Everyone knows about the newest resident of Ponyville. He was a criminal of some kind, was locked away, but was since paroled. He is quiet and keeps to himself, but it’s clear to some he is hiding something.
His name is Mister Green Hill. He’s an Earthpony stallion recently released from prison.
But Nopony knows where.
He has admitted to breaking the law in the past.
But Nopony knows what.
He wears thick Iron horseshoes all the time.
But Nopony knows why.
He lives with his sister and seems to have a job that takes him out of town for a few days at a time.
But Nopony knows what.
That’s really all anypony knows.
He is rather...anonymous?
Special thanks to Aprion and Irrespective for helping get this off the ground.
The dream is always the same. Cold and Pitch black. Nothing to see, just the sensation of being cramped down into a ball. Only enough room to breathe, but only just enough. Panic doesn’t set in, no point in panic, just wind up writhing around in a tizzy, using up air that isn’t there. I suppose it would be akin to being in the womb, but wombs are warm and soft, and there always a prospect of getting out, being swaddled up in a blanket. Being loved. This wasn’t that. This was purgatory.
The tapping finally begins to register, getting louder and louder, painfully slow, till it’s so loud it rattles my teeth.
The loudest crack yet breaks through to me, pitch black turns to blinding white and yet somehow it’s even colder than before.
——————-
Opening my eyes, I find myself in my room. Gripping the heavy comforter, with a cold sweat gripping me. It’s early summer but I always sleep with a heavy blanket, just for this reason; that dream.
I’m not really sure why my mind always comes back to that moment. It was bad but not the worst of it. Not back then. It just got worse after.
I allow the blanket to fall back to the bed. Stiff joints and a full bladder stagger me to the bathroom. Business to see to.
Washing up, I get a good lather of soap going. The sensation is calming in a way, I don’t understand why. Looking in the mirror, reveals that more than a few days of stubble has formed into the early makings of a beard. I’ve got the time. I use the suds to foam up my face, the straight razor and scissors are laid out neatly on a towel there after.
————-
No nicks today.
Coming down the steps I can see that my caretaker is already gone for the morning. It’s Saturday. That means Bon Bon is out with her foalhood friend.
That’s nice.
Settling for an orange, I expertly peel it in a way that would make even a unicorn jealous. I don’t really like oranges all that much. But again the act of peeling is also soothing.
It’s Saturday, I recall. That means it’s grocery day. The list is in its usual place on the ice box. Taking the list down I read the contents. Basics really: milk and eggs, strawberries, yogurt, a bag of hay, couple cobs of corn,...apples.
I can’t help but cringe a bit at that entry. There was only one place to get apples here in town and I swear the mare that runs it could see right into me. She was nice enough, in a wary way, but so was everypony else. No, she had a way of looking at me, with those eyes, those green eyes. Something unnatural about them. But there’s nothing wrong with green.
———-
Closing the door behind me, I adjust my saddle bags. It’s mid morning by now, and many residents of Ponyville are up and about, tending to the wonted needs of small town life.
Ms.Sunrise next door is out tending to her prized strawberries. The latch of the door catching her attention. “Good morning, Green Hill.” she calls out to me giving me a neighborly wave, even if it’s forced. I am grateful, giving her a slight bow of my head with a small smile but not lingering too long. I don’t really want to talk. I doubt she wants to talk either.
Using a hoof I adjust my caparison. As I mentioned, it’s early summer, but I won’t leave home without it on. I just feel better with it.
It’s probably more akin to a shawl or body scarf, I suppose. It covers my chest and withers, then trails to my back before stopping at my tail. Thankfully it’s a light enough material that it breathes nicely, and it’s green. I like green.
Standing on the welcome mat I take stock of everything I need, plus preparing for what I am doing.
‘List, wallet, bags, caparison, shoes’.
Don’t know why I always include them, the shoes I mean. There attached to me after all. But they are always on my mind. That’s probably the point. A reminder.
My path set, my checklist finished, I move forward. The sound of the iron on my hooves clunking a bit as I make the short trip off the cobblestone. The sound is mercifully muted once I hit the open dirt of the main road.
Just another day in the rest of my life as ‘Mister Green Hill’.
———-
I am startled by a dark grey hoof that slams on the table top next to me. The clink of metal and dull gleam tells me it’s a bit, as well as whom it belongs to. That can only mean he has another guess.
“You were the leader of a group of bandits out of the Badlands, until your misdeeds caught up to you as well as the law.”
I slowly turn my head in response to this accusation that was summarily placed next to me.
“I’m right, aren’t I.” He says eagerly waiting my reply. His name is Thunderlane. A carefree, likeable stallion. His crisp Mohawk and wings seem to twitch in anticipation for my response. Sadly, I must once again disappoint him.
“One: There is no law in the Badlands, that’s why they are bad. Two: Bandits are more likely to be executed, or if somehow captured are given, at minimum, a life sentence in a detention center.” Each point diminishes his enthusiasm a bit before he perks up as he realizes something.
“That would be something only a bandit would know!” He says pointing a knowing hoof at me.
“Or someone who was a convict, and you already know that I was.” I respond flatly.
The mare behind the counter looks a bit nervous at how candid he and I are talking about this, but it’s not like it’s a secret of what I was. It’s been a month and though folks are still a little tense around me; good faith, courtesy, and having a reputable ‘sister’ vouching for me have made things...livable.
‘How long will that last?’ I shake myself from those thoughts. They are toxic. Unproductive.
“Come on! That has to be it!” Thunder whines as he comes closer trying to look me in the eyes for any trace of deception.
“Why does that ‘have to be it’? I ask taking the potatoes from the counter and places them into the burlap bag before tying it off with a nip of my teeth.
“Well you got those cuts on you.” He says eluding to a few scars on my legs and side. “And your mark-“ I can’t help but flinch away from his hoof as he brings it to my back leg. It’s not subtle, but I hope he doesn’t notice. His expression says he does. “...sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I breathe in through my nose. It’s fine. I’m fine. “My mark is an off centered compass.” I respond quietly, steadying myself on the stall table. “It means I’m lost.” I say bitterly, knowing how close to the mark that is. Literally.
“That will be two bits Mr. Green Hill.” The salesmare says, politely cutting through the tension. That was mean of me, to make her apart of this.
Shaking it off, I straighten myself up before smiling. “He’s paying.” I motion to Thunderlane, my meek smile going smug.
“WHAT? Me?” He exclaims.
“You made your guess today, pay the mare.”
“It’s one bit a guess!” Thunder harrumphs with his arms crossed indignantly.
“One bit per guess. Two bits for a repeat.” Placing the potato sack in my bag I wait for it to sink in. Don’t want to panic the mare thinking I am going to run off without paying.
“When did I guess bandit?” The pegasus protests.
“Two weeks ago when I was supposedly in the Mcintosh hills robbing stage coaches.”
“That’s totally different!”
“How?” I challenge.
“Bandits...don’t...uhm.” His gusto flounders as he looks to the mare for help. Instead she simply shrugs with a smile and holds out a hoof to him to complete the payment.
“Dang-it.” He grumbles before digging out his wallet and laying the second gold coin out. The sale made legal I give the mare a nod, wordlessly asking permission to leave. She returns the gesture, and even gives me a smile. It’s not much, but it’s enough. I turn and make my way further in the market.
I still need apples. I’d put it off, hoping that I would get lucky and her brother would be running the cart today. No such luck. I can see her from here, her Stetson helping her stand out from the crowd of ponies.
“Got a thing for country girls?” Thunderlane gives me a nudge when he sees my gaze.
Immediately I look away.
“Hey, hey, hey,” He chides me, “No shame in liking her. As earth mares go, she is quite the specimen.” He tries to reassure me, but he doesn’t really get it.
I don’t really like her like that. At least I think I don’t. I admit she is pretty. No, it’s more she makes me nervous. Like she knows something about me, that I don’t want anypony to know. Yes, that’s it.
Having Thunderlane around making me question myself is somewhat nerve racking in of itself. Constantly putting me onguard. But he means well, I suppose.
“I-I just need some apples.” I straighten myself out, hoping to hide the red in my cheeks.
“If you say so brony.” He says reassuringly, but I can still sense his smirk. “On an unrelated note, the guys and I are heading to Berry’s tonight, you should come.” Another nudge gives him my full attention.
“I can’t. It’s a violation of my parole to drink.
“I know, I know. But you don’t need to drink with us to have fun. Just come out. I’m sure you can convince your sister to let you off the chain. Hay, bring Bon Bon with, she’s kinda cute.” Also not your type, I internally quip.
“Thunderlane, I really-“ I try to protest but he cuts me off. Placing an arm on my back which causes me to freeze up.
“Hill, you are never going to get back into the world by hiding from it.” He tightens his grip, causing me to hold my breath. I am trying not to panic, everything should be fine, but I am still on edge. “I don’t know what you did ( I will figure it out,)” he smarms under his breath, ”but if your here it means you served you your time, your square with the house. It’s time to start living again.” He mercifully let’s go.
I lower my head in relief, but even through the hysteria his words still find there way to me. “Just promise me you will think about it, okay?” He gives me a bump to my shoulder.
I look up at him. I don’t know why he is so nice to me. Maybe it’s because I am a mystery to him, or maybe I look like I need propping up. Either way, it was just nice to have somepony to talk to.
“Okay.” I acquiesce, quietly.
“Atta boy.” He says with a reassuring smile. “I actually gotta go, I’m suppose to be working the clouds over near town hall and if Dash finds out I’m not there She will have my primaries in a pinch.” With a kick off from the ground he is airborne. He swoops around a bit and passes me. “9:30 tonight big guy! And remember; Everypony gets a second chance, Hill.” He shouts with a salute as he speeds off.
The encouragement is there but I can’t help but feel glum by that, “Yeah...everypony.”
————————
“And there he is.” The applemare greets me cheerfully. “Thought Ah saw yah in and out of the crowd, sug’. Don’t tell me you’ve been avoidin’ me now?”
I cringe a bit, kicking myself for my lack of subtlety. “N-No Miss.”
Yah haven't?" She asked, and I couldn't help but step backward as she gave me that look.
"N-no, honest." I replied to her. "I just have had a lot to do lately, and I haven't had time to chat." Partial truth, it was: my mind had been occupied with other matters - like staying out of trouble, for one - and the art of conversation was not a strong point for me. I wouldn't know what to say to her anyway.
"Well, ah tell yah what: if you can talk to me for a solid five minutes then the apples are on me today."
Oh nuts.
She was calling my bluff. I could see it in her eyes, and my ears folded back.
"That's all right, I would rather pay for them." I reply. "The last thing I need right now is to be accused of stealing."
"Ain't stealing if ah give 'm to yah." She replied. "And if you ain't avoiding me then this should be easy."
"Miss Applejack...I... I don't even know what to talk about." I admit.
"Don't matter to me, just start talkin'. The weather, who's walking by right now, how yah like Ponyville so far, somethin' juicy ‘bout Bon Bon, the gravel on the road, whatever. Just pick a topic."
She was pushing hard for this. Why? Was she trying to test me? See how I would react if pushed? If I would let something slip? Somehow I doubted running away would be an option, so I pondered the safest course.
Ponyville seemed a safe bet, and the sooner I complied with her request the sooner I could get on with the day. "Ponyville... is...a nice place, I suppose. It's very serene."
"How so?"
"Well,” I searched my recent memories choosing my words carefully as well as avoiding her gaze. “The woods. I like the woods and the ponds nearby. There's a lot of nice quiet places to think. I like to just sit, sometimes. Listen to the birds, and the wind in the leaves. I'll go running sometimes through Whitetail Wood, just to help clear my mind."
"What are yah trying to clear out?”
Nice try.
"Random thoughts. They come and go. Most of them don't mean anything."
Those green eyes started to bore a hole clean through my soul. I knew she knew I wasn't telling her everything.
"Random, huh?"
"Y-yeah. I just.... I just think a lot. About nothing."
"I feel where yer coming from."
"You do?"
"Sure. There's lots o' times when I'm out in the orchard by myself, and the darndest thoughts’ll just wander in and pull up a seat. I let 'em run around for a bit, then shoo 'm out once ah'm done with 'm. Taint no harm in that."
"I wish there wasn't." I mutter.
"Wasn't what?"
"Nothing." I replied with a shake of my head. "I need to get going. Twenty apples, please."
The Apple farmer gave me the look again for a brief moment, but she quickly placed my order in a gunny sack and passed it over without saying anything. When I offered her the bits needed for payment, however, she smiled and shook her head.
"Yah gave me five minutes, so they're on me.”
“I don’t feel right about that.”
“I laid the terms and stand by ‘em. An’ if anypony gives you trouble about it, just tell 'm to come talk to me."
"...thanks." I softy offer.
"Just don't be such a stranger. Ah don't bite."
And as I walked away, I heard her playfully call out: "Well, not hard anyway."
————————-
My face a blushing mess, I manage to casually kick up some dirt and distance myself from the bustling market. My hooves already pointing south, I follow them true until I come to one of Ponyville’s many hoofbridges. Stepping up the stonework, the iron on my frogs seem to chime louder than I know they truly do.
The Sun is beginning to reach the tops of the trees. I wager it’s nearly ten. A quick glance towards the ponyville clocktower confirms my suspicion. Only about seven minutes till ten.
Nothing really left to do today.
Feeling this is a good place to rest as any, I gently lower my saddle bags, laden with supplies, to the ground, propping them against the side of the bridge.
With a heavy sigh, I too, lean up against the bridge. The coarse feel of the stone bristling against my skin. Looking down into the clear water below I spot little fish swimming in the stream below. I observe as they zig zag through the reeds and lilies that sway in the gentle push of the water. Their silvery bodies flash in the sunlight as they make their way downstream, to the river and waters well beyond, simply doing what came naturally to them.
I envy them, in a way. In my quieter moments, I truly wish I would've taken a greater chance, just run, without stopping, simply kept going till I reached the end of this world. But my sensibilities creep back. This was the better choice, the one that kept me out of…
I let out a shudder as once again there is that chill. Running a fetlock to my chest I'm once again grateful for my trusty choice in attire, even if it makes me stand out.
‘No. This is better.” Things are flimsy now, but in time, maybe, they will settle, and I can have...something more.
I’m not sure what that could be, or if I believe it, but really don’t have an alternative. I need to do my best and make this work. ‘I can’t go back, I won’t go back.”
Taking a deep calming breath, I shut my eyes and just enjoy the water flowing beneath me. The Sun rejuvenating me as it shines down on my fur.
A twist of an ear picks up a familiar voice coming closer. My stomach twists a bit as I prepare myself for what must follow.
“...can you believe it? I mean I knew her back in Canterlot and now she’s- oh hey Green!” The chipper voice belongs to a mint green unicorn whom I have come to know quite well in my time here in Ponyville. Lyra Heartstrings. She treats me nice enough, though she seems to be just as nosy as the rest of the town. But one could chalk that up to rural gossip.
The issue of her arrival comes with whom will most likely follow be alongside her. Bon Bon, agreed to oversee my life outside, as well as provide me a place to stay. While she wasn’t cruel or petty, it was clear from day one her obligation to help me wasn’t completely voluntary.
“Hello, Lyra.” I politely acknowledge, before turning to my sister.
She is kind enough to keep a pleasant face in front of her friend, but there’s a certain contempt that manages to sneak through. That’s just reserved for me.
“Shoppin’ huh? Such a good little brother!” Lyra chatters on obviously, before eagerly nosing her way into the bags. “Whatcha get?”
“You saw the list?” Bon Bon speaks, her gaze hard.
“Yes.” I respond resolutely.
“Woohoo! Apples!” The unicorn chirps, helping herself to one of the red fruit, munching away happily.
“Hey Lyra?” The stone wall she put up breaks as she looks past me, her expression softening. “I just need a minute or two to talk to Green Hill before we go.”
Lyra looks between us with a mouthful of apple, before giving her a nod. “Sure, but lighten up on the stallion Bonny, he’s doing a good job. You are Green.” I give her a thankful smile even as Bon Bon wordless my walks back down the bridge. She makes no effort to turn around, she just assumes I will follow. Like a dog.
Which I do of course.
“Got a jump on shopping, that’s good.” She says good but nothing about her tone says it’s praise.
“I did. Got everything on the list, even saved some bits on apples.”
“How?” She turns sharply at this.
“Miss Applejack made me a deal. She wanted to talk, so we did.” She still looks suspiciously at me. “She pushed the issue, I couldn’t not talk to her.”
“What did she ask about?”
“I talked. It’s fine, I kept it pretty neutral.” This response obviously doesn’t please her. “What would you have me do? I am just trying to get along with ponies here without ruffling any feathers.”
“You know what I would have you do.” Her words have venom, but they are not without some merit. They still sting though. After a moment she does seem to show some sign of regret for saying them, or at least not being so blunt about it. “What are your plans for the day?” She asks turning away from me.
“Shopping is done. It’s a good day for a run, maybe get some training done too.”
“Where?”
“The old Diamond Dog Quarry, past Applebend. It’s out of the way, secluded.”
“Fine.” She snaps, making me hesitate even bringing up the next part. “Was there something else?”
“...the guys asked...if I could hang out tonight at Berry’s.” She seems legitimately surprised that I would bring it up. To be honest, I surprise myself, but something about talking with Thunder and Applejack makes me just a bit bolder.
She is quick to remind me though, “That’s a violation of-“
“-Only if I drink.” I counter, I pause for a moment, “I just...want feel normal for a little while. Like I am not still being punished.” It’s pathetic that I need to beg to her, but I agreed to this.
“Home by 10:00.” I am actually surprised by this, though I hate pushing my luck, I need to push a little more
“It starts at 9:30.”
“That’s what I am offering.”
“...please.” She actually turns to me, appraising my sincerity with that shriveling gaze she saves just for me.
“...your scruff is under our roof by 10:30. On the dot. No excuses.” She turns away and begins to walk back to the bridge where Lyra gives me a sympathetic smile, though I can’t help but wonder how many apples are left in the bag. Said bags are then hefted onto Bon Bon’s back as she waves me off to the south, into the direction of the quarry.
It’s a small sign of appeasement, and I will take it. Especially if it means I can just go. With a nod I turn about and begin heading in the direction of the woods.
With my stride it doesn’t take long to reach the top of the hill.
I don’t even bother turning around, instead I opt to begin running. The wind surging past my ears as I pick up speed. The trees become more thick as I leave behind the cleared patches of grass and move into the more wild outskirts of the town. But that’s the point, a chance to leave it behind to be me, the real me. My speed has yet to level out as I can feel it; a surge of power coming from my hooves, pushing past the oppressive iron, nourishing me, giving me strength.
The gaps between trees are becoming less and less and I can see the dark of the Everfree close in. Ponies fear to go in there, afraid of the creatures that lie within. But I don’t fear them. I am no pony.
With a final burst, I am airborne. Twisting mid air I feel magic begin to crackle and dissipate around me as I press my front hooves together, canceling out the spell that keeps me hidden and contained.
I land on my feet, my hands steadying me for a moment before bringing me to my full height, my caparison, altered with me forming a primitive toga, to provide protection for my furless skin. The iron horse shoes how shifted to a duel set of bracelets and anklets; a safeguard for me and those who are giving me this chance, this chance to be free in the world again.
