darkness, and while the door into the graveyard was creepy, this one get's several audible sounds of fright from some of the elements and a quite a few royal guard. This door is truly frightening, two etched engravings of armoured pony's holding deadly looking spears. Even though they are carved out of cloud they seem to move, their eyes gazing on every-pony. The carved door behind them shows gruesome depictions of pony's, dying in a huge manner of horrible ways, one even appears to have an animate skeletons crawling through it's mouth. Even Rainbow grimaces, before she says, her voice flat, like it's an annoyance "The by rites of the ancients the eldest Daughter of Dash humbly requests entrance."
The door opens, or more accurately, the two stone pony's step to either side, the door dissolving around them. They stand on either side, glaring at the pony with unblinking eyes. The inside... is far more elaborate than Fluttershy's was. The hall just keeps going, branching off a few paces from the entrance, just from here hundreds of caskets can be seen. No not caskets, Sarcophagi, each one more elaborate than the last. Each a perfectly carved replica of the original. Dash enters and looks around "No, it appears that nobody has been in here." she says taking a few steps towards the closest coffin to the door, where a male colt stands, wings outstretched. "Hello Grandpa," she says, "good to see your still ok." she begins to lean on the sarcophagi, and immediately falls through, taking with her a heavily mummified corpse.
The corpse appears to be the same pony as the sarcophagi, and Rainbow cries out in pain as she notices the missing wings. "Damn it, no need to be so loud." comes a voice, Rainbow freezes, her blood running cold, it would take a prism to make her match her name. "My you've grown." the elderly colt says. The other tense up, the royal guard unsheathe their weapons.
The Mummified Corpse of the great Kinetic Dash stands and looks around at the assorted pony's. "Bugger."
Every-pony just stands in silence for a minute, the total quiet breaking only when Dash leaps away from the mummy, curling up behind Twilight where she is separated from the abominable monster. Colour seeps back as the mummy speaks again. "Oh dear Dashie, did I startle you? I must apologize. Who are your friends? did you bring dinner." Quite a few pony shivers at that word, delivered dripping with hints of murder.
"I don't know you, who are you and what are you doing here." Rainbow Dash orders, having recovered from the shock of seeing her relatives body in motion. "Oh Dashie, you know that, I'm your grandpappy, Kinetic, sure I'm a bit dryer, with a few more wrinkles and a few less wings and I do hunger for murder a fair bit more than I did when I was alive, but It's still me." He shambles forwards halting at the edge of the venerable wall of steel blades. "I don't serve the Bitch Queen any longer, in case your friends are wondering weather to attempt to gut me."
"Oh your free of Serene's control?" says Twilight excitedly the gears in her head almost audible as the thinks of new plans encompassing. The mummy looks surprised, though his face barely shows it as rotten sinews and preserved flesh hold it almost frozen. "Oh no, she's our lord and saviour, I meant the other one, the one pony's worship fanatically... What's her name... Claus what is the Bitch Queens name?"
A few sarcophagi down another mummy steps out, this one still has it's wings "Celery stalks, don't spread it around to much." They living pony's look terrified, especially Rainbow Dash whose face flinches as she recognizes another of her relatives. Wrapping her hoofs around Twilight she hold her back from attacking the mummy who just blasphemously ruined Celestia's name. "We can't fight them." she says as another mummy steps out down the crypt, and a few skeletons loom out of the darkness.
"Ah so you did bring dinner." says Kinetic, what is left of his jaw twisting into a leering smile. The thing points at it's ears "never lost my hearing." it explains as it take a step "We've already got your sarcophagi ready Rainbow, once we've prepared your welcome home dinner we can feast to a long and happy unlife." 4 skeletons come forth from the shadows, carrying another Sarcophagus, it's cutie mark coloured and etched perfectly, the face carved into a perfect likeness of rainbow during a flight. "Nope, Nope, Nope." says the blue mare as she bolts out the door, shortly followed by her friends and the royal guard.
Again they travel along the long corridor, but this time they gallop, each torch whirling by the change in colour visible to all the pony's. Suddenly another crypt door leers out of the cloud, completely unsummoned, it opens and a pair of rotting hoofs reach out, grabbing one of the guard and dragging him into darkness with a shriek. "Why you you struggle Rainbow." the voice of her grandfather asks "We are your family, we only want what's best for you." The blue mare is silent as she gallops along, Twilight notes tears falling from her eyes and she takes over, questioning the horror just beyond the darkness. "How did you get turned into undead creatures, so far into the crypts."
A laugh "It was depressingly easy actually, I shouldn't tell you, but none of you will be leaving alive so why they hay not." A pause, and another of the royal guard vanishes as a mummy leaps out of a cloud and tackles the mare, barely older than a filly. "During the last war we slipped a sleeper in and a ton of equipment, then with bribes we managed to get access at will. Only 2 of the guards actually know something is up, but they think it's just a few grave-robbers due to our careful diligence."
Out looms another skeleton reaching out to tackle Rarity, but receives a hoof to the face from Applejack, exploding the bone in every direction. "We'll stop you!" shouts Rainbow Dash, her loudness making up for her earlier silence. "Even if it's the last thing we d..." the voice interrupts her "Stop us from what exactly, do you even know out mistress's schemes and plot?" somewhere they can hear a snort, as if the thing that was once called Kinetic is laughing at them. Rainbow looks around and sees the questioning looks on her friends faces, as the voice strikes true and they wonder what they are attempting to stop. "I am sick of you crap." Dash snarls and leaps with great force the hum of her wings loud as she dissipates into the darkness.
