Carmino

"What happened...did I black out?"

Pea Gravel lay on her back, her emerald eyes closed. She squinted her eyes open and looked around the room, it seemed different somehow. Her vision was hazy and her thoughts sluggish. Oza and Sebrina were gone and the light she had made was replaced with candles on the book shelves. Also lighting the room was a window with closed blinds on the opposite wall from the door, leaving a warm glow from the sun behind them.  Pea stared at it dumbfounded, there was solid wall and hundreds of feet of dirt there before. Pea rose to her hooves and walked to the window, suddenly she heard a loud cry from the 'work shop' room. Was this the ancient princess Voltera?

"I did it!" the voice called," Sebrina look, its finished!"

Pea moved slowly to the door to see what was going on inside. The room didn't have her friends in and was far more cluttered. There was a silver alicorn standing next to the work bench holding a scroll high, a look proud fruition in her lime green eyes. Pea could hear Sebrina rushing on the stairs, she entered and bowed low to the ground before speaking. Pea watched and listened closely, every detail counted to help her find out what was going on.

"Yes, my lady? You called of my services?" her metallic voice chimed.

"Look, look! I finally made it!" the alicorn giggled as she shoved the scroll in Sebrina's face.

"Made what, if I'm so bold to ask," the librarian said as she held the scroll and studied it.

"Their blueprints for my greatest achievement yet!" she rubbed her hooves together giggling,"I'll finally have something to show up Rumella's work!"

"Voltera, this...creation of yours, though magnificent on the scroll...presents a problem" Sebrina said with a skeptical tone," How are we supposed to gather the materials for this? Your measurements would take up at least a thousand Ebony ingots and twelve hundred pounds of gold! Not to mention how will you power this massive vessel?"

Voltera's joyful expression became crestfallen. She slumped to the floor and a few tears welled up in her eyes. Sebrina moved beside her and placed a comforting hoof in Voltera's mane.

"Oh Sebrina," she said dejectedly," How is it that Rumella always has an upper hoof in everything we do? I build a metal guard for the castle and she just shows up with ten timber wolves that can do the same job and look after more of the city."

"You could always try Rumella's...organic practices, Princess," Sebrina said comfortingly.

"Oh, an automaton such as yourself would never understand," Voltera said as she stood back up," theirs ethics involved in Soul Craft. We both use the souls of volunteers or animals. I choose the way of steel and stone to make my creations last through the wind and rain. Rumella just wants the most out of what little effort she puts out  with the trees, plants and...the dead."

"I'm sorry my lady,"Sebrina said quietly. Hoof steps were heard from the staircase and Voltera put on a defensive face.

"Tsk! Up to it again, little sister?" a sultry voice called from the stair case.

Voltera shot a venomous glance at the door way," Are you here to gloat, Roomy?"

The tall, dark red alicorn, Rumella entered with a proud swagger. She looked down at her sister and flicked her deep purple mane as she laughed," Oh Volt, your too much! The ponies of Coppice prefer my methods to yours, stop playing this silly game and let me have the crown."

"Insult me as you like. Galaxia will choose who is fit to rule, not you!" Voltera said with a frown. She stamped up to Rumella's face and stared at her defiantly.

"Oh your so cute when your angry, I'd never forget that day for the world...but your still going to lose," Rumella smirked. Voltera glared at her furiously, the red alicorn giggled and poked her little sister's nose.

"I'll be off," she snickered as she turned for the door," I'm going to win this competition, Volt. Besides, you know I'm godmother's favorite."

Voltera fumed as her sister exited similarly to how she entered. Sebrina tried to comfort her but was put aside. The princess said she needed to be alone and excused her metallic servant hastily. Once she was alone she looked to the room Pea was hidden in. The silver alicorn headed toward it, Pea's body sprang into action. She leapt as stealthily as she could behind the nearest sofa and tried to calm her breathing as the apperceive princess as she threw the door open. Pea heard her hooves against the stone floor as she moved to the window. She opened the curtains and the sun blasted in.

"Oh, why do we quarrel so?" she asked herself," This tumultuous competition will tear my kingdom apart..." the princess sighed heavily.

Pea tried a peak to see the distraught alicorn, she was surprised at what she saw. Voltera held a journal, the same one Pea touched earlier.  She held it up with levitation magic and looked longingly at the pages. Her eyes had tears of jubilation or sorrow, Pea couldn't tell. The paper sounded heavy as the pages were turned and glistened brightly in the sunlight. Were the pages...made of gold?

