Raven Inkwell is not a single pony. Raven is a collective.
Dear Princess Celestia,
The land is at peace once and for all. Twilight Sparkle is ready to take on her new duties, and the known foes we once faced have finally been vanquished. We expect little in the way of new trouble to arise from this day onward.
The mare looks up. Celestia steps into the room, her face obscured by a loose parchment. "I assume the preparations for Twilight's inheritance of the throne have been operating smoothly?"
"Yes, your Highness."
"You don't have to call me that, you know. I consider you a friend, not a subordinate."
Raven lowers her head. "Yes, your Highness."
"You're never going to call me Celestia, are you?"
"No, your Highness. My work supersedes personal relations as instructed. It is the only way to avoid being compromised by potential threats."
Celestia stands silent for a brief moment before continuing. "...Anyway, onto the serious talk. Have you identified any threats that must be addressed?"
"I believe so. My sisters have been informed that there exists a small coalition that appears to be outwardly hostile toward the nation's leadership direction; a report I have received states that they have been sending potentially-lethal substances via mail to the residence of Twilight Sparkle. We believe it may be an act of attempted assassination, though I stand by the honor of my bloodline that the Princess of Friendship remains safe from any threats. I believe they are currently coordinating an ambush to dissolve this faction."
"Your... sisters. How many do you have again?"
"The number of ponies I consider to be siblings is not of importance, your Highness."
"One of these days, Raven, I'm going to dig through last year's census and see just how many ponies are related to you."
"That will not be of any use, Princess."
"Oh?" Celestia raises a brow. "And why is that?"
Raven takes her glasses off, setting them on her desk. "It is of no importance to you. So long as your reign continues, my bloodline shall be at your side."
"Raven."
"Yes, your Highness?"
"I'm serious. I have seen many generations of Raven Inkwell serve before me, and yet I still do not know your origin. Your position was--is of no royal decree, yet even during my younger years as a filly, some version of you has been there for me. Why is that?"
"And you're saying you're sure that I shouldn't check my mail today?" Twilight Sparkle glances over her morning tea. "How did you get in, anyway? Spike's still sleeping upstairs."
"I have my ways, your Highness. I am here on orders from Canterlot to ensure your safety in the upcoming months."
"You didn't answer my first question... Raven? That's your name, right? I've seen you with Celestia before."
"I am deeply sorry, your Highness." Raven Inkwell bows her head. "I shall answer it now. Whilst carrying out my order to inspect your mail for potentially-hazardous substances, my sister informed me of a plan to send deadly substances in the mail in an attempt on your life. We have already intercepted multiple suspicious letters and packages before I arrived."
"Assa...assassination?" Twilight frowns, clearly puzzled. "Why would any creature want me dead?"
"You see yourself as a good pony, your Highness, but every leader will have their foes, whether they know it or not. The faction that wishes for your passing could very well be the former followers of King Sombra, or perhaps the vestigial unreformed changelings of the Badlands. Further investigation is being carried out, as the former appears to be the most likely case. As I am largely uninvolved in such investigations myself, I cannot say for certain what may actually be occurring."
"O...kay then. Is there anything else that you're here to do?"
"I indeed have additional orders, your Highness. I am to be stationed by your side until the Princesses of Equestria deem that my duties are complete."
Twilight pauses. "When would that be? I'm a Princess of Equestria too, aren't I?"
"It is not the individual who decides my duties, but rather the council."
"Council?" confusion grows within Twilight's voice with each passing second. "This is the first time I've ever heard of an entire council of Princesses."
"You have yet to be formally invited, your Highness. I apologize for assuming you were already aware of the council."
"No no no, there's no need to apologize, I'm just surprised I haven't heard of it sooner." Twilight shakes her head. "So, you're going to stay here for a while then, aren't you?"
"Copy. The targets are approaching the building. I will continue to watch from afar, your Highness." Raven peeks around a corner of a building before continuing. "Over."
Two unassuming ponies -- a mare and a stallion -- continue to walk down the alley. One appears to nod at the other, splitting away to disappear through a door. Raven lights her horn for a moment, vanishing almost immediately after the initial flash. The pony that remained outside the building is of lesser importance than the one that had entered.
"State your location. Shining Armor will be sending backup forces."
"Twenty-third warehouse perpendicular to the entrance path, forty-eight degrees North of East at a radius of approximately eight miles. Ten-six."
"Roger that. Report to me your findings once you are safe. Out."
Raven lights her horn again, this time using a teleportation spell. She tucks away her walkie talkie, now standing on a ceiling beam within the warehouse. It is clear that there is a chemical operation of some kind being carried out on the ground floor, though it is hard to tell for sure what is being manufactured from the height she stands at.
The mare who entered the building before carefully trots up to the machinery. She begins to press buttons on the control dashboard, though, once again, it is unclear what exactly is being done. Raven vanishes once more with a teleportation spell.
Now far closer than before, Raven slowly steps toward the dashboard, keeping a keen eye on what is being operated with each button press. The mare at the controls frowns, turning her head in the direction of Raven. She emits a noise sounding like a cross between a huff and a grunt before turning back and refocusing her attention on the controls.
There is some noise outside. Both Raven and the mare simultaneously freeze, the former of concern and the latter of fear. Quietly, Raven teleports away one more time, cupping a hoof to the microphone of her walkie talkie.
"There appears to be an encounter between the guards and the second target outside the warehouse. I suspect this is the backup that the Crystal Prince has sent? Over."
"Affirmative. I have received a report stating that the second target has been taken into custody with little resistance. What is the status on the first target? Over."
"She appears to be operating unidentified heavy machinery. I attempted to make sense of its operation, but it appears that she may be aware of my presence. Over."
"Remain in your current location. I will direct the guardsponies to raid the building. As the target is an Earth Pony, they will be unable to escape easily. Over and out."
Moments later, the doors of the warehouse were bucked down, allowing for a squadron of guards to flood into the building.
The mare let out an annoyed sigh and held her hooves up. "Take me. I've had enough of this crap my coltfriend puts me through."
"It appears that the primary target may have been a decoy. Over."
"I copy. I have been observing by means of a microphone tucked within the armor of a guard. I believe that we have made a good choice in first apprehending our secondary target, as he is likely the coltfriend that the mare speaks of. Out."
Raven sets down her walkie talkie. It has been some time since she herself did not need to take part in an ambush such as this.
Raven leads Raven down the corridor of Ravens. Every so often, the trailing Raven flinches at the soft wails of despair emanating from beyond the bars. She refocuses her attention on the Raven Inkwell that leads her, and the soft glow at the tip of her horn.
"Do you have a preferred title, Elevated One?"
Raven shakes her head. "There is no need for titles when you and I are one and the same. Proceed."
The leading Inkwell gives a singular nod and gestures to follow. It is not long before they halt before a heavy door inscribed with runes.
"No other incarnation of the First has unsealed the chamber we stand before."
"That is why we will utilize the power of the many. None have entered the First chamber because none have eclipsed the might of the First." The trailing Inkwell throws her cloak off, unfurling her wings. "Until now."
The leading Inkwell's eyes widen. "You are an Alicorn."
"I am a mistake. But this mistake shall be the savior of our cherished bloodline. We live to serve, and when our purpose is no more, we too must perish. I make it my duty --our duty-- to ensure that our purpose to the Sun Princess is preserved. Please, stand aside."
