Chapter seven: unexpected homecoming

EQUESTRIAN SOULS
Chapter seven: unexpected homecoming
Written by TheCrimsonDM

We all stood completely still and silent for a few moments, it felt like I was waiting for something to happen. The first one to move was Storm Feather as he walked forward and greeted them saying. “Hello brothers, what business do you require of me?”

The two black griffons looked very similar to each other, but vastly different from Storm Feather. The black griffon on the right had a scar over his eye, his scarred eye was milky white. The other one had no scars but they both looked dangerous. So far the only one to speak was the unscarred one. The unscarred one continued to speak. “This is flock business only, no outsiders allowed.”

Storm Feather looked at us and said. “I will need to talk to them alone for awhile. Let’s all meet up at the Crusader guild hall shall we.”

I nodded in agreement and watched the three of them walk off into town. I looked at Moon Shadow and knew that he was to only one who could do this for me. I said. “I want you to tail them, make sure that Storm Feather is safe. I will meet you three at the guild hall.”

He nodded and walked off after them, I knew he was one sneaky pony and could get the job done. As for me I would take some time exploring the town, find a merchant who would have some supplies or something. I felt confident that I could find the guild hall on my own.

While exploring the town I found myself walking next to a set of abandoned buildings, when I suddenly felt something familiar. The air began feeling like I walking through water, and a powerful energy began rising inside of me. I was in another magic zone, and maybe that meant the merchant was here.

The closest building turned out to be a little shop with various masks and weapons hanging from the walls. I found myself interested in the various swords here. “Maybe I’ll buy one” I said to myself as I went to the counter. I couldn’t see the merchant anywhere but this place felt like the last shop. There was a little bell here too. As I reached for the bell with a hoof I stopped as I began hearing somepony singing in the back room, actually it sounded more like a chant.

“Bubble and boil, trouble and toil. With this elixir my plan won’t be foiled.” Was being chanted by a deep male voice, as I looked around to see the mask wearing shop keeper stirring a pot of glowing liquid with his magic. The shop keeper noticed me and smiled saying. “Ah so you have come back to me my dear.”

I found myself both curious and worried at what the pot contained prompting me to ask him. “What are you doing?”

He smiled and said. “Oh I’m just making soup, would care to join me for lunch?”

Although I felt a little better now that I knew he was only making diner, I was still angry at him. He was the earth pony who sent me into a death trap and I blamed him for not warning me of the danger. I stood up straight and said. “I didn’t come here for you. I’m her e for information.”

He stopped stirring the pot and began walking towards me he said. “Information is after all a commodity I trade in. what do you need Light?”

I stepped back as he approached, I couldn’t place the reason why, but for some reason my danger sense was going off. It could be due to the fact that he knew my name, or maybe everything after the Mire and Ponyville, everything was going to feel threatening. Either way I wanted to know what his deal was so I asked. “How do you know my name?”

He smiled at me, and although I couldn’t properly see his eyes with his mask on I could feel him winking at me. He then said. “Didn’t you give it to me dear?”

I was also still angry at Twilight for making my home town off limits, and this stallion’s lies were not helping. I then said with anger lacing my voice. “I did not.”

He smiled slyly at me saying. “Oh so you did notice after all. Not many ponies do my dear. You’ve earned some manner of respect from me.

“I don’t give a crap about what you respect or not. I want you to tell me how you know my name, and how you know Reed.” I ordered him.

His smile faded a little as he said. “It’s very simple Light. I have met both you and Reed before. Although I doubt you would remember.

I found myself really not liking him right now. Since he was being more or less forthcoming with information, so I decided to calm down a little before saying. “Well you know my name, but I don’t know yours, may I ask?”

He continued smiling before saying in a professional manor. “Welcome to Masquerade’s shop of mysteries. I am Masquerade.”

I wondered if he was really named that, or if it was some kind of alias. I didn’t care about that right now, I knew what I needed and it looked like he had it. “I need to obtain some armor and a new weapon,” I told him matter of factly.

His smiled left as he asked me. “What happened to my old sword?”

I pulled out the broken handle and set it on the counter with a thud saying. “It broke.”

He pouted his bottom lip out saying. “Aw that was a good blade.”

Looking at the sword now I realized that it really had been a good weapon, even if it looked like crap. I sighed before saying guiltily. “Sorry I broke it.”

