5 Effugiet a Servitute

Shortly into the second week of her imprisonment Rare had deemed her current cell to be inadequate for her needs. If she was going to make any progress at all there just had to be something for her to scrawl notes on, each spell she was shown was more complex than the last and she had yet to learn spells which were made by casting other spells in unison. A proper study was called for.

Of course a proper study couldn't simply be produced from thin air. But the three barrels in her cell were easily broken down into their individual boards, and a simple joining spell allowed Rare to shape them into a crude though functional desk. A few sharp kicks from her hoof dislodged enough clay roofing tiles to make a nice window, and the tiles themselves were easily scratched on with a bit of stone chipped from the floor allowing her to make crude note tablets.

Naturally the tablets filled up quickly, leading Rare to simply burn her notes into her desk, covering the surface with blackened runes, pictograms and the odd magic circle. Spartacus noticed her redecorating but a few assurances that she wasn't trying to escape, only be more comfortable combined with the fear he still had of Rare kept him from filing a report. I have to remember that the guards are a little afraid of me. I can use that to my advantage.

With one day remaining until her self imposed deadline to just use what she had to plot her escape Rare realized something important. “These tablets are useless to me.” She stroked her chin with a hoof, staring at the clay tablets in front of her on the desk. I can’t use these in a fight. I would be constantly shuffling them with my magic. I would be an easy target. But I can't cast anything especially good without them yet.

She mulled over the problem for a long while. It was crucial she get at least this part of her plan right. Who knew when she would need to cast a shield spell? I can barely do it with my book in front of me. Rare continued to mull various ideas over in her head. She did not think she could escape with the hoofful of basic spells she had mastered. Maybe I could try to simply sneak my way out. That would be best, but I may have to fight somepony anyways. I need to be prepared.

As she thought the floating purple light orb she had conjured to study by caught her eyes. Irritated she batted the orb aside, grinning as she noticed how the light trail left a streak of purple in the air. “What if…” She muttered before summoning a tiny blue light, adding a bit of motion to the spell as she cast it. The blue light zipped quickly in a small circle, its speed causing the light to trail, forming a full slightly flickering shape in the air.

Rare dismissed the circle of light with a satisfied nod. Ok, but can I make a more complex pattern? Throwing together a few simple spells Rare summoned three lights, each in the shape of a different rune which hovered together in the air in front of her. This takes almost no energy! It’s easy to do too… I should see if I can memorized specific light spells. If I can I’ll figure some easy way to display these in battle. Maybe have them hover around me.

She spent the rest of the night fashioning her note spells. They were a bit tricky to memorize, especially the more complex spells, but still easier than memorizing the spells themselves. The tricky part was coming up with a proper system to easily find what she needed. Eventualy Rare decided to simply color code them. Attack spells were done in red, defencive spells in blue, and utility spells were in green. The brightness of the light also factored in, a dimmer light took less power to cast.

The last thing to figure out was how to display her notes. This was a bit more of a stumbling block for Rare. The sun had long set when she was ready to figure out some system of note reference so she decided to sleep on it. Her sleep was filled with nightmares. Fiendish legionnaires chased her through the halls, her spells could do nothing against them, all she could do was run as fast she she could. Run far away from the hellish army chasing her. Suddenly the hallway became a dead end with only a single enormous tapestry at the end of the hallway.

The tapestry was woven from gold, copper, and silver threads which shimmered in the torchlight. It depicted a type of pony Rare had never seen before, a combination of a pegasus and a unicorn. An entire family of these ponies sat, an older female in the center with younger ponies arranged around her along a silver circle, each seated within their own circle on the larger circle’s rim. Rare just barely had time to take in the tapestry’s imagery before the fiendish foes threw themselves upon her and-

Rare’s eyes snapped open, her heart beating rapidly from the nightmare. That was the worst one so far… Why am I having these every night all of a sudden? As she rolled over to try and go back to sleep her ears twitched. “That’s it! The tapestry!”

Feeling refreshed despite the moon’s position showing only a few hours had passed Rare returned to work. I can make my notes follow me. So all I need to do is make a single spell which links my notes together like a book! If I make the ‘book spell’ a circle with circles on the edges which follows along with em on the ground, I can have it where I can slide my hoof to change the category of spell like turning pages! A simple step can then open my notes!