Her friends start to stop, not wanting to get lost without her, but then they hear an almighty crack, and look in shock at each other as the world bursts into colour, a Sonic Rainboom bursting only a few yards in front of them. Unholy screams resinate as half a dozen skeletons are lit up ahead of them, each now cringing. The darkness lifts as a massive section of the tomb is ripped away, the force of Rainbows boom enough to rip a gash. "No you can escape, not now." they hear from deep in the darkness, Twilight reacts quickly using her magic to teleport them out of the gash to the original landing pad where they had begun this eventful trip.
40,000... no 10, no 50 of the guards surround them, spears leveled with the group as they react to the gash in their charge "What did you do in there!" says one, who steps forwards enough that he no longer looks like part of the background. Twilight is about to speak, already opening her wings to give her some extra authority when a flash of rainbow burst inches in front of the guard-pony. Rainbow looks livid, her face twisted into a snarl. "We were escaping YOUR MESS! I counted over 200 undead in my crypt alone, you are traitors, traitors all!"
A great tearing sound rumbles below-hoof, and the Guards look worried, both for their jobs and their charge. They indeed should be as huge parts of cloud tear themselves away, each shaping into tendrils that seem to grasp the air tearing more and more away from the massive cloud. This cloud shift colour, darker than before, with the occasional flare of putrid green smoke bellowing from inside. With a few pulls of the massive tendrils it throws it'self away, crawling even higher into the sky.
The original tomb-cloud has effectively been halved, little remaining except the cloud they now stand on, and even then they watch as the cloud they stand on pales, eventually turning white, the guard now standing out like little black specks, only 20, far less than any had estimated.
They look at each other and the leader, the one who spoke out before says "Crap, we are screwed, if any of you know anything about this, coming forth now is probably the only way to prevent yourself from execution." A few of the elements open their eyes in shock, but the royal guard that had come with them nod in agreement.
Slowly two of the black pony's break off from the other guard, their head hung low as they approach, dropping their spears and taking off their helmets, revealing one mare and one colt ."We believe it's our fault sir, we resign, and submit ourselves for questioning."
As the royal guard clap iron on the two the ponies watch the clawing thing reach altitudes that nopony could breath at eventually fading from site. Eventually Dash speaks "That was so suck, let's go back I want to find this whore."
"If it matters yellow thing, I kinda like you." with no hesitation he plunges the spectral black hand into Fluttershys chest, she screams as it her souls seems to tighten. The worm thing hisses in delight, feeding of her pain wrapping around the skeleton puppet with glee "I mean, trying to tell the mistress she's not Evil? Oh that was precsssssiousss." The slick sound of it sliding in between the skeletons bones is almost sickening. "But now you must admit she is, I mean leaving you with a creature that feeds on pain, for four straight days of torture, why even though you haven't broken it's completely inexcusably Evil." You can almost hear a smile in the things voice, again it plunges the spectral hand through her body.
It's hard to hear, but they long ago establish that the worm thing had an amazing auditory ability, able to hear every sound her vocal cords played when they begged for it to stop. "No"
The little beady eyes stares at her. "Wait seriously? are you for serious, you can't be, I mean yes, we establish yesterday that your the Element of Kindness, but really that's just stupid." he pauses and stares silently at the yellow pony, then without warning stab the spectral hand into her head, bringing a new gush of screams. "She's been far beyond help since before you were born, I should know I was their pretty much the whole time... granted I was a little tapeworm in the stomach one of her friends. Who's skeleton I still control, but I've watched her pure evil."
Pulling that evil hand out it stops, dismissing the spell, though it does not relive her at all, each time she had thought it couldn't get any worse the thing had managed to escalate it. She sobs, but isn't sure if they are tears of pain or sadness. "She's been wronged." The thin hacks out a hissing chortling laugh it slowly unwraps the bandages around her wings as it speaks "Wronged? you mean like that Discord fella you fixed, oh Filly you are more messed up than even the mistress." it pauses, unexpectedly as if it's thinking. "You know I never though I would make another friend, but for the second time I don't actually want somebody dead." it stabs a bone into the hole that the spear had made all those days ago, Fluttershys body quivering in pain. "Hmm, these are healing nicely. Anyways Pain yes, I am still evil after all, but I think I'll help you leave." not for the first time she passes out.
She comes back to consciousness as the raw flesh of her wing is squeezed "I let you have a short nap, though I might have had enough time to tell mistress secrets." The thing slides it's bones around the wound, bringing more crys "I realized while you were out that I haven't actually introduced myself to you. My name is Gaeth, pleased to make your acquaintance Fluttershy." She smiles, still in agonizing pain from whatever the creature is doing to her wing. "Pleased... to,,, meet you." she mutters, getting an approving nod from the skeleton that Gaeth controls "And this is Olive Garden, Serene's best friend, and my host."
