One less

Chapter 8: "Shady Deals

Stepping off the train Twilight sighed to herself, why did Canterlot have to be this ridiculously far away? Twilight half considered if Princess Celestia's 'meeting' was worth the journey. Traveling such a distance was taxing enough without a crying baby over her shoulder the ENTIRE TIME! Twilight tried to mind her own business and read her books but without total concentration she just couldn't enjoy her entertainment. Not to mention the train wasn't heated, coming late October the winds at this altitude got extremely chilly, and no one thought it would be beneficial to at least hand out blankets?

Getting ahead of herself she mumbled off the platform and over to the checkout, dragging her hooves as she went.

Twilight grumbled upon seeing who was a few places in front, the mother who had tortured everyone else on the train as she carelessly ignored her screaming child. Twilight admired her, she never knew someone could be so annoying and never know it themselves. As she held up the line she forced the majority of passengers to hear her conversation with the checkout guard, slowly irritating them further.

"What do you mean my ticket is invalid?!" Despite the mares raised voice her child remained asleep, ironically. Twilight wished she was asleep.

"I'm sorry ma'am but this ticket is not valid for entry." The guardsman failed to show any sign of emotion.

"I don't know what that means!"

"You can't use this ticket."

"And why not?!"

"Sorry ma'am your gonna have to move aside there are other passengers waiting to exit" The guard motioned the mare to move, unfortunately this wasn't the case. Even as more guards began to approach the mother declined to move.

"I know my rights!"

This was it, this was Hell. There was no doubt in Twilights mind that this was eternal damnation. She could feel her IQ slowly diminishing as she withered away, she actually caught herself drooling. Shaking her head she peered off to the right in search for something to occupy her senses. Low and behold not a few meters away stood a pair of royal guards, distinguishable by their gold and blue armor. One of which held a sign with very a familiar and unique illustration. Namely, it was her cutie mark.

Perking up she began to trot over to the pair, looking back she saw that insufferable mare being escorted away by a pair of ticket-man, making the queue wait longer. Thanking Celestia she didn't have to wait with the rest of them, she approached the banner waving guards.

"Hello! Yes, I'm Twilight Sparkle!" One of the guards jumped upon seeing her, the other slightly glimpsed at her flank, it indeed had the same mark, as well as looking firm. The guard found himself staring and shook his head, thankfully Twilight failed to notice. Snapping back to his professionalism the guard started.

"Twilight Sparkle. We were sent personally to escort you to the Princess."  Twilights irritation almost instantaneously shed after hearing the guards traditional emotionless voice. After living her whole life around specially trained guards it became reminiscent to hear, as well as giving her a sense of protection.

"Great! But what about my bags?" Twilight had already lost her bags once, waiting for an entire day wasn't fun, quite the opposite actually.

"They're being sent to your room, please follow us." The guards turned and began to march their way through the crowds of tourists and exit the Station, with Twilight in tow.

********************************************************************************************************************************************

"Phew... Time to get to business."

In all of his time pulling his cart it's weight never wavered, despite what he carried. Pulling the cart over he left it near some small stands selling various fruits and vegetation. Wondering behind his cart he produced a saddlebag, wearing it he then reached into it and retrieved a small note. Other then the holes and stains there lay a small message.

'Three. Forty five'.

"you better be there Chandler..."

Weaving through the crowds Sign began to close the distance between him and an awfully tall building, at least a few stories high. Outside its door sat an assortment of ponies around tables and chairs, enjoying meals and beverages. Waiters could be seen coming in and out the doors, delivering a multitude of goodies to their waiting customers.

Eluding the waiters and obstacles he entered the establishment to find an even bigger dining area, filled to the brim with party goers and fine diners alike.

"Dammit..." Sign's patience for obstacle courses was always very thin, ever since summer camp he could never see them as anything other then torture. Reliving those memories evoked his eyes to tear up. Shaking his head clear of traumatic memories he searched for his destination, the stairs.

