CoH : The Silence of the Elements

Twilight collapsed on the bed with a sigh. The majority of her day was spent on a train and on a stagecoach, yet it felt so much longer. She would have been in bed earlier, if not for the bombardment of conversation that assaulted her as she and Spike returned to their hotel floor. In the chaos, for a few of her friends followed Pinkie Pie in over-excitement, she failed to catch the entire story. Apparently, their guide had introduced them to a couple of wealthy ponies, who generously offered to show them their businesses in the morning.

Despite her lethargy, Twilight was happy for them. Their afternoon was more eventful than hers, it seemed. The last few hours were dull. She was close enough to the ruins to see them in all their archaic glory, but that was about it. The rest of her time was spent either walking around aimlessly or watching the workers. Instead of performing their assigned duties, however, she caught the archaeologists and diggers in discernible paranoia—often gathering in small groups and speaking in hushed tones. Something had them spooked, and Twilight had half a mind to ask them what that was. When she tried to approach one of them, though, Antiquity was suddenly full of questions. The princess attempted to answer them to the best of her ability, but the little antique enthusiast was exceedingly talkative.

Nuzzling one of the soft pillows, and throwing a quick glance at the sleeping form of Spike, Twilight let out a rumbling groan. Tomorrow's another day, she thought. Perhaps Antiquity would leave her alone long enough for her to coax an explanation out of one of the paranoid ponies. Yet, the night was long and dawn was hours away.

So, Twilight closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift into the realm of dreams.

It was a field—a field of emerald grass and tiny, snow-white flowers. Twilight tenderly poked one of the petals as she took a deep breath of the cool night air. She enjoyed the tranquil area for a while. The tender wind, however, carried the sound of a rapid gallop. Her ears perked up. The rapid hoof-fall was getting closer and the starlit sky gradually became obscured by dark clouds. The rumble of thunder began to sync with the beat of the unknown hooves.

“What's going on?” whispered Twilight. Her heart pounded in her ribcage as she looked towards the origin of the strident sound. Closing in on her was the tall silhouette of another pony. Lightning then flashed across the sky, divulging the pony's flowing mane, horn, and dark, broad body; he was a unicorn stallion. Yet, there was something else—something that drew Twilight's attention to the stranger's face. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, and his eyes were wide with panic. It was as if he was calling out to her, but she could not hear his voice. It was hard for her to tell whether or not he even possessed a voice. The thunder was almost deafening.

The princess continued to watch him out of sheer curiosity. Whatever he had to tell her, it seemed important. Perhaps it was unwise for her to commit her attention to only the stallion, for when another stray streak of lightning lit up the field, Twilight failed to notice the second shadow that stood alongside hers. The owner of the shadow had no desire for her ignorance, though, and it slowly proceeded to poke her shoulder with a dirty, cracked hoof.

Of course, Twilight spun around to face the entity, only to find a set of narrow legs so close to her face that her nose almost touched one of them. Slowly, and taking a few steps back, she looked up. Her ears folded against her head, for the frightening figure that now stood before her was unlike any pony she had ever seen. A tattered cloak dangled from the mysterious mare's lithe form. It was a garment meant to conceal, yet there was no mistaking the crooked wings that clung to her sides. They were a fitting match to the bent, chipped horn on her head, just as her cloak matched the dirty bandages that were loosely wrapped around her eyes.

“Who are you?” asked Twilight tentatively. The other alicorn made no move against her, but there was something dreadful about her that the princess could not place. It was the kind of something that gave her goosebumps and made her blood run cold. Instinct dictated that she did not want the stranger anywhere near her.

Swallowing the bile that had accumulated in her throat, Twilight began to back away from the stranger. “Stay away from me,” she whispered.

The entity didn't comply; she simply didn't hear her, or she chose to ignore the soft plea. As close as they were, Twilight believed the latter as she attempted to put as much distance between them as possible. However, the malevolent mare was quick to close the gap that the young princess created. As soon as she was within Twilight's personal space, though, a darker, bulkier body crashed into her.

