When an innocent dream get real but turn out for the worst
This is the dark sequal to "Happy Birthday Boulder" It is not required to have been read, but it gives you a good look into Maud´s Character for this story.
Maud´s dream had come true all thoose years have finally paid off, it was the happiest day of her life, but things have gone wildly out of control since that happy day.
The light of Luna´s majestic moon barely broke through the leaves as some shadowy figures ran beneath them. The grey earthpony pushed jumped and slided through the branches in hope to shake off the pursuers. The green eyes of the pony were constantly scanning the surroundings for the enemies.
"This is not right. It can´t be"
The ghostly sheme of the hunting horse was just alongside behind some bushes. In panic were the grey hooves were pushed in the ground to turn around, but the seeker had noticed it early and had jumped at a tree to repel off of it. A huge dust cloud rised up from the point were the shadowy figure has landed, emerged in shadows and dust the figure came closer step by step. As the mare stood before him he felt small and weak, despise the fact he was alot bigger than her. She starred at him with a gaze that he had seen by some monsters before. Deep rooted hatred and the total absence of respect for his life. These emerald green eyes barely recognized him as any living creature at all. She was fast way to fast to outrun her. To strong to fight her. And to angry to let him go.
"Nopony will take him away from me."
Slowly the grey stallion tried to back off but the mare kept him in close distance. How had it come to this? He was a professional monster hunter. He had fought Manticores, catched an Orthrus, his cages were full of creatures from the most dangerous cave in Equestria, but this request was to big for him. The leathery wings spread from her back. He knew what lied ahead of him. When he tried to ambush the mare with the squad of the royal guard it was the same. The screams of the young stallions echoed in his mind. The picture of the crushed head will haunt him even if he is somehow able to escape her. The young stallion that had barely outgrown the colts age was the first victim of this mare. How could Celestia let him go with him? Why did he not refused to take this innocent ponies with him? He should have gone alone that way his carelessness would had not led to that many deaths.
"With Celestia as my witness. I am not going down without a fight."- The stallion screamed throwing his hooves up in the air, before his muscular body rushed towards the mare. Sixtytwo percent. Sixtytwo percent was his chance, so he had claimed if he had to go alone. Thanks to that now eight ponies were dead. He had underestimated the situation. Glowing red eyes starred at him. He could feel his limbs getting heavier and stiff. He had not calculated the ponyfactor. Even thought Princess Celestia had specifically warned him about it. Celestia you were wrong as well. Maudlin Latoya Pie was the monster! Not the cockatrice riding on her back. His hooves had already turned into solid stone and slowly the rest of his limbs will follow. If he could just knock out the mare so he could at least fullfill his task. Grey hooves met with cold stone. Panic was all over the stallions face as his petrified foreleg was shattered into pieces. This mare that had just chopped off his limb with a singular strike had done the same with every single royal guard befor this. There was no pain, only the cold realisation that nothing could ever rescue him from his fate. The petrification had already reached his hips. No more moving. No more evading. The mare curshed what previously his chest. His statue like body broke into chunks. He could see his lower part still standing as he was lying on the ground between it and the mare. His neck had become stiff as well a few more seconds and he was gone. His ears twitched as he looked at this beautiful and dangerous mare as she spoke the last words he would ever hear in a absolut calm voice.
"Tonight we eat pony."
Maud petted the cockatrice face as they looked into eachothers eyes. After that she smashed the fully petrified head of the stallion into bite-sized pieces.