With a determined look on her face Rare began tailoring the spell to her needs. It was one of the most complex spells she had ever attempted. Four separate types of motion needed to be incorporated, it needed to also incorporate all of her notes, it needed light and shape. Working out the basic spell took half the day, working out all of the kinks took Rare until sundown, and getting the spell simple enough to cast and not drain her energy took until she was too tired to continue working.

As Rare lay down on her hey bed she grinned. “I’m ready.” she whispered. Tomorrow I am going to make my way out of here. But where will I go? With a yawn she rolled over and quickly fell asleep.

Mere moments later the dull red glow returned to her spellbook, “At last! Well done my pawn. Once you are free you are to begin your work. You will travel here.”

Rare’s dreams were suddenly filled with a vision of the forest outside Bluesteel’s palace. She could see the land as if flying above it, she moved north across the forest, threw some especially grim looking steppe lands, threw a dense tropical jungle, over ice capped mountains shrouded in mist, to a lonely mountain which reached far into the clouds.

She flew trads the southern side of the mountain, half way up was a massive carved stone door which was cracked and crumbling. She flew threw the door, inside was a long abandoned fortress quarried out of the very heart of the mountain. The rear most chamber of which ended in an impossibly deep cavern across which a single stone bridge lead to a second identical stone doorway which contained two gleaming golden doors. This one was intact, a masterfully done carving, two fluted columns holding aloft a triangular roof like section as if the doorway was the exterior of some ancient building.

A name was chiseled out of the stone which formed the roof shape. Centered on either side of a carving of an anvil engulfed within a single flame the pony sized letters read:

Vulcanus Camino

“You will go here. Do you understand?” Alhazred's voice whispered.

Rare squirmed in her sleep as the vision faded, “Yes…” she groaned.

“Good…” the red glow dimmed, seeping back into the pages of Rare’s spellbook.

~~

Rare jerked awake as a bucket of icy water was dumped on her. Gasping on the stone floor where she had rolled the first thing she saw was prince Bluesteel’s leering face, “Guess what? The Legion isn’t going to be where you end up.”

Rare sputtered, a good amount of the water had gotten up her nose. Horse apples! I need to-

“In fact as far as a certain somepony will know, you set yourself on fire rather than join his men!” the prince’s horn blazed with golden flames as he summoned a bolt of fire, his head dipped as he prepared to cast his spell.

Rare knew she had a split second, her own horn’s aura flicked on, the prince’ fireball streaked for her. With all of her will Rare telekinetically slammed downwards on the fireball which splattered across the floor with a crack leaving a faint scorch mark. “Oh really?” Rare shot back climbing to her hooves.

The prince took a step back, face contorting in anger but his eyes widening in fear. Rare swept her hoof, telekinetically slamming her cell’s door, smashing the prince with the iron bars and pushing him out of her cell. There were two guards with him, the unicorns were levitating their swords into position to strike.

Rearing up, Rare made a pushing gesture with her forelegs. The stone around her cell’s bars cracked. “Gods damn it, kill her!” Bluesteel bellowed.

Rare slammed her hooves forwards once more, her magic’s gold aura engulfing the bars and launching them forwards to twist around the two guards with a shriek of stressed metal. The two unicorns cried out in distress as the momentum threw them down the stairs.The prince cursed, starting to back down the stairs. Rare stomped her hooves down, a bright gold magic circle unfolding on the ground around her.

“I am going to enjoy this.” Rare grinned maliciously, swiping her hooves on the circle and pulling up her notes on defense.

“Guards!” The prince shrieked spinning to run down the stairs.

Ha! I think I know more magic than he does! Rare’s realization sent a jolt of confidence threw her. “What’s the matter? Wishing you listened to your daddy?” Rare yelled as she levitated her spell book from it’s hiding place and raced down the stairs.

The sound of Rare and the prince’s hoof steps as they raced down the tower’s stairs echoed off the walls. As she passed the two guards she had disabled Rare levitated a set of saddlebags from one, throwing them on and sliding her book inside with a quick, “Thanks!”