It pauses "You see little filly this is what happens to Serene's friends." it slides out of the skulls eye eye "To be fare it was actually Celestia that kills.... my dear host, ironic since poor little Olive Garden was a fervent supporter of Celestia, only staying by Serene's side to convince her of her lousy course of action." it sighs and twisting looks the skull in the face, displaying unusual nostalgia "Of course I animated the body after that, being a parasite only really works with a living host, I do miss her sometimes, despite our horrific meeting we did manage to become friends." It slides back into the torso curling around the skeletons inner ribs. "Shame switching hosts would be fatal, I think I'd enjoy living in your body... but I think I would like you to go away. so I think I shall help you."
Her body shudders as the bone is removes, but starts again as the worm thing slides it's tail into the other hole. Still she can't help but look at him hearing the smallest bit of hope, something she had lost days ago "Could I be lying... maybe, maybe this is a new form of psychological torture, something I am actually quite good at. I see I have your attention though, good, your disgusting survival instinct has kicked in. I must tell you eventually of some of the tortures I inflicted on ponies just because they thought they could survive." It chortles that disgusting laugh, the eyeless skull staring vacantly at her. "You can's risk not chancing it though can you, I thought as much. Also, just so you know, the torture for the next few days is going to be un-believable, since you appear to be healing, so I can break out my knifes now."
It pauses and stares at her for a long time "Your not going to like it much, but I daresay it's you only hope of survival, assuming your friends don't burst in through that door now." They both stare expectantly at the door. Turning it's attention back on her the creature take a few steps around her. "Before I do let's me tell you something about my mistress, to give you hope, I should add that it's also a clever psychological torture device."
Pulling a chair out it sits, and surrounded by hundreds of horrific torture devices it begins. "Let me tell you about the first thing Serene did when she figured out her powers. This was of course long before I had grown from a little tapeworm into the horrible undead monster I am now, but Olive Garden was her friend, so some memory's trickled to me." It's nasty laugh reverberates in the little torture chamber.
"Do you know what she did, with her new powers she marched from the castle to the local graveyard, and animated the entire graveyard, 2000 dead minions, most still rotting zombies." It hisses it's laughter "Lead them to the orchards she did, and when the farmers awoke the next day they found corpses harvesting their fields, making flour, and cider... one family though their uncle had come back to the farm, and before they could question it the kids were taking turns to ride on their uncles back." It wheezes out of breath, and takes a breath, air rushing through the worms exposed bones. "Oh dear the image still makes me laugh, though Olive was appalled. While Serene was sleeping she had taken watch to make sure the undead kept working."
It pauses "That is of course where it went wrong, the defining moment that ruined Serene. While she was sleeping the townsfolk murdered her pets, an easy task when they had been ordered to work ceaselessly. Olive couldn't stop them, one average earth pony mare against several hundred angry farmers? Not a chance, when it started she fled to her lovers side, followed by some smarter pony's that had connected the dots." The worm pauses, turning it's attention to Fluttershy, "That the ticket of course, hope you notice that, anyways, Serene awoke surrounded by angry farmers that had already seen her cutie mark, and were about to kill her lover, and well... my eyes still tear up with joy when I watch Olives memory's of Serene killing them." It cackles "But I am a being of horror so that is understandable, what you must understand, is that Serene has a weakness, like all other mortals." sliding and writhing it pauses an inch from her face.
"You can take advantage of this you know, of course I know you don't hold any feeling for my mistress, but... could you pretend for your freedom." It hisses disgustingly "Could you be that black-hearted and deceive someone into love? For she does indeed have quite a weakness for... cute little yellow flanks." It slides back into the skull "Trick her and freedom, do not and die, it really is up to you, though I know what you'll choose in the end... Nobody really has a choice, in a world of cutie marks, destiny rules us all."
It steps away from her, to a shelf and she watches as it picks up a few cruel looking knives "For what it's worth I am sorry, but I two am a creature bound by destiny, but if it's worth anything, as a gesture of friendship I'll fix any physical problems you have while I'm at it." The flesh-less hoofs click on the hard stone floor as the worm-thing appochs her, each click echoing, though all she can think about is what Olive might have looked like when she was alive.
Celestia raised the sun from in front of her tent, the appearance marking the second week that she had lived in Ponyville. While it once gathered almost every pony it had since become as routine as it had been for years in Canterlot.
Even the princess of the sun looks a little haggard as she sits in the tent for the morning meeting, and as they have many times officer speaks "No information about the Skeletons of Cloudale. No rebellions in Equestria, Elements searching out the armour, No sign of the Necromancer lair." Celestia holds up her hoof "Please, call her Serene, Necromancer will just cause more panic."
The sun peeking over the horizon signals the camp to awaken, out of the military style tents crawl each of the elements, still obviously exhausted from the physical training yesterday. Even Rainbow and Apple emerge exhausted, the constant physical activity just a little to much for even them. The several guards that are with them are already up, armed and geared, looking mildly annoyed at the untrained Elements. "Up and at it lazybones." says the Sargent "We are too deep in Griffon territory for you to spend hours just getting up."
"I'll make him want to spend hours getting up" Mumbles Rainbow Dash, but doesn't say any more, donning her armour and getting into line with others. Rarity especially cringes as she puts on her armour, but with only a sad glance at the faces of her friends she dons it. The past two weeks have been especially painful, for all of them, Celestia had opened part of her private library to Twilight and, what she had learned had worried them all, most of them couldn't remember the last time that Pinkies mane hasn't been flat, she had done her best to cheer everybody up but...
