Runes and Mercenaries

Game over, Vulsegardt thought to herself. She knew that she wasn't going to get off the hook that easy, but thought that at least, she would have more time. "What now?" she thinks to herself. With the guard holding Sweetie Belle hostage, Vulsegardt didn't dare to fight back. She just tilts her head towards Lilith and says, "I thought you were dead."

Lilith smirks. "Aww, aren't you happy to see me? Cause I know one person who will be very happy to see you," she says with a malicious smile on her face. "Tell me dear, where is your one handed friend Freddy?" she asks.

Vulsegardt didn't answer. She stared at Lilith with with an angered expression on her face.

Lilith smirks and looks at the guard holding Sweetie Belle and nods. The guard drags Sweetie to the nearest wall and slams her head against it. Sweetie responds with a cry of pain, followed by sobbing.

"No!"Vulsegardt shouts. "Leave her alone!"

"Where's your friend Vulse?" Lilith asks again, this time with a bit more serious voice.

Vulsegardt looks on the ground and begins to fake sobbing. "He died," she said, "Because of you! He bled out shortly after we left Canterlot!" she shouts.

Lilith smiles. "Nice try," she says as she smacks Vulsegardt on her face. "If he was dead we'd know that by now, but that's alright, he'll come after you and when he does, we'll be waiting," she says as she pulls out her revolver out of her holster. "Get up," she orders.

Vulsegardt sighs with defeat and reluctantly rises.

"Let's go," Lilith orders the soldier and the group begins to move out. Shortly after they leave the boutique Vulsegardt notices several Ponyville citizens, along with Ponyville and EarthGov soldiers, dead laying on the ground. She gasps as she sees Caramel, the orange guard pony dead, laying among the several other bodies. Vulsegardt stops and observes him with sorrow.

"Keep moving," Lilith says as she pushes Vulsegardt.

Vulsegardt looks at Lilith with hatred but continues to move. As group moved  towards the wall entrance for a few minutes, they encountered nobody. Ponyville was silent, only the sound of the dead rising could be heard.

The group stops as one of the dead Ponyville human soldiers on  the ground suddenly begins to twitch. He begins to shake, similar to having a seizure, before their arms fall off, splattering blood everywhere as they were replaced with sharp sword like bones. Vulsegardt gasps as the creature stands up, growls and begins to charge toward the group, but before it could reach them, its skull gets penetrated by Lilith's revolver shot. "Step up people, we'll have to leave this party early," Lilith says as the creature falls back down.

The group continues on until they reach one of the wall gates. There, two EarthGov soldiers were already waiting. As the group approached, they begin to turn the gate's controls and the gate begins to rise.

When the gate was half lifted, Vulsegardt hears a screaming voice, "Motherfucker!" She turns around to see who it was, as one of the EarthGov soldiers is suddenly shot in the head and falls down.

Lilith pushes Vulsegardt on the ground and begins to fire back, along with the soldier that wasn't holding Sweetie Belle.

The attacker hides behind a couple of barrels in attempt to avoid fire.

As Vulsegardt raises her head, she notices that the attacker was actually the bearded human that visited her in Rarity's boutique, Krater. As Lilith and the soldier seemed to be busy shooting at Krater, Vulsegardt gets up and begins to run by the side in attempt to run away. "This is my chance, I need to get to Sweet Apple Acres," she though to herself. Her attempt fails as she was quickly intercepted by one of the dead. As she turns around, she is kicked by the snout and falls back on the ground.

Lilith picks Vulsegardt up and lifts her arms with a stone in her hand. The stone begins to glow and Vulsegardt feels a strong magical force which teleports both Lilith and her across the wall.

"Forget it boys, let the dead have him!" Lilith shouts as she violently drags Vulsegardt to a truck that was parked near the gate.

Vulsegardt kicks Lilith in the knee and breaks free of her grip. She begins to run but is quickly intercepted by Lilith as she teleports in front of her and kicks her in the torso. Vulsegardt falls down and before she could get a chance of doing anything, Lilith smacks her snout several times until she begins to bleed and even then she keeps hitting until Vulsegardt completely stops resisting.

