Chapters I am Twilight Sparkle
Pilot
Dear reader, I am glad that somepony except me has survived this hell. Even so if you might find this journal, next to my dead body, or somewhere where I have chosen to stay for the night. Equestria, is no more. As far as I know to this point, there is no cure, to the curse that brought ponykind to the brink. It all started three years ago. I, Twilight Sparkle, was just crowned the newest princess, of Equestria. Everything was going so well, and everypony was happy. You must know, that I write this all down, so if there is somepony there, except me, they will know what has brought this plague over us.
Two days after my coronation, an explosion in a magical research center, just outside of Canterlot occured. As the new girl on the job, it was my duty to investigate, so I can give you a first hoof testament. I arrived in the Mane-forest, where the center had been located, just an hour after the explosion. With me, I had several royal guards who were there to ensure my safety. None of them ever came back, because they did their duty. To our utter suprise, the facility was almost completly intact, even so we didn't meet anypony on our way inside. As princess, I used my authority to direct the guards, and split them into groups, so our search efforts would have the maximum effect...
Thinking back to that day, I regret that I did that. Had we all stayed together, we may have been able to stop it all at it's root. But, on the other hoof, how should I have anticipated something like this? Out of the fifty guards, I kept three by my side. One of them was my brother, guard captain Shining Armor. Strange enough, we searched the complex for quite a while before we ever saw something wrong. The first of them that we saw, was a yellow Earthpony stallion, wearing a labcoat. He looked fine on first glance, until I took a closer look. His flank was ripped wide open, his guts painting a red trail behind him. Still we tried to help him, even so we didn't know how he could still be alive. That was, when my brother became infected. The stallion had tried to charge and bite me, but Shining Armor caught his attack, being bitten instead of me. Had he not sacrificed himself, I would not be able to record the last days of ponykind....
The infection overtook my brother in less then a minute. His eyes rolled up to the whites, and he collapsed. I myself confirmed that he had stopped breathing, while the other guards tried to restrain the stallion. Both of them were infected, when Shining Armor started moving again. I tried my best to restrain them with my magic, but whatever spell I threw at them, it just bounced off of them. I could sense a verry powerfull magical aura around them, but I had never imagined it would be able to repell my Alicorn magic. To my eternal shame, I fled screaming for the other guards. They DID come to the sound of my voice, but none of them were alive anymore. By the rolled up eyes and stumbling movements, I could tell that whatever had caused this, had overtaken my escort. Unable to do anything with my magic, I ran as fast as I could, and sealed the double doors behind me. Not yet used to my wings, and no Pegasus guard to pull the carriage I had arrived in, I was forced to gallop back into the city.
Many Ponies bowed to me, when I finally reached Canterlot at sunset, but I didn't care. All I was thinking about, was finding the other princesses. They were already worrying about me, by the time I arrived in the throne room. We all agreed that this was a new crisis for Equestria, and therefor a job for the elements of harmony. My friends and me, who we were the beares of the elements, wasted no time, and set out to the facility once again, even so I would have liked to rest after my full gallop on my way back.
Princess Luna, whos domain also was the magic of necromancy, accompanied us on this mission. The double doors I had sealed that morning, had been broken open, which was a disaster. I had seen what these cursed ponies could do, and that their curse was infectios, to make matters worse. We encountered two of them, that came stumbling out of the forest, and Princess Luna confirmed that they were indeed dead. Some spell research, must have gone wrong, creating this awefull curse. Luna tried to lift it, since it was part of her domain, but had no success. These creatures, where no ponies anymore. Nor where they targetable by any kind of spell. All magic directed at them, just evaporated without any effect on them.
In the end, even the elements of harmony we used on the small group, had no significant effect. The bodies dropped, when hit by the elements, but it was more then ineffective. We could only hit one at a time after all, so soon we were forced to retreat, as many more of them came out of the forest towards us.
For days, we tried to fortify the towns of Equestria, but it was just not enough. Every guard, every militia member that got bitten, joined their ranks soon after. The first city to fall, was Dodge City. They were simply overrun by the several hundred undead. Baltimare, Manehatten and, to my great dismay, Ponyville were next on their list. By that time, we had abandoned the idea of fortifying all remaining towns. Instead as many survivors as possible were brought to Canterlot. We, meaning the four present princesses, took turns keeping a barrier around the capital up, trying to keep the masses at our borders out of the city. It worked.... for a while atleast.
The numbers that came to us, increased by the hour. Soon, two of us where needed to pour enough magical energy into the barrier, to keep it up. This was hard on us, since none of us got much sleep, nor much time to actually recover. I want to stress the point, that Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence and myself did everything we could, to protect our subjects! Several Unicorns volunteered to help us with the barrier, but with the shifts we had to take on substaining it, none of us had the time to spare to teach them the spell. Three hours were the most, any of us was able to be on duty, and in the other three, until we had to go out again, we had to eat, sleep and relief ourself.
At the time, I think atleast Celestia already knew we couldn't go on like that forever. The night the barrier finally broke, I had been on duty with Princess Cadence. Our shift was coming to an end, and I already felt like falling asleep while standing. We had done this for a little over a year, so it was no wonder even we were exhausted and overworked. Canterlot had been fortyfied in that time, and many ponies were trained in battle. What finally broke our neck however, was that the undead could use their natural abilities. The undead Unicorns could fire rudimental arcane bolts at the barrier, while the Pegasi bumped into it from all directions.
The only viable means of deposing of one of these creatures, is to cave their head in. For a Unicorn, or an Alicorn for that matter, to do that without magic is very hard. All we could do, was throw things at them using telekenisis. Due to the extreme amount of focus, and magic needed for that, to bring a stone or another hard and heavy object down with enough force, left the spellcaster volnurable.
However... Cadence and I stood on Canterlots observation tower. We still had to go fourty more minutes, but we couldn't do it. I called for one of the guards, so he could get Celestia and Luna, but it was too late. Cadence was first to collapse, leaving me with the task of keeping the barrier up on my own. I couldn't do it. There were millions beating on it, and I was exhausted, only a shadow of what I had been in my best days, and I was already verry close to an arcane burnout. The barrier fell, on my watch. I know it was not my fault, and that we couldn't have prevented it either way, but I still feel guilty about it. The guards at the broders, were unprepared. They had relied on us to keep the barrier up forever, even so I think they knew even we wouldn't been able too.
A slaughter started in the streets of Canterlot. The gates to the city, made of wood, fell fast. The guards on the walls tried their best to repell them, but we were just outnumbered. There were almost a thousand of them for every one of us. When Celestia and Luna realized what had happend, they immideatly ordered guards to evacuate the city. To bring as many of the survivors away and try to establish safe zones if they could. Ten guards were assigned to Cadence and me. Five of them took me to the west, the other five, carried Cadence to the east. I think Celestia hoped that, if even one Alicorn survived all of this, there would still be a chance to rebuild our kingdom.
The last thing I saw, before I was carried of, were the sisters spreading their wings and charging into the battle, to buy us time. Many buildings were already on fire by the time they did....
We flew for quite a while, and I hoped that my friends and family would be alright. I told myself, that they surely would have been one of the first ponies to be evacuated. The elements of harmony, even if uneffective against groups of them, were still the most powerfull magic known to ponykind. It was then that two of my guards were plucked out of the air, by several undead Pegasi. I saw them struggle against their attackers, while spiraling towards the ground. The other three didn't even look back, but increased their speed.
It made me think of my friend, Rainbow Dash... She was supposedly the fastest flyer in all of Equestria. Had she made it out alive? I guess I will never know the fate of my friends. I just hope that, if they died in Canterlots defense, they are not walking now.
The guards brought me to a small fortress on an island, west of the shore of Baltimare. There was nopony else there. Just the three guards, and myself. The storage rooms of the fortress, were well stocked with unperishable goods, and there was a well in the middle of the courtyard. I tried to put up a barrier, to protect the place, but one of the guards stopped me. He told me, that they were drawn to magic, aswell as sound, and that I needed to rest if I wanted to be of any use to my subjects. I asked him if he had lost somepony, but he just shook his head. He told me that everypony had lost somepony in this crisis, but that he was confident that I would be able to make a difference, once I was at full strength again.
Upon me inquiring, on what had become of Celestia and Luna, I never got an answer out of any of the guards. Up to this day, exactly one year after the fall of Canterlot, I believe that they died defending our subjects. Had they not, I guess one of them would have showed up at the fortress...
The fortress... I abandoned that aswell, about three weeks ago. I do not know how they tracked us, but it began with a undead Pegasus I spotted circling above us. Soon after, they came out of the waves. They had traveled underwater to the island. Their flesh was all swollen up, and on some there was barely any flesh left at all... They reminded me of some horror novel I had read when I was younger, and they were numerous. There was no way we could have fought them. Again, my guards, Thunderlane, Spitfire (the former captain of the Wonderbolts) and Switwind, showed just how determined they were to keep me safe. They did everything to draw the undeads attention, while I escaped. For that I am eternaly gratefull.
I used the time they bought for me, to teleport back to the mainland. The undead density there was thin, so I was able to slip away unnoticed. Ever since then, I have been on the run. I do not doubt, that the last of my guards are now a part of them. I have hidden myself in abanoned buildings, and even in drainage pipes. My coat is dirty, and the dress I wore during my short time as a princess, I have long left behind. I decided to keep this journal, since I think that hope shall never die. Maybe there really is somepony out there, that will find this journal. Maybe ponykind will overcome this ordeal, and then this journal may be the only testament of an eye witness.... As I write this, I sit in the basement of my old home. I do not know how I ended up here, but I guess my instincts have drawn me here. Instinct... it seems the only thing driving these creatures... It is more likely that memories of better times drew me here. I have barricaded myself down here, caving in the entrance with a simple spell, but that was already enough to draw them to my position. I can hear them pounding on the rubble, where the door has once been.... For the time being, I am safe but tomorrow, I will have to move on. I think I might make my way to Canterlot. I want to see with my own two eyes, that there is nothing left of the once so mighty capital of ponykind. Even though it might mean, I will find my mentor and my friends dead.... or even worse, dead and walking... But I just have to go... In Celestias private study... maybe I can find a clue on where Cadence was brought. Maybe her position is still safe? If that is so, I must find her. I must help her defend what is left of our race. I will continue to write down, what will happen from now on, so I atleast leave something behind if I fail. Maybe somepony that finds this, will be able to learn from the mistakes that I made, and avoid a simliar fate, if I get overwhelmed....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 1
Day 1
Noon
Today, was a stressfull one. This morning I packed up all my belongings into my saddlebags, and took some old blankets I had stored in the basement and ripped them apart. The stripes I bound around my legs and neck. If I have to get into a hoof to hoof confrontation, it would atleast make it harder for them to bite me.
I soon however remembered why I had tried to avoid towns on my way here. It was when I teleported out of the basement, my mind set to my way to Canterlot, that it happend. Teleporting to a roof of one of the few undamaged buildings around the library, I looked down onto the townsquare. There were not that many of them milling about, but still too many to take out without risking detection. Just as I spread my wings, to fly off, a sharp pain surged through my left wing, and I had already feared that a Pegasus had bitten me, when I realized the magical aura in the townsquare. It was an undead Unicorn, that had shot a telekenetic blow at me. No doubt it's intention had been to hit my flank, to knock me off the roof, but it had only hit, and broken, my wing instead. The horrible face I saw confirmed it's irritation.
What made me almost drop off the roof regardless, was that I knew that Unicorn. Her name had been Lyra Heartstrings. Her features, while being dirty and covered in blood, did not at all resemble those of the other undead I had seen. The others were all in advanced stages in decomposition, while Lyra, for some reason, looked like she had just died the previous day. It had been since the fall of Canterlot, since I saw an undead Unicorn, but this was just too much. Could it be that these creatures decomposition was halted by magic? Were Unicorns that got infected even decomposing at all?
