Bitter Harvest slammed the hoe into the soil so hard is stuck there, then stepped back panting, lather dripping from his flanks. Princess, it was hot today! He shaded his eyes from the sun’s glare, at least noon had passed, it would be evening soon and the temperature might actually become bearable. The dark blue coated earth pony stallion surveyed his lands, he was surrounded by several acres of rocky soil from which sprouted a surprising range of fruits and vegetables, he didn’t believe in specialisation, that way lay disaster, one unlucky year, the wrong pest or disease and you could lose everything, this way if something failed then you’d always have another crop to fall back on. He gazed around, his wife, Fruitful, was tending to the small vineyard off to the south while his daughter, Early, was tending to the herbs at the other side of the house. His son, Late, was too young to really help but still earned his keep chasing the crows from the corn, even this heat didn’t seem to keep his spirits down.
Allowing himself a small smile at his son’s antics Bitter returned to his own work, he was just taking the hoe in his mouth again when he noticed movement. Peering through the dyeing heat haze it seemed like somepony... no two ponies were approaching. Visitors! The farm was remote, a good two hour gallop from his nearest neighbour and twice times that from a town, it was normal for weeks to pass without sight of anyone outside of his family. He wondered what they wanted? They didn’t look like locals.
As he stood there the figures started to resolve themselves. The pair were lanky unicorns, definitely not locals then, this was earth pony country, with pale yellow coats and red and white striped manes. Bitter noticed to his dismay that one figure seemed to be leaning on the other as if it were ill or injured, whatever could have happened?
“Fruitful!” he cried, “Get the first aid kit!” Then he galloped off towards the pair. It didn’t take long for him to reach them. Up close it was clear that the two were closely related, brothers most likely. The elder, Bitter assumed, he had a rather impressive moustache, seemed whole but the younger was almost being carried along, his face and sides marked with long burn marks, to Bitter’s surprise the injuries were not fresh.
“What happened to you?” asked Bitter.
The injured unicorn looked up at him with fever bright eyes, “Fire! Fire!” he cried, “A City burns! So Bright! The sun rises! It rises!” He reached out towards Bitter with shaking hooves, causing the farmer to rear back in surprise.
“Calm down, brother of mine,” said the uninjured unicorn calmingly as he gently restrained his ranting brother, “You’re safe here, safe, she can’t get you.” The other unicorn slumped back against his brother with a loud sigh. “I’m sorry about that, my brother is not a well pony. I’m Red Apple by the way, my brother is Green Apple.” He had a plummy accent, certainly not from around here, Canterlot maybe? Bitter had never visited but he’d been told the ponies there talked all posh.
Bitter frowned keeping a distance from the injured and apparently crazed pony. “Apples? What brings you folks out here, this isn’t good land for apples.”
“Oh we know,” said Red with a short laugh, “But our mission is most urgent, we have to warn you.”
“Warn us of what?” asked Fruitful as she galloped up with the first aid kit on her back. She stared at the two strangers for a moment. Then she moved forwards to see to Green’s injuries.
Red blocked her efforts. “I am afraid little can be done for my brother now, but I must tell you of the fall of Equestria! Of Corona’s coup!”
“What!” cried Bitter, “Are you mad?”
“I wish I were,” said Red with a bitter laugh. “We were in Canterlot when it happened, we...” he coughed a few times. “Could I perhaps trouble you for some water while I tell my tale? Then we, and you must be off.”
“Water we can do for you,” said Bitter cautiously. “But you better start make more sense, Corona!” he scoffed, “It’ll take more than a few wild tales to make me leave my land,” he stomped down a hoof embedding it in the soil.
“I hope for your and your family’s sake I can get you to change your mind,” said Red as the four of them returned to the farm house. Green slumped to the ground under the porch and Red downed a bowl a water freshly drawn from the well by Early. The young mare had come to this side of the house to see what was going on. Bitter and Fruitful laid down opposite the two unicorns, the latter clutching Late in her forearms, the colt squirmed a little. She looked calm but Bitter could tell him wife was as confused as he was. Early was the last to sit, a little further away from the strangers than her parents.
“Now what’s all this craziness about Corona?” asked Bitter.
“You know of her return?” asked Red.
“Of course, we might be off the beaten track, but we’re not stupid, we saw the longest day,” Bitter grumbled, did these strangers think they were idiots?
