The Elder Scrolls: Equestria

Chapter Two

Animosity

“What are you, a SPY?”

~Applebuck~

The Maretania-Equestrian border (or more accurately the Maretania-Earth border, as the majority of southern Equestria fell under the province of Earth) was a grey line; neither of the two would risk their citizens in an attempt to map the border.  Between Equestria and Maretania was an enormous expanse of sand known as the Eversand Desert by the earth ponies.  Treacherous at best, it took a miracle and lots of water to traverse, and nopony was willing to put their life on the line in order to map out a border.  In light of this, the two governments agreed that the Eversand Desert was to be the border separating them.

It was on the edge of this very desert that Applebuck stood, beads of sweat irritating his eyebrows, despite the fact that the Sun had yet to crest the horizon.  He brushed a tan hoof across his forehead, and smeared the sweat on his leather cuirass, darkened spots forming in his wake.

The only objects Applebuck brought with him were three canteens (two of which were empty, and the third was only partially full), the leather armor he wore, and his steel warhammer that was strapped to his back.  Bringing paraphernalia into the Eversand was a death sentence.

The stallion closed his eyes and allowed himself to enjoy a cool morning breeze from the northeast.  The breezed seemed to disband as it hit the border of the Eversand, as if blocked by some unseen force.  Applebuck chuckled to himself at the thought of the Eversand Desert being cursed.  It made almost too much sense.

He briefly scanned the horizon before spotting a large, black mass not far in the distance.  He recognized it immediately as Mount Ebony.  As the name implied, Mount Ebony was a massive rock of pure ebony, and the largest recorded source of ebony ore known to pony-kind.  It was also the main source of conflict between Maretania and Earth; ebony was an extremely rare ore, said to have originated in the Planes of Tartarus.  It was highly prized by blacksmiths, the ebony armor and weapons crafted out of it exceptionally strong.

Applebuck took a generous sip out of his final canteen before starting the journey to his destination.  However, it was not Mount Ebony that was his destination; more accurately, it was what lay in the lone mountain.  In a miraculous feat (ebony was, according to the blacksmith Applebuck knew, very difficult to work with), somepony, or what was more likely a very large group of someponies, had carved a city into the ebony mountain a few decades ago when the earth ponies first arrived in Equestria.

This city, more aptly described as a fortress, became the capital of Earth, Dun Mare.  Despite the high value of Dun Mare’s residence, not a single one of Maretania’s advances made it past the main gate.  In truth, the main gate was the only gate, unless one was willing to risk the sewer entrance (the fact that none of the opposing forces attempted to use the sewer should speak for itself, and the few who had tried were never seen again).

The Sun had risen just past the horizon when Applebuck saw the massive gate carved out of the black rock, and the two ponies decked in armor that stood guard near the entrance.  As Applebuck approached the gate, one of the guards drew his sword.  Those who took part in the gate rotations were issued ebony weapons, and this stallion had apparently chosen a dagger.  Although, despite the value of his weapon, it appeared they were still issued the standard suit of iron armor.

“Halt!  State your name, rank, and business,” droned the guard through the hilt in his mouth.  The other kept his post, but continued to watch Applebuck for signs of hostility.

“Praefect Applebuck.  I am here to run The Gauntlet,” he replied.  At the word ‘praefect’ the soldier snapped to attention, whipping a hoof to his brow, and somehow managing to knock the sword out of his mouth.  Applebuck rolled his azure eyes.  Perfect, we have a new-blood on guard shift.

“P-praefect, sir!  I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t recognize you in that armor, sir!” he flushed.  It was true, for the journey here he did not exhibit his commissioned armor.  As a praefect Applebuck had been issued a fine set of steel plated armor, along with an embroidered cape signifying his position and a kite shield with the Earthen coat of arms.  However, for the two-day journey through the Eversand Desert he thought it best to travel light – meaning his leather armor from when he was a scout, and his trusty warhammer sheathed to his back.

“So, you’re here to run The Gauntlet, huh?” the second guard asserted.  He grabbed the first’s sword and shoved it back into the sheathe, giving him a disapproving glare before turning back to Applebuck.  “Knight Obsidian, and this here new-blood is Daggerlot.  He’s one of the newer recruits.”  Knight Obsidian raised a pitch-black hoof to his forehead, and the praefect returned his gesture.

“At ease, soldier.”  Obsidian fell back into a relaxed stance, and for once Daggerlot did something right.  “And yes, you heard right.  I’m here for The Gauntlet.”