I feel the magic of the planet itself surge beneath. I relax and allow some of that energy to flow into me. It’s warm and I feel it from the tips of my fingers and toes. Cutting myself off from it, I begin running once again, faster this time, bounding over roots and rocks.
I don’t have much time, but will make the most of it.
That’s what I am. I don’t know how I know that, nor do know where I came from originally. Was I of this world? Did I truly form in that hole they found me in all those years ago? Or was I put there and forgotten?
Such are questions that I still have no answer to. Heh, that no one or no pony seems to have answers to; but those can wait for now.
I had been running for the better part of an hour, managing to work up a good sweat in the process. My muscles ache, but in a good way, a happy sort of strain that told me this was overdue.
Getting out like this was one of the few joys I had in this world, where I could be in my own skin and cut loose a little, and I loved every second of it.
Due to the density of the woods I had taken from running to full on bounding through the forest. Feeling particularly energized, I landed on both feet and rocketed myself up, my forward and vertical momentum carrying me high above the forest floor. Another push off the trunk of a tree sent me clear over the tops, sending leaves exploding from their branches in my wake.
This was a risky affair, considering anythat if there were any pegasi who happened to be flying nearby they catch a glimpse of me out here. But the taste of sunlight on my skin was invigorating and worth the risk. Besides, the Everfree was full of oddities, who is to say I am not one of them?
Gravity reasserted itself and I braced myself for what lay below.When I finally came crashing back through the leaves, several branches cracked and snapped against my body, tearing a bit at my former caparison now toga. Regrettable, but nothing a little elbow grease and some thread wouldn't fix. Something to do later in the quiet hours.
Bringing my focus back to the present I take in my surroundings. Estimating my landing point I waited for the right moment. Admittedly my dismount could of been better as I land hard on my feet and clumsily stumble forward. Three weeks ago I would've landed on my face, one week ago I would have been forced to roll with it. This time I managed to at least stay on my feet.
So...progress.
The warmth of the harnessed ambient magic in my body kept me moving forward, kept me from tiring, made me stronger. Even as I expended energy, each new step to the ground replenished it, a perfect synchronization.
Already an oddity for my abnormal appearance, my ability to absorb magic made me dangerous, and I knew why.
‘Stop it.’ I curse myself, crushing those thoughts. ‘Not now.’
I hated how the memories and regrets came so easy, however true they may be. I hadn't come out here to punish myself, I had enough of that from the other places. I came out here to forget, to be free for a time.
The trees began to clear, opening up to a wide desolate expanse of stone and dirt. I was told that this had once been a legitimate site for precious stones until the mine supposedly dried up. It then played host to a group of Diamond Dogs who attempted to scavenge any remaining gems, but even they abandoned it after a while. It had since been declared my unofficially training grounds.
I took a look at the position of the sun. Judging by the look of it, It was nearly noon. That gave me three hours. ‘Let’s get started.’
—————————————
Droplets of sweat dripped past my eyes as I lay my palm on the cold stone at my feet. Closing my eyes I could feel the swirl of energy surrounding the planet. I dug deep, pulling the energy purposely to me, and yet not even taking more than a drop. Every muscle flowed with the power of the planet, my heart pounded in a slow, but booming manner.
After a moment I felt my body relax. I opened my eyes, and lunged forward with a single bound. My target, a large boulder, sat defiantly, riddled with chips and cracks from my previous attempts to shatter it.
‘This time for sure!’ I vowed as I brought my fist back. The wind whipped past my ears as I struck, hitting the target dead center. There was a notable crunch as pieces sheared off, but the boulder remained, solitary and unsplit. I refused to accept this and I struck again with the other fist. Over and over and over again.
It isn’t till the seventh or eighth strike that I need to stop. My knuckles throb with exertion, the earth magic having been summarily burned out of my system, leaving me gasping for air.
Dropping back to the ground I pull more magic. ‘Need more, a lot more.’
“Stand human.” I freeze up as I hear the command. I comply albeit slowly. I know my best option is to comply, but I do so slowly. Ponies, even the armed ones can be skittish. Especially the armed ones.
With the sound of rock crunching gone I can now make out the faint sound of flapping wings which brings my gaze upward. Hovering above are two Pegasus clad in dull grey armor that appears to weigh on them heavily, armed with a familiar looking heavy crossbow mounted between their forelegs and loaded with a bolt that is aimed at the dead center of my chest.
With a sigh, I slowly raise my hands in a sign of understanding.
—————————-
Two more pegasi guards joined their comrades from before, only these two were carrying long iron tipped spears. Unlike there gold wearing counterparts of Canterlot fame, these guards had been outfitted specifically for me. They were clad in pure iron armor, specifically designed to ward off my ability to siphon magic from them. Their bolt and likewise spearheads must also be made from the stuff, no doubt to be used should I prove disagreeable.
After an additional command I was forced to transform back into my equine form, further preventing me from draining their magic; accidental or otherwise.
The feeling of reverting back is never pleasant. It’s not painful, so much as it is disorienting as well as restricting. In this form I absorb very little ambient energy, as well as lose my ability to feel the magically forces around me. As stifling as this is, I will never complain, it has given me a chance to be out in the world and not locked away in some hole; or worse.
The four guards guide me toward a patch of grass and trees; giving me a wide berth. The crossbow stallions form behind me and move me forward, while the spear ponies prevent me from going forward faster than they like. The formation is tight but I can see that they are breathing hard in all that metal.
“Pretty sure I haven’t done anything wrong.” I ask as they lead me to where I see a coach waiting on the grass. “Don’t suppose either of you could tell me who I am meeting with today?”
As usual, they don’t speak. I don’t think they actually do speak to anyone who isn’t a royal, much less a magic stealing monster like me. Still, they aren’t stabbing at me or yelling; so I can handle indifference.
The coach I am being led to is painted a dark burgundy, with elegant golden trim around the frame and doors. There is no team to pull it so I can either assume the guards were pulling it; if so, poor sods if they did it in there custom anti-me armor. The other alternative is that the occupant in question is a unicorn, and a powerful one at that.
I am halted just in front of the exquisite vehicle, when the door opens. From inside a light yellow unicorn mare steps out. She wears a nurses habit as well as a clean black gown that one may see in a...hospital. She spots me and I can see her jump back a little.
I don’t recall ever meeting her, but if she knows to be afraid then she knows what I am. To ease her mind I slowly take a seat on the grass. If the action has an effect she doesn’t show it as another pony steps out from the coach.
Instantly my fur stands on end and my blood turns colder than a Windigo at the mere sight of him. He is an older unicorn stallion, with a silvering tannish mane that is slicked back in the trademarked clinical fashion, and the image is reinforced by his choice in formal attire. A single buttoned dark mahogany suit coat wraps around his coffee colored fur, with a crisply tied burgundy cravat, and a pressed white undershirt.
His name is ‘Doctor Spur Haythorn’, and he is considered by his own kind to be a hero, a committed mage against the creatures that go bump in the night as well as a legend in field of teratology; the study of fantastical beings and beasts. I am counted as one of those in this place though I doubt he sees a distinction.
His silver eyes are immediately drawn to me and I feel like I am being visually dissected and analyzed from my hooves to my ears. It's a feeling that I know all too well with him.
He uses that name. I despise that name. It doesn't identify me as an individual, it classifies me.
“Green Hill.” I respond coolly.
“Pardon?” He asks in that deep but eloquent voice that should put you at ease but only succeeds in making me more nervous as to why he is here.
“My name. It’s ‘Green Hill’ now.” I say with finality.
“That’s right. ‘Green Hill’.” I took great pride when I picked that name, but hearing him roll it off of his tongue seems to taint it. “You always did have a penchant for that color. I often wondered if that stemmed from your discovery in the roots of that mountain. Some pathological comfort mechanism of some sort?”
I simply shrug. “You seem to have a thing for brown, does that mean your full of crap?” This causes the guards to shuffle their wings in agitation.
“Charming, as always.” His expression barely shifts at this, but I know it grates on him. His intelligence and prestige always garnered him a warm if not reverent reception by others, making my disdain for him something of a bother, I would imagine.
There is a question that pulls on my mind. “How did you know I was here?”
With a sniff, his smug expression returns. “Your aggressive nature and desire for destruction makes tracking your movements quite simple.“
It’s not true, that’s not what I am about. I don't know what I am about, but it’s not that. Not intentionally. Regardless, I don’t buy it.
“No. Seriously, how did you find me?”
He glares at my attempt to trump his conclusion in front of subordinates. That is a weak point for him I found out early on. “I suppose there is no harm in letting you know; Princess Celestia provided the frequency to your binds.”
I am taken aback by this. The iron manacles were forged specifically for me, and they were enchanted with strong magic that altered my form, allowing me to walk around as a pony in safety for me and others. I knew the Princess was probably tracking me. But why would she give Haythorn this information?
“Why would she do that?” I ask as such.
“It’s the matter I came out to this crater to speak to you with, Mr. Hill.”
“Send a letter, easier for both of us.” I snap.
“I did, though the seal was never broken. So desperate for any magic you would resort to feeding off simple enchantments?” Patronizing creep.
“The stove wouldn’t light. I grabbed what was handy.”
Despite my tough act I am up against a mountain and I know it. I want to just leave. But I doubt my escort would allow me to. This guy has pull and is an expert in his field, unfortunately giving him a big voice in my case. I have no choice but to stay and hear him out.
“So? Out with it then.” I cross my hooves and refuse to look at him in protest, childish though it may be.
From my peripheral I can see him produce an envelope from his lapel and from his tone I can tell he is smiling about this. “It’s seems the powers that be have come to their senses and placed me as your Doctor again.”
My breath stops for a moment before I inhale deeply. From behind I hear the shuffle of hooves. The boys can tell I am agitated, but the question is are they waiting for me to do something or are they preparing to do something to me? I try to calm myself by rubbing my fetlock in a soothing fashion, but I remain ready in case something sinister is coming from behind. The windbag in front of me just keeps talking, either not noticing or just not caring.
“They couldn’t ignore the fact that nopony knows more about you than me.” His grins at me and I can once again feel myself cringe from his sight. I can almost feel what is coming, but I can’t act without knowing, so I must ask the question:
"What does that mean for me?"
I risk a glance behind me at the guards. They are coiled, but still, credit where it’s due, these guys are pros.
With that smug grin he responds with a hoof to his chest. “Well as your physician I would advise you to come back with me to-“
“No.” There is no way that is happening. My gaze stays on the guards.
“Oh come now,” and on the surface he seems to be genuinely hurt by my refusal, “you’re not going to let a little…misunderstanding sour our friendship?”
“You withheld my letters to the princesses, kept me drugged for months on end, and cut me open against my consent.” My outrage rose as I listed off just a few of the grievances this pony of medicine inflicted on me, while the last time I had ‘agreed’ to be in his facility.
With a wave of his hoof he attempts to dismiss these claims. “The drugs were there to help you curb your desire to feed off of the staff and the other patients.” The excuse was not for me as much as it was for the other ponies here, though none seemed to really take notice, save for the mare whose eyes kept darting from me to the doctor. “As for the surgery, well I don’t see a scratch on you.”
I realized that my breathing was labored at this point, I had rose to my hooves, and I was now standing in place, keeping the doctor and guards to my sides. Said guards had their spears pointed low and ready in case I needed to be 'convinced.'
Taking a large breath I eased down on both breathing and posturing. “I am willfully bound to the Ponyville area. Unless that has changed, without my knowledge or consent, or if I am under arrest, you have no right to take me.” I quote, near verbatim, what my court papers state. It was practically a life raft here, you can bet I would know it inside and out.
“I want to help you.” He says with a smile that I saw night after night, test after degrading test.
“I am doing fine where I am.” I glare at him. “No regressions, no breaks in cover, no altercations, No. Problems.”
“So you say.” He returns the envelope to his jacket before turning to the mare. I watch his every move as she hands him a medical bag, my back leg begins to tremble at the tension, but I am in control. I am in control. “After all the princesses themselves are adamant about keeping this little deal of yours,” he says lamentingly, peering into the bag, “even going so far as rejecting my counsel.” He peers at me with an expression that shows how ludicrous this must seem to him.
“Was there anything else, Doctor?” I bite at the word, just wanting him to either hit me with whatever drug he has in the bag or leave.
“If your mind's made up then I will simply be requesting a fresh blood sample.” He pulls out a clear glass vial with his magic as well as some rubber tubing and a needle. The sight actually makes me squirm more.
“Requesting?” My eyes remain on the needle, since I’m not entirely sure it won’t leap at me and suck my blood.
“A Cordial formality. As your royal appointed medical specialist, it is mandatory.”
With a huff I offer a fetlock to him. I look over to the guards and make sure they witness that I am being a good boy and cooperating.
Haythorn simply tisks at this. “‘Fraid I will need an unaltered sample. Please, drop the facade.” He motions to my body, that can only mean...
With a glower I lower my arm and look to the Sergeant “....could you back away, please?”
The pegasus officer narrows his eyes at me before looking to the doctor.
“He right. Do it gentlecolts.” He says as he and the nurse prepare for the procedure, placing the tubing, vials, cotton balls, bandage, and iodine to disinfect the area.
With a final harrump, I slam my front hooves together. The chime of iron against iron fills the air as well as a bright white light that surrounds my body. Immediately I feel my form shift. Hooves become hands and feet, my back legs bend and shift to my only legs, my spine bends like putty, and my fur recedes. Lastly my muzzle draws in upon itself before splitting into a separate nose and mouth respectively.
I open my eyes as the light clears. I now tower a good four heads over the party I am with and all but the doctor are clearly alarmed by it. Dare say he is amused by it.
Once again the flow of the planet rushes beneath my feet, inviting me to pull from it, to use it to wipe that smug, leering smirk from Haythorn’s face, or even just to bolt and give Equestria’s finest a merry chase through the woods.
I drop any pretense of this, however. There is nowhere to go, or at least no place I wish to go. Dropping down on my duff, the little ponies seem to relax.
“Hhlets ghet thhis ovrr withh.” My equish in this form is garbled due to the fact that I lack the longer vocal chords to hit all the proper pitches and tones of the language. As if my imposing form and magic siphoning body wasn’t enough, I speak in something that is more akin to a hiss or growl.
“Quite.” He doesn’t take his eyes off of me. Every curve of my form is taken in making me want to cover myself up. “Nurse Dew Drops, you’re up my dear.” I blanch as he places the tubing and needle into her hoof and gives he a nudge. The poor thing is terrified. What is he playing at? “Sergeant, lead the way please.”
The Sergeant approached me cautiously with the nurse nervously following behind him until his spearpoint was touching my chest. I didn't like the fact that ‘Doctor' Haythorn was passing the buck to her, but I wasn't really in a position to debate it with him. I actually felt bad for the mare, so I offered my arm for her needle willingly.
I hated needles. I'd had so many of them rammed into me in the hospital that I felt like a porcupine. But the sooner we did this, the sooner I could get the unwelcome menace to go away.
She takes a tentative step forward and do my best to look small and not move. I further extend my arm out, and she veers away from me, but to her credit she does come to my side. I keep my eyes away from her and to be certain to I hide my teeth from her. She has a needle after all.
“No pressure, just obtain a sample. But remember, with his biology you only have a few moments before his nervous system starts feeding off your thaumic aura. Don’t use magic either.” The coward says from a safe distance. I should really make him do it. Too late now.
“Y-Yes Doctor Haythorn.” Dew Drops reaches out hesitantly. After a moment I feel her come in contact with me. I sneak a glance. She runs a hoof over my arm. She must of been expecting barbs or scales, perhaps those things on shark skin? Either way I can see she is lost for a moment. I gently pump my hand to calmly coerce her to get going.
This has the desired effect as she quickly finds a vein. Despite her shaking, the nurse hits the vein on the first try. Not bad.
I feel the stiff metal in my arm and the cool tingling sensation of blood emptying through the rubber tubing, the deep crimson filling the glass vial. I heave a sigh just wanting this to be over with. Instead I focus on the rocks in the quarry.
I need to distract myself, the last thing I need is to succumb to temptation willingly. Still it is there, I felt it the moment she was in my grasp and it slowly got stronger. Her magic. It was so close, so concentrated. No. Not in front of him. Not EVER. Especially not in front of him.
’She has enough magic for me to beat all the guards, and then see to Haythorn. I could stop him now. Right now. No threats of the hospital, no more tests, no more blood samples.’ Stop it. I swallow hard, and feel myself begin to sweat, that’s just the blood lost, don’t get jittery.
’He will never stop. He wants me. For the experiments. He sees me as valuable. He will never stop. No pony will see out here, just need to be quick.’ I begin to drum the fingers nervously on my other hand, for good measure I lean into the spear still pressed to my chest, praying the iron will act as a guard against me as well.
“That’s time, Miss.” the Sergeant says flaring his wings. It’s clear I am making him nervous.
“Almost done.” Dew Drops, caps the vial and secures it, as she then removes the needle tube.
“Time is up. Move away.”
Too late.
“I’m alright I-“ her breath catches has her pupils shrink to pin prinks. All along her fetlock the veins begins to bulge. They spread throughout her body as I feel the magical life force drain to me.
I try to pull my arm back, but my absorption of her magic prevents me from doing so. “GHET AWAAY!” I plead as I feel the flow increase. It’s so strong. So warm, I need more
Another guard yanks the mare away hard and pulls her back. The connection broken she begins to sputter and cough.
“Filthy beast!” The sergeant leans on the spear. I feel the iron press on me like a block of ice, but my body is too busy trembling to truly feel it. I need to stay calm. I need to stay calm.
“Corporal, is she okay?” The three Guard swarm me, one spear in front another in back, a crossbow cocked and pointed at my head.
I hate myself. I just hate myself.
“Claws up freak!” They bark at me I further come down from the rush of pure magic.
“HOLD IT! Hold it!” I can hear the doctor exclaim over the pounding in my head. “It was an accident. Let’s everypony calm down. You alright?”
“Keep that thing away from me.” The nurse spits out the words with whispered, raspy venom.
I clench my eyes shut. Trying to find a state of serenity like I was taught. By the Princess. She believes in me. I can’t let her down.
After examining Nurse Dew Drops, Doctor Haythorn turns to the guards still holding me at spearpoint. “Lower your weapons.”
“Doctor, he just attacked-“
“Sergeant, it’s his biology. If he wanted truly wanted to harm you, you would all be dead right now.” This gives the soldiers some pause. I know because the spears stop poking me as hard for a moment. My hero.
“I take full responsibility for what has happened and will sign off on any reports.”
“Very well. Doctor.”
The Sergeant helps the Nurse to stand, and both glare at me as she hobbles away. I feel horrible about what happened, but it’s a fresh reminder of why my Doctor has horrible bedside manners.
Free of the cold iron and the scrutiny of being shot in the face, I double over and gasp. Emotionally, I am a wreck. Physically? My skin is as hard as marble and I have enough energy to level enough forest to make a hoofball field.
“That’s right. Breathe it out.” The tenderness in his voice belies his twisted intrigue.
“SShut uhp.” I grit. Luckily for him the desire to steal his magic is lessened by the fact that I am currently holding some.