Red held out a calming hoof. “I’m sorry, but I’ve know some very ignorant ponies in my years, some who don't believe even when evidence is just in front of their muzzles.”
“Why should I believe this hogwash about Corona taking over? It’s not like the sun stayed up all night like when she returned last year!”
“Ah, but this time she’s being more stealthy, to prevent all of Equestria uniting against her, haven't you noticed that the sun has been up for longer and longer and how hot it’s been recently? Instead of just keeping the sun up all the time she’s slowly increasing her power.”
Bitter frowned, he’d just thought that was the summer drawing on but it was unusually hot, maybe there was something in what the stranger was saying.
“If you don’t believe me, look at my brother, he was injured by Corona herself!”
“Fire! Fire! Fire!” cried Green as if on cue, “A burning mare, so bright!”
“But... But what happened?” asked Bitter, could there be something to this stallion’s claims? he glanced around nervously.
“It was only a few weeks ago, she came upon Canterlot by surprise, one moment the sky was clear and then she was there, a burning mare large as two ponies, she demanded the surrender of the city. Of course none would listen to her, or so we would have hoped. You might have heard that when she first attacked the city she was stopped by a unicorn created shield?”
Bitter frowned, he thought he’d read something like that in the paper.
“Well this time she was prepared. She did not act alone, over the year she had whispered promises some of the ponies of the city, offered power and wealth under her rule. Even some of the night court turned to her side, foul traitors!” he spat onto the ground. “You no doubt heard of their corruption and wickedness?”
Bitter nodded, he’d read about Luna chastising them last year, but they were supposed to have turned over a new leaf, still he could easily see the self-serving lot of them turning against the people. He’d never trusted them much, always looking to increase taxes on the working pony so they could have another mansion built.
“Well some of them sided with Corona, and Shining armour the captain of the guard was assassinated before the cities defences could be raised, he stabbed in the back by somepony he trusted! Some guards and members of the court fought loyally but it was chaos. I heard Archduke Fisher led the charge against the tyrant sun and even spat in her eye after she defeated his forces. In response she broke his legs one by one and held him high above the city to see the destruction she caused, made him beg for death before she finally immolated and hung his corpse from the gates. She rained fire down on the city while her army of mercenaries ran wild through the city, griffins, buffalo, ponies. Everywhere was fire and destruction,” Reds voice rose and became shrill, “Bodies lined the streets mares, stallions, foals! It was chaos!”
“But what of Princess Luna? Surely she could have stopped her sister?” Red’s head was spinning this was just too big for him, how could this have happened? It was like a nightmare.
“She tried, they say. No pony knows exactly what happened she met her sister in her palace and in the battle all her guards were slain. Maybe Luna could not bring herself to use her full powers against her sister, maybe she just wasn’t as strong, or her compassion for her little ponies stopped her using all she strength but she fell and, and...” the stallion choked back a sob, Early held out a hoofkerchief but he waved it away and composed himself, “And Corona broke her!”
“Broke! What do you mean?” asked Bitter, then he paused, he didn’t want to know more.
“Broke her mind,” continued Red, “Reached into her brain and burnt something away. She still looks whole but is just a hollow shell now, little more than an extension of her sister. Without orders she just lies there silently like a puppet with its strings cut. But, her... her eyes, if you look you can see a flicker, a flicker of something trapped deep inside, something screaming!”
“Screaming! Screaming!” cried Green Staggering to his hooves, eyes darting around.
“Calm brother! Calm!” said Red soothingly, “She can’t get you here, calm!”
The damaged pony slowly stopped twitching and slumped to the ground again.
“What happened to him?” asked Bitter, “How did he...?”
“Become this way? You wouldn’t know to look at him but my brother used to be part of the guard. When Canterlot fell his last orders were to help found a resistance to fight back, he wanted to stay and fight but how can one fight the sun? His first action was to find me, he was foolish he should have gotten away, he... he always was a noble one,” Red rested his head on his brothers flank. “He told me what had to be done, we were almost away when, when she found us!” The stallion started to shake, “Corona was there in all her terrible glory, she bid my brother kneel and pay fealty to her, he... he... he spat in her face and she... she... she burnt him! Her flame melted his flesh away layer by layer, I begged her to stop but she wouldn’t listen.” He turned his gaze on the family his eyes staring straight through them at something in his own mind. “Have you ever smelt burning pony flesh? It smells so sweet!”