The leading Inkwell steps to the side, her eyes fixated on the Alicorn.
A spiral of mana drifts from the tip of the Alicorn Inkwell's horn, wandering lazily through the dry air until it hits the surface of the door. The runes painted beneath the Alicorn Inkwell begin to glow in a similar fashion; wisps of mana begin to reach far behind the leading Inkwell, snaking through each and every caged chamber within the corridor.
"I am sorry, my sisters. Your sacrifice will be honored for generations to come."
The leading Inkwell nearly chokes at the statement. "Wait--you never said anything about sacrifice! I assumed that it required the magical prowess of the combined Ravens to unseal the cham--"
A flood of mana bursts forth from behind, washing over every surface in the corridor as the tsunami approaches the door. A pair of glasses are all that remain of the leading Raven as the wave impacts.
Click.
The door creaks open. Raven steps inside. There is... nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
A second pair of glasses lays on the floor where Raven once stood.
Raven gives a singular nod to Raven. "I do not believe any Inkwells were harmed in the unsealing of the false vault, save for the rogue Alicorn."
The Inkwell behind the desk raises a brow. "What of the Inkwells reported to have been abducted and imprisoned?"
"Automatons, fabricated with no sentience and orders to serve as a lure for the Raven of Shadow. I have deliberately kept this fact concealed in order to avoid raising suspicion."
"And what of the Inkwell that assisted the Raven of Shadow in the construction of the prisons and the unsealing of the vault?"
"You are speaking to her. I am the one ordered to sabotage the rogue Raven."
The Inkwell behind the desk pauses, staring into the eyes of the Raven that stands before her. Her reflection stares back.
"Well done, Miss Inkwell. I will send a report of this to the Sun Princess. The continued support of us and our fellow sisters ensures that the nation remains at peace. We salute you for your part in the banishment of the rogue Raven to the Emptiness."
"And what of the Celestial Sisters' abdications? What is to come of us?"
The Inkwell behind the desk sighs, setting her glasses on her desk. She slides them toward the edge. "Each and every one of us holds the memories of the previous generation, as well as the ones before, all the way back to the First. We are our own ancestors. Though we remain physically young, our memories stretch on for millennia. Do you not believe we have lived long enough? The First lived a long and fulfilling life. We must hold on to that life; cherish it, perhaps. In the end, we are but drones, serving a bloodline's sealed promises. We have already lived a life worth living, and this is our repayment for that blessing. When our duties are ultimately complete, we will all enter our Final Retirement. Each of us will receive our own chance to live long and happy, as an identity separate from what -- who -- we were created to be."
The soft, morning glow of sunrise filters in through the chamber of Starswirl the Bearded. The stallion himself remains steadfastly asleep. That is, until a quiet thud outside the door disturbs his slumber.
"By Faust, what is that so early in this morning?" Starswirl yawns, rubbing an eye. His attention drifts to the snow-covered landscape outside the window. "My, there must have been a blizzard last night."
He sits up, brushing loose straw from his face. "Well, I suppose there's no harm done in answering the door at such an early hour. I certainly do hope this commotion hasn't disturbed the children."
Starswirl walks to the door, his head held in a curious tilt. Slowly, he opens it and peers outside. All around, there is nothing but a blanket of white. However, a curious set of tiny hoofsteps appears to have trudged through the snow, all the way... to this very doorstep.
"By Faust." The stallion repeats, his eyes landing on the collapsed form of a shivering filly. "Where are your parents? Do you not have a caretaker?" He sticks his head further out the door. There is nopony else to be seen. He returns his attention to the filly. "Very well then. I shall be your caretaker for now. No foal should be shivering on this frigid day."
"So you claim to have been orphaned as of the previous week."
The filly nods. The young Celestia and Luna watch on in curiosity, though neither are at the age to speak as of yet.
"These are Celestia and Luna. They are the only two Alicorns known to exist, and as such have been deemed royalty. You will be their elder sister and playmate."
"Elder... sis--" the filly breaks out in a coughing fit before she can finish her sentence. Her stomach grumbles in response to the disturbance.
"Tsk, Starswirl, you must one day learn your limits!" Starswirl lectures himself. "The two fillies you've adopted have already eaten you out of what little food you have, and now you take on a third?"
He glances at the filly again.
"I do not eat very much, sir." The filly responds, leaning forward a little. "I have gotten by on roots and snowmelt for days."
"Unacceptable!" Starswirl booms, surprising all three foals in the room. "Little filly, do you have a name?"
The filly shakes her head. "I have been called many things, but I do not have a singular given name, sir. I am as free as the ravens that soar overhead, and yet I lack a true identity."
"Raven." Starswirl strokes his beard. "Raven is a good name for a pony such as you. Ravens are intelligent creatures. Do you know how to read and write?"
Raven nods.
"Then you shall henceforth be known as Raven Inkwell," Starswirl declares. "Raven Inkwell, third daughter of the mage Starswirl, elder sister and protector of the Alicorn Princesses Celestia and Luna."
"...Protector?"
"Elder siblings are often tasked with the protection of the younger. I myself once was nurtured by an elder sibling, but he has long-since passed on."
Raven looks past Starswirl to the two Alicorns behind him. Celestia babbles some nonsense to Luna. "You can't possibly task me with the oversight of nigh-immortal beings, sir. We are but mortals in the presence of demigoddesses."
"Demigodesses, who, as of now, are still too young to speak." Starswirl corrects.
"That does not resolve the issue of our own mortality in comparison to theirs."
"Such complex speech at such a young age!" The stallion remarks, "I may not be able to use it on myself, but I do know of a spell that can somewhat resolve the predicament of mortality."
"You... can make ponies immortal?"
"Not immortal per se, more a bonding to one that outlives the other. You will continue to grow, age, and eventually die, but your soul will live on, materializing in new bodies as seen fit by the machinations of the bond itself."
"You say bodies as in there may be plural."
"Unfortunately, this is indeed the case. There is no way for the bonding spell to ensure that only a single vessel is fabricated upon your death. There may be none, leaving you to wander as an abandoned soul, or there may be hundreds, each with a copy of your original soul to inhabit their bodies."
Raven furrows her brows. "But why me? It has been hardly a day, yet you offer me the chance to enjoy not only a life forever associated with two demigoddesses, but a life that will last as long as they themselves may live. You say that the only price I will pay for this eternal gift is to defend these sisters as if they are of my own bloodline. I do not understand your methods, sir."
"I do not understand my methods either. I do not expect to ever fully understand them. Perhaps it is fate that you appeared on my doorstep, famished and weak. Perhaps it is pity. I do not know. And yes, that is my lone request. Please, if you allow me to bestow upon you the powers of the bonding spell, defend little Celestia and Luna as if they are your own sisters."
"I will refer to them by title. I do not yet feel comfortable fully associating myself with such power. Such disassociation may also serve to better insulate myself in case if I or any of my descendants are compromised." Raven pauses as her stomach grumbles again. "I also desire proper sustenance, now that I no longer live in the wilds."
Starswirl gives a nod. "Thank you, Raven Inkwell. Until you are ready for the spell, I will raise you alongside the sisters as my own."
Raven raises a hoof. "One more request, if you please."
"Yes?"
"I am unable to see very far. Is there any remedy for my ailing eyesight that you are aware of?"
