Mountain Rising

Turning back to Celestia, Havel continued in a business like manner.

"Eastern Equestria is safe, the threat is no more, Chrysalis was kicked so hard in her flank, she won't be back for a while, now all that's left is our fee," stated Havelock.

"Of course, how much for this contract?" asked Celestia.

"We want fifty-thousand," said Tarkus.

"Fifty-thousand bits?! That's a fortune!" exclaimed one of the guards.

"We normally charge eighty-thousand, boy, but because we're late, and only a third of us remain, we're lowering our own reward." Jaller snapped.

"Easy, Jaller, Gypsy is alright, and we're alive,"

"But you still can't possibly ask that amount," the guard continued, "it's-"

"-Please excuse him, Raiders," said Celestia, taking annoyance to the guard, "you will receive the agreed payment as soon as I can amass the amount-"

"-We want it by next week," Havel quickly said, "otherwise we will refuse any further contracts,"

Celestia was shocked by Havel's demand, "I ask that you please be patient, Hav-"

"-By next week, fifty-thousand, or we're gone," Havel said firmly.

Celestia was silent for a long time, unused to such demands and blackmail.

"Is there a problem, Tia?" asked Havel.

His gumption to address her as "Tia" caused the few guards to exchange looks among themselves. The Raiders remained stone-faced, while some remaining pigs smirked.

"Perhaps, if I were to make several smaller payments, then, over time-"

"If you can't pay our fee by next week, then we can pack and leave to-"

Off to the side, was a dark figure leaning against a pillar.

"Who is that?" Havel asked, taking a defensive stance.

Luna came out from the shadows, staring passively at Havelock.

"Why is she looking at me like that?" whispered Havel.

"Maybe your looks piss off the girl," Tarkus whispered back.

She stepped forward, two bat pony guards behind her, one with a heavy bag. She made a gesture towards Havelock to the guard with the bag. The bat pony stepped forward and threw the large bag in front of Havel, bits overflowed onto the floor.

"There you are," Luna said, "fifty-thousand bits, as your contract demands, now be gone,"

"Who the hell is that?" asked a pig.

"BE GONE!" shouted Luna with the royal Canterlot voice.

The pigs squealed, and the Raiders backed away, while only Havelock stood steadfast.

"Thank you for your payment, miss..."

Luna simply and elegantly strolled away from the mercenaries. They all looked around, unsure of the sudden events of this mysterious princess they did not know. Havel went to collect the money on the floor, then turned to Celestia.

"When you have more work for us, we'll be ready," he said.

Havel ambled out of the throne room, with shaken Raiders close behind him.

___________________

"Ahh, I'm surprised they still have this bar in Canterlot," said Tosh.

"Didn't you notice that it was much harder to find than usual?" asked Havel as he took a gulp of liquor.

"Hmm? Yes, but at least it's still here, brother, at least we can still relax," said Tosh.

"Well, even the wealthy need a place to go wild, and the wild ones usually stay here," said Havel.

Tosh heard a sad tone in Havel's words.

"Somethin' botherin' ya, brother?"

"I came here to drown my sorrows, not talk about them,"

"C'mon, what can't ya share with your old bat pony friend?"

"Tosh, you don't think like a bat pony, you don't act like a bat pony, you don't even talk like one! It's why we're here,"

Tosh shrugged and said, "When have I ever let ya down, brother? What about that?"

Havel remained silent for some time, thinking about all the times Tosh has helped him, both in and out of battle.

Finally, Havel said, "We should have died out there..."

"Can't complain that we didn't, brother," Tosh replied.

"We bled and suffered, while Celestia did nothing,"

"If she sent a search party, do you really think they'd make it?"

"Instead of a search party, why couldn't she do what she was supposed to? Protect us,"

"Why don't you tell 'er that?"

"Cause I know better than to accuse an alicorn, especially, if they're the sun goddess of this world."

"Most say that Celestia responds with benevolence, before she strikes ya down int'a the dirt, heh heh ha ha!"

"Why didn't that benevolence come then? Why are we here, six years later, still playing the same damned game, of being hunted by Daayan, while we hunt whoever threatens Tia. Hell, I can't even trust her anymore, she sends us on a suicide mission, then leaves us to rot!"

"That maybe so, brother, but is that truly you doin' the talkin'?"

Havel glanced at Tosh with a questioning look, "Tosh, what're you on about?"