He rounded tables, chairs and ponies alike, finally venturing from one side of the room to the other he still could no longer see head nor tail of the promised stairs. Was this even the right place? Turning 360 degrees he pondered this question.

Sitting comfortably in the corner was a resident, and a fine diner she was. She towered above all rest in a happy ball of fancy. She adorned earrings, a fancy scarf and various shiny objects strapped to her carcass.

Chuckling she excused herself from the table and wobbled out of the room, with the monster removed Sign could now see his prize, on the other side of the room.

"Arrr, bloody..."

Sign eventually reached the stairs and began climbing, re-reading his note he continued his ascend onto the third floor, and began trekking down the corridors. Coming across rooms closely matching the one he sought he paused, reading the doors signs he counted them.

"Forty three, forty four... Forty six?"  Glancing forward he peered at the door numbers again, and indeed the door forty five was missed, replaced with a 'Stock Room'. Figuring this was probably it he knocked and waited for a response, putting his ear to the door he could hear slight fumbling, then silence. Several second of silence followed, he was going to knock again until a voice interrupted him.

"Who goes there?" Whomever was talking sounded like they had seen better days, their voice reduced to a throaty cough. Thinking on his toes he strained to remember the 'secret' words he neglected to write down.

"Err, something dead, fast-dead, go-dead, future-dead C'mon throw me a bone here!" The voice was silent for a moment, before a belch was heard and a multitude of locking mechanisms clanked.

Sign looked on as the door was thrown open and was greeted inside, the pony, which in itself was an estimate welcomed him with a "close enough" and a parting so he may enter. Obliging Sign shuffled into the small room and joined the pony, the door locking behind them. The most peculiar thing was the secrecy, the voice was muffled and their figure wore a cloak, hiding their true identity.

Accompanying them was a small table, amongst general cleaning products scattered around the room. The cloaked equine rounded the table and faced Sign, it then produced a small feeble bag, which was slowly descended upon the tables surface. Signs heart caught in his throat, the sight of the small linen bag raised his heartbeat.

"Could it really be..." Signs intrigue was rocketed. With a small chuckle the being replied.

"It may be, that all depends if you honored your side of the deal." Although Sign couldn't see it, he swore that who ever this was, was smirking under the shade. Sign countered.

"Aye Chandler, I do." Reaching into his saddlebag he produced a small pouch of his own, stained crimson he gently retracting it and placing it upon the table.

A silent showdown waged as Sign peered into the depth of darkness where the equines face would be, slowly, he opened the bag and emptied its contents onto the table. Each item exiting the bag each made their own dull meaty thud, as they settled onto the wood. Four objects, each more grotesque as the other. One, a small rabbit heart impaled with a nail, wrapped in barbed wire. Two, a small necklace adorned with teeth, Sign never waned to know who from. Three, the claw of an alpha diamond dog. Four, a small vial filled with a seeping darkness, the glass remained arctic despite the warm atmosphere. It repelled light and consumed the shadows, Sign didn't know much about what the liquid was, but he was strictly given the don't ask wont tell treatment.

The concealed equine chuckled again.

"My my, not many ponies can stomach such materials, such a pity the black market doesn't sell their produce near here." Getting impatient Sign interrupted.

"Yea, yea. I got ye what ye wanted, where's my stuff?" Appealing to it's bargain, the cryptic being opened its own bag. Nestled within was various small gears and metal frames, despite the bags raggedy appearance the clockwork was stunning, radiating at light's touch.

Collecting his price Sign bid the mysterious merchant farewell, exiting as the rouge deposited his ingredients into his bag Sign sighed. Never again did he want to put up with another disturbed customer of the black market, but he feared he wouldn't see the last of whomever that was. Those types of ponies always gave him the creeps. Sign began a slow walk back to his cart, it was becoming late.

********************************************************************************************************************************************

A large figure sat next to her regal fireplace, the politics and general debates of the day was as bland and forgettable as they have been for the last thousand years. Some things never change Celestia theorized, but things were much easier now Luna began attending her own political meetings, it gave Celestia some much needed rest and time to relax. Unfortunately this was not to last.