The last 2 days had been particularly brutal, the Griffon armourer that Rarity had discovered lived deep withing Griffon territory. Getting their was... well not exactly politically possible, since their was a good chance the work had been officially sanctioned. So here they are, infiltrating with a light scout squad. Sargent Meyes is particularly annoying, he has this really annoying quality where he can yell at you with a whisper, obviously one of the reasons he heads up a stealthy scout squad.
Eventually after some time in silence Twilight speaks just loud enough for her friends to hear, but quiet enough that the soldiers won't hear "Rarity, how certain are you of this link?" Rarity pauses looking at the muscles that have been developing "If I wasn't dear I wouldn't be with you now developing these horrid muscles. I looked up my hunch and it looks correct, the armour was certainly made by this armourer, though he usually does Griffon armour, few pony's ever venture that far into their territory."
They walk in silence for a few hours, then that whispered shout can be heard ordering a "Halt!" the entire group stopping and lowering themselves to the ground. a moment passes before Meyes give details "We are at the edge of Beakton, they have several guards, Specialist Rarity, where are we going." Rarity shudders trying her hardest to be as short as him "Just west of town, their should be a building, a blacksmiths." The soldier nods "Take your friends and 2 of my men and interrogate him, we will stay here and cover you." Rarity nods and leads her friends away from the scouts, who appear to be setting up defensive positions.
They make it to the blacksmiths without being noticed, it seems like a slow day today. Carefully using her magic to circumvent the lock on the back the squad sneaks in. Inside they find the backroom of a blacksmith, piles of armour all around. They all gather, closing the blinds and darkening the room.
It's not long before the Griffion they have been waiting for walks in, quickly finding a blade at his throat, and is led to the room. Despite his flamboyant coloration and obvious civilian nature he seems calm. He speak from his jewel encrusted beak "Didn't I meet you at that fashion seminar last year on pony-griffon similarity? Rarity wasn't it. I don't suppose you could be a darling and fill me in to why my home has been invaded by apparently bloodthirsty ponies? I know I'm not nearly that important and certainly they don't want to try out my new winter armour line." Rarity greet him "Magpie Gems, yes we did meet, I'm afraid I'm here on a very different sort of business." Dash and Twilight stand just behind the Griffon, making sure to barley keep in it's vision so it knows it's being watched. "It's about some armour you sold." Rarity trots over to where a huge pile of rusty pony armour lies apparently discarded "Or possibly armour that was stolen from you."
Magpie Gems eyes widen as Rarity's hoof kicks one of the pieces of rusty armour "What armour, I only manufacture one off pieces and generic armour for the griffon army, and though the alliance isn't perfect I believe we are not currently at war." He stops talking until Rarity point at the rusty armour "Eh, I occasionally get a few one off from Equestrian clients, I use those as practice pieces to make sure my anatomy is right, anyways since this is settled, would you like a contract Rarity, I like making armour in Pony styles but it just doesn't move, but if I sold it to you you could sell it at your store, where far more clients are available." Rarity's eye twitches and she turns on the griffon "I saw your 'practice' pieces with my own eye as my friend was kidnapped."
Cringing Magpie Gems sighs, and with a quick wing flourish extends a pair of blades, slamming the 2 soldiers to the ground, he lunges at Rarity blades searching for her neck. Applejack interposes her larger bulk ramming her helmeted head into the griffons chest, the sound of hidden chain-mail impacting the helmet, with earth pony strength she tosses the smaller griffon into the wall with a sickening thump. Before the griffon can recover Apple unceremoniously sits on him. Rarity smiles "Thanks love." as she walks to where Magpie's head emerges from Apples bulk, less a few gems from his beak.
"Oh dear, I'm afraid that proves it, you are working for them. Oh Gems, you do need to tell us everything, I'm afraid even the emperor won't protect you when our Goddess get's angry at you." Twilight cringes, but dropping the G-word certainly work for the Griffon speaks. "Damn it, ruined by a bunch of pony's." He hisses obviously annoyed at the current state of events "Ok, I don't know much, just the secret of my family's success. My granddad started it, not quite sure how, but he said a letter told him to, at the time he was barely breaking even, and was in danger of closing down the BlackBeak Smithy. The letter told him to make 10 rusty suits of armour for ponys and leave them in our shed, with almost nothing to lose he did so, and found that it had been replaced by five times the iron the next day. That armour in the corner is almost the thousandth load, the ritual being carried on my farther and me."
He pauses, out of breath, Applejack leans a bit and lets him draw in a breath. "We were slow at first, but Equestia remained at peace, no wars or anything, and we have supplied more than enough armour for that. I though we were just supplying Merc's or some secretive militia. I swear to you on the feathers of the Emperor that I don't know who was taking it."
Rarity looks at the Griffion darkly, "So your a dead end then? Truly a shame, your fashion sense was impeccable." Magpie squirms "Ok ok, I got one other thing, but it's the last thing I know. The ingots of metal I got were all engraved with a mines symbol, I've seen it in Equestia before, I think it belongs to one of your minor mines, I got a quite a few still, the next batch isn't due for a few months." He gesture with a claw towards a pile of iron ingots "Take as many as you need, I'll also send a shipment of armour for your military, not this rusty stuff either, but nice quality work."