The former Princess nearly chokes on her own drink. "Y...you said my name."
Luna only peeks from beneath her raised sunglasses for her own response.
"Thank you. For this life. For these lives."
"I don't understand. Why are you thanking us?"
"Starswirl served as your mentor and father figure, yes?"
Celestia pauses for a moment to search her memories. "Yes, that's correct."
"He is the one I owe my continued existence to. This extended life I live is one part of a bargain I made as a filly."
"A bargain." Luna snorts. "You've never come across as the bargaining type."
"It remains the sole bargain I have made across my many incarnations. Nigh-eternal life, in exchange for the assistance I have offered for eons. Every life I have lived beyond the First is to serve."
"But why bring it up now?" Celestia cocks her head. "If your purpose and reason to live is to serve us, then why do you only reveal it now?"
"The bonding spell that my very being has become infused with draws the energy to continue the cycle of reincarnation from the Alicorns I am bound to. Though it was intended that I live as long as the Celestial Sisters, the gradual diminishing of your collective powers as time passes will see to my eventual end. I hesitate to even imagine the sort of energy that was sapped from the spell to aid in the formation of my Alicorn incarnation that went rogue those few months ago. A sealing vault designed to terminate the bonding spell by severing the innate flow of mana was constructed alongside a false rumor of this vault holding great powers within to lure this incarnation to their end. Continued existence of the Alicorn Raven, dubbed the Raven of Shadows by my former sisters, would have likely led to an even hastier deterioration of your powers, and by extension my very being. Due to their need to continuously draw additional mana to exist as an Alicorn, the vault's effect was likely a swift and painless demise, as opposed to simply breaking from the chains of reincarnation."
Celestia leans back in her seat, clearly puzzled by the amount of information presented to her. "Speaking of which, what happened to those many sisters of yours, Raven?"
"Their cyclical chain of reincarnation has been severed. Their memories will no longer be retained by me, and they will each live out the remainder of their lives as individuals, each distinct from the identity of Raven Inkwell. As such, I am now the sole remaining Inkwell to walk the land."
"Raven, I--"
"Raven Inkwell has lived a great many long and fulfilling lives. True immortality was beyond that filly's comprehension, and even now, deep down, she cannot fully fathom the many lifetimes that have come and gone. An Alicorn is innately able to comprehend such timescales, as it is simply a part of their natural lifespan. But Raven Inkwell was no Alicorn. It takes a great many additional spells and enchantments to retain the young filly's sanity, and as these spells begin to break one-by-one, so too will the very being of the mare who has lived a thousand lives."
Raven's hooves begin to shake as she lifts her glass again to her lips. She changes her mind and sets it back down. "This filly feels it coming. That starving foal found half-frozen on a mage's doorstep is ready to meet her long-awaited demise with open embrace. Farewell, younger sisters Celestia and Luna. Farewell!"
The mare's hooves cease their shaking, and she shuts her eyes for one final time.
And yet... they open again. Curious eyes peer at Celestia, then Luna. They fixate on the glass beside her. She reaches with a hoof to rub her eyes, only to be surprised by the glasses balancing on her muzzle.
"The... Celestial Sisters?" Raven mumbles after pushing her glasses up. "When did you become so... big? Where are we?"
Raven's stomach grumbles.
"Raven," Celestia begins, "You have defended me and my sister for many years. I believe the bonding spell that the late Starswirl has casted on you has finally been broken on its own accord. Though I do not remember anything of our upbringing, I believe I remember that you stated minutes ago that you protected us as if we were your younger sisters. Now it is time we return the favor, and cherish the remaining years of the filly that lived a thousand lives. Though we are still Alicorns, we are no longer Princesses. May we refer to each other on a name-basis at last?"
"Will I continue to receive proper sustenance? I dislike the notion of returning to the wilds if I do not have a purpose."
Luna laughs. "Of course we'll feed you, Raven. You did so much across your many lives to watch over us. We will treat you well. However, I do have a question regarding food."
"Yes?"
"Do you like bananas?"
Celestia chuckles. Raven glances at the elder Alicorn. "Prin--Celestia, I do not understand. Does our sister jest?"
"Inside joke, no worries." Celestia responds, snorting. "Er..." She blinks. "'Tis indeed a jest, kept largely between myself and Luna."
"Sure."
"Was that... sarcasm?"
A cheeky grin begins to spread across Raven's face. "Maybe."
Raven wakes with a heave. This... dream she'd had... it feels as if it had been real.
Her breaths begin to slow as she closes her eyes.
A flash of fire crackles in her memory. Yes, this must have been her predecessor's cause of death. An unfortunate accident in a mission, perhaps.
She rises on shaky legs, peering at her surroundings. As expected, it is the same vault all Ravens emerge from, constructed long ago by Starswirl himself. Another Raven materializes behind her -- a new sister of her generation.
"Raven."
Both mares turn their heads to the source of the voice.
"You who has been elevated to the status of Alicorn, please step aside."
"A-alicorn?" the first Raven stammers. She turns her head, immediately spotting her folded wings. "I suspect there exists a horn atop my head as well?"
"Yes." the second Raven answers.
"I will repeat: please step aside, Alicorn."
The first Raven makes a face at the Raven watching from above. "And who are you to give orders to your own sister?"
"You are a defect created by our immortal bond. Your very existence serves as a threat against the lives of your blood-sisters. The thaumatic energy utilized in your creation and continued sustenance is much higher than that required to sustain the form of an Earth Pony or Unicorn. There is little doubt that you will--"
"I realize the notion, yes--" the first Raven cuts in. "--but what is to become of me?"
"For the sake of our bloodline, and for the well-being of the Celestial Sisters, your body shall be terminated and reformed."
"I object."
"This is an order."
The Alicorn Raven unfurls her wings. "I object."
"Must we become so needlessly heated?" the second Raven asks. She lights her horn, tugging at a wing of the Alicorn before her. "Your life will not end. Our bloodline consists of Earth Ponies and Unicorns. If you wish to retain the power of flight, it is possible for our sisters in Canterlot to commission a glider to be manufactured."
The guarding Raven lands. "Our sister is correct."
The Alicorn folds her wings again. "I must first request for the two of you to become my audience. In these brief moments that I have existed thus far in this form, an observation has entered my mind.
"The Celestial Sisters that we call our siblings have announced their plans to abdicate. We have observed from the banishment of the Moon Princess that the disuse of an Alicorn's abilities leads to the rapid decay of our bonding spell, and by extension, our bodies. As Starswirl is no longer with us, would it not be in the best interest of our bloodline to extend the rule of the Celestial Sisters... indefinitely?"
The guarding Raven narrows her eyes. "Do you suggest we commit treason against the wishes of our own sisters?"
"I do not believe it is treason to remove a yet-to-be-ruler from their future throne."
"Then seeing to your destruction is no longer a concern merely of the safety of the Sisters, nor is it merely one of our bloodline. It is hereby a concern of national security."
"Must we bicker so?" the second Raven asks. "Are we not making a fuss out of what is at most a trivial mistake of our bonding spell?"
"Do you call your own sister a trivial mistake?" the Alicorn Raven's eyes lock with the second Raven's. "Do not forget that our immortal life that we share has gained us an immense knowledge of the magical arts."
The second Raven gasps, her eyes widening at the charge building upon her sister's horn.
