Upheaval: Journeys

Chapters

Setting Destinations
Companions and Causes
Applejack 1: The Empire
Applejack 2: On The Trail
Applejack 3: Old Allies and New
Applejack 4: Always a Greater Picture
Applejack 5: Into the Serpent's Grasp
Applejack 6: The Exposed Rot
Applejack 7: The Broken Chain
Applejack 8: Apple Slice's Rest
Applejack 9: The Last Great Apple
Applejack 10: 'Till We Meet Again
Rainbow Dash 1: Rainbow Flies West
Rainbow Dash 2: The Attack on Southwind
Rainbow Dash 3: Ruminations on Loyalty
Rainbow Dash 4: Willow Manor
Rainbow Dash 5: A Lucky Find
Rainbow Dash 6: The Challenge
Rainbow Dash 7: The Weight of One Spear
Rainbow Dash 8: Numbers and Names
Rainbow Dash 9: Relentless
Rainbow Dash 10: Without Falter
Pinkie Pie 1: Upper Great Delve
Pinkie Pie 2: Lower Great Delve
Pinkie Pie 3: The First Impression
Pinkie Pie 4: The True Earth Pony Clans
Pinkie Pie 5: Duplicities

Setting Destinations

Upheaval: Journeys

Unified 1: Setting Destinations

Silence reigned over the Chamber of Elements as Twilight's wide-eyed friends stared at her with their mouths agape. She couldn't blame them. She probably had the same look on her face when Celestia told her of this development. Behind her, all three Equestrian Royals stood without a word, solemnly letting all this play out.

It had been a week since the battle of Sky Mirror Lake. Enough time for taking stock to get well under way. The Legion had recovered its dead, and its equipment, before withdrawing. Those who had perished were accounted for, and a memorial was in the works. Despite these events, reunification pushed on.

Queen Chrysalis and her changelings were allowed to return to their home. With the Abyssal Throne gone, Celestia hoped that the changelings would begin to recover as well. As the days passed by, Twilight dared to hope that, at least for now, things were starting to look up.

Rarity cleared her throat; the first sound to break the silence. "Did...did I hear you right?" she asked. "Did you just say you were going to the Eternal Herd?"

"Yes," Twilight replied.

Rarity tilted her head slightly, her look of concern growing. "I hope that's not a euphemism for you dying. Are you alright, darling? You didn't strain yourself beyond your limit in the abyss, did you?"

Twilight's eyes widened. "What? No, I'm not dying!" The others breathed a sigh of relief. "The King asked for my presence, so I'll accompany Princess Celestia and Prince Terrato."

"I shall stay to manage affairs here," Luna said. "We cannot simply abandon Equestria when there is much to do."

"Are you sure you want to do it?" Twilight asked. "The King is finally going to speak. You can finally meet him for the first time ever."

"I..." Luna sighed. "I would certainly like that, Twilight Sparkle, but you must understand that I'm quite fine in setting it aside for later. One of us must stay, and I have volunteered to do so."

"That's awesome and all," Rainbow said, "but where does that leave us? Are we going too?"

"No," Terrato said.

Celestia looked at him disapprovingly, but he barely seemed to notice her. Or anypony in the room for that matter. His eyes were far away, looking at things only he could see. A moment more and Celestia turned her attention towards Rainbow. "I would love to bring you all to see the Eternal Herd, but we must limit this trip to just Twilight this time. It will take plenty of resources to transport her there without—" she cleared her throat "—the usual methods. Having all six of you go would tax us greatly."

"And you have nothing to do there," Terrato added. "This isn't some sight-seeing trip, it's a summons." His gaze swept over them. At the sight of Fluttershy and her ruined eye -now covered with a proper eyepatch- he paused. "All of you have work to do. I can see it in your faces, and in the reports made about your activities. We'll be going, but none of you should be idle while we're away."

"Oh! Oh!" Pinkie waved a front hoof excitedly until Terrato glared at her. "Can I go with Copper Mane to the Great Delve?" she asked.

Terrato raised an eyebrow. "The Delve? And you're going with a True Earth Pony? What is this about, Pinkie Pie?"

Despite the stern question, Pinkie remained undaunted. "There's a bunch of stuff I want to find out there," she said. "Especially after all we saw in the Old Kingdom!"

"Luna can easily arrange for a trip, and some escorts, to the Great Delve," Terrato said. "If there is something you think you can gain there, go."

Luna's voice lowered with concern. "Be mindful of yourself there, Pinkie Pie," she said. "It won't take long for the delvites to digest all the news coming from the Heartland. They will know who you are. To see the Element of Joy associating with the True Earth Ponies will upset many, especially the pegasi and unicorns. On their part, I'm sure the True Earth Ponies will be happy to take advantage of this."

"Well, somepony has to say something." Pinkie shrugged. "They've been upset with each other for a long, long, long time."

"I suppose that's true as well," Luna said. "I'll see what I can do." She looked to the others. "What of the rest of you?"

Twilight followed Luna's gaze, taking the time to look at her friends fondly. It might be a while before she saw them again. When both she and Luna looked to Applejack, they found her looking away, only to glance occasionally at Twilight.

"Applejack?" Luna asked.

Applejack opened her mouth, hesitated, then glanced away again. "I...uh...I don't really have plans. I was hoping I could talk to Twilight about something, but she's..."

"I don't have to go away immediately," Twilight said. "Princess Celestia says there's a lot of preparation involved. We still have plenty of time to talk."

Applejack's eyes lit up. "Great!" she said. "V--!" she quickly shut her mouth. Twilight's heart lurched. That "V" might stand for a lot of things: victory, valorous, vain, vicious..., but her suspicions narrowed it down to one word. She had seen Vanguard on a few occasions ever since Sky Mirror Lake, and never by herself. Applejack might have. It's not like there were times Twilight didn't—

It was only when Rarity cleared her throat again that Twilight realized she was staring intensely at Applejack, who was practically squirming on the spot.

"This is all very sudden, if you ask me," Rarity said. "I wish we had more time to recover together, but I suppose there is always work to be done."

"Do you have somewhere to go, Rarity?" Twilight asked.

"The Great Delve sounds nice," Rarity replied. "I've heard a lot of things from the legionnaires here. Oh, to see what kind of fashion within the heart of the Barrier Lands would be quite the learning experience! And carved inside a massive mountain filled with gemstones to make even a dragon—!"

"Rarity," Luna said sternly. "Surely, you're not going to the Delve on a shopping spree, are you?"

"That was a joke," Rarity said. "Well, partly. The Hall of Mage Blades is in the Great Delve as 'the legendary Lion Court' mentions in his book. I believe there are things I can learn there. The Great Delve Smith's Guild will also be a good stop according to Hammer Chain, who's also planning on making the trip."

Terrato nodded slightly. "The Hall of Mage Blades is still standing. That's the best that can be said about it."

Rarity's ears drooped. "Oh dear," she said. "I suppose centuries of the art being obscured would do that." Her ears perked a moment later. "Nevertheless, I suspect that I can still benefit from a visit."

"Hey, isn't Spike in the Western Barrier Land?" Pinkie asked. "Maybe we can meet up with him!"

Rarity replied with a pleased nod.

Fluttershy ventured to raise a hoof, but she stopped halfway, and looked aside.

"Yes, Fluttershy?" Celestia asked.

"I...um...if it's okay with you, I'd really appreciate it if you released Starswirl," Fluttershy said.

Celestia raised her eyebrows, the only outward sign of her surprise, before recovering swiftly. "That's an odd request," she said. "Certainly, we've benefited from his help, and I was considering it. I would like to know why you have some vested interest in his freedom."

Fluttershy pawed the floor for a few seconds. Her ruined eye twitched slightly. Twilight wasn't sure if it was just due to some muscle spasm, or from pulses of power. "Starswirl was the first one to question Oceanus," Fluttershy said. "We thought about following, but we didn't." She touched her ruined eye with a front hoof. The others moved closer worriedly, but she shook her head. "That's as much as I remember."

"You mean what Lok'horus remembers," Twilight said. She stared at the ruined eye. "Is...is he in there, talking to you?"

Fluttershy shook her head again. "I don't think there's enough of Lok'horus left to be Lok'horus. They're...they're just really weird like that. Sorry, but he's not 'talking' to me. I just remember. All I know is that Starswirl can help."

Luna looked to Terrato. "Big brother, surely Starswirl has done enough to earn his freedom?"

"Sure, why not." Terrato snorted. "Just make sure to kill him if he gets unruly, little sister. You'll likely be the only alicorn here if he decides he'd rather be Regia Carnifex."

Luna nodded, then went on to Rainbow. "And you?" she asked. "Have you considered your next steps, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow flinched when every pony in the chamber looked to her. "Uh...no?" She shrugged, then put on a defiant face. "Hey, I was still waiting for some kind of feast! We kicked butt in the abyss, remember? Now, all of a sudden, everypony's running off somewhere? How was I supposed to know I had to think of where to go right away?"

"A feast would be nice though," Pinkie mumbled. She glanced at Terrato. "Some of us could use some cheering up."

Celestia smiled, and nodded. "That's true," she said. "We've lost a great deal, and even more troubles await, but we must not forget to take joy in what we still have."

"I've been making arrangements already," Luna said with an upward tilt of her chin. "Of course, it all has to take a back seat to recovering as much as possible from Sky Mirror Lake. It won't take much longer to have a feast for Sky Mirror Lake and Reunification."

"So we can have a party before everypony takes a trip?" Pinkie asked. "Awesome!"

Rarity gasped, then looked at herself. "I'll have to pick the proper outfit. This will be the first major social event of the reunification! Oh, I hope it isn't too soon!"

Applejack nodded vigorously. "Count me in," she said. She rubbed her chin with a hoof. "Hold on...if I can get some of the Apple Family baked goods ready in time, I can make a good impression on a lot of legionnaires. This might be a chance to branch out to the Barrier Lands!"

Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something, but thought against it. After another moment, she finally mumbled "I...I think a party would be nice."

Rainbow stomped a front hoof. "See?" she said. "Now, we're talking!"

"And what will you do after the celebration?" Twilight asked. She frowned when Rainbow shrugged, and put on a sheepish grin.

"I'll figure something out," Rainbow said. "It's not like I have to go at the same time as you, right?"

"I suppose." Twilight sighed. A party would be...appropriate, useful, necessary even. Yet, she couldn't even bring herself to think of it as enjoyable, or exciting, or anything that a party should be. Though they smiled, focused on the good things, and planned parties, there was an unmistakable cloud over them. She glanced at the center of that cloud at the moment. The princesses were also looking at their brother, the only one left in the chamber who hadn't commented on the idea.

"A feast would be good for morale and solidarity," Terrato said flatly. "It's been a while since large groups from all three legions were together like this. Increase security; I don't trust the heartlanders to control themselves once ponies start breaking out the casks."

"Of course, big brother," Luna said.

"Good." Terrato walked towards the exit. His next words came out like a snort. "Have fun. After all, what a great victory we've won."

When the doors closed behind him, a collective sigh seemed to escape from everypony else. Twilight could already see it; there would be three places of honor for the royalty in the coming feast, but only two of them would be occupied.

"Will he be alright?" Fluttershy asked. "He's really hurting."

Celestia looked forlornly at Chamber of Harmony's doors. "He is," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is not the homecoming he's been looking forward to for such a long time." She tried to muster a smile, succeeding only partly when she turned her gaze on the others. "You shouldn't burden yourselves with this. He wouldn't want you to. You all have a while to relax and prepare for a party. Afterwards...we'll see."

While the others moved on ahead, Twilight and Applejack hung back. Rarity was all but galloping a bee-line to what was likely the nearest clothing store. For raw materials of course. Fluttershy and Rainbow had flown off seprarately. Twilight wasn't sure where. Pinkie bounced off, likely to help out with preparations. Or to talk to Copper Mane, which she had been doing throughout the week.

"So what was it that you were going to tell me?" Twilight asked.

Applejack tilted her hat forward, as if to hide her eyes. "I was gonna say it, but then I figured that maybe it shouldn't be me," she said.

"I don't understand," Twilight said with a tilt of her muzzle. "If there's something you need me to know, why not just say it?"

"I'm not trying to hide it," Applejack said. "I just thought that—" She stopped, her lips instantly curving into a smile, and her ears perking up.

Twilight followed the stare. About a few dozen feet away stood a familiar, black-armored figure. Her heart lurched again, as it did earlier. She knew of Applejack's feelings. Still, this was far removed from Applejack's usual stumbling response; a wordless, unabashed smile of affection that couldn't possibly be interpreted as anything else. Twilight was almost embarrassed for Applejack.

Vanguard approached them without his champron on, a stiff winter breeze ruffling his curly, black mane around him. He had been doing this for a while now. He scared ponies less if he let them see his face, as he had discovered. Here in Canterlot, where there was no immediate danger, he could afford to be bareheaded. Twilight was about to wave a hoof, but the look on his face froze her.

It was only for a short moment, but Vanguard answered Applejack's love-struck look with a smile of his own; a warm, pleased smile that Twilight had not seen before. In that simple response, everything that didn't seem to make sense earlier clicked into place. She stayed unmoved while Applejack trotted to stand closer to him. This was what Applejack wanted to say. Of course. All of a sudden, she felt like an intruder even as a dull ache struck her heart.

Applejack turned towards Twilight, still all smiles. "Twilight, I—" The smile faded into a look of concern. "Twilight, you okay?"

"I..." Twilight struggled to keep her face even, and her voice calm. "I'm fine," she said. "I understand what you were saying earlier, Applejack." She forced a smile, an understanding smile that should tell them both that it was okay. She took a step back so she could give them their time together.

"Sugarcube, wait!" Applejack said.

Vanguard stepped forward. "Twilight..."

Twilight raised a hoof to stop both of them. "No," she said. "Don't do this." A wretched tear trickled down her cheeks, threatening to undermine what she had to say. "I'm happy for you, really. I mean...I mean after some time I will be. Don't try to comfort me like I'll go berserk because of this, I won't, I promise!" She choked back a sob. Her voice cracked when she spoke again. "So...so I'll be fine with some time. Just be happy together, okay?" That was it. She couldn't stand her ground much longer. She had to go before she ruined what time they could spend together. Running would be pointless. They'd give chase, probably calling out to her along the way. She didn't want a scene. Her horn flashed, and a teleportation spell carried her away to some quiet spot she could stay and take this all in.

"Twilight..."

Applejack lowered her hoof as the brief glare from Twilight's teleportation spell faded. That...that was far from how she had hoped things would turn out. She looked around vainly to catch a glimpse of her friend. All around her, ponies simply moved on with their business. She frowned and put a hoof to her chin, quickly running through the places Twilight might have gone to. Unfortunately, she was hardly familiar at all with Canterlot.

"Applejack," Vanguard said. "Perhaps, it's better if we give her the time she asks."

"But..." Applejack sighed. "There was no way this could have worked out with everypony smiling, wasn't there?"

Vanguard shook his head. "Don't be so downcast so quickly," he said. "She's strong. This will work out with everypony smiling, you'll see."

Applejack leaned against him. His nightsteel plate was cold to touch in winter, but his neck was warm against her head. Vanguard put a hoof around her shoulders, and nuzzled her forelocks for a moment. "Something else is troubling you," he said.

"Twilight's going off on a trip to the Eternal Herd," Applejack said. "Pinkie's got something planned, so does Rarity. Everypony's expected to do something special now, and I...I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do."

They started walking before Vanguard spoke again. "No clue at all?" he asked. He frowned in deep thought. "I read that Black Rose didn't have some kind of test for you and Twilight. Or, if she did, she didn't enact it."

Applejack stopped, her eyes wide. "Wait," she said. "That last thing she said..." She looked to the chain she had wrapped around her neck. The chain of Apple Slice was always close by these days. Black Rose had commented on it briefly in the abyss. It was probably nothing, just a quick remark like the sort you'd make about the weather. But that gave her an idea. "Well, there's something."

Vanguard smiled slightly. "There we go then. What is it?"

Applejack hesitated over telling Vanguard about Apple Slice. She didn't really trust dreams. But dreams weren't this vivid, or consistent. Dreams involved Winona lecturing her on Math, or being chased by rotten apples swooping in with chicken wings, not living through the life of an ancestor. Vanguard might dismiss her concerns though. When he remained silent and expectant, she finally ventured to talk about it.

Vanguard stayed quiet throughout the whole story, a ghost of mockery not even showing on his face. "The chain was glowing when you woke up?" he asked.

"I think so," Applejack said. "Could just be left over sleep though."

"No more than it's all just dreams," Vanguard said. "Perhaps, the chain is doing more than just providing you information of its past owner."

"Yeah?" Applejack asked. "I guess I might see him do some fancy moves with this here chain when it gets to that part." She pantomimed a lasso throw and grinned. "I could use some of those."

"Maybe," Vanguard said. "Special Operations has been looking up that chain since you showed it in Fangbreaker. Nopony's found anything. Odd given how long Crow Quill's family must have held it. For all our legends and accounts on him, we have a lot of blind spots regarding Apple Slice. You've heard the wild speculations about him. This could be the way to get to the truth."

Applejack remembered that argument in Fangbreaker. Sunray and Drizzlecloud; two ponies acting like they had all the answers when all they had were guesses that helped their agenda. Finding out the truth seems right up the Element of Honesty's alley. But sitting around waiting for the next vision didn't seem right. She still had to do something. Another idea came to mind. "Say, Vanguard, does Special Operations at least know where Apple Slice died?" she asked. "Is there some kind of tomb in the Barrier Lands?"

"You don't need to be Special Operations to know that," Vanguard said. "Apple Slice died defending Greenfang Outpost during a disastrous campaign against Ophidus. There are stories of some kind of tomb, but..."

"But what?" Applejack asked.

"The land where Greenfang Outpost was is deep in Ophidus," Vanguard said. "It's not something you can visit."

Applejack continued on in silence. The idea stuck in her mind, however. It wasn't much to work on, but just the thought that Apple Slice's remains were in the territory of Equestria's enemies only made her more determined.

Much to her annoyance, Rainbow felt like she was back in Flight School again, rushing about at the last minute because she forgot that there was homework assigned. Nopony said anything about Twilight going to the Eternal Herd, or Pinkie doing stuff in the Great Delve. Rainbow had assumed that, after the celebrations, they would all be given their next mission, just like any legionnaire would be.

'Except I'm not, I guess," Rainbow muttered. Elements of Harmony. It was always about being the Element of Loyalty these days. Sure, it was awesome to be special and to be relied on by so many, but she could use a break now and then. She soared above Canterlot and watched all the preparations. Some rays from the noon sun were a welcome respite from the winter cold and it was clear that everypony below was glad for it with so many things to do.

"Fenrir's Winter" the legionnaires called it. The Heartland's ponies adopted the name. Harsh, frigid winds blew in from the north, unaided by any pegasus-run factory. Perched high near the peak of Mount Unicornia, Canterlot bore the brunt of the new weather. Thick banks of snow had to be swept from the streets. Long icicles ran down roofs. Winter fashion in Canterlot usually boomed at these times with fancy coats and scarves, but the unusual winter forced the elaborate, colorful outfits for the thicker, blander coats. Rainbow, however, was fine with the usual coat she had taken from her home in Ponyville. She didn't need wolven fur for this after her time up north, staring at the jaws of King Fenrir.

As for the workers, Princess Luna did move pretty quickly and subtly. There was a big feast being set up, but all the little preparations weren't getting in the way; small wagons of food and drink being carted towards the main square, decorations being set up, a group of musicians practicing, Longstride sitting and watching.

Rainbow stopped, then double-backed. Wait, Longstride? How was he just walking walking around? Maybe she was just seeing things. But no. There he was, sitting by a bench and looking at the street. Rainbow circled briefly, unsure if she should even react to this. He didn't even look towards her direction, but he probably already knew she was there. He wore a simple brown coat instead of his mottled leather armor and he didn't have his massive bow. Finally, she dove in. "Hey," she said. She hovered above and in front of him. "I want to talk to you."

"Congratulations," Longstride said flatly. "You just succeeded."

"Don't be so smug," Rainbow snapped. He still wouldn't look at her. She didn't believe for a second that there was anything on the street that could possibly hold his attention more. She landed next to him and looked.

It was just a typical busy Canterlot scene, albeit now with a touch of reunification going around. When the legionnaire patrols started doing their routes, every chosen was wary and went out of their way to avoid the armored strangers with no cutie marks. Though the legionnaires weren't being greeted with warm smiles still, they were slowly appearing as part of a typical day. They passed by patrols of royal guards with nods of acknowledgment, which the guards returned.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" Rainbow asked. "Didn't the Legion put you and the other Thorns to work?"

Longstride stayed silent for a long, irritating while. "The Legion is still fumbling with how it's going to use its newly acquired resources," he said. "They can't even decide which officer I should be assigned to, let alone what orders to give me. The Prince hasn't said a word about it as well."

"So nopony's even bothered watching you?" Rainbow asked. "They just let you wander the streets?"

"Stupid mare," Longstride said. "Just because you can't see them doesn't mean there's nopony watching me. An unnecessary use of legionnaires, regardless; I have no more orders from Black Rose."

"So...what?" Rainbow asked. "No revenge scheme? No secret will written by Black Rose? You're just going to sit here like a statue until somepony gives you orders?"

"Yes."

Rainbow snorted. "Come on" she scoffed. "You're practically free! The Thorns were alive hundreds of years ago, right? You're not even going to check out the Heartland? Or whatever's changed in Equestria since you were gone?"

Longstride's eyes narrowed. "What do you want from me, stupid mare?" he asked. "Why the questions?"

"I..." Rainbow pressed her lips together and looked away. She didn't want to meet his weird, golden eyes. They might be able to do more than let him see great distances. He might already be seeing right through her. "Look, you had some kind of plan to help me get stronger, right?" she asked. "Do you have something else? Did Black Rose have like a step two?"

"Yes," Longstride said. "Perhaps, I should shoot your other flank, then get the wolven to capture you."

"I'm serious," Rainbow said.

"Then, I truly worry for all of us," Longstride replied. When Rainbow continued to stare at him, he let out a snort. When he spoke, however, the earlier biting sarcasm was gone. "You displayed great strength in the abyss. Far more than I had expected you were capable of. How you must prepare for Equestria's greatest enemy is beyond me."

Rainbow sighed and plopped down on the bench. "Great," she said. "I've got nothing."

"You cannot have nothing," Longstride said. "Too much is counting on you."

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow snapped. "You have nothing too! At least, I'm trying to find something instead of sitting around like some kind of broken toy, you stupid stallion."

Longstride flinched, as if the last few words were pebbles that struck the back of his head. His eyes widened and, finally, he looked at Rainbow. "I am not part of Equestria's best weapon against Oceanus," he said. His voice rose slightly.

Rainbow pushed down a smile. It was so hard to get this stallion to move past that monotone. She had more to say though. "You're being a cheat," she said. "You're just as bad as I am, but just because I'm the Element of Loyalty and you're a Thorn, it's okay for you to sit around doing nothing while you call me names."

Longstride answered with a long, silent stare. Rainbow stared back for a second, but, when his golden disc irises began spinning in place, she had to look away. What a strange pony he was. Sometimes, he was just a typical, annoying stallion. Sometimes, when he fell silent and she noticed the details about him, he looked so awkward and out of place. A pony out of his time and place, unsure of how he should join with the rest of the world.

A full minute must have passed. Longstride stared and stared. He looked as if he didn't even know that this was probably very uncomfortable for anypony. "You're right," he said. He was back to his monotone. "Nopony should be idle, regardless or role. I'm being selfish, arrogant, lazy, and far too dependent on a pony who's no longer around to give me orders."

Rainbow's lower lip stuck out. "You could at least be a little in denial," she muttered.

"This must change," Longstride said. He looked at the distant skyline, past all the busy ponies. After a brief, barely audible "hmm", it was clear that he had no more intention of saying anything again.

"Hey," Rainbow said. She nudged him, just in case. He glanced at her at least so he must be listening. "We're setting up a feast soon."

"I've seen the preparations," Longstride said. "Princess Luna's orders, I heard. Perhaps the Rondo might return after all if they conduct themselves better."

Rainbow scratched her head with a foreleg. "I'll probably talk with the girls for a bit, then hang out to drink with Scarlet. I was thinking that...uh...well, it's getting boring with just Scarlet. Maybe..."

"I will join you," Longstride replied. He paused and frowned, before adding "If that was what you were leading to."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "Really? Why? I mean, it was starting to sound like a stupid idea when I started saying it."

Longstride simply stared off to the distance. "Take care," he said. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

Rainbow flapped her wings, but she spent a few more second just hovering. "Yeah, you too. I'll see you later, Longstride."

Once more, Fluttershy stared at the Crystal Grave. Ahead of her were the royalty, already preparing for the seal breaking.

Fluttershy didn't know who gave the prison such an ominous name, but it was wrong. The inside of the cave may indeed feel like a tomb. The cold, stale air may smell like things long dead. The faint, lingering presence of slain miners and slavers may permeate every inch of the mountain's insides. Still, the prison wasn't there to mark something dead.

Starswirl had paid dearly for his actions. He was cast from the Herd for siding with Oceanus, cast from Oceanus's side for aiding the newly born ponies, then cast aside by the very ponies he gave so much to aid. He spent centuries buried and forgotten, nearly all his power siphoned from him by his treacherous student, but something still remained. Something alive. The living should not have graves.

"Fluttershy," Celestia said. "Are you alright?"

Fluttershy's eyes widened. She gave her head a quick shake to clear it. "Oh! Sorry, I was spacing out."

"If you're tired, go back to your quarters," Terrato said. "We don't need you for this ritual. You can meet him later."

"Sorry," Fluttershy mumbled. "I'll try harder to stay focused."

"No need to apologize," Luna said. "Just stay close."

Though three alicorns were present, the ritual itself was not particularly long or flashy. It was certainly nowhere near that frightful one they used in the abyss. Celestia completed the inscriptions on the floor, then raised her horn. Her siblings followed shortly. A flash of light, and they were at rest again. Fluttershy looked on expectantly, but nothing seemed to be happening.

A loud chink shattered the expectant silence. Fluttershy looked towards the sound, and found an enormous crack across the Crystal Grave. She swallowed a lump in her throat even as her ruined eye began to throb. A familiar presence was leaking out of that crack. It felt like invisible smoke was pooling on the floor. The royalty must have noticed too. Terrato lifted one hoof from the floor and wrinkled his nose in disgust. A series of loud chinks followed the first one as more cracks appeared, joining together and spreading like a web of flaws across the once near-perfect crystal.

Fluttershy closed her eye and looked away, fearing a loud explosion that might send shards flying her way. All she heard was a slight tinkling, like a small crystal glass shattering on the hard stone floor. She looked up in time to see huge shards from the Crystal Grave fall away. Each shard looked like it had turned into water, which evaporated before a single drop could hit the floor. Where the prison once was, now stood a pony.

Starswirl appeared as a slender, charcoal-grey alicorn, a mere few shades darker than Terrato, with a mane and tail of pure white. Unlike the royalty, Starswirl's mane, tail, and chest-length beard, did not appear as if made of some otherworldly material. It was clearly white hair; long and wavy, with small curls close to the tips. He was also as tall as Terrato, but his slender, almost emaciated, build made him appear much smaller. The lines around his face spoke less of age and more of frailty. This couldn't be Regia Carnifex, lieutenant of Oceanus, at his prime. Here was a pony barely a shadow of who he once was. He let out a long yawn and stretched his hooves.

"Ah...freedom," Starswirl said. "Thank you, your Highnesses, but could you have at least waited for me to wake up before breaking my prison?"