She walks over to the pile, and Rarity picks up a few bars "I do believe this lead is alive after all." With a kick Applejack knocks the Griffon out, and the all gather around to look at the bars, each emblazoned with the picture of a kicking pony and the words 'Steel Kicker Mining CO.'
13: Devestation, Pained Feathers, and a Dew Return.
Sun bursts over the horizon, lighting the valley, lighting the swaths of devastation. The pony's crawl from their tents, the elements almost as fast as the soldiers. Several days of hard marching to avoid half the griffon military does that. Who knew that Magpie would immediately flee to the local garrison and report them... Well Sargent Meyers apparently did, and the whispered screams have been almost unbearable, but the endless exercise had really done a number on their stamina.
They arrived late in the night, and waking up was not pleasant, only a few of the soldiers had ever been here, and almost everyone else paused after leaving their tents, and just stood their.
Twilight is the first to speak "I hear of this, it was in my book on unusual Equestrian geography, the Valley of Desolation, but I'd never..." Interrupting her Meyers shouts in her ear, an increasingly common occurrence since leaving griffon territory yesterday. "EXPECTED THIS SORT OF DEVASTATION, BOOK TEACH NOTHING! FILLY TWILIGHT, WHAT DO BOOKS TEACH."
The elements cringe at this, and after a moment, Twilight gives in, not wanting to repeat any of Meyers 'Reading lessons' again "Nothing Sir." The Sargent nods and makes his way off to berate one of his soldiers who had a spot on her armour. With a little time till they headed out the elements stared out Pinkie, who's mane seemed to droop even lower if that was even possible asks "What did this?" Twilight shakes her head wordlessly, staring out with her friends at the horror.
For Horror this valley was, apparently the mine that Magpie had told them about was deep in this valley, a place where Harmony hadn't been in a long time. From here at the border they could see it stretch for as far as the eye can see, nestled between Mt Hoofor and the Three Whinnies. No grass remained, no tree stood alive, the ground it'self cracking and grey, and if nothing would live there. What appeared to be rivers trickled down from the mountain to a small lake. Seated next to the lake was the ruins of a once great city, the shattered grey buildings lying almost abandoned. According to the numbers that Twilight had provided almost a thousand pony's lived in this valley, resisting all attempts to relocate them. Looking upon this valley it be hard to figure out why, near the ruins appeared a few small villages, but from this distance it was hard to imagine people living in them, most being made out of broken stones and debris, no wonder the Tax Pony's had never even bothered to census this small part of Equestria.
In the distance Meyers shouts, obviously having finished negotiating with the guard-pony's that took care of the checkpoint into this forsaken land. The elements fall into step behind him, not anxious for the long march ahead of them, but far less weary of it than they had been at the beginning of this adventure. Each pass the sign to Valley, noting the remains of the graffiti that the two guards are diligently scrubbing off.
Hours of trudging later as they pass through a settlement built in the shards of a once great skyscraper Pinkie asks the question that has been on their mind since they past the first dull pastel resident "Guys, why are they glaring at us? what did we do?" for indeed mothers take their children inside into their debris covered hovels and pale scraggly colts look at them from on top of rooftops, glaring with what could only be an intense hatred. Especially that of the old grey mare sitting in a rocking chair fashioned from scrap iron.
Each of the mares look at each other, but even Twilight shrugs and says "Meyers is right, my books never explained this, I only know of it because of a minor note in a book." As she finishes a Filly accidentally run around a corner and into her side. As the little one take a step back reeling and looks at Twilight she says "Though apparently not everyone hates u...OW." She yelps in pain as the Filly stabs her in the wing twice in quick succession. With the little training she's had she shifts her body and the third strike dings off her armour.
Several of the soldiers and her friends turn, already arming themselves, as they turn, the little filly scowls and dashes sprinting into the nearest building. A few of the soldiers start chasing But Meyer orders "Cease, not worth our time." Twilight and Dash both appear to be about to object, Dash already taking to the air. Meyers points and they follow seeing that several of the village pony's seem to be polishing an array of nasty weapons. Dash lands and trots over to Twilight, bandaging the wing like only a veteran pegesi can, muttering "Snot Right."
Meyers motions, and the Elements soon find themselves surrounded by soldiers, a wall of armour between them and the people, the symbolism apparently not lost on Twilight who's face darkens. Meyers sidles up next to her "Sorry Princess, my fault, didn't think that you would be on the hazard list, I'll get our copy amended when we get back." Twilight looks at him questionably "Hazard list? Just what is wrong here." Meyers shakes his head "While most of Equestia is safe, a few places like this valley aren't, if your not local then this place is deadly at night." He seems to avoid the question and makes sure to walk back to his place with the other soldiers before she can ask any more.
It's starting to get dark when they arrive at the mine, a ragged hole ripped into the side of Mt Hoofor. Upon arrival they note the old unicorn from earlier talking to a very dirty colt. Seeing them approach the mare trots off. The unicorn colt turns to them, leaning against the tunnel entrance he says "What's up, this is unexpected." Meyers approaches him "Just a routine inspection of all the mines in Equestria, nothing to worry about."
"I doubt that very much, but sureio, what first." The colt says, wiping his face revealing that he's actually bright green not grey. Meyer's nods curtly for Twilight to come forth and just as she does the colts expression hardens. "Though probably gonna need the boss, he went home for tonight, so yah will have to come back tomorrow." Meyers looks angry "By Equestian Law we are allowed to search the premises."
