The Storykeepers

Chapter 8: Catacomb Rescue: Part 2: The Search

While searching for Star-Swirl, Cadence watched as Chrysalis had her Changelings break down a door and ransack the house to look for the Christian.

“Sometimes I don’t understand.”  Cadence said to Sonata, who was busy with some sunflower seeds she’d grabbed, which equated to talking to herself.  “Even if they are different, these Christians don’t seem so bad.  Still Sombra is my god, and I do as he commands.  Guards, search that house!”

Cadence’s mares entered a house across from where Chrysalis was.

Applejack was walking down the street with some bread when she noticed all the soldiers, led by Chrysalis.

“You there!”  Chrysalis snapped.  “What are you doing?”

“I was just makin' deliveries.”  Applejack said nervously.

“Deliver this!”  Chrysalis called out as she used her magic on the cart Applejack was pulling as it tumbled over.  Avoiding the attack from Chrysalis, Applejack ran into Cadence, the soldier who had captured Twilight last week.

“Hey, watch where you going, filly!”  Cadence called out.

“Why don’t you get your hands off of me?!”  Applejack shouted as she wrenched herself free.

“And why don’t you get off the streets?”  Cadence retorted calmly.

Applejack rushed off.

“One day, you’re going to pay for this!”  Applejack called out.  “You’re all gonna pay!”

At the house, everyone had finished eating, and the children crowded around Star-Swirl.

“Tell us a story!”  Fluttershy pleaded.

“Yeah, a story about Jesus!”  Applebloom said as well.

“Star-Swirl will tell another story tonight.”  Celestia said with a smile.  “Right now, we have to discuss our plans to get him out of Ponyville.”

“Does he have to leave?”  Fluttershy asked sadly.

“I’m afraid so, Fluttershy.”  Star-Swirl said.  “There are many ponies on Saddle Arabia who have never heard the stories of Christ, and I have to plant the seeds.”

Star-Swirl then left with Celestia to talk as Luna sat down.

“He’s gonna plant seeds in Saddle Arabia?”  Applebloom asked.

“I thought he was a Story Keeper.  Not a farmer.”  Rainbow Dash said.

“Well Rainbow Dash, telling the stories of Jesus is like planting a seed in someone’s heart.”  Luna explained.

“Luna!”  Celestia called from the staircase.  “Tell them about the sewer!”

“Ah, yes.”  Luna said with a smile.  “One day, Jesus was teaching a crowd by the sea.

“‘Listen to this!’  Jesus said.  ‘A farmer went to plant his crop.  Now some seeds fell on the path, and the birds ate them.  Some seeds fell on rocky ground.  These shot up quickly because the soil was thin, but they were scorched by the sun.  Some seeds fell among the thorn bushes, and the thorns grew up and choked them, so that they never ripened, but some seeds fell into good soil and made thirty times more grain.  Some up to sixty, and others up to a hundred times more grain.’

“And Jesus then said, ‘He who has ears, let them hear.’”

“Hear what?”  Rainbow Dash asked.  “I don’t get it.”

“Well, neither did his Disciples.”  Luna said.  “At least, not at first.  You see, after the story, Peter turned to Jesus and asked, ‘Master, why do you speak in stories.  Why not say what you mean, like you do with us?’

“Jesus responded, ‘When I’m talking to you, I can talk about God’s way plainly, about how God cares for everyone everywhere, but those who see me as I pass through their villages don’t know me as well.  I put things into stories.  That way, those who want to hear me can, but those whose hearts are closed never do.  Like the scriptures say, they look, but they don’t really see what’s there.  They listen, but they don’t understand.’

“Because if they did understand, they’d change their ways.”  Luna finished.

Just then, Applejack burst in.

“Celestia, Celestia!”  Applejack shouted out.  “The soldiers are comin'!  We’ve gotta hide Star-Swirl!”

“Applejack, you and Fluttershy take Star-Swirl to the catacombs and wait for me.”  Celestia said quickly.  “I’ll keep the guards busy.”

There was a knock on the door.

“Open up in the name of Sombra!”  A voice called out.

“Hurry!”  Celestia asked.

As Applejack and Fluttershy took Star-Swirl to the kitchen to get him out by the window, the foals and Luna quickly cleaned up.

“I said open this door!”  The soldier called out again.

“I’m coming.”  Celestia said.  “I’m coming.”

Celestia opened the door to find Sonata.

“Sonata!”  Celestia called out with a smile.

“Oh, Celestia.” Sonata said in shock.  “I didn’t realize this was your farm.”

“Come in.”  Celestia said kindly.  “Come in.”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to.”  Sonata said.  “Sombra’s orders.  We’re searching the whole district.”

In the kitchen, Applejack tried to push Star-Swirl out while Fluttershy pulled.

“Oh please come on, Star-Swirl!”  Fluttershy groaned.

“So, are you searching for anyone in particular?”  Luna asked.

“Well actually…”  Sonata began before she turned to some bread Luna had just pulled out of the oven.  “Wow, those look good.”

“By all means, help yourself.”  Celestia said kindly.

Sonata began to eat a loaf of the bread when Chrysalis came in.

“Well Sonata, hoping to find a Christian beneath that crust?!”  Chrysalis asked.

“No.”  Sonata said nervously.  “Sorry sir.  I was just about to-”

Chrysalis shoved the bread into Sonata's mouth when she turned to the others.

“Search this place!”  Chrysalis called out, and the guards pounded through the whole house as Luna held Applebloom and Rainbow Dash close to her.

After their searches turned up nothing, there was a loud thump.

“What was that?”  Chrysalis asked as she went into the kitchen to find a portrait of Celestia kneeling before Chrysalis.

“Sombra’s teacher, eh?”  Chrysalis asked as she turned to Celestia.  “If I find you’ve been hiding that Story Keeper, I’ll educate you.”

Outside of a rundown road, Fluttershy helped Applejack and Star-Swirl sneak into the catacombs that ran throughout Ponyville and Canterlot.

“Are you sure ya know where you’re goin'?”  Applejack asked.

“I know these tunnels like the back of my hoof.”  Fluttershy said offhandedly.  “I had to live down here for a month after the fire.”

They then walked on.

Back at the farm, Celestia, Luna, Rainbow Dash, and Applebloom cleaned up.

“At least the foals are safe.”  Celestia said reassuringly.  “And they didn’t find Star-Swirl.”

“Celestia.”  A voice whispered.

“What was that?”  Rainbow Dash asked.

“Celestia.”  The voice whispered again as Applebloom noticed it was coming from the picture in the kitchen.

“The picture’s talkin'.”  Applebloom said in awe.

“Applebloom, it’s just Twilight Sparkle.”  Celestia said good naturedly as she lifted the picture as Twilight hopped in.

“Celestia, you won’t believe it!”  Twilight said excitedly.  “We’ve gathered a whole cartful of food and clothing for Star-Swirl to take to our friends in Saddle Arabia!”

“That’s wonderful!”  Luna said.

“Yeah, and I’ve got these!”  Twilight said as she pulled out a piece of paper with Sombra’s seal on it.  “Traveling papers.”

“Travelin' papers?”  Applebloom asked.

“Sombra set up check points all over the city, but with these, once Star-Swirl’s out of Ponyville, she can travel anywhere in the empire!”

“Excellent.”  Celestia said.  “Twilight, tell everyone to bring their gifts to the Saddle Arabia Christians to Soarin's cave, here.  We’ll meet you there tonight.”

“But that's outside the city.”  Rainbow Dash said confusedly.  “How will you get Star-Swirl there?”

“Catacombs, my filly.”  Celestia said with a laugh.  “They don’t call us underground Christians for nothing.”