A Harsh Cure

A Harsh Cure

Chapter 2: Moving On

Evening hardly made much of a difference across the alien sky that now looked down on Equestria. For a moment, Shining Armor pondered if it was still Princess Luna raising the moon. If the cycle of night and day continued, that meant that the princesses were alive, right? The continuing march of days should be a sign of hope.

Shining Armor shut his eyes tightly, and shook his head. He had replaced his ruined sword. Even if Cadence's magic hadn't destroyed it, he couldn't have brought himself to wield it again. He had sworn to use his weapons to protect Equestria and its citizens. And yet... He pushed the thoughts away just as he pushed back the tent's flap.

"Good to see you still alive, Prince Shining Armor."

Shining Armor looked up. The stink of blood and sweat still clung to him, and the rest of the Crystal Guard were still dragging back bodies, but he already wanted to look ahead. He was in the biggest tent in the camp, one that served as the Crystal Guard's war room. Several small, square tables had been lashed together to serve as a meeting table. Cadence sat by one end, gesturing for him to sit by her side. Nearby were representatives of the two nations the Crystal Empire had called to for help.

Knight Aldric grinned at him despite nursing an injured wing. His companion, however, proved less flippant. Shining Armor didn't recognize the crow griffon that sat by the table, he was familiar with the practice. The rare crow griffons did not enjoy a stellar reputation in the UGA. They had naturally shifty looks, combining the upper half of the cunning crow and the lower half of a stealthy panther. They practiced dangerous magic, sometimes through repulsive rituals. Several uprisings led by their cults certainly did little to improve relations with their eagle and hawk brethren. Nevertheless, no aerie lord was stupid enough to not have a crow griffon adviser to provide counsel with magical matters. Military positions followed the same logic. Knight Aldric may lead the UGA's troops, but this crow griffon would have plenty of say regarding how they were deployed, especially given the highly magical nature of Equestria's situation.

Over to the minotaur side, Shining Armor recognized both representatives. Battlemaster Great Fortitude, clad from hoof to horns in thick, steel plates, led the Taurus Empire's troops. He was the biggest, most physically imposing, bull minotaur that Shining Armor had ever encountered, which likely contributed a great deal as to why he led. Next to him was Spring Attack, his companion and second. It was a rare thing for a satyr to rise to such a high-ranking position given their standing in the Taurus Empire as second-class citizens, but not impossible. Shining Armor knew the rumors that it was Spring Attack who ensured that no other battlemaster could undermine Great Fortitude through foul play, a common occurence in the Taurus Empire's confrontational politics.

Shining Armor took his place next to Cadence. "I'm glad to find all of you here in a time of Equestria's great need," he said. "Thank you for heeding our call."

Great Fortitude snorted loudly. "Drop the niceties, Prince Shining Armor," he said. "The emperor didn't send troops because he was worried about your precious pony princesses." Cadence glared at him at that remark. "We're here to nip any more magical problems in the bud. The last thing the empire needs is dangerous pony magic leaking into our lands."

"One thing need not cancel out the other, battlemaster," Shining Armor said. "You still came to our aid. You are far from the only one concerned with this magical disaster."

"We would like to know what you have discovered so far," the crow griffon said.

"That's High Mediator Alessio," Cadence whispered.

Shining Armor's eyes widened. Having an aerie lord alone would have shown a great deal of investment from the UGA. The High Mediator presided over the council of aerie lords that served as the ruling body of the UGA. Having him here was certainly reassuring...and dangerous. "We are as lost on this matter as any of you, I"m afraid," he replied. "All our attempts to scout out what happened have been repulsed by these monsters."

Alessio scratched the feathers beneath his chin. "The residual magic is surprisingly uniform," he said.

"Indicating that all of this came from one caster," Shining Armor said. "We've figured out that much, High Mediator."

Great Fortitude thumped the table with a fist. "Then we find this caster, and gut him," he said. "Or her. Sounds straightforward enough."

Shining Armor shook his head. He knew what the source of the residual magic was. "Simple doesn't cut it, battlemaster," he said. "We are operating blind here. I would prefer getting a small force in to see the truth of the matter before we start marching armies in there."

"You're referring to the pony that the enemy leader turned into when it died," Spring Attack said. "Seems like this magical disaster's turned your kin into monsters, and you're not too keen on killing the lot of them."

Shining Armor's eyebrows furrowed, but he bit back an angry reply.

It was Aldric who spoke instead. "The UGA's willing to wait a bit as long as there aren't any threats coming our way," he said. "Of course, I want to make sure that there are griffon eyes in this small force you're interested in sending in."