The knight let out a low whistle.  “Dangerous business, The Gauntlet.  They say the hardest part is getting by the Quartermaster, but I don’t believe it for a second.  I hope you’re ready.  It’d be a shame to lose a praefect, seeing as we don’t have many to spare.”

The Gauntlet was a grueling trial that defined the line between the Knights of Earth, and the Fire Knights – the prestigious soldiers who served directly under Chancellor Smart Cookie, the Jarl of Earth, and acted as an extension of her own hoof.  Despite the cachet stature befitting the title of ‘Fire Knight’, the only two requirements to run were having previously been knighted, and a signed petition from a pony of recognizable stature.  However, to fail the Gauntlet was dishonorable, and there was only one way to amend that level of dishonorment.

Obsidian rapped on an adjacent window and motioned for the pony inside to open the gates.  “There you go, gates are opened.  Good luck.”

Applebuck acknowledged him with a nod, and trotted through the gates of Dun Mare as the knight and the recruit grudgingly retreated back to their posts.

(\_.^\_.^\_.^\_>-<>-<-></(_)><->-<>-<_/^._/^._/^._/)

Not far into Dun Mare, nestled in an alcove and surrounded by jutting rocks, was a small apparel shop.  It sold several varying kinds of armor, at varying kinds of belated prices.  The owner of Shady Steel’s Armor and Apparel, Shady Steel, was a rather dubious character.  He was well known among the guards as a purveyor of stolen goods, and the only thing keeping him from the staring at the wrong side of a set of bars was a lack of evidence against him.  Or, more accurately, whatever evidence there was would suddenly disappear, and one or two of the guards would be trotting around with a shiny new shield or helmet.

So, it was no surprise to Applebuck when a robed unicorn maintaining a magical shield burst out of the door as he walked by.

That was a blatant lie.

Applebuck picked himself off the paved walkway as a guard galloped after him, sword held firm in his mouth.  The unicorn twisted on his front hooves, and his horn glowed; a hole in the shield opened, and a ball of fire was launched at the pursuing knight.  The knight was able to bring his shield to bear quick enough to deflect most of the flame, the force knocking him back onto his rump as he cried out in pain.

Applebuck lept into the fight, mentally criticizing himself for not recovering sooner.  He turned his head and grabbed the handle sticking out for convenience, and pulled as he launched himself at the enemy.  The warhammer bashed against the unicorn’s shield, causing it to flash white and flicker.  Sensing that his shield wouldn’t withstand another pounding like that, the unicorn threw his telekinesis around the other guard’s sword, whipping it around and slashing at the air between himself and Applebuck.

Applebuck stopped mid swing, (which was not easy when swinging a thirty-five pound, large, steel hammer), and backed away swiftly before he could be cut by the unicorn’s offensive.  Today would be the day he just had to wear his leather armor!  The sword the unicorn stole from the guard was an ebony shortsword; it would carve up his armor in seconds at best.

As he continuously dodged the lightning-fast swings of the unicorn, Applebuck heard the war cries of more knights coming to his aid.  The unicorn did too, and both of them turned to the direction of the sound just in time to see Obsidian rear up and bring his ebony mace down hard on the magical shield, shattering it.

Without missing a beat, the unicorn charged a bolt of lightning at Applebuck, at the same time slashing wildly at Obsidian.  Applebuck was able avoid any major damage by twisting himself so that the bolt hit the leather, but he still felt a sharp tingle reverberate through his body.  The shortsword missed Obsidian, who counted himself lucky, until Daggerlot ran out from behind him unwittingly, and took the blow to his face.  Daggerlot screamed and writhed on the ground, his forehoof pressed hard against where his eye had been, blood pooling around the area.

The guard that had been hit by the fireball yelled as he charged, the unicorn easily sidestepping him – and right into the trajectory of Obsidian’s swing.  The mace collided hard with the unicorn’s jaw, and the force knocked him onto his side a few feet away.  His jaw seemed slightly off center.  Applebuck drew his warhammer again, as did Obsidian with his mace, and the guard grabbed his sword from where the unicorn dropped it, and together they charged the now-cornered unicorn.

Or so they thought.  As they approached him, the unicorn picked himself up, spitting blood onto the ground.  His horn flashed, and a large shockwave knocked all three of them back.  Applebuck’s hammer flew away from him, skipping several yards on the cobblestone road.  He glanced back at the unicorn, now enveloped in a golden aura as his wounds were magically healed.  Groaning in frustration, he ran to his weapon, biting down on the handle and galloping back into the fight.