All my hopes I might have had, that I could just sit them out, vanished at that thought. Unable to fly away, I teleported myself to ground level and began running. My wing hurt pretty bad, and all the rubble from destroyed buildings, did not make my attempted escape any either. I write "attempted" since I did not get verry far. I wasn't even able to leave Ponyville today. A group of them cut off my way, halfway down the mainstreet. I fear they may be called to my natural magical abilities. That might even explain how they found me on that island...
Just for theory:
If they really DO feed of magic, then I will have to get something to either get rid of my horn, which would render me unable to teleport my way out of danger, or find some kind of dampener.
Note to myself:
Check the stocks in Ponyville general hospital, if I get the chance. They might have magical dampeners in strorage.
However, my escape was cut off. I never got past the town limits and am currently locked inside a bankvault. There were two of these things when I ran in here, but I crushed their heads with a bag full of bits. Speak about blood money there....
After I had dealt with the two, I sealed the vault doors behind me for relative safety. My food situation is getting desperate. In the library there was nothing that didn't go bad a long time ago, unless for the gems I got for Spike...
Spike... my number one assistant. I hope he's alright. Spike, if you are the one to find this, please know that I always did, and always will love you as if you were my little brother. I will now eat a few wild berries which I picked on my way to Ponyville, and drink some of my waterrations. Maybe I will be able to attempt another escape when I have calmed down a bit. My broken wing will also require treatment, or I will never be able to fly again. I'm not to fond of flying, but Spitfire made it perfectly clear that flying was my best chance of survival. Pegasi that were attacked and infected, usually plummeted down to the ground before they could turn. The lucky ones, caving their heads in, in the impact. Either way, she had pressed the point, that there were way less Pegasi undead then any of the other races.
Could Cloudsdale still be alright? By the time Canterlot fell, I know it was. Many Pegasi had refused to give up their homes, and defended Cloudsdale instead. Maybe I should make my way there? No use thinking about it now. I will try to treat my wing with what I can find, after I have eaten something. Maybe I will make another entry after that.
Day 1
afternoon
Phew... I have actually managed to escape the bank. The vault was sealed against teleporting magic, so I had to open the door, to teleport away. Formerly I had melted some bits and formed a sheth for my broken wing. When I opend the door, I almost got my face torn of by Lyra, who had been waiting patiently on the other side. I don't know if that thing saw me, come in here, or if it sensed me somehow, but I disposed of it the same way I did with the two who had been in the vault. It tried to fire more arcane bolts at me, but a shield spell protected me this time. However, that also attracked more of "them".
After disposing of the creature, and hoping Lyra, who was a good pony, now finally had found peace, I teleported outside, into the direction of Ponyville genral hospital. There, I hoped, I would find some refuge and some medical supplies I would need. Also I would be able to finally treat my wing properly.
I am there now, and it is an utter disappointment. Most of the medical supplies were raided long ago, or are past their duedate. All I could do was make a proper cast for my wing, and take some overdue painkillers. The only good thing so far, seems to be that the last occupants of the hospital sealed the doors from the outside. At first, when I arrived, I thought they wanted to prevent creatures from getting out, but it had been the other way around. They had sealed them from the outside, so no creature would be able to get inside.
That I found out while looking through each and every room. There is not a single one of them here. I found corpses and skelettons, yes, but none of them moved or eminated any kind of magical aura. Also I found some cans of food in the remainders of the cafateria. They half still two months till their duedate, so I took them with me. It's mostly soup or conserved fruit, but it's better then what I have eaten in a while. Ofcourse the waterpressure in the bathrooms is all down, so I will have to resort to what I can scavenge from the vending machines in the hallways. I already got several cans of soda with some bits I found in one of the offices. Ofcourse I could just have broken them open with my magic, but that use of magic, would have drawn them to my position for sure.
The soda tasted stale and the can of peaches I opend was way to sweet in comparison. Did I really have that much sugar in my diet before the world ended? I clearly remembered these conserved peaches, and that the brand is my favorite, but I did not remember just how uncomfortably sweet they are... None the less, I ate the whole can, and drank the juice. I will need all the energy I can get for tomorrow. Even so this building seems relativly safe, I can not stay here. My search for a dampener was unsucessfull, so my magical aura alone might draw them here, before long.
I never hoped one of my theories was wrong before, but now I do. Through a window I can see the setting sun. The view gives me hope. It must mean that, out there, somewhere another Alicorn is still alive. Maybe even Celestia and Luna....?
For the night, I guess I will sleep in one of the medical storage rooms. They have big steel doors, and I just feel more comfortable, knowing that they will take a while to break it. I checked earlier, and they are not sealed against teleportation, which is important. Were I to be swarmed by a large group of them, I would not be able to escape until they either broke down the door, or I opend it. And if they never were able to break it down, I would simply die in there... Not a prospect to look forward to, so I am reliefed to know I can teleport in and out of the room.
I will go to bed now. It has been a long day, and having my belly full of relativly good food makes me a little sleepy. I havn't been this full in weeks. I wish you a good night, whoever might find this one day.
Day 2
Day 2
morning
After breakfast I started searching the hospital again, hoping I might have missed something. After that, more intese search, I can safely say that Ponyville general hospital, is NOT
Leaving Ponyville behind me, I looked back one last time from a small hill close to the towns borders. My home... The place I came to know my verry first friends, lay now in ruins. Only verry few of the buildings had escaped destruction. Even so I know I might not have been able to make a difference in my homes defense, I still wish I would have been there. I can't help myself but wonder. Did they all fight, or did some of them try to flee? Did some maybe barricade themself in their houses? Is that the reason why so many buildings are destroyed? I will never know. All I can say, is that whoever finds this, should better avoid the town, even so I saw many of them come into the direction I was in. If they are, then my theory has been proven. They are not only able to detect the active use of magic, but also the magical aura that surrounds a spellcaster.
To confuse them, if that is the case, I poured some of my mana into animals I saw on the way. They didn't like the procedure verry much, and thanks to that the protection around my neck is now damaged a little. An eagle was not to fond of it and decided to peck at me. Gladly the damage should not be to serious. I unwrapped it, and inspected the few small holes it had left behind, and none of them is bigger then a bit.
Currently I am hiding in a cave, that is located in the Trotback mountains, that seperate Ponyville from the Mane forest just outside of Canterlot. There are several corpses outside the caves entrance, and inside I found a dead dragon. His scales obviously had not been enough to protect him for verry long, but by the looks of it he took many of them with him. There are about a hundred corpses along the walls of the cave. Combined with the about two hundred I saw outside, it must have been a pretty intese fight.
Looking outside, I can see that it is almost noon. My stomach is also backing that up. Maybe I should try to attach some of the dragons scales to myself? He may be dead, but they look sturdy enough. Different from the chitine skin of insects, they don't seem to become fragile once the body dies. I will now eat one more of the cans I scavanged from the hospital. Can't decide which one yet. I got three cans of peaches left, one glass of carrots and two cans of mashed apples. My water supply should be ok for the time being, since there is a small stream running down the mountainside, just outside the cave.
Day 2
evening
The sun is already setting. I had to destroy the caves entrance, since, while I was washing myself for the first time in a while in the stream, I saw several undead Pegasi closing in on my position. With my wing broken, there was no way I could have outflown them, and I am still not too fond of the idea of using long range teleportation. It would emmit a massive surge of magical energy at my starting and landing point. What is worse, I can't scan the area I will land in with my magical senses, since they don't reach so far as my maximum teleportation range goes. For the time being, I will stay inside this cave. My food supply is not yet critical, and I have blasted a small hole into the caves wall, just where the stream is. Closing it up with a piece of cloth, I now have running water, whenever I need it. Well... aslong as I stay here atleast. That can't be verry long though, since in addition to the cans I have scavenged, I only have 5 packs of dried food concentrate left. It tastes more then bad, but it keeps me alive.
Looking at the dragon, I can't help but think of Spike again. Atleast I now know that a dragon won't be turned if killed by the creatures. Hope the little guy is alive, cause for as far as I can see, the dragon is completly unharmed. After taking care of water, I have checked him all over, and there is not a single wound on his body. His scales seem to be more effective a defense then I had first thought. It was only after I opend his jaws with my magic, that I saw the possible cause for this dragons demise. Stuck between his backteeth, there is the leg of a pony. I can only imagine that he tried to eat one of them and that last bite, proved to be fatal.
As much as I hate what I have to do, but I have made up my mind. I will use the dragons body to make some kind of barding for myself. I don't have any sewing needles or threat, so I will have to use a spell I havn't used since magic kindergarden. Back then it had been a verry funny joke, casting it to the place where another foal was about to sit. The victim would then be glued to their seat, until an adult came and cast the counterspell. I don't know how much pressure or pulling that charm can endure, but it's the only thing I have to create some better protection then the straps of cloth wrapped around me.
Day 2
late night
Done. If I can trust my body, then it is already early morning, and I guess I will have to, since I can't see the sun or moon to confirm or disprove it. For hours now I have ripped scales out of the dead dragons body. Using my magic I shrank and formed them to fit what I had in mind. For each leg, I made myself strap ons out of four scales each. I bent them so they would wrap around my legs, and then fixated them with the sticking spell. It is amazing how flexible these scales actually are. I barely had to use any force, while shaping them.
Note to anypony finding this:
Dragonscales are verry durable and can even protect from magic to a certain degree. I will mark the cave on a map I carry in my backpack, so you know where to find it.
After a few hours of ripping out scales, shrinking them and then sticking them to my coat, I am pretty pleased with myself. All but my face, wings and rear end are covered, for obvious reasons I did not even try to put scales there. The "armor" I am wearing now, is not verry comfortable, and I feel itchy in some places, but it is better then being infected. Though, I do not know what would happen to me if I were to be infected. Afterall, I am neither Earthpony, Pegasus nor Unicorn. From what I have read, when such things as studying still had a greater value in my life, Alicorns posses a much greater resistance to illnesses and magical curses. Would it be possible, that I am even immune to it? Still, I am not really willing to put that theory to the test. If I am wrong, then I would simply die and join their ranks. If my friends are still alive somewhere, I don't want to put the burden on them of putting me out of my misery.
If it comes to that, I will most likely blow my own head apart with telekenisis before I fall. Better dying as myself, as possibly being a threat to my friends and family. I will.....
Day 3
early morning
During my last entry, I heard something deeper inside the cave. Also I suddenly felt another magical aura, aside from myself. Cautiosly I searched the cave, my horn aglow to light me the way. There, pretty deep inside the cave, I found something... or better someone! Sleeping next to a fire, beneath a hole in the caves ceiling, I found a Unicorn filly. Her flank is blank and her mane and tail are purpel and pink. Beneath all the grime and dirt, I could clearly make out a pure white coat. Her steady breathing, clearly a sign that she was, without a doubt, ALIVE, let me freeze in shock for a second. The hole in the ceiling explained why I had not smelled any smoke from the fire. My approach, and the soft clip clop of my hooves on the stone floor, must have been loud enough to wake her up, for she cracked one eye open, jolting awake immideatly. I felt an impact on my chest, that almost knocked the wind out of my lungs. Had I not already been wearing the dragonscales, I could have been seriously injured.
The green eyes that looked back at me, frightend and enraged at the same time, confirmed my suspicions. I knew that filly, back when I was still living in Ponyville. She has grown considerably since then, but there was no way I would not recognize Sweetie Belle, when I saw her. She continued to fire arcane bolts at me, all the time screaming like a madpony. I had to defend myself eventually, and that was when her attacks finally stopped. Me using a shieldspell seemed to be enough to convince her, that I was not one of "them".