"Sorry bub, your law is as good as compost here, you can't enter without a guide, and right now you can't get a guide. You should know that Icedew, or whatever you go by now. Scram Traitor."
4 hours, Meyer went off with the colt for 4 hours, eventually Twilight had taken charge when storm clouds had rolled in and set up the tents so the squad could rest. Course, despite several locals passing, nobody though to warn them that the rain was acid, and after several burns and the destruction of all the tents the squad had manage to huddle in a hollow under an overhang, dirty, cold and reeking of acid.
Each of the unicorns had taken turns keeping a shield up to prevent any of the foul water from getting in, but despite their efforts it seeped through the mud, past the shield and filling the bottom of the muddy hollow. "Oh god, is this where Acid duty is?" Rainbow comments a couple of the Pegisi nodding she explains for the other pony's "It's considered the worst duty, and they barely would tell us about it. If you were posted to Acid duty you had to wear heavy clothes to protect you, because the clouds would literally burn your flesh away. We all had to take classes in it in-case one of the clouds escaped their zone." The ponies look very concerned finding out that their were place in Equestria that weren't as nice as Ponyville.
Meyers get's back late, wearing a poncho and looking very grumpy. He brings gifts, acid resistant blankets and plastics, and after another hour the hollow is at least safe to hide in. Before they can ask him questions he curls up in a corner and starts snoring, eventually Twilight asks one of his senior soldiers "Is Meyers from this Valley?" the mare answers "Sorry Classified, I doubt Meyers would let us tell you unless Celestia ordered him to, though I doubt she would dare too." She moves her hoof across her lips, as if she was zipping them closed.
Other then the sentries the rest of the soldiers cuddle together, keeping warm in the best possible way, after a while, making sure to bandage Twilights injury's the Elements join them. Just as they drift off to sleep they note how odd it is to be posting sentries this deep in Equestrian territory.
They awaken in the morning, and slowly the soldiers untangle themselves from the miserable pile. It reeks, but at least it's the smell of dry soldiers. Meyers is already armoured up, apparently capable of impossible feats of speed and sleep deprivation. The elements already note he's yelling out the senior mare that Twilight had been talking to. Soon the group is formed up outside the hollow, quite a few noses wrinkling at the disgustingly strong smell of acid.
Meyers approaches the Elements and is that ever so annoying whisper-shout tells them "You will be my inspectors, I want you to check out the mine while we talk to the boss. Do not attempt to browbeat these people with any authority you think you have, I am your god, I am authority." He looks pointedly at Twilight then starts trotting back to the mine, the squad falling into formation behind him.
The green stallion was their again, but this time he wasn't along, a large blue pegisi sat nearby idly playing with a knife, Now that they are clean, cleaner in fact than the soldiers were currently, their cutie marks were on display, the green one's mark was a pickaxe embedded in coal, the large one had a hammer striking a pickaxe head as if forging it. He stands as they approach, using his telekinesis to flip the blade around a few times. The green one tips his mining helmet "Sorry Super Trooper, their was an accident in the mines, the boss had to make his way down to the bottom of shaft seven to work it out." The elements not that Meyers eyes look angry, but before he speaks the green one continues "Looks like he will be indisposed for the whole day." the larger one chuckles as he flips his knife around. "Better waky early morrow, have to try to catch the boss before he leaves on his trip." The green one throws him a look and he goes quiet.
"After all that you... we agreed..." Meyers starts but the green one hold his hoof up "Icedew, theirs no need to get emotional, we all know how well that goes for you." The Sarge turns and starts walking off, looking annoyed. Twilight speaks, noting that Dash is livid at this point, Rarity hair is in a mess, Apple appears to be snorting, and Pinkies hair is so flat you could cut something on it. "Really, your going to try that? With the Elements of Harmony standing just a few feet away your going to attempt to impede out progress with Red tape and Blackmail. Listen buster, we are going in and finding your boss. No peon is getting in our way."
She glances at Meyers who looks shocked, and is about to say something, the green pony speaks first. "You ain't my Harmony, and you don't want to start any trouble or some dame might get hurt, maybe one that throws the sun around." Twilight wants to hit him, she really does, but with a crack Rainbow is no longer next to her, and both of the bad pony's lie on the ground, at best concussed. Frozen in place just past the entrance stands Rainbow who says "Meyers, you coming?" almost accusingly.
They enter the mine, no longer being lead by Meyer's who stands near the back quietly, dragging the green pony behind them. They make their way deep into the mountain hearing the sounds of pickaxes dinging off stone and ore. At the entrance to each shaft a wagon stands, pile high with metals and ore, several times Applejack has to put back something that 'fell' into Rarity's saddlebags.
Shaft 3 A few ponies see them coming, and hightail it down the shaft, not looking thrilled.
Shaft 5 As they step past the wagon every sound stops, hundreds of picks stopping in unison, not just a little creepy.
Shaft 7 The first shaft that appears to descend in a spiral a locked door blocked their path, until the door no longer had hinges courtesy of Twilight.
They descend for what seems like minutes, a torch occasionally lighting their way. Eventually electric lights start passing instead, until they arrive at another door, unlocked. Inside they find a large workroom, a large earth pony mare stands behind a desk, tinkering with an even larger cannon her cutie mark a pile of exploding metal parts. Other doors branch off, leading deeper into the mine. The pony behind the desk turns to her guests her smile anything but friendly. "Apparently ponies are degenerating, losing all sense of manners." she sips some tea, and everyone can feel Rarity cringe.