Terrato answered with a snort, then turned his back. "We're done," he said. "Looks like I was being overcautious, Starswirl. One look at you now, and it's obvious that even a lone legionnaire could beat you to a pulp."

"Big brother, there's no need to mock him," Luna said. Terrato had already walked off, however.

"He's certainly soured since our last talk," Starswirl said. He bowed briefly towards the princesses, but his eyes fastened on Fluttershy. "Ah, here must be the reason why I'm free." His eyes softened when he focused on her ruined eye. "I am sorry for what I've put you through, Fluttershy, but I truly believe it must be done."

"N-no," Fluttershy said. She put her front hooves up. "I don't blame you. I actually think it help...kind of. I was hoping you'd be able to help me some more if it's alright."

Starswirl walked closer and put a hoof on her head. The princesses looked ready to move in, but they let him be. He moved her face closer and examined the ruined eye. "This is...remarkable. I had hoped. Lok'horus must have hoped. But, with you, it might be possible."

Fluttershy flinched at all the attention. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Starswirl stepped back. "You've undertaken a supremely difficult task, Fluttershy, though you may not be completely aware of it; to be the firstborn's hope."

Luna bristled at this. "What are you saying?" she asked. "We're not helping the firstborn!"

"Lok'horus," Celestia said as she raised a hoof to stop Luna. "He and a few others severed ties with Oceanus. Is that what you mean?"

"I was no longer in Oceanus's service when this happened," Starswirl replied. "But I knew it that instant I saw their crazed rampage. You are also attended to by enforcers, Princess Celestia, you must be aware of what a strange and meaningful thing it is for some of them to break free."

Celestia nodded, then looked to Fluttershy. "I see where you are coming from, Starswirl," she said.

"I don't," Luna said. "Beyond illustrating that the firstborn is so mad that even beings tied to him are rebelling, what else does this mean?"

Celestia frowned and stayed silent for a while. "It's difficult to explain precisely. Enforcers have always hovered between being a part of the alicorn they attend to and being themselves. Starswirl is suggesting that for Lok'horus to rebel means a small part of Oceanus himself was against the abyss."

"Exactly," Starswirl said. "It cannot be a coincidence that Fluttershy was chosen by the Element of Kindness. Though all the world may condemn the firstborn as a monster, she nurtures the hope that some part of him, no matter how small, may be redeemed."

Luna's indignation and confusion melted away as the words sank in. "D-do you think that's truly possible?" she asked softly. "The abyss is so deep and the corruption inescapable."

"Yes," Starswirl said. "It must be. If even a fragment of Oceanus himself can believe it, we can."

Luna's eyes hardened. At this, Fluttershy's heart began to race. Things were starting to get a little out of hoof. She wasn't clear on everything they were talking about, and she was starting to think that she was not going to live up to the high expectations she could hear from them. Still, something in her throbbed as Starswirl spoke of hope for Oceanus. She agreed, wholeheartedly, even as the reason escaped her. "What..." She struggled to draw enough breath to speak. "What should I do?" she asked.

Starswirl answered with a pat on her shoulders and a warm smile. "You are very brave to attempt it, but this task will be long and seemingly fruitless. To restore Oceanus's power of water we must gather what few redeemable fragments remain." He looked to the two princesses.

"There are more fragments that separated from Oceanus?" Luna asked. "Where are they, then?"

The warm smile flattened to a grim line.

"The Eastern Waters."

Companions and Causes

Upheaval: Journeys

Unified 2: Companions and Causes

When the feast was first announced, Canterlot's inhabitants dismissed it as rumors. What could there be a feast about? The legionnaires returning from...somewhere were injured and haggard. They certainly didn't look like they did something that should be partied about. Besides, they had made their purpose very clear from the beginning. These grim, armored ponies from the far-flung reaches of Equestria seemed concerned with nothing but fighting and getting others to fight.

When preparations became more obvious, however, the doubts turned into bewilderment and some measure of suspicion. Was the Legion even capable of such a large scale celebration? Sure, they've been seen in small gatherings, enjoying meals and that potent, cheap drink they had a seemingly endless supply of, but a massive party where they invited everypony to partake? There had to be a catch.

As such, the inhabitants of Canterlot, even ponies from nearby settlements like Ponyville, approached the central plaza hesitantly. Set up lasted all day and the event officially kicked off with the sunset.

What a spread awaited everypony, enough to set mouths watering and to put some hurry in their legs despite lingering doubts.

Canterlot's best delicacies adorned long tables across the plaza; still-bubbling tureens of creamy asparagus soup and hearty potato stew, bowls of leafy salads glistening with dressing, steaming mounds of rice of various colors, each infused with some spice and mixed with diced vegetables. From Ponyville, baskets of bright shiny apples, carts of pies, cakes, and other pastries, and barrels of sparkling cider courtesy of the Apple Family.

The Legion had refused to be outdone when it came to contributing. From the west came bundles of Dragonspine grass; fine, pointed stalks with a minty fragrance and taste that sent tongues tingling, a variety of Great Delve mushrooms from tough and hearty "Rat Ears" to delicate cave stalks. From the north came Grade A Wintermoss, seemingly unappetizing with its dark green, almost grayish color and dense form, but providing a rich, aromatic taste with each bite. The south provided clusters of bright red, fresh Assassin Vine berries, as well as a heady wine made from the stuff, pungent Snake-Tongue flowers with their forked, red-streaked, purple petals, and the notorious Dragon Kiss peppers, deceptively small and green little things, for the brave or foolhardy. Even just smelling the things from afar cleared the sinuses.

The Legion brought more than food, however. Newly recruited Heartland ponies could only stare in confusion when they saw their usually harsh commanding officers. Not a bit of barding in sight, no glares and sharply barked orders. Legionnaires mingled with the rest of the celebrators in casual clothing, all hearty laughs and loud cheers. Even the hard rule of not sharing booze with the Heartlanders was relaxed. Ponies enthusiastically opened cask after cask, not of the cheap booze that the Legion carted in at the start of reunification, but the finest that the Barrier Lands' brewers could make.

The celebrators did not eat only to the sound of their own voices as well. The Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra provided music for the night, though a few discerning patrons were quick to note that they seemed to be missing a cellist.

One of the greater highlights of the evening, of course, was the arrival of the royalty. Two of them anyway; Princess Celestia, in her gold-trimmed, white dress, and Princess Luna in black and silver. They took their place by the very center, where they were swiftly surrounded by nobility. To see Princess Celestia, radiant with her flowing mane of colors, heartened every pony who laid eyes on her. Legionnaires murmured among themselves when Prince Terrato was nowhere to be seen, but the Heartlanders couldn't help but be a little relieved. He had always been a frightening presence. After whatever had happened to the Legion recently, even the mere mention of his name darkened the surroundings. For this festive night, it might be better that he stay in the background somewhere.

Applejack was the first among her friends to take part in the feasting. She wasn't surprised as she was probably the most involved in the preparations. She had gone through the whole thing with all the frenzy of a wolven charge; making sure that the Apples had a catering spot, picking the best of this year's harvest, preparing all the pastries. For a while, she could barely spare any thought towards her fights, past or future, and she was glad for it. Being able to attend to the family business invigorated her more than any period of rest or healing magic. She looked proudly at her family recipes sitting next to the rest of the food set out. She had charged very little for them; barely enough to cover costs. However, the success of this evening should spread the Apples' reputation towards every corner of the Barrier Lands. Maybe then, the Apples would be known for more than Apple Slice.

Tonight wasn't for heavy thoughts like the fate of Apple Slice, however. Applejack looked for her friends. They had not come together this time, given all the little things they had been busy with. She searched especially hard for Twilight, who she had not seen since...that day. Vanguard advised giving Twilight time and space. Applejack had agreed, but she was also aware that they had only a short while left before going different ways for a while. She may not be able to see Twilight for quite a bit once the princess and the prince traveled to the Eternal Herd. She didn't want to part ways without knowing if her friend was going to be alright.

Then, there was the other pony she was also anxious to meet.

Applejack glanced down, adding to the dozens of times she had inspected her outfit. Rarity had made it, of course. That it was in short order served only as a little extra challenge. Applejack suspected that Rarity must have been just as happy dress-making as she was working with Apple Family business. Even if she only had a day to produce six dresses, Rarity would not only succeed, but come out refreshed.

"So tell me, darling, do you have some idea about what you want for the feast? It's a momentous occasion after all. Don't tell me it's galoshes or barding."

"No, Rarity, something...uh...I dunno, something to make me pretty.

"My dear, there's no such thing. You are pretty. A dress offers perspective. Now, do you at least have an idea as to what Captain Clash will wear?"

"Huh? No! Why would I know that? And why should it matter?"

"So you can dress to match, of course! This will be your first event as a couple, I believe."

"Wha--! Look here, how'd you know? Did he tell you? I certainly didn't!"

"Darling, nopony had to say anything. Given all the gooey stares you've been throwing his way this past week, and the little happy glances he does when he thinks nopony is watching, you may as well have been shouting it from the rooftops."

"I...well, it's not like I'm hiding it. No, I don't know what Vanguard's wearing for the feast."

"That's too bad, but it won't be too hard with a little guesswork. I'm sure Captain Clash will have enough sense not to celebrate in nightsteel, but he won't stray far from his usual aesthetics. So let's see how we can fit you with...

Applejack wasn't sure about "aesthetics" or whatever it was that Rarity was harping on about, but she did like her dress for tonight; a simple white dress, low-cut around the neck, trimmed with silver, long skirt, and a simple, apple-themed gold necklace for some color. Not too fancy as this was no formal ball, but just enough elegance to impress. She didn't think at first that she'd look good in white, but she was feeling confident as she walked among the party-goers.

Finding a single pony when all of the city and then some was celebrating was all but impossible. Applejack scanned the sky from time to time. Rainbow's bright trail of colors should easily stand out in the night sky. She also went for the less densely occupied places. Vanguard wouldn't be the sort to go for heavy crowds. She might catch sight of Fluttershy as well.

It was easy to determine where the densely packed areas would be. One simply had to start with the central plaza, where the princesses were, and move away. She smiled and nodded when Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and Apple Bloom waved at her. Big Macintosh had promised to take care of any problems with the food for tonight. Granny Smith came along in case he needed to consult with her. Apple Bloom had tagged along to learn, but it didn't take long for her to notice Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at a distance. In an instant, she was galloping towards them.

It only took a few more minutes before Applejack spotted one of the ponies she was looking for.

Vanguard Clash was talking to a couple of ponies when he turned briefly and noticed her. That little smile that spread across his lips whenever he noticed her nearby was quickly becoming one of her favorite things to catch whenever they ran into each other. Rarity had guessed right. He had a simple black suit with a white undershirt beneath. Not a single plate of nightsteel in sight.

It was more than the outfit though. Vanguard had a tinge of wildness about him. He may have tried to dress semi-formally, but there was no hiding that northern ruggedness. Outside of his armor, the muscles along his neck and his flanks seemed to strain against his clothes. The dark curls of his mane and tail spilled all around him, defiant of any attempt to rein them in with a comb. Amidst the perfectly pressed outfits and perfectly styled manes, he looked so...handsomely flawed, charmingly out of place.

That Applejack was able to find him in this enormous celebration so swiftly...well, she had to sign it up to affinity. That sounded so much better than coincidence.

"You look especially lovely tonight," Vanguard said when Applejack had come close enough. It was all she could do not to grin like an idiot. Not that it mattered. Nightcanter happened to be one of the ponies he had been talking to and the sly grin on her face made it clear that she knew. Next to her was Captain Bad Arc from First Squad, who took one look at her, and frowned.

"Oh, look at you two," Nightcanter cooed. "Absolutely adorable!"

Nightcanter's bold, red dress clung to her figure tightly. Her mane had been done up, ringlets and all, to show off her neck, and her tail was heavy with jewelry. Applejack's eyes narrowed briefly. That was unusual. Normally, a mare's tail would be under her skirt. A quick glance around showed that the other Barrier Lands mares were the same as Nightcanter. Rarity must be having fits at the moment.

"Nightcanter, we're not little foals playing around," Vanguard said.

"That doesn't make it any less cute," Nightcanter said. She looked at Applejack. "Offer's on the table any time, Apple."

Bad Arc snorted. "Maybe we can talk about something other than who Vanguard's rutting," he said.

Applejack could feel herself flush an angry red. Nightcanter answered with a snort of her own, her warm smile quickly replaced by a scowl. "This is a pretty big occasion for reunification, Bad Arc," she said. "A pretty good time to not be an ass."

Bad Arc's eyes were on Vanguard, however. "I know a few ponies from the Southern Legion who can help with this mission you're proposing," he said. He glanced at Applejack. "You keep letting these mares sweet-talk you into insane missions, Clash, I hope it's worth it."

"It is," Vanguard said. "This isn't the first time Applejack has provided the Legion with something important through dubious means."

"I'd prefer solid proof and paperwork," Bad Arc muttered before taking a sip of his drink. "I'm off to find some of First Squad. Don't get drunk and rut, Clash, you wouldn't want to sneak around Ophidus with a pregnant mare. Those damn snakes work twice as hard if they know they're getting an unborn foal as an extra."

"And he talks about who Vanguard's rutting anyway," Nightcanter said.

"Why is he such a jerk?" Applejack asked. Her frown had lessened with Bad Arc's departure though. "I didn't do nothing to him."

"Because he's Bad Arc," Nightcanter replied. "The stallion can't seem to open his mouth without pissing somepony off." She was smiling again when she continued. "But enough of him. I hear you're planning some kind of trip down south, Applejack, maybe you can explain the whole thing better than Vanguard here."

Applejack scratched the back of her head. "I...uh...I don't think so. It's more of a gut feeling, really. I'm pretty surprised Vanguard's already trying to get things going."

Nightcanter tilted her head. "So you're going to look for a tomb in an Ophidite-infested jungle on a whim?" She glanced at Vanguard. "And here you are so composed about it."

"I've gotten used to going along with hunches when it comes to the Elements of Harmony," Vanguard said.

"Make sure you sample the local flavor while you're there," Nightcanter said. "The Southern Legion and the Ophidites have concocted a lot of interesting stuff, and recipes get exchanged inevitably. Oh, but listen to me going on about work." She looked back to Applejack again. "So how's the celebration so far?"

Applejack's grin returned. "Pretty good. Everypony looks so happy." She looked around briefly. "Say, have you tried some of the apple pies?" she asked. "My family made them, and I'm sure you'll love them. Even the regular apples can match some of the fancy stuff they're serving!"

"I haven't," Nightcanter said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll be trying out some of your family's apples before this night's done. I've got my eye set on a big juicy one I spotted earlier."

"Great!" Applejack said.

"Well, the night's young," Nightcanter said. "I should stop being around the pairs, I suppose." With that, she sauntered off into the crowd.

Though there were plenty of ponies nearby, Applejack may as well be alone in a room with Vanguard. His presence near her blurred the details of the faces in the crowd, and dulled the sounds of revelry so she could hear her own heart. This wasn't the first party she went to with him. Back in Fangbreaker, she was so forward and easygoing, dragging him to a dance without hardly a care. Why was it more awkward now when she was surer of her feelings?

"So...uh, you really went out and made plans to get to Ophidus?" Applejack asked. She mentally scolded herself already. Why was she talking about serious plans for the future?

"A few details to lay some groundwork," Vanguard replied. He took a sip of what looked like sparkling apple cider. "The Southern Barrier Land alone is difficult to navigate. Ophidus is even more so. We'll need guides, and a plan for entry."

"I dunno..." Applejack said. "I mean, I don't even know what I'm expecting to find in that tomb if we even find it. This could just be a lot of work and danger over a wild goose chase."

"You're trying to talk from my viewpoint," Vanguard said.

"Huh?"

Vanguard chuckled and took another sip. "That's what it would seem like from somepony not in the know like me," he said. "But I've seen the little glances you give your magic chain. I saw the certainty you didn't even notice on your face when you were talking about the tomb. You've seen things that make this mission more sensible. Don't put your instincts down to placate me."

"I didn't mean it that way," Applejack said. "It's just...Bad Arc's not the only pony wishing for solid proof and paperwork."

"We'll make the best of what we have," Vanguard said. "It will be interesting to see what Ophidus is like."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "So it's just the two of us?" she asked. "Don't we need other ponies? What about Scarlet?"

"We'll work with the Southern Legion," Vanguard replied. "A small group is necessary to avoid getting caught. It will just be me just so you don't have to work with the Southern Legion alone. Scarlet will remain here on standby should the Legion have use for him. I suspect it will be better if he didn't come anywhere close Ophidus." He looked around, his smile getting a little wider. "We're acting like sticks in the mud. We should look for the others. It's going to be a while before we see them once we head off."

"You're right," Applejack said. She trotted forward and grabbed a hold of Vanguard's foreleg. "Come on then!"

It was easy for Rainbow to find Scarlet despite the crowd. She just had to look for two things; the place where a lot of the booze was coming from, and the loudest pony with the drinks---to be differentiated from the loudest pony with the desserts, which would be Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow wasn't joining him just yet. High above Canterlot's main plaza, she could see Applejack and Vanguard making their way through the crowd. She wasn't going to bother those two. From what she heard from Rarity, those two were probably too lovey-dovey to stand. Pinkie Pie was over by the cakes, piling her plate high enough to elicit applause from some of the nearby legionnaires, and disapproving glares from some of the nobles. Rarity was snobbing it up with the nobles near the princesses, probably drinking some weak booze from those stupid tall and thin glasses that could barely hold a mouthful. She couldn't spot Fluttershy, but that was understandable. Fluttershy wouldn't be caught near such a huge crowd of strangers. She was probably in some nearby garden. What worried Rainbow, however, was that she couldn't find Twilight either. She had thought she could find Twilight by Princess Celestia's side, but the two princesses dined by themselves.

And then...at the corner of her eye, Rainbow spotted something else; long, green mane slicked back and tied off at the end, at tail to match, a woodland brown coat and that air of unmistakable distance. Longstride sat by himself at an isolated table, briefly eyeing anypony passing close. He wore a slightly disheveled gray suit. His mane looked like it was struggling against the restrictions he had put on it, ready to burst into a wild mess any second.

As if he could feel her eyes on him, Longstride suddenly looked up and straight at her. Rainbow could have sworn those eyes were spinning in place. She flew towards him and hovered nearby. "Hey," she said. "I thought you were going to hang out with me and Scarlet."

Longstride picked out a piece of sliced fruit on the very small plate in front of him. He had looked away, and gazed at the crowd. "I had agreed because I thought you needed somepony to keep you from getting into trouble because of your drinking or Scarlet Rabbit's goading. I've thought about it, and I realized it's unnecessary. You don't need me, Rainbow Dash, there's no point in imposing myself any further."

Rainbow snorted, barely able to suppress a snicker. "You stupid stallion," she said. When Longstride raised an eyebrow and looked at her, she couldn't hold it in any longer. After a moment of snickering, she composed herself enough to continue. "I didn't ask you join me and Scarlet because I needed somepony to watch over me. I just thought you'd be...okay company."

Longstride could only answer with silence and continued staring.

"What's the matter?" Rainbow asked. "The mighty super sniper afraid of a little fun?"

"I have not been 'okay company' to you before, Rainbow Dash," Longstride said. "What makes you think that things will be different now?"

Rainbow shrugged. "The party, me showing you that I can take care of myself, all the stuff that happened in the Old Kingdom..." She let out a sigh. "Look, I haven't forgotten that you shot my flank with a poisoned arrow, but somewhere along the line you went from evil sniper who nearly got me killed to weird guy who saved me twice to kind of sort of an ally. We're not the best of friends, but maybe we can slowly get to 'friends" at least, because I really don't want you as an enemy."

For a moment, Rainbow could have sworn there was some kind of little twitch by the corner of Longstride's lip, the tiniest ghost of a very minor smile, then it was gone. Maybe she just imagined it. Longstride tried to smooth over some rebellious strands of his mane. He accomplished the opposite instead. More spiky strands stood out like an explosion of grass ready to go. "I'll take up the offer then."

"That's the spirit," Rainbow said. "Reunification and all that!" She extended a hoof. "Come on before Scarlet polishes off everything."

"There's one more thing I want to say before you get too wasted," Longstride said. "I've decided on my next course of action."

Rainbow's excited hover slowed, then she landed next to him. "Really?" she asked. Part of her felt a little down. He was quick. She was hoping they'd be in the same boat longer. That must be part of the super efficient sniper deal, she supposed. "What is it?"

"To set up my test, I requested Black Rose to dangle your appearance before Hassyth, a disgraced coatl overlord. He has lost his majordomo, a great number of his remaining slaves, and likely what remaining standing in Ophidus's court once Southern Legion reprisals started. Still, he is a powerful coatl overlord, and poses a significant threat. Losing everything may have well pushed him to commit to avenging himself on you and Scarlet Rabbit." Longstride took a sip from his glass of water. "I created this problem, so I must resolve it. Before anything else, I must eliminate him."

It was Rainbow's turn to stare quietly. She had heard the name plenty of times from Scarlet, but to hear it from Longstride confirmed it once and for all. 'I want to go..." Her lips had formed the words and her voice had given them sound before she had even realized what she was doing. When she did, however, it came as no surprise.

"This is not your mission," Longstride said.

"Yes, it is!" Rainbow snapped. "I'm the one he wants, and I'll never be safe from him until he's gone for good, right? I have to go! And don't even try to convince me that you can take care of this by yourself."

"Your friends will not approve of me taking up your time and risking your life," Longstride said.

Rainbow crossed her forelegs and lifted her chin. "Well, that's too bad. They all have stuff to do and I have mine."

"What of Scarlet Rabbit?"

Rainbow's lips twisted at that. She had fought hard to keep Scarlet from rushing headlong into Ophidus. They were unprepared at that time and extremely exhausted. If they could approach and deal with Hassyth as legionnaires, they could permanently put this behind them. "It's his old slaver," she said. "I know he can control himself better now if we watch out for him."

"So he'll be my problem too," Longstride said with a snort. "Perhaps I shouldn't have told you about this after all."

"You won't regret it." Rainbow grinned and hovered again. "So that's settled. Let's go!"

For some reason, when Longstride finally stood from his little isolated table of bland food, Rainbow felt just a little more lighter on her wings.

There wasn't a buffet table safe from Pinkie Pie the moment she got to the feast. She had the familiar comforts of Heartland food on one hoof, the interesting, and sometimes bizarre, treats from the Barrier Lands on the other. She piled her plate up quickly, only to realize that there was so much more to try out. She scarfed some of the food down on her plate even as she weaved through the crowd to get to the other tables. There wasn't even time to sit down. There were so many ponies around that some of the treats might be gone before she could sample them. And that wasn't even considering all the strange and fantastic drinks they were serving. She was balancing three plates on her head and back when she stumbled slightly. 'Oh no!' was all that could rush through her mind.

Before Pinkie could trip in a horrible crash of plates and food, however, a hoof reached out to steady her.

"Slow down, glutton, you'll look like Chancellor Puddinghead's ghost by the end of this night the way you're going."

There was no mistaking that voice, or even that manner of speaking. "Sa--" Pinkie nearly choked on a bit of bread. She swallowed, then tried again. "Sable!" she cried out. She turned to find the dark green mare, not in her usual, terrifying wasp outfit, but in a plain, dark blue dress.

"That's Sablesteel, Pinkie Pie," Sable said. "Just watch yourself. It'll be a pity if you survived the abyss and died choking on some bread."

Some of the plates came crashing down when Pinkie enveloped Sable in a hug. "I didn't think you went to these sort of things!" she said. "Are you enjoying yourself, huh? Have you tried some of that cake by the third table to the left of the princesses? They're amazing!"

"Let go, you pink imbecile," Sable growled. "Ponies are staring!"

With a sheepish grin, Pinkie backed off a bit, but she was still beaming. After the events of the abyss, she was already confident that the Thorns were now friends. Scary, prickly, friends that shoot poison darts, but friends nonetheless. Maybe she should start at one question, just to get Sable to relax. "So how come you're here?" she asked.

"The moon princess told me to come," Sable groused. She picked up a few of the plates and set them on a nearby table. "'Mingle with the crowds,' she said. 'This way you'll understand the ponies of Equestria rather than silently judging them from the shadows'. She probably thinks she's being wise. I think she's spouting enough swill to cause a stampede of pigs."

"Oh, come on," Pinkie said. "I'm sure she's looking out for you."

"I'm sure she is," Sable replied.

With the meals she had with her ruined, Pinkie went back to gather new ones. She took it upon herself to get a plate and pick some choice morsels for Sable. After a few more passes by the buffet tables, they picked a good spot and sat down. That Sable accepted the plate without an angry glare or a puff of noxious smoke was nothing short of delightful.

"So let me ask you something, Pinkie Pie," Sable said.

"Sure!" Pinkie chirped in-between bites of cake.

"What do you plan to accomplish by going to the Deepstone Quarter?"

Pinkie stopped mid-chew, and stared at Sable. "Uhhh..." When some crumbs began to tumble out, she shut her mouth and finished. Through it all, Sable watched her with a look of curiosity and disgust. "Well, I want to start by talking to the True Earth Pony clans first."

"Talk..." Sable snorted. "The True Earth Ponies were beyond talking to during Frenzy Heart's time, and that was over seven hundred years ago. What have you learned that could possibly move them?"

"Oh, stuff like Lexarius's notes on the murder of Rock Maven, the Magma Dart schism..." Pinkie shrugged, then polished off another plate. "I really want to see what's going on down there first." She leaned forward with a smile. "So why are you interested?"

"Because the moon princess has tasked me with escorting you," Sable said. She took a few bites of a raisin bun. "I'd be more comfortable knowing we're not on a foal's errand."

"Really?" The table rattled and a glass of cider fell on its side when Pinkie set both front hooves against the wood in surprise. "That's super awesome! We're going to have so much fun!"

"We better not," Sable said. "This is a mission."

"Is anypony else coming too?" Pinkie asked. "I was super worried that I was going to have to do this by myself!"

"The moon princess assigned a Special Operations squad to you," Sable said. "I'm assuming it's the same one that was tasked with watching you before."

"Captain Nightcanter!" Pinkie nearly squealed. Things were looking even better. She was worried that she was going to do a lot of traveling with just Copper Mane. It was nice to hear about True Earth Pony things, but Copper Mane didn't seem interested in talking about anything else, and it was going to be a long trip. Her mood dropped briefly when she saw Sable look around and try to hide a sigh. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Not liking the party? Maybe we can get the orchestra to play some songs you like."

"Don't fuss over me, Pinkie Pie, I'm not a filly," Sable said. She took a bite from the carrot cup cake Pinkie picked for her before looking around again. "Rhapsody would have been badgered into holding some small impromptu concert by now. Frenzy Heart would be out-drinking his twentieth challenger somewhere. What a coincidence that the party ponies among us were the ones who failed to revive."

"What about your other friends?" Pinkie asked. "The other Thorns are partying too right? Or didn't they have anypony to order them to go?"

"Longstride's worse than I am," Sable said. "Lion Court's out there probably with a dozen mares dangling off him." Her eyes narrowed. "I can't stand seeing him like that, and he knows it too." The moment of intensity dissipated, and a small smile creased Sable's lips. "Blue Moon's probably got a dozen stallions dangling off him. I'll leave him to it. Too awkward to approach him before he does."

Hearing Sable talk about her friends reminded Pinkie to find hers. Deepstone Quarter seemed like a long, lonely trip even with a few friends coming along. Maybe the food could wait. There would always be more food. She stood up and glanced around. "Say, Sable...I....uh..."

