And Lo, there was a Pale Horse
I had seen birth and death but had thought they were different. - T. S. Eliot
October 13, 18 A. S (Age of Sisters)
Within the final moments of daylight, the sun bathed everything in a deep golden hue. It was the perfect ending to a very long day. With but a glancing thought Princess Celestia reached out and gently guided the stellar body for its final descent into the horizon. At the end of long hallway, which open to a private garden, populated by rare birds and flowers of every imaginable color and scent, stood an immense wooden doors with twin unicorn guards donned in ebony and crimson. As the princess approached the guard, their horns began to glow (green and white respectfully) and the heavy teak doors creaked and slowly swing open. Celestia glided past the guards and entered the foyer.
The guards replied in unison, “Good evening, Goddess.”
“Thank you, and you as well my little ponies.” Princess Celestia chimed.
Just before the doors sealed shut, Celestia could have sworn she heard the muffled exchange between the guards excited that a celestial being would even acknowledge their existence.
“
Heh… still got it.” Mused the sun princess with a well-placed smirk on her face.
Using her magic to remove her golden crown and regalia, she placed them on one of the many couches that populated the apartment she was staying in. The door to the private bedchambers began its beguiling siren song calling the solar monarch to her pillowy doom. Celestia, unable to resist the call, floated toward it like a fluffy cloud on a summer breeze. Once inside the room’s inky shadows, Celestia stretched and scratched herself in a most unprincessly like manner.
“Oh thank Mother, the day is finally over!” moaned Celestia. This was the first moment in ten days travelling thru the Ki-lin Empire. It would have been shorter, but due to an imperial honor guard sent by the Emperor and Empress to vanguard the Solar Goddess on a sightseeing tour through the expansive territories. A tour of breathtaking wonderment; jade green plains, crystal clear rivers, monuments to the power of the imperial family, and the legendary gates to the Imperial City, Neighpon. After the pomp and circumstance of the reception, exchange of gifts, and a private dinner with the Imperial family, this was the first time in ten days that she was alone. No more events, no servants, and most importantly no responsibilities – utter perfection. Suddenly a crowning idea popped into her mind.
“ A bath! A long, hot bubble bath is just what this princess needs.” Celestia reasoned.
Being an immortal, the number of things that can stun oneself into stupefaction is very low. That being said, this is one of them. A guest bathroom, in Celestia’s mind, was always going to be small, even for a visiting monarch or in this case a deity. When she opened the crystal door, all those previous notions were shattered and thrown onto the floor. First of all, the room was large – no strike that. A canyon is large; this room’s volume could be measured in cubic miles! Everything was either marble, gold, or polished ornate wood; from fountains and springs, to the lounge chairs and massage tables for the weary pony. Beautiful ornate tables, laden with Neighyptain cotton towels and exotic refreshments, dotted the room. The one thing that dominated the room was the tub. Celestia figured there was enough room for three of herself with wings fully extended. She lowered a hoof into the jasmine scented bubbly water and found it absolutely wonderful. One added perk was that smoothing background music playing, but curiously the music stopped when she pulled her hoof out.
“I really must ask them how they do that.” Mused Celestia.
“Tia? TIA? Is anypony there?” a voice called out from the bedroom.
“Luna!” Celestia exclaimed, as she galloped to the bedroom.
The voice came out of a small mirror, which rested upon the vanity table. To Celestia, it was worth more to her than the entire treasury of Canterlot. For it served as a direct link with sister, the Princess of the Night. When she peered into the mirror, instead of her jovial, bubbly sister, there instead was a brooding mare with the most intense scowl on her face.
“Problem, sister?” Luna remarked without moving any other facial features.
“No. But apparently, you do.” Celestia snarked, while levitated a bottle of Applejack’s vintage whiskey from her personal luggage, filled a highball glass and downed the contents within the span of a few seconds.
“I wouldn’t say that per se, but it must be real nice to be on an extended vacation.” Luna bemoaned while rolling her eyes in mock sarcasm.
“Working vacation, remember that.” Celestia retorted as she polished off her fifth drink. Feeling a more relaxed she continued. “ When word got out that Discord was released and ‘reformed’ (insert image of hooves doing the air ‘quotation’ movement here), it strained our relations with every major powers on the planet. That is why I am on this diplomatic goodwill mission to convince them that Discord no longer a threat.”
“THEN WHY DIDN’T YOU SEND ME!?” Luna raged.