Tosh leaned in close to Havel, poking him in the chest with his hoof, "This is what I'm on about, brother. Ever since you and Daayan clashed blades again, you've been acting differently, givin' different orders, usin' different tactics. You've become aggressive and vengeful, brother, but I know better, I know that's not you, that's the evil and bitterness within you, brother."

"Tosh, I would know if I had evil within me, and I have no evil in me,"

"But what do we know about the void magic, brother? I know more than most, but I'm still an idiot compared to the void magic's father,"

Havel stared at Tosh with an expression of extreme concern, "How do you know about void magic?"

"The Black Dragon shares his secrets with me, brother, just as he has with you," explained Tosh, "He taught me that the void magic cannot be destroyed, but it can be controlled, just not by anypony, but only the father of the void magic. The Black Dragon is very selective in which ponies he shares specific secrets with, given that, I might be his prophet, and you, his messiah,"

Havel gave Tosh a skeptical look and avoided what he had said about the mysterious Black Dragon, "Tosh, you know that void magic is dark magic, this is a great secret, so keep it from Tia,"

Tosh frowned and said, "I don't understand why we call the princess by her nickname,"

"Really?" said Havel, "Celestia isn't a mouthful to ya?"

Tosh only shrugged again, "I'm very different from most, ya know,"

"Yeah, yeah," said Havelock in a brusque tone, "what else do you know about void magic?"

Tosh sighed, "I'm only gonna tell ya what you need to know to stay on our side,"

"What? You actually think some petty darkness can overtake me?" laughed Havel.

Tosh nodded, his face dead serious, "This ain't no petty darkness, brother, it's your own hatred, and anger, all fueled by your sorrow and lust for revenge. The void magic ain't some simple magic that you unicorns do every day, given time, the void magic will change, grow, and evolve, and so will you, just as Daayan has,"

"Then what's with her always hunting specifically us?"

"Remember your three year love life, brother?"

"With her, yeah,"

Tosh remained silent.

"Whoa, w-wait, you mean that thing had feelings, for me? Even though those three years were forfeit?"

"Afraid so, brother, and she wants you to be like her, so every meeting with her, she'd sneak some dark magic into ya, so you'd become like her,"

Anxiety surged through Havel, "How can I get this out of me?"

"There's always the Elements of Harmony, brother, if you're willing to put your faith in Celestia again,"

"Any method that's safer?"

"Well, if you were truly in love with Daayan-"

"Kill me right now then, no, when the time comes, I want you to run me through, got it?"

"If not with Daayan, then who?"

"I have a choice?"

"Of course, brother, I was also taught than we will always have a choice, you can fall in love, put faith in Celestia, or die, I won't judge you on your decision,"

Havel leaned back and closed his eyes, debating on what the right choice would be. He thought about falling in love like Tosh said. But then, he thought, would I just be doing that for my own good? My own personal gain? He then thought about trusting Celestia again, trust can't just be given out like a gift, he thought. He thought about death, the cold, yet sweet slumber dying soldiers always described, not yet, not while there's a job at hoof. He then thought about Daayan, and dreamt pleasurable thoughts with her, but quickly drew himself away from the thoughts.

"Tosh," he said sitting upright, "is it possible that this evil within me, can make me lie to myself?"

"Perhaps, brother," said Tosh, "I know there is too much about the void magic we don't know, so you might not be cured in time,"

"You're messing with me," said Havel, panic streaked across his face,

Tosh thought for a moment then said, "Yeah, I am,"

Havel allowed himself a slight breath of relief from the lie. Tosh felt guilt for doing this, and racked his brain for something that could help.

"Brother," said Tosh, "what is something you would enjoy, something that you could never lie to yourself about?"

"Tosh, I like how you're trying to help me, but, unless you've got a full orchestra hidden under your wing, you can't help me,"

Tosh smiled and said, "Ah, I do have a full orchestra, brother, it's just hidden in a building is all,"

"Tosh," began Havel, "I know what you're thinking, and I can't get in there without getting in trouble, though I'd love to play the organ they have in there again, every note was so strong, and true, so deep with emotion,"

Tosh remembered the last time Havel played an organ. He shivered slightly at the thought of Havel striking each and every note, sending his emotions to all through every key, having them echo throughout the empty corridors. Tosh savored the memory, for the first thought of good that came in a long time.

Tarkus came bustling up behind Havel, "Ey! What're you two doing? Didn't ya hear?"

"About what, Tarkus?" asked Havel miserably.

"Dat alicorn who made you little foals squeal is on her way here!" exclaimed Tarkus.

"Does it look like I care right now, Tarkus?" asked Havel.