"Princess Celestia, your guest has arrived."  Turning her head she spotted one of her personal guards edging his way into the room. Wearing her motherly smile, celestia spoke in a calm voice.

"Splendid, let her enter." Nodding the guard turned and disappeared behind the door, just to be replace moments later by another. Standing Celestia greeted Twilight halfway.

"How nice it is to see you Twilight, its been a while."

"I know, i've missed you." Twilight responded, for a while they stayed in eachothers company, until Celestia cut it short.

"Twilight, I have noticed that there is a growing epidemic, the thing you described to me is becoming more common and I fear something evil is ahoof." Twilight looked at her quizzically.

"Like what princess?" Celestia turned away from Twilight, returning to the fire she gently placed herself upon a nearby chair, motioning Twilight to do the same. She once again gazed upon the flame, closing her eyes she began to speak.

"I don't mean any offense Twilight but, do you know of an illegal drug by the name of Hocuspocus?" Twilight was taken back at such a question, why would Celestia ask that? She new of a couple of illegal substances but nothing of what was described. Obliging Twilight sat opposite Celestia and broke the silence.

"Im sorry Celestial, I don't. Should I?" Shaking her head Celestia replied, whilst poring tea.

"Not necessarily, but its linked to what you spoke of, I'm certain." Handing Twilight her tea Celestia softly sipped at hers, bringing it away from her lips she began once again.

"This drug is being shipped across Equestria at an alarming rate so early into its discovery. I myself only caught wind of such a thing a month ago." Twilights face grew more and more grim as Celestia continued her tale.

"That being you expressed, was most likely the result of Hocuspocus consumption." Gathering her bearing Twilight sat in silence, alone in her thoughts. Celestia waited for Twilights agenda, silently drinking her tea.

"Princess, are you saying that thing, the monster that murdered the griffin was once a pony?" Fear was etched into her voice, if this was what she thought it was then she needed to warn everyone in Ponyville of this drug. Who knows who'll fall victim next. Finishing her tea Celestia responded.

"Not necessarily, anything that eats Hocuspocus will fall in the same way, but no two 'Fallen' look alike." Twilight acknowledged Celestia's words.

"Fallen? Is that what they're called" Solemnly nodding her head Celestia continued the discussion.

"The Fallen are beings that consume enough Hocuspocus beyond no return, this isn't a fast process and nor is it completely pleasurable as you would expect, but it is incredibly addicting." Standing Celestia began to walk from the fire place and exit the room, with Twilight in tow.

Wondering down the corridor Celestia descended many stairs, continuously being questioned by Twilight.

"So this could happen to anypony?" Nodding Celestia advanced at a brisk pace, traveling almost the castle's length she stopped deep within the establishment. Twilight was in awe, never had she been so deep into Canterlot Castle, thus never seeing the architecture that they before them. Gargantuan stone doors, easily towering over them both was lit by many torches that pathed up the wall.

"What is this place?" Twilight had never witnessed such craftsmanship before, it was easy to tell if something was constructed my magic or hoof, and this was definitely hoof made. Celestia approached the miracle door and inserted her horn. If one would concentrate they would hear several clanks of stone on stone from the opposite side of the door, the sound of gears quietly filled the room. The sound stopped, a small circle shaped opening was now visible, but the door remained closed.

Before Twilight could exclaim her concern Celestia removed her regal necklace, within lay a small stone tablet, matching that of the hole.

"You might want to hold your ears for this one Twilight." Inserting the tablet the noise began once again, this particular one thundered throughout the large room, echoing infinitely through its halls. After its assault Twilight lowered her hooves, thinking the crash of the door was finished, just to return them with increased intensity as the stone door was impossibly pulled from its place, opening into the darkness that lay ahead.

Within the shadow of the newly accessible room lay a small pedestal. Glittering light gently levitated inches from it.