“There are two very good reasons. Firstly, the conflict near the Crystal Empire calls for more unique skill sets. And remember this little fact; Shining Armor is Canterlot acting as Regent while we are gone and Cadence is running the Crystal Empire. In addition her powers of love would have little effect on the battlefield, don’t you agree? Secondly, ponder this for a moment, if I was a hypothetical ruler of a foreign country listening to pony who used to be Nightmare Moon trying to convince me that Discord has been reformed? Any questions?” Celestia calmly explained while finish the bottle of whiskey and searching for the second.
“FUCK…YOU...TIA!” seethed Luna through her teeth.
“Aw, don’t be like that,” Chided Celestia. “I’ll send you on the next trip, in a few centuries. Maybe.”
Luna’s face took on a granite perspective up to the point where it appeared she stopped breathing.
“Anyway…changing the subject. How goes everything on your end, Lulu?” Celestia asked while struggling to restrain a smirk.
“Fine. Just fine.” Luna said through clenched teeth.
“While not travelling on a round the world trip, war does come in a close second. You should have seen it Tia. Those foolish cultists thought they could control the Elder spawn with their chants and containment circles. Hah! The looks on their faces trapped between two living hells. They were crushed soundly, but they were able to soften up those demons for us to drive by to Tartarus. That reminds me to thank Cadence for the use of some her troops. Even though they have been gone for a thousand years, the ferocity in their assault was on par with my own soldiers in both discipline and viciousness.” Commented Luna.
Out of nowhere a scroll materialized out of thin air and landed in front of Celestia’s hooves. A small sigh came from the solar princess while shaking her head. “It must be from Twilight. I thought I gave her instructions to hold of on the friendship reports until my return.” Celestia said in a defeated tone as the scroll floated to eye level. Only then she noticed the seal of the Crystal Empire on the wax. “ Oh! It’s from Cadence!” exclaimed Celestia.
“What does it say?” Luna inquired.
The scroll unfurled and Celestia began to read aloud;
Dear Celestia,
I hope this letter finds you well. I write to seek your council in a pressing matter. I have been in communication with Shining Armor until two months ago. Any communications to and from Canterlot has been silent. I am unable to send any messenger due to the increased hostile activity from Luna’s campaign. I would be eternally grateful for any assistance.
Cadence
“Luna? Have you been receiving any progress reports from the night court or your intelligence division? Asked Celestia.
“Hmmm…now that you mention it, I haven’t received any reports in a long while. Have you?” responded Luna.
“No. But that is to be expected since I am travelling abroad, and I arranged it so you would receive all the day reports.” Celestia said with increasing concern.
A disturbing thought popped in to her mind. If the communications were being blocked then something dire must be running afoul. Celestia closed her eyes and mentally travelled back over the oceans and continents, until the seat of her realm came into range. What she found was not her castle, nor her subjects, it was a void, An inky orb that cover the entire mountain range that cover not only Canterlot, but Ponyville and the majority of the Everfree forest!
“What is this abomination? I never seen a barrier this size!” thought Celestia trying to fathom who could create such a thing and what purpose. She focused on her magic radiating from her horn, which blasted a cone of light into the barrier. At first nothing happened, then large cracks raced across along the surface and titanic geysers of ichor erupted and plunged to sky into a formless abyss. Celestia began to panic and bolted from the barrier, but to her dismay she remained relatively in the same spot. A low rumbling groan filled the air and drowned out all other sound. A single eye miles wide, opened and focused on the Alicorn ruler of Equestria. Suddenly millions of mouths creaked open revealing blood, ichor, and broken teeth, and deep within the darkness poured out the tormented screams of the damned. Celestia blacked out and began to fall.
As she plummeted toward the earth, she heard a voice slowly growing her mind. “Tia…Tia…TIA!”
Celestia gasped back into reality with an ear-piercing scream. “Tia! Are you O.K? What in Tartarus’ name happened?” Luna said relived, with her hooves and face pressed on the glass. The first thing Celestia noticed was something dripping on her pristine white fur. Blood, bright red drops smearing into an ugly smear on her chest and face. “What happened? Asked Celestia trying to regain her senses.
“You were staring into nothing, then had a seizure. While you were convulsing, scrolls began to pour around both of us. You then began bleeding from the eyes and ears, while silently screaming.” Luna said while trying to catch her breath.
“I think if I was anypony else, I would be dead.” Celestia said grimly. “Never mind that, look at those scrolls Lulu. In them will be the reason for setting up such a dangerous trap.” With a flash of light all the scrolls levitated and unfurled. With a couple dozen scrolls to read, she quickly scanned them for anything relevant. What she saw disturbed her:
“Bizarre deaths” “mysterious illnesses” “Timberwolf attacks”
“Disappearences” “Shining Armor dispatched”
“Discord missing” “Shining Armor missing.”