“This would never have happened at the hospital, and you know it.” He chides me.
“Tthis nev’r whould haff hhappen iff yuu hhad thhe guts tu du yor hown dirrty werk.”
“Nevertheless, I really wish would reconsider coming back to the hospital. You say you want to do good, but out here you are more of a danger. Containment bonds or not.” He actually pokes my arm in defiance of his cowardice earlier. He is enjoying this.
“Tthat wuz krewel whut yuu dihd tu hurr ‘Doktor’!”
“She's still learning. This will either make or break her from the field she aspires to. After a night’s rest, she will be fine. So thank you for being a teaching tool.”
“Hayt yuu!” I curse.
“My offer still stands. Come back with me and we can actually do some good together. Your blood, your skin, even your mind, they have the potential to help thousands rather than this pointless endeavor.”
“Nno!” I clench the hard dirt in front of me, carving through it like cake batter.
“Sap-Green Hill, Let’s be real. We both know what this really about. Being locked up like you were. You want to be out here to enjoy the finer things. I don’t blame you. I am not without my connections, I can arrange for some…comforts. Nurse Dew Drops for instance? There is just one thing I want to know...how did she taste?”
“Guh tu hhell.”
“Hell? Ah yes, I remember now. I still don't quite understand the concept, but perhaps you’ll be able to explain it to me in clarity one day. Perhaps if you could point it out on a map for me sometime. That ‘sa-teen’ individual you keep comparing me to would be a very interesting case study. Think my offer over, won't you? Despite the differences you see between us, we both want to ensure no ponies get hurt. Good day.”
I don't acknowledge him in any way. Not a nod. Not a huff of air. Not even a blink.
He doesn't care, just like always. Instead, he just nods and then casually climbs back into the carriage. The armored pegasi are obviously reluctant to leave, but they dutifully hitch themselves up and pull away with the appropriate stoicism.
I wait. I watch as they slowly go airborne, and I breathe slowly and evenly until they are out of sight.
I wait another ten minutes, just to be sure.
And then I scream. I scream loud enough to send the wild birds scattering from the treetops, and I slam my fist into the boulder I had been working on before.
Why? Why me? Why must I endure this?
One lone tear trickles down my hairless cheek. Not bad. There was a time when there was a near torrent of them not all that long ago.
I then look up. A smile tugs at my lips.
I succeeded.
The boulder has finally split in a jagged line nearly down the middle. I begin to laugh as I look at the minerals that make up the interior.
I beat it.
And that means I can beat anything. The Doctor, my impulses, all of it.
My meeting with the ‘good’ Doctor has eaten up most of the remainder of my exercise time, which meant I needed to move twice as fast to get back.
Afternoon check in with Bon Bon is four o’clock, and with her already bending to let me go out tonight I don’t want to give her reason to change her mind.
With enough terrestrial energy absorbed, as well as… a little left from Nurse Drops, I make it out of the familiar Whitetail woods only a bit winded.
Coming to a stop, just on the verge of the clearing leading to the road, I hunker down. Lowering myself onto my knees, I breathe deep, getting control over my breathing. At the same time I listen and look around. The coast appears clear, but I am not about to chance being spotted. I’ve been lucky so far and even though I am still a ways from the town there are still those who wander out here as I do.
‘Now or Never.’
Never would have been preferential. Regardless, I bring up my arms, then quickly slam the enchanted binds together. The clang rings through the forest, causing birds in the surrounding trees to flee to the skies.
When the haze of magic clears, I look down once again at my hooves and grey coated fetlocks. The bracelets turned horseshoes still glow with a golden residual magic aura. Immediately I feel the earth energy I held bleed off through them, bringing me back to a more respectable strength.
The sensation is painless, but still disheartening. Make no mistake: I know that I am a parasite, but when holding that much extra power it makes me feel like I at least have some control over my life.
’Don't dwell on it. You still have a walk ahead of you, I relent as I pick myself up and emerge through the treeline. Falling into a brisk trot I soon reach the dirt road that leads back into town.
——————— It wasn’t long before the house came into view. Not my house, though, that was made clear from day one. I was only permitted in four of the six rooms, with a perpetual ban on her bedroom and a locked workroom that even she never went into, at least not when I was around. One thing she especially disliked was tardiness, which probably explains the look she is giving me from the doorway.
“You’re late.” She calls out cooly.
“Not my fault!” I beg as I dug my hooves in the earth to stop my gallop. I was out of breath, but I still tried to explain as quickly as I could. “Doctor…*huff*...Haythorn…*huff*...”
“...saw you. I know,” my ‘sister’ replied. “He stopped here too. Told me he wanted you to come back to the hospital.”
“Not...going...back…”
“I didn't think you would.” She ponders this for a moment, before turning her back to me and moving for the door. “C’mon. You can tell me what happened inside.”
“Lyra?” I asked.
“Out shopping for some new brushes. We’ve got a few minutes.”
Stepping inside, I dust off my hooves. It wasn’t a spoken rule, it just seems proper. The living room remained as it did when I left this morning, a modest four walls with a plush couch and coffee table. Floral curtains adorned the window, complimented nicely by a flower box that grew on the other side of the glass.
The smell of cinnamon and vanilla intermingled about the place and I inhaled deeply. During the week Bon Bon has her own shop not to far from here where she sells all sorts of candies and sweets. To date I don’t know what they taste like; I have never been offered one.
“So?” She picks up the stack of mail left on the coffee table and begins to sift through them uninterestedly.
“So?” I reply back.
"What else did he say?"
"Not much. He’s now my Doctor again.” Just saying that makes me cringe. “He wants me to come back to his ‘funhouse’. I won’t. And he is still a creep."
"Funny.” She arcs an eyebrow, ”That’s what some ponies have said about you.”
"I may feed off pieces of you all, but at least I feel bad about doing it.”
"Did something happen?" her question catches me off guard. I had hoped to omit that. “Spill it.” She warns, impatiently tapping a thick envelope against her hoof.
With a sigh, I come clean. "He drew some blood at the quarry. Or rather, he had somepony draw some blood from me. It was a set up. She got too close. I tried to warn her.”
Immediately her tone hardens, even more. “Is she alright?”
“Yes.” A pit of ice forms in my stomach as the seconds tick by. “It wasn’t my fault.” My gaze is on the ground and still I can feel her eyes boring into me.
“You can make it up to her tonight.” She finally says placing the mail down.
“Tonight? How?” The ice melts and turns to sweat.
“I received orders while you were out. We on for another run.”
A ‘run’. That’s what we call an investigation through the Everfree. There have been concerns of strange - well,stranger than usual - activity in the deeper parts of the Everfree. Thaumic Wells irradiating the area, or magic Hot Spots, if you will. My unique physiology allows me to enter these areas unharmed. The purpose is to siphon off the energy, make things safe again. It’s what was what I was paroled for. It’s by no means hard, it’s just…
“It...has to be tonight?” Thunderlane’s invite. The chance to get out of the house and be social outside of casual conversations. It had all slowly slipped away.
“I’m afraid so.” For a moment her tone seemed almost regretful. “It’s the job you agreed to do.”
She wasn’t wrong. It was something that only I could do safely.
“Think of it this way.” Bon Bon says as she passes me. “Do a good job, and there might be another chance some other time.”
“R-right.” There is no point arguing, not with her or the order. But it doesn’t ease the disappointment I was feeling now.
—————
Despite being late for check in, Bon Bon was kind enough not to put me under house arrest until we moved out later that night.
It may of been her way of making amends for being unable to go out tonight with the guys, but I was truly skeptical of that. Long before my release she had worked as an agent in a covert monster hunting organization. One of the best, I’m told. She knew how to take things down ten times her size.
It all fell apart when her cover had been blown. She never said by who, or what rather, but in the field she would have become a liability to the team. She now wore a shroud that marked her each and every time she stepped out of her door. Her only choice was to retire, hide in the populace. Just a part of the background.
As one might imagine, going from a life of adventure and gritty takedowns to selling candy to school kids didn’t quite sit right with her. No doubt this was what made her open to the idea of accepting me as her ‘long lost half brother’. It was her way back in, even if it was a ‘foalsitting’ job.
She made no illusions as to where we stood. She knew what I did, and just barely tolerated me because of it. Still, as cold as she could be, compared to the treatment at the hospital she was much kinder. At least she gave me fair warning of what she would stab me with if I crossed the line.
The park was pretty much empty this time of day, most everyone was home getting ready for dinner. My appetite was diminished a bit because of my somber mood, so I simply pull myself up on a bench and lay my head down.
‘Quit pouting,’ I scold myself, ‘It was a dumb idea anyway.’ With a heavy sigh I close my eyes and allow the quiet of the park to take over.
The silence is then broken by a ghostly wail. “OooooooOooooOoooOOOOh! Iyee — am your conscience! Your inner voooice!”
Despite my melancholy, I can’t help but smirk a little.
“Hello conscience.” I quip, peaking one eye open. “How are you?”
“Peeeeachy Keeeeen! I just got done taaaaalking toooo a friend about soooooomething that waaaaas maaaaking meeee saaaaaaad. Now I ammmm allll better.”
“That’s nice.” It takes a second to realize that she isn’t next to me or behind me.
“Dooooo yooooou want toooo taaaaalk tooo a friend?”
Looking down I can see the formerly green grass of the ground has been replaced by a stark shade of pink. Through the slats of the bench also come a pair of bright blue eyes.
The twinkle in those eyes, the genuine sense of empathy. It’s so tempting, but there is really only one answer. With a sad smile, I give it.
“No.”
She stretches her body like taffy from underneath the bench and comes face to face with me. Her name is Pinkie Pie. My ‘bestest best friend.’ Although, she does say that to everyone. So does that even mean anything?
“Hilly,” She chides me, resting her forelegs on the armrest of the bench, looking me now square in the eyes. “Talk to me! What’s making you so sad?” She brings out a pouty lip to help coerce it out of me.
“I’m not sad,” I adjust myself on the bench in an effort to avoid her gaze. “This is just my face.”
“Nuh uhh. I’ve seen you smile. It’s great! You really need to bust it out more!” I can’t help it, even as she speaks about it, I can feel the ends of my mouth turn up ever so slightly. “That's it! Now lift those ears up!” She with a wide grin reaches over and gently prods my ears. “Up! Up! Up!”
“Pinkie!” I gently brush her hooves away, but regardless they are already twitching upward, “not that I mind, but don’t you have anything better to do than try to cheer me up?”
"You’re silly,” I flinch a bit when her hoof boops my nose, “there's nothing more important than making a friend smile."
If my smile wasn’t there before, it is now. Ever since I came here it seemed like she genuinely was happy I was there. Genuinely wanting to be friends. It felt nice, warm. I hold on to it. For a moment, it actually seems to slate my desire for magic. It is short lived as doubt chimes in: ‘If you knew the truth… Would you be so keen on being my friend?’.
Just like that the warm feeling is stamped out. It was nice while it lasted, though.
“Thanks, Pinkie.” I owe her for that much.
I get up and brush myself off. The holes in my tunic will need attending to for tonight. It gets cold out in the woods.
“Busy?” She chirps bouncing around me.
“Riding the train tonight to Canterlot, I have a meeting with my therapist.” That was the story I was suppose to give, as was Bon Bon. There was a grain of truth in it, we were riding a train to Canterlot.
We just weren’t getting off there.
“Awww!” She laments on my behalf.
“I’ll see you around.” I begin walking, but I have no real direction on my mind. Having Pinkie to talk to was nice and all but I just wanted to be alone.
She was having none of that though, as she leapt on my back and wrapped her arms around my neck. The sudden contact all at once sends me into a barely contained panic. I can feel the binds heat up from the direct contact, fighting to keep me from siphoning her magic.
‘Hold.’ I beg to the enchanted iron shoes that hold my accursed body’s hunger at bay. ’Please, please hold.’
Regardless of my rigid form, she nuzzles in. Part of me wants to just accept the embrace, but my fear is strong. She must sense this, and she simply gives me a tighter squeeze.
“Hey,” she whispers softly to me.
Taking a deep breath, I slowly turn to face her.
“You’re going to be okay.”
It’s a rare moment for her, I believe. Pinkie Pie had a reputation for playfulness, silliness, and overall mania. It came with the job she held so proudly, to be the bouncy, perky, life of the party. I envied her ability to be that carefree, be that happy for others, to practically live off the joy of others.
If only I had that as a curse. If only.
“Thanks,” I whisper back, hoping she’s right.
In an instant I feel her pop off my back and canter ahead of me a few steps before turning. She seems okay, no bulging veins, no staggering. Further tests like that aren’t doing my nerves any favors, but it’s nice that she cares.
“So whatcha doin’ until you leave?” She bounces a bit on her hooves, glancing back at me.
Having recovered from my shock, I muster an answer. “I-I don’t know-“
“GREAT!” She appears to my side quicker than I can track. “You can come with me! It’s my turn to run the Library!”
With the zeal of a maniac and the strength of a rock farmer She hauls me back toward town. I would argue, but I doubt she would listen. Instead, I surrender myself to it and desperately try to keep my other legs moving quick enough so I don’t get dragged through the dirt.
The stone stairs spiraled down into the darkness for what seemed like an eternity. Minutes had felt like hours since they began their decent, and with each passing turn a sense of the very earth closing in around them was becoming more and more overbearing. It didn’t help that there was no source of light down here, other than the dim, macabre green torch, held aloft in Princess Luna’s magic as she led the way, deeper and deeper into the blackness.
Try as she might, Twilight Sparkle couldn’t ignore the morose atmosphere, which was not surprising considering where they were. The gloom of the place weighed her down like the heaviest of cloaks, making each step down the stairs feel like wading through molasses. Reaching a landing, she stopped for a chance to catch her breath, and maybe try to calm her nerves.
“Princess Twilight?”
Twilight still wasn’t used to the pair of wings that now adorned her sides, but that title was far more surreal to her. Especially when it came from Princess Luna.
“I am fine, Princess.” She stammered in reply, coming back to attention quickly.
The taller Alicorn regarded the newly christened princess. For a long time it had been just her sister and herself. A living embodiment of pony harmony wrapped into a singular form. Upon her return, she was pleasantly surprised to find a third had reached this level, and most recently she was present to witness the fourth. The fact that it was her saviour brought her no small amount of joy. Things were different in this ‘modern’ era beyond any doubt, but if this place taught one anything, it was that the old world was never truly far behind.
Stepping forward, the Princess of the Night came to the younger pony’s side. The torch shifted in her telekinetic grip so that she could be clear in her words and expression for what she had to say next.
“I understand your desire to prove to my sister and I that you are up to any challenge set upon you, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Luna began regally. “But as I hath said upon the onset of our journey, where we now are, is a place few are truly prepared to endure. Alicorn or not.”
In the pale light, Twilight could see the gravity in what she was saying. There was no joy to be found where they were going. Everything about the place was just a stark reminder of what could happen in the worst of circumstances.
“Thank you, Luna.” Twilight nodded solemnly. “But I have come this far, I can’t turn back now.”
“So be it.” Luna then held the light aloft and walked side by side with Twilight. Together they rounded the next, and incidentally, the final corner.
The spiral stairway opened up into a vast, cavernous expanse of a room. Stalagmite rock formations hung from the ceiling. Some so old they had connected with the stalactites that adorned the floor, forming natural pillars and columns. Shadows veiled the majority of the room. The only signs of tampering, was the smooth pathway that snaked between the natural formations. It was by no means marble polished, but it was clearly meant for walking upon. As if thousands of years of geology had committed to a single accommodating purpose, to ease the path of one seeking to traverse this area.
In silence they followed the pathway into the darkness, and as they reached the end, its purpose became clear to Twilight. Framed perfectly in the millennial old bedrock was a door. Though calling it merely a ‘door’ did not capture what it was.
Tall enough for a full grown dragon to pass through, it was made of unearthly metals. From top to bottom it was lined with heavy locking mechanisms one would expect to find on the doors to a bank vault. Giving off an impression of absolute security. The remainder of its surface was covered in a vast relief that depicted chained prisoners being watched over by tall, armored beings she had never seen before. And above the scene were engraved two words.
“Adversus Tenebris?” Twilight read aloud.
“Steadfast against the darkness.”Luna replies grimly.
“Welcome, Twilight Sparkle, to the gates of Tartarus.”
—————————
“It’s just this way Hilly!” Pinkie Pie squees as she bounces ahead of me.
“I’ve been to the library, Pinkie.” I casually canter after her.
“Yeah? But have you been there when I’m running things?”
“....no can’t say I have.” I shudder to think what that might entail, and for the poor sod who needs to pick things up after.
“Well today is your lucky day!” Within a few more steps we stand beneath the shade of a large tree. Golden Oaks Library is the oldest standing ‘building’ in all of Ponyville. Even the Apples who settled the area couldn’t truly lay claim to that right due to the fact that this tree was here before they set up. Old it certainly was.
Maybe as old as….me?
Stepping inside this remarkable place, even with my senses dulled, always felt strange. The roots of the tree went deep, so it could of been the extra boost of earth magic emanating from the floors. Part of me wondered if it had to do with the previous attendant to its shelves.
Twilight Sparkle.
She was a relative newcomer to Ponyville, but in a short time had gone from Princess protege, to national hero, to a full fledged Alicorn.
There I go again.
Relishing in the even the smallest amount of residual magic of such a paragon of selflessness and good. Damn, maybe I do need to see a therapist, if I am so addicted I enjoy absorbing magic traces from floor boards.
Pathetic.
“Here we are Hilly, Bibliotheca Rosado-e-Tarta!” She extends her arms out, to the pristine book lined shelves.
I bring myself out of my self loathing to acknowledge her. “Bueno, Pinkie.” Managing a smile.
“No te quedes ahí todo deprimido, entra.” She spouts back fluidly, and utterly perplexing me.
“Uhmmm….s-sì?” I heard something close to ‘enter’ so I took a chance and walked in. Guessed right; if her nod meant anything. Without a care she hops further into the building and disappears behind a stack of stacked books. Gripping the ornate handle I close the door behind me.
“Is there somepony down here?”
Descending the wooden staircase comes a white unicorn, her purple locks bouncing slightly with each dainty step she took. Her eyes scan the room before meeting my own. “Oh! Mister Greenhill, right?”
“That’s me, Miss Rarity.” I curtly lower my head in a sort of bow, once again to give the impression of not being a threat. Coming to the bottom she gives me a inquisitive look before righting herself.
“I’m afraid the library will be closing soon, so unless you need something quickly it might be better to-“
“No need for that Rarity, Hill’s with me!” From the mound of books the pink maned mare pops her head out to address her friend.
“Oh?” A regal eyebrow inches up ever so slightly.
“Yeah! I’m gonna need help sorting tonight and he’s got some free time.” She chirps before disappearing once again into the pile of books.
Pinkie didn’t really explain what she needed help with at the library on the way over. I suppose she forgot. Hearing it now, it didn’t seem too bad; as good as anything else to do. Until tonight’s mission, anyway. It was, by necessity, quiet in here. That was good.
Her white unicorn friend seems a bit more dubious at my presence, however.