Sable seemed ahead of her already, eyes gleaming with a knowing look. "Go on, find them," Sable said. "I'll be keeping watch. Might as well start early."

Dress pristine, mane coiffured, jewelry sparkling, shoes polished, make-up perfect...oh yes, without a doubt, Rarity was in her type of battle, and she was primed for overwhelming victory. Here she was, near the princesses' table, close to the center of all the action and surrounded by many admiring nobles. Everypony wanted to hear of her part in the previous battles, and she was happy to regale them. Gasps of horror and shock echoed her descriptions of the abyss and the monsters in it, and admiring gazes graced her from all sides when she told of the Elements of Harmony defeating one foe after the other. "Amazing," the called her, "a true heroine of Equestria, an example for us all". That was all very flattering, and very true.

"With you around, we have nothing to fear."

Rarity did not miss the emphasis, nor did it surprise her. Hammer Chain had claimed that battle was just a different kind of party. The reverse was true, she supposed; parties were just a different kind of battle. Under the shining praises and awed questions was an undertow of simpering, cloying, half-hidden insinuations. "You are enough to protect us, aren't you?" they may as well say. "We can stay here and go back to our luxuries. The Legion just proved how strong it is, and the Elements of Harmony can handle the rest."

Oh, but that was never going to be the case anymore. Rarity almost relished the idea of seeing their faces when they saw just how relentless the Legion could be in getting all of Equestria ready to defend itself. She may have felt some sympathy for those not used to hardship when reunification started, but the horrors of the abyss were more than enough to change that. Everypony was needed, and no amount of politicking was going to get anypony out of it.

Rarity scanned the crowd for Fleur de lis. She had hoped to speak with Fancy Pants' widow, to thank her for her generous gift, and assure her that it had been put to use. She was unable to, however. Perhaps Fleur was still too much in a somber mood to enjoy any sort of celebration. She could see Lion Court just across the plaza, a mare by either side. She checked his horn for any tell-tale signs of magic being used, but didn't notice any. Well, she supposed he did have an insidious charm to him, even if he wasn't foaling around with your mind. She was going to have to talk to him about that later, but not now when he had so much company. A third figure crossed her vision, however, one that merited a better look.

Octavia enjoyed a small glass of champagne by her own little table, and watched the orchestra play. Once in a while, a pony or two would approach her, but she would only give them a passing glance and some absent-minded attempt to talk, enough to clue them in that she was not interested in polite conversation. Rarity smiled, nodded, and excused herself from the current batch of nobles trying to butter her up enough to put in a word or two to the Legion for them. She weaved through the crowd, never a stumble, not a single hoof stepping on a hem, and approached Octavia.

"The Canterlot Philharmonic Orchestra is in good form tonight, I see," Rarity said. To her relief, Octavia looked up at her long enough to show that her company, at least, was not so easily dismissed. "A pity they're a cellist short, or so I've heard."

"I could not play if I wanted to," Octavia replied. The longing look she shot the seat where she would be told Rarity a different story. "Given my current mood, Warsinger would likely kill the nearest listeners. If I played on a different cello, I'm not sure if it would simply transfer or run amok in a jealous rampage."

"That seems like a troublesome thing you gained from being a Thorn," Rarity said.

Octavia shot her a sharp look. "It didn't seem so troublesome when it was aiding you in the abyss now, did it?" she asked. Her tone and expression softened, but she didn't say any more.

"You said if you wanted to," Rarity said. She took a seat in front of Octavia, taking a sip from her own glass of champagne. "Without that thing, you still wouldn't play?"

Octavia sighed softly. "She tricked me, you know. She told me all these things about preserving culture, and the importance of Heartland classics. What she wanted was an agent, and I played the part to the hilt all because of some promise."

It took no great leap of logic to determine who this "she" Octavia spoke of. Rarity shook her head. "Don't take it too personally, my dear, Black Rose tricked all of us."

"She did." Octavia snorted, then smiled sadly. "I can't even be upset. I was suspicious early enough, but the rush of bonding with Warsinger, of suddenly having the power to do something, then seeing the enormity of what we faced..." Her eyes hardened. "I was so small-minded. It must have been so easy for her to make me dance to her tune, and I deserved it." Her shoulders quivered as she laughed. "Preserving the culture of the Heartland...protecting the classics...it must have taken her a monumental amount of willpower not to laugh."

"Don't be so harsh on yourself, Miss Octavia," Rarity said. "There is value in the things you wanted to protect."

"You're being kind," Octavia said. "But I have seen the monsters looming over our nation. There are far more important things to do. Despite her fate, I am still an agent of Black Rose. Her cause is now mine."

"Really?" Rarity leaned on the table and raised an eyebrow. "You have plans or orders then?"

Octavia leaned back on her chair and smiled. "I hear you are heading for the Great Delve," she said. "I'm going there as well. I want to experience the heart of Barrier Lands culture along with finding out ways to master Warsinger."

"Interesting," Rarity said. "So you've made arrangements? It must still be difficult to go to the Great Delve."

"Of course, I have," Octavia said. "I'll be traveling with you after all. Lion Court as well. You didn't think you'd visit the Great Delve without escorts now did you, Miss Rarity?"

Rarity nearly spilled her drink, but she was swift to recover. When she spoke again, only a slight rise in her tone betrayed any surprise. "You're coming with me? I should have been informed then." Her eyes narrowed. Octavia would not be a problem. She'd even be pleasant company especially if Rarity had to part with the others for the time being. Lion Court, however, was a different story.

"Consider yourself informed then." Octavia's ears perked, then swiveled towards the orchestra. "A little late on the transition there, Brass," she muttered.

"I see you've transitioned to being an agent easily," Rarity said. "What about your fellow musicians? Won't you miss Canterlot on this training and escorting trip of yours?"

"I will," Octavia said with a sigh. "I miss them already. But we do not always get what we want. Just another lesson I've had to learn the hard way."

"True..." Rarity stared at her now empty glass. It was enjoyable being around all this class and sophistication, even with the annoying attempts at manipulation. After a long time of roughing it with the Legion, it was good to pamper herself again. Still, time was passing her by and these were not her friends. "I should be going, Miss Octavia," she said. "I'm glad we were able to talk."

"The same," Octavia said. She gestured for a passing waiter, then pointed to her glass.

Nearly all of Canterlot was abuzz with thousands of conversations, laughter, and the clinks of glasses and cutlery. There was hardly a place bereft of the rush of hooves from the hundreds of servers and cooks employed that night. Still, one could still find a few quiet spots for the evening with enough effort and experience.

Fortunately, Fluttershy was an expert in doing so. It didn't take long for her to find a little secluded area.

It hadn't been too hard. She only needed to follow where all the little woodland creatures had gone to. Small birds fluttered away from the loud noises. Squirrels, mice, and rabbits fled to where they found it safe, whether it was one of the alleys, higher rooftops, or the smaller gardens that could not host a group of reveling ponies. On a little elevated garden, a place some kind unicorn had set up for a variety of birds, Fluttershy watched the party at a distance. She sighed again and looked around. She was observing the party by herself. The birds that had taken shelter here all fled in terror when she arrived. Before, this would have upset her greatly. Now, she could understand them. She suspected that she would run away from herself if such a thing was possible. Her ruined eye didn't throb or ache as it did in the Old Kingdom, but she knew she exuded a presence that wafted from that eye, like a seeping cold mist that settled around her. A momentary chill from that presence sent the animals of Canterlot, who were strangely suspicious of her to begin with, running.

The quiet was both comforting and eerie as a result. She wasn't comfortable with all that loud cheering and drinking, but a few chirps would have been welcome. Her ears perked when something did break the complete stillness. The faint hum of a magical spell came from behind her. She tensed on instinct. She never did like that sound. Teleportations always gave off a sense of urgency. Why use magic and unsettle whoever's nearby when you can have a leisurely walk or flight? Pale blue light gathered within the garden, materializing in the shape of a very familiar looking stallion. "Blue Moon?" she asked.

Sure enough, it was a very light blue stallion who stepped out of the spell. Fluttershy held her breath briefly. Blue Moon was clad in a white, twin-tailed long coat, trimmed with silver with buttons that glinted in the moonlight. Underneath, he had a ruffled shirt. He looked so gorgeous, that Fluttershy was sure he was prettier than her. His outfit though...Fluttershy was no expert in current fashion, but even she was sure that this was a very archaic look. He looked as if he had stepped out of a history book or was attending some kind of costume party for history enthusiasts.

"Good evening, Fluttershy," Blue Moon said. The deep tone cut through the image of femininity. He bowed slightly, right foreleg bent across his chest. It was almost mocking, the way he gestured so formally in an almost empty garden, but his face was all seriousness.

"Um...good evening," Fluttershy said. "How did you find me? And why?"

Blue Moon's horn glowed, and multiple points of light appeared in front of him. Like before, they traced a glowing outline of a place. This time, all of Canterlot, from its beautiful spires to its winding streets. With a wave of his hoof, Blue Moon caused the image to close in on a particular spot. After a few moments, Fluttershy realized that it was the very garden they were in at the moment. Two pony-shaped glows marked where they were standing; a white glow for Fluttershy and a dark blue glow for Blue Moon.

"I've been in Canterlot for a while now," Blue Moon said. "Enough time to place my locators and map it out. As for why..." He zoomed out the map again. With another flourish from his hoof, Blue Moon caused hundreds of little dark blue dots to appear. Among those dark blue dots, however, were six white ones. "Here are the Elements of Harmony," he said. "All mingling with fellow ponies. All except one. I had to wonder why." He let out a little sigh. "That and I was getting a little tired of the company I kept attracting."

Fluttershy stared wide-eyed at the image. "That's amazing..." she said breathlessly. "Does that mean you can find anything and anypony in Canterlot? What about all Equestria?"

"Given the ideal situation, yes for Canterlot," Blue Moon replied. "Equestria is far too large to be covered by my divinations."

Fluttershy lowered her head a bit. She had nursed a very brief hope that he could point out and find what she was meant to find in the Eastern Waters. Perhaps if she could make it easier for him... "What do you mean by the ideal situation?" she asked.

"I've had the time and freedom to set up my locator wards," Blue Moon replied. "Even then, I have to physically go to these calculated locations first or have others go there with my wards. I can only have so many wards active, so I cannot possibly cover all of Equestria. I also have to consider opposition. A powerful illusionist like Princess Luna can easily shroud Canterlot from such an large encompassing spell or, if she's feeling particularly devious, she could hijack my wards and feed me false information. This was why Black Rose opted for individual scrying agents so she had multiple points of entry, and she could isolate compromised--" Blue Moon stopped and looked at Fluttershy in embarassment. "My apologies, I'm sure you're not interested in hearing me drone on about magical tactics."

"Oh no," Fluttershy said. "I don't mind at all. I was actually thinking how incredibly useful that might be if I..." She turned away, suddenly aware of a blush coming on. "I'm sorry. I must sound like I'm thinking of ways to use you."

"That's not such a bad mindset to have," Blue Moon said. "It also happens to be the other reason why I was looking for you." He cleared his throat. "I am informed that you are planning a trip with none other than Starswirl the Bearded."

Fluttershy could only nod. She didn't know how he knew about that. She hadn't told anypony, not even her friends. She didn't want them to worry so much over the fact that she was going to the Eastern Waters. She doubted that the royalty went around spreading the news. Still, Blue Moon seemed to have so many ways to find out things.

"I do not know where your destination may be or what goal you have in mind, but I would like to offer my aid. I have seen Starswirl the Bearded; I know he possesses a great deal of useful knowledge. However, he admits to having lost nearly all his magical power." Blue Moon's eyes hardened. "At the risk of sounding arrogant, I am a capable and experienced spell caster, likely the best one you can obtain short of the royalty or an Element of Harmony."

"I...um...I..." Fluttershy slowly backed away. Was she the one to give permission on this? Shouldn't Blue Moon be asking one of the royalty? Or Starswirl? She paused, realizing that he had mentioned meeting Starswirl earlier. He probably already asked, and Starswirl told him to ask her. "Okay? I don't really mind if that's what you want. It's just...um...don't you have more important things to do? I mean, not that I'm telling you what's important or not..."

"I would think that protecting the Element of Kindness on her important mission would take high priority in the Legion's list," Blue Moon said. His mood softened as he continued. "On a personal note, I would feel better working on a task as close as possible to doing my sister's bidding."

At that, any thoughts about the trip to the Eastern Waters, or even Blue Moon's abilities, faded to the corners of Fluttershy's mind. "I'm sorry," she said. She tilted her head slightly as she stared at him. "Are you alright?"

Blue Moon raised a hoof. "Please don't concern yourself. As far as my sister and I are concerned, the campaign is not over. Even unspeakable horror as the enemy's captive would be just one more setback for her. She'd scold me for tormenting myself when I could be working on the victory that she is still, no doubt, confident of."

Fluttershy walked closer. There was genuine confidence in that statement. She shouldn't be surprised. He was Black Rose's little brother after all. She may not know a lot of his history, but she heard the story he told in Sky Mirror Lake, and she could see some of his feelings emerge once in a while under that calm mask he constantly kept on. He may have been the one who went against her, no matter how briefly, but he was also clearly the one who believed in her ability the most.

But there was no hiding that hurt in his voice. Just as there was no hiding the fear in Black Rose's eyes back in the abyss. Fluttershy put a hoof on Blue Moon's shoulder. He looked ready to shrug it off, but he let it stay. "We'll save her," she said softly. "I know we will. Come with me, if you like. I don't know what we'll find where I'm going, but I promise we'll use it to help everypony."

"Thank you," Blue Moon said. "You won't regret this."

"I won't," Fluttershy had to smile. Not just to encourage Blue Moon either. Her new presence sent animals fleeing, but that didn't have to mean that she had lost any ability to comfort and care for. She looked behind her, back to the party that had all of Canterlot abuzz. Blue Moon had mentioned that her friends were all out there. How were they doing? What about Redbrand? There was an incredibly large amount of booze flowing throughout the party. She hoped he hadn't decided to drown himself in all that alcohol. She flapped her wings to warm them up.

"Going to mingle now?" Blue Moon asked.

"Yes," Fluttershy replied. "I like the quiet places, but I'll be going to plenty of those soon. Are you going too?"

Blue Moon sighed. "Yes, I suppose I will. This is a strange party, though. There are dances forming up, but none of the mares appear to have their dance cards ready." His horn glowed with the telltale hum of another teleportation spell. This time, it didn't seem so ominous to Fluttershy.

It took a specific sort of pony to both notice Prince Terrato’s absence and be disheartened by it.

After all, the highlight of the evening was Princess Celestia, restored once more to her glorious form. In her gold-trimmed white dress, she presided at the center of the plaza, easing into conversations with both nobles and high-ranking legionnaires alike while sparing plenty of time to speak with even the servers who had a question or two.

Prince Terrato, however, provoked more sighs of relief than any kind of concern. Most heartlanders simply assumed that the grim and stern prince wasn't interested in parties or quite possibly anything that wasn't fighting. Even some legionnaires believed that their prince had skipped the festivities to get straight to work.

Then, there were those who had actually spent time with him. Legionnaires who had been stationed in places he personally commanded knew that he would not pass up a night of revelry. Princess Luna, garbed in black and silver, joined them in knowing. Back in the Herd, her brother was known for his love of feasting. He wouldn't have missed this at any other time but now.

She dealt with her own fair share of admirers. Her efforts during those troubled times when Twilight Sparkle was banished had neither been missed nor forgotten. Ponies lined up to thank her, offering gifts and a seemingly never-ending barrage of toasts to her name. Legionnaires from the north, still aware of her role in Bastion City, joined these ponies. Throughout the entire process, however, she kept glancing here and there, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything that might point out where her gloomy brother was.

It seemed like hours of friendly small-talk, incessant praise both heartfelt and cloying, before Luna saw her chance to walk away for a bit. She looked to her sister briefly. In response, Celestia nodded. No words needed to follow that. While everypony continued to fawn over Celestia, Luna sidled off to find her brother. First, she ducked into a secluded little place, away from prying eyes. It only took a simple disguising illusion to keep distractions away. Next, she had to find Terrato. She was no master diviner like her sister, but a basic locating spell proved sufficient enough. Terrato didn't bother hiding his presence. Perhaps, he banked on the notion that nopony in their right mind would want his company during such a festive night.

He would be mostly right too.

Luna winged her way past Canterlot's beautiful spires, still marveling that these delicate structures had remained untouched despite all the great changes and battles recently. Past the busy streets and the reveling ponies, she found a small empty area; a dark spot amidst the many lights of the city. She landed at the edge of the area with all the caution that she had when she first approached her brother after her long exile to the moon. Immediately, the air grew still, and the atmosphere grow heavy. All of Canterlot may be celebrating at the moment, but this one spot felt nothing but bitter mourning.

She landed on the soft grass of a seemingly private garden; a garden that she was sure wasn't here a few weeks ago. Ever since they returned from the abyss, Luna had expected some kind of giant monument from her brother; an imposing structure that reflected his loss. He was a master builder, he had cause, and she doubted anypony would have tried to restrain him. Nothing showed up in Canterlot, or anywhere in Equestria for that matter. She knew of Black Rose's tower in the Barrier Lands, and thought that he might recreate that. Terrato never did.

Instead, this little garden showed up in a distant corner of the city. Rose bushes bloomed around her, an impossibility in the winter. Most spread deep crimson petals. A few sported flowers even blacker than the night sky above them. This was no simple garden with strange, magically-crafted flowers, however. The air was deathly still even though there was a fine winter breeze blowing all throughout Canterlot. Luna had arrived by flight, but the subtle shifts in the magical currents around this place reminded her that she was only able to without any trouble because Terrato let her. The pathways that normally crossed this part of the city had been moved about, some twisting around themselves to make room. Even some of the buildings had been surreptitiously moved and transmuted.

Luna took a step towards the darkened figure of a lone alicorn sitting by a table, his back turned against her. Terrato was staring at the night sky, where a waxing crescent moon graced the evening. Luna was flattered over the attention, though some dark part of her suspected that he was silently wishing it was Black Rose who had raised that moon. On the table was a tall, long-necked bottle, its cork resting nearby, and a short, squat drinking glass with a wide rim. The moonlight made whatever liquid that was in both the glass and the bottle appear thick, syrupy, and black. Another step, and Luna deigned to speak. "Big brother," she said softly. The mood simply didn't allow for anything more.

A second glass materialized in an instant. Then, the bottle rose and filled it, all without Terrato even glancing at Luna or the table. Terrato said nothing, but the gesture was clear in its intent. Luna swallowed as she looked at the drink. There was a palpable aura around it. It looked like blood; same color, although just a bit darker, same consistency as well. The smell was different though, and was enough to make her head spin a little. This drink didn't come from this world. "No thank you," she said.

"Then, leave," Terrato said, his voice soft and husky. "We go by Ida Feast-hall Rules here, Luna. You can't share my company if you won't share my drink."

Luna lifted the glass and held it against the moonlight. "I don't recognize this brand from Equestria or the Herd," she said. "What's it called?"

"It's called 'Bibe, quin parum soror'."

Luna sighed as she took a seat next to him. Ida Feast-hall rules weren't even official in Ida, just something alicorns followed informally when the fights dwindled down and the feasting started in that plane of the Herd. Alicorns loved to invoke it outside the battle plane as well, although it's usually the one without a drink doing the invoking. She took one more sniff and winced at the heady, acrid smell. It wasn't blood at least. Her brother may be bloodthirsty in some ways, but not literally. There was no delaying any further. Terrato took a pull from his own glass, draining a quarter at once before glancing at her. With a shrug, Luna took in her first mouthful.

Bitter, liquid fire ran down Luna's throat. She gagged and retched, but not before it had already burned its way down. Her chest grew warm, her eyes watered, and her knees shook from the initial, horrifying assault on her senses. She was drinking lava, or molten metal. After that blaze came an aftertaste of ashes, and what she could only describe as nigh-unbearable regret. She could barely set the glass down for fear of dropping it and spilling this otherworldly horror on this world's ground.

"What..." Luna swallowed some lingering drops left in her mouth and winced again. "What is this?"

Terrato halved his glass with another pull. "Liquor Fortiter called it 'Regret'. He brewed it after his daughter joined the Oceanus's rebels. It's supposed to give the drinker some impression of his feelings over the loss." He snorted. "I thought it was some sappy, over-artistic take on something simple like a good drink." He swirled the liquid in his glass. "Gladio couldn't believe it when I asked her to send me this bottle."

Luna took another sip. The sting was less, likely because most of the nerves in her throat had quit on her after that first awful wave. She took pride in her constitution, but she doubted she could make it to the bottom of this glass. Terrato looked ready to get to the bottom of the bottle. He was already halfway through. "Big brother..." she said.

Terrato was back to staring at the night sky. There was no vicious scowl in his face. He didn't look on the verge of tears either. Luna knew that her brother was strong, but he had not so much as shed a tear over his former student's fate. His eyes were hard, his lips were tight and grimly set. "I shouldn't have stayed here," he said.

Luna could only look on. She didn't believe that for an instant, but she didn't want to argue with him. He didn't need an argument with anypony at the moment. She suspected that such a notion had probably simmered in his mind the moment he decided to stay in this world after Discord was defeated. He had never said it, however. He never even hinted it.

"I shouldn't have even come. Somepony else should have done the job; Arcem, Saltare, Mercuria, Tempestas, Ferrus...they could have served. They could have formed the Legion themselves. They might have argued with Celestia and got her to reconsider the division. And then..."

Terrato finished off his glass, then refilled it. Along the way, he topped off Luna's glass, which was barely a quarter down.

"She could have stayed as an outstanding legionnaire. She could have risen to the top, made all the difference she could, then died at peace. She could have gone to the Herd, and she would have been happy." He brought his glass on the table hard after another pull. "Happy!"

"Even if you'd never have met her?" Luna asked. She took another sip, letting the awful liquid burn up what was left of her throat, and slowly rot her guts. She was going to need some serious healing magic later. If she even survived this drinking session.

"Yes," Terrato said. "Sixth's bones, yes." He let out a...something, like a mixture of a sigh and a snort. Luna made sure she was downwind of his breath. The brief warmth of its passage was enough warning as to what that fell cloud would do to anypony who caught a whiff of it. "Instead, she got me as the horrible alternative." He shifted his gaze downward and into his glass.

That wasn't true. Luna knew it, and she believed in it wholeheartedly. It was his grief talking with that awful liquor goading him on. Who knew what would have happened? Perhaps whoever replaced him would have censured her when she merged with Umbra. Celestia could have gotten worse without any sibling by her side. It was pointless to consider them at the end of the day, just as it would be pointless to simply point it out to him.

"Big brother," Luna tried again. Against that wall of sullen depression that surrounded him, every word she considered seemed gravely offensive, but to say nothing at all would be worse. She was scared at the moment; scared that she'd make things worse. She quaffed some of the horrible drink both to placate him and maybe just loosen her frightened tongue a bit. "Black Rose loves you. I haven't known her for long, but I've known her long enough. You stoked that fire in her, and it's your strength she drew from. Maybe it's true that somepony resembling her would be happy if you had not come at all, but I know that somepony would not be Black Rose."

"No, she wouldn't be, would she?" Terrato said. That hard sullen glare he had kept on since they left the abyss softened. "I would have beaten her out of existence, she said..." he mumbled. He looked away, but that tremble in his voice told Luna enough. His glass rose to his lips, and came down empty. It took a long time before he spoke again. The tremble was gone when he did so. "Why are you here, Luna? You have so many adoring fans out there, but you'd rather melt your guts in this lonesome place."

The world was already starting to spin, her head was throbbing, every part of her innards were threatening open revolt, and Terrato just refilled her glass for the second time, but Luna still managed to smile. "Because I love you too, big brother. So does big sister, and so many ponies here in Equestria. Tonight, of all nights, I just want you to remember that."

A small, faint smile briefly made an appearance on Terrato's face. Though it was gone as swiftly as a passing breeze, Luna saw it as a sign of victory. There was no easing the pain her brother felt, she knew that from the start. To be able to offer even the smallest comforts, however, helped both of them. "I love you too, little sister. I know I don't say it often," he snorted. "or at all, but I do. As I do Celestia, and this nation I've become so fond of." He filled his glass again. Luna's as well, even though she only got in a sip after the last one.

Luna didn't need to say more after that. All the better. Now, she had to concentrate on finishing this glass off and finding a way to keep it empty.

"Luna."

The sudden mention of her name caught Luna halfway through a sip. She cut it short hastily, nearly gagging yet again. "Y-yes?" she asked. Was that a slur? Was she slurring? This wasn't good.

"Have you ever thought about going home? For good?"

Luna looked for telltale signs of her brother's typical joking. That couldn't be, not with his mood. But that question... "Sometimes," she said. "Not by being censured of course. The Eternal Herd would not be home without you two. Why?"

Whatever ghost of sentimentality that was still hanging around Terrato dissipated. He looked on at the night sky, but he was seeing something else now. "I never thought about it for a long, long time. At some point, I was acting like we were going to do this forever."

Terrato took another pull. The bottle was almost empty at this point. "But I see an end to it now," he said softly. "I don't know how it's going to happen, but I see an end."

Well, here was the big feast at last. Twilight finished the last crumbs from her plate, and watched the ponies group up for dances. With her plate clean, that was one more item from her mental party checklist completed.

So far, Twilight had sampled a balanced combination of Heartland and Barrier Lands fare, she had spent some time with her parents, Shining Armor, and Cadance, she had spoken with Princess Celestia for a bit regarding their upcoming journey before the princess was swept away by a tide of nobles. Twilight had also sat quietly near the orchestra to take in some of the music, looked around to check out all the decorations, observed some of the legionnaires and Heartlanders interacting, even spoke with some of the patrolling sentries about how things were on their end.

Eventually, all the dilly-dallying had to come to an end, and that left Twilight with the last remaining, and most important, objectives of the night.

Her friends.

Some of them were easier to both find and speak to. She had spoken with Rarity just before the party started, and had consulted with her all throughout the week when it came to the dress she was going to wear. Pinkie Pie had happily spent the week speculating with Twilight about the Great Delve, sharing some of Copper Mane's stories, and preparations. Even Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, engaged as they were with their own concerns, had the time for a conversation or two. And...

Oh, who was she kidding? It was Applejack. Of course it was Applejack that had her hesitant up to this very moment. After that heartbreaking realization earlier, she had not been able to even say a word to Applejack. She had thought that she was angry. Perhaps she was during those first few dark moments. She didn't want to be. She had known that it could happen. She had considered it over and over after they saved Rainbow. She shouldn't be angry, or envious, or even sad. She should be happy because her friend was happy. In her head, she knew that perfectly, but her heart had not caught up apparently. Or it had, and simply refused to feel as she should out of spite.

She didn't want to show any of these ugly feelings to Applejack and Vanguard. They shouldn't think that their relationship was making anypony unhappy. But time was running out. Soon, she'd be off to the Eternal Herd for an unclear length of time. She didn't want to leave without making things clear.

The crowd was swirling away from the princesses-- no, just Princess Celestia. It looked like Princess Luna had disappeared at some point. The current song was winding down, and Twilight could guess why. Dances were coming up. Twilight hesitated at the sight of the gathering ponies. What if she stumbled onto Applejack and Vanguard while they were about to dance? What an awkward and intrusive moment that would be. Maybe she should sit the dances out and wait for a better time.

"Twilight!" an all too familiar voice called from a distance.

Yes, of course. At the very precise moment Twilight thought that, Applejack had already found her. With her back to a corner now, she slowly turned around, hoping she had some kind of pleased smile on her face instead of a pained grimace. With all the effort she was putting into it, the chances were quite even.