The prince took off down the hallway on the second landing down. Rare darted through after him, her horn flashing as a shimmering bubble like shield winked over her body. Ok, protection in place… Attack spells. She almost tripped as she performed the gesture to switch her notes but managed to stay on her hooves. She could see the prince ahead of her heading for a door at the end of the hall way. A wave of pure hatred welled up in Rare’s heart, planting her hooves she quickly pulled up the notes for her best attack spell and began reciting the incantation.

“Elysium’s light and Tartarus's fires, gather before me as one!”

The prince cursed again and began to run faster. Rare’s horn bleed gold light which spilled forwards, helixing around a stream of sickly green fire.

“Hallowed and Unholy Flames, strike now and set the very earth ablaze!” The double helix of fire exploded forwards in a single arcing bolt accompanied by a thunderclap. Tapestries, paintings, torches, and candles erupted in orange flames as it flew past. The prince dove forwards, telekinetically shoving the door open, sliding thru, and slamming the door home just as Rare’s spell slammed home. The door exploded into splinters, The plaster around the doorframe turned to ash, the stone beneath glowing a dull red for a few moments from the heat.

Rare dropped to her knees as the spell’s energy left her. Her breath coming in heaving gasps for a few moments. Ok. No more of those. Too hungry to do much more magic. The clatter of iron shod hooves on stone had Rare look over her shoulder. A century of legionnaires was quickly moving up the hall weapons drawn and shields shimmering in the fire light.

Rare turned swiftly, closing her eyes for a moment to focus, Please have enough energy… she mentally begged before intoning, “Star’s blazing light, ward my path!”

A wall of golden fire burst forth from the floor just in front of Rare, blocking the soldier's path as she ducked into the room to her left. Crap dead end! The room she found herself in was a large study. A table in the center held a map of the empire and some of the land to the north, a few swords and lances decorated the walls, and a writing desk sat by the window. “Ah ha!” Rare cried spotting the window.

Racing over to the window Rare glanced downwards, she was about two stories up, but there was a pony’s with roofing overhang a floor below her. I can make that. A quick telekinetic shove shattered the window, spraying the shards outwards as Rare hopped through the gap. Closing her eyes Rare hoped she didn’t jump too far. A second later a sharp pain in her legs and the crack of clay tiles let her know she had landed on the ledge.

One more peek, a jump, and a quick descent down a wood pile brought her to the ground. The clatter of the palace alarm bell echoed over the grounds. Guards bellowed orders and she could see a few of Equites racing to the palace doors. Rare glanced around her, she was on the southern side of the palace, I should go north. … Why should I go… No time to think, let’s just go. North it is.

Rare galloped as fast as she could towards the north wall. The palace’s flower garden flew past her. Then the herb garden, then the orchard. She rounded the corner of the east palace wall. She began to sprint for the north outer wall. Suddenly an arrow pinged off her shield, Rare winced at the sudden drain on her energy. A second arrow thudded into the ground, then a third, and a fourth!

She began to weave back and forth hoping to shake the archer’s aim, but with arrows coming from above, behind and ahead there was little she could do. Every few moments an arrow slammed into her shield. After six or so hits one arrow penetrated into the bubble, stopping a hoof’s width from her right flank. The outer wall loomed over her, a full three stories high and covered with legionnaires readying bows. I have to get over that wall… Before I lose my shield. Gods give me the strength for one more solid spell!

There was no time to change her notes, it had to come from memory. She closed her eyes and focused, all of her imagination bringing to mind speed, physical perfection, and acrobatics.

A second arrow burst through her shield, nicking her right foreleg before her shield caught it. “Ah! … Wingless I can soar,” she began.

An arrow whistled past her head, skipping off the shield and throwing sparks, “I may leap a great height,”

Another arrow smashed into her shield which exploded in a flash of gold light, blasting the arrow away, “I belong to the ground no more,”

Gathering her hooves under her Rare jumped as she shouted, “Icarian Flight!”

She closed her eyes, If I fail… She felt her hooves leave the ground, the wind blew threw her mane, opening one eye she could see the palace’s grounds rushing by beneath her. The walltop rapidly grew nearer and nearer until she could see six archers lining up bow shots. Two of them loosed their arrows, one sliced along Rare’s left cheek, she streaked over the others, her rear left hoof clipped the battlements, then her hooves slammed into the grass on the other side.