As the beaten mare seemed to have surrendered, she quickly begins to resist again when held but was unable to break free, Lilith's grip on her was too strong this time. She found herself unable to use magic, every time her horn glowed nothing happened. She, along with Sweetie Belle were thrown into the back of the truck.

Lilith dashes forward and begins to hit on the trucks wall with her revolver. After a few seconds the truck begins to move and the doors close.

The last thing Vulsegardt saw was Krater running with a rifle towards them with a furious expression on his face .

****

Vulsegardt concentrates and her horn begins to glow, lighting up her new prison.

"Sweetie Belle?" a voice is heard from the back.

"Rarity!" Sweetie Belle shouts with joy as she jumps into her sister's hooves. "I thought they hurt you like the rest. They... They killed Caramel," she says as she begins to cry.

"I'm alright Sweetie. Thank Celestia you're alright," Rarity replies as she hugs her sister.

Vulsegardt found that hard to believe, since Rarity was also covered in blood and bruises. "What did they do to you?" she asks with concern.

For a short time Rarity stayed silent. She looks at Lilith and then at Vulsegardt. "They caught me while was taking a walk outside of the walls," she answers.

"And why were you outside the walls?" Lilith asks.

"As I said, I went for a walk," Rarity replies while looking on the ground.

Lilith smirks. "And that's why you have bruises on your pretty little face," she says as she pulls out a walkie talkie. She presses the button on it and begins to speak, "Rex, I want you to sweep the entire area, bring me Fedor Conhanger and bring him, alive," Lilith orders.

"Yes ma'am," a voice is heard on the talkie and Lilith puts it back in her pocket.

"Why are you doing this?" Vulsegardt asks with a raised voice while facing Lilith.

For a few seconds, Lilith stares at Vulsegardt with a malicious smile on her face before beginning to speak, "Because... It's fun."

"Fun?" Vulsegardt says with disgust. "Are you utterly insane?!" she asks with a raised voice.

"Wouldn't you rather tell me where your friend Fedor is, Vulsie? I can assure you that it would be better for you if you'd just say it now," Lilith asks casually.

"I already told you that you killed him!" Vulsegardt shouts and takes a step towards Lilith but stops as the soldier who was also in the truck aims his rifle at her.

Lilith chuckles. "I see that getting your cooperation will be a bit more... interesting." she says with

another evil smile, "A bit more fun."

"You're a monster," Vulsegardt says.

Lilith sighs, "Have it your way," she says and smiles as she pulls out her teleportation stone and vanishes.

Vulsegardt sighs and sits down. She touches her snout but grunts shortly after, half of her snout on her left size was completely blue from Lilith's abuse.

"Why did they do this to us Rarity? We haven't done anything wrong, we shouldn't be here!" Sweetie Belle asks as she sobs.

"I don't know Sweetie, but it's all going to be alright, I promise," Rarity replies with a smile.

"But why would they keep you two alive after they've killed so many others?" Vulsegardt joins the conversation.

Rarity doesn't answer. She silently stares at Vulsegardt with wide eyes, mimicking that she should stop speaking.

Vulsegardt grunts and leans next to the wall, "What now?" she thinks to herself as she closes her eyes.

***

For an unknown amount of time later Vulsegardt opens her eyes and shakes her head and touches her snout, only to feel pain in it again. She looks around the truck noticing that the soldier who was watching them wasn't there anymore.

Before Vulsegardt could ask, Rarity begins to speak, "They stopped and dropped a few off," she said.

Vulsegardt gets up and silently crawls next to Rarity. "Rarity, what the hay is going on?" she asks silently.

"They waited for Twilight to leave. Disturbed the northern wall and swarmed right in from the southern," Rarity replies. "Tell me, your human friend is named Fedor Conhanger correct?" she asks.

"Yes?" Vulsegardt answers with suspicion.

"Are you sure?" Rarity asks again.