Rarity walks out and slaps down the ingot Magpie Gem had given them "We need to see all your records of all your clients, specifically who you sold this ingot to, we have a serial number so just give us access to the records and we will deal with it and be gone." Rarity even attempts to stare down the Pony like Fluttershy does, but well... "Well that put's me in a spot of trouble doesn't it, we don't keep records, never have, just stamped the serial numbers on the bars at random. We have so many clients that I couldn't possibly remember them all." A smile, a real insincere smile, Discord himself couldn't do better. "So I guess run along, I can't help you, and I got work." She leans over and starts tinkering with the cannon again.
The silence is deafening broken only by the tiny metal tings of her tools tapping the cannon. Twilight spreads open her wings and points at them "Seriously? did you not notice or..." The mare looks up from her cannon "Your problem not mine, are you lost?" she twisted another bolt then looks back at her work.
More silence, they stare almost not believing their eyes. Anger bubbles under all of them, Dash and Apple are shaking in anger. Twilight quickly tries to remedy this "We're not leaving until we figure this out, and with the power of Celestia we require your help." The mare sighs "Damn it you really aren't going, didn't want to have to risk..." Taking a few steps she swivels the cannon, moving with more grace than Rainbow Dash.
"Suck on it Celestia spawn." She says pointing it directly at Twilight's head.
Boom Twilight narrowly ducks to the side as the cannonball buries it'self in the wall behind where her head was. Another bounces of the ground near her prone body. The cannon swivels chasing her, trying to hit her, firing almost 2 balls a second. The next one stops a hair away from her face, held still by Rarity's magic. Quickly she throws up a shield, the next few impacts jarring her, draining her fast.
She only has to hold it for a few moments through the cannon turns it's aim to target Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who have charge up to attack the Pony. Both of them have to jump nearly halfway across the room to avoid the deadly steel, and it again's turns to fire at Twilight. Less than a single shot hits her shield when her friends are again on the pony, snarling at her.
She looks calm as she forces them back, as if this is nothing more than a minor distraction, with a leap she land near on of the exits, bolting through it as fast as her legs can carry her "Damnit, and kaboom." she says obviously referring to the cannon, which explodes a heartbeat later. The ponies duck to the ground, the deadly shrapnel flying overhead.
"Anyone hurt?" asks Twilight as she stands, her wings spread authority radiating off her. The soldiers and the elements all stand all except one. The grey mare from earlier, the one who always seem'ed to be assisting Meyers, she lay clutching her throat, her eyes wide as she gurgles, a metal rod from the cannon pinning her to the ground. Meyers crys out and rushes to her side, wrapping his hoofs around her, tears already flowing.
Ever-pony other than the 2 of them share a look, and soon other than a few guards to protect the two, the squad plunges into the mines after the murderer. As they run Apple asks Twi, "Did you find out her name?" but goes quiet and back off seeing the dark expression on the Alicorn's face one that only darkens when... A pick lances out of the dark, burying it'self in the orange ponies shoulder. A grinning skeleton pulls it back blood and a tuft of orange fur clinging to it. Another swing interrupted by a huge blast of purple magic that impales the wall behind it with shards of bone and steel. "You alright? asks one of the soldiers, helping Applejack to her feet "Yep, that confirms the connection at least, I'll be fine, been hurt worse on the farm, but I'll be limping from now on." She waves them on "I'll go back and stay with Meyers, don't want to slow y'all down."
The soldiers all look at Twilight, and she wonders for a moment when she suddenly became their leader. With a sigh she send Apple off and the group continues down the mine-shaft, more cautiously this time, now that it's not just a chase. A few other skeletons loom out as they proceed, easily dispatched since they seem distracted and only have pickaxes. Eventually they enter a larger area, dispatching a few of the skeletons labourers quickly before they can react. A shaft leading back to the surface, another delving deeper into the mountain. "Dammit which way did she go?" Rainbow snort angrily.Twilight looks around. "Rainbow Dash and I will check the surface, wings will let us scout it quickly. Since their are skeletons down here the rest of you stick together." With a few nods the groups separate.
The two of them jump up and fly quickly up the shaft, soon they emerge from the tunnel labelled 4. Quickly they trot to the exit and up ahead they hear voices. Twilight motions for Dash to be quiet, and they creep just close enough that they can see.
The Mare is up just outside the mine speaking to the bulky colt that they had left unconscious in front of the mine. "So they found out? is this gonna be a problem." He asks she shakes her head "we got the last few live miners out, but the two thousand skeletons will wipe them out." He looks upset at this "But what about?.." "Sorry, I know but your grandfathers gone, they got him while they were chasing me." He snorts in anger but stops when she hold her hand over his muzzle. "You think that's bad, they totalled my husband too, I don't even know how I'm gonna tell little Silent Gear about it, she was expecting something special for her birthday."