It must have been closer to a smile since Applejack was all smiles herself upon seeing Twilight. 'Good,' Twilight thought. 'That's one part clear. Now, I should say something reassuring.' She looked behind Applejack, expecting to find Vanguard. She surmised that the two came to the feast together, forelegs linked and dressed to match. Vanguard was conspicuously missing though. Maybe he didn't even attend the feasting at all. She didn't put it past him to be more involved in some background Legion operation going on while everypony was having fun.

"Applejack," Twilight said. She gave a little wave. When Applejack swiftly trotted over, Twilight had to stand her ground with effort, afraid that she might bolt.

"Thank goodness, I found you!" Applejack huffed. "This crowd is so huge, I thought I was better off finding a needle in several haystacks!"

"It certainly is quite a party," Twilight said. She tilted her head a bit upon seeing that Applejack was alone. "Vanguard not with you?"

Applejack's brows furrowed slightly. "Everypony's going to say that every time I'm by myself, aren't they?" she asked. "We're not joined at the hip." She sighed before continuing. "I told him I wanted to talk to you so he said we should split up so we could find you faster. I know where he'll be after a while. Or he might spot us. But first...how are you, Twi? We haven't talked since...well..."

"I'm fine, Applejack," Twilight said. She spoke with conviction, as if they were in a dire situation and Applejack was asking if she could keep up the fight. The look on her face must have been enough to take Applejack aback so she relaxed a bit. "I'm sorry for running off, and for not speaking to you all week." She smiled. This one came more naturally this time. Once the first words were spoken, the rest was easier. "Congratulations, I hope you're happy together."

Applejack's lips twisted, a grin half-pleased and half-embarrassed warred with the need to be serious and composed. She actually looked a little constipated. "Sugarcube, don't say congratulations," Applejack said. "I didn't win a contest, and Vanguard's not a prize. It was just...a hard time for all of us, and I'm glad it's done."

"I know," Twilight said. "But don't they tell the bride and groom congratulations too?"

"We ain't married yet," Applejack said. She sighed "Tell me we're friends, Twi. Tell me you're okay, and this party'll be a hundred times better."

Twilight answered with a brief hug. "Of course we are," she said. "And I am."

As if on cue, the music suddenly shifted. The relaxing atmospheric melodies picked up the pace into an all too familiar tune. Twilight's eyes widened. That was the dancing tune that Pinkie used for her parties. After all the gruesome fighting they've had to do, she hadn't forgotten that silly tune. The other celebrators looked frozen for a second as well. They recognized that tune. Some of the nobles tried to recover and pretend that it was all new and silly to them, but Twilight didn't believe it for a second. Those from the Barrier Lands appeared to recognize it too, impossible as it may be. Some of them suddenly talked about how similar it sounded to this song or that song. Mostly, they shrugged their shoulders and looked happy to bob to the music.

"Over there," Applejack whispered with a chuckle. She pointed towards the orchestra. Pinkie Pie was standing next to the conductor and thanking him profusely. When she saw Twilight she jumped up and waved with both front hooves, her grin reaching from ear to ear. A few feet away from her, a thoroughly embarrassed dark green mare with a long wavy mane of gray put a hoof to her face.

The gesture didn't last long, however. Pinkie grabbed a hold of the other mare's foreleg and all but dragged her towards Twilight and Applejack. "Come on!" she yelled. Whether she was addressing Twilight and Applejack, or the other mare was unclear. "Let's get dancing!"

They were about to join in with the now-dancing crowd when Twilight spotted Vanguard coming towards them. She froze for a moment, her heart hammering in her chest. By Celestia, he did look handsome tonight. She was suddenly conscious of her own appearance. The dress Rarity made for her was beautiful without a doubt. Her hair was meticulously brushed and her coat all but sparkled. She could only hope that was enough.

"Twilight," Vanguard said. He gave a little nod of acknowledgement and a small smile. Twilight had to smile as well. That was the typical Vanguard greeting. "You're looking well tonight."

Twilight nodded. "Thanks," she said. "You should go into more parties, Vanguard, you look good like this."

Vanguard snorted. "I'll be happy to be on my next mission." Next to him, Applejack did a little cough and looked away. "Let's not keep Pinkie waiting though," he added. "That's Sablesteel she's dragging along. Not even the Thorns are safe apparently."

Twilight giggled and trotted ahead. She bumped against somepony and turned around to apologize, only to find an embarrassed Rarity looking ready to blend into the crowd.

"Twilight, I'm so glad you made it!" Rarity said.

"You're quick to get out here," Twilight said with a snicker.

"Well," Rarity huffed. "As much as I adore the class and sophistication, it's important to balance out the evening by cutting loose a little." She turned her nose up even as she bobbed to the music. "I mean this is to celebrate reunification as well, correct? A proper balance of refined endeavor and boisterous revelry should be on course for tonight."

"Of course," Twilight said. "I'm sure that was exactly what Pinkie was thinking when she got them to play this song."

"No doubt," Rarity said without missing a beat. "Despite her preferred themes, Pinkie knows her parties." She looked up, a frown slightly creasing her face. "And here comes Rainbow Dash and her drinking bud-- oh my, there's two of them now. Is that--?"

Twilight followed Rarity's gaze. She recognized Scarlet Rabbit in his poorly-pressed suit. The ribbon on his collar looked ready to be undone and it was clear that he hadn't even bothered with his mane. There was another stallion following behind the two, either because he was too reluctant to join them directly, or because he simply couldn't fly as fast.

Surprises were clearly not over yet, however. Fluttershy trotted towards them from another direction, accompanied by Blue Moon. Twilight frowned; there was a pattern emerging here. Black Rose may be gone, but her will could easily live on with the Thorns. Seeing the gentle, pleased look on Fluttershy, however, settled Twilight's mind a bit.

It wasn't just Fluttershy's face. Sablesteel looked ready to bolt out of embarrassment despite her attempts to look irritated. Longstride seemed trapped by an invisible cage, strange eyes shifty, hooves fidgety from far too much restraint. Blue Moon was openly smiling, even bobbing to the silly tune that could be heard even in a foal's party. These were not the faces of hardened agents in the middle of an operation. The other two Thorns were likely about, but they weren't worrisome. At least, not right now. For once since she'd seen them, the Thorns just seemed like ponies. The others must see it too. They probably saw it earlier. Pinkie grabbed Sablesteel by the front hooves and tried to spin her around. Sablesteel swore loudly but cut herself short as she stumbled.

"Isn't this the best party ever, Twilight?" Pinkie asked as she spun close. "So many new friends!"

Twilight giggled again. That was twice now on a single occasion. She hadn't done that in so long. Around her smiles and dancing whirled together, blurring lines between her friends, Thorns, even random ponies nearby. She let what traces of awkwardness melt away to the familiar rhythm and joined the rest.

After Pinkie's party tune proved surprisingly effective in getting ponies into the mood, the dancing music came after another. First were a few Canterlot favorites, which the legionnaires laughingly stumbled through as the Heartlanders showed them how. When unfamiliar tunes came up, ponies switched roles in good humor. Twilight laughed through it all; joined hooves with her friends, skipped, stumbled, even bumped into strangers all in good fun.

It all winded down too quickly, however. The orchestra slowed down to a softer tune. Some of the more winded staggered back to their seats, faces red and smiling. Plenty remained however. It wasn't too hard to tell who they were from the shy smiles, the cheeky grins, the slightly too close proximity to one another. Twilight, as many of her friends, decided to sit this one out. Pinkie, of course, failed to read the mood and was trying to get Sablesteel to stay for the next. Sablesteel replied with a panicked yank of her forelegs and all but flew off to the nearby seats, Pinkie following behind in confusion.

Applejack stayed of course, her cheeks redder than any apple as she took Vanguard's foreleg.

Twilight stared at the two and watched every little affectionate fidget. She dared the jealous feelings to smolder, to challenge her resolve to be happy for her friends. There was a mild ache, a small burn from leftover feelings that won't go away, but it was far less than what she expected.

The tune was unfamiliar; a slow, passionate, Barrier Lands melody reminiscent of a quiet moon-lit meeting between two lovers. Applejack's steps were slow and hesitant, she stumbled slightly after the first few steps. It was understandable, but Twilight got the sense that there was some intentional shrinking on Applejack's part just to get Vanguard to attend to her so closely.

A minute of watching the slow dance was enough. Satisfied with how she reacted, Twilight turned around and made her way to some of the lonelier spots in the party. The little turn she did to face away felt a little over dramatic. She hoped nopony was watching. But it felt good, to see them, talk to them, and leave them alone without being buried in bad feelings. Besides, it was getting a little late and she was a little full and winded. A little rest, a little talk with her friends, then time to turn in.

The music had faded to the distance and the lights had dimmed a bit when Twilight spotted the odd figure of a pony stumbling towards her. Her eyes narrowed when it suddenly changed shape. It looked like a slightly tall pegasus for a moment, then a horn appeared, then the horn disappeared and the figure was half its previous size. It had to be illusion magic. There was no transition to these changes. The figure didn't grow a horn, it had no horn in one second then a particularly long one in the next. It didn't shrink or grow, it just...became.

Twilight already had a shield out as she cautiously approached. Perhaps she should be calling for aid, but she wanted to get a better look first.

"Purpura..."

That was Princess Luna's voice. Either this thing was good at mimicking voices or...wait, the illusion shifts would make more sense. Twilight reached out with a few simple dispellings. If the figure was hostile, it would counter them easily enough. It didn't. The bizzare shifting stopped, and it was an all too familiar alicorn princess who was stumbling towards Twilight.

"Princess Luna!" Twilight said. She hurried over and offered support when the princess looked ready to topple.

Luna was sweating despite the cool night air. Her legs shook and each hoof seemed inclined to step in its own direction. "Vos...auxillio..."

Twilight could only give a puzzled look. "Princess, what are you saying? I don't understand--"

"Latrinas...celero..."

"Princess, are you talking in...um...Eternal Herd? I can't--"

Luna grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her close. "Celero aut suus 'vestri crus!"

Those last few words barely registered in Twilight's mind. When Luna spoke, a hot cloud of indescribably horrid stench wafted from her mouth. The instant it touched Twilight's nose, the world spun and clouded over with darkness. Something struck the back of her head and the instant she realized it was the ground, she was out.

Applejack 1: The Empire

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 1: The Empire

It was close to midnight by the time Applejack and Vanguard headed for her quarters in the Royal Palace. The halls had been quiet throughout the feasting save for a few patrols making sure that revelers didn't stumble in to cause trouble. The feast was still on albeit having winded down a bit. Applejack called it a night, however. Tomorrow, celebrations and relaxations were over. It was wonderful to spend some time with friends and family, but there was no forgetting that she was still in the Legion and that there was still a lot of work to do.

"Enjoy the night?" Vanguard asked. The booze was flowing constantly throughout the feasting. Rainbow and Scarlet led the charge in getting everypony soused. Vanguard had a mug with him at all times, but his bright red eyes were clear and his hoof-steps were steady. Applejack prided herself in that she didn't need him to help her stagger back to her quarters like a drunken lout.

"You betcha," Applejack replied. She had just a bit more spring in her step.

"You have a wonderful family," Vanguard said. "I hope we can get along better when time permits."

Applejack was beaming inside at first, but her spirit dampened a bit when he went on. She did get Vanguard to meet Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom. Vanguard was respectful and restrained, which was typical. Her family was mostly awed at first, then cordial, a little chilly on Big Mac's side though. Maybe Big Mac was still suspicious of the Legion.

"I'm sure ya'll do just fine," Applejack said. "Apple Bloom and Granny Smith have already taken a liking to you."

"But your brother," Vanguard said.

"Oh, Big Mac just needs some time."

That was clearly time they would't have for now. Applejack had already said her farewells to her family before turning in. They knew that she wouldn't be going back to the farm after this feast, that it would be back to work afterwards.

They stopped by the door to her room. Applejack opened the door and was glad to find that somepony had tended to the fire place. It was still a mite chilly after all. She walked in and noticed the books on her bedside table. Those weren't there earlier.

"Vine Mane works pretty quickly," Vanguard said after a quick scan of the room. "He's got the books I asked for ready for you."

"What books are those?" Applejack asked. She swallowed after giving them a better look. They looked pretty thick and she doubted that they were full of amusing stories.

"Bog Light's 'Southern Legionnaire's Guide to the Empire' and the latest edition of 'Southern Barrier Land and Ophidus: Borders and Territories'," Vanguard replied. "Both required reading for any southern legionnaire. Theory's no substitute for actual experience, but it's better to, at least, try to prepare."

"Have you been to the Southern Barrier Land?" Applejack asked.

"A couple of trips," Vanguard said. "I met Scarlet there after all. It's a dangerous place. Our brothers and sisters in the Southern Legion have a hard time of it. Wolven attack mostly to fight; the occupying and eating are just extras. Ophidites are out to enslave and dominate; fighting's just one method they'll use to achieve that."

"I'm not much for heavy reading," Applejack said. "That's Twilight's thing, but I'll get on it right away."

"Good. Tomorrow, I'll meet you by the Night Skimmer. You know where it's docked, right?"

"Yeah."

A moment of silence reigned in the room. They stared at each other for a while, unsure of the next step until Applejack finally decided to lean forward for a kiss. Vanguard met her muzzle halfway.

When they pulled back, Applejack still had her front hooves against his chest. She glanced back at the room. She could start reading in the morning and during the trip. The bed looked soft, warm, inviting...big enough for two. She stepped back, half-formed invitations choking in her chest. Vanguard simply stood there, a smile on his face. Wait...what phase was the moon on? She had all night to take a look, but she couldn't remember.

"Good night," Vanguard said. He closed the door behind him after leaving.

"Good night," Applejack said breathlessly. She berated herself for that moment. Too fast. How long since he told her he loved her? A week? Definitely too fast to be inviting him to cuddle under the sheets. She wasn't interested in some kind of fairy tale fantasy like Rarity, but she wanted to do this all proper. At least she got him to meet her family. That was a good step. She flopped onto her bed and let out a loud sigh. She just had to end a near perfect night with such an awkward moment.

It was a cool evening breeze that blew from behind Applejack, but not a winter breeze. From that alone, she already knew what was going on. No need to see what color her fur was or see if she could move her limbs. Instead, she concentrated on orienting herself. What was happening? And what happened? It looked like they were still at the farm, but how much time had passed since the last time she looked? Was Apple Core still alive? Had the other Apples already made their way to the Heartland?

Apple Slice seemed to be taking a stroll through the family orchard. The lights from the main house were already distant and the moonlight barely illuminated anything ahead of them. Apple Slice carried no torch or lantern, but he trotted through the darkened grounds with practiced ease. He may not be involved with the harvests or planting, but he moved as if he knew where every rock in the orchard was. He was moving towards a solitary light, likely a shed. But why would anypony be there at this time of night?

Another light suddenly emerged from the side, this one came from a lantern attached to a galloping, light green pony. "Hey, Slice!" that pony called out. "Strange time to be wandering the orchard, huh?"

"Leaf," Apple Slice said. "Could say the same for you. Harvest's over. What are you doing here, and where's Peel? I've been looking for him everywhere."

"Peel's in the middle of some sales business," Apple Leaf said. "Lots of last minute negotiations to do with the big move and all. Do you really need to see him right now?"

"Yes," Apple Slice replied. There was a hint of growing irritation in his voice. "I got a missive a few hours ago. Urgent Legion work. I might have to leave early, and I want to discuss a few more things with him about the move."

"Maybe I could tell him?" Apple Leaf suggested. "You really wouldn't want to be there, Slice. It's the business end of the harvest. All boring work and--!"

Apple Slice's forelegs shot out, and grabbed a hold of the tuft of fur by Apple Leaf's chest. With barely an effort, he pulled Apple Leaf up close. "Don't treat me like some bothersome foal asking about grown up stuff, Leaf," Apple Slice growled. "I'm still clan leader until the family reaches the Heartland. Now, take me to Peel or I will tan your hide so badly you'll stay standing until the next harvest. And I'll do it in front of your kids too!"

Applejack would have shook her head in disapproval upon seeing Apple Leaf's terror if she could move anything at all. That was pushing things too far. Apple Slice may mean well, but he clearly had a temper. Apple Leaf stumbled back, and tripped after Apple Slice let him go.

"Okay, Slice, I'll take you," Apple Leaf whimpered. "Just...just don't go crazy in there. Please."

"Why would I go crazy there?" Apple Slice growled."What's Peel up to?"

Apple Leaf's eyes darted from side to side. "I...just, please, remember that Peel's just thinking of the family. Like you."

Apple Slice didn't say anymore. With a light shove, he put Apple Leaf in front of him and followed. When they reached the door, it was a very nervous Apple Leaf who knocked loudly against the door. "Peel?" he called out.

The sound of chairs hurriedly sliding against the floors was unmistakable. "Leaf?" Apple Peel called back. "What is it? We're in the middle of--"

"Slice wants to see you," Apple Leaf said far too loudly. "He's--"

Apple Slice pushed Apple Leaf out of the way, and turned around. The first buck splintered the middle of the door horizontally and cracked the frame. The second one split it apart. The surprised yelps that followed made it clear that there were several ponies in there. "What's going on, Peel?" Apple Slice asked. He pushed aside the debris for a closer look. The ruddy orange glow of the room's couple of lanterns revealed a pair of wide-eyed ponies; a mare and a stallion, as well as Apple Peel, whose face couldn't seem to settle on whether it was outraged or terrified.

There was something...odd about the two. Applejack couldn't place it quite well. They had a shiftiness in their eyes she wasn't used to seeing in ponies. The way they were crouched down looked like they were ready to launch an ambush.

"We've got a very nice living room in the main house for meetings, Peel," Apple Slice said. "Brightly lit, warm, you can get some snacks for the guests too."

"Hey, Slice..." Apple Peel glanced at the two ponies. Applejack didn't pride herself for reading others, but that was a very obvious "Let me do the talking" sign. Behind them, Apple Leaf showed himself out. "They're special, can't stand being around too many ponies. We were just settling deals given that the Apples are ending any business outside the Heartland. You understand right?"

Apple Slice looked at the strangers, his brother's words seemingly bouncing off him. "Where are you two from?" he asked. "What business are you running?"

Apple Peel extended a hoof towards Apple Slice. "Slice, they're--"

"Shut up, Peel."

"Highstable, sir," the mare replied. Despite the initial surprise, she answered smoothly and confidently. "We run a simple grocery and the Apple Family's products sell very well."

"Really?" Apple Slice remarked. His eyes focused on a single long leaf, not unlike a thin sword blade in shape, caught within the mare's curly tail. The edges were jagged and the veins were red. "That's a Bloodsaw leaf stuck to your tail. Those things don't grow anywhere near Highstable. You need to go farther south." His eyes narrowed. "Closer to Ervan Reis."

The mare opened her mouth, but no reply came out. Apple Slice's chain flew out. Applejack couldn't even tell when he had grabbed it. One moment, he was just standing there, the next moment, the chain was already flying. The links looped around the mare's left hind leg, forming knots as if they had a life of their own. Apple Slice gave a gentle tug, and that was enough to lift the mare's hind leg.

The mare let out a loud, outraged yelp and tried to pull away. Apple Slice's eyes focused briefly around the exposed belly, towards what looked like the faint line of a scar. "Long incision close to the womb," Apple Slice said. "Overlords do that to mares they don't want breeding." The links un-knotted themselves, and returned to Apple Slice's hoof.

The other strange stallion put a hoof to his coat, his eyes hard. Apple Slice's chain proved faster. Whatever the stallion was trying to pull out stayed in his coat. A loop of chain wrapped tightly around him, pinning his front hoof to his chest. The mare let out an outraged cry and charged. Apple Slice replied with a simple flick of his front fetlocks. The chain's middle looped around the mare's neck, halting her in her tracks.

"Don't struggle, filly," Apple Slice said. "Compared to an ursan's, a pony's neck is about as fragile as a dried twig."

"Curse you," the mare growled. "You should not even be here!"

Apple Slice tugged at the chain slightly, but the force was enough to bring both ponies to their knees. He flicked his front fetlocks a few more times, looping the chain further "Peel," he whispered harshly. "What have you done? These are imperial agents!"

"Slice, stop!" Apple Peel put a hoof on Apple Slice's shoulder. "Just stop and listen!"

"Why should I?" Apple Slice asked. "It's the Legion's business to deal with the enemies of Equestria. That includes the Empire and its indoctrinated slaves!"

"The Legion will interrogate them," Apple Peel said. "They'll find out that the Apple Family's been dealing with Ophidus. We'll be ruined! There's no way the Princess will accept us into the Heartland if this gets out. There's no way anypony would do business us!"

At that, it was as if a great cloud of choking silence fell upon that shed. Apple Slice slowly turned to face Apple Peel. Applejack could practically feel his eyes bulging out of his head. "That's a confession," he said. "Explain to me, Peel, what you've been doing. Tell me why you're talking to imperial agents. Explain why you would turn on Equestria."

For a while, Apple Peel couldn't even look at his older brother. Eventually, he swallowed and steeled himself enough to look at Apple Slice in the eye. "I made a deal with the overlord in charge of the Winding Trail. I pay them off, they let our caravans through. Using it gives us a much faster route to the southerly settlements without dealing with Legion tolls." His eyes narrowed. "Don't treat me like I swore allegiance to the Empire, Slice, I didn't give them any secret military information, and I didn't give them slaves. I paid in Equestrian bits. Apparently, our money has value in the Empire."

"Of course it does," Apple Slice snarled. "They give it to their indoctrinated slaves. These ponies trade with idiots like you for supplies. Or they use it to bribe corrupt officials and legionnaires." He pushed a hoof down on Apple Peel's chest. Hard. "You thought it's just business, didn't you? You thought that it's fine because the Apple Family's raking in a profit for using a cheaper and faster trade route. What's a few bits sent the Empire's way, right?"

"Don't make me out like I'm some kind of traitor, Slice," Apple Peel said softly. "Everything I've ever done has been to put our family at the top of our real business."

"Whatever you think you've been doing, Peel, is over," Apple Slice said.

"Are you planning on ruining us, Slice?" Apple Peel asked.

"The Apples will go to the Heartland," Apple Slice growled. "Better that I shove the lot of you inside Princess Celestia's sanctuary. In there, you will never have any contact with the Empire. You'll be less likely to lead the family into another stupid venture."

"What...what about these two?" Apple Peel asked as he looked at the two captives.

"I can't throw them to the Legion," Apple Slice said. "I'm not letting them go back to their master either." His hooves tightened around the chain. "You know where this will go, Peel."

The last thing Applejack heard distinctly was the sound of chain links tightening. The vision faded, and she found herself staring at the ceiling of her room back in the Royal Palace. Dealing with Ophidites? What was Apple Peel thinking?

Beams of sunlight were already streaming through her window. "Darn..." she muttered. Was it late morning already? Legionnaire or farmer, she should have been up at the crack of dawn. She had only spent a few days in a palace and she was already getting soft! She jumped out of bed, all the more glad that she had paced herself last night. Well, that was about to end. A quick breakfast and time for work. Whatever work entailed.

Applejack had just touched the door knob when she remembered something that work did entail. She looked back to the books she had left by her bedside table. Standard reading for legionnaires from the south, Vanguard had said. Applejack closed her eyes and thought back to the vision. The Empire. Even before she could read a single page of these books, she already had a taste of what to expect down south. These ophidites used ponies. Who knows what they would have done to Rainbow if they had succeeded? The ones in the vision weren't chained, but they were working for Ophidus. She tried to imagine herself being captured by these things, dragged into some horrible building and worked on until she was happily serving the Empire. She shut her eyes tightly, and shook her head. That settled it. She put on a pair of saddlebags and placed the books in. No way she was going to let those varmints capture her.

"Applejack!"

Applejack was barely out of her room when she already heard Pinkie's high-pitched greeting. She turned and found not just Pinkie, but several other ponies. Rarity walked by Pinkie's side, dressed in fancy silks, jewelry, and...is that metal plate? As the group moved closer, Applejack got a better look. Yes, that was metal plate weaved seamlessly into the fabric for extra protection. Rarity's mage blades were strapped to a slim, leather belt studded with diamonds. At the sight of Applejack's staring, Rarity smiled and tilted her chin upward, revealing a silvery collar, both beautiful and likely strong against dangerous blows to the neck.

There were others with them as well. Lion Court stood by Rarity's left, in more subdued gray suit albeit with dark red trimmings. He was a far cry from the disheveled, bloody mess who fought alongside them in the abyss with his brushed up mane and the ruby-studded gold band around his right fetlock. When he caught Applejack looking, he smiled and dipped his head briefly. Beside him was Octavia, who was far more modest in her appearance. She had only a white collar on. A pink bow tie adorned the center. The more striking piece, however, was a small pin next to it; a five-petaled rose made of onyx.

Pinkie apparently had her own escorts, ones that looked more dressed to work than for going to the next party. Captain Nightcanter grinned at the sight of Applejack while the other one, Sablesteel, was looking somewhere else. There was a stallion at the back of the group who looked ready to fade into the background at the company he was keeping. Applejack guessed that this was Copper Mane.

"My, my, Applejack," Rarity said. "The hard-working farmer and legionnaire the last to get up? Perhaps Canterlot's luxuries were a little too much for you?"

"Speak for yourself," Applejack said. "I ain't the one that has to doll up and get escorted for breakfast."

"I'm afraid we won't be having breakfast," Rarity said softly. "We're taking the next airship to the Great Delve." Her face brightened a bit. "I've been assured that they serve an excellent brunch on deck, however."

"It's gonna be super exciting!" Pinkie said. "Ooh, what kind of souvenirs would you like, Applejack? Maybe we can write each other." She paused and frowned. "If we can figure out how to send them. Maybe there's some kind of channeling thingy I can figure out..."

"Leaving already?" Applejack asked.

"Yes," Rarity replied with a sigh. "I wish we could spend more time together, but we're not even sure how much time we have. This last rebellion the royalty's talking about could be a decade away or a year. We had a lovely evening with everypony together, but now we have to use every day."

Applejack nodded. "Well, I was planning on leaving soon anyway." She suddenly put a hoof on Rarity and Pinkie Pie's shoulders, then drew them close. "You two take care now," she said. They quickly returned the hug.

"I'm gonna miss you so much, Applejack!" Pinkie said.

When they pulled back, Rarity had a playful smirk. "Enjoy your honeymoon, Applejack," she said. "But try to accomplish other things as well."

"We ain't married," Applejack growled. She was smiling afterwards though. As the group moved away, she could only give one last wave. "I'll see ya..."

Breakfast wasn't going to be a banquet with everypony then. A quick stop by the kitchen netted her a few apples and a loaf of bread. Leaving the kitchen, however, proved less simple. Rainbow Dash was just flying past, a bag of buns tucked under a foreleg, and her cheeks bulging with food. "Mmmf!" was all Rainbow could say when she noticed Applejack.

Applejack had a few choice words to say, though, when she noticed Rainbow's companions. Scarlet flew behind Rainbow, his mouth as stuffed as hers with a trickle of jam down one corner of his lips. Behind both of them was the far too ominous sight of Longstride.

During the feast, Longstride was awkward and scruffy, so uncomfortable that he appeared almost non-threatening. It also helped that his bow was nowhere near him. Now, in the daylight, with all his gear in place, he was downright menacing. His weird eyes were doing a slow, clock-wise spin, as if they were lazily looking for targets. The enormous bow slung across his back promised to bury a shaft in anything he set his eyes on.

For now, Applejack focused on her friend. Rainbow had hurriedly chewed her food to free her mouth for talking. "Hey, Applejack!" she said. "I was hoping we'd run into you."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you're not hung over after all that guzzling last night."

