Pandemonium

Hoofsteps echoed through the cave. It was eerily silent, the silence occasionally broken by droplets of water falling from the ceiling. A gray unicorn blinked as a drop fell on her nose. “Hey Hurricane?” she asked another pony in the cave. “Yes, Spectrum?” replied the dark green Pegasus. Spectrum tilted her head in thought.

“What do you think is in here?” she asked curiously. Hurricane turned to Spectrum, his green eyes glinting in the dim lighting of the cave.

“I suppose that’s why Princess Celestia sent a squad to investigate. Why else would we be here in Prance?” Spectrum shrugged.

“I know… I just wonder sometimes if they’re actually looking for something.” Hurricane let a small smile slip through his normally serious face.

“I know what you mean. They certainly seem to know more than they let on at ti… What was that?” He stopped mid-sentence at a sudden noise. It sounded like a rat or something, but it was too big.

“I don’t know.” Hurricane looked at Spectrum, who was shaking her head. Her long mane covered one eye, but the other one shone crimson in the dim light. Sweet Celestia, she’s adorable! he thought to himself. Is now the right time to do it? There were butterflies in his stomach and a hammer in his heart. “Spectrum…” he began. Spectrum looked up, a small, sad smile on her face.

“Yes?” she replied in the same uncertain tone. Hurricane sighed.

“I have to tell you something important. You’re not going to be happy about it.”

Spectrum’s smile faltered for a split second. “What is it?” she asked, anxiety in her voice. Hurricane winced. Why does it have to be like this? he wondered painfully.

“I… Instead of being stationed with you again back in Ponyville again, I’m…” he broke off. Spectrum’s eyes widened. “You aren’t coming to Ponyville with me?” she asked in shock. Hurricane shook his head sadly. “That’s not it. I’ll be going to Ponyville…” Spectrum sighed in relief.

“I was afraid you weren’t coming!” she exclaimed lightly, trying to brighten up the mood. One look at Hurricane told her that she had said the wrong thing. Tears trickled from  the corners of his eyes and he was trying his best not to cry.

“That’s just it… I might not be. I’m being shipped off to Afghaneighstan to help the soldiers stationed there. I’ll be deployed for about six months… and I’m scared, Spectrum. What if something happens? Six months is a long time.” Spectrum’s heart dropped into her stomach, then into her intestines, and finally into her hooves. She went rigid. “Afghaneighstan?” she whispered. “When?”

“About three months after we move to Ponyville. I’m afraid that I won’t make it. Afghaneighstan is a dangerous place, especially for Equestrians.” Spectrum leaned over and hugged Hurricane, hoping to comfort him. He pulled away, and Spectrum looked down, crestfallen. “Wait,” said Hurricane. Spectrum looked up at him.

“In case I don’t come back, I just want you to know how much you mean to me.” Hurricane winked and lowered his head into the crook between his chest and his wing. It came back up holding a golden ring, previously hidden in his plumage. Spectrum gasped.

“Your mom’s engagement ring? I can’t take that!”

Hurricane nodded and smiled. “You’ve been my partner for 10 years, Spectrum. I don’t have any children, nor a brother or sister, and my parents died a few months ago. You’re practically my only family now.”

“But…” protested Spectrum.

Hurricane leaned over quietly and placed the ring on Spectrum’s horn. “I… I meant to ask a long time ago, but never got the courage to actually do it,” he admitted sheepishly. “But Spectrum, after all this time as partners, I’ve realized that you mean more to me than just a sibling or friend. Before we leave for Ponyville…” He broke off, staring at Spectrum, who was crying. Out of joy or sadness, Hurricane couldn’t tell. “Will… Will you marry me?” blurted Hurricane awkwardly. Spectrum gaped, speechless, and nodded wordlessly. Hurricane grinned widely and rushed forward, locking Spectrum in a heartfelt kiss. “I can’t wait to get home,” he whispered in Spectrum’s ear as they hugged.

Spectrum blinked tears out of her eyes. “Let’s get this out of the way first,” she said. Hurricane grinned.

“Alright. I’m just so excited for the wedding. I guess…” he broke off and stared into the tunnel.

“What’s wrong?” asked Spectrum, who was suddenly very alert. Hurricane twitched his ear. “Did you hear that?”