"Ah, come now, Havel," said Tarkus putting a hoof on his shoulder, "this tain't the commander I know,"

Havel sent a magical flash from his horn, sending Tarkus staggering back.

"Go home, Tarkus, you're drunk,"

Tarkus tried doggedly to get on his hooves after the flash, "Now that was rude," he said, now on his hooves, but rubbing his eyes furiously.

"Oh, you thought that was rude?" said Havel rising from his chair, "I can do a lot more than just rude,"

Tosh's hoof clamped onto Havel's shoulder, "This is what feeds it inside you, brother, though you must struggle for control, always keep control,"

"What? That creepy evil darkness that's inside Havel?" asked Tarkus, still blinking from the flash.

"Tarkus..." began Havel.

"I deserve to know, don't I?" Tarkus said.

"So," said Havel, "what's this news on the alicorn coming for a visit? You know who she is?"

"I was hopin' you did," said Tarkus.

"Are you two serious?" asked Tosh.

Havel and Tarkus exchanged looks, "What?" they both said in unison.

"That alicorn was the princess of the night, she was the princess Luna," Tosh explained, "in the very oldest tales, going back a thousand years now, there were two sisters who loved each other very much. The older sister, Celestia, brought about the sun, while Luna, the younger sister, brought about the moon,"

"Then why's her plot so small?" asked Tarkus.

Havel struck Tarkus square in the nose, sending him to the floor. Havel looked a Tosh with a look a young foal would give asking "Is it okay that I did that?"

"Yeah, he deserved it that time," said Tosh.

"That he did, so can we rap this story up please?" asked Havel.

"Fine," said Tosh. He continued with the pony's tale, "Ponies would play and work in the day, but shun the night, thus, with jealousy, the younger sister refused to end the night, and became who we call, Nightmare Moon, then she was cured by the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony,"

"Who're the new bearers?" asked Havel.

"I'm a specialist on the battlefield, that's true, but even I don't know every buckin' thing, Havel,"

"Right, right, sorry, so when does this Princess Luna make her grand entrance?"

"She already has," said Tosh pointing at the entrance, where everypony had their heads bowed as low as they could be.

"How did you?-"

"I listen, brother," said Tosh pointing to his ears.

Luna glanced about, surprisingly calm amid the low class patrons. She set eyes on Havel once again, the same piercing stare as before.

"Uh, she's comin' this way, Tosh," said Havel.

Luna almost lazily ambled up to Havel, her eyes revealing not hatred, but pity.

"We've more work for your Raiders, Havel, you start in the morning,"

Luna turned around, making her way for the door, but stopped midway.

"Are you coming, Havelock?"

"What kind of job?" asked Havel, remaining cemented where he was.

"We'll explain at Canterlot Castle, now follow."

Havel whispered to Tosh, "On your guard,"

_________________

Havel and Tosh were led by Luna back into Celestia's throne room. Waiting for them were Jaller and DuskWing. The room was brightly lit, however, the windows were closed, blinds and all, while the doors slammed shut behind them.

"Where's the fifth one?" asked Luna,

"Tarkus? Oh, he's probably still drooling on the bar floor, but we can go on without him just fine,"

Luna and Celestia exchanged worried glances.

"Don't be surprised," said DuskWing to the two, "the pigs always do this. Shall we continue?"

Celestia removed a small crystal from a display case, placing it on the floor in front of the mercenaries. With a blast of magic, Celestia had the crystal radiate the image of a large kingdom.

"This is the Crystal Empire," she said, "it-"

"-Houses a great evil you once banished, and... the beast is back, you're sending us there to either defeat it, or lend a hoof in doing so," Havel concluded.

Jaller smirked at Havel, then said "Stories get around, princess, and we've studied this our whole lives, well, some of us have,"

All eyes went to Tosh and Havel, "You know about the Crystal Empire?" asked Celestia.

"Well, anything that has to do with void magic, and Sombra holds a record for corruption by dark magic." said Havel.

"In fact," began Tosh, "It's what's made us so successful all these years, how we stand out from other mercenaries,"

"I'm sorry," said Luna, "but did you say void magic?"

Tosh, though he'd gone blind, gave Havel a casual glance, causing the two princesses' focus to be on him.

Havel sighed deeply, then said, "Yes, void magic, it's what we call dark magic, and we have sources that tell us about these things, reliable sources,"

Great interest appeared on Celestia's face, "Could you perhaps share your knowledge of this, void magic, with us?"

