Rise from the Ashes: Book 2 - Kasaitatki

Luna gazed up on the hooded ‘alicorn’ upon her throne. “An alicorn…? No wait, his wings aren’t right...they’re supposed to be like a pegasus, not a dragon. Why is his horn split in two? No way this is Sol... what in Tartarus is he?” she thought conflicted in her mind.

“Quite a place you have here...did it belong to your sister?” the figure said with a smirk on his face, leaving Luna only fumed. “You’ve been running the system quite poorly here… not to mention your powers have dropped significantly ever since that blasted war. It’s almost redundant of how many lives it has ruined and the backlash. Ponies start thinking maybe, just maybe they can get over it. However no matter how reasonable one can be, there is always one certain pony who disagrees with ‘em.” he said as she started stepping down towards her. “So tell me Luna...how do you rejoice peace and friendship to those who don’t want it?”

Luna just snarled at him. “I don’t care about your damn philosophy… you have butchered my guard and broken into the royal castle! ” she shouted at him before suddenly the figure disappeared and then reappeared right in front of her.

“My my my, hot tempered and always to ignore the point as always.” he said shaking his head and vanished once more. “You act so ignorant and idiotic, just so you can forget about the pain. The pain of all the lives that were taken by your hooves, just to wear a mask to hide the pleasure of vengeance to make you seem heroic!” he spoke from nowhere, yet the voice was all around her. Luna froze up and glanced around the room, to see where the figure has gone. “Don’t be ashamed of it, all those who fought for what they thought they believed in were all like you. They all wanted revenge for the blood that was spilled, for the innocent lives that were taken.” the voice went on as he appeared behind the throne again before Luna blasted him magic from her horn.

“There’s nothing I can do to change what history has written! You are the same type of butcher that we all once were in that damned war!” Luna shouted at him and fired at the figure again, on for the figure to deflect the beam with a barrier of magic.

“Hm, good analysis Ms.Obvious.” the figure said with a smirk before firing a large beam of magic, knocking Luna back across the floor. Luna struggled up back on her hooves, looking at the figure. “Now...let’s see if you still have that butcher left in you.” the figure said with a psychotic smile and fired a beam right at her once more.

Luna quick flew up above to evade, but the figure tackled her as she was above his head. The two crashed through the window and tumbled in the air before breaking apart from each other. The figure fired multiple beams from his horn while Luna counterattacked with a shield and whacked the figure with her shield and knocked him across the sky. Then used magic to surround her and tackled the figure once more as they crashed like a meteor into the outside forest.

Luna stood up from the rubble, and looked around to see the figure not in sight. “More of this vanishing trick…? Coward.” she thought irritated in her mind. When she felt like he had gone for good this time, she felt an immense pain her shoulder and saw blood splash right beside her. She froze up in shock and stared down at her shoulder, to see a beam of red light had pierced through her shoulder. Trying to ignore it, she whipped around and fired at blast at the beam’s direction. The beam was suddenly deflected by a red barrier and struck Luna on rebound, knocking her through a tree.

“I admit you caught me off guard with your strength, but you need to do better than that.” a male voice spoke up, the hooded pony stood before Luna with glowing red eyes. Luna held her shoulder in pain as blood trickled down her leg, before magic encountered her horn. The magic formed the horn like it was a tip of a very large spear and she charged at him, aiming right for his head. However the figure’s split horn caught the tip of it and redirected it while their foreheads collided.

Luna was both irritated and shocked to see this figure’s strength. “Who are you?!” she shouted out right in his face and then attempted to slash at him with her horn. However a red electricity surrounded the split horn and shocked Luna on impact, causing her to stagger and then was blasted through the forest and landed in front of the gate to the kingdom.

“I don’t feel like introducing myself just yet...but I guess I could just leave a little quote for you to ponder.” the figure said before charging up his horn and letting off a powerful blast which knocked the gates wide open and sent Luna hurling down the streets. Went she finally stopped tumbling, Luna felt her whole body in pain and coughed up a small bit of blood.

Luna stared around weakly with her vision blurry, she saw ponies peak out of their houses to see what was all the ruckus about. They seem horrified that the princess of the moon was beaten and broken. Luna laid on the ground as the ponies came to help before her eyes closed shut firmly and a voice echoed in her head.

“Thy name is misery, for that is all that thy brings.”

On the tip of the walls of Canterlot, a shadow was devastated and delighted to see such a sight. It was Sol, the one whom the figure had visited before this duel. “He...he actually beat her.” he thought, still trying to comprehend what had happened.

“So...now about that proposition I made…” a voice suddenly spoke up beside him. He jumped back a bit to see the figure who attacked Luna stand before him.

“Ngh...yes...you now have my attention.” Sol spoke, giving him a firm look.

“I propose to be a second in command in your quest to destroy the Elements of Harmony.” the figure spoke with a solemn smirk. Sol blinked at this, the figure who was clearly stronger than him wanted to be a second in command for his scheme.