“Is that so,” She regards me again for a longer moment. In my time in town I had run into her only a few times, and those interactions were passing at best. Still no doubt she had heard about me, the cover story at least, and hopefully at most. After a tense moment she simply smiles before grabbing a stack of books with her magic and begin to reset them on the shelf.
“What a kind gesture, Mister Hill.”
The sight and proximity of the blue aura of magic is distracting. So tantalizing close. But I manage to draw my eyes back down. “It’s no trouble. Happy to help.” “Well I best stay and chaperone, who knows what mischief you two might get into if you were unsupervised.” What does she mean? The sly smirk she shoots Pinkie doesn’t help. Pinkie’s own coy expression doesn’t either.
“Not really the mischief type.” I shrug. Hoping to skip past the awkwardness of...whatever this was, I canter over and pick up a stack of my own and place them on the table to be sorted.
——————————
The heavy gate needed to be closed behind them. The incarcerated beings here were trapped in there own various cells and items, but the door was an additional protection to any who managed to get out.
The fact that nothing came at them the moment Luna opened the gate with her magic should of been encouraging, but that still left the feeling of being now locked into the most cursed of places on the planet.
The Abyss.
Duat.
Tophet.
The Pit.
Hell.
Or just plain ‘Tartaurus’, as the lands that held this place was called.
The oxen and cow settled Republic of Bovinia was a strong and stable country, one that held its own unique culture and industry, economy, and trade agreements.
For centuries, this mainly agricultural nation had been a peaceful and near constant ally to Equestria. Bolstering a healthy economy and trade alongside the other standing nations of the world.
But having a place like this, was a considerable drawback.
Stories were passed as far back as history can recall about this place. The stories about forgotten gods themselves crafting this place for there most corrupt and malevolent. Since then, residence of those trapped in here was known only to the chief heads of state of the nations of the world. The Princesses of Equestria, of course, being a longstanding member of that group.
Twilight was now one of those Princesses. Apart from etiquette, statesponyship, and new responsibilities, touring this accursed place was now a part of that new role. She kept close to Luna, doing her best not to show any fear but more than likely failing. She hadn’t even seen anything remotely threatening but the feel of this place was unsettling. The air was far too still, and the noises there own hooves made was far too loud. This place...felt dead.
Taking a deep breath of air didn’t help sway her of that belief, as Luna led on to a central point. Some sort of obsidian stone sculpture stood at the center. It depicted a three headed dog, a Cerberus, standing watch over all three paths that branched from the center.
The multi headed dog was synonymous with this area, the majority of them running wild on the surface above. The breed was said to be made for the sole purpose of watching over this place. Over time cross breeds were common, but all of them still had the unearthly ability to sense this place and the evil held within.
The Night Princess stepped forward. The torch light seeming casting no additional light upon the world about them, swallowed up by the gloom of this place.
“Acheron.” Pointed to the first path
“Styx.” The middle.
“Phlegethon.” Was the last. “These are the frozen rivers that lead to the depths of this place. Off each path are various held beings and entities. Sinners, the lot of them. Many of them are granted a sort of dreamless slumber here as placation. But there are those who are sleepless.” Her somber tone was doing nothing to help the gravity of what she was feeling now.
‘I really wish the girls were here.’ She thought to herself. She could only imagine what each of them would say in this situation.
Applejack would no doubt take in the view, daring to lean over the edge and stare down into the black, maybe even spit down, just to wait and try and hear the echo.
Rarity would take the whole thing in, being able to pick out each and every detail of the horrid place in entirety, then break it down into color scheme, architecture, and design. No doubt have a slew of recommendations for improvement.
Rainbow Dash would scoff, and seem unimpressed. She would be far more eager to investigate down a path or two. Probably all three.
Fluttershy would stick close. Her fear would be debilitating, but her selfless courage to following her friends would shine through as it had time and time again. To literally hell and back in this case.
Pinkie would find the good in it. As crazy as that sounds, she would find a way to cut through the gloom and make everyone smile. Even going so far as making some friends down here.
The thought of her friends gave her strength, empowering her with a second wind that brought her back to the present. But it also made her miss them terribly. She couldn’t wait til this was over and she could go back to her cozy library. With all her friends.
“Let us continue on. Now that we are here, I’d rather we see what we need, and be off.”
—————
“Don’t be modest, you have turned more than a few heads in town.” Claimed Rarity with a playful smile. All the while she meticulously sorts another stack of half a dozen books.
“N-no fair teasing, Miss Rarity.” She’s just flirting to be nice. But I am so hard up for a little positivity I am willing to believe her.
“Pish-posh,” She chides; replacing the check out card before closing the last of the stack before levitating it to me.
I truly envy a unicorn’s ability to do that, effortlessly move things through mere application of will. I am admittedly unfamiliar with the extent of my own abilities. There have been a few times that I will reach out with a hand and attempt to grab a distant object or float something. Instead I just wind up throwing it, or getting a weird look from Bon Bon. Once tried throwing it at Bon Bon. It came back. Not magically. Violently.
Taking the stack I begin carefully reset the shelves. At the counter, Pinkie had applied ink to all four of her hooves and was going about stamping all of the returned books back in, with uncanny precision.
In Twilight’s absence, all six of her friends had taken it upon themselves to keep the Library going despite there own busy schedules. To have friends like that? I can only hope that my parole goes through, so I can at least have the chance. With moments like this, and with ponies like Pinkie, and Thunder, I dare to hope. “All you need is a little more confidence.” She tittered while looking me up and down. “Perhaps a new look as well.”
“Heh, it’s a little tattered, I know.” I shrug as I adjust my caparison. Looking back up I jump a bit when I see she is on her way over.
“Why wear it at all, though?” She queries as she starts to circle a bit me, a postulating hoof to her chin as she seems to be stripping the layers I so carefully put up. “Dare to show a little more coat.”
I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all. She has an eye for detail, could she pick something out, something that was missed when my disguised was made. I hold my body tight, trying not to freak out, but images of her pulling a loose thread on me, unraveling my whole pony form.
“Hill?” A soft touch makes me jump. Looking down I see Pinkie’s hoof is pressed to my chest. My heart is pounding so hard that her hoof seems to thump along with it.
“Are you alright, Mr Hill?” Rarity has since stepped back and looks equally concerned as Pinkie is.
Taking a deep breath, I cough into a hoof. “Yeah. Yeah, sorry, I-“ I pause, trying to find an suitable excuse, “-zoned out there for a minute.” A light chuckle seems to placate Pinky enough for her to remove her hoof, but Rarity seems unconvinced.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” She apologizes, looking sincere, but unsure of what could have set me off.
“You-you didn’t. I’m fine. Really, it just happens to me, sometimes.”
“Did you have to fart?” Drawing both our attention, Pinkie Pie looks at me with absolute seriousness.
“What?” Did she really just ask that?
“You looked like you had to fart. Did you need to and was trying to hold it in?” She really did just asked that.
“....No, that wasn’t it.” My cheeks blush a bit as I try to contain a immature chuckle. After all that’s happened today; the unexpected visit from the doctor, the blood draw gone bad, and the run on for tonight, the idea of being able to laugh felt cathartic. The white unicorn however was less than pleased.
“Pinkie Pie, please, that’s so uncouth.” she scolded, blanching at the idea.
“Perhaps, but a lady should not speak of such things.”
“Stallions fart. Mares Fart. Fart. Fart. Fart.” Pinky singsonged heedless of the irritation growing in her friend, and the tight lipped struggle I was facing not to burst out laughing.
“Okay, that’s enough.” Clearly having had enough the unicorn, attempted to retreat back to the library desk. Before a parting shot struck her.
“You fart.”
“PINKIE PIE!”
My resolve broken, I give in and break down into childish giggles.
—————————
The frozen river of Acheron crunched under Twilight’s hooves as she followed Luna through the gloom. The frigid touch of the ice made her hooves and legs feel numb, and sent a chill through her spine that had nothing to do with the oppressive gloom that permeated the place.
’How does Luna not feel that?’ She wondered as her entire body shuddered. Yet despite the chill, neither her nor Luna’s breath condensed before them. She wagered it was just another accursed effect of the place.
They had been down here for nearly an hour. Luna showing her a myriad of dark and terrifying things that made Twilight’s head spin and her skin crawl.
The Sessho-Seki Stone; a Draconese rock said to bring death to anyone with but a single touch. Even an alicorn. Seeing the vile, sickly glow that radiated from within, Twilight could believe the story to be true. Even from a distance, watching the stone made her feel like she had the flu.
Athena’s Bridle; which could enslave any who was forced to wear it. It looked deceptively innocent, even beautiful. As if enticing the viewer to wear it and submit to its will.
An Ebony lamp inlaid with blood red rubies, said to house a malevolent Djinn that was contained by a Saddle Arabian Prince over two-thousand years ago.
A smarty pants doll, not unlike her own, held in a locked and chained box. The sight of the doll only further chilled her, as it seemed to be watching her, even asking her to take her out. The deep, dagger-like scratches on the inside of the glass case were a clear message however that doing so would be a grave mistake.
Every so often they would round a bend and find a frozen statue of contorted and grotesque creature. Many of which she recognized as gorgons.
This begged the question: If Discord was allowed to simply be placed in the gardens as a statue, then whatever these creatures did must of been absolutely unforgivable. she reasoned as she passed a particularly sinister serpent bodied pony, who despite being frozen, cast an unsettling grin, rows of glinting fangs peeking through her curled lips.
Another shudder wracked her body. Twilight became so frustrated that she ignite her horn and prepped a simple warming spell. Her aura flowed before it was snuffed out by a deliberate hoof to her horn.
“No. Not here.” Luna warned, leaving no room for argument.
“I’m sorry, Luna.” Twilight exclaimed. “But the cold is unbearable.
“Aye, it is.” Luna agreed, wrapping her own wings around her barrel even tighter.
Twilight rubbed her wings to her side, and mimicked Luna’s action.
“We are nearly finished, friend Twilight. Soon we will be back to the surface, and need I remind you that it is a sweltering desert?”
“That, actually sounds amazing right now.” She puffed out a breath to bring some blood flow back to her face.
“Verily.” She nodded before guiding the way once more. “But here especially, we must refrain from expressing our inner light, lest we awaken him.
The torch now squarely held in her hoof she shined the dim light forward.
Emerging from the darkness came the sight of the next cavern and the contents within. Massive iron chains were fused into the walls. Each chain was anchored on at least five points in the cavern, all of them attached to a large coffin looking box. The casket itself was also made of iron, the outside lacking any ornate design or writ. In fact, while the iron work seemed sturdy, she couldn’t help but think the look of the casket was rather, jumbled, almost appearing to be rushed. This lead her to conclude that whatever was locked inside, was put there in a considerable hurry.
————————-
With an audible ‘click’ the Library was officially closed down. Taking the key into her magic Rarity placed it in a side pocket of her saddle bags that somehow found there way on my back.
I didn’t mind, though I did wonder how she had gotten them here in the first place? The unmissable sensation of what could only be a sewing machine poked uncomfortably in my kidneys as I shuffled the pack to a more comfortable position as we began walking.
‘She is either much stronger than her dainty looks imply or (more likely) those dainty looks had garnered somepony else to carry them here in the first place.’ I surmised, being the most current sucker to those wiles.
She called me a ‘dear’ for it. Self esteem is looking up. Between Pinkie’s kind words and that? It’s at a ‘one’. That’s pretty good.
The sun was beginning to set and Bon Bon would no doubt be packing to get ready for tonight’s excursion into the woods.
I did have a little time, time enough, to at least escort Pinkie and Rarity across town. So what if it was other side of town. I can run to the train station. Besides, Pinkie Pie had a surprise for me. Nobody ever had surprises for me. Not good ones anyway. Said pink pony was bouncing ahead of myself and Rarity who were walking at a leisurely pace.
“Ahhh, I do love this time of day.” The fashionista sighed to herself pleasantly. ”Ponyville closing down for the day, the brisk trot back for the evening. It’s something I never got to experience having my home and shoppe be one and the same place. I would never been able to experience it until now. It’s rather wholesome.”
“I suppose it does.” I didn’t really have a job yet, but between housework, training, and simply staying ‘out of trouble,’ I could somewhat glean where she was coming from.
“Oh thank you again, Mister Hill, for all your help today,” she gives my withers a friendly pat, “Pinkie and I could surely of managed but it was lovely having an extra set of hooves and strong back to help out.” A meekly nod in appreciation. It wasn’t a night out on the town, but it was better than sitting alone in my room.
“Not to mention Twilight is soooo picky about where the books go!” Pinkie whines as she proceeds to bounce around us. “The same place each time? -Psshhhh-.” She scoffs while saddling between us. “It would be more fun if she put them in a new place every time. Make it like a game!”
“That would be rather frustrating, dear.” Rarity counters.
“It’s half the fun! Like a Egg Hunt! But with Books! -Oh! We’re here!”
We had indeed arrived on the outside of Sugarcube Corner. Even in the late afternoon hours the bakery still wafted the remnants of the sugary goodness. I practically begged Bon Bon for something, anything from there my first day in town. She relented and came back with a cinnamon roll. Golden glazed, rich smell, and creamy frosting. She could of spit on it and I wouldn’t have cared.
With newfound skip to her step, Pinkie Pie bounded inside through the side door. “Don’t go away! I’ll be right back.”
The two of us are left outside waiting. I am legitimately curious as to what she has in mind. Like the child I once must of been, my mind is a buzz on what she could possibly have in mind.
“I wonder how she is doing?” A bit confused I turn to see the purple maned unicorn staring off into the distance. “Sorry-Twilight, I mean.”
Following her gaze I look to the north and see a field of treetops leading all the way to the foot of A mountain. A top it sits the capital, Canterlot. Home of the Princesses.
“We all knew Twilight was special, powerful of course, but brave,” she continues, in a sort of nostalgic malaise, “but when we first saw her with wings-“ She hesitates for a moment, thinking fondly of her friend. “Then again, you moved here after all that happened, I suppose. You haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Twilight, yet.” Her expression shifts to more apologetic, thinking she was leaving me out.
“The way everyone talks about her, I can see why you would miss her. She must be quite the pony.”
She smiles, before looking back to mountain. “You are not what I expected from a felon, Mister Hill.”
The silence hangs for a moment before I dare to speak. “I make a effort not to come off as one.”
“Is that why you hide behind a veil of shaggy hair and body coverings?” Her eyes don’t leave the horizon.
She had been trying to pry all night, but with the work to be done and Pinkie acting as a chirpy buffer, I was able to dodge most of her questions.
Now it was just us.
“You don’t have to say anything. It really is none of my business, I know, but I must be frank,” she finally turns to me, her blue eyes unwavering, “word spread around town about Bon Bon’s brother coming to stay with her, I had my concerns, more than a few of us did.” Her tone is level, the sense of fondness is gone, but there is still a lilt to her words that doesn’t make me too uneasy. “The idea of a Pony in our little hamlet having spent time in a house of corrections was not one we particularly liked.”
“I can’t blame you. I wouldn’t either.” Self Esteem levels slowly began to dwindle as I began to sense things go south fast.
Unfortunately, there was nowhere run now. Nothing to do but take the threat that was coming.
“An important lesson Twilight helped teach all of us was to give others the benefit of the doubt. Not to judge a book by its cover,” with a hoof she stifled a chuckle, ‘how apropos that we learn such a lesson from a pony who surrounds herself with books.”
She looks back to me, in a look that shows actual tenderness. “What I am trying to say, Mister Hill, is that don’t feel you need to hide.”
I hear her words. While I want to acknowledge her kindness, I can’t ignore the simple fact: hiding was paramount. If I didn’t hide, if I wasn’t contained...things would happen like they did before.
The mountain, the first taste of magic, the fear in the eyes of the ponies as they climbed over each other to get away, how I didn’t care, how I just wanted more. How I tore through homes to get them, pulled them from the sky as I got stronger and they...grew weaker..
“It would be foolish to let your guard down so easily.” It needed to be said, even at the cost of alienating another pony, it’s better to be honest when I can.
“And you would be a fool to remain in the past,” she shot back. I truly hadn’t expected that. There was no anger in words, she simply presented it as matter-of-fact. “If you are remorseful, and if you have made amends as much as you can, then there is nothing to gain from reliving your mistakes. Learn from them, then move on. Don’t hide behind self-pity, it’s very unbecoming.”
She had no idea what she was talking about, and yet, it actually felt...nice to hear. I bring myself to look at her. From the first time I saw her I had her labeled for soft, snobbish, and tittering, yet here she was trying to make a mug like me feel welcome. In the moment, I felt like my self esteem peak at a two.
“I’ll try.” Perk of higher self esteem is that smiles don’t seem nearly as forced.
“Good.” She offers one in return, before the Dutch door to the bakery swings open.
“I’m back!” Pinkie Pie trots up to the two of us. “Sorry about that, there was a line in there like you wouldn’t believe.” From her mane she pulls a small burlap bag. Or maybe it’s a satchel, don’t really know where the cut off is. She uses her teeth and pulls open the...container. I smell it before I see what’s inside. “Peppermints. For the train ride.”
Peering inside I can see the swirling cascade of red and white candies glistening within. Looking up I can’t help but feel a bit overcome. Sure they didn’t know the whole truth about me, and if the worst would happen, I didn’t know if I would have the willpower to resist draining there magic.
But I had more hope now that I could indeed try.
“Thank you.” —————————————-
An errant spark from the green flamed torch flickered on to the foreleg of Princess Luna, yet she didn’t so much as flinch to it. She had known far worse pain in her centuries of life, comparatively it was a tickle to the wounds her body could recall. Instead her eyes remained fixed forward, but her senses focused to all around her, ready to react at moments notice.
A small burn was paltry compared to the situation at hoof.
Stepping up to her side Princess Twilight stared in horror at the large iron casket before them. The veryopen and empty casket.
If she didn’t feel exposed and afraid before, Twilight felt it now. Luna’s silence wasn’t helping.
Daring even a whisper that felt far too loud, Twilight managed to speak, “That’s not supposed to be open...is it?”
Gripping the torch tighter, Luna found her own voice. “No...no it isn’t.”
The torch light flickered once more, the green light illuminating the inside of the vacant restraining device. The four manacles hung loose within, a worn outline of a bipedal form, unmistakable in the dim light.
Sweetie Drop’s shoulder was screaming at her to stop.
The armor had taken the brunt, but the sheer brutality of the attack and the impact with the ground had definitely dislocated the joint. The joint she was still running on. Nothing for it, Rebelle and Snakeskin were in worse shape and she didn’t lead him off they would all be bucked.
With every plodded step through the jagged tree roots and rocks, she could feel the bones grinding together mercilessly, bringing tears to her eyes.
Still she ran. Of course she did. She was a Celestia damned Huntress. She would crawl over glass if it meant keeping the mission alive. Still she couldn’t help but growl at the absolute incompetence at the situation they were now in. The agency messed up. Intel did not properly cover the creature’s capabilities, mainly his resistance to knock out magic.
Hence, a simple “tranq and take”, turning to a broken leg jog through the woods.
Bracing against a tree, she tried to regain her breath. All the while she kept her eyes and ears on a swivel. Between gasps for air she held her breath in an attempt to catch the briefest trace of pursuit.
Nothing but the breeze in her ears.