My apology seemed to cheer him up a little. He then ducked his head underneath the counter grabbing a long sheathed blade from under the counter and placed it on the table gently. The sword’s sheath was made of oak wood and seemed to have been constructed by somehow twisting braches together into its current shape. The handle was made of dark gray wood, and as he unsheathed the sword I got a good look at the blade.

The blade was made of a shiny silver metal, with designs of swirls along the length of the entire sword. It was perfect. Masquerade than explained. “This is the legendary Madness sword, forged by ponies possessed by mad gods it was used to slay the god beast. This sword will cause any sentient creature to suffer hallucinations after being hit by it. Should you find the Madness mask and use the blade it could summon creatures of pure destruction to serve your bidding. And this sword can be yours Light, for the ultra low price of only one hundred.”

My mouth dropped, if this blade was truly as good as he said it was, and only cost one hundred bits…I needed this. I then said excitedly. “I have a hundred bits. Let me pull them out for you.”

As I reached for my money pouch I heard Masquerade explain. “One hundred thousand bits.

I stopped looking for my purse, looked up at him, and said in disbelief. “What.

He smiled saying. “You don’t think I could let a weapon this destructive go for any lower do you?”

“I don’t have that much. I only have,” I grabbed my purse and looked inside remembering the merchant from the sewers I continued, “ninety bits.

Masquerade gave a soft chuckle while he put the beautiful sword back behind the counter saying. “I don’t think you can buy anything for only ninety bits. But maybe we can still reach a deal.”

I didn’t like the way he said that, but I sighed and asked. “What did you have in mind?”

He started grinning before he explained. “One of my customers has requested a special item from me, but sadly I can’t leave the shop to get it. I had sent out a young huntress named Rainfall. But she has yet to report to me, so I would like you to go and get both the pony and the item back, if it’s not too much trouble.”

I actually had a lot of questions but I figured I could get the answers after I knew more about this mission. “What item is it, and where is it?”

He clapped his fore hooves together once before saying. “I am so glad that you’re willing to accept the mission, it’s a simple one to be sure. I need a small orb called the Soul of the Moonlight Butterfly. If you can obtain it from the old ruin’s just south east of Ashwood inside Froggy Bottom Swamp, that would be wonderful.”

I didn’t know anything about this place or the things inside it, but this sounded like a simple quest. “Alright,” I agreed, “what do I get for this?”

He dropped down behind the counter again before quickly popping back up with a bunch of stuff that he then proceeds to drop on the counter saying. “I will give you a short sword, and some leather armor for the adventure. When you’re done, if your successful I will give you something special for your trouble.”

I enjoyed the armor and weapons idea, and after seeing that Madness sword I could only imagine at what kind of cool stuff he could give me for this mission. I had to have him assist me in putting the armor on though, as it turns out I didn’t know a thing about it. After he was done teaching me about armor, how to wear it and use it effectively I felt like a champion.

I turned to leave but I remembered that I still had one important question left. “What is up with your shop? When I met you last time we talked for a bit, and after I left I found your shop completely missing not a second later. How did you do that?”

He smiled and said. “Ancient pony secret.

I tilted my head to the side to show my confusion before saying. “what?”

He sighed and explained. “My shop is special, that is I’m afraid about all that I can say on the matter.”

Okay that answer was going to drive me crazy, but I had the feeling that he may not tell even if I begged. I decided to ask instead. “What is Reed doing?”

He frowned at me and said in a remorseful tone. “Reed is alive, and you will see him again. This much I can promise you, but I am not able to tell you anything that could…interfere. Trust me it’s for the best this way.”

I didn’t like that answer, but at least I knew now that he was following some kind of rules, even if he made them up himself. I said my farewell before leaving his shop. I made sure to check and just like the before the building I had just exited was now completely empty, with no signs that any pony had ever been inside there.

I traveled around town a little bit after that before I finally found the Crusader Guild hall. The guild hall was actually an old wooden building that looked more like an inn than like an office building. A lot of the ponies exiting it wore armor, and had weapons which contrasted the majority of town’s folk here, who wore simple clothing. I also noticed a few town guards around here they had gold colored armor with the symbol of a six point star on their armored flanks, in the same place as cutie marks.