After narrowing her eyes, Sweetie Belle rushed at me, and almost knocked me of my hooves when she embraced me. She had not recognized me at first, but when she had looked closer, she had. I guess my armor of scales does obstruct my appearance a little. I will have to find a pond or a shard of glass some time, to see if I am even recognizable now.
Sweetie Belle told me in tears, the story of Ponyvilles fall. All the Ponies had fought vigilantly, but one after another had fallen. Rarity had been in Canterlot by that time, so it was only natural that she asked me for her sisters whereabouts. My guts clenched up, and I felt guilty again, when I could only reply her pleading look with a shake of my head. As glad as I am, to have found another survivor, I can't forget the magic Sweetie used against me. It was... different. A spell I know, but can't yet put my hoof on. It could be important, since she told me of several encounters since she found refuge in this cave. So some of the dead outside, are going to her account, and not to the dragon that had granted her refuge in the back of his cave three years ago. That would also explain, why his body is not in a state of decomposition yet. According to Sweetie, he died only about a week ago. Until then he had, remembering Fluttershys kindness towards him when he was hurt once, brought her food when he had gone out to get some for himself.
I would have been seriously suprised had Sweetie tried to tell me, that she survived since Ponyvilles fall all by herself. Right now, she is sleeping, cuddling her muzzle into my flank. It can't be verry comfortable for her, giving the fact that I am almost covered in scales now from head to tail, but I will let her have as much of this as she wants. Afterall, I am the first "living" Pony she has seen in three years. When I had tried to ask her about Scootaloo and Applebloom, Sweetie Belle had begun to cry again, so I changed the topic.
Rarity, I hope you are still alive somewhere out there. If you are, I want you to know, that I will do what is within my power, to make it happen, that you and your sister can meet again.
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 3
Day 3
afternoon
Sweetie Belle and I have slept in pretty late today. It has been a long night afterall. The place she cuddled up to me is completly dirty. I think that she did not really care about washing during her time in the cave, so I decided to give her a good scrubbing. Ofcourse she was less then amused by this, all the time telling me that she was no foal anymore, but I didn't change my mind. It wasn't only the dirt that was the problem, but also the smell Sweetie emitted.
After washing her, with the water from the whole in the caves wall, Sweetie was recognizable once again. I also cleaned myself as best I could. Thank Celestia for small favors. Being able to wash oneself regulary, even if the water was cold as ice, I felt much better already.
After a short while I discovered something interesting. My mind played a trick on me. I was already thinking of this place as "home". My subconcious was telling me that this place was safe. I discovered this, when Sweetie asked me what I was doing. I hadn't even realized that I had started to clean the cave up with my magic. I mean there is no harm in that, since we will most likely stay here for a little longer. Still, it made me realize that I have to set my mind to things that lay ahead of us.
Sweetie practicly devoured one of my dried food conentrates. I did offer her some of the other things I had, but she had insisted on trying them. I better not tell her, that the fat in those is animal fat... Even I had to get adjusted to it, since the thought alone of devouring something that once was a part of another beings body, makes me wanna puke. Those things really just are consist of fat, salt and vitamins. It's called "dried", but it's more of a paste actually. I don't like them, but I think Sweetie has found her new favorite food, since she actually asked for more. I would have loved to give her a second pack, but we have to ration our supplies.
Most of the time, since we have eaten, Sweetie has been sleeping at my side. I think she may not have gotten much sleep since the dragons death. Every now and then, her head jolts upwards, when my quill makes a loud scratching noise. Her unwillingness of leaviong my side, is cute, but also a problem. Earlier, when I had to relief myself, and Sweetie pointed me to a part of the cave she had used for a latrine, I practicly had to shove her out to wait outside. The room was far from sanitary as it was, without both of us stumbling about in there.
It's basicly nothing more then a small hole in the ground, through which a bit of water streams, so everything that goes in there is washed out again, and right down a cliff. It looks like it goes down atleast two hundred hooves there, and the smell coming up from there, is sickening. Sweetie has used it for three years afterall.
Day 3
evening
I talked to Sweetie earlier. When I told her about my plans of going to Canterlot, she gasped. She told me that Ragnok, the dragon, had told her that the place was crawling with the undead. Still, even so I am gratefull to the dragon that he kept Sweetie safe all this time, there is no way I can trust what he had told her. It could also be, that the dragon just hadn't wanted to be alone and therefor had lied to Sweetie. I tried to explain that to her, but she got all mad, and told me that he had been her friend, and that I shouldn't talk about him that way.
I feel bad. I don't know what to do. I tried to convice her to accompany me when I went there, but she doesn't want to. She is too scared I suppose. Only twelve years old, and she is already as stubborn as her big sister. I think, maybe I should leave Sweetie here, while I do my investigations in Canterlot and the surrounding areas. Re-reading what I wrote up to now, I remembered that the facility this curse originated from, is not too far from my current position. I could be there in less then an hour on hoof, and it is in range of my magical senses, so a teleportation is also an option.
Even so a teleport spell would draw more of them there. I can sense about ten of them in the vicinity of the facility. But, since my senses reach only that far, I can't know if there are a thousand, or a million in the forest surrounding it. Getting there might be verry dangerous, but I there also is the possibilty that there is some documentation about whatever they were trying to do. I could do that trip while Sweetie is sleeping, but after last night, when she awoke every now and then, I can't help myself to think that she would notice my absence pretty quick. Also I don't really want to leave her here all by herself. Even if I leave all of my supplies behind, if something were to happen to me, she wouldn't be able to get out of here. She doen't know how to teleport, of that I'm sure....
No use thinking about it... I can't leave her alone, not just like that. Maybe tomorrow I will try and talk to her about it again. We can only stay here for another two days anyway. After that we will be out of food, and would have to go scavange something somewhere, or try to find food in the forest.
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 4
Day 4
early morning
Sweetie Belle is still asleep. I hate to admit it, but that is thanks to a slumber spell I used on Spike, when he couldn't sleep. I tried to adress the subject of me possibly going to investigate the facility. It didn't go too well. She started screaming and accusing me, of wanting to leave her alone... I didn't know what to say to that, since she said that I would be doing it "again". I can't say anything to that. She is basicly right. When the evacuation effort began, we didn't even try to find survivors in the vicinity of the already overrun towns. Thinking back, I can't justify that to myself. I think we just never expected that there were any, but now I wonder. Canterlot isn't that far from Ponyville, and I am pretty sure Celestias magical senses reached much farther then my own...
I will now leave everything in my saddlebags, in the cave and only take my journal and a can of water with me. Also I will leave behind instructions on how to perform a short range teleportation spell. If I don't make it back here, then Sweetie can atleast leave this cave. I resent myself for this, but I must take every opportunity to learn more about the cause of all this. I'm not too sure, Rarity would understand, but since I leave the cave entrance sealed and all my provisions here, Sweetie should be safe. I just hope I make it back before the slumber spell wears off. I made it a little stronger then I did with Spike, so Sweetie should be out until the early evening hours.
Day 4
morning
I have arrived at the lab, or atleast in it's vicinity. I chose not to approach it, since what I see is worrying me a great deal.
The facility seems to be mostly intact from the outside, and has barely changed from the day I was here to investigate the explosion. However, I did find something amiss. There are bodies of animals scattered all around it, and even so it has been three years, there is not a single sign of nature reclaiming this part of the forest! I just wanted to record this, in case something really in amiss in there and something happens to me. In that case I can only advice you, not to approach the facility.
Note to possible finder of this journal:
Please note that I am serious about what I write about places being too dangerous for anypony. I do not mean to boast or something, but as Alicorn I am extremly powerfull compared to other ponies. If something can overwhelm me, you'd better not approach it. Besides: Magic is no use.
Day 4
afternoon
I.... have made it out of the lab. It was... a... bad idea. Lingering magic.... some documents... barding saved my life. It is hard.... to breathe. I got a...mbushed by several of... them, when I searched the archive. As I feared, the... magical traces...
forest does not....
Day 4
late night
written by Sweetie Belle
I awoke early this afternoon, and noticed that you had gone, without taking me with you. At first I was angry, but I soon found your letter, in which you wrote that you just had to go, and see if you could find something. You also wrote that, if you are not back by nightfall, I should assume that you did not make it, and not try to come looking for you. Silly mare. Twilight, ofcourse I went looking for you. Not only are you the smartest Pony I know, but you are also a good friend, and I am sorry for what I said the previous night. Good for me, "everything in your saddlebags" also included your map, on which you so generously had marked this cave, so I knew where I was, when I teleported outside. How did you think I got up this mountain three years ago? Teleportation might be hard, but I can do it.
After looking for a while I found you, collapsed at the base of the mountain between two large rocks. I can only guess that you tried to find shelter there, before you passed out. This journal lay right next to you, and your quill lay dangerously close to your right eye. It was no small feat carrying you back up here, but I did it! But don't get me wrong, I am still mad at you! After reading what you have written in here, I know exactly that you hexed me, and I don't really appreciate that. For the time being, I guess I will try to take care of you. Only reason I write this down, is so you will have something to read when you wake up again. I worry a bit about your fever. I don't know what happend, but something magical, and quite powerfull must have struck you, since I don't see any external injuries. I don't know the counterspell for that sticking spell you used, for your barding either, so I can't even take it off of you.
I hope you get better soon, since I don't really feel like going outside alone again, to get us some food. I mean the moss in this cave is edible, but that is about it. I wish Applejack was here, she would know what to do... Or Fluttershy, she always had the most experience with wounds and illnesses. But if your sickness really is a magical one, I don't think even Fluttershy would be able to help you.
All I can to right now, is make you drink water in those precious few moments you are awake. But even then you seem to be barely there. Your body is, but your eyes stare far into the distance, and you talk alot of nonesense. I try to bring your temperature down, by using your empty saddlebags, and soaking them in water, before placing them on your forehead in turn. Something like that atleast is what I remember Rarity did, when I had a fever once and.....
Day 4/5
Midnight
I have put out all the lights. I have heard them again. Not the undead, but other ponies. I know I should be happy to hear other ponies, but these ponies are not nice... I saw them drag several other ponies somewhere a few times. They clearly didn't go with them out of their own free will. Almost all of them are Pegasi, and I truly don't want them to find us. I don't want to be dragged off somewhere. But... maybe they can help you get better? Maybe they know what is wrong with you Twilight. If you are not any better the day after tomorrow, when there is barely any food left, I guess I will show myself to them. I just hope that I am wrong and that they are nice to me, if I have to show myself.... My Telekenisis is not that strong, since I find it hard to focus at times. I don't know if I could defend myself, were I to be faced with several of them. And besides, I don't really want to hurt a living pony. If I wanted to... I could always use that spell I used when Twilight found me... But that would surely kill them... I just don't know what to do anymore.....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 5
Day 5
noon
written by Sweetie Belle
Your condition does seem to get worse, Twilight. I just don't know what to do. Your fever is going down, but I can feel something wrong with your magic. When I found you, I couldn't feel you at all. Right now you seem to practicly burn with magic. It is as if you draw on more and more magic, even so I can't see you doing so. Whatever has happend to you, you must have used up all your magic. I am worried that, whatever happend to you, might happen to me aswell. I am afraid that, if you were just barely able to escape as your condition indicates, then I would be crushed in an instant. Twilight, please wake up soon, or I will have no chance of survival if whatever caused this, comes here. Also I fear that your magic will draw the cursed ones here. I checked earlier, and there are several on their way here, from the direction of Ponyville. I could clearly see them from my vantage point, near the caved in entrance to the cave.