“Where’d you go, plothole?” She whispered to herself as she strained to hear over her own pounding heart. “I know your still there. Wouldn’t give up the chance for a bit of payback for that shot to the pills I gave you.” She said that last bit a bit louder in hopes of taunting him to respond. Drops couldn’t help but grin a bit at that. How confident he was standing over the others, how sure of himself, until she popped him hard right in the goods. It was almost worth seeing his eyes go pure red with rage as she took off barking with laughter.
Now here she was, crippling herself with every step, and probably hemorrhaging from the shot he got on them in the first place.
It was when she went to climb over a rotting log that she heard it. A low growl grew increasingly louder accompanied by an equally low buzzing.
Aborting the climb she dove to the side, bruising her good shoulder in the process but also missing being shiskabobbed and crushed by a giant black stinger.
Rolling back to her hooves, she readied herself in a defensive stance, guarding her more injured shoulder as she simultaneously reached into her satchel for something that might have some effect on him.
With a snarl if frustration, the beast removed his stinger from the log, and pulled himself up to his full height. It’s white and black striped hide rippling with its own bulk as it lumbered to face her.
Towering over the monster hunter on its two back paws, it extended its powerful double set of upper arms, revealing its jagged powerful claws. His teeth gritted revealing its gleaming canines.
“There you are, Hunnie Bear.” She sweetly sneered at the behemoth that was the aptly named Bug Bear.
He response to her contempt was a bellow as he lunged right at her.
————————
Even after nine surgeries to repair the damage, and the subsequent mauling thereafter, Bon Bon never could completely get rid of the sensation of bone being ground to gravel from her step.
Even as she dried the dishes and placed them in the cupboard, her shoulder would pop every now and then.
“It’s a shame Green missed supper.” Lyra said absentmindedly as her golden magical aura removed another dish from the sink before floating over a sponge to scrub it down. “Those were great carrots you made, Bonny.”
“Thanks, Lyra.” She said with a smile as she dried yet another dish. She couldn’t help but notice that this one, like a few before it, was only half heartedly washed at best. Wordlessly she simply placed them on a separate pile to rewash later.
“So,” Lyra began, with a pause one could pull a cart through. “Baltimare, eh?”
“Yeah.” Bon Bon placed the dish towel on the oven handle to air dry before turning and opening an envelope that held the train schedule. “It’s just a parole hearing. A check up really.” She waved a hoof dismissively, sticking to the cover story as nonchalantly as possible. “As his sponsor I need to be there. You understand.”
“Of course.” Lyra nodded, before pulling the plug letting the soapy water rush down with a audible gulp. “It’s really great that your doing this for him. He’s lucky to have a big sister like you looking out for him.” She added with a smile and a flank bump before cantering happily to the living room.
While the gesture was always nice, Lyra’s words caused Bon Bon to flinch. Her usually stoic mask she wore in her new civie life cracked for a moment.
From the start it never did sit right with her, having to call that thing family. It went against every fiber in her body to go along with the charade. But she had her orders, and from the top no less. Her cover had been blown. She was compromised, and this was her way back into the agency.
“Yeah.” She smiled as best one could when they were given a tough pill to swallow. “Should be back late tomorrow if not next morning.” She followed her into the living room taking a seat in her favorite chair, the one that had its back against the wall facing both the windows and door.
“There’s no need to hurry back.” Lyra interjected, from her spot on the couch. Her sincere, naïve, smile that just made this worse. “There’s a Zoo there, near Coppers Park. I played a concert there. I am sure you and Green would enjoy a nice stroll, and you could see some of the exotic animals they’ve got!”
“Hmmm,” she affirmed casually, “might be something to consider.” Not really, although she was sure he’d feel right at home with the monkeys.
When she wasn’t more forthcoming Lyra took the initiative and kept the conversation going. “I mean it; you should take Green there, the two of you can see the sights, maybe even grab a carrot dog. Bond a bit?”
Even though the trip to Baltimare was a rouse, the idea of even pretending to “bond” with that leech was right on her list of ‘Not bucking likely.’
But...appearances.
“We will see if there’s time. I don’t want to be away from the shoppe for too long.” She adjusted herself in her chair, trying to find a more comfortable spot, particularly one that could change the subject. Knowing she couldn’t rely on the furniture for that she instead aimed to steer it away from her ‘brother’. “So have you read the new Whinny Breeze novel? Lily and her sister were talking my ear off about it the other day. I was wondering if I could have a reading buddy.” She only hoped she would take the hint.
“No, I haven’t.” Lyra responded thoughtfully. “I did read this one story.”
“Yeah?” Wanting to keep up the momentum into this alternate avenue of discussion, Bon Bon sat up a little more, her ears perked.
“I don’t remember the title,” Lyra pensed with a hoof to her chin. “It’s about this mare who lives in a small town.” She began to lay out the scene, like she always did, with hoof gestures and even a voice or two of it was really funny or dramatic. “See, she actually grew up there, only to recently move back to town. Admittedly she had a rocky start, getting back into the swing of things. But, she still manages to pick up where she left off with a lot of her old friends from her foalhood.” Lyra’s expression and animated features managed to draw her in, like usual.
“Sounds good. But then what?” Bon Bon encouraged.
“Well see, this mare, she has no real family. Her mom died and she was raised by her elderly aunt, out in Vanhoofer. It was real hard on her and her friends.”
“Oh?” Bon Bon couldn’t help but think that there was something oddly familiar about this.
“So anyway, she comes back to town and opens a candy shoppe.” At this point things were starting to become blatantly obvious, and Bon Bon’s eagerness was gone, replaced by a bemused raised eyebrow. Lyra though apparently didn’t pay it any mind. “Everything is going great, then low and behold! Out of the woodwork comes news that she has a half brother!”
“Okay.” Catching up with the present, Bon Bon was ready to cut her off. “Is there a point to this?”
“Kinda.” Lyra shrugs, before looking right at her. “I am just wondering why you hate Green so much?”
She allowed a pause, perhaps a bit longer than she should have in this circumstance. “I don’t-“ she began, before, composing herself. “I don’t hate him.”
“You certainly don’t like him.” Lyra added looking disappointedly at her from across the coffee table. “Look,” her gaze softened as she looked down between them. “I know your dad walked out on you and your mom.” Her voice dropping with her golden eyes almost reverently to a subject she knew she was sensitive about, only for her eyes to rise again unflinching. “But that’s not Green’s fault.” Tilting her head she absorbed Bon Bon’s reaction as she continued. “The poor guy is trying. Can’t you see that?”
“Lyra,” Bon Bon began, taking a deep breath. It had been years but still thinking of that day; when she came home from school to find her mom crying in the kitchen. Then the years of grief that lead to sickness. Sickness that lead to…
It was a heavy slope that she hated dredging up. Even in facade, now that Green was part of that string of tragedy it probably didn’t help his chances. But he was already up against a mountain of other transgressions for his own sins.
“Lyra. I know it isn’t his fault.” She began anew, making sure to keep her story with her temper. “But, Greenhill was not in a good place. He needs to be held accountable. To work his way back up.”
“He needs, a sister.” Lyra insisted. “Somepony who has his back. Not just a caretaker and taskmaster. Have you actually spent any time with him?”
“He’s-“
“Bon Bon!” Lyra protested before another word could be spoken. “It’s not like it’s a big secret. The whole town's talking about him. The broken stallion? The pony who is more scared of his shadow than Fluttershy?”
’Fear will keep him in line. Fear will keep him controlled, keep him from hurting anypony else.’ She was aware at how bitter that sounded, how...cruel. Cruel enough that she wouldn’t dare say it aloud. But that didn’t make it untrue. This is how it was. ’But does that justify how they treated him? How I treat him?’
A mint green hoof to her own pulled her from her thoughts.
“Bonny. He messed up.” Lyra softly spoke. “But he’s your little brother and he’s hurting. Promise me you will try to be there for him. If not for his sake, then for me?”
Her look was so hopeful, so genuine. So dolefully unaware of the truth, and yet somehow Bon Bon couldn’t deny that she might have a point.
“...I’ll try.”
—————————-
After talking a bit more, thankfully about other things, Lyra had left for her own place for the evening.
In the quiet, Bon Bon stood in the den and sipped her tea. Usually, she just chewed the leaves, but she wasn’t in the jungles of the Arimaspi, nor the mosquito’d swamps of Hayseed. She was back in Ponyville. She had a favorite teapot that she could now brew them with from off of her stove. She had a bed that was more than a roll that she slung to her back, and a bathroom with hot and cold running water. She owned a candy shoppe. Yes it was small and competed with the much larger and diverse selection of Sugar Cube Corner, but it paid the bills, with enough to put some away for a rainy day, and that was even with her pension. All in all it was, a good life.
Yet, she couldn’t ignore that creeping sense of looming danger. Some days the quiet was too quiet. Night was where the creatures she used to hunt would somehow find their way back to her all the way here. Was that why she agreed to this arrangement? Allowing a Tartaurorian parolee stay with her? Was this duty or restlessness?
Looking up, she caught her reflection in the clock face. Looking back at her wasn’t Bon Bon, confectioner and upstanding citizen. Instead, it was Special Ops Agent Sweetie Drops of the now defunct Mares of Thrace Agency.
A sudden crack, brought her eyes back down. “Dammit.” Her iron grip had ruined another mug, one of her favorites too. Lyra and her went to that class and painted these at last year’s Thrifthoof festival. She would need to find the glue and repair it. Again.
But later.
The clock was growing closer to the time the train was due to arrive and she wanted the two of them on it.
The creeping sensation that Greenhill wasn’t back yet begun to weigh heavy on her mind as the minutes ticked by, conflicting in tandem with Lyra’s own words.
He was not family to her, in no way. But if her own coldness to that fact was enough to actually merit townsponies to be concerned, that was a problem. To the crown. To the continued operation of him being here.
Then there was the other matter. The itching, nagging, feeling, that he might, just might, actually want to be normal. Have friends of his own. A life.
His request to go out with those featherheads at the bar had caught her off guard. She tried to justify it with any other reason. A ploy to escape? An excuse to feed off of passed out patrons?
“Four hundred years locked away in a box makes somepony lonely.” Her own self spoken words were enough for her to realize her own fault in her logic.
Somepony.
That was something he wasn’t.
She placed the cracked cup on the counter after draining the rest of the tea down in one gulp. The still piping hot water threatened to scorch her throat, but she simply blew a steamy breath out.
With a key she stowed beneath the third drawer on the left side of the kitchen counter she unlocked her work room. A small but cluttered assortment of baking and candy making equipment greeted her, but went unheeded. Instead she pushed past them, and using the same key, unlocked the back wall panel, revealing a hidden pantry. Its contents were that of her former profession, Sweetie Drops’. Grappling hooks, disguises, special optic sunglasses, as well as some potent armaments to stun, conk, and even snuff out near anything that walks, slithers, or crawls on this earth.
‘It’s a forest op,’ She mused to herself, ‘local, but still, Everfree.’ She packed light, but packed purposely, grabbing basics, as well as a few ‘just in case’ choices in gear.
Even as she placed them in her small saddle bag, she couldn’t help but reflect on her promise to Lyra. Her promise to ‘try and be more than just a handler to Greenhill.’
‘That disguise and puppy dog eyes were gravely misleading.’ She grumbled.
Day one of her return back to active duty she had seen him in the hospital.
His gangly and alien body couldn’t have been further crammed into that corner if he tried. The bandages were still fresh on his wrists and ankles, additions that she was told would make him more ‘amicable’ to cooperate, as well as blend in. The pitiful way he looked, beguiled by the altogether starving look he gave when somepony was near enough for him to grab.
After, another thought on the matter, she decided she would grab that additional mace bomblet.
———————
The walk to the train station was uneventful. She was met by a few familiar faces, who she in turn greeted in kind.
Ponyville in the growing evening was just as always; friendly.
If her charge was causing trouble it wasn’t immediately apparent. Adding a another tally to his favor, Bon Bon supposed, as his good behavior had allowed him to no longer be chaperoned for nearly a week now. Not shadowed, starting today.
More to his credit, she found him right where he should be. On time, waiting at the station.
Whatever he was sucking on was nearly swallowed when he spotted her approaching. Rising to his hooves, he lowered his head as she came up to him.
“....I’m here.” He said softly, the scent of peppermint wafting in her direction. That could only mean Pinkie Pie.
“That you are.” She said flatly. Looking at him, she couldn’t help but admire what the eggheads in RnD came up with. He was much skinnier when they started a month ago, almost sickly, but well cooked meals, fresh air, and room to stretch was starting to fill him out. His green eyes caught her own. Despite the uncanny disguise, it did little to mask that same look in his eyes. That ravenous hunger for magic life force.
Turning away started for the booth to get the tickets they needed. Even if they only would be riding the train for a fraction of the time, a ride up and through the hills would cut down the walking time by half. Either way though it was going to be a long night.
—————————-
I watched as Bon Bon froze in place. Immediately, I begin to wonder what I’d done or if I forgot something.
She looks over her shoulder for a moment, before she canters over. I can’t help but begin to sweat a little. Trying not to make it obvious, I turn my body and attempt to hide the pocket I was holding the peppermints from Pinkie; cheeking the one I had in my mouth now.
I nearly flinch as she pulls out a bag from her saddle bags.
“We have a long night of work ahead of us.” She looks at me solidly. “You need to eat more than candy if your going to get it done.” She scolds before pushing the bag to my chest.
Taking it I look down, and I can just make out the edge of a sandwich. The heft and shift if a juice bottle is apparent as well as the scent of cooked carrots. Still warm too.
‘Did she...pack me a lunch?’ I wonder, before looking back up to find she went to buy our tickets for tonight.
I close my eyes. Focusing on my simple breathing mantra; in through my nose, and hissing out through my mouth. With each breath the cool spice of the peppermint under my tongue coats my mouth. Focusing on these and nothing more, I reward myself with the image of me chipping away at my own discomfort.
I try hard to convince myself that it’s working, even though I know it doesn’t. It also doesn’t help when I feel the train lurch forward. The jolt causes me to lose the natural pattern of my breath; my angst returning full force as a result.
With a huff of frustration, I open my eyes and try to find something else to distract me. There is little however that can help.
It’s the iron.
The iron in the mounts of the common class seats. Iron bolts holding them in the iron floors. Iron frame on the iron car, being pulled by an iron and steel locomotive, riding on iron rails.
I shudder as another wave of cold uneasiness washes over me. My pony form guards against the worst of it. If I were to change back now, without holding any magic, earthly, ambient, or life, I would probably collapse. That’s how I got taken down all those years ago.
By Princess Celestia.
She made me burn through the magic I held, then lead me to the mine shaft. In my mania, I followed mindlessly right after her.
That’s when she pulled the very ore from the earth. Sealed me up. Then threw me down into…
‘Trying NOT to bring about a panic attack.’ I sneer at my train of thought. Which brings me back to trains and iron. Great.
Huffing in frustration, I lean my head against the glass. It is muted, but I can feel the thrum of the natural world outside. The earth, the plants, the moonlight. Things that don’t mind me sharing their energy. It never as potent, but I’ll admit it’s far more honest.
Despite this, my eyes instinctively turn to the other occupant in the car. What few other riders there were on this red eye had since retired to the sleeper car for the long journey to Baltimare. Leaving me and Sweetie Drops.
I make the distinction because without Lyra and Ponyville in general as a buffer, she was all business. We weren’t even in the thick of it yet, but already she had clammed up, showing no signs of talking, nor any real desire to.
Instead she sits like a statue; stoic and upright in her seat. Even as the train chugs its way, taking various bumps along the way, her form hardly changes with her vacant gaze holding on the window.
Even with the patches of trees are growing more frequent, she remains looking outward.
Until she doesn’t. Her blue eyes meeting my green when I realize I had been staring. Not looking to start anything I instead look back to darkened landscape.
‘Still it was nice of her to pack me some food.’Despite the genuinely kind gesture, I couldn’t help but wonder why the change in heart?’
Whatever the reason, I doubt it will last.
The sun had dropped below the horizon some time ago, but the night sky seemed oddly barren tonight. Bereft of the moon and stars that so proudly glittered above. I often wondered if there was a star out there for me. If I had come from out there, only to be shoved beneath a half a mile of rock. Yeah. Stupid.
Instead, tonight was a mere black shroud that seemed to swallow up the horizon.
Odd indeed. Wasn’t there a pony for that?
Whatever. Not like it’s my problem. Not my department.
Speaking of which, it would no doubt be better just to get some rest. We had an hour before our rendezvous, and it was already going to shape up to be a long night.
Crunching up the remnants of my recent peppermint, I savor the sweet taste before swallowing it.
’Wouldn’t want to choke.’ I think grimly as I look over to my leash holder. ’That would make it too easy for her.’
The malicious thought must of given of a scent because she once again turned to me. Her gaze more direct.
Meanwhile, in that very moment, a streak of faint blue light had crossed the horizon from the eastern sky and making landfall at Canterlot Castle.
—————————-
With a gasp Twilight Sparkle, lurched up. Her chest burned and her lungs felt like they had been stretched far beyond what they should. Coughing back an actual wretch she tried to get her bearings, and remember first and foremost what had happened.
She was back in Canterlot. She had been...somewhere else…Bovinia. Yes, that was it. She had gone with Luna.
Luna herself was not much better for ware as she too stumbled to her hooves. “My apologies, friend Twilight,” Even in her own disheveled state, the Lunar Diarch seemed unflappable. “Long distance teleportation, can be...problematic. The disorientation will pass in a moment.”
Long distance teleport?! Nearly a quarter of the way around the planet?!! No wonder she felt like she had been ripped apart and stitched back together. But wait why had they…
True enough the haze was slowly beginning to lift in her mind. The vault. The stairs. By Starswirl’s beard! The Human has escaped!!!
A call to action had never been more apt, but Twilight's legs seemed not keen on obliging.
“Stay.” Commanded Luna,”I will notify the guards to assist you back to your quarters to rest, as well as have Doctor Horsenpfeffer take a look at you.”
The older Alicorn was able to take a more confident stance as she made her way out of the square they had landed in. Her own muscles and horn ached, but her fatigue threshold was much higher than young Twilight, and she had been through much worse in the past. To delay this message would doubtlessly lead to tragedy.
Already a contingent of her own night guard approached, their eyes wide with confusion to find the supposed intruder was their mistress herself.
“Princess,” came the stunned voiced of Lieutenant Moon Hopper, “we hadn’t expected you for a week.”
“Something has happened, something that requires my expedient return.” Luna forced her steps to be more regal despite the pain that they brought from effort. This was her guard after all, especially in dark times she would be there rock.
Ever the professional, the night guard snapped a resolute salute. “We are at your disposal for anything, Princess.”
With a nod she ordered the other ponies to see to Twilight as she had promised, before once again pulling Moon Hopper aside.
“I need you to be on the lookout for incidents of magic depletion.” Luna said in a hushed voice.
The tone was merited as the officer barely hid his shock. “Magic depletion, ma’am?” His alarm was not without cause. The idea of somepony having their magic completely drained away was akin to having their blood leached away from them.
“Correct, Lieutenant.” Luna affirmed as she soon stood at the bottom steps of the castle. The endless spiral of stairs leading up to her sister seeming to taunt her already weakened state. “Investigate this quietly, I neither wish to start a panic, nor give the perpetrator any due warning leading to his recapture.”