When Celestia reached the final scroll, her hold on the other scrolls broke and they dropped to the ground. She began to tear up and whimper in pure anguish.
Luna looked up from a scroll and asked. “Tia? What’s wrong?”
“How soon can you be back in Canterlot?” Celestia meekly stammered.
“The fighting is already over. All that left is the clean up operation, I expect to be over in a month, six weeks at the most.” Luna stated.
“NO! No, that won’t do. Luna, I want you to appoint your best generals to take over the operation. Gather your elite guard and make haste back to Canterlot. If you can get troops from the Crystal Empire, do so. I will leave immediately, due to the distance and size of the royal entourage will slow me considerably.” Dictated Celestia.
“What has happened?” Luna asked with increasing fear.
Celestia floated the scroll to the mirror to show her the message.
EVERFREE FOREST AND PONYVILLE DESTROYED. SURVIVORS UNKNOWN. HIGH LOSS OF LIFE.
Author's Note
Well this is it folks. My first work. Please bear with me, I have never done anything like this. It might be slow in the beginning, I do apologize. Please if you have any advice or comments (positive please!) all will be appreciated.
And Lo, there was a Pale Horse
Author's Note
Hi everybody! I'm so sorry for not updating in such along time. Due to accident that left me temporally paralyzed, I have been able to write anything on the computer. But I spent the time wisely, with outlines for 50 chapters done and about 10 chapters dealing with actions happening in the background.
Any constructive criticism is welcomed.
Enjoy the show!
1. First Blood
Ponyville - June 6, 24 ATS (Age of Two Sisters) 11:00p.m
The Everfree Forest, the true beating heart of the wild lands in Equestria, at one time it was considerably smaller in the past. But with the return of Nightmare Moon and with Discord becoming free and eventual reformation, the release of vast amounts of chaotic energies flooding the world provided a source of power for the primal force to run rampant. Within the span of ten years the area covered by the forest grew to ten times it original size. The local landmarks swallowed up almost overnight, the Whitetail Woods, Ghastly Gorge, and the Froggy Bottom Bog. All obliterated within the verdant prison.
The creatures of the woods, timber wolf to hydra have become silent in its borders, as if some terrible being stirs within the darkness. The collective breathing radiates as to give the woods appears itself as a living being. From the spires of Canterlot Castle, the Everfree gives the viewer the image of a slumbering behemoth with Ponyville resting in its open maw.
Ponies, by nature, are a skittish lot. At the first sign of danger the flight response kicks in and survival is the goal. Traveling in the Everfree Forest during the day would be the actions of either of exceedingly brave or incredibly stupid pony. But to travel in the woods at night, utterly insane.
Two hours ago, the residents of Ponyville entered the woods.
Sweet Apple Acres - June 6 7:30 p.m.
"Care to repeat that, Rainbow?"
"I said, Scootaloo never came home for lunch and dinner. Plus nobody seen her ALL DAY!" gasped Rainbow Dash.
"OK, just calm down for a sec, sugarcube." Applejack reassured as she turned and approached the stairs. "Applebloom! Can you come down for a bit."
From upstairs the sound a door swinging open and the sound of small hooves reaching the stairs and slowly descending. A small yellow filly with shockingly red hair stopped halfway and asked, "What wrong, sis?"
"Nothing really, I just have to ask you a question. Have you seen Scootaloo today?"
"Yeah. We were crusading this morning. Didn't get our Cutie Marks in lumberjacking. Me and Sweetie Belle had to go. I had chores and Sweetie Belle had to go to the Dentist."
"When and where was that?" asked Applejack.
"I think it was around ten o'clock this morning and around Fluttershy's house near the forest."
"WHAT!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash as she zoomed toward the stairs.
Applejack clamped down on Rainbow's tail and stopped her in mid-flight. "Hold your horses, Rainbow. We'll find her, but we gonna need some help. Hey! Big Mac!"
"What's with all the hollering, AJ?", rumbled the red stallion.
"Scoots missing. She was last seen near the Everfree and we need to mess of ponies to go look for her."
"I reckon that we split up and meet up just outside the forest."
"Good thinking, Big Mac. I'll take the western half. Mac, you take the east. And Rainbow, you take care of the pegasus."
"Come on, let's go already!" echoed Rainbow Dash as she bolted out the door.
"Ready?"
"Eeyup." Both Apple siblings nodded to each other and ran into the gathering twilight.
Everfree Forest entrance - June 6 9:00 a.m.