Almost immediately he backpedaled, a flaming meteor from the heavens slamming down just in front of him, cracking stone and scorching the ground.  Applebuck roared; he hated unicorns and their freaky magic!  The heat singed part of his coat, but he ignored it, charging back to where Obsidian and the other guard were dancing around bolts of lightning.  He reared up, readying to bludgeon the damn unicorn into submission, when the unicorn flicked his horn, sending a bolt straight into one of the exposed spots in his armor.  The jolt coursed through his body, momentarily causing him to seize up.

Before he could react to whatever damage the bolt of lightning did to him, the unicorn hopped onto one forehoof, sweeping Applebuck with an outstretched rear leg.  Then, while Applebuck was still falling, swiftly bucked the praefect before landing in an upright position.  The knight bounced across the cobblestone before colliding with a large boulder.

Groaning, he picked himself up, trying to ignore the bruise forming underneath the leather.  The shock from the lightning along with the buck to the face were making him feel dizzy.  Forcing himself to stay focused, he returned his gaze to the unicorn.  He was still standing on his hind legs, but now had a ball of some ethereal energy forming in between his forehooves.  The three knights still standing steeled themselves as they awaited whatever offense the unicorn was planing.

Before he had a chance to release, an ebony dagger plunged through his neck, interrupting the powerful spell.  Daggerlot, forehoof still pressed against his eye, stepped out from behind him.

“You have committed... crimes against E... Earth and her people.  W... what say you in your defense?” the young recruit recited through the pain.  He then grabbed the dagger by the hilt, and yanked it out, the momentum pulling the unicorn onto the ground.

No longer in control of the situation, the unicorn writhed on the ground, hooves trying to find a grip on his neck to apply pressure, but the blood caused them to keep slipping.  His horn flashed as golden light enveloped the hole in his neck, and part of his skin began to stitch itself back together.  Before he could complete the spell however, Daggerlot’s namesake smashed into his skull, there was a loud crack!, and his horn snapped off.

The unicorn screamed, gurgling through the blood that had pooled in his mouth.  The wound in his neck stopped mending, but the magic had succeeded in removing the mortality of it.

With the unicorn down, Applebuck turned his attention to the wounded recruit.  An obsidian forehoof pressed against Daggerlot’s neck, holding him to the ground.  The praefect grabbed the dagger and thrust it into one of the braziers outside of Shady Steel’s, waiting impatiently as the ebony grew hot.  As soon as it began to glow, he pulled it out of the burning coals and ran back to Daggerlot.

Obsidian forcefully pulled back his hoof, opening the eye to the naked air.  A bloody canyon ran through his eye, from his brow down to his jawbone.  Applebuck winced at the sight of it, and gritted his teeth as he pressed the glowing blade against the wound.  Daggerlot’s hisses of pain turned to howls of agony as the skin underneath bubbled and hissed; his body contorted from the pain, but the added efforts of Obsidian helped keep him down as the hot metal did its job.  After a few seconds Applebuck drew the dagger away, the canyon in Daggerlot’s eye now wielded shut.

Daggerlot whimpered as he lay there, remnants of tears still dripping from his eye.  Applebuck, the deed done, turned back to the unicorn cowering near a large boulder, a gentle stream of blood flowing from the gape that was once his horn.  He approached the unicorn slowly, taking in the bastard that wounded Daggerlot.  He looked to be about Applebuck’s own age, perhaps a year or so older.  A unique hooded cloak covered his steel blue coat, most of it was made from a blackish material, with the cuffs and a triangular stole dyed a deep red.  On the stole was a pictogram, half-sun and half-moon, with a dark hoofprint inside of it.  Applebuck also noted the pale yellow of the mane matted with warm blood, and the deep blue eyes of the unicorn; then, as the unicorn pushed himself into a sitting position, Applebuck twisted on his forehooves and bucked him in the face.

The unicorn’s head smacked against the rock, chuckling as he spit out some blood.  The praefect pressed a forehoof against his neck, slowly applying pressure.  “Come with us peacefully, or I’ll buck you again!” Applebuck roared, enunciating the “buck” with a stomp.

The unicorn stared at him for a moment before once again chuckling to himself.  Applebuck held the stare, but the expression on the unicorn’s face was unreadable, which was pissing him off.  He glared at the steel blue stallion under him, then backhoofed him on the nose.  His dark blue eyes rolled, and he slumped unconscious.  The praefect turned back to his fellow knights, a smug look on his face that disappeared when he saw Obsidian’s questioning glare.