The gravity of all he had seen and heard in the last few moments weighed heavy on Moon Hopper, almost enough to make him regret picking up this rotation tonight. Star Song owed him double for this. Without a second thought he straightened himself out to address his commander. “I will begin my inquiry immediately.”
“See to it then,” With that Luna began her climb to the top. It was her sister what had been the one to face this abomination. Now together, they would end him and the threat he posed to there ponies.
Permanently, if necessary. ——————————
I remember hitting the ground.
There was no pain, I was too far emaciated for that. However, the sudden impact with dirt (actual dirt) and not an iron slab was noticeable enough. I must have looked quite a sight, or at least I could of if I could see; my eyes and likewise skin being shriveled up to that of dried paper.
In such a state it is of no surprise that lacked any strength to pull my husk of a form up; my muscles cannibalized ages ago to try and keep my body alive on mere specks of magical ambience that wandered through the meager air holes of my tomb.
But I was alive.
Managing to sputter I proved as much to the world as I felt fresh air circulate around me. The good earth beneath my body seemed to rush to me all at once as my starved body latched onto it in a understandingly ravenous manner, very nearly choking me.
Sound returned first.
A chattering sound, that soon morphed into the familiar sound of pony-speak.
‘They were so close.’ My senses returned quicker than my sight as I began to make out the distinct aura of life energy. Curling low I make myself seem helpless. Cradling my head and neck, rocking slightly. A distinct mewl leaving my throat as I continued to kill time and gather strength.
There were four.
No. Three.
But one was powerful, their magic potent. If I had spit to drool, I would have.
They kept their distance, but didn’t retreat back from what I could tell.
‘Good little ponies. Stay there. I won’t hurt you. I promise. I just need your-“AAAAHRRRGH!”
My already weakened body reels as I am snared with a chain of pure iron. The strong one’s magic wields it around my neck and torso, once again binding me in a far crueler manner. The cold metal all but freezes my skin as I struggle against my wretched bonds.
I am still too weak. Too weak to fight against it. Once again I am contained, forced to kneel before my newest captor.
It is then that my eyes regain their sight, and I see her. She is like the Ivory horse, with wings and horn, but she was different. She was pink.
————————————
“Wake up.”
A firm kick to the bench brings me out of my doze. Bracing myself against the window, I steady myself. ‘Another fond memory.’ I smirk, wondering if I will ever dream pleasantly. Though part of me shudders what those dreams would entail.
“We’re nearing the drop off.” Wasting no time Sweetie Drops cooly makes her way to the back of the car.
Hanging back for a moment, I rub my hooves over my withers. The act lessens the sensation of the tight chains around them, but does nothing to quell the tightness in my chest.
It was after that encounter I was given an opportunity.
I learned Equish.
Learned to curb my hunger.
Given a means to be understood as well as contained.
It had been a steady improvement, and not without its cost. My eyes trail down to the shoes on my hooves. Surgically grafted to my very bones, in this form and my own.
I’d be lying if I said they didn’t hurt.
‘Bah.’ I snarl, at my whining. ‘You have a job to do, Green.’ I pick myself up from the seat, stomping down hard to further leave it behind.
I am hit by a blast of wind as I open the compartment door to the baggage car. Sweetie Drops is examining a watch with the side door partially opened. Knowing her she is calculating the exact time to jump.
Yes. The drop off point is quite literal.
Coming closer I can see she knows I am there, but doesn’t care enough to look up. “Twenty seconds." she muttered, her ears laid back, her body tense. I can't tell if its mission jitters or her being wary of my presence. Perhaps a little levity will help.
“Ladies first?” I smile disarmingly, or try to anyway. It's more of a grimace as I sort of dread her response.
"You will be going first.” She says tensely, but then she surprises me, "Push out in the opposing direction of the car, gain some opposing momentum.”
Did she? Did she actually give me some useful advice? One that would result in me not getting hurt? I'm so baffled I nearly miss the drop point.
She helps.
“Now.” With little more ceremony, nor restraint I might add, I am shoved out into the darkness. I manage to kick one back hoof off the side, at least trying to heed her advice. Only to realize it was the wrong way. Maybe.
My hooves hit the ground, and for a second I dared to hope I actually nailed the landing. But no, momentum carried me forward, and I tumbled end over end. My world becoming a spinning blur of dark grassy ground, and star filled sky.
‘-AAKgh-oh hey! The stars are out now-OOF!-‘
Finally I rolled to a stop, bruised, but otherwise whole. And quite dizzy I might add.
"Next time, try and listen." Sweetie Drops chiding voice said from my left, and the mare in question emerged from the tall grass like a ghost. Mane she was stealthy.
"You pushed me." I said with indignance. I felt sore all over, and my heart was still hammering in my throat. I finally managed to get a better look at my surroundings as my vision stopped swimming. We were in a field of tall grass, the noise of crickets chirping slowly overtaking the fading sounds of the now distant train.
"You froze. You should work on that so I don't have to push you next time." she said with finality, and began to stalk off through the tall grass.
For a moment I felt the burning desire to smack her departing flank in frustration, but that would just land me in a heap of trouble. I take a deep breath and pull myself to my hooves, then follow her into the field.
——————————
Luna’s horn flowed with her power. Crisis or not, she would not forsake her duty any longer. The stars shone through the heavens, there ancient light given more grandeur by her attention to them. But it was her namesake that she cared for the most. It rose late this night, but ever did it shine with brilliance casting over the land.
“Stand fast, my friend,” she whispered to her Moon. “May your light be a beacon against the darkness, and your light the path to our foe.” With the sky set, she spared another moment, to both regain her strength and ponder more on the matter at hoof.
They had left so fast and so suddenly that she didn’t have a proper chance to survey the scene. But a long memory yielded a strong mind when one would work to keep it. As such she was able to replay the image in her mind with absolute clarity.
Her hooves plodded forward as her mind’s eye truly examined what she had seen.
The results were not a comfort.
The iron coffin was neither broken out of, nor cracked into. Due to the nature of the beast, no defensive seals or ruins could be made, so finding a trail through them was not possible, but also made more certain one fact.
“Thou were set loose, creature.” The cool realization left a bad taste in her mouth.
Few beings in the world would have access to the depths of the Abyss. This was not due to prestige or regal standing. No, the pure fact of the matter was that the morose and malicious atmosphere did permanent damage to fragile form of nearly all mortals. It would play with their minds, ensnaring them in aimless wanderings until the very walls seemed to consume them into nothingness.
An Alicorn was a being of power and longevity, but even they ran this risk. A deliberate path was needed, a purposeful stride for a specific place to a destination.
One who knew where to go.
“Sister,” Luna’s mind cleared back to the moment reaching the foot of her sister’s tower. “What forces are you daring to try and tame now?”
Celestia’s decision to reform Discord took prominence in her mind. It was not a choice she went along with easily. So much so that she was convinced that it would be a matter of time before the fiend showed his duplicity in the worst time possible.
She hoped she was wrong, here as well.
With a new vigor she spread her wings and rose into the air, her eyes set for the golden balcony high above.
———————
We couldn’t clear through the grass quick enough for my liking. Even with a coat of fur and a covering, the stiff wild grass made me feel itchy all over even now as we cleared to the tree line.
Sweetie Drops had donned a pair of sunglasses again. The lenses had been enchanted to see in the dark, but outside of context they looked utterly ridiculous.
So what if I was jealous.
“When do I get cool spy gear?” I grumble to myself, thinking I was out of earshot.
“You don’t.” She snapped back at me, a layer of ice on her words that succeeded in shutting me up, as I just fall in step behind her.
The sound of our steps through the grass take precedence, until she breaks the silence. “Can’t you see in the dark, anyway?” Her tone is strange, definitely forced, but there is something more to it.
“N-not exactly.” I answer meekly, happy to let it lie.
“Then what?” Peering up at her question I was surprised to see her actually looking back, clearly waiting on an answer. What’s up with her tonight?
“I...I just feel energy around me.” I start slowly, not really sure how to go about explaining it. I don’t really think anypony has ever asked me.
I know that for as long as I can remember I have been like this, but by that same token; I almost believe this was not always the case.
My ear flicks on reflex, bringing my eyes up. Thus I am somewhat given an answer.
“I guess it’s a little like them.” I motion above us, drawing her attention up. A swarm of white winged moths, flitter above our heads. “It’s minute, and hard to pin down, but it’s almost like I can feel a flutter, a pulse, around me.” It’s as good of an explanation I can give.
Sweetie Drops quietly contemplates this, so much so she has stopped moving. We sit in a moment of silence, her own ears flicking in response to the delicate wings around us. Before she looks up to me.
“If you can feed off of magic around you. The earth, light, plants.” She pauses, steeling her gaze on me. “Why do you take magic from living creatures? From ponies?”
To that I have no answer. At least not one I want to give.
The silence that stretches on between us is mercifully cut short when I sense we aren’t alone.
Turning toward the new presence I can feel the thrumming of two new signatures. Getting closer.
From the undergrowth appear two dark armored ponies. The awkward conversation, mercifully postponed, Sweetie Drops stepped toward the new ponies.
“Cine te-a trimis?” Chimes one of the guards cooly, in a dialect I recognize from books as ancient equish
“Bucephalous cel Mare.” She codes back expertly.
Passphrases accepted between both parties, now come the next part; restrain the dangerous human.
Spears at the ready, the two approach with a bridle and lead. This must be as humiliating for ponies as it is for me, but I know the drill. I offer no resistance as it is roughly clamped down over my head and pushed painfully over my ears. The iron bit, stinging my tongue as it’s forced into my mouth, preventing any protest on my part.
“Is that completely necessary?” Squinting through the act of being ‘pacified’ I am surprised to see Sweetie Drops looking on with what could be sympathy.
Her protest goes unheeded, as they simply suring the straps while one of them takes the lead. “Protection Protocol, Agent Drops.” Says the other as he moves me forward with the haft of his spear to my leg.
The message clear, I press on. The bitter cold of the metal already giving me a headache.
—————————— Trouble was on its way.
Princess Celestia could sense it.
Of course that was the thing about being an immortal ruler. Trouble was always on its way in one form or another. The only question was: what exactly was the problem, and how should they respond to it?
In her youth she would have rushed off to face it head on, but with age came a measure of tact. And she would pick her response carefully, rather than rush in blind.
That's why she was waiting for Luna to arrive. A single pulse, transcontinental teleport was nigh impossible to miss. Hopefully Twilight wasn’t too strained from it. Even an alicorn’s legendary constitution would be pushed by the experience. And Twilight was still growing accustomed to her new form, and everything that came with it, both good and bad.
With a heavy sigh she poured the tea into the waiting cup. Steam gently rose from the cup, shrouding its amber colored contents; the scent of jasmine slowly filling her study.
Before long, her door opened without warning or ceremony; revealing her anxious looking sister.
With her agitation clear enough for even a blind pony to see, Celestia got straight to the point; “What has happened sister?”
________________
I am led through the darkened wood by the tip of a spear and a constant pull. The blinders keep my world limited, but what else is there to see in a forest but trees? Makes me wonder why they even put it on me?
Not really. It’s to make me feel like an animal and they make no illusions about it.
When we finally stop, I am made to lower my nose to the ground.
Nothing to see, so I use everything else. There are torches; a few at least. From the strong smell they burn a repellent as well, for more than insects most likely.
There is a group talking, can’t hear about what.
Closing my eyes I tap into my other senses. There are four; guards, and the muted vibe they give tells me they are wearing iron.
Except for Sweetie Drops of course. So, five.
The thump of something heavy is thrown near my head. Daring a glance, I turn my head and peer over my blinders to see my tools for this evening.
A simple but large burlap bag.
“Up.” The command comes and I comply. I am now face to face with a Pegasus Guard. His dull ferric armor clearly draining on his lighter frame. “The deposit is there.” He points to the base of a large tree. Its roots exposed and twisted around what is simply a hole, but a clearly dug one, and not by ponies.
He grabs the lead when he sees I’m thinking too much. “Go down, harvest, and return, you got that?” He actually dares to grab the bridle this time, forcing me to look into his pale blue eyes. “No eating.”
I want to break his arm. It would be easy. Worth it even. But, instead I simply wait for him to let go.
Craning down I carefully nip the sack with my teeth. The bit makes it hard but I manage to pull it closer without further trouble. Opening the top I see the sole contents: Finely crushed glass.
I reach in and grab a frogful. The powder sifts through my hoof in a smooth, almost hypnotic, cascade. The grains are small, no immediate trace of large pieces or shards. This will work fine.
Pun unintended, but...no, nothing about this is fun. It’s going to suck, like always.
Two guards stand at the entrance of the pit, spears at the ready, for me and whatever else is in that slimy mud hole.
Tying the bag to my wither, I prepare myself mentally as I step up. My escort is ‘kind’ enough to allow me this unhindered.
The hole is large enough in my current state, but when I revert it will certainly be much more cramped. ‘Fan-flipping-tastic.’
A halberd wielding unicorn pushes over a thick mesh iron link basket with a long length of chain welded to it in a sloppy, but solid manner. My other tool of the trade, only this one is designed to survive even if I don’t.
Without further ceremony, I drop the basket down into the black. Listening closely, I hear it bounce off the side, once, then twice. The chain slows its descent but keeps going. The tunnel is deep but it curves. One final thump and the chain goes still after finally hitting the bottom.
“Eighty three links.” Sweetie Drops assesses as she comes to my side. If I didn’t stink at math that would mean something. All I know right now is that I am going in after it. I really, REALLY hate this job.
I jump a bit as Agent Drops, checks that the bag is tight on my shoulder. “It’s twenty feet down, there’s a slant so it will level out once you reach about three fourths of the way down.” She meets my eyes. “Do you have a light down there?”
’Why is she being nice to me tonight?’ The sack lunch. Actually talking to me. Providing pointers. ’Are you planning to bury me out here, and by being ‘softer’ will aleve your conscience?’. It’s a dark thought that makes little sense, but it still sticks out.
“Well?” She asks more forcefully when I failed to respond.
I flinch a bit, but manage to answer ‘no’ with a slow head shake.
“There is no point, he will just eat the light, Agent Drops.” A guard points out, gruffly, clearly not happy about the delay but not enough to mouth off to her.
Pulling a cylinder from her pack she gives the top a twist. “Like to see him try and eat this.” The little ember stick crackles to life, the small alchemic inferno contained within the clear vial. She laces the end onto the straps of the powder sack.
“Whatever dug the hole, is big, but there are no defined claw marks or divots, which means that the hole has been weathered a bit, take comfort in that.” She turns and faces the pitch black closing her eyes as if she is listening for something. “There is a slight breeze, that means this does let out somewhere else.”
“Or it’s some other beast’s breath from down there.” Barks another Guard from behind. “We have a schedule to keep, Agent Drops, can we move this along?”
She actually gives this Guard a sharp look, before sighing. “Get to it then. The quicker you get done the quicker I can go home.”
“Rihht.” I say through the bit. I want to say ‘thank you’ as well l, but the moment seems wrong for it. The hole does indeed have a slight breeze, but that only enhances the scent of earth and muck. Rotting leaves and wet roots, as well as something else.
Magic.
Pools of stagnant ambient energy that this forest is rich in. Malignant in nature and responsible for some of the more, colorful of creature’s out here.
I can’t even feed of the stuff, at least not pleasantly.
Yet this is where my hooves are now pointed.
’Buck it. it’s a final breath of fresh air and I callously fling myself straight down the throat of it, or would it be ‘up the other end’?
Either way, the twilight off the wood is replaced by the shear void of what lies beneath and everything else that slithers below.
I hit the mud below, my forward motion causing me to slide through the slurry. It’s only a thin layer, beneath it I can feel a harder layer of clay. Giving a kick to my front hooves I try to remove the mud. I manage a snort, the bridle is making it difficult to breathe.
“Ugh, Nuhhs tah hhis.” Unless the Royal bucketheads were planning on coming down here and making me wear this, I sure as heck wasn’t going to. The lack of fingers makes it less than idea, and I nearly gag on it in the course of its removal, but I succeed in taking it off.
My jaw and tongue rejoice in the renewed freedom of movement, but my mouth still stings from the hard metal. Running my tongue over my teeth, I pause at the realization. I have something for that.
With a satisfied hum I toss the crinkly wrapper aside. The taste of the wicked metal washed away by blissfully sweet peppermint. Closing my eyes I feel my saliva begin to melt away at the sweet outer coating unleashing another wave of joy. I even manage a happy tippy hoof dance.
“Hey!” A gruff voice from high above barks through the darkness, only slightly muted by the wet earth. “We haven’t got all night, creep!”
It dampens my moment, but I dance two more steps out of spite and stick my tongue out at him. I know he can’t see me, but it’s like I'm almost daring him to come down here and say that.
Whatever. Let’s get to it.
Attaching the bridle to a leather strap, I lug the basket over my wither before then pulling the chain to get more slack as I move deeper into the cave.
In the pitch black the tiny ember stick lights about three feet in front of me, but that’s fine. Nothing but dirt and the occasional exposed tree root.
In the weak light I can see my breath condensed into a mist in front of me but my senses extend far beyond.
The thrum of magic is all around me, and I take a moment to listen. It echoes off the walls and swells into this point. Taking a few more steps into the pitch black, I can feel it start to pool, forming into the strongest concentration. There is an actual regression in the floor. It was sitting here for who knows how many hundreds of years, saturating the soil, causing a basin to form. Toxic to most other life forms. Not me though. Time to put it to some use.
Bringing my hooves out I slam them together. The white light of my bonds overtakes me for a moment before my sight clears. The cave seems smaller and I must now duck slightly to keep from touching the root covered ceiling. ’Careful, idiot.’ I remind myself, not relishing the idea of a cave in.
With my senses no longer dulled the magic in the air hits me like a punch to the throat, so similar I even gag. Only one thing for it.
Gritting the mint in my teeth I focus on it instead, letting the candy act as a filter between me and the rancid magic all around me as I then bring out the bag of sand I was given. Taking out a handful, I begin to pull at the energy around me. The action makes it visible as dark blue magic is draw to me like a magnet. Before I allow it to seep into me, I catch the aura between my hands. Pushing hard, I feel it resist and swell, the prickling sensation of the grit between my palms feels like ants crawling over my palms. I push past it and draw more into one point.
“One...two...three...four...five.” Each number has a press, each pause in between has a pulse of resistance. But it doesn’t escape. I know how to convince it that it doesn’t want to. Instead, after another few seconds, I release my grip, revealing the fruits of my endeavors.
Within my palm, about the size of a grape, sits a glass marble. Inside the dull blue magic softly glows. it's almost like a will-o-wisp, caught inside a bottle. If it weren't potentially hazardous, it would almost be pretty.
“One.” Eying it one more time before dropping it in the mesh basket.
Grabbing another handful of sand I keep going.
————————
The distinct rattle of the chain every so often meant that the Human was doing his part down there. Still, Agent Sweetie Drops wanted out of this Celestia forsaken forest. She could of been at home tucked in her bed rather than hanging out here in the open where any random beastie could just santer by with a curious ear to what they were doing.