“AH!” A jolt of pain shot across her legs as she landed, falling forwards and rolling from her momentum. Can’t stop, must keep going! She mentally screamed at herself. She struggled to her hooves, arrows hissed and thudded into the ground around her. A hundred yards ahead sat forest. A hundred yards ahead sat freedom.

Ignoring her aching muscles, protesting bones, growling stomach, and mounting exhaustion Rare sprinted forwards as quickly as she could manage. Her hooves tore at the ground, an arrow shot through her mane, a few magical bolts blasted the ground just ahead of her, then the trees began to rush past her. Rare was free!

~~

Rare had no clue how far or how long she had run. The thick forest looked the same no matter which northerly direction she had zigged and zagged in to try and shake anypony who might have pursued her. All she knew is that she was free! Also sore, hungry, very tired, and in a little pain from the cut on her cheek. Fortunately enough she had found a hollow between a large oak tree’s roots which led into a small cave almost as big as her cell had been. It was comfortable enough for now.

Rare groaned as she summoned a faint, sickly orb of plain white light. I am almost completely drained. She took the saddle bags from her back, they were heavier than just her book. The tan leather bags just might have some food in them. Turning the bags out she found a large bag of dried fruits and nuts, a waterskin, a legionnaire's cloak, and a spare gladiolus including its scabbard and straps.

Rare fell upon the dried fruit seconds after making sure she had not missed anything. It was a meager meal, marching rations, but it was certainly better than trying to find an edible plant in these woods. Rare stopped herself after she realized that within five minutes she had devoured half of the bag, Who knows when I’ll find more food? She took a few long drinks from the waterskin then went about repacking the bags.

As she tucked away the red woolen cloak Rare blinked, she had an idea! Once out of the woods, I can put this on and pose as a patrolling soldier, no a messaganger! That would be even better! She pulled the sword over with a hoof. Its scabbard was old and worn, the straps looked a bit newer, but their iron buckles were rusty and looked a to be a few decades old. Rare slid the blade from its scabbard, the sword was in worse shape than it’s scabbard. The blade was clearly dull, Rare knew enough about blades from sharpening the kitchen’s knives to be able to fix that if she could find some sandstone but the blade had several chips and its point was broken off a quarter hoof from the tip.

He must have held onto this for sentimental value. There is no way a Centurion would allow a Legionary to use this blade. Maybe it saved that guard’s life… I feel a little bad for taking it. Rare sighed, returning the sword to its scabbard before deciding to buckle it on top of her back between her saddle bags. The sword’s hilt rested just behind her left shoulder. Using this will be less tiresome than a fireball.

Deciding to get some rest Rare dismissed her light orb, curled up, pulled the cloak back out and tossed it over herself like a blanket. The sound of the forest outside was strange, insects chirped, birds tweeted their evening songs, and occasionally she could hear a larger animal moving through the brush. It was frightening at first but then Rare realized, I just outwitted and escaped from an entire legion. I can handle a wild animal. Her confidence bolstered Rare drifted off to sleep.

~~

The night had gone well for Rare, the dirt here as softer than her hay on stone bed and the rest was more than enough to have restored her energy even if a lot of her muscles were still sore. As her mismatched eyes slowly blinked open Rare could hear birds singing their morning songs, and the pale light of sunrise poked through the cave’s entrance. She smiled, My first free sunrise.

Suddenly a ball of white light flared into existence in front of her! Rare cried in pain as the light nearly blinded her. Blinking her eyes clear Rare swept the cloak up around her body, pulling the hood up. CRAP! Mage teleporting in! Maybe I can bluff my way out of thi-

Before she could finish her thought the edges of the ball pulsed with a rainbow light and the ball faded away leaving behind the unconscious body of some species Rare could not recognize, “Ooookkkkaay.” Rare exhaled, Alright looks like a mage flopped a spell. Let’s just scoot around here and-

Her thoughts were cut off again as a shadow peeled itself off from the unconscious creature standing upright as a vague shapeless mass which slowly pulled itself into a defined serpentine shape which simply inflated into a three dimensional shadowy shape. That looks like a, the shape’s colors blinked into existence, “Draconequus!” Rare finished out loud.