Spectrum looked around the cave nervously. “What is it?” she asked, her voice shaky. Hurricane shook his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.” Silence passed between them. Hurricane looked around the cave once more, double checking to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary. The walls were the same as usual, their odd runes and strange carvings omnipresent and lackadaisical as usual. The two paced around the walls, doing their usual lap around the cave before leaving. It was routine stuff, but they took pride in their work as the excavation team got ready for the next day.

“Hurricane, come here!” whispered Spectrum urgently, breaking the peaceful silence. Hurricane trotted over to her without much haste. Why should he, when there was never anything wrong on duty?

“Yeah?” he asked in an equally quiet voice. Spectrum pointed at the tunnel that led deeper into the cave system.

“I just saw something moving in there. It’s pitch black, but I saw something,” she whispered shakily. Spectrum nudged her gently.

“I’m sure it was nothing. Probably a rat or something. Maybe a bat.” Just as he said this, an ominous grunting sound came from deeper in the tunnel. Spectrum’s eyes widened. “That was definitely not a rat.” Hurricane started forward, intending to go investigate. Spectrum jerked forward. “Wait! What if something dangerous is in there?” she asked in a shaky voice. Hurricane smiled. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ve got this.” Spectrum narrowed her eyes and he took a step back. “Okay, too soon.”

He continued down the tunnel, followed closely by Spectrum, until they reached the source of the noise. “I told you there wasn’t anything to worry about! Just a faulty air purifier!” he exclaimed, pointing to the device. “Looks like somepony knocked the fan loose. That’s what was making the noi-” he was cut off when Spectrum screamed behind him. “For the love of… There’s nothing to be afraid of…” he trailed off as he turned around and saw what Spectrum was staring at. “What the hay is that?” he shouted as it got closer.

The thing turned around and ran off, but it was running on two legs, like a dragon. Spectrum stared, frozen in place by fear, while Hurricane took off after it. Spectrum just stood there in shock, too afraid to move. A pain-filled scream shook her from her trance. “Hang on, Hurricane! I’m coming!” she cried as she ran through the tunnel. As she entered the glyph room, she felt something wet and sticky cling to her hooves. She looked down and gasped. Blood was pouring across the floor from a dark lump in the middle of the room. Her veins turned to ice. Her stomach was in her hooves. Her heart was in her throat. “Hurricane!” she cried as she ran over to her fiancée, blood splashing as she stepped in puddles on the floor. “Hurricane…” she whispered, cradling his head in her forelegs as she sat on the floor ignoring the blood. “What happened?” she asked quietly. Hurricane coughed and smiled weakly. “D-d-don’t w-w-worry ab-b-bout m-me…” he stuttered. His eyes were dull. Glassy. The eyes of a dying pony that Spectrum knew all too well.

“I’ll get you home! I’ll get us both to Canterlot, and you can get better! Remember our future! Think of our children we’ll have!” she said frantically while trying to stem the bleeding. Hurricane coughed, sending blood dribbling down his chin and onto his chest. “I… I’m so cold, Spectrum…” he breathed weakly. Spectrum checked his body for a wound, the source of his bleeding. As she probed Hurricane’s shuddering body, she finally found the source. “Don’t leave me, Hurricane!” she sobbed as she looked at the wound. It was a slash across his stomach that let his intestines hang out. It was a grisly scene, and Spectrum instinctively knew that Hurricane wouldn’t make it. Hurricane knew it too, but the pain of leaving without saying good-bye was too much to bear.

“S-s-spectrum? Don’t give up… G-g-g-get to Canterlot… T-tell the Princesses that ‘they’ are b-back. T-t-they’ll know…” He gasped and shuddered. “I… I love you…” he whispered. Spectrum sobbed and nodded. “I love you, too…” she whispered. Tears fell onto Hurricane’s face. He smiled one last time. “At least I got to say good-bye…” he whispered. He closed his eyes, a peaceful smile on his face, and breathed out one last time. His body gave a small shudder, then went limp.

“Hurricane?” whispered Spectrum quietly. “HURRICANE!” she cried out in despair.

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PANDEMONIUM

By Moonshine The Brony

The morning sun rose above Canterlot Castle. The streets were crowded with busy ponies on their way to work and the sky was clear. The train was on time and the Pegasi were patrolling for stray clouds. It was an average day overall.

The jolly atmosphere didn’t quite spread to the castle itself, however. Princess Celestia paced back and forth, as if she was nervous. “Sister, you should stop worrying,” said Luna, who stood beside her. “If there’s one thing I have learned about modern Equestria, it is that thou… you shouldn’t worry. These ponies seem capable of taking care of themselves.” Celestia nodded, but the worried look in her eyes didn’t leave.