Truth be told she didn’t have a clue what the big wigs up the mountain were doing with all this remnant magic, and even if she asked she knew she would get the same boilerplate answer.
‘That’s Classified.’
She was an Agent for the crown for years, she knew all about compartmentalization. Buck! She lived it even now. But this was the third collection this month. She was by no means a Arcane Specialist, but even just one of those orbs had the potential to power something big. ‘Or make a big boom.’ She mused to herself.
Sweetie Drops could get an idea looking over to the guards Command had sent. Specialized armor, but sloppily forged. Even so effective nonetheless if the human’s signs of anguish at their spear heads meant anything. That was something else that separated them from your typical guards pony.
They were gruffer, and not just toward the human but even her. Despite her years of service they seemed to be tight lipped about what was going on, not willing to part with anymore information than the basics of where and when operations were going to held. Cautious, no doubt. They carried themselves in a far more rigid way, more akin to outpost guards or even badland mercs. This was probably why they were picked for this case, so that he couldn’t lull them into a false sense of pity.
But then, where did that place her? She was growing somewhat accustomed to him. For the last two nights she didn’t put crushed glass outside her door to warn her if him trying to break in to attack her in the night. For all intents and purposes, he was towing the line. Even going so far as respecting the rules, both the serious; and mundane.
There was also that thing that Lyra said.
’The poor guy is trying. Can’t you see that?’
‘Was he?’. Sweetie couldn’t help but wonder. She had sized him up on their first meeting in the hospital. Haythorn had given her a full psych eval on him, but the Doc was a blow hard. Despite his rep for being good at his job, he liked his fifty bit words. No. A face to face chance was what she needed.
Overall? He was pathetic.
A shivering mess, that was just as scared and lost as a junkie. That is what gave her pause. He had dodged that question before, as to why he took magic from ponies. ‘He enjoys it.’. Whether it was some sadistic thrill or a dependency issue, she wasn’t sure.
But it was enough for her to want to remain vigilant. He was an addict he would likely stay one, just one slip up would be all it takes and ponies would get hurt. Lyra could get hurt.
She was prepared for that eventuality. Although, a part of her couldn’t ignore the other facts.
That now that he could understand equish, he genuinely realized he bucked up and that another strike would result in his hairless hide being thrown back to the pit. Which she knew he was more afraid of.
Another rattle of the chain, this time with a more deliberate shake signaled that the first batch was done.
She stepped to the hole as the Pegasus guard reeled in the basket. From the darkness a faint blue came into view before being snagged in the green aura of the unicorn guards magic before being unlatched and replaced with a second empty basket.
‘“One.” She mused to herself watching the second one get tossed down into the blackness below. Already a far less staggering breeze emanated from the slowly purified hole.
———————-
“….two...three...four...five.” Another press. Another blue marble for the basket. I let it fall with the nearly full bushel with a glassy knock. The light dancing around the hole like a dimly lit disco ball.
I’m not sure how long I have been at this, but long enough that the ember stick tied to my arm is starting to fade.
It’s fine. It’s intense work but nothing I can’t handle. In theory, with my feet soaking in natural earth energy, I can do this perpetually, though I shudder to think what would happen if they knew that.
The air down here was already beginning to clear; the heavy arcane mist within having dissipated to simply a musty smell of soil and tree roots. That’s a good enough sign as any that I can call it a night. Not like they would risk coming down here and checking. Nope. I’m the canary and the miner here.
The gate of the iron basket whines as I seal it up. The blue orbs flicker as I give it a test shake, making sure it doesn’t fly open. That happened once, had to start all over that night. Not something I plan on repeating.
Standing back up to my full height, I give a full body stretch. My arms and wrist tight with toil and my back popping from having to hunch over for the past few hours. It may be awhile before I can be normal again, so might as well enjoy it. I’m ‘on the clock’, as it were.
Still for all my brave talk, the bucket heads up there aren’t going to be any nicer if I take my sweet time.
With one final flex of my shoulders, I swing my arms together. My wrist shackles making a familiar clang as once again the cave grows a bit and my world becomes a bit dulled. My articulate fingers return to hooves and frame become a bit more constricted.
With a sigh, I reach down and grab the chain and wrap it around me as I turn to drag it back to the entrance.
I make an effort to look more tired than I am. This goes back to the fact that I don’t want them to know that this really isn’t all that hard for me. Last thing I need is for this to be nightly thing.
I can just make out the light that is seeping in when I suddenly feel my slack run out.
At first I think I am hung up on something. Odd, considering I just walked that way and I didn’t feel any rocks or roots that would do that. The floor was relatively smooth.
I give a tug, the rattle of the chain echoes to the back of the cavern I just was in. The clink of metal reassures me that I didn’t lose anything but it also has the bad fortune of covering another sound. A sound that now becomes all to clear when the chain finally drops back to the clay.
A deep, inhalation, followed by wet creaks
I am not alone in here anymore.
Slowly, I look back. My senses aren’t as good like this, but of what I can feel only confuses me. It’s not an animal.
As if it knew I peeked, the basket is then violently seized and ripped back into the darkness. The blue glow, having been swallowed up.
The chain, I had so ‘smartly’ wrapped over my withers goes bone crushingly tight, as the air is sucked out of my lungs sending a combination of a gasp and a shriek.
Not being able to cast the accursed thing off nor able to wiggle out of it I do my best to resist being pulled back with it. My efforts rewarding me with the chain starting to slide around my withers taking bits of my caparison and what I know is probably skin too.
Still I resist. I can’t bring my hooves up to change back, so I pull earth magic from the ground, but it’s only enough to slow my inevitable pull backwards. I can feel the chain sawing into my shoulder, right into the muscle, scraping the bone.
If there is pain I don’t feel it yet, as I am frantic to break free. Suddenly there is more slack and I look up with hope, only to find the chain spool has broken off from the surface, and is now bouncing it’s way right to me.
It’s then I stop resisting, but it’s too late, the last thing I see is the solid metal bounce one more time at my hooves before it meets the right side of my face.
A feeling of weightlessness takes me, but whether this is from being knocked out or the fact that I am now flying backward away from the surface.
The final note hummed for a moment longer. She let it flow around so much so that it made her ears tingle.
‘Nailed it!’. Lyra smiled as she opened her eyes to the crowd of gathered ponies. They showed their appreciation to the music she made with polite hoof stomping and a few generous coins into her lyre case.
The Royal Canterlot Philharmonic was currently in its summer hiatus and while she received a stipend for her place in the orchestra, practice was essential. If she so happened to practice outdoors where others could not only enjoy her music but show their appreciation, then there was no harm in that.
’Good ol’ Ponyville. She said with a grin as she took the bits into her magic, giving them a light toss so they would the clatter back together.
It looked like there was enough here for lunch with a bit left over. For something sweet maybe?
As if she were there, Bon Bon’s wisdom came echoing back to her. ’Lyra, this is extra money. Extra money that can be saved for a rainy day.’.
“No rain today.” She smirked eyeing the coins as she once again tossed them. The clanking of metal sweet to her ears.
’You know exactly what I mean.’ Tisked her best friend’s voice. ’You have food at home. You could make a nice Rose Salad, even treat yourself with some lemonade.’
“Or, and follow me on this one,” She said aloud “or I could pop down to the café have a daffodil sandwich with bottomless strawberry lemonade that I don’t even need to make myself.”
’The summer Break has just started.’ nagged the voice in that tone she did far to well. ’You are going to be broke by this time next month. Again.
Lyra could almost see the hooves being crossed in that line.
“But Rose Salad is boooring.” She whined as she stomped a hoof impertinently.
Ponies now passing by tried not to stare at the crazy unicorn arguing with the open air of the gazebo, but most simply rolled their eyes. This was Lyra Heartstrings after all.
’You are going to have to move back in with your parents in Canterlot, you know what that means?
Lyra scrunched up her nose. “Curfew. Five hours daily practice,” she shuddered, “Dinner Party gigs.”
The nagging little voice affirmed with a resolute nod.
Lyra’s resolve faltered, looking at the crisp golden profile of Celestia on the small stack of bits she made today. Not much, but she has to admit, it was nice to have. But so was endless strawberry lemonade.
“Oh poo.” She glowered with a pout. “I hate it when you make sense.”
’This is good for you. Self control. I’m proud of you.’
“Do I get a cookie?” She hoped with glee at the loophole.
’....do you have any at home? groused the voice.
Her pout came back in full force. She began packing up her lyre as well as placing the stack of bits into her saddle bags. “Even when you aren’t here, Bonny, you are no fun.”
’It’s for your own good.. Bon Bon’s voice came back in from her subconscious.
“Maybe…” A sinister grin appeared in her face as she formulated a plan. “But you aren’t here…”. Using her magic she placed her lyre case over her shoulder. A pensive hoof to her chin. “So we will let fate decide.”
‘....what.’
“It’s been two days, Bon Bon and Green are bound to be back.”
’All the lectures, all the scolding, it leaves an imprint but it never sinks in.’ bemused the heedless Subconscious Bon Bon.
“If I go to the train station and they aren’t there, then I think a little treat is in order. You know, because I miss them so.”
’Real me is an enabler. That’s what it is. All talk no consequence.’
“But if they are there, I won’t! How does that sound?” Lyra paused looking toward the train station.
‘...whatever.’ grumbled the voice at it rolled over and went back to bed in the confines of her mind, wondering if she would ever serve a purpose more than an afterthought.
“Great!” With a hop of joy, Lyra trotted off toward the rail hub. She would either be there to greet her best friend and her brother, or she would soon be sipping on cool refreshing Strawberry Lemonadey goodness. It was win/win.
——————————
Ponyville Station was always busy. Ponies coming and going, from big business up the mountain in Canterlot to simply a layover to Dodge Junction. Still most other train lines skipped over it entirely. It still had the reputation of being a “hicktown” and before Lyra moved here that really did seem like it was the case.
But, the streets were quiet. The air was fresh, and rent was far more reasonable. That is if one could get past the biweekly monster attacks from the creatures that stumbled out of the Everfree Forest.
All in all though, it was the ponies that made this place great. Walking around she recognized more than a few faces in the platform.
Good old mister Waddle, was creaking his way down the steps back into town, a pair of oversized old pony glasses on his face. Must of seen his eye doctor in the city.
Written Script and Golden Harvest were likewise making their way into Ponyville. Script going on about the audits he had to review for the mayor’s office yet this weekend and Goldie just nodding and smiling. Lyra giggled a bit at how close she was pressed up against her coltfriend, letting him know how much she missed him with her desire to be near him.
It would be nice to feel that again.
Despite this, the evidence appeared to show that they were sadly, not here.
Bon Bon would have wanted a direct train from Baltimare to Ponyville, and not wanting to waste time going back up the mountain in the process.
Despite her initial reasoning for coming here, she found that she was indeed saddened by their absence.
If it was taking as long as it was, she hoped that everything was alright. Despite how scary Bonny made him seem, Green was alright. Granted she knew next to nothing about him. Still she could see that he wanted to get out, wanted to be with others, but was just too afraid or just didn’t know how.
Something she would definitely help with. But she wanted Bonny take the lead on that. It was good for her too after all.
“Well,” She said with a solemn shake of her head. “Guess I should mosey along, No Bonny or Green today, I suppose.”
Sticking her tongue out she looked to the direction of the cafè. Fate had spoken, and she was bound by oath to have sweet, chilled-
“Would you stop being a foal.” Her ears pivoted. She knew that voice. Could it be? “You are fine.”
Coming out of the last car came a cream earth pony mare. Her expression hard and tone oh so henpecky.
“I‘m not going out there.” The baritone voice was still new to her, but she was fairly certain she knew who that was too. “I feel absolutely-” Lyra just could make out the shape of a shaggy mop of green hair before it quickly shrank back into the car as she came trotting up to them.
“Bon Bon! You’re back!” She bounced up and down, giving her best friend a hug. “Did you bring me anything?” She was kidding. Mostly. She always did like surprises though.
“Oh! H-Hey Lyra.” Bonny returned the embrace, albeit a little slower than usual. Did she actually look a little shocked to see her, and was that...worry? Naw couldn’t be.
The ding of the train bell signaled to all that the train was about to depart from the station to its next stop.
With a smile to Lyra, Bon Bon then turned to the still open door of the compartment. “You planning on going to Appleloosa? Your going to need a ticket and I am not paying for one.”
“M-maybe.” Came a delayed reply.
“For the love of!” Bon Bon snarled exasperatedly. “Nopony cares. Get out here!”
“I care! Least you got a longer tail to cover your a-Ahh! Ahh!” Any further argument was silenced when Bon Bon reached in and snatched the skittish Greenhill by the ear, dragging him off the train.
“Aww. Like a real big sister.” Lyra cooed. “seems like you guys did b-aawAHHH!” Lyra all but shrieked, drawing more attention to an already mortified Greenhill.
“Nopony cares’,huh?” Green said derisively, rubbing his ear while also shielding his uncovered body. His usual caparison uncharacteristically missing, save for a small of strip of it used as a wrap on his left foreleg.
“Nopony does, that’s not what she’s looking at, idiot.” Bon Bon said with a hiss.
While this was indeed the first time Lyra had seen Green uncovered (not bad, by the way), she was more drawn to the unmissable swollen sight of his right eye and bandaged appendage. The orb in particular was all but swollen shut and the skin around it bruised a blueish-black in contrast to his grey coat.
“What happened to you?!” Lyra said with a cringe finding her voice after a few false starts.
“I...uhm…” One hoof oddly remained to his waist while the other attempted to cover his bruised eye.
“There was a fight.” Bon Bon stepped in to speak for him as his shyness once again seemed to keep him from speaking.
“A fight?” Lyra said coming to Greenhill’s side before peering up at him. An action he attempted to block by slowly leaning away from her. “Oh jeez!” She exclaimed with a hoof to her mouth. “Does that mean he has to...you know, leave?”
Lyra saw Green physically tense up at that.
“No.” Bon Bon said raising a discerning brow to him. “Not this time at least.” Their eyes met, or at least the non injured one of his seemed to. A wordless exchange came and went between them in that moment, Lyra could tell. “It wasn’t his fault.” Bon Bon said with a sigh. “There was an…incident, on our trip.”
“Yeah?” Lyra raised a hoof to Green’s face. Examining the bruise with a hoof, an action that made Green jolt back to reality with a wince and shift away from her. “Wicked! What kind of-WAIT!” An idea coming to her, even though a tiny voice in the back of her mind threw up its hooves in defeat as she was about to say it.
“You can tell me over lunch!” She said with a happy chirp. “The cafe will have ice for that shiner, and lemonade for me-us!” Quickly correcting herself as she led the small party away from the now departing train as they made their way back into town.
There was a breeze. An unmistakable one that made me shift in my seat ever so slightly.
Nopony was staring, were they? No, of course not, and why would they? I’m just like them. Just like them.
So why the discomfort?
Let me put it this way, you never really think about the way you’re sitting until you do so without nothing between the seat and your…
“Nuts!” Lyra sputtered as she plucked a napkin from the table, and began blotting up the strawberry lemonade that began to dribble down her chin and on to her coat.
“Well, slow down.” Scolded Bon Bon as she sensibly sipped her tea. “Nopony is going to take it from you.”
Lyra further wadded up the napkins with her magic, leaving them in a neat pile on the table.
My eyes focused on her golden aura absently for a moment or two before I felt Sweetie Drops’ gaze fell on me.
It was no accident she sat closer to me, specifically between me and Lyra.
I just chose to look away and not think about it, instead opting to sip on my water with a lime twist. Such is the lavish life I lead.
“Here yah go, bud.” I am handed a small rubber pouch by our waiter.
Taking the pouch I can feel a slight chill emanating inside it. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” He shrugged before levitating a pitcher of water from the serving cart, topping off my glass before he continues. “No offense but that is quite the shiner, chum.”
I muster a grim smirk as I gently press the ice pack to my swollen face. Releasing a hiss as the cold numbs at my tender skin.
“Oh! Duh! That’s why we came here!” Realization coming to Lyra as she set down her now empty glass.
Forcing myself to relax I allow the cold sensation roll over me as I breathe through the slowly dulling stinging sensation.
It was in the third slow release of air that I realized that the table had gone quiet. Looking up I see the expectant expression of not only Lyra, but our waiter seems to have taken interest in my plight.
Pretty sure the table next to us also seemed to have their ears perked toward my direction.
My mind raced to think of an explanation. Something that would account for a black eye and bum leg. ‘Crap! They are all looking at me! What do I-‘
“Ugh, it was just awful.” Unexpectedly, Bon Bon had chosen to step in, I did my best to hide my shock as I let her continue.
“We had just finished up at the municipal building,” She eyed me at that, as if she was scolding me for the lie she was now weaving. “On our way back to the train station; we had taken the subway.”
Her tone, her mannerisms, everything was so natural, like she was truly regaling us all about the whole thing and she hadn’t even gotten how I got hurt. It was scary how good she was at this.
“Well, the lights on the train started to flicker a bit then went out all together. The train coasted for a bit, then their we were.” She looks up to Lyra, a veneer of unease on her face. “Underground and in the dark.”
“You’re kidding!” Lyra gasped, nearly knocking the pitcher out of the waiter’s grasp as he refilled her fifth glass. “The train broke down?”
“Never did trust those things.” Murmured one of the ponies next to us. “Can’t even get out and walk.”
Bon Bon simply shrugged and continued on. “What’s worse is that an annoying little alarm that went off every few minutes to remind us that we were stalled. I can still hear it, can’t you Green?”
“Y-Yeah…” I stammer, “annoying.” My contribution doesn’t help and I know it, so she deftly keeps the story going.
“It was around the hour and a half mark that I think some ponies had had about enough.” She said sipping the last of her tea, before placing it down, our waiter already refilling it before it settled back into place. “It started with some loud idiots. Nothing but a bunch of rowdy colts who had it in their heads that the only way to make the situation better was to make it worse.”
“Hate those guys.” Agreed Lyra as she went after her straw for another pull.
“Well they started shoving and before we knew it a lot of the other passengers were getting squished. Well enough it enough it seems.”
“I know! Right! What’d you tell them Bonny?” Lyra said with eagerness.
“Not me.” She said with a shrug.
“Not you?” Quirked Lyra.
‘Not her?’ I wondered myself.
“Nope.” She snaps her gaze to me. “What you tell them Green?”
‘…oh you suck.’ I feel my face burn and my ears droop as the eyes are back on me. Somehow having to continue the story is worse.
I clear my throat a bit and look away from the captive audience I am now locked in with. “They...were just a bunch of idiots...I told them to stop.”
“That’s not what you said.” Bon Bon said looking at me cooly over the rim of her tea.
She was putting my feet to the fire now, did she want me to fail? Letting me dig my own hole? Or was this fun for her?
Fine.
Nothing for it then. I steeled my gaze at her and let out a snort. “I told them if they didn’t shut up and sit down I would throw them off myself.”
Silence surrounded us. But I didn’t break my look from Drops. She was a statue, unflinching. It was around the five second mark I began to wonder if I overplayed my hand.
“Whoa! Green! Way to show some chutzpah!” I didn’t know what that was, but Lyra was clearly impressed.