Sol stepped back a bit and thought for a moment in his head. It was obvious this figure wanted something from him but what it was remained anonymous. Could this figure have something planned, and if so why didn’t he act beforehand? However the chances of victory with this stallion increased tenfold, it was like a mystery card that had not played it’s hand which was the way he liked it except for this scenario. Sol swallowed a bit and thought this risk he was going to take would be his last.

“You’re hired.”

Meanwhile.

Scorchhop let off a yawn and stretched around in her bed. “Mmmm….that was a nice sleep.” she mumbled and looked at Firebelt’s bed. “Erm...Firebelt? Where did you go?” she thought out loud. Lightning, who had woke up earlier than Scorchhop, looked around a bit and then stared out the window in the garden.

She was smiling, “Would you look at that.” she said, motioning Scorchhop to come over and see. Scorchhop wandered over to the window and couldn’t help but giggle.

“Awwww…ain’t that cute?” she swooned a bit, with a smile and walked out the door to meet the two sleeping ponies in the middle of the garden. Firebelt had fallen asleep with Applejack laying on his back, and it was an odd yet cute look. Lightning went up to the sleeping two, and used the other end of her spear to poke Firebelt’s nose.

“Rise and shine cousin.” Lightning said, after a few pokes Firebelt started to stir a bit.

“Mm...er….what?” Firebelt mumbled as he looked up to see Scorchhop and Lightning stare down at him. He then looked on his back to see Applejack still fast asleep, he then felt his cheeks heat up to realize they think they were cuddling in the middle of the night.

He shot up, standing fine at this. “Hey this isn’t what it looks like!” he spoke out irritated at this. “She fell asleep so I tried to take her back to her room and-” he ranted on before Scorchhop cut him off.

“Now now...don’t want to wake your apple.~” Scorchhop teased, before Firebelt grabbed her with his hooves and pushed her into the lake out of grumpiness. The splash from the water land on Applejack’s nose, finally waking her up.

“Ugh…” Applejack grunted as she rubbed her eyes. She looked down to see she was off the ground, “What in tarnation…?” she mumbled but then looked that she was on Firebelt’s back. She immediately hopped off, incredibly embarrassed. “Whoops! Erm...sorry about...er…” she thought up trying to make an excuse.

“Well, it looks like your leg is all better now.” a voice spoke up behind the group, it was Flicker Blitz. She approached the group, holding a bag of food and the Elements of Harmony. “Scorchhop could you dry yourself off? We leave in several minutes.” she ordered as she used magic to levitate Scorchhop out of the pond, soaking wet.

“Erm, sorry about that Scorchhop.” Firebelt apologized, scratching the back of his head.

Scorchhop just shook her mane about, leaving it with a puffy look on her. “It’s alright.” she said with a smirk, to see the water she shook off covered Firebelt.

About several minutes later, the group was now at the foot of the mountain with Sprint, Stone Beam and Wilder Wind. The three had decided to walk the group to the mountain for a goodbye and to ensure they made it this time.

“Good luck to you when it comes to those Diamond Dogs, they’re a rough crowd but I think you can handle them.” Wilder Wind said, looking at the group.

“Hopefully it doesn’t come to violence or lying, but we should be able to convince them.” Flicker Blitz spoke calmly, politely shaking Stone Beam’s hoof. “We are in your debt for helping us.” she said, the others said their thank you’s one by one.

“Now you all don’t go getting yourself into deadly situations now!” Sprint said with a smile, though the group couldn’t help but feel that they were going to get into these situations whether they like it or not.

“We can assure you we don’t plan on failing.” Lightning replied bravely.

“Good luck to you!” Stone Beam said, before starting to walk off with Wild Bird and Sprint behind him. They faced back towards the mountain and started to make their way up the mountain.

Along the path up the mountain was ragged with sharp rocks and a dirt path that was all messy and distorted. Rocks were pointed upwards up the hill from as far as they could see it they went straight to the top of the mountain that remained out of sight in the clouds. About one hour up the mountain, they came across a split in the path. Flicker Blitz knew by looking off her map the left way led to the Diamond Dog’s mine while the right way went around the mountain. She guided the group up the left path, but they all couldn’t help but feel tense if Flicker Blitz’s plan ever went wrong.

“We’re only a few minutes until the entrance of the mine… stay quiet and let me talk.” Flicker Blitz ordered calmly, giving them a look. Firebelt, Applejack, Scorchhop and Lightning nodded. As they approached, they saw two wooden boards with one on top of the two. When they approached, green eyes shined from the darkness in front of them.

“Mehehehe...ponies!” a voice cackled, a diamond dog wearing a red vest stepped out from the darkness; Rover.

“Greetings Fido, we wish to use your mine to pass through the mountain.” Flicker Blitz said firmly, giving him a firm look.

“Mehehehe! If you have something to offer...possibly! If not...impossible!” Rover said with a fierce glare, expecting gems of some type in return.

“We do not have gems...but we can do something greater for you in return.” Flicker Blitz said with a smirk, Rover raised an eyebrow at this.

“Like what?” Rover asked, leaning in a bit to listen in on this.

“We can take care of that thing that scares you so badly in the caverns.” Flicker Blitz offered. The others were caught off guard by her suggestion. They were expecting something crazy in response, but not this crazy.