Rare gulped, as far as she knew nopony had seen a draconequus in two thousand years. The tricksters featured prominently in the little religious lore Rare had been allowed to learn from the palace cleric. All she knew was that if she upset the draconequus at all she would likely be horribly transformed.

The draconequus stretched it’s mismatched arms out wide crying, “Ah! Home sweet home!” he looked down at Rare and grinned, “Or close to home at any rate, just a short stroll away really.”

Smiling like a filly with her first candy he pulled a map out of thin air and studied it, “Ah yes the Imperium of Midnight. How goes the constant expansion Ms. Legionnaire? Never mind, I honestly don’t want to know. I’ve missed out on a whole two years of events it wouldn't be fun to know how they all went ahead of time.”

Rare blinked, “I… Welcome home your divine excellence.” she greeted bowing low.

Discord chuckled, “Oh how I have missed that. You know, you rule all of a kingdom for a full thousand years and it still thrills you when somepony shows you the proper respect. Try it sometime, I am sure you would enjoy it!” He turned around, putting his back to Rare, “I don’t suppose you wouldn’t mind doing me a tincie wincie little favor would you?”

“N-not at all, ask and I… Oh horse apples how does the proper reply go!” Rare eeped, panic spreading across her face as she failed to remember what the legends had said.

“Oh don’t worry about the old lines. All I want are willing hooves.” He turned back to Rare and jerked a thumb at the unconscious creature, “See this human? Well she and a friend of her’s helped me out of a pickle so I promised to take her to Equestria. Thing is her friend was very rude and did not follow my instructions, so I see no reason to stick to my end of the bargain. Still, she came halfway through so I might as well try to get her friend where she wanted to be.”

“I-I can do that. Where is Equestria? I haven’t heard that particular cities nam-”

“Oh nonono! It’s not a city or a town its a country. Just head north into the mountains then directly east right into the sun as Celestia raises it. Tell you what, once you are there head over to Ponyville. I should have conquered it by then and making Twilight and Lyra’s home the scene of some delightful chaos seems like appropriate punishment.” He rubbed his hands together maliciously.

“Y-yes your divine excellence. I’ll do my best to bring her to you there. I was heading to the northern mountains anyways.” How did I know there are mountains there? Rare frowned but the draconequus cut her thoughts short.

“Good! If you bring her there I might just give you a small reward. If I am in a good mood. Well then, I missed out on two full years of fun. I think it’s time I get to have them, ta-ta Ms. Legionnaire, see you in two years!”

With a snap of his fingers he shrank down to a couple inches in size and summoned forth a strange metal carriage. The door opened upwards as the draconequus climbed inside, there was a tiny roar as he shut the door, then the carriage shot forwards without anypony pulling it! After a second it’s wheels trailed fire, lightning built up at the front then it vanished in a blue flash of light accompanied by a group of trumpets playing a short riff.

Rare blinked. I wonder if every draconequus encounter goes this way? She sighed, At least now I have an idea of where to go after that mountain. Trotting over to the human girl Rare gently turned her over on her back with a hoof. “Oh my goodness!” Rare gasped noticing the girl’s left forearm was missing, a blackened and burnt fleshy stump jsut after the elbow being all the remained.

“Oh man I wish I knew a healing spell…” Rare winced as she looked over the girl’s belongings. She has that bag at her side, and she has on some metal armor. She has to be a soldier so the bag likely has some medicine in it. She lifted the bag with her magic, the strange red cloth rustled like paper and shimmered like water as she turned it as much as she could to try and find a way to open it. Eventually she tried tugging on the metal fixings and was delighted to see they slid open.

Rare laid the bags contents out on the ground. There was some tough brown packages labeled with the names of meals which she assumed were trail rations. She found a selection of tools including a hatchet and what looked like tiny folding blacksmith’s tongs with a bunch of little tools attached to it’s handles. A small sword was attached to the side of the pack, it looked very new and the steel looked expertly forged. She also found a small white box made of some sort of white impossibly smooth wood labeled with a large red cross.

If I was packing medicine, I would put it in the expensive box. Rare rationalized moving her hoof to try and open the box when suddenly the human woke up and screamed!