"That is advisable," Alessio added. "I would like to know more details as to what caused this. For all we know, the Aeries are already on the verge of committing the same thing."

"Magic-users," Great Fortitude snorted. "Can't leave well enough alone. Fine. If it's a small force you're putting together, I want some of my troops to be part of it as well.  The rest of us will secure Equestria's borders to make sure none of these fiends make it out. We will not wait forever though, Shining Armor. You had better find the strength to finish your corrupted ponies if no other choice shows up."

Shining Armor nodded.

"There's still the matter of these persistent attacks," Great Fortitude added. "We still have most of our Third Army stuck by the Crystal Empire's borders, your highnesses, the Taurus Empire would be able to help more if you actually allowed us to get to where we're needed."

"The Crystal Empire greatly appreciates your eagerness to aid us, Great Fortitude," Cadence said. "But you must understand that it's not easy to just let multiple battalions of minotaur heavy infantry past our borders. And that's not considering your ur-priests."

Great Fortitude rested his massively-horned head against his hand. The table creaked at the weight. "Princess Cadence, I assure you that if we wanted to conquer, you would most definitely know. As for our ur-priests, we've been trying to convince you since you first gained control of the Crystal Heart that they're not interested in siphoning power from it."

"I will see to your troops' movement," Cadence said. "They will get to where they need to be, but only under careful watch."

Discussion turned to logistics, but Shining Armor had trouble keeping up with talks. His jaw still hurt despite Cadence's healing spells, and his thoughts were elsewhere. He still held on to the hope that he would find Twilight safe at the heart of this growing madness. But if Applejack's fate left him cold and trembling within. Great Fortitude expected him to find the strength to finish off those who would be corrupted. What if all of the Elements of Harmony had ended up like this? He tried to imagine himself stabbing each of them in the heart.

When the meeting concluded, Cadence draped a wing over Shining Armor as they walked towards their tent. "Are you alright?" she asked. "You must be exhausted."

"I am," Shining Armor replied. It wasn't much of a bed that awaited him in his tent, but sweet sleep beckoned to him. He shook his head. "I'll have to decide who goes into this incursion team."

"I know of several reliable unicorns," Cadence said. "And that Flash Sentry is certainly a capable fighter. I'm sure they'll--"

"I will lead this effort," Shining Armor said.

"I expected that," Cadence replied. "Then, I'll go too."

Shining Armor stopped briefly and put his front hooves on Cadence's shoulders.

"Don't tell me I shouldn't!" Cadence snapped. "You'll need me, especially if you run across another one of these leaders."

They both fell silent for a while. "I will, won't I?" Shining Armor asked.

Cadence nodded, and wiped away a trickle of tears from her face. "After seeing the first one, I'm afraid the chances are good that you will." Her face hardened. "That's why I have to go with you."

"Somepony has to stay and direct the Empire," Shining Armor said softly. "You promised to supervise the Taurus Empire's troop movements."

"I can appoint someone!" Cadence said. "I--!"

"It has to be one of us," Shining Armor insisted. He glanced sideways briefly. "And if disaster strikes this mission..."

"Don't even say that," Cadence whispered. She held him close, and nuzzled his neck. "As dearly as I want to save who we can in Equestria, you are dearest to my heart. I'll watch it all be washed away before I lose you." She pulled back and held chin up with a hoof. "I'll stay because you're right, one of us has to. But promise me, dear husband, that disaster may strike this mission, but it will not strike you."

Shining Armor smiled, and pressed her hoof against him just a little harder. "I promise."

Tomorrow morning came all too swiftly for Shining Armor. Long, tender moments aside, he had agreed with his wife's recommendations. Two pegasi from the Crystal Guard will accompany him: Flash Sentry, and Lightning Dust, who had proven herself quite well over at the southwestern fortifications. Surprisingly, two of the best that the Crystal Guard's pegasi could offer were not even actual crystal ponies. These two would be highly-motivated. Shining Armor already knew that Flash Sentry's parents and his three siblings had a fine home in Manehatten. He didn't know much of this Lightning Dust, but the dark, eager look around her suggested that she must be looking for somepony in Equestria too.

For unicorns, he would be their best caster, but he had Moon Lance as a highly capable assistant. Moon Lance was a crystal pony, and had done more than his part to hold the line in yesterday's battle. Moon Lance was a young stallion, his coat the color of uncut turquoise, and his mane a carefully cut mass of sapphire strands. The horror of Equestria's sudden ruin and the days of constant battle had not completely taken away the gleam of optimism from those emerald eyes.