"If it is understood that my existence places an especial drain on the energy innate within the Celestial Sisters, then is it not a logical tactic to eliminate the weakest of our blood-sisters, Raven?"
"Halt!" the guarding Raven shouts. "Your mind is clouded, sister! You mustn't harm one of our own!"
The Alicorn Raven glares in response. She unfurls her wings and shoots overhead, escaping the structure with only a single flap of her wings. The guarding Raven gallops from the structure, watching the Alicorn fade into the shadows of the cliff-face looming overhead.
She turns her attention to the remaining Raven standing before her. "What was your former occupation, sister?"
"I was involved in the study of experimental magical constructs. These constructs are intended to be used in place of the Elements of Harmony should the Elements continue to remain physically unavailable to be passed down. My former body was incinerated instantly during the testing phase of one such construct."
"I see." The guarding Raven nods. "In that case, it is reasonable to assume, based on the elapsed time between the fabrication of you and the Alicorn, that the spell has once again duplicated a Raven. By the order of the Guardian Raven, you are to utilize these constructs to the best of your ability to find and terminate the Alicorn. Utilize the knowledge of our ancestors' espionage training to prevent any suspicion from being raised. Report your findings to the Raven that assists the Celestial Sisters in Canterlot. I will notify her of your orders and mission to grant you access to your work."
Raven lands atop a precariously-balancing building. She keeps her wings unfurled as to retain her balance -- the wind blows strongly, causing the structure to sway.
She peers down upon the various creatures going about their day in the streets far below.
"Klugetown." The name forms at the mare's lips. "A suitable dwelling for the roaming outcast. Even then, my identity mustn't be revealed."
Her attention turns to a ragged flag flapping in the dry wind on a nearby roof, its colors long-since faded.
Raven paces down a marketplace avenue, keeping her head low. Even with this makeshift cloak, it is hard to truly conceal herself without a proper illusion spell. Or at least, the mana required to cast one.
Perhaps she may have been overly hasty in her retreat.
"You. The one with the horn--" A voice beckons from the shadows, "--Come with me. I know you're a special one."
Raven glances in the direction of the voice, though there is nobody to be seen in the dark alleyway. "Reveal yourself," she mutters. "I will not give my trust so easily in a place such as this."
"Mm, a careful one, eh?" The voice chuckles. "Well, from one fellow outcast to another, welcome to Klugetown. Please ignore the powdered horns being sold in the next shop over." It pauses before continuing, louder this time. "I hear the owner's got a good sniffer for you ponies."
"Pooooniess?" A second voice, this one low and gurgling, asks. The creature this voice belongs to emerges not long after, their imposing figure looming tall over Raven. They suck in a breath of air. "Yessssss, there is poonyyy!"
Raven lets out a quiet sigh of annoyance. "Must you call to attention my existence so loudly?"
"Yup. Come with me if you want to live."
"How typical. I will follow, if only for the sake of my horn."
A small face emerges from the shadows of the alley. "Come, then! And make it snappy! You're lucky I found you here. Oooh, he's gettin' ready to swing!"
Raven lights her horn, freezing the shopkeeper in place. The faintest of smirks forms on her face. "Not anymore. Now make haste, before I am further noticed."
The face nods and vanishes again into the shadows. Raven follows without issue. Behind her, the shopkeeper finishes his swing, knocking the living daylights out of a passerby. She ignores the sounds of the fight that results.
"Where do you lead me, strange creature?"
"First off, I'm not just some 'creature'. I might not know what I am, but at least I've got a name!"
"Allow me to apologize. What do you wish for me to call you?"
"Eh."
Raven raises a brow. "Eh?"
"Eh." The creature shrugs. "Didn't care and never will, so call me whatever."
"You are a strange one, Eh."
"Oh geez, you took that seriously."
"You say that you do not care, nor will you ever care. Thus, I have decided to call you by the response you initially gave me."
"Pfft. Fine, keep calling me that then, Raven."
Raven's steps halt. "You know my name?"
Eh turns around. "Hm? Oh yeah, I know your name. Heard that you got into a little tussle not too long ago with your folks."
"My--"
"Your mama sure whooped ya bad, didn't she? No wonder you flew the coop!"
A wave of relief washes over Raven. "Yes, I remain sore even now. May I ask where you heard of this news? And more importantly, I must ask why and how you sought me out."
"Just got news that there was some pony headed for this place in the papers, that's all. Word spreads fast when you've got merchants travelin' everywhere."
"I see."
Eh laughs. "You might see, but I sure don't! Gimme some light for this crummy place, would ya?"
Raven rolls her eyes at the notion of being ordered by someone she'd just met. Nevertheless, a dim illumination spell quickly envelops her horn.
"Where do you lead me, Eh?"
Eh crouches down, holding a scrawny finger to his chin. "Right... here!" He points at a worn trapdoor embedded into the ground. "Got some hay n' stuff for ya down in that hidey-hole."
"You act remarkably hospitable for a creature of Klugetown."
Eh shrugs. "What can I say? I run an inn. Stuffing a horse into a hole is plenty easy enough to do in my spare time."
"You wish to sell me, do you not? Or perhaps you plan to dismember me whilst I slumber, and sell my limbs to the highest bidder."
"Whoa, no no no! I ain't gonna be doing any of that!" Eh retorts. "I just got a soft spot for ponies, that's all. There's a couple others down in that bunker if you wanna say hi." He finally finds the handle and pulls the trapdoor open. "Anyhow, I got an inn to run."
He turns to leave. "Oh, and by the way you're gonna need to get used to meat pretty quickly around here."
Raven watches Eh scamper off into the shadows once more. She turns her attention to the open trapdoor.
A pair of glasses glint in the flickering light of her horn.
A second Raven emerges from the shadows of the trapdoor, squinting in the light of the Alicorn's horn. "An Alicorn?" She mutters, "Have the antics of the Collector warranted a sister's reincarnation and dispatch in the body of such a powerful being?"
"The Collector?" The Alicorn Raven tilts her head. "Do you refer to the creature that has brought me to this trapdoor?"
"Indeed she does," a third Raven emerges beside the second. "The Collector is quite harmless, but to him, we are his pets -- and quite valuable ones, at that. At minimum, however, he does treat us well."
Alicorn Raven raises a brow at her two duplicates before her, though only one of them has a horn. "I must ask, why is it that there is not one incarnation, but two, present here in Klugetown? I did not expect for my fellow sisters to be here with me, not to mention the fact that two have been dispatched to the same location seemingly at once."
"We were not sent simultaneously." The second Raven shakes her head. "I was the first to arrive, on orders to investigate the claims of there being a market for Equestrian ponies here in Klugetown following the events of the Friendship Festival. My sister, who lacks a horn, was sent following my assumed demise to carry out the same duty. Had it not been for the Collector, the both of us surely would have long-since been sold away. Though... he was originally arranged to be our chauffeur in our return to Equestria. Whether or not he will eventually carry out his orders is beyond us."
The third Raven glances at the Alicorn Raven's wings. "Have you too been sent to investigate the claims? If so, it is best for you to flee at once using those wings of yours. Our current predicament is proof enough of the market for Equestrians."
"I came on my own accord."
"Oh?"
"There is a target that my sisters in Equestria have painted upon my back for my crime of existing. They do not realize that this Alicorn they call 'sister' may very well be the key to our bloodline's continued indefinite existence."