He sighs "Well let's blow the entrance then, hopefully we can brush it off as a mining accident in the reports. Least that Spawn is gonna die." He trots over to the plunger that had been set up since they had entered. Suddenly he falls as a rainbow smack into him and his ribs audibly crack. Twilight just has time to realize that Dash is no longer beside her as the mare receives a similar treatment. Twilight erupts out of cover rushing to the mares aid as Rainbow starts slamming her hoofs into her head. "No Rainbow we need her alive." She says tackling Rainbow off of her and snapping out of her blood-lust. Dash shakes it off and lets Twilight handle the now very unconscious mare. "Snot right, should have hit her at the start, then that soldier would be alive." she mutters glaring at the mine.
"Better get them out of there as soon as we can."
"Shiny MARBLES!" cries Rarity diving to the ground and rolling, five pickaxes plunging into the ground where she had been standing. and she's not the only one. Pinkie currently kicking a skeleton that had crawled out of a hole, and the soldiers are fighting dearly, barely holding the ground they stand on.
It's not that the skeletons are hard to fight or anything, but their are just so many of them, another dozen emerging from the tunnels and rushing them. A soldier goes down, the injury to her head instantly lethal.
Pinkie Pie kick another one off her and comes to Rarity aid, shattering one of the skeletons with a powerful kick, giving the soldiers a few second to clear a few more. Just up ahead they can see the shaft, leading up to wherever Twilight and Dash went. "It's not much farther." The pink one says helping a wounded soldier get back before a skeleton manages to drag him away. Rarity uses her magic to pick up a half dozen of the weapons and starts flinging them through the horde of skeletons, covering their retreat.
A few skeletons start running from the room where Applejack and Meyers were presumably. Rarity and Pinkie just look at each other, partly in grief for their friend, party worried about being cut off.
"Yehaw I've got more holed in me legs than a changeling!" cheers Applejack as she bucks a skeleton into powder, her heavily injured legs speaking true. "Meyers, was it wise drugging her? sure she can't feel it now, but..." Meyers hold up a hoof at the medic, spearing another skeleton with his spear "You keep hitting us with it, if you stop we all die."
Almost half way back up the shaft, the remaining members of their squad were impressively still alive, mostly because of the large amounts of drugs that the medic had been injecting them with. One of the soldiers didn't even have skin on a patch of his head anymore, and was spearing skeletons with his own bone visible.
They take a few more steps, seeing the upper door, the only unhurt pony, the medic helping them each. She squeal in pain as a pick digs deep into her needle shaped cutie mark, a skeleton hiding beyond the door attacking her.
Pinkies hair had recovered, Rarity noted, she smiles at the ironic development. Up above Rainbow Dash fly down from the tunnel up, screaming as she witnesses the same thing.
For somehow managing to grip a pick in both hoofs Pinkie jumps into the middle of the horde her axes swinging, screaming at the top of her lungs. Rarity ushers the soldiers up ahead of her, half limping the other half stumbling incoherently. The skeletons all appear to have focused their attacks on Pinkie. "Dash, be a dear and when she's done bring her up." says Rarity, looking more than a little worried.
Dash hovers over Pinkie, letting her distract the skeletons. Pinkie... well she appears to be winning, slamming left and right already standing on a decent pile of skeletons already. But even as she watches Pinkie takes a hit, she fights wildly without care, fighting recklessly. Dash reaches to pull her out, but glancing at the injured pones climbing out and pauses, giving them just a little more time.
"OK that's high enough." she drops reaching for Pinkie. A shocking pain hits her as one of Pinkies swings take a chunk out of her hoof, pulling back her eyes widen as she sees foam dripping from Pinkies lips. "Crap." Being more careful this time she reaches down avoiding the random swinging axes and grabs Pinkie and with a flap of her wings takes off bursting up towards her friends.
Holding the mare Twilight notices her friends arriving, climbing out one by one, fewer soldier than she remembers. First comes Rarity, stumbling out holding one of the soldiers, nursing a broken horn. Rainbow Dash emerges next, dragging Pinkie Pie, assisted by a couple of soldiers, Twilight stands looking worried, especially once she notes that Pinkie is fighting and biting them. Dash groans "Pinkie went crazier than usual, was ripping those skeletons apart with her hoofs."
"I can fix that." says another pony emerging from the cave, as the little medic drags an unconscious Meyers behind her, "Got some drugs that will help just give me a moment." A couple of really badly injured soldiers emerge and help her bring Meyers to all the others. "Where's Applejack." asks Rarity a little panic in her voice. The medic injects something into Pinkie calming her as she speaks "I'm sorry, when the skeletons started attacking me Applejack charged them, so I could drag out wounded away, she didn't make it out."
Rarity bursts into tears falling to the ground "NO! She can't be gone, we were just..." She sobs covering her eyes "Fluttershy, now Applejack..." Each of the ponies look at her with sadness in their eyes, glancing back at the cave, the maw of it feeling unnaturally dark, as if it wanted to consume them all.
"Applejack what?" comes from the darkness, and slowly she puts one foot in front of the other, emerging, looking honestly, rather horrid. She stumbles out, as red as her brother her fur matted with blood, so many holes in her body she looks not unlike a changeling. A pick hangs from her side discarded by a skeletons, her hat is gone as well likely stolen by the same skeletons. She manages to get up to the group, looking at their astonished faces "What?" she looks down at her body "Rotting Cores, that explains the dizziness." moments before she collapses she mutters "I lost my hat."
The little medic pony rushes to her side, already unfurling bandages. Twilight looks down at the mare that has caused all this trouble "Better start moving, need to get her out of this valley before the locals notice us."