“What?” he said defensively,  “He looked like he was about to try something.”  The black stallion just rolled his eyes and shook his head slowly, before snorting in amusement.  “You looking for something to do?  Take Daggerlot up to the temple, now!”  Obsidian saluted him, then trotted over to where the young recruit lay, easing the light green stallion onto his back before cantering further into the fortress.  He then turned to the dun colored guard.

“You, state your name and rank!”  The guard rose up, sliding into a professional salute, wincing at the burn on his side.

“Auxiliary Steel Heart, sir!” he recited.  Applebuck opened one of his pouches with his nose, praying none of the bottles had broken.  When he saw that all but one were intact, he grabbed out a healing potion and tossed it to the other pony.

“There’s a potion for you.  That should take care of your burns.”  Steel mumbled a “thank you” as he gulped it down.  “Go interrogate Shady Steel.  That bastard had something to do with this, I know it.  When you’re done, head over to the temple as well.”

The auxiliary nodded in confirmation, and glanced at the unconscious unicorn.  “What about him?” he asked.  Applebuck looked down at him as well, as he answered,

“I’ll take him up to the keep, and give my report to the Chancellor.  I need to speak with her anyway.”

“Yes sir,” he nodded, before disappearing behind the store’s door.  Applebuck doubted Steel Heart would manage to get anything out of Shady Steel, no one ever did.  Still, procedure was procedure, and that was for a reason.

Now alone, everything was quiet, but for the sound of the wind and the crackling of the braziers.  Applebuck looked up to the sky, which was partially pale pink and yellow as the Sun entered out of the dawn, and into the day.  He sighed.

He looked to the door the unicorn had burst out of, the same one Steel Heart had just entered.  What purpose could a unicorn have for sneaking into Dun Mare?  Unicorns were banned from the city, that was common knowledge.  Did that make him extremely brave, or extremely foolish?  Applebuck glanced at the blood dripping from the stallion’s open mouth.  It must have been foolishness; attempting to infiltrate Dun Mare alone was not brave, it was stupid.

He nudged the unicorn onto his back, his unconscious body hanging limply off his sides, and began his trot into the fortress of Dun Mare, shaking the questions from his mind.  Questions would do no good now, the only thing that mattered was that he was stopped before he could enact his plan – assuming the fool had one.

(\_.^\_.^\_.^\_>-<>-<-></(_)><->-<>-<_/^._/^._/^._/)

The throne room of Dun Mare’s keep was carved out of the mountain itself, the walls and ceiling partially layered with dark granite stones.  It was here that the manufactured stone that made up the ancient walls receded into the mountain, giving way to the natural ebony beneath.  Large and small pipes of an alien design, crafted from a mysterious golden alloy ran along the ceiling like veins, leading their contents to and from the heart of the mountain.  Small fires lit in braziers lining the room threw an eerie shine onto the black, smooth rock as it reflected the flickering lights.

Applebuck, with the cloaked and broken unicorn slumped across his back, trotted up the warm, stone steps toward the large embrasure carved into the top of the stairs.  The steps were steep, and the praefect forced himself to take them slowly, so as not to drop his package.  Not out of compassion towards the lowly unicorn – Applebuck could care less if the pony suffered more injuries falling down the hard, stone slope – but he did not want anypony to see him as clumsy and careless should he actually drop the unicorn.

The apex of the stairs gave way to another hallway, stretching out in opposite directions to unseen ends.  Flower troughs, filled with a particular type of plant that only required water to grow, and elaborate stone braziers bordered the edges of the hall.  Large, green throw rugs were laid out the floor, desperately adding color to an otherwise bland room.  Across from the stairs was a niche carved out for one specific purpose:  To be the resting place of the Mournful Throne.

Contrary to its name, the Mournful Throne was decorated vivaciously, with numerous objects akin to celebratory decor, and a velvet throw pillow adorning the seat.  Lounging on the throne, head back and eyes closed was a mare the color of fresh dough, with a faded red mane, streaks of grey running through it.

Stepping out in front of her, from her own smaller, stone perch next to the throne, was the mare on the throne’s housecarl:  A dark grey mare, with an even darker gray mane.

“State your name and rank,” she said indifferently.

“Praefect Applebuck,” he recited.  “As you well know, Monotonia.”

“Mhm,” was the only recognition Monotonia gave the praefect.  “And what is your business in approaching the Mournful Throne, Praefect?”