It was a typical day in Ponyville. The south field was soaked and muddy because some Pegasi messed up the weather schedule. The local bakery switched from a fine shop to a place of insanity on a quite regular basis. If it was not for Discord Pinkie Pie would be what poinies would think of as the incarnation of chaos, thought Bon Bon. The earthpony trotted around town square her pale yellow fur shimmering in the evening sun. The spa was a great way to spend your time with. She was living in Ponyville for the last seven years. She had been here when Nightmare Moon returned and became Princess Luna, she was witness of the second comming of Discord as well as the rampage of Lord Tirek. She had seen the legendary Elements of Harmony bloom and withered and transformed. The rise of the fourth and birth of fifth Princesses of Equestria had gone by before her eyes as well. All this years she had spend with her good friend Lyra Heartstrings, a unicorn of noble birth but none of the manners. A pony that, if she was honest with herself, she had conflicting feelings for. Overall life has been pretty good to her the last years. Besides an easy going job to maintain her cover she had nothing to worry about. Most of her time she could spend in peace and quite. What can you say, it was not suppose to stay like this forever. As BonBon looked in the mail box she found a envelope with a single letter on it.
"C?"
Lyra´s golden eyes were watching the empty envelope questioning. The two mares were sitting in the kitchen of their shared apartment. BonBon was always a bit grumpy but this was different.
"What does this mean BonBon?"
The earthpony looked concerned at her mint green unicorn friend. She was already missing her. "Remember the BugBear?"- she waited for a few seconds before she continued- "It means that I want you to either stay in Ponyville or visit your family in Canterlot and stay there. I want to know where to find you for the case things get out of hoof. I am leaving Ponyville immediately. I am already late because of talking to you. Where will you be?"
The two mares sat close to each others in the train to Canterlot. Their hooves were touching, but BonBon was too much trapped in her own mind as if she could enjoy it. She had to say good bye to her old life and and welcome back her older life. Hello, Sweetie Drops. Sayonara, Lyra. Hide let nopony know and do it better than me.
"Have fun with your family. I hope we will see us soon."
Canterlot, the city of the princess, the high towers of the old Canterlot surrounded the Canterlot Castle. Why the ancient unicorns liked to live in great heights on the side of a mountain was beyond her understanding. Most of the old Canterlot was nowadays property of the princesses or the old unicorn bloodlines. To live there means practically to live on castle grounds. The Celestia's school for gifted unicorns was located there. Around that had developed a big city mostly built in earth pony styled houses but way closer than any actual settlement. This city was the city most of the high society was living here. As a rule of hoof the further away from the castle the lesser your social status and right on the the castle ground in one of the old blood unicorn towers had BonBon said good bye to her best friend and her old life. Now she was Special Agent Sweetie Drops again. She walked over the castle grounds wondering what had happend to get her out of retirement.
"If that is not BonBon."
Sweetie Drops faced darkend as she heard that voice coming from behind. Of all the ponies it had to be this one that recognized her. A faked smile on her face she turned around to greet this pain in the flank.
"Ohhh hiiii, what a welcoming surprise to meet you here of all places. How have you been Miss Yearling."
Behind her was the well know author of the Daring Do books. A sand colored pony with grey mane wearing a long purple mantle and grey floppy hat. She trotted next to her and they began a light hearted conversation.
"You know living the dream. Traveling a lot to get inspiration for my books."
"I must admit that Daring Do still fights Ahuizotl has become grating on me."
"Darling that should really not bug you. I just write what the ponies want to read. It´s almost unbearable how wel the last book sold."
"I am just saying that it not speaks for your creativity as a writer... Ohh after you." The earthpony opened the door and let A. K. Yearling stepped inside the room before them. As the door closed behind them turned Miss Yearling her attention fully towards her. The floppy hat was thrown onto the polished floor.
"I have to fight him on my own funds since the agency was shattered! Why was that? Oh yeah, because your stupid Bugbear escaped!"
The tension was high between them.
"Atleast I completed my mission!"
"You had fought a mindless beast! Ahuizotl is intelligent if I confront him on the wrong conditions I am dead!"
A smug grin on Sweetie Drops lips indicated the low respect she felt for Daring Do.
"According to your books he had you a couple of times ready to axe you off."