“Ahhhhh! My arm!” Her eyes flew open, took in Rare, her belongings arranged across the ground, and reached for a angled white thing on her belt, only to wince as her left arm moved, brushing against her clothing, “Ahhhhh….fuck!”

Rare took a step back, “Miss, It’s ok. I’m not robbing you. I was looking for medicine you might have. I don't have anything for your burn.”

“Was trying to get away from a place I would be robbed… Irony.” The girl groaned.

“I promise I am not robbing you. Look,” Rare levitated her sword out of it’s scabbard and set it on the ground behind her, “I don’t have a weapon now… Well I have my spells… But I’m not trying to hurt you. The draconequus asked me to look after you.”

She blinked, “What? Oh… yeah… Right. Discord.” Her eyes closed in a pained wince before shooting open wide, “You’re a unicorn!”

Rare blinked, “Yes…”

The girl grinned wincing as she giggled happily, “I did it!”

“Miss, your arm… do you have any medicine?” Rare asked again assuming the girl was in shock.

“Huh? Oh! Yes. In the first aid kit. Can’t you magic my arm back though? I mean, you are a unicorn.”

“No, I don't know any healing spells yet. Once I do I will try to fix your arm though. I promise.” Rare vowed. She turned to the white box with the cross and levitated it up, “Is this what you meant?”

“Yeah.” she twisted a bit, holding out her bad arm, eyes going wide then looking away, “Oh… just… fuck…”

Rare fiddled with the box until she opened it. To her surprise it was packed quite full of all manner of things! Fortunately they were clearly labeled and the underside of the lid had instructions for tending to all manner of injuries. “Well this is fortunate! I’ll have your arm tended to in no time!”

Rare began to take the 8 different packages from the case the instructions informed her she would need to treat what the instructions also told her was a Third Degree Burn. As she begun to clean the area with an ‘anti-biotic wipe’ the girl hissed in pain, “I’m sorry does this hurt?”

“Well yeah… But that hurts on ...ahh… andy… er- anything. Just… fix it.” She bit her lip for a moment before asking, “So… are you some kind of unicorn legionary? You got the whole...ahhh! … whole Roman thing going on.”

“Um-no. I’m a warlock. Also kind of an escaped slave… As in Just escaped… Oh horse apples! Helping you out is going to slow me down so bad…”

The girl flinched, “Oh… Well you can just go if you want. I’ll manage. I got Jaesa.” her eyes fell suddenly, “Oh right… she’s spinning through the abyss. With my other backpack. Fuck!”

Rare shook her head and began applying the next medicine, a pale smelly liquid. “I’m sorry but I have to. The draconequus was very clear that I take you to Ponyville in Equestria. I don’t want to end up spending my days as a part bird part orange thing dancing for it’s entertainment.”

“Oh… well… um sorry?” she squirmed a bit, “So how many people are after you?”

“No idea. I may have blasted the prince, if he’s fine then all of the palace guard is probably after me. Either way I hope you don’t mind running. Because we are going to be doing a lot of running. You are a soldier right? I found your sword, you didn't use it with your left hand did you?”

“What? No… I’m not a soldier. I’m just a convenience store attendant.” Seeing Rare’s ears twitch and the fearful look flood her face, “I am armed though, I sort of know how to shoot, and I got my guns. I came prepared to fight monsters and stuff.”

Rare let out a relieved sigh, “Oh good. Still it would have been nice to have a soldier's help.”

“I’m Charlotte, what’s your name?”

“Rare Luck.” Rare answered, applying the second to last medicine, a white paste called ‘Dermal Regenerative Bio-gel’.

Charlotte frowned, “That’s not a name.”

“Yes it is, it’s mine.” Rare raised one eyebrow, “What does everypony where you are from have some nonsense sound for a name?”

“Well… yeah.”

“That must be confusing.” Rare levitated a roll of cloth bandage from the case and began to apply it to Charlotte’s stump.

“Soooo… should I call you by your full name, Rare or just Luck?”

“You can call me Rare.” A sudden thought entered her head, “But it would be awesome if you called me ‘Rare the Warlock of Argos’!”

Charlotte laughed, “Thanks. I needed a laugh. Rare it is.”