“I know, Sister, but it’s been a week. A week of no contact from an outpost in somewhere like Ponyville or Whinnyapolis would not concern me, but an outpost so far from home…” she trailed off. Luna sighed inwardly in frustration.

“’Tia, they’re fine. Nothing has happened.” Celestia looked up at Luna, who saw just how deep the worry was in her sister’s eyes. “I hope you’re right, for all of our sakes.

~ ~ ~

Twilight Sparkle awoke in a cold sweat. Her breath was ragged and labored. Memories of her dream flashed in the back of her mind. Something about a filly turning into Nightmare Moon and banishing the Princesses to the Sun and Moon. “Ugh… Why do I keep having these dreams?” she asked aloud. “Spike! Could you get breakfast started?” she called to the dragon downstairs. “Gotcha covered, Twi!” came the response. Twilight smiled; Spike was an excellent helper. She would miss him when he finally moved out. “Thanks!” she replied. She crawled out of bed groggily and stared in the mirror. Her mane was scruffy like it usually was after waking up. Twilight easily levitated a comb and ran it through her mane when she heard a loud crash. She sighed and put her brush down.

“Twilight! Come quick!” shouted a familiar voice. “Rainbow, what are you doing in my bedroom?” she asked, seeing the cyan Pegasus in front of a hole in the wall. Rainbow Dash smiled for a split second then got serious again.

“It’s urgent! Remember that team in Prance that went missing a week ago?” Twilight nodded in response.

“Yeah, why? Did they send a message?”

Rainbow shook her head. “We wish. They’re here in Ponyville. There’s a mare and a stallion. The mare’s okay for the most part. She’s got a broken leg and keeps muttering something about a hurricane. The stallion on the other hoof... he’s dead. It looks real bad. Everypony’s already accusing the mare for murder.” Twilight jumped up, forgetting all about her dream and breakfast and Spike, and focusing at the problem at hoof.

“I’ll be right there,” she said and disappeared down the stairs. Rainbow Dash’s ears twitched as she heard a voice downstairs.

“Twilight? What are you doing?”

“No time to explain! Tell the Princess to meet us in the town square!”

“But,”

“Just do it!”

Rainbow snorted and flew through the wall, making yet another hole.

~ ~ ~

The town square was crowded with ponies, mostly those who had heard about the new pony in town. Spectrum covered her ears with her hooves, trying to block out the sound of everypony’s chatter. Her muscles ached, her eyes burned, and she felt sick. Her leg burned like dragonfire. She wished everypony would go away. She wished Hurricane was still with her. She wished she could have done something to help him. “Hurricane…” she whispered to the body next to her. Suddenly the square was quiet, save for a few quiet mutterings. She looked up and saw a white Alicorn in front of her. At once, she jumped up and saluted, almost passing out at the pain that came with the action. “Princess Celestia!” she exclaimed. Celestia gently laid a hoof on her shoulder.

“At ease, Spectrum.” Spectrum relaxed, once again sitting on the ground.

“I thought I wouldn’t make it…” she murmured quietly. Then she collapsed to the ground. The crowd gasped and a nurse with a red cross as her Cutie Mark rushed to help. She checked Spectrum’s vitals and nodded. “She’s bleeding internally. If we don’t get her to treatment...” The Princess grimaced.

“Get her to the hospital. Do whatever it takes to save her life. She’s been through a lot, it seems.

“Yes, your highness. We’ll watch over her until she awakes. Then we’ll tell you.” The nurse replied.

“Then go, Nurse Redheart. There’s no time to lose.”

“Then we leave at once. Mayor Mare, I will keep you updated on Spectrum’s condition. We may need some of the ponies who saw her appear for more information.” The elderly mare nodded in confirmation. Redheart pushed Spectrum onto a stretcher, and two stallions picked her up. They hurried off to the hospital, Spectrum in tow.

“What about that one?” asked Mayor Mare, pointing at Hurricane’s body. Celestia knelt down and inspected Hurricane’s wounds. “I’ll take him to the morgue in Canterlot. I want to inspect the body for clues as to what the hay happened to him in Prance.” Mayor Mare bowed.

“Of course, your highness. Please, though, keep me updated. I am curious as to the true nature of these events,” she said with a frown. Celestia frowned herself.

“So do I, Ivory. So do I.”