"I do suppose that the birth of an Alicorn would place a fair amount of strain on the spell that sustains us..." The second Raven murmurs. She looks up. "What do you speak of when you claim that you may be the key to our continued existence?"
"Do you wish to hear the words that our sisters in Equestria call treason?"
The eyes of the two non-Alicorns widen.
"Treason? Whatever for?" The third Raven asks. "Surely you jest!"
The Alicorn Raven shakes her head. "I do not jest. When the Celestial Sisters abdicate, their magic will fade from disuse, and so too will the spell that sustains our cherished cycle of reincarnation. Is it not natural for any creature to wish for their bloodline to continue onward?"
"But we are a manufactured bloodline. We are far from natural, sister."
"Do you suggest that our lives are worthless compared to those of natural heritage?"
It takes a moment for the third Raven to respond. "...Yes, to an extent. We enjoy an unnatural immortality, whilst all others, including even the Celestial Alicorn sisters that sustain our bloodline, remain purely within the mortal realm. That is, if a fatal blow is to be dealt, regardless of method, death will be ensured. Our bloodline does not follow this natural rule."
"Then I expect that you do not value your own life." The Alicorn Raven's horn intensifies its glow. "In that case, I believe it will be better utilized in my quest to perpetuate our bloodline ever further."
"Wha--"
"Whoa whoa whoa! What's goin' on in 'ere?" Eh stumbles upon the commotion, shading his eyes from the dazzling light of the Alicorn Raven. "Fighting ain't good for your health, y'know!"
"What do you intrude upon us for, Eh?" The Alicorn Raven keeps attention on the third Raven. "My sisters call you the Collector. Do you see us as your playthings?" Her horn dims a little as she pulls the cloak once more over her body. "Regardless, I believe it is time for me to leave."
"Whaaat? Nah, you're more than playthings, you're like family to me! And don't leave, either!" Eh snorts. "I know you ponies get a little antsy sometimes, but it just isn't safe to take the bunch of you on walks! You'll get chopped-up out there!"
Hoofsteps approach from behind Eh.
"Oh, almost forgot--" Eh steps aside. "--Raven, Raven, and Raven, meet Raven! This one dropped straight outta the sky on a 'chute, and lucky for her, I was the first to jump off the balcony to snatch her up!"
Another Raven emerges from the shadows, a dim light spell flickering at the tip of her horn. Her eyes immediately land upon the Alicorn Raven. She lets out a quiet gasp and quickly bows, hiding a sly smirk in the darkness of the alleyway.
"Elevated One, I come as a follower in your ideals."
Eh sits on a stool, sipping his coffee. "Man. Four ponies. What a collection!"
The second Raven rolls her eyes. "We understand that you are delighted to have gathered us, Collecto--"
"Call me Eh." The creature points at the Alicorn Raven. "The one with the extra-pointy horn there gave me that name."
"You... do not have a name yourself?"
Eh sips his coffee. "'Dunno. Didn't care for a while, either, but knowing for sure that I have one now makes me feel warm inside. Like I'm filled with coffee." He stares at his mug before holding it up. "Speaking of coffee, you girls want any?"
The third Raven raises a hoof.
"Alrighty, hold on while I get another mug then." Eh stands up and wanders through an ajar door.
"Does Eh consistently treat you this kindly?" the fourth Raven cocks her head. "It feels almost as if his demeanor is nothing but an act."
The second Raven nods. "Eh treats us kindly, though we are not allowed much exposure to sunlight for the sake of our safety. I do wish he would smuggle us back to Equestria as per his original role, however." She pauses, averting eye-contact with the fourth Raven. "In all honesty, I see you as a more notable enigma than any creature of Klugetown. Why is it that you address one of your sisters as the 'Elevated One'?"
The fourth Raven tenses up, her face growing stern. "The Elevated One is the way to the continued existence of our bloodli--"
The third Raven sighs. "Must we discuss this once more? I stand firm in my belief that our purpose is to serve; to live is to uphold our end of the bargain, and when this purpose is no more, we must depart this world in peace. It is only fair that our lives are directed by a sole purpose and meaning when we are to enjoy the unnatural cycle of reincarnation that none else may experience."
"Very well then," the Alicorn Raven gives a singular nod. "If you wish to remain shackled and useless to our bloodline, then you will forever onward until your time of reincarnation be the plaything of the one you call Collector. I no longer have any interest in the energy that sustains your life, as I myself feel rather refreshed as of now." She glances at the second and fourth Ravens. "As for the two of you, I offer a choice: you may flee with me at dusk, or you may continue to live under the watch of Eh, kept like a showpiece in a glorified basement."
"I wish to remain with our sister." The second Raven responds almost immediately. "If escape may later lead to treason as you have suggested before, then I do not wish to have any part in it."
The Alicorn Raven's eyes turn to the fourth Raven. "My sister. Do you still wish to join me?"
The fourth Raven silently nods.
"Very well then. We shall continue our rest for now. As you are too a being capable of spellcraft, I trust that you will be able to teleport alongside me?"
Another nod.
"Very well. I will remain in your line-of-sight to allow for your own escape. I do not believe I have yet regained the energy to teleport more than myself."
"The full moon shines brightly tonight, sister. Do you ever wonder how the Moon Princess felt upon her banishment?"
The fourth Raven looks up.
"Betrayal, perhaps." The Alicorn Raven continues to stare into the sky. "The Moon Princess merely wanted what she saw was fair for herself. Though her methods were far from optimal, she was in no way in the wrong, I believe. Perhaps I am now retracing those ancient hoofsteps."
"You wish to allow yourself to be consumed by a demon of greed?"
"Nay. I seek what I believe is fair for our bloodline. Our bargain is to protect and serve the Celestial Sisters, and so long as we continue to do so, our blessed cycle of reincarnation will be upheld. Yet, if these sisters are to abdicate, and with this abdication allow their powers to grow unused and derelict, then this cycle will be severed by force, regardless of what we as individuals wish for. Is this not a failure to uphold their end of our bargain if we are to continue serving the Sisters?"
The fourth Raven remains silent.
"Must we remain placid in the face of our own impending doom?"
"...No, we should not." The fourth Raven chooses her words carefully. "Sister, do you remember the demise of our predecessor?"
The Alicorn Raven finally takes her eyes off of the moon, turning instead to focus on her sister.
"I am unsure of the number of duplicates the spell has fabricated in our current cycle, but I believe I remember seeing the carnage and panic of our sanctuary following your departure. It reminded me of the same carnage that befell my predecessor, a researcher in the study of magical constructs. Do you too descend from this researcher?"
The Alicorn Raven narrows her eyes. "Are you the one that has called their own sister a mistake?"
"I am unaware of such claims, sister! I merely saw another successor of this researcher being ordered to pursue you! I am your loyal follower!"
"...Very well, then. I trust you will not betray me?"
"I will not. Sister--" The fourth Raven leans back. "--now that we are away from Klugetown and its many treasure-hunters, may I ask if you are aware of the Chamber of Raven?"
The Alicorn Raven raises her brow. "The Chamber of Raven?"
Raven gives a slight nod. "Yes--though, it is better known as the First Chamber; a nod to its purpose and origin."
"You speak of the First's private chambers?"