I couldn't get any food in you this morning, and all you consume is water. I have brought you close to the hole in the wall, where you drew water the other day. Atleast you seem to be able to drink by yourself. Leaving the hole open a bit, a small trickle of water runs close to your muzzle, on which you suck occausionaly. Also I have covered you with with some moss and a little treasure from Ragnoks hord. The reason I did that is, because somepony saw me today... When I used the latrine, I came close to the hole in the ceiling, that I used as chimney for my fires. In passing I saw somepony stick their head in, and look at me. The look in his eyes, promised me nothing good. I can't put my hoof on it yet, but the look he gave me, made me feel uncomfortable. He didn't speak a single world, and didn't try to squeeze himself through the hole, but I think it is better if he does not see you. I can only imagine, that he is part of those Pegasi I hear from time to time. I'm positive he didn't see you, since I was between you and him, but better safe then sorry.
Had I not heeded this motto from the start, I wouldn't be alive today. Since I saw him this morning, I hear the flapping of wings outside almost constantly. I can't help myself, but I think they are looking for a way in. From now on I better don't go outside, until you are awake, or I have to show myself to them. Even if they don't really mean me any good, maybe they would still have some respect for you, as a princess of Equestria? I hope they do...
Day 5
afternoon
written by Sweetie Belle
I can hear the sounds of fighting outside. The Pegasi are obviously fending off the undead that are drawn to your magic. They must really want to get their hooves on me, if they are willing to get into a fight with a horde of them. But why would they do that? I just can't make sense of that. Is it because I am a Unicorn, or maybe because I'm.... No I better not persue that thought. If they want me so badly because I am a mare, then this could end pretty bad for me. Sure I can defend myself in a pinch but if they have a dampener on hoof.... I just hope it doesn't come to that, and that you wake up soon Twilight. From what I was able to listen into, they actually are Pegasi from Cloudsdale. I didn't know that Cloudsdale was still safe, if I had, I might have asked Ragnok to bring me there.... But on the other hoof, I can't walk on clouds like Ranibow Dash or Fluttershy, so I guess it wouldn't be any good.
I wonder what happend to all of them.... You just shook your head when I asked you, and didn't say anything. At first I thought you meant they were all dead, but I am not to sure anymore. Could it mean you don't know yourself? How could you not know the fate of your bestest buddies, your chums of chums?
Day 5 evening
wrtten by Sweetie Belle
I head some sounds from the back of the cave. It sounds like stones falling to the ground. I will go investigate now.
Day 5
night
My head hurts, and I feel weak. I can vaguely remember impressions from earlier, but it is all hazy. I woke up, since I almost drowned. Reading that you wrote in this journal Sweetie, I now know that I have to thank you for that. But I can't deny that it was a good idea. I don't know how much time has passed since your last entry, so I will continue to wait here for your return, until I have finished my own entry. From what you have written down, I guess I owe you quite an appology and a few explanations... You don't know what happend in Canterlot a year ago, but you have a right to know. I remember that Rarity came to me more then once. She wanted permission to leave the barrier and look for you, and I would more then have liked to oblidge to that. But I wouldn't have let her go alone. I would have gone with her, but at the time we all thought that there were no survivors from Ponyville, so I denied each and every one of her requests. In retrospect... I was heartless.... You have read about the events, but you can't possibly imagine the horror and stress I was going through at the time. It felt pretty much the same as I feel now. What happend at the facility, I will record later, since I feel weaker by the second writing this down. You are still not back, so I wil go and investigate, which could take a while, since even crawling to my journal was tirering for me.
Day 5
late night
Sweetie Belle is gone! The hole in the ceiling under which I found her, is now much larger, and I felt lingering traces of magic use in the air. There is also blood splattered on one wall and I found a dead Pegasus further back in the cave. His body is full of holes, and his head is practicly split in half. Whatever he wanted here, it is obvious to me that Sweetie defended herself, using the same spell she used against me. Now I see what it could have done, had I not worn my Dragonscales. If she defended herself in a way even half as determined against them, as she did against me, then I can't imagine why there is only one corpse! Non magical Ponies should be unable to withstand such raw and rage induced power. The amount of blood however indicates that the fight was not over quickly. From the traces of magic and the evidence I found, the fight started with Sweetie Belle arriving just after they had broken through. She then seems to have tried to pull them away from the main chamber, or in other words, away from me. I can only imagine why they took her. If she had gone with them voluntarily, to get somepony to help me, then not only would they be back by now, but there wouldn't have been a fight. Cloudsdale... It looks like my trip to Canterlot will have to wait. I will rest tonight and eat something, to restore my magical power. I will write all down later, but that is all due to what happend at the lab. It drained my magic, which made me ill... But enough of that. My wing has not healed yet, but I will use a spell to make it completly stiff. That way I will be able to fly, if not verry gracefully or fast, and it will most likely hurt badly, but I just have to do this. Hold out Sweetie, I'm coming for you. There is no way that, now that I found you, I will let you be taken away from me that easily.
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 6
Day 6
early morning
I didn't sleep too well, but I feel much better now that I have. Also I ate the last of my provisions and that really hit the spot. I still feel a little weak, and my wing aches now that I have used the stiffening spell on it, but I think I can manage. Aslong as I don't get into a magical confrontation, or have to fight of too many opponents, I should be fine. While sleeping I dreamt of the Changelings attack on Canterlot during my brothers wedding. Now I finally remember the spell Sweetie used on me. It's so simple, that it is almost laughable that I haven't seen it before. I can't target the undead with any of my spells, but THIS one does not target anything. It just fires a bolt of unfocused magical energy, that can cause great damage. Aiming it however, is the downside. Since it is not really a spell, if you really think about it. I just have to charge up my horn with energy, and relaese it. It's dangerous and uncontrolable, but it is atleast finally a way I can fight these things from a distance!
I will now make my way to Cloudsdale. If I teleport parts of the way and fly the rest, I should make it pretty quick.
Day 6
morning
I am currently resting on a cloud. Sure my magic is almost completly restored, but my body is still struggeling with it. Still, I managed to close quite the distance. About two quarters of the way are now behind me, and I even got to test the spell I remembered on three undead Pegasi that tried to attack me. It works pretty well, but as I thought, aiming it is more then hard. I had to hit them several times, until I hit their heads. One of them might even still be alive, since I only broke off one of it's wings, so it only fell. I really need to find something to eat on my way, since my stomach is grumbling. I know that there is a small town on the way, which has a Guardstation simliar to the barracks in the fortress I was hiding in. If I am ... lucky, then I can find some more unperishable rations there. Muzzleton is really small... So small indeed that it is barely a dot on my map. So there might not be too many of them there.
Day 6
afternoon
Wow! I wouldn't have believed it, but Muzzleton actually is completly empty! There is not a single one of them here. The small fort, which is the Guardstation, however is in bad shape. The walls have been broken down, and it almost looks to me like somepony took the stones. It doesn't look like it was destroyed or caved in, in any way, but more like it was taken apart to gather materials. The storage rooms were all empty, except the one I found behind a shelf in the commanders office. Looks like somepony had a private stock of candy there... Well I guess the chocolate may be stale and the Bon Bons may share that fate, but it's better then nothing. Eating those I kinda wish I had some of the dried rations left. Stale chocolate tastes... bad. The local stores didn't have anything to offer either, since all of the shelfs were picked clean. Somepony definitly needed alot of supplies. The only good thing I found to eat, was an orange tree that grows behind one of the stores. Some of them were actually ripe and edible. I wonder why nopony has taken them yet.
Day 6
late afternoon
I am now within visual range of Cloudsdale, hiding myself inside a cloud. Now that I have a means to defend myself, I am not to relucant to use magic anymore. Using a vision enhancement spell, I could see as if I was right there with the Pegasi. I can see several patrols around the city, made up by groups of three. So far, nothing out of the ordanary in a situation like this. But... what I don't like and don't intend to tolerate either, is what I saw beneath the City. There are giant walls, protecting a camp. There I can see several cages that hold ponies. All of them are mares. All the stallions I see, are not caged and exclusivly Pegasi. I don't have to think too hard why that is, since in one of the cage there was some.... action. I know that it can happen that a Unicorn or Earthpony mare gives birth to a Pegasus foal... It seems that this is the purpose of this camp. It's disgusting....
Farther back, also protected by high, and strong looking walls, I can make out several farms. These are tended by Earthponies and Unicorns whos horns got broken off. I can tell them apart, since there is still a little stump left where the horns have once been. I even saw some of the undead strapped to machines and wheels that I think are ment to grind corn or to produce electricity. In front of them.... there are non-Pegasus foals, also strapped to the machines, just out of reach of the undead.... This is horrible. I MUST do something about this. Even if this is the last safe haven for ponies in all of Equestria, what good is it if we throw all of our ideals aside?
Day 6
evening
I spotted Sweetie Belle... I don't have the time to plan anything out, as I wanted to do originally. I will go in now. One of the stallions has just entered her cage.
Day 6
late night
written by Rainbow Dash
That was... something different. I would never have taken you for the fighting type Twilight, but I guess strange times do strange things to ponies. I am gratefull though, I want you to know that. Living in that Cloudsdale was hell after the coup a few months ago. Hope you wake up soon. Seeing you out like this, after you saved me just doesn't sit well with me. I'm not really into this egghead stuff, unless it's Daring Doo that is undeniable the most awesome thing ever, but I think the least I can do to that you is to write down for you what has happend. Then you won't have to do it later, and can rest some more. Sweetie doesn't leave your side while you sleep. I think she is more then worried about you, even so we are not off the hook quite yet.
Let me start after Canterlot was overrun. I ofcourse fought as best as I could, together with the girls. During the fight we got seperated, and I can't tell you what happend to them. I saw several Pegasi guards leave the city in to different directions. Yeah I read what you wrote, so I guess that was when you and Cadence were brought away. At the time I thought that they were damn cowards. I mean we were fighting for our lives there! Princess Luna found me, when I was fighting with ten undead Pegasi, and protected me. I would have been able to take them on alone, but her help still was much appreciated. She then ORDERED me to flee. Can you believe it? She ordered me to run away! I... obeyed however. Not immideatly ofcourse, but she could be verry persuasive....
I went to Cloudsdale, and imagine my suprise when I found your foalsitter Cadance there! From that time, untill about half a year ago, she ruled Cloudsdale and was pretty damn good at it. She organized our defenses, made us look for survivors, and didn't even hesitate to go out herself to look for provisions or other things we needed. Half a year ago however... Somepony started a revolt, saying that it was an utter waste for us Pegasi to take care of the other races. He said we were the master race, and should rule the other Ponies. Cadence tried to reason with him, but that was her demise. He killed her from behind, and her head is still impaled on a post just outside of the former weather factory. Since then everything went downhill. I opposed him, and got stuck in that camp you destroyed earlier... All I can tell you from there on out, is that they brought in mares from all the other races. Those Pegasi mares who didn't go with their new regim, were also put there. Several were impregnated, with the goal of increasing the number of Pegasi.
The air still stinks with what you did. Charred flesh and furr... Really Twilight, don't you think you overdid it a bit? I mean when I saw you teleport directly into the middle of the breeding camp, ripping apart that stallion in Sweetie Belles cage with your magic... I didn't recognize you at all at first. I have known you for years, but I have only once seen you that angry. It was a hell of a fight when the guards had finally realized what had happend. Their bodies now are lined up in a neat circle around the place where you stood. We, meaning me and Sweetie, have freed the other prisoners after you opend our cages and collapsed. Most of them stayed here, and are currently maning the walls.