Storm Feather and Moon Shadow were standing outside of the Guild hall waiting for me when I arrived. They looked pleased to see me, and I was happy to see them too. The pair of them we’re admiring my armor and sword. Storm Feather then asked. “Where did you get those?”

I smiled and said. “An old acquaintance of mine gave me these.” The two of them looked a little confused so I added. “Doesn’t matter right now, how did your business go?”

Storm Feather looked away from me before explaining. “Actually about that, my brothers informed me that the flock needs me for something. After I am done helping them deal with the Rainbow cult I would love to rejoin you on your quest my lady.” He then proceeded to bow before me.

I felt a little silly with a griffon roughly twice my size bowing before me. When he stood straight again I said. “We would love to have you back when you’re done. I was planning on staying in town for a little while anyway.”

He grinned excitedly at me before saying. “Rejoice, than we shall meet up again tomorrow. I cannot wait for this task to be done with, as being apart from you is an idea I do not enjoy.”

I facehoofed at the silly knight of mine, although I had to agree with him, I did not like the idea of us separating any more than he did. I decided to keep my little quest secret for now I could tell him all about it when he got back after all. As his black feathered brothers approached us he looked at me saying. “You two have been given permission to stay in my quarters here, I have also left you a present in there. Moon Shadow will take you to it.”

He turned to face his brothers greeting them by name. “Darkwing, Darkfeather my brothers I am ready to take flight to battle.”

The trio then flew off into the distance away from me and Moon Shadow. I didn’t like letting Storm Feather leave like this, but he had a life that did not revolve around me. Hopefully he would come back soon, and then we can continue in our quest.

Moon Shadow looked at me saying quietly. “We should get that present he left you. I think you will like it.”

The inside of the guild hall looked much like an inn, there was a desk near the front door, two other doors and a staircase were inside the entrance. The left door led to a much larger area full of tables where a few ponies sat drinking and playing cards. The door to the right led to a practice room filled with straw dummies and a couple of ponies sparing in a ring. We however walked towards the stairs.

The stallion behind the front desk took one look at us before whistling and saying. “Damn, Stormy said you were cute but he didn’t mention how sexy you were filly.” I could feel my face beginning to turn red from his comment. Embarrassing as it was it was nice to hear, and it made me wonder if Storm Feather really felt that way towards me.

The stallion then said. “Too bad you look smitten with him. Well I hope you two have plenty of Hippogriffs.”

I had never heard that word before, Hippogriff sounded kinda like some kind of snack food. I wondered if it had chocolate in it? That would be really tasty. I suddenly found Moon Shadow pushing me up the stairs saying. “Come on, we need to get that thing Storm Feather left.

The upstairs was comprised of bedrooms where the members of the guild slept in. After entering Storm Feather’s room I found myself in awe at his wall of weapons. There were a lot of different kinds of weapons hanging on his wall, and even several suits of armor. His bed was a mess, and had a few of his feathers laying on it. I suddenly became aware of how much his bed smelled of him, and that made me miss him a little bit, along with a few other confused feelings.

Moon Shadow levitated a steel war hammer towards me before placing it gently on the wooden floor. Moon Shadow then explained. “He wanted to give this too you, it’s a pretty good weapon.

I lifted the hammer up with my magic fairly easily despite the fact that its head was as big as mine. This thing probably weighed a butt load, and yet I had no problems lifting it with my magic. I than picked it up with my mouth, and although the thing was much heavier in my mouth, then with my magic, I found myself able to still weld it somewhat effectively. I really liked Storm Feather’s idea of a present.

Moon Shadow let out a deep sigh as I played with my new toy. He looked depressed, and I wondered why. I decided to ask. “What’s wrong?”

He looked up at me, his eyes looked sad as he explained. “I lied to you Light, I’m sorry.”

Now I felt a little worried, what did he lie to me about? I trusted Moon Shadow with my life, for some reason I could remember how I felt about him, and I knew he was probably the most trust worthy pony I have ever met. If he lied to me about anything it had to be for a good reason…right?

I set my hammer down by my side and let him finish. “Light I told you that I didn’t remember anything past the time we entered the Grays. That was a lie. I remember a few more things than I let on. I just wanted things to be like they used to, but maybe it’s best for things to change after all.”

