From One Villain to Another

As the steel gate burst into life, Crimson dived into the cargo crated and pulled the cover over himself. Two stallions proceeded to pull the heavy crate into the deep, dark corridors, the gate slammed shut as Crimson lay in the wooden crate.

"So, you hear about that case in Ponyville," one of the stallions said.

"Yeah, even the captain is on top of it. Wonder what is so important that he is interested in it?" The other replied.

"Dunno, all I got was it some sort of strange death. Anyway lets haul this thing to the storage and get ourselves some lunch, I'm hungry".

"Whatever this thing is, it's heavy. We lifting solid steel or something?"

"Shall we pop the lid and see what's in here?"

"Why not? Who is else is going to see this?"

As the crate was slowly set onto the ground, one of the guard lifted off the cover to see Crimson asleep.

"What the?"

"I don't know, shut the lid before it eats us or something!" The other guard shouted as he slammed the cover back on.

"Whatever, it's been a long day. Let's get this thing to storage and go".

"Thing needs to lose a few pounds however".

"Hey! I can hear you!" Crimson shouted through the thin wood.

"What? Open it up, it is still alive!" As the cover lifted off once more, Crimson picked himself up and leapt out of the crate.

"Thank you gentlecolts, I think I can walk from here," Crimson thanked as he walked off. He was met with two spears as he attempted to make his escape. "Oh, in that case". Crimson charged up his horn and two fire beams stabbed the two guards' heart, who then fell to the floor almost instantly. Crimson walked off into the dark corridors as the two were left to bleed out.

"Right, now the fountain is said to be around here," Crimson muttered to himself as he looked into the empty, stone rooms that were scattered around the labyrinth. He wandered into a room, where several artefacts were on presentation. Unknown jewellery in display cases, statues on massive stone pedestals and unknown books on lecterns were set up orderly lines. At the corner of the room stood a wooden crate. Crimson pried to open and found a dark black fountain with a piece of paper rested on top. Artefact #102 Fountain of Souls.

"Bingo," Crimson said to himself as he lifted up the wooden crate with a pallet truck. As the crate lifted off the ground, three sky blue spectral ponies risen from the ground.

"Intruder alert, unknown race. Engaging in combat," one of the spectres said as it began to fire blue arcane beams from it's eyes. Crimson attempted to cast a beam of fire onto one of the spectres but it simply left a small scorch on the wall behind. "I'm guessing talking this over dinner is out of the question?" Crimson asked but ducked as a blue beam nearly hit him square on the face. He dashed out towards the corridor. "Behind door number one," he thought out loud as he kicked open a closed door.

As he locked the doors again, he looked around the room. Several types of weaponry were hung up on racks. Spears, maces, swords and many obscure types of weaponry littered the walls.

"I think one of those things killed me and I went to heaven!" Crimson said with glee as he began to take a double headed axe off the wall. A blue flame encased the edges as Crimson put his hooves on it. A small barrel lay in the corner, Crimson blew off the dust on the label. Unknown Powder #22. "Black Powder" . As the small barrel was lifted, several others were revealed in the dark corner. "Merry Christmas Crimson," he muttered to himself as he began to lift small barrels.

The doors burst open and the blue spectres began to patrol the room. The group of spectres clustered together and began to talk to each other.

"Intruder not located, begin to search compound?" One of the spectres asked. A small fizzing noise soon filled the room. "Attention, fire detected".

"Begin to search for fire source," another ordered as they begin to drift through the room once more. One of the spectres looked a small, metal box with a small symbol sketched on. As the spectre focused, it saw a smiley face with "Happy Birthday" scribbled on it.

"Attention unidentifi-" the spectre informed but suddenly the container exploded, releasing a force that shattered the spectre into small ethereal bits.

Crimson came out, pushing the pallet truck as fast as he could through the dust with two barrels resting on top of the wooden crate. As the spectres began to chase him, he threw one barrel behind him and lit the fuse. Suddenly a large explosion was heard and a wave of rubble began to chase him. Almost nearing towards the open exit, Crimson pushed the truck as fast as he could. The wave continued it's pursuit. The end of the tunnel was drawing near. The pallet truck was wobbling violently as it rocketed towards the light. Every split second counted. The wave of rubble began to get closer, closer, closer.

Crimson made it just in time, he threw himself and the truck out into the light. The wave of rubble stopped to obscure the entrance. As Crimson dusted himself off and put his hooves upon the bar. Several guards pointed their spears towards him, leaving only a few inches between him and the tip.