“Hmmm...a tempting offer! Agreed!” Rover said quite willingly, obviously he was quite sick of this beast himself but the group was not so sure they could pull this off.

“Pst, Flicker Blitz, you sure about this? We have no idea what that thing scaring them really is!” Firebelt whispered in her ear.

“What choice do we have? It’s either that or resort to violence or lying which Applejack and I want neither.” she responded firmly. “I know it may be difficult, but we can do it.” she added on before following Fido into the cave.

“Say, where are the other Diamond Dogs?” Scorchhop asked up, knowing there were three but yet only one had greeted them.

“Fido, and Spot are working inside the mines. Gems...hard to find!” Rover spoke up as he motioned for the group to follow. “Remain quiet! That beast...is vicious!” he explained as he led the way down the railways.

The stone walls were barren and full of holes, and small bits of dust flickering down ahead of them. The stone beams stood strong and looked new despite the place being so old, and the way was lighted by multiple lanterns and torches. Firebelt felt more and more nervous as they approached a split in the path with the rails leading one way and the other way having a sign saying “DANGER! Do not go forward past this area! Beware of monster!” Flicker Blitz raised an eyebrow at this.

“So he would be this way...if that monster is a he or she.” she asked Rover. He nodded and grabbed a lantern off the wall, once more they proceeded. This time the walls weren’t cover in holes but rather in scratches.

“By the looks of it, how has it not eaten you three by now?” Lightning asked.

“Monster fierce...but lacks agility!” Rover said with a smug smirk, before realizing they were right near the monster’s home. “It lies in wait here…” he said shirking back a bit.

Flicker Blitz stepped forward, “Come on!” she quietly ordered the group before moving on without Rover. They slowly peeked around a corner, to be greeted with a very open space of dirt and scratches all around the rock walls. A light through a hole in the ceiling pierced into the room with a warm aurora in a circle shape, but not a monster was in sight. The group couldn’t take any other chances at all, Lightning and Scorchhop peeked around the corners while Applejack, Firebelt and Flicker Blitz looked forward.

“Um...he’s not here.” Flicker Blitz told Rover.

“What?!” Rover blinked as he lept up and looked around. He went to the center to see footprints from the monster, he observed the hole to which the light pierced the room. “That was never there before…” he murmured as he followed the footprints and it showed them heading off one of the railways. “Follow it!” he suddenly ordered and raced off. The group looked at each other and then raced after him.

For twenty solid minutes they ran, until they all collapsed with exhaustion.

“Well….I don’t think it’s around here anymore….” Scorchhop said, trying to catch her breath.

“The other Diamond Dogs...will they be okay with that thing running around?” Flicker Blitz asked concerned that the other two dogs were still far apart from them.

“The others...are on a different path that the beast went down...so yes!” Rover replied, also trying to catch his breath.

“Wait, is it possible to see how long these tracks have been around Rover?” Scorchhop asked inquisitively.

“Tracks were on here today...so recently!” Rover said as they started to make their way down the path once again. “The beast however...usually never steps outside it’s cave! Nor was that light their before!” he went on.

“So, somepony broke into the cave an’ possibly scared the vermant right out of the other side?” Applejack asked as they trotted along the path.

“It appears that way.” Lightning answered her as they made along.

After a very long walk both following the tracks and heading to where Rover said was the exit, light finally breached the dark cold caves with a bright and warm aurora. Firebelt had to hold his front leg over his eyes to get used to what light was again. “Gah...finally!” he smirked as he raced towards the front. Flicker Blitz just observed the prints as they stepped outside and a lush green forest greeted them with a light blue sky with white puffy clouds in the sky. It felt so good to step out of the cave after a four hour walk and mystery concerning the beast that had haunted the Diamond Dogs for so long.

“We’ll take care of the beast, you guys can continue your work without any worry for now.” Flicker Blitz said calmly, shaking Rover’s paw with her hoof.

“Good luck to you...ponies!” Rover said bluntly, but happily as he went back into the deep dark depths of his cave. Understandably happy that the beast is gone, but nervous that it may return to the caves if not dealt with.

Flicker Blitz caught up with the rest of the group with Scorchhop now leading ahead. They could all see over the tree tops that a large stone wall, after all that they had went through they finally came across Kasaitatki, the land of the deer. “Woohoo! Last one there is a flank kisser!” Scorchhop shouted as she sprinted ahead.

“Hey no fair! Head start!” Firebelt shouted irritated as he raced quickly behind his old time partner. Lightning just smirked and Applejack chuckled, with the two of the allies acting like fillies and colts playing. Flicker Blitz just trailed behind the lot before the atmosphere of happiness and accomplishment was cut off by a loud scream.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!” a voice had screamed out of nowhere; it was Scorchhop.

“Scorchhop!” Flicker Blitz thought out loud in panic and flew ahead of the two, with Lightning and Applejack racing quickly behind them. Flicker Blitz was the first to see Scorchhop dead frozen with Firebelt not too far behind her and trying to comfort her. What they saw before them astonished every one of them; goat’s and cow’s rotting corpses with multiple slashes and gashes on each and everyone one of them.

“Oh mah stars…” Applejack spoke quietly.