The Storykeepers

Chapter 5: Raging Waters Part 2: The Story for the Northern District

All of Equestria possessed an aqueduct system as a means of easily having access to free water, one of the only good choices Sombra had made.

Applejack’s way of getting to the northern district was taking the Ponyville aqueduct to the adjacent Canterlot aqueduct which was right at the northern district.

“Captain Applejack to the rescue!”  Applejack called out.

“I should be captain!”  Rainbow Dash complained.

“Me too!”  Applebloom called out as well.

“They’ll be okay, won’t they?”  Luna asked Celestia as they watched the children and Twilight head off.

“Of course.”  Celestia said with a kind smile.  “Don't forget that when we were kids, we did it all the time.”

Back on the aqueduct, Twilight jokingly bopped Rainbow Dash in the head with the bread that hid the Canterlot story.

“Stop with the splashing.”  Twilight said with a smile.  “I’ve already had one bath today, and I’m not taking another.”

“Oh yeah?”  Rainbow Dash smirked as they reached the end of the aqueduct, which turned out to be a foot away from the northern aqueduct, and they all fell to the pool at the bottom as a guard was investigating a grate.

“That’s three fish, seven rocks, one sandal-” The guard said as the kids splashed down.  “And approximately 356 pounds of assorted foals.”

The guard helped the kids out as he said cockily, “No, no, this won’t do at all.  Foals playing in the aqueduct.  As aqueduct inspector, I’m afraid it’s my duty to give you all a citation.”

“Yes sir.”  Twilight said quickly as he took the new citation, not wanting to cause a ruckus when they had more important places to be.  “Won’t happen again, sir.”

Twilight then turned to the kids and whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”

As Twilight turned, she bumped into a young alicorn mare about her age with violet eyes a pink coat, and a hot pink mane with purple and crème highlights.

“A bit old to be playing in the aqueduct, aren’t you, friend?”  The mare asked.

“Who me?”  Twilight asked nervously.  “We were uh…”

“We’re not playing.”  Rainbow Dash said quickly.  This kid was fast on her feet.  “We’re junior Praetorian water scouts, and she’s our troop leader.”

Applejack, Fluttershy, and Applebloom quickly followed suit and raised their hooves.

“I am?”  Twilight asked before quickly accepting the story.  “I mean, I am!”

“Uh-huh.”  The mare said.  “What’s that you’ve got behind your back?”

“Bread!”  Sonata said as Twilight just noticed her.  Sonata was sure to taste it if he let her, and Twilight knew their cover would be blown big time if that happened.  “I’ll take some of that.”

“No!”  Twilight said quickly as she pulled the bread away before Sonata took it and bit into it, revealing the scroll as Sonata rubbed his face.

“Wow.  This bread’s kinda stale.”  Sonata said as the mare took the scroll out and looked at it.

“So you’re one of those Christians.”  The mare said.  “I’ve never met one in person.”

Twilight then rushed forward and grabbed the scroll.

“Halt!”  The mare called out.

“You’ll never take me alive!”  Twilight called out when the ponies held spears to her.  “Of course if you want to take me alive, we could work it that way too.”

“Take her to the Imperial Palace.”  The mare said.  “King Sombra will wish to interrogate her.”

“Of course he will.”  Sonata said plainly.  “Just before he feeds her to the lions.”

Sonata prepared to take another bite of the bread as the mare pulled it away.

At the farm, Fluttershy and Applebloom had rushed in and told Celestia and Luna about Twilight being taken by the guards.

“And I think they took her to the palace.”  Fluttershy said urgently.  “Then Applejack and Rainbow Dash went after him.”

“Oh this is terrible!”  Celestia called out.  “We’ve gotta cook up a way of getting Twilight Sparkle out of the palace!”

Celestia’s use of the word “cook” suddenly caused something to snap in Luna's mind.

“Cook up a way.”  Luna said with a smile.  “That’s it!”

“Huh?”  Celestia asked.

“Don’t just stand there!”  Luna said as she quickly tossed aprons to Celestia, Fluttershy, and Applebloom.  “We’ve got a lot of baking to do!”

“Luna, what does baking have to do with rescuing Twilight Sparkle?”  Celestia asked.