For the UGA, Knight Aldric looked ready to go himself, but allowed responsibilities to rein him in for once. He was sending Knight Gilda, a rather irritable-looking eagle griffon, Gustaf, a gaunt, hawk griffon archer, and Georg, a crow griffon. The minotaurs offered a heavily-armed and armored warrior: Whirlwind, and a satyr ur-priest called Combat Casting; Combat for short.

"Are you sure, these will be enough?" Cadence asked as she gave Shining Armor his helmet.

"Any more would make us to conspicuous," Shining Armor replied. He glanced towards the minotaur warriors, who were stomping their hooves and snorting in anticipation. "I think we'll have our hooves full with those two alone."

"Be wary of the ur-priest," Cadence whispered. "Especially if whatever caused this destruction looks the least bit exploitable."

Shining Armor could still feel his sister's presence through the glowing cracks. Cadence didn't need to warn him. He knew all about ur-priests, and their penchant for stealing magical power. Minotaurs and satyrs held no natural spell-casting ability. They did, however, have ties to their mad, nameless, creator deity, a monstrous being imprisoned for all eternity in Tartarus. Ur-priests specialized in siphoning power from this being. Minotaurs and satyrs alike didn't think of it as stealing. They felt that their races were owed this power by their reckless progenitor. That was all well and fine, but centuries of mastering the art of surreptitiously siphoning power from one source made ur-priests really good at spell-theft. Cadence didn't want them anywhere near the Crystal Heart for good reasons. Crow griffons may be shifty, but ur-priests had the penchant, and the experience. Shining Armor only had one answer to anything abusing his sister's immense magical potential.

"I'll cut him down myself if he tries anything out of line," he whispered back.

Cadence nuzzled him one last time before flying off to meet with Great Fortitude. Shining Armor looked towards his group.

"Highness, do we have a destination?" Flash Sentry asked. "Is it Canterlot?"

Though Flash's lips said "Canterlot", his eyes begged to say "Manehatten". Shining Armor shook his head. "Not Canterlot," he said. "Ponyville."

Knight Gilda gave annoyed click of her tongue. "Not that place again," she muttered. Her two companions did not recognize the name.

Whirlwind, scratched short, brown fur of his chin, and snorted. He was massive, even for a minotaur, likely bigger than the rest of the group put together, bedecked in enough metal to forge swords and shields for all of them. A huge hammer, sized to be wielded two-handed even by such a massive warrior, was slung across his back. "That's not the name of an important settlement," he said in a deep, rumbling basso. "It sounds like a backwater farming village."

"It is, you know," Knight Gilda said.

"Then, why are we making it our destination?" Whirlwind asked. "We're here to find the truth behind this disaster, aren't we?" He glared at Shining Armor. "Perhaps, the prince wants to make a stop just to check on his loved ones."

"Don't be an idiot, minotaur," Lightning Dust said. She didn't take her eyes off the south. "The Elements of Harmony are in Ponyville, not Canterlot, a disaster this massive has to involve them."

"Dust!" Sentry snapped.

Lightning Dust shrugged her shoulders, and glanced back at Sentry. "What? The Taurus Empire's going to know at some point." She shifted her gaze to Whirlwind. "At least this guy knows we're not screwing around."

"Perhaps you have been," Whirlwind growled. "Keeping such powerful magical artifacts in backwater farming village. Were they in some glass case for display in a place anyone can go to gawk at them? By the nameless one, you ponies have been spoiled by your natural gift for magic."

"That's enough," Shining Armor said.

Shining Armor had seen the reports on Lightning Dust when she joined the Crystal Guard: impetuous and arrogant, her superiors were quick to point out, but certainly dedicated, ambitious, and physically gifted. He had hoped the Guard's discipline would temper her. The previous battles to safeguard the Crystal Guard had proved just that, but that didn't mean she had lost her rough edges. In her barding, with her blade at her side and her spear across her back, she certainly looked the part of a gallant, disciplined warrior. At least until one got to her un-helmeted head. Her golden mane was swept back, to keep strands from falling into her eyes. She had a sharpness to her, from her look, to her features, to even her mane-style. There was a firebrand under that disciplined veneer, Shining Armor expected to use it well. Doing so would require controlling that lip though.