"I would love to share this book with her," Voltera mused," but she'd probably hate it. She always tries to ruin the things I keep close..."

Suddenly everything went dark and Pea couldn't tell if she was standing or falling. A rush of blurred images and sounds swept past her and  before she knew it she was standing in a crowd of ponies. They all had long robe like apparel on, some looking like silk while others were burlap. The crowd's attention was fixed on Voltera and Rumella standing on a large platform with covered boxes behind them. At the front of the platform was a different group. This was a group of royals, most were unicorns or griffons but there was a alicorn sitting amongst them that shown out like a radiant, dawn sky. She dwarfed every creature sitting near her and her wings, though folded, were still enormous. Next to giant alicorn were two very small alicorn fillies; one with a white coat and a pink mane and the other was midnight blue with a light blue mane.

A low din was in the crowd before Voltera spoke;

"Ladies and gentle colts, Royal guests. My sister and I have agreed to hold a contest between us to determine who is more to fit to rule the Coppice Kingdom, the wise and elegant Queen Galaxia shall be the judge. Our late mother and father kept this country safe with the ancient art of Soul Craft and we shall do likewise."

"Yes, sister, you speak the truth," Rumella smiled to her and the audience," My sister have constructed wondrous works of the art Soul Craft. As I'm sure your aware, my sister has been using the city forge as her...laboratory and dries out our precious metal supply for her pieces. While I use the great jungle around as a device, a rejuvenating and ever growing source of materials."

Queen Galaxia rose a hoof, silencing the princess. Rumella pursed her lip, awaiting what the royal had to say.

"Princess Rumella," the queen's angelic voice chimed," I did not bring my daughters to be influenced by such a childish debate. We came to shed our opinion on which of the two of you is fit to lead the Coppice Kingdom, so if you don't mind, let us proceed with the event."

Voltera stepped in," Yes, yes of corse your Highness. I shall present mine first..."

She smiled meekly as she reached for the cover behind her, pulling the cloth off revealed a metal barred box with a strange suit of armor within. It's design was full of sharp, triangular edges and the metal itself was a glossy midnight blue. The armor was trimmed with gold and inside the jaw's of the helmet something shiny sat. The helmet looked like a horse's head but with jaws of a metal wolf. The neck and waist were made of close knit metal plates, long this lines ran throng the rest of the armors larger pieces. The hooves looked dangerous with their pointed, wedge like fronts. The tail was long, thin and whip like. Mounted on the back were long and ornate rifles folded back like metal wings.

Voltera looked hopefully at the audience, most of the citizens were captivated by it. A few of the royals cheered at it, the family of alicorns however, were stone faced. Rumella cleared her throat , gaining their attention. She unveiled her creation and an audible gasp was heard.

This one was in a dark wooden box and it was much less daunting then Voltera's. It looked like a polished birch wood mannequin at first, but a close look would show more then a simple wood carving. The joints were made of vines as well as the neck and waist. It had moss for a mane and tail and the creation's eyes seemed empty and dark. It's wooden parts were covered with ornate, spiraling carving.

Those who didn't adore Voltera's clapped in response of Rumella's. The red princess made a prideful smile while her sister began to hang her head in embarrassment. One of the alicorn children, the elder one grew tired of the slow procession.

"They look nice, but what do they do?" she piped up.

"Celestia," Said Galaxia in a matronal tone," Keep quiet, this is very important."

Rumella took no time to show off. She straightened her neck up and half spread her wings," Servant, come out. Our friends want to see you." she cooed.

The empty eyes of her creation lit up in a warm green glow, the spiraling carving also glowed.

"Yes mistress?" it's voice was soft and feminine," What can I do for you today?"

Voltera held a hoof out and gestured the wooden figure step into better view. It stumbled like an infant still new at walking. Unlike the crowd, the queen seemed unimpressed.

"Go on, tell them what you do," Rumella said sweetly.

The wooden figure blinked her glowing green eyes at the audience and her knees quivered, she tried talking but all that came out was small, nervous squeaks. Rumella nodded for encouragement, the figure shook her head slightly and spoke softly;

"H-Hello everypony...my n-name is Mita...and Rumella created me to keep our city and jungle s-safe. I can-"

"You? Keep us safe?" snorted one of the royal unicorns next to the queen," You look more fragile then a daisy in a thunder storm, just what can you do?"