“This thing –” Applebuck shrugged off the unicorn, letting him slump unceremoniously onto one of the green carpets in front of them both “– was found within the borders of Dun Mare.  He attacked Steel Heart and I near the gate.”

Monotonia stared at the unconscious stallion, and for a moment Applebuck could have sworn the mare’s eyebrows raised.  If she did, then it was gone in a moment before he could be sure.  The grey mare turned toward the mare on the throne, and nudged her softly.

“Smart Cookie, you may want to see this.”  The mare on the throne awoke with a start, massaging the sleep from her eyes before giving recognition to the mare beside her.

“Mm... yes Mon – Monotonia?” the regal mare yawned.

“We have a guest.  Praefect Applebuck wishes to grace your presence, and it appears he brought you a present,” Monotonia replied, eyeing the unicorn sprawled out on the floor.

“Oh?” The elder mare pushed herself into a more dignified sitting position before taking in the stallion before her.  “Applebuck! What a pleasant surprise,” she said, giving him a warm smile, her dark green eyes twinkling with a light that the years had once dulled as she stared into his brighter blue ones. However, that light died when her eyes drifted to the limp pony at her hooves.

“Is” – Smart Cookie vaguely gestured at the unicorn – “That what I think it is?”

Applebuck opened his mouth to reply, but it was Monotonia who answered.

“Yes,” Monotonia said as she and Smart Cookie shared a look.  “Yes it is.”

Smart Cookie’s smile became a thin line, her eyebrows furrowed as a shadow crossed over her face, and she stared hard at the symbol on the unicorn’s stole.

“I do not like this.  Not one bit,” she said.  “This has bad written all over it.”  With a dough-colored hoof she prodded the unicorn’s face, knocking back his hood.  “Where did you find him?” she asked the praefect, not removing her eyes from the still body.

“Just past the gate, before the market.  He... came out of Shady Steel’s store....”  Applebuck was a little taken aback by the lack of recognition.  Cautiously he took a step forward, glancing at the mare for any signs of disapprovement before studying the pictogram himself.  Something about it had caught the eye of Smart Cookie, but what that was Applebuck could not seem to grasp.

“And what do you have to say for yourself?” she asked to the room at large.

Applebuck stepped back, afraid he had offended his superior in some way.  “I –”

Smart Cookie held up a hoof to silence him.  “Not you,” she clarified.  She tilted her head toward the unconscious pony before her.  “him.”

Applebuck stared at the unicorn as well.  His body lay unmoving, his robes dishevelled.  His head fell to the side, dried blood staining the steel blue of his neck and the area underneath his severed horn.  His eyes had fallen shut, and his breathing was shallow.

“What do you mean?” Applebuck inquired, turning away from the unconscious pony.

“When did you find him?” she asked.

“Just after sunrise.”

“And what time is it now?”

“According to the servants, time for breakfast,” replied Monotonia, staring behind Smart Cookie at the two ponies who had just walked in.  “We will be with you in a moment!” she called out to them.  Without saying a word the two servants retreated back down the hall, to where Applebuck remembered the kitchen lay.

For the first time since his time as a scout, Applebuck pounded a hoof against his head – not out of anger toward somepony else, but toward himself.  How could he have been so careless? It had been not-much-less than an hour since the incident at the gate.

He cursed under his breath.  “How could I have fallen to such a new-blood mistake?”

“It happens to the best of us,” Smart Cookie assured him.  “Fortunately for all of us, this ‘mistake’ did not carry a high price.”

“I am a praefect!  I should be more astute than this!”

“Applebuck!” Smart Cookie growled.  “I will not spend my morning listening to your self-pity.  Get a hold of yourself; you are, as you said, ‘a praefect’!”

The stallion took a step back, having forgotten that he was standing before his commanding officer.  He cleared his throat, taking in a deep breath and then expelling it, and reconfigured his stance to better fit his title.  “My apologies, my liege.  Sometimes I fail to remember you are my superior.”

The elder mare sighed.  “I do not need your excuses, Applebuck; I accept your apology.”  As she turned back to the prisoner at her feet, she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Applebuck to hear, “Sometimes, I forget that you are more than my nephew.

“So tell me unicorn –” her eyes drifted to the bloody stump protruding from the stallion’s forehead “– Let me amend that; tell me, hornless one,” she sat down next to him, pressing her face close enough to his that she could smell the dulled scent of copper wafting from his wounds.

“Would you like some breakfast?”