"I am." Vulsegardt replies. "Rarity, why did you really help us?" she asks after a few moments of silence.

"Because it was the right thing to do?" Rarity answers.

"In the boutique, I saw a dress. A dress that had my grandfather's name in it along with the same runes I saw on the marker." Vulsegardt says as she slightly raises her voice.

Before she could say anything else, Rarity puts her hoof on Vulsegardt's mouth, stopping her from going further. "Shh! They mustn't know." Rarity whispers.

"Know what?" Vulsegardt asks after she moves away from Rarity's hoof.

"It's not safe to tell these things at this time, especially now when they're going to torture you for information," Rarity explains in a hurry.

"What is she talking about Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asks with confusion. "Is it about the human who was wearing purple?" she guesses.

"Shush Sweetie! We mustn't speak of these things right now," Rarity says and silences her sister.

"At least tell me on which side you are in all of this," Vulsegardt asks with concern.

"On yours," Rarity replies with confidence, "We vowed to protect you."

"We?" Vulsegardt asks as she looks at Rarity with a mix of confusion and hope.

The truck stops. Shortly after the back door of the truck opens and behind it, several EarthGov soldiers were standing all aiming rifles on the group of three.

Lilith steps out of the crowd. "Ladies, welcome to The Crystal Empire," she says as she steps in the truck. "Graciously borrowed by Princess Cadence and Prince Armour," she continues with a short chuckle.

"Where are they? Princess Cadence and Prince Armour would never stand for this!" Rarity shouts.

"Heh," Lilith laughs, "Prince Armour went missing, leaving his poor pregnant wife here all alone. Lets just say that Atlax convinced Cadence into agreeing with his demands of borrowing the Crystal Empire for a little while," Lilith explains with a malicious grin on her face.

"Princess Cadence is pregnant?" Vulsegardt asks.

Lilith smirks but doesn't answer.

"What do you want with us?" Rarity asks with a raised voice.

Lilith turns to Rarity and smiles ,"I'm glad you asked marshmallow, Vulsie here is going up to the big man and you two are going to become part of our little crystal empire family!"

Rarity gasps, "You must have some kind of dysfunctional nerve, why would I ever work for somepony like you?"

"Because..." Lilith says and quickly teleports behind Rarity and Sweetie Belle, "The dead outside the walls aren't as nice as I am, so you have a choice. You can stay here and help us defend the empire," she stops speaking for a moment to grab Sweetie Belle by her mane, to which Sweetie whimpers in pain.

"No! Let her go right this instant, she did nothing wrong!" Rarity pleads.

"Or I roast your little sister on a campfire," Lilith continues speaking.

Rarity silently stares at Lilith with an obvious amount of fear in her eyes.

"Leave them alone Lilith, it's me you want, not them!" Vulsegardt intervenes.

Lilith smirks, "That may be true, but your friend here broke the law and now she has to do work for the community," she sarcastically explains and releases Sweetie from her grip. "But before

that, she needs to see the Judge and of course so do you," Lilith says as she turns to Vulsegardt.

Sweetie Belle instantly jumps back to Rarity and sobs as she hugs her.

"The alicorn council won't stand for this, you better stop before things become difficult for you Lilith," Vulsegardt threatens.

"The alicorn council won't stand for this," Lilith imitates Vulsegardt and let's out a small burst of laughter. "Don't rely on your little gang of Princesses Vulsie, word on the street is that you helped one kill another and the third was forced to surrender. And little Twilight is in for a fight that is over her little purple head," Lilith replies with confidence.

"Those are lies! It was Ryan Atlax who killed Celestia not Luna!" Vulsegardt shouts.

"I don't believe you," Lilith childishly taunts Vulsegardt. "I'm getting bored now, how about you three move before my friends here lend you a hand?" she says as she points to the soldiers waiting outside the van.

Rarity gets up and pulls her sister up with her, "Come Sweetie, let's go," she says with defeat and the two begin to move out.

"This means you too Vulsie," Lilith says with a smirk.