I just know that Stormtalon will not leave it at that. We either have to fight, or become his sexslaves again. I myself am pregnant with an unwanted foal. This must not go on. If he tries to come and imprison us again, and you are not awake by then, I will make sure none of his stallions gets even close to you or Sweetie. I am sure that he will try and retake this camp, but we are ready. We are not just single mares and stallions that roam the land in search for a safe place. This time his guards will have to take us all on at once, and I don't think they can....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 7
Day 7
early morning
written by Seetie Belle
Every one is on edge, since they expect an attack at any time. I was lucky I suppose. They didn't break of my horn, like they did with many others. I got only dampend.
Twilight, I am worried. Your fever is higher then before, and your breathing is short and labored. Some of the other Unicorns have come to take a look at you, and somepony named Red Script, has said that you suffer from curse exposure and foreign magic in your magical circuit. He said that, even so he had been a Doctor back in Hoofington, he can't do anything for you. The only reason you are still alive, is that your own Alicorn magic fights the forgein influence. It may be enough to overpower it, but that is to be seen, he said.
Rainbow took command of the prisoners, and is currently outside, giving everyone orders. She is quite determined to make the Pegasi pay, for what they did to us. I know Rainbow is too proud to talk about it, but I can imagine what must have happend to make her this angry. She wrote about her unwanted foal... I can only guess that she was impregnated against her will....
In terms of defense, I have no task yet, even so I asked Rainbow to let me help. She just shook her head and stroke my mane. She said that I am to keep you safe, if the battle gets out of hand. I guess she is right... You are still out, and can't defend yourself. But... there are eleven ponies, that claim to be former royal guards. They also have taken up positions around our little hut, and refuse to take orders from Rainbow, which infuriates her a great deal. The only Pony to give them orders, they say, would be you or one of the other princesses, if they are still alive.
Day 7
morning
written by Sweetie Belle
It has begun. The sun has risen just five minutes ago, and shortly after the sounds of fighting outside started. The guards outside told me to stay inside, and stay on guard. six of them, all of them Unicorns with broken horns, have joined the battle. The other five, three Pegasi and two Earthponies, stand watch over us. One of the Earthponies, a mare named Goldshield, told me that the Pegasi did not join the fight, so they could bring you to safety, should the tides of battle turn against us.
Day 7
afternoon
written by Sweetie Belle
The sounds of fighting have finally gone silent, and I have explored what is left of our camp an hour ago. Rainbow Dash and several others got heavily injured, while many of the Earthponies or Unicorns that were unable to use magic, have died. All of the guards that went into battle, have not made it. But.... I know I should not be happy to see dead Ponies, but I am regardless. I saw many more dead Pegasi, then members of other races. It was pretty easy to tell them apart from the imprisoned Pegasi, since those did not wear any kind of barding. The formerly brown ground of the camp, is now completly red. Some of the buildings have been set on fire, but none of them is out of control.
Rainbow Dash, even so having suffered deep cuts all over her body, organized fire control teams, and still refuses to get treated. I am worried about her, since she is bleeding all over and even I can see that she is unsteady on her hooves. I tried to get her to rest, but she got all angry. She told me, that our enemies would not rest either. She told me, that they would not stop, until either we, or them are all dead.
As I thought that over in my mind, I can't help but think that it might be better to abandon the camp, and try to settle somewhere else. Rainbow however, won't have any of it. Those who she permitted to rest, have almost fainted from exhaustion, when they hit their beds. I think most of them were out before they even ever made contact with their pillow....
Day 7
late afternoon
written by Rainbow Dash (splotches of blood can be seen all over the page)
We won. But it was at a great cost. We may have not lost as many ponies as Stormtalons guards, but I don't know how many of them he has still left. Right now, we are too exhausted and have too many wounded to withstand a simliar attack. I can only hope that he threw most of his stallions against us in this first strike. From my last time up in Cloudsdale, I know that it atleast should have been all of them. We have lost eight hundred ponies.... While having slain over three thousand of his guards. Last time I was up there, right before I was stuck here, there were barely three thousand five hundred guards. But he is a verry agressive pony, so I guess he could have doubled the number. But even then, he would have to recruit each and every Pegasus in Cloudsdale, whichs population barely exeeded nine thousand at the best of times. Many of then foals or elderly.... I just hope that I am right. Lucky for us, he never was a great planner.
Day 7
evening
written by Sweetie Belle
Earlier we could observe a massive exodus from Cloudsdale. Hundres of Pegasi have fled the city in all directions. Thunderblast, a Pegasus stallion that was also imprisoned here, volunteered to check it out. Instead of taking a look into the city however, he actually tackled one of the fleeing Pegasi, and took her prisoner. It was a civilian, and the story she told us, is almost too good to be true. A guard captain, who was against the attack on the prisioner camp, had an argument with Stormtalon, which got out of hand after almost all of his stallions were killed by our group. That guard captian killed Stormtalon as revenge for his fallen comrades, and announced that Cloudsdale was not protected nor supplied anymore. The city guard got disbanned and so most of the civilian population fled the city. After this, Rainbow Dash, who has finally gotten her wounds treated by Red Script, flew up and investigated. Sh confirmed what the captured civilian told us. Cloudsdale is, according to her, almost like a ghost town now. Only a few houses and appartments are still inhabited. The corpse of the pure black Stormtalon, is hanging from the weather factories highest tower, according to what she told me. Rainbow looked verry sad, when she told me that.
I can only imagine how she must feel right now.... Red Script put a sleeping spell on her, so she can get some rest. I believe that Dash was more then shocked that her own father was the pony that killed princess Cadence, and threw her down here.... But what somepony else told me, it was also Stormtalon who impregnated Rainbow Dash, while she was held down by several other stallions. It's insane.... I knew Rainbow never got along with her father verry well, but hearing this makes me understand why. If I remember everything about Rainbow Dash that I know, which is not verry much, I can only think of one reason why her mother divorced her father, and she didn't really fancy any contact with him. I won't ask her if my suspicion is right, but I can see her in a different light now. All her bragging and all her false braveness..... Even that she never would let anypony down... I think I can understand Rainbow Dash much better now.....
Day 7
late night
Ouch... My whole body aches like I was run over by a stampeede of buffalos. I woke up just minutes ago, and it's hard to think straight. It's as if I am struggeling with a will, that is not my own.... My Alicorn magic seems to supress it, but I feel weak... I will go back to.... sleep I think.
I am Twiligh Sparkle
Day 8
Day 8
noon
written by Sweetie Belle
What the hay is going on?This morning, I woke up, because our hut was on fire. At first I thought it was the Pegasi who had come back, but it was you, Twilight! I saw that you were up shortly last night, but it must have been when I was already asleep. We had to bring you away from anything that could be incinerated, by having several Unicorns levitate you. I was one of them, and I can tell you that it wasn't easy. Your body seems to try and repell any kind of external magical influence. I never had that much problems lifting something with my magic, even so I am not verry good at it.
The reason we had to do this, is that you are basicly on fire! I don't mean your fever, but your mane and tail are actually replaced by flames. Your coat is white hot, and I even the ground we put you on is blackend several hoofs around you. It doesn't seem to hurt you though. Red Script checked you out earlier, as best as he could, given that he can't really approach you. He says your heart is beating unusually fast, your magic is exceeding anything he ever felt and you breath is quite slow in comparison. According to him, your body is in it's final stages of fighting what ever is making you sick. Or... that is his theory atleast, since he doesn't know for sure. He admitted that you are the first Alicorn he ever treated.
Another thing he said, was that it could be that you loose the battle. In that case he claims, we should run away as fast as we can. But what is even more dangerous are the undead at the moment. Your magical fire is drawing hordes of them to us. There are about twelve thousand of us left, and only a few hundred are Pegasi. An exodus to Cloudsdale is out of the question due to that. The walls are strong as they are, but some of the Stallions are currently breaking down some of the buildings, to further reinforce them.
As it looks, the first wave of them will be here in a few ours. Rainbow herself confirmed that, when she went scouting earlier. She had the suspision that your massice magical use, may draw them here. Due to her pregnancy she isn't as fast as before, but still faster then most of the other Pegasi.
Some of them have suggested we just throw you over the walls and let the undead deal with you, but the five remaining guards and Rainbow Dash quickly silenced them. No, they didn't hurt anypony, but I am not too sure they wouldn't too keep you safe. Please don't get me wrong when you read this, Twilight, but I think we should do it. Not to get rid of you, but to let your magical fire deal with them! I tried earlier and threw a piece of wood into your direction. It was turned to ash, many hoofs before it reached you. So, if we were to bring you outside, you would burn them, long before they could harm you. I tried to discuss it with Rainbow, but.... she hit me, and told me to be ashamed of myself....
Day 8
afternoon
written by Rainbow Dash
We are under siege. Hundreds of these things are running against our walls, and we are fighting back as good as we can. However, we can't do much. We are still struggeling with the aftermath from the battle with Stormtalons guards. I am no exception. I can't fight right now, due to my injuries. ALso we don't have many weapons. The Unicorns among us, that still have their horns, throw stones and small rocks into the undead masses, but it won't hold them back much longer. The really dead are quickly pyling up, and will soon have formed a ramp which they can climb to simply walk over our walls. I hope that we can repell them before that happens. Sweetie keeps telling the Unicorns to not use spells but do something else with their magic, but they don't listen. I don't understand a word of it, but she demonstrated what she ment, and it was pretty impressive. She practicly rained down thousands of small violet bolts down upon them, cutting a line in their ranks. But I heard the other Unicorns talk, that it would be dangerous to do something like this. I don't know. I might have to order them to use what Sweetie was trying to get them to do. Why do I write "try" you might think..... The reason is that Sweetie got hurt while being on the wall. There are several undead Unicorns in their ranks, and that has already taken some lives. The wall itself does not seem to interest them at all. They only shoot their twisted magic on living targets it seems. Sweetie got hit by one of them and is currently being treated elesewhere. I won't lie to you Twilight, it's serious. An inch to the left, and that thing would have taken her head off. As it is, she has a large wound on her neck, which was bleeding badly when I last saw her. She actually landed on me, when I was on my way to your hut to write this. I can't help myself but think that it might really be a good idea if we used you as a weapon... Twi... you are one of my best friends, and believe me that I would extract you immideatly if there was any sighn of danger, but..... I don't want to die..... I will think it over, and if I decide on it... I will give the order to levitate you outside, and keep an eye on you. If it get's dangerous for you, I would immideatly give the order to get you back, or fly out and get you out.... I want you to know that Twilight....
Day 8
late night
written by Rainbow Dash
I.... can't believe it... Somepony got triggerhappy, and threw you out when I got my bandages changed. I had decided against it, and now I have to deal with grade three burns on my hooves aswell. I tried to get you inside, but I couldn't even get close to you. My right foreleg and my left hindleg are burnt, and now I am officially bedridden. The place they levitated you over the wall has actually melted! The stones have turned into lava, and burried several of them beneath it. However... They were not the only ones. Two Unicorns that stood watch with that stallion, and himself, were turned to ash aswell. He didn't levitate you in a safe distance, and threw you several meters into their ranks before he died. Atleast, you don't seem to be in any danger right now. The attacks on our walls have stopped. They are now all massing in on your position. Those who are approaching you, are burnt about twenty hooves before they reach you. The Unicorns in the group don't cross that line. In fact, they don't even attack you with their own magic. They just stand there, their horns aglow. What are they doing?
I have several Pegasi holding position above you. Their orders are to extract you, as soon as they deem it possible to touch you without getting themself burned.
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 9
Day 9
early morning
written by Rainbow Dash
Sweetie Belle will make it as far as Red Script told me. He is pretty confident in his work, and I hope he is right. I would hate to have her die, with our last conversation having been a fight. However, this night didn't only have good news. Most of us survivors can't sleep, since the light coming from you Twilight, is lighting the night like a second sun. You have actually sunken a few millimeters into the ground, that is staring to melt under you. There are no undead left in you vicinity, but about three hundred undead Unicorns. They have fallen back several hoofes, since the radius in which your heat burns stuff, has gotten larger. I even had to call back the Pegasi I had ordered to have an eye on you, since they couldn't bear the heat in the air above you anymore.