Rare’s ears drooped, “Ok…” she tied off the bandage and packed up the first aid kit, quickly levitating everything back into her bag.
“Hang on, could you take the black cloth bundle from my bag, and the little black plastic cable?”

“Why?”

“I want to see if the mini solar charging kit for my electronics is ok. The good one was in my other pack. My blaster… er my weapon kinda needs it to get more ammo.”

Rare nodded and sorted through Charlotte's bag until she had found the indicated items. The human girl took them and scooted out of the cave, squeezing between the roots. She vanished for a few moments before calling, “They work! Soooo we should probably get walking right?”

Rare gathered her belongings and wormed her way out of her hiding spot. She cautiously looked around before sliding completely out and orienting herself north. “Right. Follow me then. If your arm hurts you too bad let me know, we can take a short break.”

Charlotte laughed, “I just got maimed, I left behind my boring reality, my arm is covered in all kinds of numbing drugs, and I’m living out a fantasy of going on an adventure with a unicorn. I am so high on adrenaline right now that I think my heart might explode! Lead on!”

Rare nodded, I really hope she doesn't get me captured… she gave Charlotte a shaky grin and then the two headed off north through the forest, running through the thick underbrush until the sun set for the night and the two girls felt safe to sleep.

~~

Far to the north of prince Bluesteel’s palace within a decaying ghost town, overwhelmed by weeds and gnarled ancient oak trees sat a crumbling cathedral. It lurked within the heart of the dead town, the architectural equivalent of rotting meat. The dull light of the stars barely lit the overgrown graveyard allowing shadows to fall over the many cracked and crumbling headstones. The black disk that was the new moon had just reached it’s zenith sitting directly over the cathedral.

The wind blew threw the graveyard, hissing and moaning faintly as it wove through the headstones. The wind came from all corners of the town and headed directly for a large monument which was shaped like a large pointed crystal made from black marble. The grass and vines around the monument swirled in unison with the winds and were joined by a faint white mist as a bank of fog swept over the ground.

The night grew deathly quiet, the sounds of the few vermin which still lived within the town died down all at once. Only this hissing and moaning winds could be heard echoing throughout the streets. Around the monument the winds slowly grew, carrying the mist up the black stone facets slowly and methodically until with a thunderclap they surged upwards in a shaft of brilliant white light. The light faded from white to a dull orange as the beam collapsed, fragmenting into tendrils as if a rope became unbound.

Before the tendrils of light could hit the ground green black bolts of lightning leapt from the monument’s crown, striking each tendril and forcing them to all colless upon the monument’s point. THe black stone drank in the orange light, faint cracks in the stone glowing with the dull orange energy as it raced down the rock into the ground, seeping up in a sickly green mist. The mist swirled and crawled along the ground forming a single cloud of vapors before sliding towards the nearest headstone.

It inched over three empty graves before sinking into the undisturbed earth in front of a weathered headstone. For a heartbeat nothing happened. Then with a violent surge a hoof broke threw the earth, the green mist clinging to it and the yellowed bone attached to it, keeping the vague form of a leg. A second hoof erupted from the earth, the two limbs clawed at the ground, twisting and clawing ruts into the earth until a unicorn’s skull broke free of the black soil with a soul rending enraged scream.

The abominable creature clawed it’s way free of the earth the mist clinging to it’s bones. Tendrils of the mist leached into its bones slowly whitening and strengthening the decaying skeleton. Within moments the skeleton looked fresh as the day the unicorn had died and the sickly mist began to form muscles and organs, slowly returning life to the corpse. He did not have time to waste sitting and letting his body repair. A blue black glow washed over his horn and from the coffin a worm eaten black cloak flew, landing over his shoulders. A silver clasp fashioned in the shape of an unicorn’s skull buckled around his throat, the hood draped over his head, following the lines of growing flesh.

He walked slowly into the cathedral, the green mist trailing along his path, the thick brush and roots withering and dying to clear his path. Entering the cathedral he walked to the shattered alter, stepping on a broken fresco depicting a family of alicorns as he made his way to a crystal mirror at the cathedral's back. A blue glow illuminated his face as he pulsed the mirror with magic, the terrifying image of his half formed eyes visible for a split second. “Hear me my student. I would speak.” He hissed in an echoing voice.