"Buck you," Vulsegardt replies stubbornly and holds her ground.

Lilith sighs. She slowly approaches Vulsegardt and looks her in the eyes.

Both Vulsegardt and Lilith stare at each other for several seconds, Vulsegardt with hate and Lilith with a neutral face. Lilith then quickly pulls out her revolver and hits Vulsegardt, instantly giving her a black eye. She grunts as she falls down, putting her hoof on her face.

"She needs a hand boys," Lilith says with a raised voice, and soldiers enter the van, grabbing Vulsegardt and dragging her out.

Vulsegardt did not move. She stayed still on purpose, giving them unnecessary trouble.

Rarity walking alongside the soldiers looks around the place they were in. Although it really was the Crystal Empire it seemed different. Streets were full of soldiers and recruited civilians walking around with worried expression on their faces, like they are too afraid to even look at each other.

The group stops as they reach the Crystal Tower entrance. Lilith opens the door and the group enters.

Unlike the outside, the tower had strictly only EarthGov soldiers in it.

"Drop her," Lilith says after a few minutes of walking. And so they did, the soldiers drop Vulsegardt and quickly after one of the soldiers attaches a small machine on Vulsegardt's and Rarity's horn. It was a familiar device to Vulsegardt, as she wore the same device in Canterlot that blocked her ability to use magic.

Lilith pulls Vulsegardt up and opens a large wooden door that was in front of them. "Get in," she orders and after a few seconds of silence the group enters.

It seemed like a large office with a wooden desk on the middle. As they approach, Vulsegardt notices someone familiar standing besides the large office chair behind the desk. It was Xuri, the zebra who followed her and Fedor across the country. As they stepped closer, Xuri stared at them with wide eyes.

"Mission success sir, we got the unicorn," Lilith says with pride.

A human, sitting in the large chair behind the desk lifts his head and looks at Lilith and Vulsegardt.

"Ryan Atlax," Vulsegardt says with disgust.

"Ah, Miss Vulsegardt, finally we meet again," Atlax replies.

Vulsegardt did not reply. She kept staring at him with hatred and anger.

"Tell me," Atlax begins to speak as he looks around, "Where is Fedor Conhanger?"

"Why are you doing this?" Vulsegardt asks.

Atlax sighs. He looks as Lilith and nods, then Lilith kicks Vulsegardt by her torso and Vulsegardt falls down in pain.

"Vulsegardt!" Rarity shouts and tries to help Vulsegardt, but is quickly slapped by Lilith and stands down.

"I am the one who asks the questions miss Vulsegardt," Atlax says. "Now, where is Fedor Conhanger?" he asks again.

After a groan Vulsegardt answers, "Why don't you ask your psychopath here, she was the one who killed him."

"Is that so?" Atlax asks and rolls his eyes to Lilith.

"Yes, he died shortly after leaving Canterlot," Vulsegardt replies.

Atlax smirks, "That's very interesting, especially since my reports say that he was seen in Ponyville after your little visit to Princess Cadence here. I assume someone had to use Conhanger's gear to teleport, or am I wrong?" he asks with a small smile on his face.

Vulsegardt doesn't answer. She was thinking as fast as she could but Atlax could see it in her eyes that she was lying.

"What's the matter miss Vulsegardt? Tounge faster than your mind?" Atlax taunts.

Vulsegardt only glares back.

"Where is he?" Atlax shouts.

"Out of your reach," Vulsegardt smugly answers.

"Lilith, escort our guest here to where she will be staying. And make sure she gets the proper treatment," Atlax orders with an upset voice.

"With pleasure," Lilith says with a smile and grabs Vulsegardt by her neck.

"What do you want from us?" Vulsegardt shouts as she begins to resist Lilith's grasp.

"What I want is to know where Fedor Conhanger is," Atlax repeats himself.

"But why?!" Vulsegardt screams with anger.

While the conflict is taking place a human soldier runs into the office and whispers something in Xuri's ear. The soldier seemed to be high of rank, his armour was a different colour from the usual soldiers Vulsegardt had seen.