Another nod, though more enthusiastic than before. "Yes! Well... in a sense. It is well-known among us Inkwells that our originator's family home was destroyed long ago, but have we ever once checked to confirm such an assumption?"
The Alicorn pauses to rack her mind. "...No, I don't believe we have. I suppose it is within the territory of what is now the Crystal Empire, yes?"
"Yes, yes! I figure that due to the passage of time, nature has likely taken its toll on the structure. I have heard rumors during my travel to Klugetown that there is little that remains of it, and that it was sealed by Starswirl himself following his adoption of the First! Do you--"
"You appear to be rather excited by the prospect." The Alicorn Raven sighs. "Sister, do you miss our childhood home this much? You are acting rather unnatural for one of our bloodline."
Raven chuckles. "Yes... I admit that I have been speaking rather hastily to deliver you the news. The seal that Starswirl has placed on this chamber--do you think it was placed for the sake of preservation? Or do you suppose there is something more sinister being locked away?" She turns away, letting the shadows disguise her true demeanor. "Perhaps, it may hold a clue as to how you may further extend the limits of our immortal bond to the Sisters."
"It is a plausible theory, knowing Starswirl." The Alicorn Inkwell rubs her chin. "However, we mustn't yet focus our full efforts on something that, so far as we are aware of, exists only in rumors. We have a more urgent duty to focus on."
"Oh?"
"Dirtying our own hooves in the elimination of the Princess of Friendship will lead only to ill-will toward our bloodline, and I do not wish such a fate upon future generations of our sisters. The act must be performed indirectly, and by ponies that would otherwise have no connection to the Inkwells of Equestria. This we must put our full attention into planning for the time being."
Raven remains silent.
"I am aware that the act of assassinating a Princess of Equestria may be cause for concern for you, sister. It is another reason why I believe we must use hired hooves to commit the act, rather than our own."
Raven finally looks up again, determination written across her face. "You say that this is a more important topic to focus our attentions on, yes?"
"Affirmative."
A smile forms on Raven's lips. "Then you shouldn't fret over this, sister. Do not forget that we both descend from a Raven who has access to weaponry unknown to all but the most powerful ponies in Equestria. I will handle the assassination. You, in the meantime, may seek out the chamber of the First, if you so wish. When my duties are complete, I will join you in the effort of unsealing the chamber."
"You seem rather quick to take up the task. Again, I must ask--you do not plan to betray me, do you, sister? We stand on nearly-equal ground, and in my mana-drained current state, it wouldn't be hard for a sufficiently-equipped Inkwell to end my life right here. I will have placed my future... our future in your hooves if I am to entrust you with a portion of the duties I have assigned to myself."
"No. I will not. Sister, though we descend from the same incarnation of Raven Inkwell, I, unlike you, refuse to allow my sisters to come to harm." She lowers her head. "This includes you, the Alicorn who will lead our bloodline to a renewed immortality."
"Very well then." The Alicorn Raven lays down on the rooftop beneath them and closes her eyes. "Rest now, sister. I can assure you that it will be well worth the time."
A check drifts down to the Eh's feet. He picks it up, leaning against the dimly-lit siding of his inn. He raises a brow as he notices the written amount on the check. "My, Raven. Where'd all this moolah come from?"
"Pocket change." Raven drops down from above and lands beside him. "You're my only contact with the proper connections. May I arrange to have a message relayed to my sisters in my home country? I am not asking for you to return my sisters in your basement, if you are curious. They have been long-since been assumed to be deceased."
Eh looks around before giving a silent nod. He gestures for the unicorn to follow as he paces into the alleyway.
"Make haste, Eh. I do not have much time to carry out this task. I fear that my sister may already be aware of my disappearance."
"Ooh, bein' sneaky now are ya?" Eh pushes open the side door and steps inside. "Figured you were up to somethin' when you started kissing up to your sister's--"
"Quiet, please. Disturbing the peace is the last thing I wish to do tonight."
"Ahem. Yeah. Okay then." Eh fumbles for his keys. A quiet jingle rings through the empty room. Finally, he finds the correct one and opens the door. "Go inside. It's my private office. I have a phone. You need it?"
"Yes."
"'Kay. Make it snappy then. Long-distance ain't cheap around here."
Raven picks up the receiver and begins to dial in a number. She pauses before holding the receiver to her head.
"Hello? Yes. This is she. Night has fallen, and the journey begins. Ready my papers."
She hangs up, giving a solitary nod of gratitude to Eh. "Do not speak of what has occurred tonight. You are already aware of what may happen if you are to breach your Equestrian contract any further."
"Yup."
Raven vanishes in a flash of mana, leaving Eh standing alone in his office.
"The poison is dropping. Do not cage the coming canaries of the unlit mine, but leave your trail of stones for the inspector."
Eh glances at the clock hanging on the wall. "You gonna be doin' this every night now?"
Raven hangs up. "Yes, for the foreseeable future. You needn't worry, however--I have arranged for your service charges to henceforth be dealt with by the Equestrian treasury."
"Oh?"
"I will be departing now, Eh. Time is of the essence."
Raven once again teleports away in a flash.
"What?" The stallion pounds a hoof on the counter. "You're telling us that you're hiring us to take out a Princess of Equestria?"
Raven nods, paying mind to retain the cloaking spell that she'd cast rather hastily before stepping into the room. "You will be paid rather handsomely if you succeed. I do not care of the methods you use. See to it that the Princess of Friendship comes under your threat." She lifts a bag of bits from the floor, placing it on the counter. "This will be my down payment for the job."
The stallion narrows his eyes, but they soon turn to the bag. He leans back in his seat. "You've made a fine deal, mister..."
"Grout."
"Yes... Grout. I'll arrange for my marefriend to brew some of her specialties, and I'll handle the rest. I appreciate doing business with you, Mister Grout."
"As with you." Raven bows and turns for the door.
"Yes, yes, such is anticipated. May I order a collection of dolls for the occasion? No. Twenty or more should be fine. The restaurant? Yes, prepare the customer for their meals. Regarding the chef, tell our sisters that it is rather dark in the kitchen, and I am unsure of the number of cooks."
Eh whistles. "Are you always gonna speak like that over the phone? Pretty fancy way to say what you wanna say."
Raven nods. "I cannot be certain that our conversations are private. It is a necessary maneuver to perform with the intent to mislead."
"This here's the second time you're visiting tonight. You sure you don't wanna slow down a bit? Things get... messy when you're in a rush."
"I am certain of my abilities, Eh. I needn't worry for the Princess of Friendship's safety so long as my sisters in Ponyville remain vigilant. Farewell for now, Collector. I shall return when the sun sets again tomorrow."
"I trust that you have worked diligently on the orchestration of the Princess of Friendship's assassination?"
Raven nods. "I was unable to access the research materials and experimental weaponry of our predecessor, so I have instead arranged for a more conventional means to her end."
The Alicorn Raven raises a brow.
"Poisoned letters, Elevated One." Raven clarifies. "A special concoction is to be synthesized that, as I have instructed, will penetrate the sealing layers of the envelope to create a miasmic toxin upon contact with the Castle of Friendship's innate magical field. This is to guarantee that the fumes will eventually be inhaled by the Princess regardless of her location upon the letters' delivery."
"Very well then. I suppose it is a suitable path to take, given the circumstances."