The worst thing that is going on here, is that all the Unicorns in the camp, have lost their ability to draw in magical energy. That became appearent earlier, when a few of them wanted to help with the reinforcement effort on the walls. They suddenly weren't able to lift things anymore. According to a Unicorn mare I asked, all the magic that was in the air, is gone. The only explanation I can come up with, is that you are drawing all of it into yourself. But why do the undead Unicorns not attack you? Why are their horns glowing? I don't understand it.
Day 9
noon
written by Rainbow Dash
Your magic is really amazing Twilight, but lately it causes us nothing but trouble. An old aquaintance of us has homed in on your magical "signal fire", as she calls it. She has come alone, but I have posted more guards, just in case. I don't trust Chrysalis one bit! She claims to be here to help. I would like to believe her, since, even so we have had our differences in the past, we are the last living things afterall. We, the living, should unite against the dead. From what she told me, her Changelings are not immune to the curse either, but there have been much less victims, since they die after being infected and don't rise again. That way Chrysalis was able to control the infection in and around her Hive. I will now go to have another talk with her....
Day 9
evening
written by Rainbow Dash
I... can't believe what Chrysalis gave me.... She had a chest with her, which she opend during our talk earlier... Inside, she had all six elements of harmony, and gave them to me. The chest also held something, I think you might want to have.... It's princess Celestias crown. She claims to have found her corpse, when she retrieved the elements from Canterlot castle.... Since sun and Moon are still rising and setting I was kinda hoping..... It could be that she is lying, but how would she have her crown then? When I asked about princess Luna, she couldn't tell me anything. Chrysalis said that she found Celestias body close to the city limits, but didn't look for her sister, since her main objective was the retrieval of the elements. I don't say that I believe her, but if she is honest with me, then there is a chance that Luna is still alive. But where would the princess be? Wouldn't she come and look for other survivors? I don't know what to believe anymore. But....... There is shouting outside....
Day 9
late night
Now I am confused beyond words. When I hovered outside earlier, to investigate what all the shouting was about, I witnessed a fight between two verry strong magical beings. Our camp.... our walls.... have been almost completly destroyed in their wake. The two beings I mean, are princess Luna, and Chrysalis.... Appereantly Luna also homed in on your magical presence, and as soon as she saw Chrysalis the fight began. Damn, those two really went at it there. We have several casualties from stray spells that both of them threw at each other. To be completly honest with you Twi, I didn't recognize princess Luna at first. She isn't as beautifull as she used to be. Her coat is dirty with blood and dirt, while her face is a distorted grimmace of anger and mistrust. Her crown is still resting on her head, but it's bent and deformed, as if this wasn't the first fight the princess had over the last three years. I don't know which of them won, and right now I don't really care. I have more pressing matters to attend to. Chrysalis fled when the tides of battle turned against her, and Luna persued her like a mad pony. I have to organize workgroups to rebuild, what they destroyed, and that will be hard since the Unicorns still can't help with their magic. Twilight, I hope you snap out if it soon.
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 10?
Day 10?
noon
Ouch,ouch,ouch! I feel like I took a bath in a vulcano! When I came to, I was outside the walls of this encampment, and half sunken into the ground. I'm actually suprised that I am not burnt worse then I actually am. There were several hundred corpses of undead unicorns around me. I don't know who killed them for sure, but I guess it was you guys... before you bugged out. The camp is abandoned. I looked everywhere, but there is not a single pony here. At first I thought there had been quite the battle here, but from Rainbows entries, I can see that it was Luna and Chrysalis. I still can't believe it. Where is everypony? The camp looks like it was abandoned in a hurry, since many provisions are still in the storage areas. But... other then the signs of the fight Rainbow mentioned, I can't see nor sense any magical influence in the area. The strange thing is, that they left me behind. I mean from what they wrote, they had no chance to get close to me, so I suppose I can't really complain... I had never anticipated this would happen to me once, but the "Burning" is the natural defense for all Alicorns if their immunsystem is not enough to deal with a threat. Either, as in my case, it burns out all the traces of a curse or an infection, or it kills both, the host and the illness.... In my case, it were lingering traces of magic from the lab, that I had accidentially absorbed while defending myself. I think the time is right, to write the events down. I can't fly yet, I feel to weak for that. So I might aswell waste some time by writing it all down.
When I entered the faciliy again, I was already feeling an unpleasant pressure on my magical circuit. It was surely from the source of that curse, but I didn't think I was in anny immideate danger at the moment. And I was right. There was nothing there to attack me, so I searched the whole place. I even found the chamber, in which the spell that caused this was performed. It is a white tiled, sterile looking room. In the middle of it, is a platform.... on it stands the statue of Discord. At first, I didn't understand what had happend. Fluttershy had reformed him, so why was he a statue again? I went into the chamber, and tired to release him from his stone prison. It had no effect however. That statue, did not hold a living soul anymore, like it had when he was turned to stone before. This one... was truly just a piece of rock. I wondered, what would have been powerfull enough to kill a being like Discord....
It was not until I reached the archieve, that I found an answer. My Alicorn magic granted me access, and I flipped through the neatly stored files. It was incredible, and unbelievable. A professor named Herandes, had performed an experiement with Discords magic. The spirit of chaos had, to show his good will, agreed to it. The goal of that experiment had been, to see how his magic worked, since it is even more powerfull then the princesses magic. They had done several experiments, and had then moved on to the next stage. They had drawn magic from him, to try and direct it into a spell.... The records I found were dated to the exact date of the explosion. The experiment had been a sucess I would say. They did direct his magic into a spell, but I think they misdirected it, and the spell went wrong. I have absolutly no idea what they tried to cast with his magic, but I guess it could be a magical spell, seeing the result...
However... When I was about to leave the archive, I must have stirred up the last few researchers that were still there. They attacked me, and I used Sweetie Belles Spell to get rid of them, but that cost me quite some energy, so I had to draw in more. I guess that is how the cursemagic got into my system, but it should be all gone now....
Day 10?
afternoon
I ate something from the nearby storage. It tasted... stale. How can that be? I was sure the supplies in that shack were fresh. Atleast the date of it's last refilling, written on a clipboard on it's door, indicates that.... How long was I actually out? I am starting do doubt that it has been only one day since you left. These provisions don't have any preservatives in them, so they would go bad fast, but I guess it must have been... atleast a week since that day.... I don't know if that is true, but I will look for clues. Sweetie wrote that there were still inhabitants up in Cloudsdale. I might feel weak, but if i pace myself, I might make it up there....
Day 10?
night
I am currently sitting on the stairs of Cloudsdale townhall... The entire City is deserted. There is not a single living or dead being here. Not only that... but it seems to having been burnt down.... Most of the buildings are brunt to the ground, but I could not find any bodies. What in the hay has happend here? The camp down below looks like it was vacated in a hurry, but the city looks like it has been under siege for days! There is nothing up here I can use, except the vault inside the townhall. I already checked it. It's empty, and I can seal it from the inside. Tonight, I will stay there, but tomorrow, I will try and find out more about what has happend here. Rainbow,Sweetie... Luna.... Where are you?
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 11?
Day 11?
morning
I have awoken due to noises outside the vault. I am feeling much better, so I opend the door, ready to defend myself. It was... a Changeling knocking on the door. Words were not exchanged, since as soon as he saw me, he lunged at me. Right now he is out, and lays in the back of the vault. I have gone upstairs and collected a firehose to tie him up. He did try to get me, but I grabbed him with my Telekenisis and knocked him on the ground, until he stopped moving. Hes a tough little thing. At first I thought I overdid it, and had actually killed him, until I checked his breathing.
I ate some more of the food I took up here with me. It really tastes bad, but I don't have anything else. Besides, it's not rotten yet, and should keep me alive.
Day 11?
Afternoon
A few hours ago, my "guest" woke up and began to struggle against his restrains. I was not in the mood to argue with him, since he also had started screaming. I can only assume that, since from what Rainbow wrote Chrysalis was here, and his behaviour towards me earlier, that they have something to do with whatever happend here. I used some of my magic to... persuade him to tell me what he knew. I usually wouldn't have done something like this, but every second I got more angry, with an upcoming headache to make things worse.
What he told me was this:
He had been sent here by Chrysalis herself, to make sure there were no more Ponies here. If there were any, he was to restrain them, and bring them back to the hive with him. The visit by his Queen to the camp, was nothing but a try to get Rinbow to let her guard down. They wanted to make them come with her to the hive voluntarely, since she would have promised safety. Once there they would have been subdued, and put into cocoons, so they could serve as foodsource for the hive. The attack on the camp below, happend at night, according to him, and they managed to capture some of them. Not many though, since the defenders had anticipated something could be coming their way. Rainbow did well, not trusting the Changeling Queen. However, they had come with a great force to capture them, so after only minutes they decided to flee into all directions appearantly. The Pegasi citizens above, tried to defend themself, but were all captured in the end. He could not tell me who they had gotten from the camp, or how manny exactly, but he assured me, after some more persuation on my part, that it were less then a hundred. He didn't know where they had gone. All he knew was that a blue Pegasus had called something about "Plan B", to the other escaping Ponies. I can only imagine that it was Rainbow Dash. Hurt but still trying her best to organize the escape efforts. After our little... chat... I locked him up in the vault and sealed the door magically. All the stuff he told me, has happend approximatly three weeks ago....
Day 28
night
Atleast I can date my entries correctly again. I am on my way to Los Pegasus, taking shelter in a cloud to write this. Also, there is somepony standing watch for me, so I can get some rest. It seems highly unlikeable, but I actually met Luna when I was taking a rest on another cloud earlier. My wing still hurts badly. I had just sat down, when suddenly a shadow came over me, and I was already preparing to defend myself, but it was Luna hovering over me. She had felt my aura and came to my position as fast as she could. Appeareantly, she has been hunting Chrysalis for a while now, but she always slips away from her in the last second. She told me that she tries to get rid of her, since it was Chrysalis who killed Celestia. The Changelings used the undeads attack on Canterlot, to start an attack of their own. Luna told me, that they use the same tactics every time... Whenever they encounter a group of Ponies that is still alive, they cradle them in false safety, and lure them into the hive. She has been fighting them for three years now, and intends to continue to do so. Only for tonight, and until I have reached Los Pegasus, will she stay with me.
I would really like to keep her at my side, even if only to treat her numerous wounds, but she won't have any of it. Luna is determined to hunt Chrysalis down. I can't blame her. I would like to help her, but I must find out what happend to the survivors of Cloudsdale. I head to Los Pegasus, because Rainbows uncle was the mayor there. His name was Plain Beard.
Or as somepony in the heat of battle might misunderstand... Plan B.... I just hope I am right. If not, then I am wandering into one of the biggest Pegasus settlements there is, with over a million citizens..... All of them most likely turned....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 29
Day 29
morning
When I woke up, Luna was raising the sun with a sad face. No wonder she would be... This used to be Celestias task. I tried to talk to her some more, but she wouldn't talk to me. I guess either my questions were making her uncomfortable, or she seriously just doesn't want to talk. I can't understand why though. All I asked her, was where she had been staying the nights, and how she was supplying herself. All I got out of her, was a small pouch full of a substance that resembles sand in a way. Even so she didn't tell me what to do with it, it was quite simple since she started to eat some of it in front of me. It tastes pretty much as it looks, but is suprisingly filling. One hoof full was enough to satisfy my hunger. I think it's some kind of concentrated feed. But where did she get it, and why doesn't she want to talk to me about it. Also, I noticed that she looks down on me like she might on an insect, or something disgusting. Oh Luna, what has happend to you to make you like this?