"Hey, I wasn't that bad," Rainbow said. She scratched her mane and chuckled nervously. "Well, okay, so I had to take a pill and drink a lot of water, but I recovered quickly." The chuckle turned into a snicker. "I mean, as least I came out of that feast a lot better than Twilight. Have you seen her? The doctor said that she must have guzzled an entire barrel with they way she ended up!"

Applejack's eyes narrowed. She didn't even see Twilight drinking when they were together. When did Twilight find the time to sneak somewhere and guzzle a barrel of booze? And why?

"I wouldn't be too worried," Rainbow added. "She's got the princess to take care of her." She patted Applejack on the shoulder with a wry smile. "Look, I gotta go catch up with Rarity and Pinkie. We'll be leaving pretty soon."

"You going to the Great Delve too?" Applejack asked.

Rainbow shrugged. "Stopping there only," she said. "I'll be going farther west after we get there. You take care, Applejack."

Applejack smiled and nodded. "You too," she said. "Don't make me run from the Southern Barrier Land to the Western one to save you now. You know I would."

Rainbow's smile faded a little into a more sincere line. "Don't worry," she said quietly. "You'll never have to rescue me again. I promise."

"I'll hold you to that, RD," Applejack said. With one more wave, Rainbow's group started to depart as well.

Before Longstride could go, however, Applejack grabbed a hold of his tail with a hoof and tugged. He quickly stopped and looked back. Though he said nothing, the creepy stare was quick to demand a reason for the hold up.

"I know Scarlet's trouble," Applejack said. There was no warm smile on her face this time. "You are too. You shot Rainbow and I ain't forgetting that any time soon." She pressed her lips tightly for a while. "But I know Black Rose relied on you to follow her to the abyss if you had to and she was planning on helping us get stronger. So...so you watch out for her, you hear? If anything happens to her, I'll be wringing your neck." She glanced a the chain she had on her.

"I will," was all Longstride said. With a nod, he departed as well.

Applejack had to be satisfied with that. She didn't like that nearly all her friends had a Thorn going with them on their trip, especially with Rarity having two of them at once. For Rainbow's case, a dour sniper in the background might just be better than just her and Scarlet.

That left two of her friends unaccounted for. She had a good idea where they might be, however. She made her way towards the palace's infirmary, expecting to find both there. She was still trotting down the hallway when she already spotted what she was looking for. Twilight was huffing and staggering down the hall with Fluttershy maintaining a slow hover near her.

"Um...Twilight, you should really just lie down and let the princess's restoration spell work on you," Fluttershy said.

"I'll be fine, Fluttershy," Twilight replied, her voice still husky. "I've already delayed the transport ritual as it is. Can you imagine what will happen if we ended up late and I had to explain that it was because I had a hangover? I'd shame Princess Celestia beyond repair!"

"You might vomit as soon as you get there," Fluttershy mumbled. "They might not like that either."

Before Twilight could reply, both of them spotted Applejack.

"Hey, Twi," Applejack said. She tilted her head slightly in concern. "You okay? What's this about you guzzling down a barrel of booze during the feast?"

Twilight shook her head. "Didn't drink a drop," she said. She let out a sigh. "Because I was trying to avoid this."

"What happened then?" Applejack asked.

Twilight shrugged her shoulders. "Surprise breath attack from Princess Luna. I don't know what she was drinking. I haven't asked either." She shuddered. "Don't want to know."

"What about you, Fluttershy?" Applejack asked. "I heard that you were going somewhere with Starswirl the Bearded and Blue Moon."

"We're supposed to be leaving soon," Fluttershy said. "I just want to take care of some stuff before we go." She glanced around. "I guess I should be finding him. She gasped when Twilight started to veer to the side. By the time Twilight realized that she was about to fall down, it was too late to recover.

"Well," Applejack put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder to steady her, "you take care of yourself, Twi."

Still off-balance, Twilight smiled wryly. "You too, Applejack," she said. "You and Vanguard."

And that was it. Applejack walked away, glancing back one last time to see her two friends staring fondly at her. She supposed it was better of this way. A simple goodbye. No over-dramatic farewells like they were never going to meet again. She smiled. Yeah, it was better this way. She was going to be with them after a while. When she finally left the Royal Palace, her head was held up high.

The morning sun's rays felt especially good aboard the Night Skimmer. Applejack inhaled deeply and sighed. Well, this was it. The engines were running, the crew was on the move. She had her barding on now and a pack containing a few things she might find useful, including the books.

"Ready?" Vanguard said as he walked up to stand next to her.

Applejack nodded and moved to stand just a little closer. "I'm ready."

"We'll land in Highstable to meet our guide," Vanguard said. "From there, we'll travel on foot to Serpent Watch Outpost."

Highstable. A name that was suddenly familiar even though she had never been there for real. Applejack frowned briefly. What had happened after Apple Slice found out about the ophidites? Was that why Apple Peel made up stories about him? She could really use another vision. Something else must have happened, something to put it all together. Something that would make that tomb significant.

"You alright?" Vanguard asked. "You look worried already."

"It's nothing," Applejack replied. "Just a little jittery."

With barely a nudge to its passengers, the Night Skimmer was up in the air. The prow pointed south, and they were off.

Applejack 2: On The Trail

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 2: On The Trail

A swift breeze blew through Applejack's mane as she leaned on the Night Skimmer's railing. On the first half of the trip, she had been studiously attending to the books Vanguard had provided her. When the scenery shifted from the Heartland's snowy plains and forests to the distinctly verdant carpet of foliage that marked the Southern Barrier Land, however, she had to take a better look. she had never imagined that a place could be so...green.

It only took the swift-flying Night Skimmer the better part of a single day to get from Canterlot to Highstable, the largest of the southernmost settlements of the Barrier Lands. Their vague destination of "somewhere in the area Greenfang Outpost used to be" was much farther south, but Highstable was as far as they could get by airship.

"The ophidites have eyes on the sky," Vanguard had explained. "An airship or two arriving in Highstable won't be suspicious. They'll expect it to be delegates from the Heartland or a few officers from the other legions. An airship in an outpost will put any nearby imperial scouts on high alert."

That was easy enough to understand and accept. Applejack had expected that she was going to hoof it across what was likely going to be miles of jungle. Bog Light dedicated several chapters to describing the environment and things didn't sound very promising, but she was no stranger to difficult journeys and dangerous wildlife. Another warning from Vanguard, however, concerned her more.

"When we get there, I'd advise against using your shield," Vanguard had said.

"Why not?" Applejack had asked, her worries already doubling. Her shield was her best weapon, the one thing she knew that she could rely on even against the dark of the abyss.

"Coatls are highly sensitive to magic. Normally, they tune out the usual skirmishes between the cobrahns and our unicorn magi, but I suspect that your shield would register as something strange to any nearby overlord. They will want to investigate and having one of them on our trail will make things very difficult." Vanguard's eyes had narrowed. "You should also know that if we find out that the Emperor has so much as glanced at our direction, the mission is over and we're running all the way back to Canterlot if we have to."

Applejack shifted her gaze from the seemingly endless foliage to the far horizon of the south. Bog Light only dedicated only a single chapter on Emperor Sesyth, not because the immortal ruler of Ophidus ranked low among the dangers of the Southern Barrier Land, but because there wasn't much that needed to be said. Bog Light detailed options when faced with a sunfly swarm or a squad of vipren hunters, but the standard response for any Legion unit faced with even the possibility Sesyth's arrival was full-on retreat. The adamant look in Vanguard's eyes was all Applejack needed to know that he wasn't going to even consider pushing on for the sake of finding the tomb if Sesyth became involved.

There was a grand enough sight closer to them, however. No need to focus so much on the ominous structures of Ophidus to the horizon. The Night Skimmer neared a large group of tower boughs; massive trees that rose above the normal canopy of green. Each one had a trunk thicker than a house which spread into a network of branches that could be small forests in themselves. Boasting the largest pegasus population in the Southern Barrier Land, Highstable's buildings lay nestled among the great boughs of these trees. They melded so perfectly with the surrounding vegetation that it appeared as if the tree had sprung from its seed with houses attached. Huge, elaborate rope bridges, strong enough to allow even carriages to travel on them, linked branches and even trees together. The Night Skimmer was approaching the Sky Gate's arboreal port edge. Originally, Highstable used this spot to manage passing war balloons from the Legion, but some modifications had already been done to deal with small air ships.

"Applejack."

At the sound of Vanguard's voice from behind her, Applejack turned around, already patting the saddlebags she had by her side to show that she was ready to go at a moment's notice. For barding, she had switched the chain and plate she was used to for dark green dragon scale-reinforced leathers. As if leather and wolven fur wasn't weird enough, now she had these. They were quite tough as she quickly found out after a few tests, and surprisingly light. She hoped she didn't have to encounter Spike while wearing them. Or any dragon for that matter.

Vanguard had done the same. This would be the first time she would see him attempt any kind of mission in anything lighter than a full suit of plate.

"Ready to go?" Vanguard asked. He looked to the railings in time to see some of the crew set out the boarding planks.

Applejack nodded, and walked by his side as they proceeded to depart. Of the Night Skimmer's passengers, they were the only ones leaving. The crew saluted as they walked past.

"We'll meet with Bad Arc's contact first," Vanguard said once they had left the air ship. "He said he'll wait for us at the Mabolo Inn."

The Sky Gate was a massive, artificial platform above and at the center of the grove. It was connected to the largest tower boughs through solid wooden bridges, which also acted as its supports. There were several other air ships docked here, as well as a few war balloons. Pegasi also flew in individually. Watch towers discreetly dotted the branches of even the smallest of the tower boughs. The guide for Southern Barrier Land territories populated those towers with unicorn magi and marksponies, as well as ballistae ready to shoot any flying thing that tried to land anywhere in Highstable other than the Sky Gate.

They crossed a bridge towards one of the northern trees, where great steps spiraled around the rising branches to reach the dwellings up there.

"So what's this pony like?" Applejack asked. She hoped that being Bad Arc's contact didn't mean that this pony was going to be a jerk like Bad Arc.

"Not a pony to start with," Vanguard said. "His name is Seshimyssen the Pervert."

"Seshi--" Applejack frowned. "Sounds a lot like the name of that ophidite that we captured."

"Vipren names tend to follow that pattern." Vanguard paused at a road sign to get their bearings before moving on. "Myssen for the males, Myssa for females."

Applejack stopped, forcing Vanguard to turn towards her. "So it is an ophidite!" she said. She was about to ask why they would even work with the same sort of varmint that nearly dragged Rainbow to Ophidus, but she caught herself. They were going to ophidite territory and had to deal with the Empire. An ophidite would know a lot about these things probably a lot more than books. Bad Arc was a jerk, but he was still a legionnaire, and Vanguard was okay with the idea. Applejack also had to admit that she had been getting a lot of help from some really weird places recently. "I thought Bad Arc said that he knew some ponies."

"He has a very broad definition of pony," Vanguard said. "I believe it's 'anything working for Equestria'."

"So what's his story?" Applejack asked. "And why's he called 'the Pervert'?"

"The Empire's not as united as it would like us to think," Vanguard said. "Their methods alienate some some of their citizens, especially the ones in the lower tiers." He snorted, then let a grim smile cross his lips. "Stands to reason, doesn't it? The privileged ones like the coatl overlords and the cobrahn shamans, are fiercely loyal, but constrictor grunts, and vipren stable masters like Seshimyssen, won't always like their lot. Equestria's agents find them, then bring them over to our side."

Applejack nodded. "Good to know that at least some of them don't like fighting us."

They made it to the Mabolo at last; a rounded building, designed to resemble an over-sized fruit of some sort. Its walls were a warm brown, strangely fuzzy, with the front doors swinging freely to welcome customers. And there quite a number of them as well. Highstable appeared to be a frequent visiting point for ponies of the Heartland out to see what was farther south. Even from afar, it wasn't hard to notice that the tables inside were mostly full and that a great many of the customers sported cutie marks. Vanguard had his hoof on one door when he continued.

"As for being called 'the Pervert', we'll have to find out from him."

Despite the crowded inn, it took Applejack barely a couple of seconds to spot their contact. It would have probably taken more effort not to notice the lone snake in a crowd of ponies. Like the ophidite they had captured, Seshimyssen was covered in tiny, dull brown scales from his nose to all six feet of his length. He had thicker arms and shoulders than Hashymissa, a broader head, and disturbingly long and bony fingers. Applejack could have sworn they had three joints, but a closer look showed only two.

Another thing hard to miss was the golden collar around the ophidite's neck. Applejack doubted that a heavy, inch-thick band of metal was an ophidite fashion statement. It was more likely the Legion's.

Seshimyssen, on the other hoof, had not appeared to notice them. Probably because he was eyeing every pony that came anywhere near his table. He "sat" by coiling his tail around the legs of his chair, resting the part where his torso met his tail on the seat. It was only when they were a couple of feet away, and very obviously staring at him did he finally look up. "Bad Arc send you?" he asked in a soft, surprisingly high-pitched lisp.

Vanguard nodded. At this, Seshimyssen gestured for them to sit down. With one more look around him, Vanguard obliged. "My name is Vanguard Clash of the Northern Equestrian Legion." He nodded towards Applejack. "This is my partner; Applejack. How much do you know of the old Greenfang Outpost area?"

A small thrill ran down Applejack's spine at the mention of "partner". She didn't miss the other implication though. Vanguard didn't mention the Element of Honesty. She silently agreed with the notion.

Sesimyssen's gaze was on Applejack when he spoke. "A marked pony so high up in the Legion. I couldn't believe it when Bad Arc told me. Hard to believe now." He turned his eyes back to Vanguard. "I expected a northerner to still be using that name. It hasn't been 'Greenfang Outpost for a long, long time, Vanguard Clash."

"Update us then," Vanguard said.

Seshimyssen held up a pair of bony fingers. "Two things first," he said. "Bad Arc called in a big favor to get me to help you, but he wasn't clear on details. What are you after in that place?"

"We're searching for the tomb of Apple Slice," Vanguard replied.

Seshimyssen clasped his hands, and leaned forward. Applejack wasn't sure if she should take that interest as a good sign or not. "The Old Bear-Wrangler," Seshimyssen said. "Imperial Scouts have been searching for his remains ever since Lord Neksyth put him down."

I didn't think that Ophidus had that much of an interest in Apple Slice, " Vanguard said. "Why all the searching?"

"Do you see a hood around my neck, Vanguard Clash?" Seshimyssen asked. "Or legs sticking out of the sides of my tail? The cobrahns and the coatls deal with the why's of the Empire. They simply tell us, and we go."

"I know a few things about nobles and servants," Vanguard replied. "Your shamans and overlords seldom care about what you piece together in your own time. So spare us the lowly vipren act, Seshimyssen. Our task is very important."

Seshimyssen opened his mouth, but, instead of speaking, he let out a sharp, spitting sound. Applejack tensed briefly, a hoof already reaching for her chain. Seshimyssen made no hostile move, however. Perhaps, that was only the ophidite version of a snort.

"My father was majordomo to Lord Mensyth," Seshimyssen continued. "He and his ponies combed that jungle for years simply because Lord Neksyth's brood are still looking for something to display as proof of his glory. Preferably a skull. Mensyth hoped to be the descendant to do it."

Applejack tried to imagine Apple Slice's skull hanging from some snake's mantlepiece like a trophy. It was all she could do not to tremble. Even if she gained nothing else from finding this tomb, saving his remains from the ophidites would make this trip worth it.

Seshimyssen glanced at Applejack, forcing her to compose herself quickly. "Why didn't he just take his stupid trophy if he won that fight?" she asked.

"He didn't, really," Seshymissen replied. "Lord Neksyth massacred the ponies of Greenfang, but it cost him dearly. 'Chased the scarlet rabbit' as we're fond of saying. He had no means to hold it so he had to flee very quickly. The Southern Legion cornered him near Ervan Reis, and wiped his troops out. The Empire still calls it a victory though. After all, a second assault a week later secured Greenfang."

"But the body was long gone," Vanguard said. Seshymissen nodded at this.

"Mensyth found nothing in the end," Seshimyssen said. "As more years pass, the Empire's interest wanes. What makes you think that two ponies, and a vipren are going to succeed where centuries of the Empire's careful searching failed?"

"We have an edge," Vanguard said. "Guide us through the area, and we'll take care of the finding."

"Ah, so I am to risk my life on this task with only vague assurances." Seshimyssen let out a quick series of short hisses. Applejack could only guess that it was some kind of chuckle. "This should be worth more than even a big favor. Bad Arc will owe me when this is over."

"And the other thing you want?" Applejack asked.

"I'm not helping you in this by myself," Seshimyssen said. "Neksyth's Glory is currently at the thick of the fighting between Imperial Forces and the Crocodilian Rebellion. I've sent a message to Anektor. He should be ready to meet us by the outskirts."

"I take that's what the Empire calls that area?" Vanguard asked.

Applejack snorted, and crossed her forelegs. This Lord Neksyth probably got lucky, and landed a fatal blow on Apple Slice when he was already surrounded. Now, they've gone and named an entire place after some stupid snake. No use grumbling about it, not like this Seshimyssen named the place. "I dunno, Vanguard," she said instead. "I mean, two ophidites going with us to ophidite territory?"

"Anektor is no ophidite," Seshimyssen said. "Don't let him hear you even suggest it."

"Crocodilian," Vanguard said. He raised an eyebrow at this. "They may be fighting the Empire, but the crocodilians have never been friendly with Equestria."

"Aye," Seshimyssen said. "Their nationalists would be just as happy to make tents out of you two. The mercenaries, though...the right price will secure their help. I know the trails, but some of them will be clogged with fighting. Anektor will let us have some more options. A little more stealthy muscle will also be useful, yes? Let's hope the Legion lets you use its coffers."

"It does," Vanguard said. He was silent for a while, eyes hard and thoughtful. "I'll take care of the coin," he said. He stood up. "If you have things to gather, Seshimyssen, do so now. We'd like to start as soon as possible."

Seshimyssen nodded, and uncoiled from his chair.

"Hold on," Applejack said. The ophidite obliged by coiling again, and looking at her. "Why are you called 'the Pervert'?"

Seshimyssen smiled. At least, the bared teeth resembled a smile. Applejack wasn't sure if ophidites even did such things. She expected two long, needle-sharp ones to unfold given vipren reputation for being the most naturally venomous of the ophidites. Seshimyssen's smile was ringed with small, pointed teeth instead. Perhaps he simply kept those fangs folded. Or the Legion could have de-fanged him.

"Because of my perverted fondness for ponies, of course," Seshimyssen said. He flexed his fingers, and Applejack had to fight off an impulse to wrinkle her nose. Those things almost seemed to have a life of their own, as if Seshimyssen had a bunch of worms at the ends of his arms. "Rank five, the worst rank in the Imperial Registry for Deviants," he went on. "Known to have consensual sexual relations with slaves. Must stay a hundred yards away from any stable on pain of death."

"Consensual," Vanguard remarked.

"Aye," Seshimyssen said. "That's what earns you rank five. If I had forced myself on slaves, I might have gotten away with rank four or three, but getting permission? Loathsome."

"Why'd you keep the name then?" Applejack asked. "You're not in Ophidus now."

"Why not? I've always heard that ponies appreciated honesty, and the title is nothing but honest." Seshimyssen uncoiled from his chair again. "Ah, but enough about me. I'm just a lowly snake roped into a dangerous mission because of foolish promises." He nodded towards Vanguard. "I have a few things to prepare so I'll meet you by the southern Root Gate."

With that, he slithered out of the inn. Only when he he was out of sight did Applejack finally allow herself a shudder. "I know he's an ally and all, but does he have to be spending...I dunno... so oily?" she asked.

Vanguard chuckled briefly. "He likes to perform, doesn't he? I wouldn't worry too much. He was more interested in getting a reaction than probing for weaknesses."

Applejack lowered her voice. "And the collar?" she asked. "Is he some kind of Legion slave? Is that why Bad Arc can make him do things?"

"The collar makes for easy identification that he is on Equestria's side," Vanguard said. "It keeps him from getting shot by paranoid or overeager legionnaires who might think they just caught a vipren spy. "

"At least, he's honest about some things." Applejack frowned. "Dunno if that's a good thing."

"If he tries anything to justify that name of his, I'll protect you," Vanguard said with a smile.

Applejack smiled back. "And what if it's you he's after?" she asked.

"I'm sure you'll have a few things in mind."

"You bet I will," Applejack said. "Probably start with those creepy fingers." She caught herself again with a nervous chuckle, before looking around. "So...this sure is an impressive city."

Despite the awkward start, she had meant it. Highstable exuded a warmth that she didn't associate with cities especially Barrier Lands cities. She had never imagined that she would walk streets of burnished wood or look up at rooftops interwoven with living leaves. Highstable didn't loom and impose like Bastion City or even Canterlot, despite being nestled in a grove of gigantic trees.

"It is, isn't it?" Vanguard replied. "Pegasi may not be able to walk on clouds as they move away from the center of the Heartlands apparently, but that doesn't stop them from wanting to live as high up as possible."

Applejack glanced at an earth pony couple chatting it up by the bar. "Other ponies don't seem to mind either," she said. "Cloudsdale's probably more up a pegasus' alley, but this here's homey enough for anypony." She tapped the floor with a hoof. "I'd rather walk on strong, solid wood over clouds any day."

Vanguard signaled for a barmaid. When Applejack looked at him quizzically, he shrugged. "Might as well sample the local flavor. "

The local flavor turned out to be a mixture of spices and fruit juice; interesting taste, but no alcohol. With the influx of visitors from the Heartland, Highstable's bars and inns had opted play it safe, and put away the hard stuff, at least for now.

Applejack downed her glass with a lick of her lips, then stared out a windown. "How do you think the others are doing?" she asked.

"The air ship for the Delve will take longer to arrive, so I expect Rainbow, Rarity, and Pinkie, to be relaxing. I'm hoping Scarlet isn't abusing the onboard bar."

Applejack chuckled. "Nah, I think Rainbow's got him under control. Her, and that Longstride."

Vanguard smiled wryly. "She has been good for him, as strange as it is to admit. I had thought she'd bring out his worst. He certainly almost did that for her."

"I thought so too," Applejack replied. She remembered that dark moment in front of their shared quarters in Bastion City. "Should have known from the start that she'd pull through. "

"That's due, in no small part, to you," Vanguard said.

Applejack cast her gaze downwards. "Shucks," she said.

"As for the others, I think we can trust Pinkie to wriggle her way out of any trouble she gets herself into, and, out of those three, Rarity is the most likely to make the wise choices."

"What about Twilight?" Applejack asked. "I mean, going to the Eternal Herd? I know that the prince and the princess are with her, but going to another world full of alicorns that may or may not like her? And Fluttershy flying off east..."

"Crazed missions, the lot of them," Vanguard said. He set his empty glass down. "And I'm sure that they're thinking the exact same thing about us; a hoof-ful of ponies braving an ophidite-infested jungle to find something that may or may not be useful."

"At least we're staying in this world," Applejack muttered. "Guess we can only trust them, huh?"

Vanguard set his empty glass down. "We better get going. Seshimyssen might change his mind if we make him wait too long."

With a nod, Applejack stood, and followed him out.

Anypony trying to get to Highstable without flying had to go through the Root Gates. The grove of tower boughs was enclosed by great, vine-covered, mossy walls; the only stone structures of the city. There were four gates; one for each direction. Applejack stared in wonder as a sea of goods-laden carts greeted her and Vanguard. Highstable's base resembled a giant market with ponies waiting their goods' turn to either be carried up by the many pegasus porters flitting about or lifted to the city using the complicated series of pulleys hanging from some of the tower boughs.

This was clearly the less desirable way to get into the city, though. The spiral stairs that winded down the partially hollowed trunks of these tower boughs proved an arduous descent. Getting to the ground didn't make things any better. The air down here was muggy and damp, thick with the smell of greenery both fresh and rotting. It took Applejack only a few minutes to be uncomfortably warm. The ground was soft and damp, letting her tramplers sink slightly into them slightly with each step. That was going to be a problem should something start tracking them.

Seshimyssen awaited them by the southern gate as he had said, now clad in scaly leathers, and armed with a longbow. Applejack eyed the quiver slung across the vipren's shoulders, mentally reminding herself not to even scratch herself with those things. She also noted the whip hanging from Seshimyssen's belt. Hashymissa had a similar weapon, and it seemed more and more likely that it was the favored tool of these vipren "stable masters".

"Been a while since I had to dress up," Seshimyssen said. More short hisses. "At least for a situation that might involve fighting."

Applejack actually wrinkled her nose this time. "You're not going to keep doing that throughout this mission, are you?" she asked. Bad Arc's contact may not be a pony at all, but it appeared that he was just as much a jerk as Bad Arc.

Seshimyssen dipped his head. "Apologies," he said. He was smiling his toothy smile as he spoke. "I can't help myself sometimes."

"Neksyth's Glory is still a long way away," Vanguard said. "We'll travel to Snakewatch Outpost to take stock of supplies and reconnaissance. From there we skirt the east side of Ervan Reis, and onwards to Neksyth's Glory."

"Don't expect things to go as smoothly as you plan them," Seshimyssen said. "The Southern Legion has been launching raid after raid recently. Ervan Reis security will be harsh."

"Snakewatch... " Applejack said. "I've heard that from somewhere. " She tapped a hoof against her chin. She recalled overhearing it. It was back in Bastion City, she was sure of that much. It was something that she wanted to know, but got lost in the shuffle after they returned to the Heartland. Snakewatch Outpost...what was there?

A look towards the jungle path that swiftly disappeared into the foliage was enough to tell Applejack that she was going to have plenty of time to ponder that.

Applejack 3: Old Allies and New

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 3: Old Allies and New

It took Applejack a quarter of an hour to miss being on the Night Skimmer. It had taken her less that to be sticky with sweat that refused to evaporate, and pestered by a variety of flying insects. Having to constantly swish her tail about probably tired her out more than the actual walking.

Fortunately, they were still using a paved road, a rare thing in the Southern Barrier Land. They had passed several patrols meant to watch for both Ophidite spies and encroaching wildlife. It did bother her that an equal amount of suspicious staring had been given to Seshimyssen and her cutie mark.

"And here I thought everypony in the Legion was all gung ho about reunification," Applejack muttered.

"The ones now stationed at the Heartland maybe," Vanguard said. He walked beside her, his tail just as swishy. Applejack was starting to envy Seshimyssen's scales. "Some ponies aren't convinced that reunification will hold up. They think Princess Celestia will reach a breaking point over how much of the Barrier Lands is entering the Heartland, and will reverse her position. We've recieved reports that some ponies closest to the borders don't even believe that the barrier has come down."

"That's horse apples," Applejack snapped. "Okay, the Princess made a horrible mistake, but she ain't some wishy-washy pony who'll change her mind at the drop of a hat. Why, if anything, we know that, once she makes up her mind, she'll stick to her decisions as hard as she can. And why wouldn't they believe this is happening? Don't they believe the Legion?"

"You make a fair point," Vanguard said. "But that's easier said when we've had front row seats to everything that's happened. For a typical legionnaire who's spent his life by the edges of our realm, it's not so easy to swallow so many fantastic changes. Even if they're told or shown, it takes time to adjust. And it takes time to hope that things might be getting a little better from now on."

"You ponies and your doubting," Seshimyssen said. He slithered a few feet ahead of them. Applejack didn't like that he was taking the lead, but she did like keeping him in her sight. "Imperial citizens question the Emperor's word at their peril. No dissensions, and certainly no riots."