Bitter felt the bile rise in his throat and he swallowed hard. Next to him Fruitful was covering their son’s eyes and ears, Early was scrabbling away from the two stallions.
“I’m... I’m sorry,” said Red blinking, “We’re both damaged in our own way, part of us died on that day, all of us would have if a squad of loyal guardsmen hadn’t tried to attack her then, they died in seconds but their sacrifice gave me long enough to get my brother away and out of the city. We’ve been fleeing ever since, just ahead of her forces.”
“Just ahead?” asked Bitter gazing around as if he would see an army on the horizon.
“Yes, she and her quislings have set up a puppet government headed by Duke Greengrass of Caneighda and his lover Duchess Posey of Cloudsdale, they say she seduced the once noble duke to Corona’s side. You’ve heard how she tried to take over Equestria when her burning mistress first returned to the land?” Bitter frowned, he’d heard that Posey had tried to organize a resistance but he supposed it could have been a plot, her family did change so much for weather, there had to be something rotten about them.
“They and other traitors,” continued Red, “Have made sure that things seem to continue as normal so that no organised resistance is formed. Then Corona sends out her forces to one province after another crushing them one at a time, and they’re coming here! You have to flee!” he insisted.
“I’ll not leave my land,” said Bitter grimly but his voice shook a little, “My mother and her father before her worked these fields, not even Corona herself will make me leave.”
“That’s very brave, but foolish, what can you do against her army? If you’re lucky it will be her conscripted army, at least they have some decency, they would probably only enslave you, take your food to feed the next wave. But if it’s her mercenaries then, well, think of your wife and daughter! Think of your children!”
“The children?” wondered Fruitful clutching Late tightly to herself, the little colt hugged her back, his eyes wide.
“Corona knows that no pony aware of her nature would ever truly trust her, even her bought ponies, so she steals the little ones to raise as her own, to brainwash them. As you know the Princess's cannot have foals of their own so in her madness she steals other’s, but she punishes them from even mild infractions, breaks and burns their little bodies and minds. Please don’t put your son through that!”
Bitter stood and bit at his lip, he had a hard decision to make. “Fruitful, take the children and go, I’ll stay here to protect the farm.”
Red opened his mouth to continue but it was Early who spoke first. “Please dad!” she begged tears in her eyes. “Please don’t leave us, I’m scared!”
Bitter looked at his daughters distraught face. “I suppose it’s only land,” he mumbled defeated by her tears.
“Good,” said Red, getting to his hooves. “You should leave right away.”
“Where do we do?” asked Bitter.
“As far away from civilisation as you can,” Red watched as Fruitful rushed off to get the family cart. “Take only what you need to survive, you don’t have much time.”
“You’ll come with us?” asked Bitter.
“No,” said Red sadly, he looked over as Green who was staring blindly into the distance. “My brother cannot travel quickly and I still have other farmsteads to warn. I’m just glad you and your family have made the right decision.”
“Stupid Hicks,” muttered Red Apple, or Flam Flimflam as was his preferred nome de plume. He watched the Harvest Family gallop off into the distance, it would probably be days before they figured out they’d been conned. Flam hung his head, he didn’t feel any sympathy for them but this whole scam just seemed to be beneath him. Scaring off dirt poor farmers just to loot their homes, his skills could be put to so much more, still it could be profitable. “Go get the cart,” he instructed his brother who had started to peel the burn makeup off, Flam knew from personal experience how much it could itch.
“Fire! She rises!” moaned Flim, “What did you think? An award winning performance brother?”
“You might have over egged it a little brother, but certainly acceptable, given our audience. Now be quick, just in case they come back.”
Flim nodded and started to gallop away towards the small hillock behind which they had stashed their getaway vehicle.
Flam trotted over to the farmhouse and let himself in. Running an appraising eye over the few items of furniture and decorations around, nothing attracted his attention. Still most of these families had some sort of valuable heirloom or other around, the good china, great granny’s jewellery. Once he’d found a complete silver plated suit of barding in one families sewing room, all that remained of an ancestor who had once served in the guard. He made his way upstairs and into the main bedroom, his horn glowing as he searched for any valuables.
“What are you doing here?” croaked a feeble feminine voice.