Raven pushes up her glasses. "Have you looked into the existence of the Chamber of the First yet? I imagine that with the brunt of the assassination work now out of the way, we may be able to focus our attention on the chamber's rediscovery and unsealing."
The Alicorn's response catches Raven by mock surprise. "I have, in fact, already discovered its location whilst traversing the Frozen North. I did not linger for long for fear of raising suspicion, but it appears that a false cave has at some point been constructed at some point in time to shield the structure from the elements. I attempted to unseal the vault by my lonesome, but it appears, strangely enough, that even the might of an Alicorn is unable to break the spell."
"I have heard that the sealant spell was strong, but is it truly resistant to Alicorn magic as you say it is? Moreso, do you even have the powers of an Alicorn?"
The Alicorn Raven nods. "Unfortunately for your first question, it appears to be the case. As of now, I am unsure as to how the vault may ever be unsealed. I am unsure as of now whether or not my abilities are even above average in comparison to our sisters."
"Perhaps..." Raven rubs her chin. "Perhaps you should gather and sacrifice our sisters for additional mana? I am aware that you are impartial to the deaths of our sisters if you believe that they were for the greater good. If I am to estimate the magical ability of a single incarnation of our bloodline in comparison to what I have seen you accomplish, it may take at minimum another three to five of our sisters to match the capabilities of yourself."
This catches the Alicorn by surprise--real surprise. "Are you suggesting we foalnap our own sisters?"
Raven shrugs. "It was you who threatened to murder and absorb the mana of one of our sisters under the care of the Collector, was it not?"
A smirk grows across the Alicorn Raven's face, though it remains largely obscured by her cloak. "You know me well, sister."
"As I must if I am to assist you in the effort to prolong our bloodline."
"Do you ever feel uncomfortable underneath that cloak, sister?"
The Alicorn Raven shakes her head, her focus remaining squarely on the diagram laying upon the table before her. "I suppose it would be difficult to blend in amongst fellow Inkwells, but within the greater populace, it may help to further cloak my identity beyond even the cloak I wear."
She lights her horn, scribbling a hasty construction over the location of the vault. "I do not believe it would be wise for me to carry the absorbed mana of our sisters for prolonged periods of time. Instead, we shall house them close by in order to make access to them easier when the time comes. Do you have any suggestions, sister?"
"I do," Raven briefly nods. "With the placement of these cells being so close to the chamber door, do you believe it would be feasible to channel the mana en-masse? The spacing would certainly allow for the required channeling lines to be drawn."
The Alicorn Raven pauses. "...Yes. Yes, I do suppose that it would be reasonable to do that. A larger charge of mana all at once rather than a trickle of weaker bursts may be beneficial if the door withstands spellcraft by means of absorbing the magic itself. It would be like a hammer against a nail."
Raven stands up. "Then it is settled. Do you wish for me to gather our sisters? I would certainly stand out far less, and without the need for any kind of cloak or disguise."
"Do you have a plan as to how you will restrain and transport them?"
"Rope and magic suppressors." Raven immediately responds. "Do not forget that our predecessor was skilled in the crafting of experimental weaponry. If need be, we may both begin forging magic suppressors before the gathering of our sisters commences."
The Alicorn Raven smiles, leaning back in her seat just enough for her counterpart to see the expression. "Excellent. We will begin our preparations tomorrow."
"'Nother call?" Eh yawns as Raven quietly pushes the door open.
Raven responds with a nod. She wastes no time in making her way toward the telephone system and dialing a number.
"Hello? Yes, this is she. The flock is to lounge within the caves of Crystal when the sun rises, and remain hidden until the coming of dusk. Make preparations for the grand festivities at the anchor point."
She hangs up.
"Grand festivities?" Eh hums. "You ain't throwin' a party now, are you?"
Raven shakes her head, though no further elaboration is given. "I must depart now, Collector. I thank you again for allowing me to utilize your services."
Just as before, the mare vanishes in a flash of mana.
Raven's hooftips brush against the sprawled-out wings of her Alicorn counterpart. She freezes for a moment, her eyes locking onto the face of her sister.
Thankfully, the action was met not with violence, but a quiet grumble, and the tucking-away of the Alicorn's wings. Raven lets out a quiet sigh of relief. For all the power that this sister of hers appeared to possess, her slumber was like that of a foal's. A faint smile surfaces on Raven's face as she traces a hoof over the mane of her unconscious counterpart. It was truly a shame that Starswirl never accounted for the creation of an Alicorn during his casting of the spell all those years ago. This sister of hers had committed no crime except that of existing, and yet...
She pushes the thought aside. She mustn't grow sentimental over her target.
Raven lays down beside her Alicorn self on the dirty tile roofing, and shuts her eyes.
Raven wakes to the sound of bickering in the streets--the usual. Her Alicorn counterpart stands before her, having clearly been awake for some time already and once more wrapped in her cloak.
"You're awake."
"Yes." The Alicorn Raven confirms. "I have spent the early hours of dawn constructing the prison structure."
Raven raises a brow. "You have completed construction by your lonesome?"
"Affirmative. Do not underestimate the powers of an Alicorn, sister."
"I understand."
The morning wind rustles the Alicorn's cloak. She turns her head, peering off in the direction of the Chamber of the First. "I suppose it would make sense to showcase the completed structure to you before we begin, as I plan for you to assist me in the unsealing process. Doing so would make the process of capturing our sisters somewhat easier, would it not?"
"I believe so." Raven rubs her chin. "Though, I had envisioned that you would be the one that ultimately places them into their cells. I do not think I am able to teleport the mass of a grown mare across such large distances."
The Alicorn Raven gives a nod. "Yes, that is to be expected. You need not worry, sister. I will handle the transportation of our fellow sisters. Would you like a demonstration?"
"A demonstra--"
Both Ravens vanished in a flash of light.
The two mares materialize at the steps of a snow-blanketed structure. The Alicorn Raven lights her horn.
"Camouflage, even?" Raven's eyes widen.
"To an extent, yes--" The Alicorn responds. "--though, for the most part, the prison I have constructed relies on the near-constant snowfall in the region for a more natural disguise." She lights her horn.
The snow sloughs off in sheets as the passageway unseals. A dull glow emanates from the lines snaking from cell to cell, concentrating into a single point before the chamber door.
"I will admit that it is not the best, regarding overall craftsmanship." The Alicorn Raven stares into the structure. "But regardless of quality, it will do for our purposes."
Raven cranes her neck. "Will we--"
"No. Entrance is prohibited until the unsealing begins. I plan to continue construction as I transport our sisters into their cells, so many portions of the overall structure remain dangerously incomplete. I wish not for you to be crushed by my inadequate structural support."
"Very well then." Raven backs away. "I will respect that wish. Shall we begin the transportation now?"
The Alicorn Raven nods.
Raven peers silently into the place of her rebirth. Their rebirth. As expected, there is no steady stream of reincarnations being brought into existence this morning. In fact, there are no reincarnations present at all; she made sure of it the night before. Raven turns to her counterpart. "Shall we target the guards first, sister, or do you suppose we should pluck the present Ravens one-by-one?"
"I believe it would be wise to avoid alerting the guards." The Alicorn responds. "If they are to request backup, I wish for it to come later, rather than sooner."
Raven nods. "Very well then. I will alert you of the guards' presence if needed. Do you still plan to use the rope and magic suppressors that I have brought?"