"Of course there aren't any," Applejack retorted, "if you're all slaves to your Emperor. I'll take doubting any day."

Seshimyssen answered only with that fanged grin of his. Applejack couldn't quite tell if he was just joking around about the Empire that didn't want him to begin with. They passed some time in silence, and, to Applejack's dismay and non-surprise, they veered from the main road to a narrower path. Ervan Reis was still a long way off, but the main road twisted and turned to stay on good level ground. The smaller paths were rougher, but faster.

After a while, Vanguard sidled closer. "How are you feeling?" he said softly.

Applejack held out a muddy trampler-fitted hoof. "Not so bad," she said cheerily. "Shucks, Vanguard, I've trekked harder than this."

"I mean is being here helping you?" Vanguard asked. His tone remained soft, and the serious look in his eyes suggested that she follow suit. "Any odd feelings or premonitions?"

Applejack looked around her, as if the answer could be found among the trees and bushes. "No," she said, just as softly. "Maybe I need to get some sleep. That's how I usually get these things."

Vanguard looked towards the canopy, but otherwise said nothing. The interlocking branches allowed precious few rays of sunlight to reach them. The beams that filtered through were still a nice, golden hue. Night was still a few hours of trekking away. Hopefully, they'd be staying somewhere secure by that time. Bog Light's descripitions of the Southern Barrier Land's nocturnal wildlife were rather lurid.

And the hours did pass. Applejack could only tell through the increasing ache in her legs. The soft ground sucked her hooves in with each step. There were probably three varieties of burrs trapped in her mane and tail, and just as many bugs smeared under her tramplers.

"Ponies," Seshimyssen suddenly whispered harshly. He raised a hand to signal a stop. Frowning, Applejack crouched low on instinct. She had her hooves on her chain by the time she looked towards whatever Seshimyssen was looking at. Vanguard had drawn a single, broad-bladed sword, the same type as southern legionnaires wielded, and crouched close to her.

Seshimyssen was pointing to a group of rustling bushes at a distance. A closer look revealed two, slow-moving, pony-shaped figures. One of them looked like he was carrying a large load. "What is it?" Applejack asked. "Another patrol?"

"Patrols don't usually go by twos," Vanguard said. He pointed to another figure moving just a little behind the ponies. "They don't patrol with Ophidites either." True enough, the figure of an enormous Ophidite, easily twice as big as Seshimyssen, slithered on. Vanguard sniffed, then put a hoof over his nose. "Foul stink...smells like corpses and...honey."

Seshimyssen let out a brief, alarmed hiss. "Corpses and honey? Emperor's feathers, we've only just begun, and this little trip of yours already threatens my life."

Applejack sniffed the air, but all she could catch as the heavy scent of damp leaves and soil. She'd read something about honey in Bog Light's book, but...

"Yellow musk zombies," Seshimyssen whispered to her empathically. "These ones look like they're on a return trip, given that meal they're carrying along. The parent plant might be close."

"We're not here on a trophy hunt," Vanguard said. "But I'm surprised that a Yellow Musk Creeper managed to get so close to even a trail. There must be a patrol already hunting it, or the Southern Legion's gotten very sloppy."

"We should kill it," Applejack said. "What if it attacks other ponies using this trail?"

Vanguard continued to stare at the figures. "That's not why we're here. If we hunt down every passing monster in this place, we'll grow old before we finish the mission. We should sneak past. Southern Legion patrols will take care of this matter."

More rustling came from the undergrowth ahead of the figures. Three more pony shapes joined them, along with another Ophidite, this one just Seshimyssen's size. Now, Applejack wasn't as sure of a headlong attack. Vanguard was wrinkling his nose. No wonder, Applejack herself could now catch a whiff of something disgustingly sweet and foul all at once.

"Over there," Vanguard whispered. He pointed a hoof towards the direction all the figures were shambling. A cloudy, yellow haze seemed to be wafting towards the figures. Applejack frowned and raised a hoof slightly. There wasn't any wind blowing that way. How was the cloud moving?

The answer became obvious enough when the cloud came closer. Long, green, leafy tendrils poked out of the haze. They writhed slowly, stretching out tentatively towards different directions, as if getting a feel of their surroundings.

"Time to go," Vanguard whispered. He turned around and began sneaking away from the sight. Applejack clenched her jaw. She could see Vanguard's point. She really couldn't afford getting into random fights. A bad fall, a deep wound, a sprained leg...it was so easy to make this trip twice as hard, if not outright impossible. Still, the thought of this varmint killing one more pony when she had this chance galled her.

In an instant, that decision may not be up to her after all. Something zipped towards the cloud, and struck. A loud, shrill, shriek burst from the haze followed by frantic shaking noises, like tree branches being blown about in a storm. Vanguard turned around at the sound of this. Even Seshimyssen, who was already slithering ahead, looked back. A second object zipped into the cloud. This time, Applejack recognized the fletching. "There's a patrol!" she said. She didn't even bother whispering. The ponies shambling towards the smoke let out a chorus of dry wheezes and stumbled towards where the arrows flew.

A bright green pegasus, armed with a longbow and garbed in leathers had fired the shot. Below him, two earth ponies and a unicorn galloped forward. The pegasus caught a glimpse of Applejack, and yelled. "Ho, legionnaires! We'd appreciate some assistance!"

Applejack turned towards Vanguard. To her delight, he was already running towards the monster. "Stay clear of that cloud!" he growled. "It'll daze you so it can plant seeds in your head." She nodded, though she doubted that he saw it, before looping her chain and spinning it for a toss. Having seeds planted in one's head must be how ponies turned into those shambling things.

"Ponies," Seshimyssen hissed. "Messy with roles as always!" He drew his own bow, and nocked at arrow.

The unicorn in the group concentrated on a spell. Applejack expected a burst of flame or the crackle of lightning. Instead, a wild gust of wind whistled loudly through the trees, blowing back the cloud of yellow haze, finally revealing an enormous, mobile plant. A cluster of vines whipped about from its sides. At the center of the leafy mess was a single, yellow flower, its petals easily three feet long, a gaping, fang-rimmed mouth drooled and smacked at its heart. Yellow haze continued to waft from those lips, but the wind kept it from reforming its protective cloud.

At this, the shamblers focused their attention on the unicorn. The earth pony pair had anticipated this, and already stood to defend. Like Vanguard, they wielded heavy blades.

One of the pony shamblers quickly discovered that it had a new silver necklace. A swift tug from Applejack sent it flying her way. A thick, gnarled tree trunk brought its flight to a violent stop, punctuated by a sick crunch. There was no cry of surprise from the thing, though. Despite the sounds of fighting ahead, Applejack couldn't help but take a cursory look at the things they were fighting.

It was a pony alright, a brown-coated stallion with a scraggly white mane. Any chance of this thing hiding its true nature faded this close. The smell was horrendous and near-overpowering; a corpse several days old, moldering away in a humid jungle mixed with really old honey. The stallion's head had been cracked open after colliding with the tree, but barely a trickle of blood oozed from the wound. That wasn't the most horrific sight on its head, however. A long, green stalk poked out of its skull, spreading wide, dark green leaves and a single, six-petalled flower of bright yellow.

The rest of the pony showed no better. Its eyes were sunken and shriveled, staring blankly at nothing. Enormous gashes criss-crossed its torso, and opened a cheek wide enough to expose yellowed teeth. It should be dead from that impact. From the looks of its old wounds, it should have been dead before Applejack even encountered it. Instead, it let out a wheezing moan and tried to get back to its hooves.

The moment for observation was over. Seeing a still-dangerous foe, Applejack gripped her chain tightly and hurled the creature through the air once more, launching it towards an ophidite shambler closing in on the unicorn. The two crashed into a heap, which one of the earth ponies proceeded to savagely chop up. When the writhing, flailing mass settled, the earth pony pulled out a flask and doused the bodies with some kind of liquid. A thrown match later, Applejack was looking at a burning heap.

The earth pony stallion who had lit the fire was breathing heavily. Thick gouts of partly coagulated blood oozed down his blade, and dripped on the ground. He didn't look at Applejack, but he must have noticed the silver chain still wrapped around the shambler's severed neck. "You have to burn the seedlings out," he said. "Otherwise, they'll keep coming."

Applejack froze, not because of the words, but because of the voice that carried them. It had been a while, but she recognized it easily. "Twocolt?" she asked. "That you?"

Of course, so that's why Snakewatch Outpost sounded familiar! That was where the Northern Legion sent Twocolt after everything that happened in Bastion City. A faraway outpost where he couldn't do any harm...she supposed being in the middle of the jungle did keep him out of Black Rose's schemes.

Twocolt finally took a look at her, eyes wide with shock. There was no mistaking the light brown coat, and the short spiky mane. Twocolt looked haggard. He seemed to have lost several pounds, and he was a lean stallion to begin with. "Applejack?" he asked, his voice barely a hoarse whisper. He rubbed his eyes vigorously for a while. Even from where she was, Applejack noted the heavy circles around his eyes.

At that moment, the second Ophidite shambler closed in on Twocolt. Applejack whipped her chain about with a hard flick of her neck, un-looping it from the burning mess, then smashing it on top of the Ophidite's skull so hard that it knocked the creature flat on its belly. The crunch of its skull breaking open travelled through the chain's links, elliciting a brief shudder from Applejack. Not so much now, though. Each time she struck with the chain, she grew more used to the sensations involved with it.

"You shouldn't close your eyes in the middle of a fight, Twocolt," Applejack said with a smile. Twocolt answered with a faint smile of his own before facing the still ongoing fight nearby.

The other shamblers were down, and on fire, but the main plant was still fighting. Vanguard and the other earth pony kept it at bay. Applejack had checked up on them in time to see Vanguard chop off a long tendril from the thing. The pegasus and Seshimyssen peppered the thing's main body with arrows, while the unicorn maintained his spell.

"Twocolt, what's that thing doing here?" Applejack asked. She spun her chain with a foreleg, and looked for her opening. Too many limbs flailing about to bind. She certainly didn't want to pull towards her.

"Stray creeper," Twocolt replied. "Our patrol's been tracking it for a while. Seriously, we didn't think it would doubleback to get to a trail. This one's pretty desperate, just like the other two we had to put down."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Like the other two?" she asked. "This ain't the first time?" She watched admiringly as Vanguard timed a single stroke to chop off several tendrils. Well, given the fight with Nightmare Moon, he must be used to tentacles and the like. With its limbs gone, the enormous flower at the center had no defense. Vanguard looked towards Applejack, and nodded slightly. She flung the chain end-first. It wasn't something she'd normally do in a rodeo, but the motion wasn't too alien.

Besides, the magic chain seemed almost alive with how it adusted to the things she wanted to do. The self-looping and knotting whenever she needed a lasso was obvious enough, but there were other things as well, things she noticed during practice. The chain grew light when she pulled back for a whipping strike, then grew heavy when she whipped it forward. It strenghtened her when she needed to pull something's head off, but not so much when she sparred with friends. Now, she needed it to be like a thrown spear, and the chain was already making little adjustments. The end link grew heavier as her throw proved true.

The chain flew through the creeper's slobbering mouth, and punched through its fleshy walls, coming out of its back before embedding itself into a nearby tree. The plant twitched a few more times before collapsing into a heap of leaves. Yellowish green goo pooled beneath it, and leaked out of the severed tendrils.

Twocolt stared at the silver chain for a while, his eyes even wider than when he noticed Applejack. "Somepony's gotten a lot better at this," he muttered.

Applejack retracted the chain, and looked around. The other ponies did give the chain a cursory glance, but nowhere as close as Twocolt's stare. They must be used to seeing some magical weapons then, whether the Legion's or the Empire's. Seshimyssen was a different story though. He looked at the chain with a vaguely pleased grin.

Vanguard, on the other hoof merely gave a brief nod before proceeding to clean the gunk off his blade. Applejack followed suit, wrinkling her nose over the foul smell that now clung to the links.

"Thank you for the assistance," the unicorn said once they had gathered together. The ponies looked suspiciously at Seshimyssen at first, but focused on Vanguard and Applejack once they noticed the collar. "This one's managed to gather quite a number of zombies before we caught up to it."

Vanguard waved off the thanks, but he did salute. "I'm no expert with Southern Barrier Land flora, Patrol Leader..."

"Grape Seed," the unicorn said. He removed his leather champron, revealing a short mane of purple curls, and light green eyes.

"...but I know that Yellow Musk Creepers are smart enough to avoid trails and roads. At least until they have a huge enough gang to be a threat."

"They would under normal circumstances," Grape Seed replied. He glanced over at Seshimyssen, who was busy plucking arrows from the dead. "Of course, when you have Imperial troops suddenly pouring into their usual hunting grounds, it's usually the smarter species that try moving somewhere else. We've got creepers and bloodthorns thinking they're better off picking on pony travelers than dealing with armed hunting parties. Won't be that long until we start getting crocodilian bandits as well."

"The rebellion's been going on for a while," Vanguard said. "This an old problem?"

"Fairly recent," Grape Seed replied. "The Empire was content with dragging things out with the rebellion given their resource and number superiority, but things changed a month or so ago. They're stepping things up, and bringing their hard hitters. I'm guessing they've noticed the strange things happening in the Heartland, and they want a piece of the action."

Applejack frowned, and looked farther down the trail. Exactly what they needed, the Ophidites gathering troops in their territories.

Seshimyssen crossed his arms, and let out a low hiss.

"You have a different conclusion, vipren?" Grape Seed asked.

"Imperial policy wouldn't change so easily," Seshimyssen said. "Not even with vague reports about turmoil in your Heartland. Equestria may squirrel away every little opportunity it gets, but Ophidus puts as much weight in how it wins as it does winning. Treating the rebellion as more than a persistent, but minor, threat will not sit well with the coatls."

"That doesn't change that we do have reports of Ophidite troop movement farther south," Grape Seed said.

"Were they wearing imperial colors?" Seshimyssen asked. "You sure these are official imperial troops? They could be some noble's private servants."

Grape Seed was silent for a moment. Before he could answer, however, Applejack spoke first. "Does that include the old Greenfang Outpost, or Neksyth's Glory, or whatever it's called?"

"That's where most of the reports are coming from," Grape Seed said.

"Let me guess," Twocolt muttered beside Applejack. "Exactly where you're heading?"

"How'd you know?" Applejack asked.

Twocolt sighed, and smiled wanly. "You would have that kind of luck."

Vanguard was frowning now as well. For a moment, Applejack was worried that he was already considering calling off the whole thing. Things did appear to have gotten more difficult, but she didn't want to turn back so early, and with nothing to show for it. Her friends had all gone somewhere, and she dreaded the idea of reuniting with them empty-hoofed.

"Curious situation we've found ourselves in," Vanguard said. He looked at Seshimyssen. "Maybe one of Neksyth's descendants is making another sweep of the place?"

Seshimyssen shrugged. "I would actually consider that more likely than the Empire deciding to treat these crocodilians as more than pests."

Grape Seed watched both Vanguard and Seshimyssen intently. "Sounds like things my superiors should consider. I take it that you're stopping by Snakewatch? We'll escort you there."

That didn't seem like a friendly invitation. Applejack didn't mind though; she was hoping to catch up with Twocolt.

After they finished cleaning up, which included sweeping the burned up corpses far fom the trail, Vanguard walked alongside Grape Seed up front, while Applejack and Twocolt brought up the rear. Between them, the other legionnaires sandwiched Seshimyssen among them.

"You're looking really thin," Applejack said after a few minutes of walking. "Not enjoying the food here, Twocolt?"

"Food's fine," Twocolt replied. "The Southern Legion's got a lot more variety with meals. The stress of adapting does get to you, though." He swished his tail particularly hard. "That, and these damn horseflies have probably sucked a couple of pounds out of me so far."

Applejack chuckled, then grunted when a sharp bite made her wince. Her tail smacked a particularly large and bold insect, sending it fluttering to the ground. Twocolt said nothing after that. Applejack was starting to think that he resented her part in what happened at Bastion City. Though, for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.

"Hey, Applejack," Twocolt said after a while.

"Huh?"

Twocolt kept his gaze firmly on the ground. "Did Lady Bri...I mean, did Black Rose's plans help out Equestria in the end?" he asked.

"I..." Applejack let the silence drag out until she could feel Twocolt's eyes on her. "Yeah," she finally said. She let herself smile a bit. "I really wish she just went about it more honestly. We could have done something...I dunno, something she'd been happy with without all the scheming."

"Yeah..." Twocolt let out something between a sigh and a snort. "I don't know how I'm sure, but I think I would have helped her, even without the whole 'Order of True Equestrians' bit." His eyes hardened for a moment. "So how is she? Locked up somewhere in the Heartland? Maybe once I get some time off this jungle I..."

"Twocolt..." Applejack's tone softened. "Twocolt, she's dead."

Twocolt stopped for a moment. "D-dead?" he asked. "The Prince...the Prince had her executed?" He was forced to start walking again as the rest of them kept going.

"No, he didn't," Applejack said. She remembered the look on the prince's face; that unyielding frown that appeared no different from his usual scowl, but failed to hide something worse beneath. He wasn't fooling anypony. Nopony could be that hard. Nopony should be that hard. "She died helping us."

"Oh..." Twocolt was smiling again. It was a tight smile with the effort all too obvious, but it was still a smile. "I guess...I guess that's worth something." His voice shook. "Verdant and the others...they...she..."

Applejack placed a hoof on Twocolt's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Twocolt," she said.

"It's okay," Twocolt said as he brushed the hoof off. "I guess we at least made something out of being so blindly trusting."

"Don't say it like that," Applejack said. "Good of Equestria or not, there's more to you than what somepony used you for."

Twocolt didn't reply. They were silent for most of the trip after that. The trail slipped into thicker underbrush and wound past enormous, twisted trees. Finally, the first signs of a pony-made structure peeked past the trees.

"Snakewatch," Grape Seed said. He took another step, then stopped, his eyes hard. "Hold. We've got company."

A lone, enormous figure lumbered towards them, lazily brushing past low-hanging branches. It had to be nearly three times as tall as a stallion. It walked on a pair of muscular legs that ended in claws. Everypony in the group readied weapons.

"Crocodilian," Twocolt whispered. Applejack didn't miss the tremble in his legs as he glanced at the trees to their sides. "Guess the bandits are moving in faster than we thought. Watch our flanks."

The lone figure moved closer, revealing thick, knobby, dull green scales and a long, toothy muzzle. It carried an enormous, crescent blade across its shoulder. "That's far enough, crocodlian," Grape Seed called out. The pegasus pointed a drawn bow at the crocodlian's direction.

The crocodilian raised a single claw, and stopped. "Peace, ponies," it rasped. "I'm alone. No ambush, this."

Seshimyssen suddenly slithered forward. "Anektor?" he asked. "This is not our meeting place. Why are you here?"

Anektor dropped his blade. It seemed that the sight of a familiar face let him relax. Now, it was obvious that he was breathing hard. "Sess," he said. He let out some kind of gurgling croak, and grinned. "Plan's changed." He focused on Grape Seed. "Be honored, ponies, you're about to witness a first. The rebellion has hired me to negotiate aid."

"Equestria has offered aid to the Crocodilians before," Grape Seed said. "You spat on our faces, and ambushed our emissaries. Why should we bother with a second try?"

"You should, ponies. If the Ophidites succeed with what they're doing in Neksyth's Glory, they are like to sweep the rest of the south soon after."

Applejack 4: Always a Greater Picture

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 4: Always a Greater Picture

Applejack had hoped not to get involved in another meeting such as this while she searched for more clues on Apple Slice. Indeed, she nursed some faint hope that she would never have such a meeting ever again. Her journey here was supposed to be more personal; just her and Vanguard searching for something related to her family. Yet, here she was again, surrounded by legionnaires, getting involved with things that would affect far too many ponies to her liking.

The outpost's circular meeting room was small, and far more informal than the solemn order of the Chamber of Harmony, Fangbreaker's audience hall, or even Bastion City's Grand Meeting Hall. Applejack, Vanguard, Seshimyssen, Anektor, and several legionnaires from the outpost sat around a rectangular table crafted of worn, wooden planks, like most of the outpost. The table's surface was cracked, notched, and water-stained. The ceiling was low enough to force Anektor to hunch over. This meeting room probably served as an impromptu dining area as well. When they arrived, Twocolt had to clear it of dirty plates and glasses.

The damp, mossy smells of the jungle permeated the outpost, and its outer walls were covered with vines. Applejack wondered if the Southern Legion kept them that way on purpose to better disguise their outpost, or if there was simply no keeping the jungle out. It was probably both.

So, here she was again, planning out something bigger than she had thought. Everyone had taken a seat, save for Sesshymissen, who coiled his lower half into a spring instead, and Anektor, who would not have fit a chair anyway.

The Crocodilian instead squatted contentedly, still grinning even though it was clear that nearly all eyes were on him. He was a massive, gaunt creature, with gangly limbs. Thick, knobby, dark green scales did nothing to hide his wiry muscles, or the row of pointed teeth sticking out of his slender snout. Despite his hide looking quite tough on their own, he was also covered in thick pads of leather. His knees rose nearly as high as his head from the way he squatted. His odd, crescent-shaped weapon lay within easy reach. Given his size, and the the blade's size, Anektor could probably attack everypony in the room with a single sweeping blow. Of course, with the legionnaires watching him, he'd more likely be dead from several arrows before he finished that swing. Nevertheless, his golden, vertically slit eyes showed no nervousness despite being surrounded.

"Hungry?" Twocolt asked. He stood behind and slightly to the side of Applejack. On his hooves was a bunch of bananas, still a little green near the edges, but good enough, especially with her rumbling stomach. Applejack accepted a couple with a grateful smile. Next to her, Vanguard was already snacking on his second one, with three more on his table.

"That hungry, huh?" Applejack asked with a bemused smile.

"These go for twenty bits apiece in Bastion City, if we get them," Vanguard replied with a mildly sheepish tinge to his usual deep growl of a voice. "Just taking advantage of the situation."

"Did the same thing when I first transferred," Twocolt said. "They're fifteen a pound here, half that if the stock's almost off.

"I suspect that the price will improve with the Heartland opening faster routes," Vanguard said. His eyes hardened suddenly, brooking no more talk of snacks. Another stallion, a unicorn, had just entered the room. Twocolt swallowed, then stepped out of the room. It wasn't a surprise that he wasn't high enough on the Legion's ladder to be part of these meetings. Applejack felt almost envious of him.

"Greetings," the newly-arrived stallion said gruffly. He surveyed the room with a single, working green eye, the other appearing milky and dead. He briefly stopped to give Anektor a suspicious glare before taking his seat. This must be the commander of this outpost. He certainly took to sitting at the head of the table with ease. He also had that grizzled veteran look to him; a thick, unkempt beard of dark green made it seem as if his face had been infested by some kind of plant, until one noticed that his equally wild mane shared the same color. Dozens of old scars crisscrossed his dull yellow coat, especially around his face, and neck. When he spoke, his open mouth showed few surviving, yellowed teeth. His horn was notched in a few places as well.

"Commander Verdigris," Grape Vine said. "This crocodilian mercenary claims that he's negotiating for the Rebellion."

Verdigris answered with a nod towards Applejack and Vanguard. "And these ponies? Why are they here?"

"Legionnaires Applejack and Vanguard Clash are here on a special mission in Neksyth's Glory," Grape Vine replied. "The vipren convert is accompanying them as a guide."

"Neksyth's Glory is a hotbed of imperial activity these days," Verdigris said. His bushy eyebrows furrowed until his face crinkled. "You sure, you did't mishear 'suicide' as 'special'?"

"I can fill you in on the why of that," Anektor said. At the mere shift of his weight, he had everypony in the room tense up. With his arms nearly pinned to his torso and his long legs scrunched up, Anektor looked ready to explode just to stretch his limbs, even if it knocked the ponies next to him out. "Several weeks ago, some odd, powerful flash of magic erupted from Neksyth's Glory. The Rebellion had established themselves in the area near it at that time."

"Then, imperial troops started showing up in numbers," Grape Vine said with a nod. "We know of this. Our unicorn rangers picked up that flash as well."

"Though they know the general area, the Rebellion has yet to find that flash's source," Anektor added. "Not that they can do much searching when they struggle to keep the Empire away."

"And is that why you're here?" Verdigris asked. "You want the Southern Legion to help you stave off the Empire so you can find this magic?"

Anektor spread his enormous claws for them to see. "A common enemy for us, yes?" he asked. "Last I checked, Equestria hated the Empire. Powerful magic, this. Even a brute like me knows that. They send troops by the batallion, and fortify quickly. I had to fight my way through just to get here. The Rebellion is not doing so well in keeping them at bay. Send them troops and supplies, and we can keep the Ophidites away better. A win for both our people." He looked towards Vanguard and Applejack. "That is why your superiors from farther Equestria send you two, yes? We can all help each other."

"Until the crocodilians get hungry," Verdigris said. "Just like they did during the Boiling Marsh Incident." The other southern legionnaires nodded at this. Even Vanguard seemed to recognize the name, and frowned over it.

"Those crocodilians are dead," Anektor said. "And the ponies involved are dead. Let the old scars heal, ponies. Equestria is starting new things, yes? Lots of big changes. Why not make new allies as well? My people paid for that betrayal back then. They won't be stupid enough to repeat it."

"What's this Boiling Marsh Incident?" Applejack whispered to Vanguard.

"The Legion used to support Crocodilia long ago," Vanguard whispered back. "Back when it still had territory between Equestria and Ophidus. They proved an excellent buffer against the worst of the Empire's expansions. That ended when they raided a Legion supply depot in the Boiling Marsh, massacring everypony guarding the place."

"That was a boon for Ophidus," Seshymissen added. "Without Equestrian support, Crocodilia was given a place in the Empire. At least, until the Rebellion began."

Applejack snorted. "Given a place? You mean conquered, and turned to slaves."

Seshymissen merely shrugged.

Verdigris cleared his throat before speaking. "As an Outpost Commander, I don't have the authority to decide Equestria's stance on the Crocodilian Rebellion. But it is prudent that we see to the matter of this unidentified flash of magical energy. Working with some locals should make things easier. And if it sticks a few bones down the Empire's craw, a little aid for the Rebellion won't be so bad."

"This flash," Vanguard said. "When did it occur?"

"Our unicorn scouts noticed it last month or so," Grape Seed said.

Vanguard glanced at Applejack, that was enough of a gesture to make her realize things. A month or so ago...maybe around the time she first got the chain of Apple Slice. It could be just a coincidence though. She was probably lining things up out of wishful thinking.

"Outpost Commander, my partner and I will look into this matter."

Verdigris answered with a moment of cold, quiet scrutiny. "And now we have Northern Legion ponies coming here to take on missions," he said. "What is this, north-pony? You won a major victory up there so you think you can show the Southern Legion how it's done?"

"I think you should stop pissing on trees, and use our presence to aid the Southern Legion, Outpost Commander," Vanguard said without even a slight raise of his tone. "We can ascertain the situation in Neksyth's Glory, and you don't have to use your own troops."

"And what do you want in return?" Verdigris asked.

"A quick stop for rest and supplies, especially for Anektor here."

For a moment, Applejack expected Verdigris to explode into a storm of spluttering and cursing. The old stallion merely smiled under his beard, and smoothed a moustache. "Well," he said. "You're not one to mince words at least. But you couldn't have known about the condition of Neksyth's Glory when you came here. What are you doing here, really?"

Vanguard explained the mission, being careful not to mention anything about magic lassos and visions of a dead Equestrian hero. Verdigris leaned forward on the table. "You're saying you're here for some kind of historical salvage?" he asked. "I'm going to have to question our High Command's priorities. No battles will be won because we've brought the remains of Apple Slice back to Equestria."