"Alright, inform the troops and transport," Xuri orders the soldier.

"Sir!" The soldier says and leaves.

"What is it Xuri?" Atlax asks with a less upset voice.

Xuri looks at Rarity and thinks for a moment. "Sir, Princess Twilight Sparkle was confirmed to be at Rainbow Falls."

"We already knew that Xuri," Atlax replies with an aggravated voice.

"Yes but, our scouts say she has teamed up with Princess Luna and Celestia's right hoof Bright Judgement, along with some UNEE EarthGov representatives..." Xuri pauses.

"Should have known some traitors would get through. What else?" Atlax raises his voice.

"Thats not all sir," Xuri pauses for a moment, "The demigod Discord is also confirmed to be there. The Royal force is backing them up, said to be under control of Prince Shining Armour. Rainbow falls practically belongs to them now," Xuri says and takes a breath.

Atlax sighs and begins to think.

"Sir?" Lilith calls, still standing in the room holding Vulsegardt.

"Now we know where Shining has ran off. We can kill them all off now," Atlax says with a cold voice.

"Sir?" Xuri says with a worrying voice.

"You could barely take one Alicorn down, how do you expect to be able to take two down along with an army and a Discord?" Vulsegardt asks with confidence.

Atlax smirks and gets up. From the table he takes a stone and it begins to faintly glow. "You have no idea what I'm capable of Miss Vulsegardt. This stone has properties far beyond your comprehension. Celestia is dead, but her strength is mine. And I will use it to kill the other Alicorns and gain their power," he says with a passive aggressive voice.

The three captives look at their captor with fear. They weren't sure if he was bluffing, but the dead serious look on his face made them think twice.

Rarity was looking directly into the stone. She opened her mouth to say something, but changes her mind the last second, letting out a sigh.

"Take Miss Vulsegardt away Lilith," Atlax says and turns to Xuri, "Inform Rafael that I will be making an appearance, we must kill this rebellion before it spreads," he orders and Xuri nods as he begins to walk out of the room.

Vulsegardt could feel that she is being pulled again as Lilith begins to drag her, after a few seconds she stopped resisting and begins to walk by Lilith's side. She and Lilith leave as Rarity and Sweetie Belle stay in the office.

"Don't worry Vulsie, Ryan won't kill you. Well, at least not yet," Lilith says with a taunting voice.

But Vulsegardt ignored her. She was struck with fear because it all made sense now. Atlax poisoned Celestia, took her power and he he'll use it to kill the others while the people think Luna and everyone on her side is to blame. "But wait," she thought to herself, "If he had the stone all along, why bother sending me to Ares?" she thinks for a few seconds. "Fedor," she assumes.

"Hey Lilith," Vulsegardt begins to speak, "Why do you want me and Fedor? With everything we went through, you could tell me," she asks.

Lilith smiles. "Smart. But not smart enough," she replies. "You'll know soon enough," she says.

From there on there was a silent five minute walk. They left the tower, passing the city. It was mostly empty, only soldiers and recruited civilians were seen here or there.

"Where is everypony?" Vulsegardt asks.

"Where your friend marshmallow is going, the wall. Ryan wants able bodies to defend the Crystal empire," Lilith replies. "They have a choice. Stay and defend or die."

Vulsegardt sighs. "At least I won't be worrying about the dead for a little while," she thinks to herself. "I hope Fedor it alright," she begins to worry, "What if Applejack and Big Mac didn't make it back to the farm? So many things could have gone wrong," she keeps thinking.

"Alright," Lilith says and breaks Vulsegardt's focus. "Your home until further notice," she points to what seemed like a medical facility.

They enter and Lilith leads Vulsegardt down into the basement levels of the building. "Since you've been such a good girl coming with me here I think you deserve a reward," she says and opens what seemed to be a small observation room.

Vulsegardt looks at Lilith with confusion as she is pushed inside and the door is closed and locked behind her. She turns around to observe the room, noticing that there was someone else inside. She looks with shock as she says, "Grandpa?"