The mirror’s face swirled and warped as the Emperor’s face, body, and lastly chambers could be seen in place of the undead unicorn’s reflection. The Emperor was dressed in a nightshirt and looked quite exhausted as he spoke. “I see you are back warlock. You look well, all things considered. Truth be told I didn't expect to see you as a corpse falling to bits.”

“My return across the styx was a nightmare as bad as can be. But when I at last opened my eyes I could see the nightmare... was me.”

“I suppose you will sit within your cathedral to recover for a while. It’s fine, not all of possess ultimate power.” The Emperor calmly replied.

“I was once the most mystical pony in all Argos! Need I remind you of my power? You were there the night of my fall.”

The Emperor sighed, “Must we go over this yet again?”

“We must! For you seem to forget who gave you your power and form.” The unicorn began to pace in front of the mirror. “When the royals betrayed me they made a mistake!”

“I know your story, nor have I forgotten the terms of our arrangement. I have given you plenty of magical artifacts and talented ponies over the decades.” The Emperor narrowed his eyes, “Are you addled from your resurrection?”

“I placed a curse upon this whole land, it drew you here, it struck the royals down one by one, the entire family slain. All of them paid!” He roared.

The Emperor gave him a vaguely concerned look, “Perhaps I should…. apologize for allowing my son to strike you down.”

“I care not for your apologies and games! All of them paid, save for one. So young my curse overlooked her, the Empresses favorite jewel..” his eyes narrowed, red light spreading across the irises, “Her youngest daughter, one little filly got away. I cursed my mistake until I realized I could destroy her very soul.”

“What are you getting at warlock?”

“The slave girl whom I asked you for from your spawns house! I put her there! I tore the wings from her body and left her a unicorn forevermore! She was to be the blood sacrifice for a spell. The blood and soul of one who has known only suffering and torment. She was so ripe for the harvesting… But I couldn’t take her away without your idiot son knowing!”

He climbed atop the altar, standing on his hind legs. Raising his hooves to the shattered ceiling he screamed, “Rare Luck beware, for I am awake!”

“I can see you have a few things to sort through at the moment. I think I will return to my battle plans.” The Emperor informed turning to leave, only for a flash of blue light to keep him in place, “What is this Warlock?” he demanded angrily.

“You will not send anypony to search for her… she is free. I can smell it… and she has my grimoire!” Patchcoat hissed.

“I see. I will leave her to you then.”

“Revenge will be sweet when my curse is complete. I can feel my powers slowly returning… Soon I will be as I was before they sabotaged my ritual. I think you need a reminder of just who and what I really am, your highness.” he said turning to face the graveyard.

“What are you getting at?” The Emperor asked just before Patchcoat blasted a gaping hole threw one of the few remaining walls to reveal the graveyard.

Patchcoat turned to face the graveyard, the green mist bled from his body, racing along the ground and sinking into the graves. As the earth atop the graves trembled he intoned, “Come my minions, rise for your master!”

Dozens of skeletal warriors clawed their way from the earth, the rusty remains of armor and weapons held within their grasp. Patchcoat continued, “Seek her now, and bring her disaster.”

The army of the dead bowed low and then turned, marching off into the night. “She will head north through the Dead’s Steppes. It is right on the shortest path to the border from your spawns palace. My minions will drive her right here, to his very altar, where I will at last complete my business with her family. Remember who I am now your highness?” Patchcoat spat.

The Emperor sighed and nodded, “Yes Grand Warlock Patchcoat. I remember. I assure you, I will not betray you as the previous Emperor did. You may do as you please to my subjects as always.”

“Then you may go. I must rest.”

With a wave of his hoof Patch coat dismissed the mirror's communication spell and sat upon the altar. “Come to me… I can taste your death on the air and it is sweet.”

Author's Note

Hope everyone likes the action segment because there will be a lot more of it from now on. The prologue segment of this tale is officially over, and the first story arc can begin! Huzah!

If you want to check out what happened to Jaesa see my other story An Equestrian Odyssey: Lightning Dash. It takes place in Ponyville, and it's story while self contained elaborates on events which will tie into this story later.

As always, your comments are welcome and loved, as are PMs!