He shook his head slowly while explaining. “The last time you and Reed were together, I remember you two fighting about something. I can’t remember what about exactly but it was bad, in fact I remember you breaking up with him. I was really hoping that you were trying to make up for it, but after the way you act with Storm Feather I realize that maybe it’s best if we don’t go after Reed.

He seemed to be shaking a little bit and he sounded so sad. After I dragged those two into the Mire in my search for Reed, he must have been blaming himself for everything we went through. I walked over to my green unicorn friend and embraced him.

His shaking didn’t stop but it slowed down as I held him and whispered softly into his ear. “It’s okay I know you didn’t lie to me out of malice. You and I both love Reed in different ways, but we do share a deep respect for him. He saved my life from a demon once, I could never forget that. I haven’t wondered about why I feel…like I do for Storm Feather. Maybe you’re right and we shouldn’t go looking for Reed. I think I could start a little life here with Storm, and you.

Moon Shadow pulled back a little bit so he could look at me. There were a few tears running down his cheeks from where he had started crying. He then whimpered before saying. “I don’t want to lose you, and the Grays are filled with demons. You’ve always had a hard time with demons. What if something happened?”

I pulled him back into an embrace and held him close to me saying. “I still need to go into the Grays though. I need to know exactly what happened to make me forget everything. I know my answers are somewhere in there.

He began shaking again and said. “Please forgive me, I can’t let this be like Pinkie.

I was now a little curious about what he meant, and against my better judgment I asked. “What happened?”

He let out a small cry before saying shakily. “She broke a pinkie promise to me, so I yelled at her…I ruined our friendship over something so stupid. I stole something from the royal archives, and I made her promise not to tell anypony. She told Twilight anyway, and I got mad…I can’t believe I did that.

I found myself very curious about what he had done exactly but decided to leave it here. “I forgive you,” I told him quietly.

I waited until he was able to pick himself back up before we left. I took the warhammer with me as well. I explained to Moon Shadow on our way out that I needed to find a pony named Rainfall, along with the Moonlight Butterfly’s soul. He didn’t like the idea of adventuring without our armored friend anymore than I did, but we needed to do this today.

On our way out of town we passed by an old abandoned tavern, its sign plaque had long since been unreadable but I recognized this place. It was called the Lit Fuse, and it was my home. I could remember vaguely how I used to live here, and serve drinks and food to my patrons. I had been a bar tender.

I walked inside the old building finding most of the tables turned over or destroyed. All the alcohol on the wall was shattered, but I should still have a cellar full if I was lucky. Moon Shadow fallowed me inside. This place smelled like dust, and was covered in it too.

There was a stage in the corner of the room complete with piano where I would sing sometimes. Me and Moon Shadow moved upstairs where there were ten bed rooms. And a few bathrooms, although they didn’t look to be in working condition. The last two rooms had name plaques on them. One of them said “Moon Shadow”, while the other one said. “Owner. Altar Light”

I smiled at the sight of my name. Even without a proper memory of this place I knew it was my home now for sure. There was no feeling greater than knowing that I had a home. I opened the door and found myself standing inside a small bedroom, there was a double sized bed in the corner, and a small desk along with a bookshelf. On the desk I found a picture of me looking a little younger and standing right next to Princess Twilight Sparkle. We both looked so happy in the picture, although she was a lot taller than me. I picked up the picture and noticed that it had been folded before somepony put into the frame. I suspected that there may have been a clue there.

I opened the frame’s back and pulled out the picture, it read.

“To my dearest student
Never forget the most important lesson.
Friendship is magic.
With love Twilight Sparkle”

I won’t lie this message indicated something that I really didn’t want to think about. Unfortunately I was thinking about it anyway. Was I Twilight Sparkle’s student? Did she have more students or was I it? Maybe she was a teacher in ponyville?

The picture was slightly bigger than the frame was, so I had to fold the picture a little bit again to make it fit. I noticed a single word written on the inside of the frame as I replaced the picture. The word “war” had been written. I didn’t understand why, but it gave me chills to think about.

I wondered then about what my old life was like for me. Three hundred years is a long time after all. After leaving my old room behind I took Moon Shadow and left this place. I vowed that I would fix this place up one day. I won’t let this place be forgotten. Together we left for Froggy bottom swamp.