“Yeah, well, fat lot of good it did me.” I say off hand returning the ice pack to my face.
“You got your licks in.” Bon Bon adds, the tense atmosphere seeming to thin a bit. “I and a few others had to pull those jerks off of you, but all in all you made your point to them.”
Things seemed to ease back down after that. The crowd around us thinned and ponies went back to their regular conversations. It was after my third glass of water that I excused myself.
“Don’t fall in.” Lyra chortled as I left, ever the fun spirit. What does she see in Bon Bon?
—————
One thing that they didn’t go over in my ‘orientation’ on my release, was Bathroom etiquette, and technique. Back home I would just revert to human form and aim.
Public restrooms where a bit trickier, you kind of had to go to the side. I won’t go to much more in depth than that, but needless to say I weirded that guy out the first time I was in one. Not like I could ask Bon Bon either.
After formally relieving myself I took a dollop of soap from the dispenser and clunkily began washing my hooves. Down right pointless if you ask me. I mean, I was going to walk out on them anyway. Floor looked clean enough, I suppose.
“That was quite a story out there sug’.” The echo reverberates off the walls and down my spine as I turn to face the speaker. “ Any of it true?”
“...this is the Stallion’s Room.” I say dumbly, not really sure what to say in this situation.
“Well aware.” She says unphased walking right up to me.
I instinctively back up till I feel the porcelain of the sink dig into my plot, another reminder of how further exposed I feel.
Applejack looks at me sharply but not unkindly, her gaze holding on my swollen face.
“Did she do it?” She asks cooly.
Is that what she thinks? Bon Bon slapping me around? Truth be told she avoids all contact with me she can, cautious lest I somehow leech some magic from her, or disgust.
“No.” Letting out a breath I turn away from the orange mare. “It’s like she said.”
“Green, I can smell a lie like a skunk in a flower bed. Bon Bon has her stories and ah always just let them slide because it t’werent mah business.” She paused tilting her head a bit so I would look at her proper. “But I can’t stand by and let her hurt somepony.”
She wasn’t going to let this go, was she? “She didn’t hurt me, Miss Applejack.” I said inhaling deeply. The truth is, I found myself in a place I didn’t want to be. A place nopony would want to be.” Just like that I am back in that darkness. The sound of vines, writhing and twisting. The metal cage full of my hard work being cracked open like an oyster and being devoured. How frozen in fear I was before the unmistakable sensation of hooves pulling me away. “Bon Bon got me out of there.”
Applejack seemed to mull this over a bit.
“Not sure why she did. She doesn’t like me very much. Pretty sure she hates me.” My bluntness actually phasing the mare, but for once I was speaking completely honestly. Felt liberating. “Which is fine considering I really don’t like her either. But she’s also the best I have right now.”
“That’s something Ah frankly don’t understand, Green.” She tilted her hat back sighed a bit. “But ah reckon their are all types of kin out there, many likely not care for one another.”
Having spoke her mind she turned to leave, only to stop at the door. “If what you say is true though, the least you can do is make the best of it, both of you.”
I opened my mouth to respond only to freeze mid thought. ‘Somethings not right.’ The sensation hits me like a cold sweat.
“Green? Something wrong-“ now she is cut short. Whatever it is has us both on alert. “What in blue blazes is that?” She goes outside with me not far behind.
The whole town seems to have stopped what they are doing. There is a vibration in the air, a sort of chattering noise, and it’s getting louder.
All around are murmurs of confusion and alarm.
“What is that?”
“The train?”
“That’s on the other side of town.”
“Are we being attacked?”
The noise grows to such a loud pitch, the cutlery and glasses have begun to vibrate off tables.
Through the haze of confusion and further rumblings, Bon Bon moves past me, snapping me out of my stupor.
“Bonny what is it? Stampede?” Lyra comes to her side, looking genuinely scared.
“No. The pitch is too high.” Bon Bon says absently. Her gaze looking out past town; toward the tree line.
Door are slamming shut and citizens begin clearing the streets. It’s not a full on panic just yet, but that sound seems to make my whole head tingle. I’d been told about the attacks that befell Ponyville every now and again, was this truly one of them?
As if on cue the sound stops and it’s deathly silent.
The town holds its breath collectively.
All at once the undergrowth explodes, revealing a large amber brown creature. It’s half the size of a train car, looking like a giant beetle, with a deadly looking horn atop its head.
Any further inhabitants make a mad dash for cover as the creature come lumber down the cobblestone road smashing carts and boxes outside of buildings.
I am yanked by the arm into an alleyway and all but thrown to the ground. Looking up I see Sweetie Drops is back and is not looking happy.
“That hit to your head mess up your hearing?” She hisses at me. “I said your name like three times!”
“W-what is that?” Huddled in the alley I see the Waiter. Lyra is here as well, with several other patrons, their eyes wide in horror as they hear the pandemonium happening just a block or two away.
“Doom Bug.” Bon Bon hisses, the name coming out more like a curse than an answer.
Pulling myself back up I can hear the giant insect crashing around, every so often a squeal or shriek can be heard followed by the sounds of running. The creatures giant wings jitter in irritation, a thrum that rattles the pit of my stomach.
“That’s quite enough yah big cockroach!”
—————
This was not at all what Applejack was hoping to do today.
-Drop some mail off at the post office. -Stop at the pharmacy for Granny’s vitamins. -Check up on the Library for some general upkeep. -Then back home in time for a little lunch before the afternoon kicked in.
Wrangling another critter from the Everfree that got it into its head that Ponyville was on the menu was not on that list.
Still she was an Element of Harmony, not to mention a hometown gal, and it wasn’t like she would do nothing.
The big critter hardly seemed to notice the insult she lobbed at it but rather continued to mow down on the contents of Strawberry Sunrise’s cart.
No problem there, if anything it made things easier.
With the expert twist from a lifetime of practice she let loose her lariat sending the loop spiraling towards the chittering bug.
As she planned, she snagged him around the horn, the rope going taught as she gave it a forceful yank in her direction.
Feeling it’s body constricted, the beetle let out a hiss in protest as she forced its focus on her. Despite her bravado she couldn’t help but feel slightly unnerved that sound as well as the hollow clacking of its jaws. The tomatoes it ate splattered over its maw also didn’t help.
‘Okay girl, now what?’ She thought uneasily to herself. She had the thing, but now what was she going to do with it. Not like she could convince it to leave with Fluttershy, or poof it away without Twilight. She couldn’t even hogtie the thing; six spindly legs about as wide as her. She would be needing more rope.
Best she could do was stall for help or try and lead it out of down.
As if taking advantage of her moment of thought the disgusting bug hocked a wad of gunk at her, which she narrowly missed. The wagon behind her wasn’t as lucky as it took the mass full on and began to dissolve with an audible sizzle.
A simple swish of the tail wasn’t gonna swat this gnat.
The cavalry showing up right now would be- her trusty rope goes loose as the creature lunges forward. It’s a move she was expecting as she bobs and weaves through its legs managing to loop one of its middle legs, only to get grazed by its hind leg.
Despite knowing how to take a hit in a fight, the creature’s jagged armor does her no favors. Applejack’s vision swam as she came to a halt, just managing to stay on her hooves. Glancing down she could see a deep gash on her right fetlock. She gritted her teeth and shook her head to keep her vision clear.
‘Not good.’ She thought to herself as she rounded about holding the rope as tight as she could, bad leg and all.
It lets out another hiss and prepares to charge only for a blur to come out and hit it’s side. It’s balance off from the one snared leg it’s simple mind doesn’t know how to compensate and instead opts to crash to it’s back.
As it squeals and kicks trying to rock itself back up the Cowpony is able piece together what just happened and is surprised to find it starts with one stallion named Greenhill, who is at present clutching his head and writhing on the ground.
—————
‘Oh, that hurt.’ I reel, as I try to push past the pain now coursing through my head and neck. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but in hindsight hooves first probably would have been smarter.
The living roadblock I just hit shrieks in anger and alarm at being attacked and this is enough for me to stagger back a bit and try and recover.
“Clear out Greenhill!” I look up to see Applejack staring at me with a look of anger and pain. Her leg is bleeding badly but she still holds her rope tight.
I see the rope twist and it’s enough for me to remember what’s on the other end. Just in time too as one of it’s legs looms over head forcing me to jump. Landing on my side and clumsily scurrying further away to clear the distressed ‘Doom Beetle’ as Bon Bon called it.
Some monster hunter she is. When we saw Applejack get hurt she didn’t say anything just started digging through the waiter’s cart. Not exactly time to go looking for creamer, Drops!
Still, now that I was here, what do I do? Sure I knocked it down, but that hurt me more than it did it.
If I could change I might be able to match its strength, but there are far too many ponies here.
Applejack is forced to let go of her rope and pull back herself. She winces as she grips her leg.
By now the Beetle has managed to pull itself up, buzzing its wings in clear anger.
I feel my hackles rise, out of fear more than anything.
Just as it lunges it stops itself. Coming right from behind me steps none other than Bon Bon herself. In her hoof she holds some sort of bundle wrapped in an apron.
Whatever is in their has the large bug utterly hypnotized, it’s mandibles clucking and it’s eyes following it as she waves it back and forth.
“Can you move?” It takes me a moment to realize that she isn’t talking to it, but me.
Noticing I am still on the ground I stagger to my hooves. “Y-yeah.”
The beetle still follows the thing she has but is beginning to step closer. Nipping at it even as Bon Bon slowly backs up.
“What is that? A repellent?” I ask, slowly backing away with her.
“No.” She responds through gritted teeth. “It’s a lure.” Before she shoves it to my chest.
‘Faust? Mother of Creation and Heaven, Are you there? I know I probably shouldn’t be praying to you what with...anyway; I know I haven’t been the best soul in this world. I know I don’t deserve any mercy but I’d like to think of myself as being redeemable. I want to be good, and I want to be worthy.
But at this moment, I-I could use a little help. Nothing for me personally but, if you could find it in your divine mercy could please...please...kill Agent Sweetie Drops?’
Somehow, I doubt my prayer will be answered or much less heard, but I have been to what is basically hell, so a shout in the other direction couldn’t hurt.
The thumping of half a dozen legs skittering behind me most certainly will though, not to mention the clicking mandibles that are driving them to chase me.
I’ve been dodging this hulking brute for a least a block and a half now, narrowly escaping being pinced to death. Whatever Agent Drops put on this rag it sure as heck wants it.
‘Just bail, toss the rag and make a break for it.’ I tell myself. ‘She is using you as live bait for this thing.’
Yeah, that is absolutely true. Drops probably wouldn’t bat an eyelash if this thing tore me in half. Still, Ponyville has been kind to me, and I rather not make them suffer.
With a buzz from behind I bank sharply to the right, my hooves kicking up dirt as I find purchase on the dirt street. The Doom Bug passing by me, taking out a lamp post, before rejoining the chase.
With any luck I can just lead it straight out of town and back to the forest.
‘Then what?’ My mind nags at me once more. Let’s just get there alive first.
The streets are mercifully clear; the only real ponies I’ve seen since we began this merry chase have been those who have crammed themselves into buildings and alleyways..
The raised hairs on my neck are cue enough for me to know I need to move. I bank sharply to the left only to get further grazed by a trio of legs, knocking me like a ragdoll into an abandoned cart, the cabbage acting as a mediocre cushion.
Stunned I open my eyes to see the world is turned upside down, with my head wanting nothing more to stay down. The Doom Bug now barreling down on me is enough to motivate me. I attempt to roll to the side but find a leg blocking my escape, another blocking the other direction.
I am officially boxed in.
A hiss from above me lets me know it knows that too.
‘You’re boned.’ It seems to say.
Turning my head slightly I can see it hovering over me. As if waiting, wanting me to turn and look it onto the eyes.
One eye is enough it seems as it lunges in at me. Instinctively I raise my forelegs up to protect my head only to painfully catch the mandibles. The pincers pressing down on me with merciless intensity.
I am pushed down upon with a frenzy of hissing and other beastial noises that drown out everything else.
It’s jaws press tighter, holding me in place as it’s mouth further drips it’s horrible drool that stinks to high heaven. I can feel myself being dragged and pushed against the ground, the remnants of the cart digging into my back.
Despite everything, I cannot escape one singular truth. One simple drive. Namely; I don’t want to die this way. In a mania of sheer desperation, I scream and kick at the thing as hard as I can. I must have hit some tender spot, because the overwhelming crushing pressure lifts considerably.
Emboldened by my minor success I further assault my attacker, smashing both hooves into it. With a pained hiss it lets me go.
Desperate to put some distance between us I attempt to clamber away only for my back leg to be clamped down upon.
To my horror I am summarily flung through the air, before coming down hard on an assortment of wooden crates.
Once again dazed, I can hear the thump of legs skittering toward me once again. Nothing else for it, I grip the nearest unbroken crate and swing wildly. My blind attack rewarded me with a solid hit to the creature, splintering the wood across its massive armored head.
We face off once again, me breathing hard, and it shaking off the blow with a huff. It's then I notice that I’ve lost the lure. I don’t have long to look as I spot it, neatly sitting on the ground between us.
Not wanting this to continue any more I slowly back away, content to just let it have the damn thing. It does indeed step forward, then again, then again. Stepping right on the lure before gruffly casting it aside.
I look up into it’s chitlin face. Expressionless compound eyes and gnashing pincers make its intent clear;
‘this isn’t about that anymore.’
“...Crap.” I bolt once again the bellowing shriek of the bug once again hot on my heels.
———————————
Bon Bon could hear the calamity going on in the streets. It was, in all honesty, nostalgic. It reminded her a great deal of Bullapest.
Only, she never wanted that to happen here. She mentally cursed having to keep her cover intact. A level three Doom Bug was relatively simple to corral given the right inventive, provided you didn’t agitate it.
Clearly the human lacked the finesse to not mess that up.
She was further irritated by the daggers currently pointed at her.
Lyra and the other ponies had settled into their hiding place in the alley with relative ease. However a certain Stetson wearing mare seemed to have words she wished to share. At present she could only manage a few cold stares coupled with a wince or two as her injured leg was being patched up
“That cut is really deep, Miss Apple,” Nurse Red Heart said sternly to the farmer as she put the wrap back into her field bag. “You are going to certainly need stitches when this is over.
“Not the first time, nor the last.” It was here she actually broke her glare to offer the nurse a confident but grateful nod. From the corner of her eye Bon Bon could see that Applejack was indeed hobbling over.
“What the buck was that?” Now was the time to play her part as she looked over confused.
“What do you mean?”
“Throwin’ Green to wolves like that. That varmint will tear him apart.” Peering around the corner she can just see said stallion dodging yet another attack before bolting in another direction, a resounding crash making her cringe before looking back to Bon Bon.
The candy mare met the Apple mare’s gaze and without so much as flinching responded. “He can handle it.”
“Beg your pardon?” She’s says incredulously.
“Green is used to this kinda thing. He’s tougher than you think.” Another crash, this time that of glass almost comically punctuating her statement.
———————-
Everything hurts. I shamble my way down the road on what I assume is a broken back ankle.
With gritted teeth I push through it, sacrificing maneuvering for speed as the nettled beetle continues to chase me.
If I could just change back I could absorb both some earth energy and crush the beast. ‘Then absorb it’s magic.’
It’s tempting, very very tempting. Sweetie Drops couldn’t get mad about it. Right?
‘My cover would be blown, though. And... I like it here.’
With a heavy sigh I stagger back to face the thing.
“Buck it.” I wince as I settle in. Dying looking brave is not the worst way to go, all things considered.
Noticing I’ve stopped trying to get away the Doom Bug squares me up. Not stopping but moving more at a steady pace.
I honestly hope he eats me entirely. Not looking forward to the first few bites but then again, at least I won’t leave anything for the ‘good’ doctor to pick at.
Picking up the pace it builds to a charge, it’s multiple legs rising to a rapid drum beat that only grows in intensity as it barrels down on me.
I raise my hooves up to brace for impact but I don’t bother looking forward. The sun beats down on my back as I feel the air displacing ahead of me.
The rattle of its legs chatter my very teeth now.
One last viceral hiss before it’s on me.
I feel the impact. Then nothing more….
….by that I mean nothing else at all.
No sharp horn impaling me.
No thrashing or gnashing.
Nothing.
I peek my good eye open to find that I’ve seemingly caught the thing. It’s pressing against me pushing me back slightly causing me to form a furrow in the dirt.
It squeals in it’s own confusion apparently, as it stamps it’s legs hoping to find a greater purchase to push me over.
Stunned for but a moment, I take a chance and reassert my stance; a challenging feat as I can only favor one hind leg. The result is we stopped moving back altogether.
It attempts to pull away, but I instantly grip tighter, causing it to try and flail back to break free. It’s head remains trapped in my grasp, as it’s two other segments writhe and squirm to be released.
Despite its great size, it felt like...well I’ve used this word before, but it works; Nothing. Like holding a heavy sack of rocks. Not easy, but for the moment manageable. Had I been able to absorb enough earth magic from my haphazard attempt to flee?
So it would seem.
But now that I’ve stopped moving shouldn’t I be burning through it like sugar?
My dance partner is not a happy buggo as it attempts to snap at me but having a firm grip on its head put me in control of this little soiree.
Pushing down on its head, I begin to feel it. I hadn’t noticed before because of-well, fighting for my life. A familiar pulsing that rose from its form tickling the hairs of my forelegs to my very core.
I was feeding off it’s magic.
Somehow, despite being told my equine form was a containment against my life leaching touch, I was doing just that. It was far more restrained, like sipping through a straw rather than chugging, but apparent nonetheless.
It was invigorating.
Taking a deep breath, I gripped the beastie harder causing it to hiss in confusion before pushing my wither into it fully, slamming it down into the ground.
It further squealed in both alarm and pain, as I pinned it by the head on it’s side. It’s freed up legs batting at me to let go. I had seen those very legs smash through solid wood, and even injure Applejack, but now they just bounced off me like cat scratches.
I was even starting to enjoy myself a little, before the ping of something metallic could be heard landing at my hooves.
Looking down I saw a small cylinder rolling to stop by the both of us.
My eyes went wide just as it burst leaving me in a cloud of noxious smoke.
It was then I released the Beetle and attempted to move away. Stupidly, my shock came with a gasp the moment the bomb blew, rewarding me with a lungful of gas.
Panic set in as my lungs began to seize up. Gasping, I only succeeded in downing more. Coughing only made matters worse.
My world began to turn black, as I frantically tried to fan the smoke away in a desperate attempt to find my way to life giving air.
I fell to my stomach, my eyes starting to roll back into my head. Before I felt myself being grabbed by a pair of hooves. Unable to react with any more than a spasm, I felt them grab my head and shove something on my face.
In an instant my coughing became productive, my lungs finding purchase to push out the gas and find air to breathe. With air came awareness, someone put some sort of gasmask on me.
My breathing still labored, I looked up to see the shape of a pony.
“Try not to throw up in the mask, then you’ll be totally buggered.” The voice was muffled by its own mask but deep and unmistakably male.
I attempted to stand only to be pushed down. “You did good, son. Just breathe.”
My eyes were still raw, and my chest heaved from the trauma. Nothing else to do but comply. Heaving deep breath after deep breath.