"I..."- Daring Do struggled to speak it out loud. She was right the only reason she was still alive was because Ahuizotl was a saddist. He enjoys putting her into traps she was not supposed to survive and even if she escaped it barely matters to him. -"What about you?! What did you do the last years, AGENT SWEETIE DROPS? Seducing a rich stallion that paid for your expensive lifestyle. Oh wait my fault..." - Daring Do starred at her with disgust- "...ONE would never be enough for you! You nauseating, loathsome, pest-infested..." with every single word Sweetie Drops anger rised and the Daring Do had achieved quite a vocabulary during her time as a novelist. The things she had done to accomplish her tasks have disgusted her ever since and she had not been able to establish an honest relationship ever since. She didn´t even believe her own heart. Lyra Heartstrings, do I love you or do I use you. -"...repugnant..."
"That´s enough Agent Daring Do!"
The two mares were silenced by the soft spoken word of their master. Princess Celestia had entered the room and demanded their attention.
The radiant white alicorn stood infront of two of her most loyal subjects. The earthpony and pegasus bowed their head before her almost touching the ground with their muzzles. At this moment the world might as well not exist because all that mattered what the princess in front of them that started to speak in a concerned tone as if the fate of the nation was in danger:
"My ladies I wished I had not to send after you. There has occurred a problem that I need your aid with. I hope you forgive me the disturbance in your new lives."
Unisono the two mares replied: "My life is yours my liege. Dispose of me as you like." It made Celestia sad to see these ponies are still fully committed to her after all this years, that mean so much to their short lives. She almost wished they would have refused to appear before her.
"We received messages of the western border beyond the smokey mountains about a rampaging manticore. As the royal guards arrived the manticore was already handled with. A citizen of Equestria had single hoovendly saved the village."
Sweetie Drops and Daring Do had lifted asked their heads. The pegasus asked: "Why is that a problem?"
Celestias horn lit up in a golden magic aura as her face darkend a little.
"Because of the method!"
A giant boulder levitate in their sight. In the light of the aura examine the rock. Half of the face of a ferocious lion, the mane wild and vivid. Way to fine for even the skillest of all sculptor. This was not a statue but the remains of the manticore. Daring Do gasped:
"Petrifying...?"
"No, Miss Do. For ponykind, the petrification Magic is impossible to achive without the Elements of Harmony and only the magic of the Tree of Harmony can reverse its victims. Characteristically cockatrices avoid contact with ponykind this one had lost this trait. We are dealing with a domestic cockatrice."
The agents looked at the broken head of the manticore. They would not be here if this was an accident.
Your majesty,..." Sweetie Drops had run the situation in her mind and had started to wonder -"if that pony is that dangerous and only the magic of the Tree of Harmony can resist it. Why don´t you activate the Bearer of the Elements of Harmony?" Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends have been the go to solution for the most dangerous of situation for the last years.
"The master of the cocktrice is the earthpony Maudlin Latoya Pie. She is the beloved sister of Pinkamena Diane Pie, the Bearer of the Element of Optimism or Laughter as it is known today. If she is forced to fight her, to banish her or worse to kill her own sister. The element of Laughter could be silenced.-" Celestia took a deep breath before she continued, the following words seem to be a lot heavier to speak out even now more than a thousand years later -"When I banished Princess Luna, me and my sister lost the connection to the elements. We can not risk it happen again. Since the magic has become part of their bodies... Who knows if there will ever be another group that can wield this magic." Celestia watched the room with sad eyes. The Anti Monster Agency for many centuries this had been the replacement for the Elements of Harmony. Hundrets of ponies willing to die for the nation. How much Celestia hated this place with all the sad memories. How much she hated the thought that she might have to re establish it. She had hoped to be able to close this chapter of her life, but once again her past followed her into the present.
Agent Sweetie Drop face entered a state of absolute disbelief: "Let me get this straight! We have to capture a cockatrice that is not afraid of ponies?"
Daring Do shaked her head: "Stealing a pet from an earthpony? Is the royal guard really not capable of that? Princess this looks small compared to Ahuizotl."