Ponyville began its second week of an intense heat wave. Such weather would be unthinkable, but with the encroaching and eventual encompassing of the town the local weather team have not been able to get into any sense of order. For the most part, the residents of the town became accustomed to the new weather systems. They figured if they could get used to Pinkie's antics and fourth dimensional shenanigans, mutant breezies, and Discord's triple mental breakdown, a little strange weather would just be a cake walk.
Along the winding back roads, the town's tenured librarian made her along the babbling brooks and the hidden gardens that pepper the farms. Pondering some arcane lesson or theory assigned to her by the Princess. So engrossed in thought she failed to notice the pony gesturing to her.
"Halt! Stop where you are!" Called out the officer.
"Oh! I'm sorry... Officer Gold Shield. I did not see you there."
"That fine, Miss Sparkle. So where are you off to this morning?"
"I'm on my way to Zecora's hut for some balms and monthly supply of herbal tea."
"I'm sorry, Miss Sparkle. It is far too dangerous for anybody to enter the forest for the forseeable future."
"What happened?"
"There have been an incident in this area. Possible animal attacks, we sent word to Canterlot about both crime areas."
"What do you mean crime areas?"
"This neighborhood here and the small campgrounds near the forest. Within both areas there were a total of eight fatalities."
"EIGHT!!!"
"Well, we received a call from Ms. Tealove this morning. She found Mr. Waddle dead in his living room. When we arrived, our first order of duty was to reach out to his neighbors if they heard or seen anything usual. That when we discovered Mr. and Mrs. Dandy."
"Oh my Celestia."
"That not the half of it!" bellowed a gruff voice radiating out of an open door.
"Huh?" puzzled Twilight.
"Yup. This is turning into a righteously fucked up day, and I haven't had my coffee yet." exclaimed the unicorn as he walked out the door, pulled a match and cigarette out his jacket pocket with magic ignited the match and lit the cigarette. His build reminded Twilight of Big Mac but that where the comparison ended. Even though he was tall, he resembled an emaciated prisoner. Everything about him screamed illness and poor recovery. From watery eyes to mane and coats several shades paler than everyone in the vicinity. He should laying in his death-bed, but he was the head physician and lead medical examiner.
"The name's Suture. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." deadpanned Twilight.
"I could have sworn that I heard that you were heading to your friend's home, right?"
"Yes, I was actually. Why?"
"And she lives in the forest right?"
"Yes! Her name is Zecora, and she been living in those woods for years. What happened?"
"I'm sorry to say your friend is dead." said Suture as he took a long drag from his cigarette. "Along with everyone in the campsite."
"As the good officer here pointed out." emphasising the officer presence with the lit cigarette. "The campgrounds is the second crime scene, and it's a bloodbath. Wreckage strewed everywhere along with body parts." mumbled the doctor as he talked while smoking and fumbling for his notebook and scanning through his findings. "I studied each pile of wreckage, and I think I found out the identity of victims and possible causes of death."
"Let see...
- Trixie Lunamoon -
Broken down Magician cart. Body missing. Cause of death: Exsanguination.
...came to this conclusion due to the interior looked like it was literally painted in blood...
- Flim Crabapple and Flam Crabapple
Wrecked caravan wagon and off rail locomotive. Cause of death: Flim - Exsanguination and dismemberment. Flam - Exsanguination by removal of all major organs.
...didn't think those two would have the guts to so show their faces around here after what they did. Well, one of them did...
- Glida Ironclaw
Shredded tent. Cause of death: Exsanguination by dismemberment. Possible cannibalism.
...you would thing a predator would have put up a better fight than this...
- Zecora Spiritwalker
Trashed hut. Body missing. Cause of death: Exsanguination by beheading.
...I thought her body suffered the same fate of Miss Lunamoon, but when I found her head Miss Sparkle. I've seen hundreds of dead ponies in my position, but I never seen the look of abject terror that was here face."
Everfree Forest - June 7 - 1:20 a.m.
The inky blackness of the forest evaporated from the sudden presence of dozens of lights, plunging this hidden world into
blinding reality. Upon reaching the gates of the ruins of the castle of the two sisters, Big Mac spied among the muted grays of the stones a splash of orange and maroon.
"HEY! EVERYBODY! I FOUND HER!"
Fluttershy's House - June 7 - 3:00 a.m.
Downstairs in the living room, the air weighed heavy with anxiety. The silence was nearly so absolute that one could hear the pounding of hearts and the whispers of breathing throughout the building. Off in the distance, the faint closing of a door could be heard followed by the soft steps of the doctor making his way down the hallway and approaching the stairwell. With this the focus of everybody's attention toward the sickly unicorn descending down the stairs and approaching the group.
"OK, everybody. She's stabilized for now. She was in such a bad way she might not survived the trip to the hospital. And thank
you again Miss Fluttershy for the use of your guest bedroom. When her signs stabilize, I will have her transferred to the hospital."