Day 29
late morning
I actually got her to talk, but only after I threatend to just stay where I was, until I got some answers. She seems determined to get me to my destination and be done with it, so I was hoping that would work. Even so I must admit that I feel uncomfortable acting like a little filly. However, she is certainly not the Luna I knew three years ago. This one is filled with anger, rage and hurt. The only thing holding her together seems to be her "duty", which she claims is to keep Ponies safe wherever she goes, if she likes it or not. But she is a bad lier... I think it actually is the wish for revenge against Chrysalis, for the death of her sister. Still, she didn't tell me much. Only that, yes indeed it is concentrated feed she gave me, and yes she had a supply hidden somewhere, but wouldn't tell me where. And yes she returned to the same place to sleep each time. And no, she did not have anypony with her to treat her wounds, and would not allow me to do so either.
In the end she threatend me to knock me out and drag me all the way to Los Pegasus, where I to ask one more question.... At the moment, I need her, but in the future I WILL have to try to help her get over all that anger she has build ip. I can't rule over Equestria all alone, and I will most likely need her for that. Luna... I pitty you... Had you just come to the fortress I was in, after the fall of Canterlot... you wouldn't be in a state like this now....
Day 29
afternoon
I... feel like a burden on Luna. While I write this, she is carrying me on her back since she can fly much faster then me, even when I am in my best shape. But... I don't know if it is due to the wind, or the height we are flying at, but... As she levitated me on her back... It's freezing cold. Her back feels like I am sitting on a frozen over lake. I can see Los Pegasus in the distance already... Had I flown on my own, I might actually have taken two more days to reach this far. Lunas speed in incredible. But... witnessing her speed firsthoof, I can only wonder how Chrysalis manages to slip away from her all the time.
Day 29
evening
We do have reached Los Pegasus, and even so most of the city is in ruins, I found a small portion of the city that has been fortified. Luna did not go anywhere close their barricades, but left me a few blocks away from it before flying off again. Why did she not come and see if our subjects are alright? All she seemed to care for was getting me there, and then get back to hunt Chrysalis.... But why would she want to keep me safe, if it means such a delay for her? However, she is gone, but she left me something. The concentrated feed, and her crown... Yes Luna gave me her crown. She told me that, if I ever were to run into Chrysalis I should pour some of my mana into it, and she would know where I am. By the speed she demonstrated today, I can only imagine that she could reach any point in Equestria in a matter of a few hours. I will keep it, even so right now I don't know if I would actually do it and expose Chrysalis to her wrath. I would like to have a go at her myself, but I can't ignore the fact that we ponies are outnumbered, and need help in this.
Even this "safe haven" only has a few hundred ponies. Rainbow appearently didn't make it, or she would be here by now, given how fast she is.... Her uncle is still alive and organizing things. As he saw me, he asked me if I wanted to take authority from him, but I won't. He has done a great job protecting his citizens, and I don't wanna ruin that. For now, most ponies do treat me with respect, but it is obvious that they also ask themself, why I did not come earlier. Some of them are from the camp beneath Cloudsdale. They filled me in on what a chaos their retreat actually had been. Also I learned that Rainbow only recommended the Pegasi to come here, due to Los Pegasus being in the clouds. The others, or to say the majority of survivors from that camp, headed to Phillydelphia. So basicly in the direct opposite direction of Los Pegasus....
Damn... I guess I will have to... go to Phillydelphia if I want to find them. But I don't know if they reached it, or if they ran into trouble on the way. Also, from the last things I heard when still in Canterlot, the city had been overrun, so why would they head there? The city is almost as big as Los Pegasus, so there should be many undead there.... I can only assume that Rainbow Dash is.... dead. I hope that I am wrong, but all the signs indicate that she is. Also Sweetie Belle... what became of her? None of the Pegasi from the camp was able to tell me that.
Day 29
late night
Quick Arrow found me just a few minutes ago. He's one of two surviving Pegasus guards. Quick Arrow and Cherry Pie. I know both of them from the palast in Canterlot... I don't know if I should be happy or not, but they told me that, where ever I decide to go, they will come with me. I don't want them to leave relative safety, but they insisted.... It's been a year since the fall of Canterlot and they are still determined to fulfill their duty..... I can't deny that I will sleep better if I know that somepony is watching over me though....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 30
Day 30
afternoon
Many things have happend today, and they have kept me from writing earlier. I have learned something quite disturbing, after I organized my belongings this morning. Cherry Pie, a red coated Pegasus mare with blond mane and tail who was a royal guard when that order still existed, walked in on me while I did so. She almost fled after seeing Lunas crown among my things. When I wanted to know why she was so frightend of it, she asked me where I got it in return. I told her the story, and she looked verry sad when I finished, and ofcourse I wanted to know why that was so. I write the conversation down as good as I can remember it.
"So why are you looking like this, by hearing I was brought here by Princess Luna? As a royal guard, shouldn't you be happy to hear another princess is still alive?"
"Your highness.... I myself was a witness to princess Lunas death. I was part of her squad during the fight for Canterlot."
"That can't be, I saw her just yesterday."
"The thing you saw, was not princess Luna. We, meaning those of the guards that are still among the living, honor her as a hero. But that thing defiles her memorie."
"What do you mean? I talked to her, and her magical presence is definitly that of Luna!"
At that point, I was getting a little angry, since even so I am not one to ask for respect for myself because I am a princess, but Luna truly deserves as much.
Cherry Pie let her head hang, and did everything to avoid my gaze.
"Your highness... I was there when she died and... I was there when she rose again. She is no longer princess Luna. She is one of them, with only so much of her former self still fighting the influence of the curse, but her body is dead. I checked it myself. She does not breath, and neither does her heart beat. Most of her self has been consumed upon infection. The only things that are left in her are two simple desires, aside from the one to feed on Ponies. The first one is to protect her subjects and friends. The other is getting revenge on Chrysalis."
"But it's a curse! I am sure if we look into it..."
Cherry Pie shook her head at that point.
"I am sorry your majesty, but no. The curse is what keeps her body moving, and if you were to lift it, she would drop dead. All of us who know the truth, fear her. The last bits of her mind fight the curse every second she exists. It also is the reason she does not approach this place of any place where ponies that know the truth are. They would try to kill her. It is because... one day she will loose the fight entirely."
"I still can't believe it... She was...."
"Cold? You told me that you found it strange that she would not allow you to treat her wounds... also that her back was cold as ice. Princess... her magic keeps her body from rotting but her body has stopped producing heat long ago. Also her wounds are permanent. Next time you see her, I ask of you to put her out of her misery."
Cherry Pie had began to wheep, but did not stop to talk.
"Your highness... I can only imagine why she did bring you here, but that is most likely one of the last shreds that was left of Luna.... She brought you here, so you would survive I think.... She will not be able to rule, or ..... continue her duty once the curse overtakes her completly.... so you are ment to be her successor...."
I was stunned at the revelations. Suddenly everything made sense. Luna had not slept while she had watched over me, nor had she seemed tired when he had made our way here. It also explains why she was unwilling to approach the fortified part of the city. The Pegasi would have attacked her immideatly, and she would have been forced to fight back.
Hours have passed since that conversation, but I still can't stop shaking. Luna was so close to me, and I didn't even realize that she was not breathing.... Could this be why she was so different? Would it explain her aggression? Was she so angry because she was fighting her urge to attack me? I don't know but.... I can not imagine how much she must suffer... If what Cherry Pie said is true, she barely knows who she is, and has only rudimentary memories of the relationships she had during her life.... Luna... When we meet again, I will try to end your suffering.... If Chrysalis needs to be dealt with, so let me do it. You have done more then enough, and deserve peace....
Day 30
late night
I have packed everything I need and asked for some stuff from Plain Beard. He was happy to give me what I needed. Being a princess sure has it's advantages, even after so long. I got fourtysix packs with dired rations his scavange teams had gathered from the towns around Los Pegasus. Also I got a set of barding for Cherry Pie and Quick Arrow, including a single sword for myself. Those are from the Los Pegasus museum, but they will have to do. I told him what I had in mind, and he was more then generous, but I could not accept any more. He wanted to send a hundret of his stallions with me, but I didn't want that. First of all, a bigger group has a higher chance of being attacked. Second of all, I don't want the already crumbeling defenses of Los Pegasus even weaker. The three of us should be enough for the trip, and we will leave first thing in the morning. I would prefer it if we could manage to slip away, without them noticing it....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 31
Day 31
early morning
We have left Los Pegasus shortly after midnight. The sun is rising at the horizon right now, and I can't help but think about Luna. She may be dead, but she still performs her duties.... Luna... If we meet again, I will make sure you finally find your peace....
Right now, we are resting on a cloud. Quick Arrow insists that he carries me, so my wing can heal propaly. I removed the stiffening spell, that I put onto it a while ago, and it began to hurt immideatly. To my amazement however, I can move it if I don't make any quick movements. It seems the bone has set atleast half right, so in a few more weeks time, I should be able to fly normally again. From where we are now, I can clearly see Appleloosa at the horizon. We chose this direction, since I think it would be best to approach Phillydelphia from the seaside. To do that, we will fly east untill we reach the sea and then head north. The reason we do this, are the undead that are drawn to my magical aura. We have been here for a mere twenty minutes, but there are already several hundred of them gathering below the cloud we are on....
Day 31
early noon
I am riding on Quick Arrows back again. We had to vacate the cloud in a hurry. Not only had a few undead pegasi locked on to our position, but also there were several unicorns in the group below. I did not notice them until one of them actually shot my watercantine out of my hooves, when I wanted to take a sip. The four pegasi would not have been a problem. With my blade, I would have been able to cut their wings off, long before they would have reached us. The uncorns however, are a different story. They where hard to make out from the height we were at, not to mention that the others seemed to shield them.... Since Quick Arrow seems to grow more and more tired, having to catch my weight in addition to the supplies he and I carry, I decided for a change of plans. Back when we were in Appleloosa, my friends and I met a tribe of buffalos and I think they might still be around.
Day 31
late noon
We have arrived in the wastelands, south of Appleloosa. Indeed the buffalos are still here, and they are relativly unharmed. Their thicker furr and stronger bodies have helped them survive. The fact that the desert makes it hard for the undead to come anywhere near their settlement may have something to do with it aswell. As we flew over it, I saw hundreds of Undead whose heads were still moving, but their bodies were dried to a state, in which they were unable to move.
When we landed in the buffalo camp, they were cautious around us at first, but soon noticed that we are still breathing. It might also have helped that Strongheart is still with them. She is the wife of the current leader, but it became quite clear verry soon that she is actually the one in charge. Her husband, as big as he might be, always looked at her first, before even adressing me. I won't stay here for too long, since my presence may draw them here, in sufficent numbers to destroy the camp, but it was good we came here. Thunderhoof, the leader of the buffalos, and I had a verry long talk. I am proud to say, that I could convince him, and Stronghearts influence on him might have had a hoof in it, to help us once we are ready to retake Equestria. But.... Even as much as she has him under her hoof, he would not accept without a gain for his tribe. They are relativly safe here, so I had to make it attractive for him somehow. In exchange for their help in this war, I will give up the entire wasteland and desert area. There will be an independed buffalo country, which is no longer part of Equestria. But... better loosing some of our land, then not having those strong fighters on our side.