"You are not the first one to underestimate this task. This is what Maudlin Latoya Pie did to the last group that tried to take her pet away."
Pieces of stones, disembodied limbs, hooves and heads, flew alongside of pictures of the victims towards them.
"Is that...? Is that Cratos the Ancient Beast Dealer?"
Sweetie Drops and Daring Do looked at eachother in shock. He had been part of the agency. After the disbandment he had made monsterhunting his business and now he was nomore.
"I know I am asking the impossible of you, but if it is possible then Maudlin Latoya Pie has to survive this. You get anything you need to accomplish your task. Including theses."
Celestias horn lit up again and bringing forth some pieces of jewelry. Amulettes formed after the appearance of an alicorn and a red ruby in the center. Sweetie Drops backed off and shouted: "No! Not the Alicorn Amulett. I have seen what they do to ponies. The unicorn, Trixie has gone mad with their power."
Celestia smiled kindly and explained to her: "The Alicorn Amuletts were never designed to be used by unicorns. Their access to magic is too direct. Why do you think the Agency never had a single unicorn in their ranks but I have a School for gifted unicorns."
Celestia was looking worried after the golden chariot with the two special agents hiding behind the walls as it flew away to the west. How often has she to send her little ponies into dangerous situations just to maintain the illusion of safety? To sit dormant on her throne of thorns as if nothing of concern happens in Equestria. As long the princess rest her head in Canterlot everything is going in a peaceful trot, had the bards once song and it had stuck with the ponies to this day. No longer she could simply jump into action as she did a few centuries ago. When she had responded to the Parasprites infestation in Fillydelphia, she had to learn once again that her presence in Canterlot was not just a formality. She was bound to her offical schedule, chained by the trust put into her and this time she could not even send her most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle to deal with the situation... The princess stepped back into her chamber with all the worrisome thoughts as she saw a particular creature in the room floating. Discord the draconequus, Lord of Chaos and former foe of ponykind and a rather unpleasant new ally. Nonetheless she looked at him with pleading eyes as she begged him:
"Please reconsider your choice Discord. I beg you to deal with the cockatrice on behalf of these poor ponies."
The head of a horse with deer and antelope antler, the slick snake like body, the bat wing and the pegasus wing. His eagle claw and lion paw as well as dragon and a goat leg. All of it turned green in the span of a second and pink polka dots appeared allong with it. His yellow eyes starred at his hands then back at her.
"Looks like I have developed an allergy against being turned into stone, Celestia. Even thinking about it gives me the creeps."
"This is not a laughing matter..."
The pink dots on his body turned into little pink pony-heads with a bubbly mane that start to giggle uncontrollable.
"Pardon me but I believed it was a matter of laughter."
"Discord! You know that they can not get involved..."
A giant poorly made oversized hand puppet of her on Discords claw yelled back at her in her own voice: "...in this! Stop lying to yourself! You should have trust in them like you always had." Discord, back to his natural colors, and the giant hand puppet nodded to each other before he throw it out of the window. The puppet screamed in fear before it hit the castle ground: "How could you betray me like that..."
"In any case"- Discord said after the last gasp of the puppet was silenced -"If you send me after her sister I will tell them. You are lucky if I don´t do it anyway."
Great, just great. She was sitting next to the most unpleasant pony she had ever forced to work with. Still they could see Canterlot sitting on the mountain. What had Celestia thought how that will turn out? That they just become a good team? The overall situation hit Sweetie Drops on the stomach. She starred at the Alicorn Amulett in her hooves and remembered the day Trixie came to Ponyville with one of them around her neck. How it slowly turned her mad the longer she had used it. She was not going to use it. Of course, the worst part of the task was Daring Do. The arrogant agent that never finished her job. She had become popular due her books and every little filly knows about her. How are they going to work this out at least subtle with all the attention she and her alias A.K. Yearling are getting by the puplic? So they flew towards the last known location of their target.