Next to her, Flash Sentry looked more reliable. Shining Armor didn't need reports. He had worked with Sentry on multiple occasions, not even including the desperate last few days. Sentry was reliable, disciplined, and tough. An easy fit, not just for this mission, not just for his abilities, but also because the familiarity helped Shining Armor stay at ease. Unlike Lightning Dust, who didn't seem to have a personal stake on finding specific survivors, Sentry was obviously concerned for Manehatten's state and that of his family's, a possible liability, but Shining Armor was more glad to have something in common with somepony on the team.

Combat laid a hand on Whirlwind to calm the big minotaur down. Though he distrusted ur-priests as much as Cadence did, Shining Armor suspected that he was going to rely a great deal on this satyr.

If Whirlwind did all he could to appear as big and intimdating as possible, Combat appeared to be doing the opposite. Satyrs were only half as tall as minotaurs. Their gaunt faces, their gangly limbs, and their tendency to hunch over, aided in making themselves appear smaller. Combat, however, had gone to the extra mile in making himself appear weak and pathetic. His stiff black fur came out in unkempt patches. A few bald spots marred his neck and portions of his face. Crude, dark brown string, likely gut, tied together his long, ratty goatee. One of his back-curving horns was broken in half. The other had its tip missing.

"It's as Lightning Dust says. Ponyville will hold our answers." Shining Armor continued. He pulled out a map, and traced a route southward. From the Crystal Empire's borders, it was a southwestern push, just brushing past Cloudsdale, then by the base Canterlot, then Ponyville. The state they would find Cloudsdale in would provide more clues to just how badly messed up Equestria's environment had become. Likewise, even a pass by Canterlot might show how the princesses were. If they were lucky, they would find survivors from either of these places to work with.

Then it was onwards to Ponyville, where he expected these glowing cracks and fissures to congregate. From the looks of the devastation, it was entirely possible that there wasn't even going to be a Ponyville, just a gigantic crater filled with residual magic. Destination set, Shining Armor led his party into Equestria.

The first few hours proved a grim, but encounter-less trek. Typical of an explosive destruction, the outer reaches of Equestria proved the least damaged. Shining Armor had hoped that he could follow the river from the Crystal Mountains up to Cloudsdale at least, but the water had disappeared, and the ground was so badly damaged, that any traces of a riverbed had disappeared. This was going to be an additional obstacle. He was missing landscapes. Farther in, where the destruction was greater, things were likely worse. The pegasi and the griffons scouted ahead carefully. All it would take was leading a swarm of furies to their location, and things would quickly escalate. Each scouting trip brought similar results. Nothing was appearing as it did on the map.

It was when they had to check their direction that other problems grew evident. Shining Armor had pulled out a compass while consulting with his map, only to discover that the needle was spinning wildly. The sky itself didn't help. The sun was nowhere to be seen, but sunlight still filtered through the purple tinged atmosphere. There was no telling their direction through the sun's position. As of now, they were in a rocky plane, full of jagged outcroppings that allowed for a great many hiding places.

"I could try a location spell," Moon Lance suggested.

Shining Armor considered it. Something was clearly wrong with the magic around Equestria. Casting spells deeper into the realm might be hazardous, but it was better to try it now, while they were relatively safe and close to the edges, than discover the consequences of spellcasting when they were much deeper in. Location spells varied in strength: a weak one helped the caster spot a missing toothbrush in a slightly cluttered bathroom, stronger ones could follow week-old tracks after several days of rain. A spell to determine their cardinal locations shouldn't be high on the power scale. Shining Armor nodded, and Moon Lance's horn started glowing.

Shining Armor's eyes narrowed when several motes of purple light seemed to dance around Moon Lance's horn, like tiny fireflies attracted to his magic. He glanced towards the others. Moon Lance didn't seem to mind, neither did anyone else. He blinked, and shook his head. Perhaps he was just seeing things. Nothing bad seemed to be happening to Moon Lance anyway.

"We're still on the right track," Moon Lance said. He cancelled his spell, and shook his head briefly.

"You alright, Moon Lance?" Shining Armor asked.

"I'm getting this strange stabbing sensation in my head," Moon Lance said. He rubbed his temples with his hooves. "Nothing too bad, though. I wouldn't recommend casting anything if you don't really need it."

Whirlwind snorted, and banged his armored fists together. "No major loss," he said.

Lightning Dust snorted. "Good luck punching those spell furies, minotaur," she said. "A bunch of your fellows tried, and lost fingers for their trouble."

Whirlwind raised himself up before growling. "You have a sharp tongue, horse-bird, be careful I don't blunt it with my hammer."

Lightning Dust merely smirked, and hovered ahead.

"Let's keep moving," Shining Armor said.