Flam jumped and spun in place. There lying in the bed was an old mare, her coat and mane long since faded to grey. He relaxed, she looked as old as the hills, no threat there. He should hurry though, the family would remember they left their grandmother behind. “Stay out of my way and you won’t get hurt!” he warned, he normally hated physical violence, it was undignified, and he was no good at it, but it looked like a stiff breeze would knock down this old dear.
“Robbing the place are you?” she asked struggling to her hooves. “Have you no shame?”
“Apparently not,” mumbled Flam disinterestedly as he returning to his search.
“And after all those lies you told about Princess Celestia,” she grumbled.
Flam frowned, how did she know about that? Had she been listening at the window? “Not exactly lies, more a dramatization of what Corona would do if she did ever take over, Luna forbid of course.”
“Ha,” cried the old mare, “Shows what you know! All that fire and burning, that’s not what Celestia did to those that opposed her back in her day.”
“And you’d know,” said Flam pulling out several drawers and tossing the contents aside.
“I’ve learned a few things over the years,” said the mare, “I know.”
Something about her tone made Flam stop and turn to look at her, her eyes were surprisingly bright given her age. “Oh really and what did Corona do back in the day then?”
“Oh she used fire to punish those who displeased her, if they deserved a quick ending, but against those who truly deserved it, those who picked on the weak and helpless, those who slandered her good name, well those she was more imaginative in her punishments.”
“What do you mean?” asked Flam, who was this old crone anyway?”
“You think of her as just the Solar Tyrant don’t you? Well she’s more than that, she’s the Alicorn of the day and everything that goes with it, light, heat, growth, all of it and what she gives she can also take away.”
“Take away?” there was a little quaver in his voice, as he gazed at the white mare, now the room was growing darker her coat almost seemed to glow.
“Why yes, it was said she could stop any light from falling on a pony.”
Flam’s brow furrowed, “Wouldn’t that make them invisible?”
The old mare looked annoyed at being interrupted, “Well maybe not all light then, but all light falling on their eyes, so they were blind, forced to wander forever in darkness never able to see the glory of her sun again.”
Flam swallowed nervously, was it his imagination or was it getting dark? Evening must be drawing on already.
“And then she’d take away their heat, not enough to freeze but enough to make them cold. Have you ever been cold? Truly cold? Not just chilly but cold to your bones, like you know you’ll never get warm again, shivering so hard your teeth rattle but still it does no good? Well it was like that, only ten times worse, because you knew you really never would get warm again.”
Flam shivered, it was getting on a bit chilly now, he shifted his neck uncomfortably to look up at the mare in front of him, has she always been so tall?
“Finally she’d take away her blessing to make life and growth, no seed planted neither in the ground or with a lover would blossom, those cursed wouldn’t heal from a wound or a disease, they might not die, but they would never get better, their lives just stretched out like the last light of summer.”
Flam struggled with himself, his hooves wanted him to flee from the room but they seemed frozen leaden, cold! He wanted to shout at the old mare standing there so tall and bright and impossible ancient and young at the same time but the words wouldn’t come.
“You’d think those cursed in that way wouldn’t last long would you? Some might think their deaths a mercy, but they were even beyond the princess's mercy. She proclaimed that the punishment for harming one so cursed would be to be punished in the same way and that any pony they encountered must provide them with shelter and sustenance for a single night then send them on their way so that all could see that justice was being done!”
The mare took a single step forwards and her flaming mane billowed almost to the ceiling but provided no warmth to the stallion cowering in front of her. He found himself unable to look away from her glowing eyes, everything else around him seemed to fade away to black.
“And justice will be done Flam Flimflam!”
The terrified stallion suddenly found himself able to move his tongue again and he found use for it, screaming and screaming and screaming his throat tearing as if it would never be salved.
“Did you deal with the other one?” asked Corona. She had noticed the two con artists as she was passing by on the way to investigate the rumours of an artefact of power in the area and had decided to take a personal hoof in their punishment after they decided to defame her.
Her zebra companion nodded while dexterously twirling her staff, “A little tap with this stick put him to sleep real quick.” She glanced over at Flam, the unicorn lay on the floor shivering eyes wide but unseeing. “What did you do to this blackard to make him shake so hard?” she asked.
“Do?” said the Alicorn of the day mildly. “I just told him a scary story.”
Author's Note
My entry to the October Scary Story challenge, certainly not my best work, I put it together quite quickly and I was stumped for an idea as well.
No proofread or edited so probably a bit ropey grammar wise, still I hope some people like it.
Comments are appreciated.