"The cells I have constructed in the prison are built to withstand and nullify magic. There is no need for binding and suppressing our sisters, though the offer is appreciated."
"Understood." Raven steps aside, glancing in the direction of the lone guard standing at the entry steps. Even she was a decoy, albeit one modeled after a specific Raven's activity patterns.
Hoofsteps approach before the Alicorn Raven could take off. The decoy yawns, shading her eyes from the bright morning sun.
"First catch?" Raven glances at her sister.
"First catch." The Alicorn agrees. She lights her horn, enveloping the decoy in a light aura.
"Unhand her!" The guard Raven shouts, trotting toward the Alicorn. "What do you plan to do with your return, Alicorn?" Her eyes turn to Raven for a brief moment.
The Alicorn Raven steps in front of her sister, unfurling her wings in defense. "I come in peace. There is no need for violence unless I am given a reason to resort to such measures. I plan only on gathering the Ravens that emerge for an important task."
The guard narrows her eyes. "And why do you bring your follower, when you alone may easily crush our defenses by your lonesome?"
"'Tis not your concern." The Alicorn returns the glare. "She is here only to--"
"--alert you of the guards' presence." The guard cuts her off. "I heard your scheming, sister. I assure you, there is--"
The guard Raven's glasses and armor clatter to the ground.
One final flash of light illuminates the barren structure, leaving one more pair of glasses to litter the ground. The Alicorn Raven allows the glow at the tip of her horn to finally dissipate.
"Is this the last of our sisters?" Raven approaches her sister. "It does not appear that there are any remaining incarnations of our bloodline left within. I... apologize for being unable to assist beyond serving as distraction."
She sits, awaiting for a response.
"We are monsters." The Alicorn Raven hangs her head. "Monsters that traverse a noble path, but monsters nonetheless."
Raven cocks a brow. For how swiftly they had cleared this sacred ground of the decoys, it came as a surprise to find remorse being expressed by the perpetrator.
No matter. In the end, this Alicorn was still to be disposed of regardless.
Any moment now, a supposed platoon of "reinforcements" will arrive, and whatever semblance of regret her sister expresses will once more be plunged into obscurity.
"Halt." A familiar voice shouts from an unseen place. "Move, and it will be ensured that your current incarnation will be your last."
The Alicorn Raven perks up, her horn blazing to life once more. She steps in front of Raven and unfurls her wings. "If you seek violence, sisters, it will be your blood that spills. Do not harm my follower, or there will be a price to pa--"
As expected, the next batch of decoys emerges in full armor. Raven leans to the side, watching through the feathers of her sister.
"This is your final warning, Alicorn." The leading guard Raven points her sword at the Alicorn's chest. "Do. Not. Move."
"Flee, sister!" The Alicorn Raven hisses. "Why do you stare in such a dumbfounded fashion? Is it not the duty of the leader to protect her followe--"
The sword thrust forward, only to crumple like paper against the Alicorn's barrel. Raven, for her part, does as she is told, if not only for a better view of the ensuing carnage that is to come. Call it morbid, but there existed a gnawing curiosity within her that wished to view the full might of her Alicorn self.
This is the purpose of the reinforcement platoon.
Fifty decoys, all heavily armored and geared; each and every one a near-perfect replica of the mares they were based on.
One Alicorn, with no need for any more Ravens to capture.
"Your meager weapons do not harm me." The Alicorn Raven sneers. She takes a step toward the guards. "Do you really believe that the power of an Alicorn may be matched with the miniscule numbers of your own? Is our Raven of the Light that serves the Sun Princess growing senile?"
"You mock us." The guard spits. She throws aside her sword and lights her horn...
...and hardly a moment later, is reduced to mere ashes.
"Who dares to further deny our bloodline its deserved immortality?" The Alicorn Raven shouts. "Present yourself!"
"Sister--" Raven steps closer to the Alicorn. Curiosity sated or not, the thought that her sister was capable of simply extinguishing any who opposed her overrode any semblance of desire to continue watching. Even against decoys, allowing such power to be wielded so was a danger to Equestrian society. "--I do believe that you have gone far enough now. We have captured plentiful numbers of our sisters as it is. Need we now mindlessly slay the rest?"
The Alicorn's sadistic grin fades. "No."
Once more, the light of her horn evaporates. She gives a solemn nod to the remaining guards. "I must apologize for my outburst. It is unfitting of me." She turns her head to Raven. "Thank you for calling me back to my senses."
"No gratitude is necessary, Elevated One."
"Very well then. Let us take our leave."
A flash of light envelops the two Ravens, leaving no trace of their presence.
"I do wonder--" Raven turns her head to her Alicorn counterpart. "Why is it that our spectacles are consistently left behind?"
The Alicorn Raven stares cross-eyed at the glasses balancing on her muzzle. "Our spectacles? Ah, yes. I hadn't put much thought into them as of late." She lights her horn and pulls the eyewear off, setting them on the roofing tiles beside herself. "I, personally, leave our sisters' accessories behind when teleporting them in order to debilitate them, you see. Our bloodline's reduced quality of vision makes it rather difficult to see long distances."
"But what of the other instances of our glasses remaining when the body departs?" Raven cocks her head.
"We are one and the same, sister. I cannot say that I would know any more than you do. I suppose that perhaps the spell that facilitates our reincarnation may unintentionally create rather durable eyewear. I don't believe either of us have ever witnessed any of our sisters or previous incarnations traversing with broken spectacles, have we?"
A pause, followed by a shaking of Raven's head.
"It would be humorous if in time, all that remains of our bloodline is a mountainous pile of unbreakable spectacles." The Alicorn chuckles. "Maybe at the end of time, they may even become the birth of a new reality!"
"Perhaps."
The Alicorn turns her eyes skyward. She remains silent, her body unmoving in her pose.
"Shall... we complete our task on this day?" Raven breaks the silence. The shifting of her weight elicits quiet creaks from the weathered roofing beneath them.
The Alicorn Raven shakes her head.
"I suppose that is understandable, Elevated One. Today has been rather... eventful."
"Indeed it has. I wish to simply rest for the rest of this day."
Raven leans back, resting her head against the tiling. "Understood. I too then shall take my rest. Do you wonder what it is that the Chamber of the First may contain?"
"Yes. It could perhaps be as you theorized--a vast store of power and knowledge, able to grant our bloodline limitless immortality forever onward. Or maybe it is simply a bedroom, long-since forgotten by our sisters."
"I would hardly be surprised if it turns out to be the latter. But what would become of the efforts we are making to unseal the chamber if it is so? It would mean that the sacrifice of our sisters was made for the simple task of opening the door to an otherwise unassuming room."
The Alicorn Raven keeps her silence for a minute.
Two minutes.
Three.
Four.
"If it is the case, then I suppose that sacrifices must be made in the quest for knowledge." Her voice begins quietly, rising with every breath. "Is it not the case that we, Raven Inkwell, have sacrificed ourselves countless times already? Think--how is it that I came to be? How you came to be?"
"A chemical explosion within a research laboratory."
"You are correct. Were we not pursuing greater knowledge when our predecessor's life was unexpectedly cut short?"
"Hush now, sister. It would be unwise to cause a disturbance in the dead of night."
The Alicorn Raven's voice softens to a near-whisper. "Regardless, none of our incarnations' ends are, or will ever be in vain."