"Do not move, you are under arrest for crimes against the country!" An officer shouted who was wearing the regular golden armour, but had a platinum star in place of the normal blue star on the chest-plate.

"Well done, what gave me away? The explosions or the spectres alerting you?" Crimson asked mockingly.

"Silence scum! Take him to the dungeon," The officer ordered. They went to hit him with the base of the pole but was interrupted by a flash and a loud crackling noise.

As the flash receded, Crimson was gone with the wooden crate and the barrel.

"Where did he go? Find him!" The officer shouted impatiently.

"Over here!" Crimson called, holding a small spherical container. "Catch!" Crimson threw the sphere at the squad of guards, as soon as it hit the ground, an explosion erupted. Several guards began to fly towards him but was soon blinded by another flash.

A small boat was awaiting for Crimson, there stood an impatient looking mare. She had a black mane with a purple stripe running down one side of her fringe. She had a light grey coat and wore a small necklace around her neck.

"Got it, as well as a bonus!" Crimson said with a grin on his face.

"About time, you took your time getting this darn thing," she complained.

"Now now, is that a way to talk to your lord," Crimson said as he transformed back into his human-like form.

"I don't care about these little colts in robes, all I care about is bits. That's all," she spat back.

"I thought you were in a family that has a good history with necromancy?"

"I do, doesn't mean I agree with their religious views. Anyway, get this thing on the boat and get your flank out of here!"

"Will do, meet you at the cave". With a small gesture of his hand to form a salute and ran off into the streets.

The entire city was barren, silence filled the streets which made the howling wind be present for the first time in the city in a long time. As Crimson stepped out, the sound of hooves was heard in the distance. As Crimson dashed out into the streets and hid behind a food stand, a parade of crystal guards marched down the streets towards him. As they halted in unison, they lowered their spears and dispersed to search for Crimson. He moved stealthily through the side walk, gliding from cover to cover, turning his head towards the crystal behemoths tearing up parts of potential cover.

Canterlot Castle, Throne Room

As Princess Celestia sat on her throne, talking with guards clad in platinum coloured armour. A young rookie burst into the room, holding a scroll with his mouth. As the officer grabbed it with his telekinetic grip, he looked in concern.

"Are you sure rookie?" He asked in confusion.

"Yes sir, apparently some sort of explosion caused the entire gallery to collapse," the rookie responding hesitantly.

"That place has the most advanced magic wards we have, how can this be?"

"Apparently, after the assailant escaped, he used some sort of black powder to stun the pegasus guards".

"I believe I can explain this captain," Princess Celestia interrupted. "This black powder you speak of, what exactly was the behaviour of it?"

"The powder detonated when the criminal used a fire spell, your highness," the rookie bowed as he informed.

"This is concerning, this powder was found in the ruins of a strange old tribe. This was taken to the gallery as it is a major threat to all of us," Princess Celestia grabbed a scroll and began to write a letter. "If you find a barrel being held by the ones responsible, do not use any fire magic at all. The amount we found it in will definitely harm a lot of my subjects".

"Yes, your highness".

"This letter should give you the identifying marks for those barrels, also orders for the field officers there. Be careful, this is surely something more dangerous than a common thief".

"Did you manage to get anything that can identify this criminal?" Celestia asked.

"Only one, a letter signed by the criminal," the officer replied as he lifted a small, tattered envelope towards Celestia. She grabbed it and opened it hesitantly, as the small piece of paper slid out. She began to read.

Remember me?

Celestia dropped the letter as she saw a small photo of a red, bipedal figure.

"Your highness?" One of the officers walked up to Celestia and picked up the letter. "What is this ghastly monster?"

"That, is the Warden. He was one of my personal bodyguards and always looked out for me, no matter where I was".

"So, how is this bad your highness?"

"He went insane after a necromantic cult known as the Children of Tartarus cursed him, he then turned on me and almost defeated me," Celestia shuddered at the memories. "I had to do one thing I hope to never do at all, I had banish him to Tartarus but I had to weaken him first. With the Solar Flare spell".

"Princess, you mean..."

"He was burned within an inch of his life, I just wish that he didn't make me use it," Celestia walked up to a small crystal ball. "You should know what he is like, before you encounter him". Celestia powered up her horn and fired a small beam at the ball, causing a hologram to project in the centre of the room.

"This is the known story of The Warden, or as I knew him before that. Aiden". Celestia shuddered once again as the hologram took shape of a bipedal creature.