Havel glanced around the room, as if he were searching for something, "Tosh is our expert at it's behavior, talk to him,"

Celestia approached the cornered bat pony, hoping her answer would come. However, Tosh sat in silence, the only noise made was from his breathing. The room held it's breath, Dusk fidgeted with her wing, and Havel cleared his throat in the silence.

"Convince me," Tosh finally said.

All but Havel were shocked at Tosh's response. Princess Celestia raised an eyebrow with a look of great disappointment at the middle-aged bat pony.

"What would you ask of us?" Celestia asked, her voice dripping with venom.

"For every... sample, we come by," said Tosh, "we'll gladly sell them for a fair price-"

"-Sell them?!" said Celestia, her voice even more venomous.

"We need to make a living, Tia," said Havel, stepping in, "and extra work means extra cash, you understand, don't you?"

Celestia bit her lip hard, realizing her lowly manner with the Raiders. She sighed very deeply, then said, "Yes, I understand your... logic, please find as many things as you can,"

"Oh, but of course, your highness," said Havel, "was there anything else you needed to specify?"

"Yes," began Luna, "we don't want you helping out within the Crystal Empire itself, but camped outside of it,"

"What're the targets?" asked Havel.

"In the tundra there are three shadows, each arrived when Sombra returned," Luna explained.

"So you want us to take out those shadows just in case they help Sombra, right?"

"Yes," she said, "but what else is there to them?"

Havel looked at Tosh and said, "Go ahead, Tosh, revealing this won't hurt,"

Tosh stepped forward, "These shadows are most likely pieces of Sombra that were broken off when you banished him, the fact that there are three shadows means Sombra has become very weak. By destroying these shadows before they reach Sombra, will leave him weak enough to be destroyed, with enough magical power, of course. I believe we can also assist in that-"

"That won't be necessary, I've already sent my student, Twilight Sparkle, to aid in the banishment King Sombra," said Celestia.

"That's fine, Celestia, now our fee," said Havel.

"What will it be? Another fifty-thousand?"

Havel looked at Tosh, then DuskWing and Jaller, "No," he said, "ten-thousand, citizenship in Canterlot, and access to the Canterlot organ,"

Havel's Demands surprised all but Tosh, "Very well," said Celestia, "that can certainly be done very soon,"

"Anything else?" asked Havel.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, there have been suites in the castle prepared for you and your soldiers, you leave in the morning, Havel,"

"Noted," he said, "Raiders, get some shut eye tonight, cause we may not sleep for a while in the field, am I clear?"

"Urah!" they responded.

_________________

Havel leaned over the edge of his suite's balcony late into the night, a tobacco pipe hanging from his mouth. Havel simply watched all of Canterlot from his high hanging suite, pondering the evil within him. Maybe I can control it, I've lasted this long, haven't I he'd think to himself. Havel felt a slight breeze against the side of his face.

"I thought you'd be asleep, Havelock," said a voice, the clop of hooves on stone heard by Havel.

Havel levitated the pipe out of his mouth and slowly released the warm smoke in his mouth, "Never thought you'd visit me, princess,"

Luna moved a few paces closer to Havel and said, "You've your assignment in the morning, why aren't you asleep like most your soldiers?"

"Just restless," said Havel, "and what of the soldiers still awake? Surely they can't be in the same state,"

"They weren't," said Luna, "they were just..."

Havel gave Luna a questioning look, then laughed at the realization of what she meant.

"They're war pigs, princess, they do that, a lot, we just ignore it best as we can," he said, putting the pipe back in his mouth.

Luna glared at Havelock, "Why such a crude name for your soldiers?"

Havel removed the pipe, "We didn't make that name, they did," he said pointing at Canterlot with his pipe, "the locals never did take nicely to us, always giving looks, calling names, some even attacked us. But, as you can see, we laughed at some of those names, war pigs included, and we use some of them now,"

Luna only continued to glare, "Do you ever feel ashamed, Havelock?"

"I only feel ashamed if I did the wrong thing, and right now, we need money, and no one else is paying as much as you,"

"If it were truly about money, then why lower your reward for the Canterlot organ?"

"There are some things, even you wouldn't understand, princess,"

"Does something bother you?"

"That isn't your concern, princess,"

"She could help, brother, I'd put my faith in her if I was you,"

Havel looked around inside his suite, "Tosh, get your eavesdroppin' ass out of my room,"

"I only try to help, brother,"

"You act officious, that's your problem, Tosh, now get out,"

"Hmm, fine,"

A shadowy figure launched out of his room, off the balcony and into the starry night.