"Then, it's a good thing this situation has come up then, Outpost Commander," Vanguard replied. "For a long time, every hero of Equestria had a place of honor in Legion's Rest save for Apple Slice. Reunification has brought the Heartland face-to-face with its forgotten guardians, and the effect is making its way through the ranks. The Legion has ignored one of its fallen heroes for too long. You may have noticed that my partner is a Heartlander. This joint, symbolic mission will further strenghten our ties with the Heartland."

Vanguard spoke so smoothly that even Applejack was convinced for a moment. That wasnt a complete lie...she supposed. Certainly, she'd like to make sure an ancestor of hers was remembered fondly, and shown respect like any hero of old. Still, that statement left her a little uncomfortable. She had almost forgotten that part of his being Special Operations meant he had to be good at lying and hiding when he needed to be. That was...pretty scary.

"Pretty words from up top," Verdigris said. "Commander Moon Haze might be completely sold on reunification, but you'll find that most of the Southern Legion isn't as enthusiastic."

"Does that include you, Outpost Commander?" Vanguard asked.

Verdigris grunted in response. "It's good to see that there are chosen heading into the front lines. Even if it's just one."

"There's more of us coming!" Applejack snapped. She lowered her voice and settled back down when everypony looked at her. "Eventually..."

"Good to hear," Verdigris said. "We sent a sizeable force of our rangers up north when news of the Northern Legion's botch turned up. When the barrier came down, Moon Haze pulled out even more to show off in the Heartland, and I hear that many of them died in some battle. Now, we have to bear the shame of being the first legion to allow invaders into the Heartland, so we have to step up operations in response. We need more bodies to throw at the Empire, and we're happy to get chosen."

"All the more reason to work with the Rebellion again, yes?" Anektor said."They may not be pretty ponies with pictures on their asses, but they will kill many snakes for you."

"Exactly what I was leading to," Verdigris said. "You'll have your rest and supplies, Vanguard Clash, but these objectives are yours as well. Ascertain the complete situation with the Crocodilian Rebellion and the increase in imperial activity in there. Make sure you get us a full report before you disappear into the bowels of Neksyth's Glory on your hunt."

"We'll have ranger support, of course," Vanguard said.

"We have a few stationed near Neksyth's Glory" Verdigris replied. "Avoid contacting them directly or they'll find themselves on the sights of an imperial hunting squad. They'll find a way to communicate. They'll lead you to supply caches as needed."

Vanguard nodded, but said nothing else.

Applejack let out a sigh of relief when the meeting finally ended. They managed to gain Anektor's help after all, but now they were going to get involved with this mess in Neksyth's Glory. They were allowed to rest in the barracks, and were given both fresh food and extra supplies for the trip. Here they were now with Grape Vine and Twocolt to escort them around camp. "Or to watch us,' Applejack thought. She had to agree with the move. If she had Anektor and Seshimyssen running around Ponyville, she'd be having them watched too.

"Surprised that the ponies barely paid you mind, Ses," Anektor said in between gulping down a canteen of water. He made an amused, passing glance at their escorts.

"I told you I'd start working my charm," Seshymissen replied. "Also helped that they were distracted by the hulking Crocodilian."

Anektor rumbled deep in his chest, a sound that turned out to be laughing, before turning to face Applejack. "You are one of these "chosen" ponies that I sometimes hear the legionnaires mention, yes?"

"Hopefully ya'll stop using the word 'cause of reunification, but yeah, I suppose," Applejack replied.

"Crocodilia had chosen too," Anektor said. "When we still had our homeland, six were picked through a series of fighting games every two years. It was a great privilege to be part of the chosen in those days."

"What happened to them?" Applejack asked.

"What do you think? They served as leaders of Crocodilia's warriors, obviously Ophidus wiped them out first."

"Where are you going with this, Anektor?" Vanguard asked.

Anektor shrugged, then put away the canteen. "I'm just pointing out that our chosen were the first to fight and die, while Equestria has it done backwards."

"Crocodilia had it backwards," Seshimyssen said with a sneer. "That's why you lost. In the Empire, the coatls are protected by constrictor lines, vipren covering fire, and cobrahn magical support. Their survival ensures an imperial victory for any engagement." He looked at Vanguard and Applejack slyly. "Equestria has clearly learned from the right sources."

Anektor rested his forearms on his knees, his throat still rumbling with that weird crocodilian laugh. "Pity, we didn't, but the Rebellion might still fix that." His eyes remained focused on Applejack. "Does that mean you are as strong as a coatl, or a crocodilian chosen? Is Equestria sending its strongest now?"

"That ain't how things are," Applejack said. "But Equestria is getting stronger, make no mistake!" Her voice lowered. "Now, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away," Anektor said.

"You're working for this Rebellion, but you're acting like the stuff they're fighting for's not a big deal. What's with that?"

Anektor let out a snort. "Crocodilia's a dead dream," he said. "Better to fight for survival, yes? Money, food, connections...a mercenary fights with his eyes open, and his mind in the present. The Rebellion is chasing the ghost of a dream. I don't mind helping them if I get my money, still."

"What about your home?" Applejack asked. "Isn't that important?"

"Heh...give me a dry bed, a warm fire, plenty of food, and I'll call that home," Anektor replied.

"A cage can have all that," Seshymissen chimed in. He hissed out his own weird chuckle. After a moment, Anektor laughed with him.

Applejack barely heard what came after that. A dry bed, a warm fire, and plenty of food...that sent her thoughts back to somepony who thought he could replace family with basic necessities. She remembered the fake grin she had to share with Apple Slice as he talked with his brother. That odd ache when...

We're honored that a hero of your caliber has come to help with the southern campaign.

Applejack blinked. She was still in the same room, but Vanguard and the others had disappeared. Instead, she was staring at a lone, light green mare. She closed her eyes and shook her head. Hold on...she didn't go to sleep. Why was she getting...

When she opened her eyes, it was Vanguard and the others in the room again. "Applejack, you alright?" Vanguard asked.

"Wow..." was all Applejack could mumble at first. "That's new."

"What is?" Vanguard asked.

Applejack turned towards Grape Vine first. "Excuse me, was Apple Slice stationed here during his time?"

Grape Vine answered first with a blank stare, then a flustered scratching of his mane. "Huh? I don't know, he traveled a lot, I've heard."

"Yes, he was," Twocolt said. When everyone in the room turned their gazes on him, he grinned and patted his chest with a hoof. "Hey, I'm an earth pony legionnaire stationed in the same Barrier Land as one of the most famous earth pony heroes out there. Of course, I'll find out as much as I can."

Applejack had to smile at that. It was good to see her friend like this. Definitely much better than the dejected stallion from earlier. She had a feeling that he might be putting a little too much effort into that grin, but this was still better. "What did he do here?" she asked.

"Snakewatch was his first post when he transferred from the Western Barrier Land," Twocolt said. "He spent some time here learning about fighting Ophidus before moving farther to the front lines."

'So he pushed himself to the farthest, most dangerous places in this jungle after the Apples left,' Applejack thought. 'Sounds like something a hero would do.'

"Snakewatch is an old outpost," Vanguard said after nodding. "Destroyed and rebuilt a few times during the back and forth between Equestria and Ophidus."

"Can we stay here for a night or two?" Applejack asked. Vanguard answered with a raised eyebrow. "I think I might learn something with the...you know." Horseapples, she was never going to get used to this doubletalk.

"Rather get moving as soon as possible," Anektor said. "Sleeping with so many armed ponies wouldn't feel good for me, yes? We can cover more ground before this day is over, even with the rest."

"We'll stay," Vanguard said. "It's nightfall anyway." He looked to Grape Vine. "My apologies for imposing."

Grape Vine merely shrugged. "Snakewatch won't mind a few guests," he said. "Don't expect any luxuries, though." He looked at Seshimyssen and Anektor. "Or any meat."

They may sing you hymns in the west, Apple Slice, but you won't find the south so readily impressed.

Again, Applejack had to stop and look when the ponies in the room she recognized disappeared. The aged wooden planks looked newer, the pony "she" was talking to had a scowl on his face while his lower jaw jutted out. She didn't like the way this pony talked to her, but she wasn't sure if that was her or Apple Slice. It sounded a lot like he was egging Apple Slice on to fight back or something, but the momentary dislike quickly dissolved into an overwhelming sense of apathy. The sigh that came out might as well be both hers and Apple Slice's. What was going on during this time? She had thought that he faced the Empire with courage, and maybe some measure of revenge over what happened with the Apples. He opened his mouth to say something when--

"She won't let this get out of hand, yes?" At the sound of Anektor's voice, Applejack found herself back in the present. "It's fine in a safe pony outpost, but if she stares off while we're running from a coatl, I'm leaving her behind."

"I'd rather that we don't run into any coatls at all," Vanguard replied. "But this won't be a problem." He stood closer to Applejack, offering a shoulder if she needed it. "We getting close?" he whispered.

"Yeah," Applejack whispered back. This was both a relief and worrying all at once. She was on to something, alright, but that something didn't look good.

"To rest then," Seshimyssen said. "You ponies won't mind if I turn in early, right? I'm expecting a lack of proper beds during this trip. I'd like to savor the opportunity."

"You can use the guest room, vipren," Grape Vine said. "We'll just burn the mattress afterwards. The crocodilian will have to make do with the floor."

"Good," Anektor said. "I don't sleep well lying in pony sweat and sheddings."

The two walked away with their escorts, leaving Applejack and Vanguard by themselves in the barracks.

"So what did you see?" Vanguard asked.

"Nothing really useful," Applejack replied. "Just that Apple Slice passed by here."

"But now you're getting them while awake," Vanguard said. "Things should improve further on."

"Yeah...improve..." Applejack muttered. Anektor's words stayed with her. This could easily get out of hoof. "You expected all this trouble when we got here?"

Vanguard paused, then nodded. "I didn't expect any mysterious magical flashes and the Crocodilian Rebellion getting involved, but there's always some trouble brewing in our borders." He undid the straps of his barding, and set the pieces on a nearby table before smiling at Applejack. "Don't worry, we'll take care of this, and get what you're looking for."

"I'm not worried!" Applejack huffed. "Just wishing we had something straightforward to do." She followed his example by another bunk. At once, having less on brought a much-needed cooling on her. A bath would be nice right about now. She may not be as fussy on cleanliness like Rarity, but her fur was damp with sweat and grime. It was ridiculous how quickly one could get so filthy out here. She didn't want to wander the outpost asking around for a bath though.

For some reason, Vanguard paused for a moment, and sniffed audibly, his brows furrowed.

"Vanguard?" Applejack asked. She looked around suspiciously, her hooves already closing in on her chain. He might have sniffed out an enemy. He shook his head, however, as if to clear his senses. "You okay?" she asked.

Vanguard cleared his throat. "Fine," he said. "It always catches me by surprise how sweaty the south can make ponies. It's not exactly the same for the north, you might have noticed."

Applejack sniffed at the air. Certainly, she caught a faint, musky whiff from Vanguard, along with the grime stuck to his fur. The beds did't exactly smell like they were freshly laundered either. She turned her nose on herself worriedly. "Are you saying I stink?" she asked.

In an instant, Vanguard was already a mere foot from her. 'Fast...' Was all Applejack could think before the stunned silence.

"Believe me, I'd be a lot more at ease if you merely stank," Vanguard said. His words were accompanied by a low, barely distinct, throaty growl.

Applejack swallowed a lump in her throat on instinct. With the afternoon sun almost gone, the shadows around the barracks all the more highlighted those red, wolven eyes. He was a little too close for comfort so she tried to take a step back, but her legs remained stuck to the floor. Her breath was catching in her throat, and her chest was starting to feel tight. She couldn't move...something in his stance kept her motionless. Was it fear? She did feel a bit like prey in a wolven's sights, but...there was something else, something she felt before during that full moon in the wilderness. She wanted to see what happened after this. It was frightening and exciting all at once. If he reached out...

Vanguard shut his eyes and stepped back. "Dinner, a shower, and some rest should be good," he said.

That weird moment dissipated, and Applejack's legs were under her control again. "Yeah," she said with a nervous laugh. "I sure could use a shower."

Her hooves were suddenly covered in blood. Thick, warm liquid ran down her legs, her face, and along her back. Her head-- no, it was Apple Slice's. Three dead ponies surrounded them, heads torn from their bodies.

"They're everywhere in the South," Apple Slice growled.

"Everywhere..."

Applejack 5: Into the Serpent's Grasp

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 5: Into the Serpent's Grasp

"Don't let a single one of these traitors escape!"

Dozens of angry neighs echoed Apple Slice's savage roar. Enormous spatters of fresh pony blood ran down the walls of Serpent Watch, while twisted, broken bodies, many of which wore the Southern Legion's barding, lay scattered along the hallway. Apple Slice strode on, his tramplers making horrific squelching sounds across puddles of blood, his chain lazily swishing from his mouth. Applejack struggled to stop this body she was sharing with him to no avail.

"What are you doing?" she tried to scream. "They're ponies! They're not the enemy!"

But Apple Slice pressed on. He caught sight of a fleeing legionnaire trying to unlock a door by the end of the hallway. His chain flew unneringly, looping around the unicorn stallion's right foreleg. A brief tug, followed by a pained cry and the dull snap of a shoulder ripping from its socket, sent the stallion flying towards Apple Slice.

"Mercy, Apple Slice!" the unicorn cried out, his lone functioning foreleg stretched out in supplication. "I have a family to feed!"

"And you fed them, alright," Apple Slice growled. "Fed them with gold traded for pony blood. You want mercy, Long Horn? Here's a death too good for you!" He lashed his chain in a rising, vertical cut. The links suddenly glowed red as they sliced into Long Horn's belly...and kept going. Blood sprayed across Applejack's vision as surely as it must have through her ancestor's red hazed sight. Entrails splattered onto the floor followed by two neatly sliced halves of a dead unicorn. It wasn't just Long Horn's ruined body that the chain left. Apple Slice's strike had ravaged the floor, ripping the wooden planks in half, and even broke through part of the ceiling.

"By the prince..." Apple Slice mumbled, his voice shaking. "If I can't even trust family...how much less..."

Mercifully, the vision faded. Applejack got up with a start, and felt around her face. She grew immensely thankful when she found the fur merely damp with sweat, not sticky with blood.

"Applejack..."

Vanguard stood nearby, still unbarded, but eyes alert and muscles tense. "You alright?"

"Not really," Applejack mumbled. She looked around. It was still dark outside the barracks while several legionnaies slept around her. "Why are you up already?" she asked. "Were you standing guard this whole time?"

"No, I was asleep," Vanguard replied. "Until your tossing and turning woke me up. I had to check when you were mumbling 'what are you doing?'."

Applejack could only hope that the dim moonlight from the windows hid her embarrassed flush well. Then, she lowered her voice to a whisper, prompting Vanguard to move closer with his ears perked. "Vanguard, what happened here?" she asked. "Was there some kind of slaughter by Apple Slice?"

Vanguard's tone turned from concerned to grim. "Is that what you saw?" he asked.

Applejack told him the details as best she could. At this, his brows furrowed further.

"I haven't read about anything like that," Vanguard muttered.

"Not even with your Special Operations stuff?" Applejack asked.

"The Southern Legion's Special Operations hasn't shared much knowledge on the matter," Vanguard replied. "I've assumed that it's due to tighter measures against Imperial Intelligence, but this vision is worrying. Are you sure he called them traitors?"

Applejack nodded. "That important?" she asked.

"Sounds like a purge," Vanguard growled. "Pony blood traded for gold....even today, the Southern Legion has to deal with ponies selling each other. The Empire has always been happy to weaponize its trade goods. However, exposing large numbers of slave-trading legionnaires is not a story about Apple Slice I've heard anywhere. If it happened as you say, and a large portion of an outpost was implicated, it would make some sense for the Southern Legion to cover it up."

"What?" Applejack struggled to keep her voice down, and glanced around. Everypony was still asleep, and patrols hadn't come in yet. "Why?"

"A Western Legion hero coming in and rooting out a massive Southern Legion case of corruption...that would have been embarassing. The Southern High Command at the time wouldn't have wanted such news to reach the prince. I suspect that it didn't, so that means that Apple Slice either kept silent about it or..." Vanguard's frown deepened. "Can you somehow tell when the events in your visions happen?"

Applejack shook her head again. "Sorry," she added. "But why's that important?"

"I wonder how close that incident was to his last stand in Greenfang."

It was Applejack's turn to scowl. "Wait just a goldarn minute..." she whispered harshly. "Are you saying that the Southern Legion--"

"Not saying," Vanguard said. "Considering. When we find out more, that's when I'll start saying." He looked around him briefly. "You should try to squeeze in an hour more of sleep. We'll be leaving soon."

While Applejack agreed, she doubted she'd be able to do that with all the new thoughts in her head. Even if it was true, Apple Slice should have turned these ponies in, not killed them. Before, he killed those two who were trading with Apple Peel because they were a danger to the family. She didn't agree with the whole thing, but she saw why. She didn't see why here. And that rage in his voice, and the tremble in his grip...so different from his flippant dismissal of Apple Peel's concerns over his remaining in the Barrier Lands. This had to have happened much later in his life.

And the was another thought competing for attention in her mind. That move Apple Slice did...she winced at just trying to recall it, but was that something she could do? She was getting the hang of making the links heavy, and she obviously could lash it with tremendous force, probably enough to break some bones, but that move cut through flesh, bone, and barding as cleanly as wire through cheese. Was there a way to make the links sharp as well? Applejack shook her head, and shut her eyes tighter. 'Look at me,' she thought. 'A month ago me would be scolding right now for thinking of stuff like this. Sure, AJ, figure out how to slice ponies in half using a lasso trick your ancestor massacred a bunch of ponies with.' But, of course, she already knew the answer to that disapproval, and it was the reason why she was here to begin with.

The hour did pass without any sleep. Applejack slipped into her barding, and joined Vanguard and the others outside the outpost. She had insisted on staying the night, and she didn't regret doing so, but she didn't want to stay any longer. The wooden hallways of these halls suddenly smelled like blood, and resounded with pleas for mercy.

"See you around, Applejack," Twocolt had said when passed by him. She gave him a hug in response. This place was hardly a dream spot, but she was glad to find him fine.

Outside, they were lucky enough to get a relatively cool morning. The fierce winds of Fenrir's winter which was battering the north and chilling the Heartland translated to ocassionally cool breezes for the Southern Barrier Land. Applejack watched in dismay as her newly-cleaned dragonscale tramplers partly sank into the damp dirt yet again.

"Good to be out here," Anektor said with his usual toothy grin. "You ponies sleep in such confined places. No wonder you do so well in cages!" He stretched out his back and arms, all but showing off that he was easily as tall as a minotaur, though not as bulky. His yawn exposed rows of yellowed, pointed teeth, and he scratched the scales around his belly with short, sharp claws. He had more than his natural weapons to show off. He was clad in a ragged scale mail, which looked more as if he just kept piling pieces of scaly hides on his body until this badly stitched together armor emerged. The sizes, shapes, and colors varied, but Applejack noted that some of those resembled Seshimyssen's, while others followed the pattern of Anektor's, just at a different color. An enormous axe, the gnarled handle looking like it was just snapped off the nearest tree, hung from Anektor's belt. For a pony, it would easily pass as a good-sized battle axe, but for Anektor's massive claws, it appeared as a hatchet. There was also the odd, crescent-shaped blade slung across his shoulders.

"We make do with austere conditions," Vanguard said. "Don't worry, I've filed a report already, Anektor. Every outpost will, from now on, have a spacious guest room with perfumed sheets and a bottle of fine wine to make sure you crocodilians can survive the night."

"I'll look forward to it, Vanguard Clash, don't forget the serving mare with the silk towels to wipe my ass when I shit," Anektor replied. "But enough of this. You will want the route we're taking, yes?"

"Yes," Vanguard replied.

"We will follow this road until we reach where it turns away from the fens," Anektor said. "From there, Ses and I can guide you through marsh hunting trails; a swift way to get to Neksyth's Glory."

"For a tall crocodilian who walks on two legs," Vanguard said. "As many ponies have drowned in the marshes as they have been cut down by ophidites."

"Should be easy enough to guide you through the shallower parts," Anektor said. "I can carry you in my arms if need be. I'm sure Ses here will be happy to as well."

"Not to boast," Seshimyssen said. "But I'm quite experienced in lifting ponies. I know all the good grips."

"I bet you do," Applejack muttered.

Boglight's book covered the marshy parts of the Southern Barrier Land as well. Rain and ice melts from the higher peaks of the west flowed south-east as the great Water Serpent River, where it was joined by another one from the Heartland, officially known as Heart's Tears River, but was more commonly known as the Heartland's Piss. These rivers fed the lakes of the Southern Barrier Land, and it was the borders of these lakes and rivers that formed the treacherous marshes that often bogged downed advances from Equestria or Ophidus.

Applejack wasn't too concerned about the water itself. She prided herself for her swimming, and her gear was currently light enough for that. The things in the water though...fortunately, the outpost had provided some supplies to help in case wading was in their future: packets of salt mixed with powdered Witherstalk herbs for the leeches, various antidotes for snakebites, including vipren, cobrahn, and coatl venom. They were also each given a vial, good enough for a dose, of Deathsleep extract which killed a pony painlessly after a few minutes of ingestion.

"You could kill somepony with it," Grapevine had said. "But I'd save it for when I'm captured by the Empire, or if I'm boiling alive in a crocodilian stew pot."

While they had all these things to bring with them, the outpost had not sent any of its legionnaires to join their expedition. Or, at least, it looked that way. Verdigris promised ranger support. Applejack wasn't sure how that's going to work out if they get in trouble, but she hoped to count on it.

The dirt road from Serpent Watch to farther south wound past great clusters of tightly packed, moss-covered trees and undergrowth. Much to Applejack's annoyance, it was as if they had to move hundreds of feet sideways for a few feet forward by the pace they were taking. She knew that travel through a jungle would be difficult, but she hadn't expected foliage so thick as to be able to form walls of living wood to block them. The horseflies were back as well, and apparently thirstier than ever.

Anektor led the way, his gait slow, but his strides long. Seshimyssen slithered beside him, his tail churning strange patterns behind him that Applejack had to walk on while she and Vanguard followed the two closely.

Hours passed in mostly silence. The noon sun barely made itself known with the thick canopy above them, but the humid heat certainly more than made up for it. They were going down a very slight slope, and the ground was getting noticeably softer. Serpent Watch was hardly a bastion of civilization, but things were getting more untamed as well.

"Here's where we part ways with Equestrian niceties," Anektor suddenly said.

The group stopped at yet another sharp turn of the road. Anektor pointed past a stand of trees with enough space among them to actually let the group pass.

"Easy part's done then," Vanguard said.

"Me first," Anektor said. "Step only where I step." He parted some reeds and took a slow, deliberate step forward.

Applejack didn't miss the gentle splash of Anektor's clawed foot sinking into water, not that it surprised her any less. The "ground" ahead looked like perfectly solid, grassy earth. But the leaves parted with ease as soon as her hoof touched them, and it was warm, slimy water that enveloped her legs up to her knees. She squinted at the water, but all the green, sludgy, tiny leaves on its surface made it impossible to see what was beneath.

"Don't think too much of it," Vanguard said as he waded next to her.

Applejack could barely suppress the urge to rear when her foreleg stepped on...something, that desperately tried to skitter away. A dozen tiny legs brushed against her hoof, before she could release it.

"Me and some of the rebels took this trail to get to Serpent Watch," Anektor said. "Ran into a bloodthorn, if you can believe that, and that was after tangling with a band of imperial harvesters. We should be meeting with them soon. They should have an update on what the Empire has been up to."

"Imperial Harvesters?" Seshimyssen asked. "This far? I doubt it. Probably a noble pushing his luck for profit. You didn't even check their colors, did you?"

"Pah!" Anektor said. "You snakes all look alike anyway."

The going proved predictably slow and difficult. Applejack had to alternate between struggling to lift her legs because the muddy bottom was sucking them in, and stepping carefully to avoid slipping. As they waded farther in, the water reached up to her chest. She could just imagine her fur being completely matted with this slime, encrusted with mud, and crawling with whatever bugs she had picked up along the way. The stink of grime, and damp, moldering vegetation didn't help matters. As more hours passed, the dampness was starting to feel as if it was seeping into her bones. The fear of her hooves softening started to creep in, but still no sign of the Crocodlian Rebellion. A quick glance at Anektor's grim look and his increasingly obvious searching showed that this wasn't expected.

"Lintik..." Anektor muttered. He looked back to Vanguard without stopping. "Looks like my clients got spooked, and ran back to Neksyth's Glory. We should keep going until we either find them or just reach the Rebellion."

"Maybe they're dead," Seshimyssen said.

"I hope not," Anektor replied. "That's going to cut into my pay."

"Does the Rebellion do this often?" Vanguard asked. He glanced around, his frown deepening.

"No," Anektor said. "The Rebellion might be deluded, but it's full of overzealous fools. The would't run off because they're scared. And if they changed their minds about working with Equestria, they'd tell us to our faces. Right before I beat their scales off for wasting my time."

"Something wrong, Vanguard?" Applejack asked.

"Just that I'm at a rather comfortable temperature at the moment," Vanguard said. Applejack looked at him quizzically. "Not something a north-pony should feel down here, is it? And these missing crocodilians..."

Now, Applejack was frowning as well. She should be sweaty by this time. Vanguard was right. "So, maybe they--" Applejack stopped when she noticed two things. First, her chain was glowing a pale, silvery light. Second, some figures were slowly moving towards them. She first assumed that these were the missing crocodilians, but these were pony-shaped figures. "Vanguard," she whispered.

"I see them," Vanguard replied. He stared at the figures, his hoof already closing in on his sword.

Applejack followed suit. She didn't want to assume that these were enemies, but she had a feeling that this wasn't how rangers approached allies. The glow from her chain brightened as the figures came closer. And, if that wasn't suspicious enough, this chill was familiar. Not Northern Barrier Land familiar, or Ponyville winter familiar. All around her, the marsh seemed to darken further. The small branches and twigs above and around them seemed dance around the corners of her eyes, like spiders scuttling out of sight. The air felt heavy, damp, and far too still. Oh, she knew where she felt this before, and she had hoped so much to never feel it again. As for those "ponies"...well, she might have to go against Vanguard's advice, and try to use her shield.

"Ses," Anektor said. "These are Ophidus ponies, yes?"

"Could be," Seshimyssen said, an arrow already nocked. He flicked a thumb over to Applejack. "They don't come by so few. It also doesn't explain the fancy glow from her chain." He looked to her this time, eyes curious and intense. "Care to explain, Applejack?"

"I dunno," Applejack replied. "But it's got something to do with Apple Slice, or something." On instinct she raised the chain, both to inspect it, and to see if it would react further to the approaching ponies. There was no hiding the glow, to the point that Applejack was worried that it would attract things in this dimly lit marsh.

The lead pony sloshed and staggered forward while the other two hung back. As it came closer, Applejack started noticing more disturbing details. This pony was soaked to the bone. Its leather barding was rotten and dripping, its long muddy-brown mane clung to its neck in thick, matted streaks, and a pervasive scent of...dampness just wafted from it, overpowering even the smells of the marsh.

"Stop," Vanguard said. "Who are you, pony, and what are you doing here?"

The pony didn't seem to hear. "Slice..." it moaned. "Is that you? By the prince, we found you at last!"