"But what's wrong with her?" Asked Twilight.
"My primary diagnosis is anemia. Of what type I don't know. I took some blood and had it sent to the laboratory in Canterlot General marked RUSH and URGENT." After rubbing his eyes with his hoof, "For now, let her rest. Nurse Tenderheart is upstairs watching her now. I ordered nurses to come round the clock to give care. I'll back later today to check up on her condition. And don't worry, if anything should happen I'll be here right quick. Now everybody go home and get some sleep, doctor's orders." The doctor stepped outside, lit up and began walking home.
Everybody began filing out of the house, when Rainbow Dash turned to Fluttershy and asked, "Is it okay if I stay here tonight?"
"Absolutely."
Fluttershy's home June 10 - 11:00 a.m.
Scootaloo opened her eyes.
After some frantic phone calls later, the doctor, and the girls were in the room checking in with the filly. As the mares were
talking with the doctor and nurse, the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders approached their injured friend.
"Are you okay, Scoots? whispered Sweetie Belle.
"I don't know. I'm just so tired." replied Scootaloo while staring striaght at the ceiling.
"I bet you were scared out there." joked Applebloom.
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" screamed Scootaloo as she wrenched her head toward the two fillies and stare at them with such an intensity that would give a dragon pause. With that sudden outburst everybody turned and focused at the bed.
"I'm tired. I want to sleep." muttered Scootaloo as she turn her gazed skyward and closed her eyes.
Ponyville Hospital - 3:00 p.m.
In the conference room, the general staff of the hospital sat around a table discussing on the current situations of the patients in their charge.
"Nurse Redheart? How are the ponies in the wards?" asked Dr. Suture.
"We currently have three occupants: Carrot Top, Colgate, and Roseluck. They are in A ward. It looks like a bad case of the summer cold. Symptoms include increased fatigue, odd temperature shifts, and lack of appetite." reported Nurse Redheart while shuffling her notes.
"Okay, then. Continue observation and follow-up with reports every twelve hours on any change good or bad."
"Yes doctor." Nurse Healing Touch replied.
"Now on the subject of Miss Scootaloo Brightfeather. Her condition has not changed for three days. Each of you have been given copies of the case file for review. I'd like to hear any ideas or theories to this problem." Dr. Suture said after which he took slow steady pull from his coffee mug.
"Could it be some form of insect bite or some other virulent strain?" pondered Dr. Patchwork.
"It is a possibility. Upon examination, there were found such bites on her. You can see it in the photo, four small wounds on the
right shoulder near the base of the neck. But the signs of an infections are not there." stated Dr. Suture.
"How about a chemical or poison? She was lost for hours in the those woods. She might have consumed something that could be
responsible for this." stated Nurse Blueheart.
"Again a good possibility, but upon first inspection she showed signs of dehydration. Poison or any other foreign entity in some water source is a strong possibility. Because that possibility, I went to city hall records room and found the notes from the late Miss Zecora Spritwalker. She has been living in those woods for years. She created a detailed map of the Everfree forest including the locations of more likely threats. Scootaloo was found near the ruin castle and the closest threat is a half mile away." Dr. Suture said calmly.
"Lets visit my first theory, anemia. She does have some of the symptoms , but not enough of them to pinpoint to a particular one.
It could be any form of anemia: Iron deficiency, Thalassaemia, Aplastic, Haemolytic, Sickle Cell, Pernicious, or Fanconi syndrome. I just don't understand it. Some of them take months even years to develop, but with the sudden development of this aliment. I just don't know."
"Anybody else?" asked Nurse Candystripe. There was a knock on the door. "Enter."
A middle-aged mare entered the room carrying an envelope in her light orange magic. "Doctor, this letter was just delivered by
Derpy Hooves. It's from Cantorlot Central Hospital."
"Excellent! Thank you, Mrs. Ribbon." ejaculated Dr. Suture. His gray magic taking control of the envelope tearing it open and
unfolding it in front of him. His eyes narrowed as the irises raced back and forth in an increasing pace."What does it say, Doctor?" asked Nurse Redheart.
"Well, it says it is anemia. Iron Deficiency. But that not troubling me, these numbers just don't make sense . It shows that she lost about half her blood. But its impossible, she does not have any wounds or internal bleeding that would allow such a loss. I can't make heads or tails of it." puzzled Dr. Suture.
There was sudden crash in the hallway. Mrs. Ribbon came crashing through the door. "DOCTOR!!!!!"
"What happened?"
"It''s Scootaloo! She's DEAD!!!"