The stallion released a savage cry, shoving the ragged alicorn away from Twilight. His target, obviously, was enraged by his interference. She shrieked and reared back onto her hind legs. Her sharp hooves made for deadly weaponry, but the stallion was agile and he easily dodged. The alicorn was not discouraged, for she immediately tried to assault him once more. He dodged again, then he attacked with a magical blast, which she deflected with a shield spell. The cycle of their combat continued in that manner, while Twilight watched helplessly from the sidelines. Part of her wished to aid the stallion, but the parts that were her legs failed to obey. Instead, they trembled in fear of the unfolding scene. The ponies clashed—the Princess of Friendship temporarily forgotten—as they growled, screeched, and grunted in ways that were more animalistic than equine.

Then, without warning, lightning struck the ground near the combatants. The ground shattered like glass and the pieces, transformed into shrapnel, flew in all directions; some fell into the void that was revealed to lie beneath the turf. The hostile alicorn was the first to notice the emptiness. She was also the first to take advantage of it. Baring her needlelike teeth, she again reared, only to bring her front hooves down on the ground with all her might. At the point of impact, the ground fractured. The cracks rapidly spread across the surrounding area, as though it were a wildfire.

Twilight spread her wings and tried to fly, but they refused to lift her off the deteriorating field. Gritting her teeth, she flapped them furiously, only to meet the same negative result. A frustrated groan rumbled in her throat as she looked to her horn to cast a teleportation spell. Only, her magic didn't work. “No!” she yelled, a couple of useless sparks falling from her horn.

A few feet away, both the stallion and his nemesis fell into the abyss.

Her only other option was to run. So, she ran from the oncoming chaos as fast as her legs could carry her. It was futile; the field collapsed into the darkness beneath her very hooves. “No, no, no!” she screamed—flailing her forelegs as she tried to latch onto the remaining edge of the dreamscape. It fell short of her reach, dissolving before her eyes. There was nothing she could do to stop herself from plummeting and her frantic screams echoed off the nonexistent walls of oblivion.

~*~*~

“Twilight, darling, are you in there?”

Startled, Twilight looked up from the stone table. “Huh?” she gasped.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “We've been tryin' to talk to you, sugar cube,” she said. “You okay?”

Pinkie Pie bounced out of her seat and she nearly did a cartwheel on her way to Twilight's side, which she then leaned against. “Yeah!” she exclaimed. “You were just staring at the table. Why's that? Was there an extra-expecially interesting spot there? Or did the table have you in some sort of crazy trance!?” She nearly shoved the princess over as she leaned over a random spot on said table. Her face was so close to it that her nose almost touched the cool surface. “I'm onto you, table,” she hissed, as though it was enough to put the offending furniture in its place. It took only milliseconds for the pink pony's hostility to evaporate, however, and then she returned to her place between Fluttershy and Applejack in the blink of an eye.

Blinking, Twilight ignored Pinkie's outburst and she glanced around her ring of friends. “I'm sorry, girls,” she said. “I didn't mean to space out like that. I didn't get much sleep last night.” Admittedly, she was so caught up in her recollection of the previous night's terrible dream that she became detached from their breakfast get-together. It was Rarity's idea, as well as her treat, to have them all gather at the Rhinelander Bistro to enjoy a morning meal together, before they went about their planned activities. Twilight and Spike jumped at the opportunity to spend a little time with their friends, for the rest of their day would be spent at the dig.

“What robbed you of a good night's rest, dear?” asked Rarity. “Was your room not to your liking?”

Twilight shook her head. “Oh, no, the room was quite pleasant.”

“The beds are more comfortable than the ones we have at home,” added Spike.

“I guess I was just a little too excited about exploring more of the ruins to get any sleep.” It wasn't a complete lie. She was eager to return to the dig and there was really no need to concern them over a bad dream.