Mita looked at a patch of grass that was near the platform, her eyes turned yellow and the patch of grass shook savagely. Some of the ponies in the crowd moved back as the grass morphed into something that looked like a tree. Mita's eyes returned green and the 'tree' stood as if it had always been there. The audience was awestruck, Galaxia's lips curled into a small smile.

"Amusing, Rumella. Your...Mita shows promise to keep gardens everywhere in check. Now, Voltera. Care to show us your metal beast?"

Voltera nodded nervously. She moved over to the ominous armor and summoned some gems from her workshop's collection. She placed them into the armor's clamp jaws and took several steeps back.

"Hulok!" she said sternly," Your Princess commands you to step forward!"

A low humming sound enumerated from Hulok. The armor rattled and steam wafted from the helmet's mouth. In the grooves covering the armor a low purple light shown and under small ridges on either side of the helmet a small, eye like dots blinked on. Hulok lifted a heavy hoof and stomped forward, then another. The rifles on his back were folded to face away from the crowd.

"Yes, master?" Hulok's dark, robotic voice droned," Tell my thy bidding." His dangerous head faced rigidly forward, looking at nothing in particular.

"Our guests would like to hear what you were made for, tell them Hulok." Voltera's confidence built up as she saw Rumella help Mita sit back in her box.

"My purpose?" Hulok's metallic voice attempted something similar to a laugh. " My purpose is to protect and to serve," his voice blared toward the crowd," Any threat that knocks at thine door shall be smote by Hulok or others like him."

The crowd seemed impressed and intimidated by Hulok. The royals talked among themselves in whispers while the queen kept the procession moving.

"Tell me, servant of Voltera," Galaxia said," How will you 'smite' danger?"

"With the energy weapons at my sides and my jaws, in situations that require it," Hulok's metallic voice droned.

The queen levitated a hat from a nearby pony and sent it high into the air. She cast a cynical look Voltera and her creation and frowned.

"Hulok, that is your target. 'Smite' it."

The menacing suit of armor's rifles spun forward and detached. They levitated close to him and were aimed at the hat. A loud hum could be heard and out of his left gun a crackling red beam shot out. It vaporized the hat in seconds, though the blast was being shot longer. Some of the audience members applauded but their cheer was cut short. Hulok's heavy head slumped down, his weapons clanged when the fell on the ground. There was a thick cloud of steam and the ghostly purple glow was gone, the armor looked lifeless.

Voltera broke into a cold sweat as she looked at the audience, the queen, and her sister's smug smile. Voltera's knees buckled as Galaxia's judging glare pierced the silver alicorn.

"Princess, why has your device stopped working?" she said with a disenchanted tone.

"W-well, with something this big a-and powerful...it needs quiet a few soul gems...l-like a forge needs coal..." she felt squished under the queen's gaze.

"Very well Voltera. Allow me a moment to decide," the queen said. In a flash, both her and her daughters were gone. The crowd began to talk amongst themselves as well as the royals. Rumella waltzed over to her mortified sister.

"What a pity," she giggled," and I thought that that monstrosity of yours would be capable of more then that."

"Shut up Rumella!" the silver alicorn snapped," At least mine can do something! Not just play 'cute little flower girl'!"

The two sisters stood nose to nose steaming with contempt. Galaxia's voice interrupted them.

"Ahem...I have come to a decision, princesses," she sighed heavily before continuing and looked to the red alicorn," I see that Rumella's way of protecting her kingdom with expendable creations that can make...obstacles for attackers. Though not frightening in the slightest, they show hints of promise if she brings more effort to her work."

She turned her glance to Voltera," But this one understands how to make something that would make an attacker think twice. Voltera's ways build champions of steel and casters of powerful destruction magic and designed to be hearty in a harsh world. Her creations need quite a bit of work before they met her goals but I do believe she can accomplish that if she continues in her practices."

Voltera almost blushed from the queen's remarks. Rumella tried to keep a regal composure for she began to doubt her own abilities. Galaxia whispered with some of the royals before she walked to the side of the platform. She had no difficulties reaching the raised area due to her massive size. She waltzed past Rumella who now looked like a small child next to the queen and the radiant royal stopped next to Voltera. She smiled and looked to the large crowd.