"After this is done, Havelock," began Luna again, "you'll be my subject, I might as well try to help now,"

"Like I said, princess, you wouldn't understand unless you saw it yourself, felt it like I did,"

"Very well,"

Havel gave Luna a skeptical look as he walked into his suite.

"Bad idea, princess, you get hurt and the guards'll have my head,"

"They will overlook that,"

"You're certain on that?"

"They will overlook that,"

Havel seated himself on a cushioned chair, "Fine, do you know memory drift spells?"

"Of course,"

Dammit, Havel, this is a bad idea, he thought.

"Shall we?" said Luna.

Havel rose hesitantly, approaching the night princess. He brought the tip of his horn to Luna's, the auras of gold and blue clashing. Suddenly, his own memories and that of Luna's surge through his mind, the pain of loss, denial, loneliness, the heavy bleeding of a deep slash, all crossed both his and Luna's mind. As the memories finished flowing through their minds, both Luna and Havel gave the look of fear, as they crashed to the ground.

"You... you know such pain?" Havel coughed out.

Panting heavily, Luna straightened up and regained her posture.

"You've felt denial, loss, and loneliness, just as I have," panted Havel.

Still taking deep breaths, Luna said, "I... I must rest now, these spells can make one weary,"

Leaving Havel alone on the floor, Luna left from his balcony, shakily flying away. Havel then rose from the ground, as shakily as Luna was flying away. He stumbled over to his bathroom, vomiting into the trash.

"Ugh... and you were worried about Luna... you dumb bastard..." he said as he collapsed on his bed, "and now you're talkin' to yerself... what?... normal ponies aren't good enough... aaaarrggghhhh... shut up,"

________________

Havel awoke with a dry mouth and sore body, "Memory drift spells, they're a big pain afterwards," he said mostly to himself.

Havel buckled on his armor and headed out to where Gypsy was docked. All around Gypsy were busy pigs loading supplies onto the ship, while Jaller approached Havel, dodging protruding points of large structures with very strange architecture.

"Commander!" shouted Jaller, "where did all these... things come from? And why are they right next to Gypsy?"

Havel was then aware of all the strange structures littered around the air ship.

"What do we do about them? Are they tools? Are they traps? Are they-"

"-Jaller, if you could calm down a bit, I might be able to tell you about them," said Havel.

"Oh... o-okay," said Jaller.

Havel approached one of the structures, shaped like a saucer. A large sapphire blue crystal resided in the center of the saucer shaped structure, glowing faintly. Havel tapped the edge with his hoof, suddenly sparking the structure to life. The crystal rose from it, as did two crescent shaped, golden beams, aligning with each other with the crystal between the two beams. The crystal then began to glow brightly, radiating vast magical power.

"Finally..." moaned an other-worldly voice, "the gate has been opened, aid them my wolves..."

The crystal seemed to melt into a circle held by the two golden beams. Rushing out of the circle of energy, were ghostly looking, armored wolves with large swords in their jaws.

"Huh... been awhile since we've seen void wolves," said Havel.

Some Canterlot guards had rushed to arms at the sight of the beastly company. Havel rushed and waived his hooves in the air.

"Stop! They're harmless!" he shouted, "For now, at least,"

Havel continued to watch the wolves as they piled onto the deck of Gypsy.

"Damn! Where'd all these void wolves come from!" shouted a pig, delighted to see such a ghastly creature.

Havel turned to Jaller, his mouth gaping wide open. Havel went and closed Jaller's mouth with his hoof.

"Don't worry," said Havel, "they're not house-broken,"

Havel turned to the pigs loading supplies, "Alright, I want these structures strapped on to Gypsy! They're a gift from our special contact!" he shouted.

Havel teleported himself and Jaller onto the air ship, nearly prepared for the trip. Laughter lived among the pigs as they hooked chains to the "gifts" they had received. In a matter of hours, Gypsy was ready to finally cast off. Pigs were waving at the gathering crowd, mostly the ladies, while Havel had his eyes on Celestia who had come to witness the cast-off.

His eyes then darted to her side, where the night princess was standing, her expression softer than usual.

Tosh ambled up behind him, "Do you think we'll ever get too old for this?"

Havel looked back at him, "No, just look at Jaller, he grew up with what we call fossils,"

"I ain't that old yet, jackass!" Jaller shouted from behind.

"Besides," Havel laughed, "old soldiers, are normally the best soldiers,"

Tosh smiled, "Old soldiers..." he said.