“Don’t you remember?”  Luna asked.  “Sombra’s famous for his sweet tooth!”

“Of course!”  Celestia called out.  “Come on everyone.  You heard Luna.  We’ve got a lot of baking to do.”

“But what will we bake?”  Fluttershy asked.  Celestia and Luna were teachers, so she had a limited idea of what the two could make that would help get Twilight out of prison.

“A feast for a king, my dear.”  Celestia said with a smile as she took out some dough and flour.  “A feast for a king.”

At Sombra's palace, which he spent most of his time in, Gilda announced him to several senators.

“Live from the Crystal Emperor’s palace, it’s the incredible, King Sombra!”  Gilda called out as Sombra walked out.

“Welcome to this meeting.”  Sombra said.  “I have called you here for a rare treat.  Gilda, call Cadence.”

“Cadence!”  Gilda called out as Sombra’s favorite soldier, Cadence walked out holding Twilight, who’d been bound up to stop her from causing trouble.

“Now Cadence, how did you capture this young mare?”  Sombra asked.

“We found this Christian near the aqueduct, King Sombra.”  Cadence said simply.  “She was carryin' this scroll.”

“You know Christian; I never understood the logic in you people throwing away your lives for the sake of a earth pony carpenter who died a thousand years ago.”  Sombra said plainly, which only made Twilight angry.

“He’s not dead!”  Twilight called out.  “And all over the world, billions like me wait for the day he will return and your empire will end.”

“You are in for a long wait.”  Sombra said with a sneer.  “Cadence, what’s on the scroll?”

“Some kind of story, King Sombra.”  Cadence said plainly and in the same tone as Sombra.  “About this Jesus of theirs.”

“Well that should be entertaining.”  Sombra said.  “Read us your little story, Christian.  Who knows?  Perhaps you’ll convert us all.”

Everyone laughed, and Twilight could feel the anger boiling inside of her like lava.

“You heard Sombra.”  Cadence said plainly.  “Read.”

“You don’t wanna hear the story!”  Twilight shouted out.  “You just want to make fun of it!  I will not dishonor my lord for your entertainment.”

“I am your lord, Christian!”  Sombra shouted, as angry as Twilight.  “Read the story, I command you!”

“I’d rather die!”  Twilight shouted back.

“As you wish.”  Sombra said with a smirk.  “But first I must find out what you’re dying for.  Cadence, what does it say?”

“It starts with Jesus and his disciples at the sea of Galoplee, King Sombra.”  Cadence said as she unrolled the scroll.

“Well go on and read it.”  Sombra said.

“‘That evening, Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Come, let’s cross over to the other side.”’”  Cadence began.  “‘During the voyage, Jesus rested on the floor of the boat, but before long, a furious storm came up, and terrible waves began to break over the bow of the disciples’ boat, filling it with water.

“‘“Master!”  One of the disciples called out.  “Please wake up!  Don’t you care if we drown?”

“‘Jesus awoke and went to the edge of the boat as he turned to the disciples and said, “Silence.”  Before he turned to the sea and shouted, “Be quiet!”  And upon his command, the wind died down until the sea was completely calm.

“‘Jesus then turned to his disciples and asked, “Why were you frightened?  Do you still not trust me?”

“‘And they turned to one another and said, “What sort of stallion is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’”

Cadence stopped reading and starred inquisitively at Twilight along with everyone else in the room.  Twilight starred back at Cadence and was surprised to see a spark in the center of her pink eyes.

“Well what are you all staring at?”  Sombra asked, obviously unmoved.  “I never heard such a ridiculous, illogical story in my entire life.  It’s completely absurd!”

“Oh yes, dude.”  Gilda said oily.  “Absolutely absurd.  No doubt about it.  In fact, I’d have to say on a scale from one to-”

“Shut up, Gilda!”  King Sombra snapped.

“Yes sir.”  Gilda said timidly.

“DESTROY THE SCROLL AT ONCE!”  King Sombra shouted.

“Yes King Sombra.”  Cadence said calmly.

“And as for this wretch, I want her thrown to the lions at the games tomorrow.”  Sombra said as he starred at Twilight.  “She shall be an example to the entire world of how we deal with Christians!”

Sombra laughed maniacally as Twilight was carried away.