"Citizens, I have come to a decision. As the godmother of these two princesses I leave the crown to..." the entire audience held their breath in anticipation,"

"I have chosen...Princess Voltera as the new Queen of the Coppice Kingdom...or now Queendom. Congratulations, your highness," the giant alicorn said with a warm smile. Voltera beamed with joy, she blew kisses and "thank you"s to the crowd as well as Galaixa.

The crowd went in a mixed uproar, most were happy with their new queen while others...were less then thrilled. Pea stood in the loud congregation rather puzzled. Was this how nations picked their queen? She didn't really know and didn't feel like reading into it to much so she cheered along with the ponies next to her. Mid shout the world around her faded away again and colors whirled past her.

"Oh man...if this keeps happening I'm gonna get hurl! Hang on, I haven't eaten anything today...crap now I'm hungry," Pea thought to herself clenching her stomach.

The whirling stopped and she was in a new environment. Around her was a room made of polished wood and small torches mounted on the walls. There were two rooms, one leading to a hallway and the other led to a half open door. Pea decided to sneak a peak inside. She crept  past the potted ferns on either side of the room, leading to the door. Her hooves went almost silently on the hard wood floor and  then pushed the door open ever so slightly.

The room had shelves with a verity of bottles and dried herbs. There were potted plants of all kinds and even small animals crawling around on the floor and celling. In the center she found Rumella standing before a cauldron with a nasty liquid bubbling inside. The strangest thing was that she seemed different somehow...

The red princess' youthful features seemed aged, her purple hair was lighter then it was the lat time Pea was it. Her eyes on the other hand, were still as sharp and bright as before, now with a envious fire in them. Her fierce pink eyes stared into the concoction and she licked her lips.

"Mita, bring the...guest," her voice slithered through the air.

Pea looked behind her and ducked behind a fern beside the door just in time. Mita trotted into view, she had vines on her back wrapped around a brown and red earth pony stallion. He was fit and young, his attractive features were smothered by Mita's unmoving grip. Mita's wooden hooves clacked loudly on her trip to the door. One she had closed it behind her Pea crept to the door to spy again.

"Princess!" the stallion cried mournfully," Why are you doing this? What did I do to you?"

"Oh thats the thing, farm foal," The princess hissed with glee," You've done nothing. I'll make this as painless as possible."

The stallion was about to protest but with a nod from Rumella, Mita dropped him into the cauldron. The liquid clung thick on the poor pony. He shot his head up for air but Rumella grabbed him and held his head under the wrenched soup. There were gurgles and bubbles for a short time then they stopped. Rumella used her magic to grab several jars off her shelves and scanned the ingredients within. She found one with a dried paw inside.

She snickered, "Mita...how do you think adding the essence of a wolf will do?"

"My Lady," the wooden pony said weakly," Why have you suddenly changed the ritual? We use volunteers or animals...not sacrifices."

Rumella rolled her eyes disgustedly as she dropped the dried salamander into the cauldron," Oh, Mita. You silly, silly creature. I was inside our wise and beautiful queen Voltera's library not a few days ago," she said cynically," I found the most amazing book she had kept hidden, I presume from me."

The paw sank into the thick soup while Mita tried to understand what her mistress was saying," Princess...what kind of book?" Her words were stopped short as the cauldron shook and the soupy contents dripped over the edge, making acid splashes as they hit the floor.

A  wicked smile that made Pea's blood run cold was on Rumella's face. Her eyes were wild with pride as her monstrosity tipped the cauldron over which spilled the brew all over the floor, a large red-brown lump rolled out after it. It was a magenta creature in the shape of a pony...was this the origin of the Ghouls Pea had met earlier? Mita shifted slightly as the lump croaked.

"Mita," Rumella said sweetly," that book showed me a new kind of Soul Craft...souls that die with a vengeance make a much, much stronger beast..." She walked slowly over the the once pony. She leaned down to look at it.

"Hello, little one...whats your name?" the princess said with a wide grin.

The beast didn't reply, it simply hissed at her. Pea's stomach churned at the monster's sight.  The ghoul pushed himself up and made a bark like noise as he flexed his tiny claws, Rumella smiled with malicious pride. Pea wasn't sure of how much more she could take but she heard something that made her heart skip a beat.

"Mita, I need you to help mepack some supplies. That book I mentioned had a very interesting passage about a special something called Carmino..."

TO BE CONTINUED...