Day 31
evening
Our new allies have given us an updated map of the area, showing hidden supplies and pits in which they have gathered many of the undead. This will come in handy. I used a locator spell on a simple rock, and gave it to Thunderhoof. Once we are starting to retake Equestria, if ever, I can use a drawing spell, and the stone will indicate him and his tribe where I am, and where they should head to join the offensive.... I just hope he keeps his end of the bargain....
Day 31
late night
We have departed the buffalo camp three hours ago, and will most likely look for a cloud or cave to take shelter in for the night. I can see something in the distance, that is too good to be true. The night has already fallen over Equestria, but it's a new moon night, so it's pitch dark. But in the distance I can see lights. On the map I have since I left the fortress, there should be a military outpost there. But... back when we were defending Canterlot, I remember that Celestia told me that all of those were overrun.... Could it be that this one survived, or have the illuminating spells in the lamps lasted this long? Have they used electricity and this is barely a relict of how Equestria used to be? According to the map, the outpost is on an island, located in the horseshoe bay. There are four bridges on the map, that lead up to the island. I just hope there is somepony alive down there....
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 32
Day 32
late night
written by Cherry Pie
It has been... a verry long day indeed. Princess Twilight Sparkle has ordered me to record the events of the day as good as I can, since she is too busy organizing things, and too tired from all that happend today.
We hid ourselfes in a big cloud for the night. Quick Arrow and I took turns in watching over the sleeping Princess. She looked so peacefull while she slept.... I still can't believe that, all that is left of Quick Arrow now, is a pile of ash in the wind. In the morning, we made our way to Celestia Island. There once was a military outpost, since to the east of there lays the Griffon kingdom. The princess had decided that we should check it out, even if it was only to look for supplies. To our suprise, we saw that thousands of undead were swarming the last remaining bridge to the island.
That could only mean one thing: Living Ponies!
Quick Arrow and I wanted to fly directly to the outpost, but the Princess jumped down from his back and glided downwards, directly into the undead horde. At first, I thought she had finally lost it, but then I saw why she had done it. As Quick and I took positions on either side of her, while we took a controled dive, we spotted a cage, that was set up in the middle of the damn bridge! It looked verry strong, so the undead were not able to break it. As we approached, I saw something that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Inside the cage, was a young Unicorn mare, chained to the ground. She shot arcane bolts at the undead as she screamed. Her coat looked grey, while her pink and purple mane was ruffled and burned in places. Here is what she screamed, before she caught sight of us:
"Leave me alone! Somepony! Help! I have done nothing wrong! Twilight! Help! Twilight, where AAAAARRREEEE YOUUU????"
She repeated this over and over again, until she caught sight of us approaching. I have served at the palace for over twenty years, but I have never once seen a princess THIS angry before. Princess Twilight increased her speed, and fired bolts of magic of her own. The Undead around the cage were torn apart, when hit. As we landed, the young mare inside the cage tried to get close to the bars, while crying, but her chains were not long enough. Close to the cage, lay a dead Pegasus. He looked like a soldier to me, due to the barding and weapons he wore. Also he carried a small hoofheld radio on his belt. This type of technology is strictly limited to military personal.... This was when we saw the first bombs fall. Ahead of us a squad of about fifty Pegasi swooped down on the undead, dropping firebombs on top of them.
Appereantly, this Unicorn was put there as bait for the undead.... I will never forget this.... Quick Arrow and I took up positions to defend the Princess from the still coming undead, but she just ignored everything around her. She tried to cut through the bars of the cage with her magic, but to no avail. As I learned later on, it was made of magic resistant metal. Quite a rare material, but efficent if one wants to trap a Unicorn.
The radio, on the dead soldiers belt began to crackle, and Quick Arrow raced to get it.
"This is Sergant Quick Arrow, of the royal guard! Stop the attack on the bridge! I repeat, stop the attack on the bridge!"
He had tried to talk some sense into whoever was commanding the Pegasi, that approached us. The reply he got however, was not a good one.
"I don't care who you are! If you are on a bridge that is marked for purging, then it's your own fault! Now get off this channel!"
The Pegasi had almost reached us, and the bridge in front of us was already burning fiercly, when Princess Twilight Sparkle finally snapped out of it. She raced over to Quick Arrow, and janked the radio out of his hooves with her magic.
"This is Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria speaking! I order you to stop the bombing! I repeat, I ORDER you to stop the bombing." , she yelled at whoever was on the other end.
Her order, was only met with laughter however. It was not until we had to jump from side to side, hiding behind a shield spell from time to time, that they finally stopped throwing firebombs at us. Quick Arrow had already been hit by the time they finally did. His charred corpse lay only a few hooves away from me.
"Commander, I can see them. It really IS Princess Twilight Sparkle." , a male voice sounded over the radio.
"I don't care! And if it's Princess Celestia herself, BURN that damn bridge down! This is an order Private!" , a female voice reprimanded.
"I herby take control over this facility! All loyal Equestrians, STAND DOWN! Everypony refusing to follow my order, will be considered an enemy to Equestria, and will be dealt with as such!" , the Princess shouted into the radio.
I was suprised at her outburst, but it seemed to work. The Pegasi above us swooped down, and started to take care of the undead that were approaching us from behind with their firebombs, while the female voice over the radio started to shout threats of courtmarsheling them. One of them, an emerald stallion, stopped for a second and hooved me a key, with which I could finally open the cage, in which the young mare had been trapped. I had not recognized her at first, but when I got a closer look at her, I did. Her coat was not grey, but indeed pure white. She had been the filly that had stayed at the Pegasus prison/breeding camp. I do not remember her name, but after that, everything got even more ugly.
We entered the outpost, unopposed by any of the soldiers. The Princess ordered some of them to detain the "Commander" and bring her to her. A white coated Earthpony mare, with blonde mane and tail was dragged to the Princesses hooves only moments later. As I said before, I have never seen an Alicorn this angry. Not even when the "thing" that once had been Princess Luna, came to the camp and fought with Chrysalis!
The mare shouted threats at the Princess, who just stood there, loking down on her with an expression that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge. They talked about marshial law for a while, and why this outpost was still in operating order. Turns out the "Commander" had decided to desert, without telling anypony. When the order to retreat to Canterlot had come in, she had told her soldiers that all Princesses were dead, and they had barricaed themself here. About two weeks prior then, a flood of survivors, heading for Phillydelphia, had stumbled on their borders. Most of them had stayed quitet, but the Unicorn filly had started to talk to the "Commander" about a surviving Princess. Fooling the other survivors, she had kept her here, while they moved on. Ever since then, they had used her as bait for the undead.
The contingent stationed here mostly consists of Pegasi and Earthponies. Other the the young mare, I only saw two additional Unicorns. They are the explosive experts as I am told. The Commander, challenged our Princess to a fight over command in this outpost, and the Princess accepted. I tried to step in, and take her place, but she was determined to fight herself.
It was over in seconds. After she had "redistributed" the "Commander" over the walls of the surrounding buildings, the Princess finally calmed down. She chewed some other officers out, for letting the survivors leave the outpost, but was quite reasonable after that. The Unicorn mare is sleeping on a bed next to the table, I am currently sitting at. My orders are:
Keep her safe, no matter what. Don't let anypony near her, except the Princess. Make sure she gets plenty of rest.
I am Twilight Sparkle
Day 33
Day 33
morning
What can be worse then waking up with a headache? I think I know now. Barely sleeping at all, because you killed somepony in a fit of rage.... I mean... I have killed all those Pegasi back at the camp, but they posed a direct threat to me. The former commanding officer of this outpost, never stood a chance against me. One growing spell, and her intrails ripped her body apart from the inside... I think I will never forget her dying screams... The soldiers watched the whole thing, without making any attempt to stop me. I think some of them had already seen through her lies. As far as I know to this point, the base is fully operational, and partly stocked with weapons, armor and rations that can easily last for three more years. I looked through some of the documentation tonight, since I could not sleep much anyhoof. Appearently there once were over ten thousand soldiers stationed here, as a precaution, should the Griffons decide to have a go at Equestria.
Now there are only about two thousand left here, but we sure could have used their help back in Canterlot. Differently from the guards we had to rely on back then, these Ponies are veterans, and have actually been trained in killing. The guards never had such training. They were only trained in restraining foes, or knocking them out... Not verry efficent against the undead in other words.... I wonder. Had the Commander of this base not abandoned her duty, would they all have died, for Equestria, or would we have been able to destroy the horde that overran Canterlot? Are there other bases like this maybe? I know for sure that there were four at the borders to the Dragons terretory, but I don't know where they are exactly. The only thing I do know is, that they were build underground.... So even if I went there, I could stand right atop of them, and wouldn't even know.
The medics of this base are verry skilled when it comes to winginjuries. Kinda figures since over seventy percent of the soldiers are Pegasi. Two of them are responsible for the little sleep that I did get tonight. They gave me a sedative and something to sleep, while working on my wing. As I asked them about it later, they told me that they performed a minor operation on it, and that I am absolutely forbidden to fly for atleast two weeks. And I had been so sure my wing was healing atleast half-right.... Appereantly that was in no way the case. My middle joint had taken more damage then I had anticipated, and they told me I was lucky it held my weight up to now.
I feel uncomfortable to order other Ponies around.... I never really got to be a Princess, even so I guess I still am one. I put Cherry Pie in charge because of that. She is the closest one to a high ranking officer that I have, and I trust her completly. The only things I took into my own hooves, were some minor things. Rebuilding efforts, since using bombs so close to the outpost was not leaving it unharmed, and the planning of scavange missions to the mainland. I have also send a full squad of twenty Pegasi to Phillydelphia, to scout out the situation. I ordered them to bring back any survivors they might find. I could see it in their eyes, that they were not totally unhappy about the change in command, only about the way it happend.
Day 33
noon
The Scouts I sent out, early this morning, have returned with bad news. They say that the city is crawling with the undead, even so they did not come back completly empty hoofed.... One of them had brought a "trophy" from one of the undead he had killed, when they took a quick rest just outside the city. I took it from him, since I don't want this to be a trophy. The item he I confiscated.... is a brown stetson hat.... So now I know for sure atleast, that one of my friends became one of "them"....
I thanked the navyblue stallion, for putting Applejack out of her misery. But if she had been turned... then what about Rarity, Spike, Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy? Since Fluttershy was not as good a flier as Rainbow Dash, I can only assume that they got her aswell... Recently I hope, more then ever before in my entire life, that I am wrong.
Sweetie Belle is still resting on a bed, in the quarters I have been assigned. They are not big, nor are they luxerious by Canterlot standarts, but there is a big bed, which is big enough for three Ponies, a private rest and a private bathroom. Judging this from the conditions while I traveled, this is almost like a five star hotel. During my short while with Quick Arrow and Cherry Pie, I would usually have to relief myself on the edge of a cloud, or wash my coat with water they provided from Rainclouds.
I have decided, to remove the sticking charm on the Dragonscales, and had my verry first hot shower in weeks. My coat beneath the scales was all filthy due to blood and sweat that had seeped through the scales. I am glad I had those however, or I would have been dead several times over again. Back in the cave, in which i found Sweetie Belle, she would have simply killed me, without even realizing it was me. Then later inthe lab, two of them tried to bite my flank, but the scales protected me. During my raid on the Pegasis camp, ten spears hit my sides, and my neck, and I didn't recieve a single scratch.
I don't know if I will continue to use them however. Especially on that bridge yesterday, I noticed that they can restrict my movement pretty badly. If I have to lift off fast, my wings usually scraped against the scales. When I breathed in deeply, I could only to so with much effort, since the scales restricted my torso.... I don't know.... Either way, it would be an awefully wastefull thing to do, if I just threw them out... Maybe I can do something else with them?
Day 33
evening
written by Sweetie Belle
That felt good. After using so much magic for so long, I felt awefully tired. I wonder were Twilight's gone off to.