Besides, the others appeared content with her brief explanation. Even if they wanted to press the issue further, their minds were more preoccupied with thoughts of food. The waiter, a pegasus who presented himself as Maitre Dee, soon arrived at their table—the seven orders, as well as two large bottles, carefully balanced on his wings, back, and head. “Alright, ladies and dragon,” he said as he placed them on the table. “I hope you enjoy your meals on this beautiful morning and be sure to let me know if you need anything else.”

“Why, thank you very much,” replied Rarity. “But...” She held a hoof to her chin as she eyed the bottles that were brought to them. “We didn't order any juices, I believe.”

Maitre Dee reached into the pocket of his vest and he produced a notepad. “The juice is a gift from Autumn Royal. Both bottles are grape—fresh from her orchard. She also paid for all your meals.”

“Oh, my, how nice of her!” exclaimed Fluttershy.

“Yes, Autumn Royal is one of the most generous ponies in Reinvale.” The waiter bowed his head. “Now, if you'll excuse me.”

As Maitre Dee left to attend to the other customers, Rarity began to pour everyone a glass of the grape juice—content to let her plate of Prance toast, which she had already drizzled in maple syrup, cool a bit. “I hope you and Pinkie Pie will thank Autumn Royal for her act of kindness, Applejack,” she said. Sure, she had more than enough bits to cover breakfast, but she was thankful for Autumn's generosity. I'll put something together for her, she thought. I'm sure she'll love a scarf. No, no. Winter is quite some time away. Perhaps another ascot? Or hat? Maybe I'll make both.

Through a mouthful of alfalfa omelet, Applejack nodded and replied, “Don't worry your pretty little head, Rarity. Ah'll thank her. It's only right.”

Pinkie Pie only nodded; her mouth was too full of strawberries, whipped cream, and pancake to answer.

Twilight sipped at her drink after she downed a bite of her own pancakes. The juice was pleasing to her palate. It wasn't too sweet, nor was the grape flavor too strong. It had balance to it and one sip was enough to make her understand how Autumn Royal made her wealthy living. Although, not everyone had the same tastes. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spike scowl and push his glass away. “Something wrong?” she asked.

The dragon shrugged and poked at his hashed hay browns. “I just don't like grape-flavored stuff...” he retorted.

“Do you want me to order you a different drink?”

“Nah, I'll be fine.”

The gang fell into a combination of small-talk and silence. Twilight caught only bits and pieces of her friends' short conversations as she made quick work of her breakfast. Her assistant followed her lead, with the exception of the two glasses of juice she used to wash it all down. “Okay, girls,” she said as she stood. “I'm really glad that we got together for this, but Spike and I need to get going.”

“Already?” asked Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie pouted, which caused a smidgen of whipped cream to fall off her chin. “Can't you stay for a teensy bit longer?”

“I'm sorry, but the archaeologists are about to start their shift.” Twilight's wings flexed slightly as Spike climbed onto her back. “It's not like we won't see each other for a long while. We can talk about our day later this afternoon, when I'm done. I'll see you all later!” One strong flap of her wings propelled her into the air and, as they waved, she took her leave.

“That Twilight,” chuckled Applejack. “Always takin' her duties so seriously.”

“Well, she is a princess,” said Fluttershy. “She has to take them seriously.”

Rarity scoffed. “Come now, Fluttershy. You know how our Twilight is. Even if she hadn't been transcended to royalty, she would still be incredibly dutiful.”

Another minute or two of silence passed, then they all pushed their empty plates and bottles to the center of the table. Without Twilight and Spike, there wasn't much left in terms of conversation. As their alicorn friend said, they would see each other again come sundown.. They thought it best to bring an end to their get-together. The girls divided into pairs, then they departed. There was a lot of land for them to cover, for their destinations set on opposite sides of the restless town.