Applejack stepped back. Not just from the damp, reeking stench, but also upon noticing that half this pony's face had rotted off. Those tattered lips were blue, one eye socket was empty, and the water...so much water from it. Up close, it showed a barely distinct, dark bluish glow.

"Stand back!" Vanguard growled. He stepped between Applejack and this...this walking corpse.

"Restless dead!" Anektor snarled. "A new one to the area, this!"

"Slice," the pony said. "We were heading for Greenfang. I swear, we were heading there! Please..."

"I dunno what you're talking about!" Applejack said. She was halfway to lashing out with the chain. The cold dampness from this pony was chilling her to the core. "I'm not Apple Slice!"

When the pony reached out to touch her, that was all Applejack could take. The chain struck the pony across the face, knocking it to the water with a loud splash.

"Slice, I'm sorry..." came the pathetic cry. Applejack could only shiver and take another step back so that she bumped against Vanguard. The other ponies that had approached showed no concern over their fallen comrade. Instead, they stared on, the dim sunlight barely showing their own soaked and rotten hides.

"You didn't say anything about crossing the haunted parts of the marsh, Anektor," Vanguard said.

"I've passed through here several times," Anektor said. "I never ran into restless pony dead."

"Same here," Seshimyssen said. He stared pointedly at Applejack. "Then again, I don't have a glowing chain."

Applejack stared at the water for a while, wary of that...thing rising. "It said Slice," she said. "It thought it saw Apple Slice."

"And it apologized," Vanguard added with a nod. "Said something about Greenfang as well. Reinforcements? But they never made it."

"Don't be so quick to trust your restless dead, Vanguard Clash," Anektor said.

"Why not?" Vanguard asked. "You know something about this?"

"Our shamans speak of them," Anektor said. "Ponies do not linger often when they die. Not even the ones in the Boiling Marsh rose up to curse at the crocodilians, and they died betrayed. When tales of restless pony dead are told, they are the ones who died so miserably that they are trapped here." Anektor looked at the water where the pony fell in. "And it is always in bodies of water. Your restless dead keep ending up in such places."

As Applejack feared, the water before her rippled and splashed as the pony she struck rose up with a moan. She breathed rapidly, chain already raised for a second strike. Why did it have to be ghosts? The specters of the Six Companions gave her all she could stomach with dead ponies that refused to get it. "Stand back, ya'll!" she snapped. "So help me, I'll lay this chain on you until you wish you could die!" She had to fight her teeth chattering and her legs trembling to get that threat out. She couldn't even tell if it was fear or the unnatural chill from these things.

"You have a better shamanistic chant, yes?" Anektor said. He waved his huge, crescent blade before him in some kind of threatening display, but the other ponies merely looked on. "Something you ponies can do to calm your dead?"

"Not really a common enough problem, Anektor," Vanguard growled. "At least until recently."

"Slice...please...we didn't know. I swear we didn't. It's been so long...and so cold..." All of them were sloshing towards Applejack now. "Neksyth's paid for what he did already. Please, Slice...let go..."

"I dunno what you think I can do for you!" Applejack said. "I'm not Apple Slice, and I got no idea how to not make you cold!"

The ponies stopped and seemed to stare dumbfounded at Applejack. The cold turn from a numbing blanket all around Applejack to a barrage of pinpricks into her hide. "Still!" the closest pony howled. "Still, you mock us, Slice! You can't hold us to this forever! Even you must want this to end! Slice, let us go!"

The last word dragged on for what felt like minutes, with the other ponies joining in with their anguished cries. An unnatural wind swirled the water around them, pelting Applejack with half-frozen droplets. Then, they were all gone, and the chain's glow dimmed. Applejack stared at the thing. "What's going on?" she whispered. Even as she spoke, the unnatural chill passed, and the sunlight passing through the canopy was again enough to brighten the place. Still, there was a mood to this particular part of the marsh, a sad, resentful atmosphere that encouraged them to move on as quickly as possible. Applejack had no problem complying.

"The Old Bear Wrangler had more to him than a heroic death, I take it?" Seshimyssen asked. "Not exactly loved by all if those things had anything to say about it."

Applejack wiped the sudden sweat from her brow. She was only too glad to feel the oppressive, humid heat of this place instead of the abyss's unnatural cold. "He was a lot of things alright," she muttered. "And it just keeps adding up." She took her place next to Vanguard, all too eager to put this confounding incident behind her for pondering later.

Another hour of slow progress passed them by. Applejack was now convinced that she was carrying several unwanted passengers on her hide from the thick, slimy sensation crawling there. It was only now that they decided to eat. Late lunch was a few pieces of dried fruit and a couple of swigs of fresh water. They passed by some of bright red grape-like fruits as they ate. Each cluster looked ready to burst with fresh juice. The pony skeleton hanging by its neck from the vines, however, spoiled any ideas to supplement their meal. With the sun starting to set, Applejack had to wonder how they were going to make camp.

"Vanguard Clash!" Anektor called. He suddenly veered from his direction, and ran towards some trees, forcing all of them to follw suit in a chorus of loud, frantic splashes. Applejack's knees were starting to protest from the constant effort of pulling her legs out of the muck, but she pressed on.

They made it to a small, thankfully dry, clearing; a natural bank which could serve as a good spot to camp.

Or it would be if the large number of broken branches told another story. As did the scattered, bloody axe blades and their broken handles, and the streaks of blood on the nearby leaves and tree trunks.

Anektor had stopped in front of a particularly tall and thick tree. Beneath him, the trails of blood converged towards where he looked. Seshimyssen slithered to his side, and let out a displeased hiss. Applejack and Vanguard pushed past them for a better look.

Two dead crocodilians lay propped up against the tree's base, their tongues lolling and their skulls crushed. Though not as tall and muscular as Anektor, they were still large and powerfully built. The damage went beyond their skulls, however. Their arms were pinned to their sides, bent at unnatural angles having been snapped in two like twigs. Their ribs had caved in. Several had splintered and poked out of their chests.

"What in tarnation happened here?" Applejack asked softly. She couldn't raise her voice lest whatever commited this monstrosity was still nearby.

"Death by squeezing," Seshimyssen said. He pointed to the gouges on some of the other trees, then to the large, deep runnels along the ground. "Halberd chops there, and the trail of a big, heavy ophidite, probably armored too. This is typical constrictor work."

"Not so typical, this," Anektor said. "These two were pinned to this tree, then squeezed together with the tree." He pointed to the crushed bark and the large cracks along the wood. "That takes no typical constrictor. I see no other trails here, no stray vipren arrows, no poison trails from cobrahn spells. The work of a lone ophidite." His teeth flashed in a grin. "A bold introduction to the Rebellion, yes? They will definitely need Equestria for this. What was his name again, Ses? Something about sacks."

"Sakylthos, the Grasp of the Empire," Seshimyssen said. "Hero of the Battle for the Scaled Grove."

"The Slaughter of Scale Grove," Vanguard growled.

"I did not come up with the names, Vanguard Clash," Seshimyssen said. "He recieved the Fanged Medal of Service while I was still working stables. He's a glorified constrictor grunt, if you ask me."

"You know this snake, Vanguard?" Applejack asked.

"Southern Special Operations was willing enough to share regarding him. He started out as a bounty hunter, bringing back escaped slaves. Found favor with some coatls, and got better at his job. Scale Grove was the first major battle he partcipated in. Southern Special Operations has lost two squads trying to assassinate him since then. If he's involved here, then the Empire does have a lot of vested interest in what just happened in Neksyth's Glory."

"We can't turn back now," Applejack said. "There's definitely something up with Apple Slice."

"We won't," Vanguard said. He gave the dead bodies one more glance before moving on. "I had hoped we could sidle past the Empire, and take care of the mission, but we're in the thick of things now."

Applejack 6: The Exposed Rot

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 6: The Exposed Rot

The Crocodilian Rebellion sounded like a grand name, like that of a large, secret army. Applejack had been imagining something like the Thorns; a group of warriors skilled at hiding and striking. At least, they might resemble the Southern Legion rangers she had seen in the Heartland. That wasn't the case when she and the others finally stumbled and sloshed towards a large camp of them.

Five crocodilians, all armed and armored, stood outside a trio of tents, in what was likely a forward camp. The crocodilians were large and powerful without a doubt, with massive bladed weapons, barbed spears, and gaunt, wiry limbs, but there was something haggard and destitute about them. Their shoulders slumped as they squatted in a small groups. Their armor, as patchwork as Anektor's, looked as if they had been in tatters several times in the past, only to be repaired as best as their situation allowed. The scales past the armor looked torn and badly healed.

Anektor went first, his claw up to greet the two sentries that moved to intercept them. "Nasaan sina Idaktor at Molektor?" one of them growled.

"Tigok," Anektor growled. "Mamaya na'ko magkukuwento. Asikasuhin nyo yung mga bisita." He moved past the two and towards the largest tent in the camp. He flung the front flaps open with a casual disregard that made the nearby crocodilians growl their displeasure.

"Land's sakes," Applejack said as she planted her hooves on the camp's solid ground and lifted herself out of the swamp. "Finally some dryness!" Her mild, initial optimism sank quickly at further inspecting the camp.

There was single small campfire lit. It was probably to avoid making the camp too obvious to others searching where they were, but signaled a cold, damp night ahead. She sniffed after catching a particularly vile smell, then wrinkled her nose. Blood. Not even particularly fresh blood. A disgusting squelching and crunching sound to one side revealed the source. A crocodilian, with one of his eyes covered with bloody rags, was stuffing something furry, soaking wet, and dead, into his enormous, toothy maw. A second one was picking at something between his teeth, only to flick away a small, sinewy bone. Two more approached her holding large, rough blankets. One of them was missing a hand. The other had a mere stump for a tail.

Vanguard hoisted himself out of the water, and stood next to her. "Old fighters," he said softly. "The Rebellion has not been easy for them."

"Credit to them, though," Seshimyssen said as he brought up the rear. "The might of the Empire at the front with a hostile Equestria behind. Still, they survive."

Every crocodilian's gaze followed them as they moved through the camp. After a quick wipe down to get rid of the worst of the gunk clinging to her, Applejack continued to glance around her sides. Flies buzzed around a group of sharpened stakes by the far end of the camp, where several ophidite heads rotted atop them. Nearby, a crocodilian was stirring a thick, bubbling brown substance inside a pot over the weak campfire. Several chunks of...something swirled with the liquid. The trophies displayed proud defiance, but the wounds on the crocodilians sent a different one. With Ophidus moving in, they needed the help.

When they were close enough to the large tent, Anektor came out. "They're not too happy that you're so few," he said with a toothy smile. "Don't worry, I apologized for Equestria not helping such noble and reliable allies."

"Thank you, Anektor," Vanguard said. "I'm sure your sarcasm softened them up enough to hear us out."

The largest tent's flaps opened again, and an enormous crocodilian, even taller than Anektor stepped out. Instead of a patchwork of leathers and scales, this one was covered in beads from which bleached skulls hung from. Applejack's eyes narrowed when she spotted a couple of pony skulls, one horned, the other not, hang with some snake-shaped skulls.

"Vanguard Clash, Applejack," Anektor said. "This is Maldaktor, Third Fang of the Crocodilian Rebellion." He faced the tall crocodilian. "Ikatlong Pangil, ito sina Vanguard Clash at Applejack. Pinadala sila ng Equestria para makipagtulungan."

Maldaktor stepped closer, a move enough to put Applejack on guard. He had claws big enough to envelop her neck and lift her off her hooves. His yellow, slit eyes studied both of them, lingering uncomfortably long on her chain before facing Anektor. "Tulungan tayo o tulungan ang sarili nila?" he asked. "Sa itsura nila, mukhang wala silang balak harapin ang imperyo. Susuot lang siguro sila sa kung saan nila gusto para kunin ang kailangan nila."

Anektor replied with a short growl before facing Vanguard. "The Third Fang is worried that you're only here to take advantage of the situation."

Vanguard let out a short sigh. "Let me guess. He wants some kind of act of good faith from us. A favor in some kind of mission."

"Of course," Seshimyssen said. "It should be our pleasure to help this ragged band of crocodilians who clearly need us more than the other way around."

Vanguard looked up at Maldaktor. "We won't lie, Maldaktor, we are here for our own purposes, not to foster some friendship with your people. But, given how heavily infested with ophidites our goal is, we will be hurting the Empire with our task. That's something we both benefit from."

Anektor spoke to Maldaktor again. Applejack could have sworn the taller crocodilian's toothy maw opened slightly in some kind of amused smile. That she couldn't understand a word they were saying only left Applejack guarded even more. After a minute of conferring, Anektor turned to them again.

"Imperial troops have been harassing even the Rebellion's smaller expeditions, as you can see from the camp's state. This group will take us to the main Rebellion base in Neksyth's Glory, but he expects the ponies to be worth their weight in Ophidite blood."

"A few pints then," Seshimyssen hissed.

Applejack would have replied, but she was already past caring when it came to Seshimyssen's jabs. She squinted past the thick canopy, and towards the darkening sky. "We're not walking in the dark, are we?" she asked.

Vanguard's gaze was towards the stakes by the far end of the camp. "Those ophidites won't be reporting in," he said. "Their officers will know by now that their pursuit has failed. I'd expect a larger force to come this way to finish the job."

"More than that," Seshimyssen said. "Sakylthos is out there. He's not heading back to the Empire without a few trophies, especially after your camp display."

"We're counting on it," Anektor said with a toothy grin. "We've got a few surprises ready for our friends from the Empire. Maldaktor knows his charms, and he'll want to know what you're made of." He turned towards a couple of passing crocodilians, and barked some orders. The two muttered some less than pleased replies before getting some sheets of canvas from a nearby tent as well as a few stakes. "It's not exactly as good as my stay in your outpost, ponies, but I hope you enjoy a taste of crocodilian hospitality."

"Doon sa malayo," one of the two said as they carried the tent equipment. "Kita mo ba yung porma ng dalawang kabayo? Magtatalik yan mamaya; maingay, mabaho pa."

They walked past Applejack from behind her.

"Amoy isda!" They chuckled among themselves.

"Oh, I'm feeling the hospitality alright," Applejack said.

Dinner was a meager bowl of stew from the crocodilian pot, which Applejack promptly refused. She could only watch in horror as Vanguard started taking sips from his meal. "Best we save trail rations," Vanguard said. "It's not so bad."

"I'm good with swampy grass," Applejack said. The bitter, dry stalks she stoically munched did everything they could to prove her wrong, but she persevered. And that was hardly the biggest shock of the night. She and Vanguard later stood in front of their tent for the night.

"He's definitely not getting serving mares with silk towels after this," Vanguard said as he raised the flap for inspection. The inside of the tent barely looked like it could fit one pony.

"I know that we're small compared to them," Applejack said. "But this looks like they're already turning us into stuffing."

"Try to get some rest anyway," Vanguard said softly. His eyes were narrow as he scanned the surroundings. "I don't think we'll be sleeping through this night."

Applejack didn't even bother with her barding as she crawled into the space. This may be a camp of allies, but she didn't feel remotely safe here. The night air was getting chillier, and the dampness in her fur only made things worse. Up north, the cold was sharp and straightforward, if she could call it that, like an obvious enemy she could face. The cold of the south's night air was slow and insidious. Like it was gently seeping into her until she'd find herself shivering. She lay there for a good few minutes before poking her head out of the tent. Sure enough, Vanguard was settling on a fallen log, and readying for a long watch. "Oh no, you don't," she said. "You're just as tired, Vanguard. They got sentries out for that so take a break."

"I was thinking of resting out here so you wouldn't be squeezed inside there," Vanguard said.

Applejack replied with a nod towards the inside of the tent. "Horseapples, we'll be fine, and you'll get less bugs on you. Besides..." she let herself smile a bit. "...a little squeezin' ain't so bad."

Vanguard moved in, inevitably brushing against her. The dragonscale was hard and cold against her hide, but the feel of his fur against hers made up for it. He was warm, so warm that she struggled to not just hug him to stave off the damp cold. His deep, musky smell fought against the muddy, swampy stink that had to be on both of them, then won with ease. "Comfy?" he asked.

"Yeah," Applejack replied, in a tone far too breathy to her liking. He didn't think she was some sort of pervert, did he? Here she was asking him to share a cramped tent knowing exactly the sort of situation they'd be in. Here she was again, moving way too fast. If Granny Smith were here, she'd be getting a lecture. On a mission too!

"Applejack..." Vanguard's breath smelled of that weird stew; salty, savory, and faintly of blood, but the warm rush of air felt good, and the rumbling deepness of his voice so close tickled her ears until they flicked on reflex.

"What is it?" Applejack asked.

"About--"

The tent's flaps opened.

"Room for one more?" Seshimyssen asked.

"Get out of here, you goldarn snake!" Applejack growled. Seshimyssen merely grinned, and backed off. "You were saying, Vanguard?"

"Nothing, really," Vanguard said. "Perhaps later."

Applejack muttered a few choice curses towards the busybody snake before settling down. It wasn't as cramped as she had expected. Maybe she could get some rest for a while. She thought of slightly leaning her head against Vanguard, but decided against it. She got far enough as it is. So she lay there, content with their position, passing time just immersing herself in the warmth and scents. Outside, the crocodilians paced, muttered among themselves, and repaired their gear.

Then, the sounds in the camp ceased.

"Time to move," Vanguard whispered. He moved swiftly out of the tent, jaws already clamped on his sword. Applejack wasn't far behind. 'No magic shield,' she reminded herself. Her magic chain should be enough for ophidite skirmishers.

It was nearly impossible to determine if anything was out there with the darkness and the thick foliage. The sounds were a different matter. The constant buzz and chirps of the wildlife had gone silent, something that critters normally did when bigger, more dangerous things were about. There was also the series of splashes, and the swirl of water.

"Too loud for hunters," Seshimyssen said as he slithered next to Applejack. He had his bow out, and had nocked an arrow. "We've got some constrictor grunts coming our way. If we're unlucky, they have a cobrahn or two with them."

The crocodilians, six of them not counting Anektor, formed a defensive circle around the camp with Maldaktor in the middle. Applejack, Vanguard, and Seshimyssen stood to the side of Maldaktor, still inside the circle.

Suddenly, a loud snap, like a massive mousetrap shutting, sounded from a distance, followed by a deep, agonized hiss. A flash of red light burst from a distance while Maldaktor looked on with a pleased smile.

"They've trapped the perimeter," Vanguard said. Several more followed the first one. The crocodilians chuckled with each one.

All the chuckling ceased when an enormous silver chain, looped in one end to form a lasso, flew out of the dark, and landed neatly around a crocodilian, trapping his arms to his sides. Before he could even let out a growl, he was gone. The others let out deep growls and began to charge.

Vanguard could only stare blankly for a second before turning towards Applejack. She had to push her jaw shut with a hoof before she could reply to that. "T-that was--!" she looped her own chain into a lasso, her heart pounding from confusion and fear. What was that? Why was that? Her mind raced for answers. Nightcanter said that the chain was created by unicorns. Maybe the ophidites recreated the process. They wouldn't mind sacrificing unicorns.

The fierce cries and the loud din of metal striking metal cast her thoughts aside. Only one way to find out. She charged into the darkened fray, determined to look for whoever had a magic chain. Vanguard galloped beside her while Seshimyssen hung behind and loosed an arrow.

"Venomless thugs, you call this an ambush?" Seshimyssen yelled. "An avalanche would be sneakier!"

As they got closer, the figures of the attacking ophidites grew more distinct.

As Seshimyssen said, these were not other vipren. They were much bigger, and more muscular, thrashing in the water while fighting the crocodilians whose size they nearly matched. Their scales all looked black, but the occasional ray of moonlight showed dark green as well. The constrictors, the six that had engaged the crocodilians, wielded long, wooden hafts topped by squiggly blades meant to resemble slithering snakes. Even the tips were split to look like an open snake mouth.

The crocodilians met this charge with their own chorus of guttural bellows, their crescent blades raised high. Maldaktor strode by the back, intoning some sort of spell while holding a red-glowing skull with one hand. Applejack didn't wait to see what it did, however. She had more pressing concerns.

Something lurked by the edges of the fight, though. Something large enough to rustle the smaller trees. A silver chain flew out of the dark again, this time set to trap Vanguard's neck. That's torn it. Applejack lashed her own chain forward. The links were smaller, but they swatted aside the larger chain all the same.

At the sight of this, several of the constrictors paused, only to remember that they were in a fight. A loud, deep hiss emerged from the foliage as the chain retracted.

"Pony...give that to me!"

The shout was echoed by the cacophony of branches snapping off, leaves being pushed violently away, and water splashing loudly. Out of the darkness, a massive, black-scaled, ophidite loomed before Applejack. Its barrel-like torso rippled with thick muscles, and its arms looked like they could mash a pony's head by flexing, and the tail...this thing had to be ten feet long from the top of its broad head to the tip of its tail. Thick, black, gold-trimmed plates of what looked like the same covering on beetles covered portions of its front and most of its back. Menacing, yellow eyes stared at Applejack pitilessly, transfixing her for a second before she realized that it wasn't slowing its charge down, and one of its hands was extended towards her.

Vanguard sprang into action. He had dived to one side of the charging ophidite, and, with a flick of his neck, was about to jab its point into the ophidite's side. Applejack followed suit by a quick dive to the other side, tossing the looped end of her chain over the ophidite's head.

The response was a veritable whirlwind of scales and muscles. The ophidite's tail slammed into Vanguard before he could complete his jab, coiling around him with horrifyingly graceful ease. At the same time, the ophidite ducked under the lasso, before swatting it away with its chain. Applejack strained to control her weapon and pull it back in.

"At last, I've found it," the enormous ophidite said, his voice rumbling with amusement. "Give me your half of the Wrangler's chain, pony, and I shall be merciful."

"You let him go, you overgrown varmint, and I'll be merciful!", Applejack growled. She struggled to sound menacing when confusion and fear for Vanguard's life flooded her throat and chest. The coils around Vanguard looked tight. There was the name used as well. Seshimyssen called Apple Slice "the old bear wrangler". How much did this constrictor know? And what did he mean by the other half?

"Brave and ruthless," the ophidite said. "Maybe that is why you can use the Wrangler's chain." He flexed his tail, tightening his coils.

Vanguard grunted and dropped his weapon before flashing a stern look at Applejack. He didn't have to say it. If she flinched now, this ophidite would know how much his "hostage" meant to her. Thinking it was the easy part. It felt as if her heart was getting crushed just by her watching those powerful coils grow tighter. "I'll show you how to use this," she said. She lashed her chain in a downward whipping strike, a direct attack towards the ophidite's face. She was already galloping a wide circle around it when it raised its weapon to counter. When the ophidite's chain whipped up to swat hers away, Applejack flicked her neck, switching to a horizontal slap across the face with the end of the chain. As she had hoped, the ophidite had to turn in place to keep up with her, which prevented it from concentrating on its constriction. Vanguard found enough purchase to pull out a small knife with his mouth, which he wasted no time in jabbing it as deep as he could into the ophidite's scales.

As soon as the ophidite grunted in pain, Applejack renewed her attack. She pulled her chain back and spun it once. The silver links caught the ophidite's spear-like chain throw, sending it flying into a nearby tree stump. Splinters and clumps of mud flew up when the chain's end struck. She followed that spin with a vicious lash directed towards the middle of the ophidite's tail.

The ophidite replied by releasing Vanguard directly into the lash's path. With as much of a grin as her mouth allowed while she bit into her weapon, Applejack flicked her neck again. A silver lasso alighted around Vanguard's torso and a gentle tug brought him to her side. "This ain't my first rodeo, varmint," she said.

"Nice save," Vanguard said. He glanced to where his sword had fallen.

"Clever," the ophidite said. "My name is Sakylthos, pony, you deserve that much." He spun his chain quickly enough to create a slight thrumming sound.

"Applejack," Applejack replied. Sakylthos's eyes widened slightly at this.

"The Wrangler's name," he said. "Yes, it comes together now. Both halves have found their way home, and the way has opened. You have the looks of a fine slave, Applejack, a pity you must die. I will be the one to carry out the Wrangler's will." He flung his chain in a looping lash, forcing Applejack to counter with one of her own.

The fight was in earnest now. The clearing echoed with the loud clangs of two chains colliding. Silver glinted across the shadows, catching stray rays of moonlight as they arced, retracted, and lashed. Applejack found herself breathing hard now. This Sakylthos's strikes may be crude, but they were heavy. She had to assume that both their strengths were enhanced by the chain's magic, just that he had a lot more strength to begin with.

Vanguard dashed in, jumping over Sakylthos's tail sweeps, trying to find some purchase against the chitinous plates protecting their foe. Applejack couldn't see any trail of blood from the stab wound from earlier, but she assumed that it should be bothering Sakylthos some way. Sakylthos continued to be a veritable whirlwind of metal and muscle. He spun his massive tail in place, making it impossible to find a chink in his rapidly moving armor plates, and he spun his chain around him to deflect incoming attacks.

"Applejack!" Vanguard called out. He glanced swiftly above him, a move enough to hint what he planned. Applejack feinted a hard vertical lash, getting Sakylthos to commit to a horizontal spin of his chain to deflect. She changed it at the last second, turning it into a looping arc headed Vanguard's way. Vanguard snatched the end with a hoof, letting himself get carried up. Applejack flexed her neck, lifting him straight up, above Sakylthos, where he let go.

The sudden attack from above did its work. Sakylthos stopped , only to realize that he couldn't pull his chain back in time. He raised an armored forearm at the level of Vanguard's neck, in hopes of stopping the blade. Vanguard's blade slipped past the block, biting just past the protective plates by Sakylthos's collar and drawing blood. With a deep, angry hiss, Sakylthos raised his chain for a lethal strike as Vanguard fell back.

A vicious lash from Applejack dented the plates by Sakylthos's ribs, forcing him back. He clutched his injured side and continued to slowly slither backwards.

"You ain't winning this fight," Applejack said. "Drop the chain, tell us where and how you got it, and we'll spare you."

"Proud aren't we?" Sakylthos said. He glanced towards the rest of the battle. The other ophidites weren't doing so well. Anektor had one in a strangle-lock under his arm while waving his blade to keep another back. "You fight well, 'Apple' jack, as befitting one who carries the cast off links of the Wrangler's will. But you rely on allies, and I will remember the moves you've shown."

"What do you know of the chain?" Applejack asked. "What do you know of Apple Slice? Tell me!"

"The tomb is open, pony, we'll both find out when we find it!" Sakylthos said with a chuckle. "Know this; the Wrangler lived loving you, and died cursing you. If you are wise, you'll give me your half so I can carry out his will."

"I'm keeping it, thanks," Applejack muttered. "And I'm taking yours too."

All Sakylthos replied with is a heavy lash towards Applejack. She swatted it away easily enough, only to notice that the attack was merely cover. Sakylthos had flung something in the air which exploded into a shower of multi-colored sparks.

A horn answered those sparks, followed by a loud hissing noise from the nearby foliage. Applejack only had a second to notice the flash of magic among the trees before she had to move.

"Cobrahns!" Seshimyssen yelled.

A series of frantic splashes followed as the surviving crocodilians scrambled back. The constrictors, the four that were still alive, took this chance to fall back. A thick, yellow cloud seeped past the trees, roiling along like an ominous fog as soon as the constrictors gained some distance.

"Cloudkill," Vanguard said. "Stay clear!"

Seshimyssen slithered towards them, his bow still in hand. Anektor was not far behind. Bright red splotches covered the crocodilian's patchwork armor, and his blade was still dripping. With his left hand, he was clutching a freshly severed head.

"So they had a cobrahn watching out for them after all," Seshimyssen said once they had backed safely away. Around them, the other crocodilians staggered back to their tents. One remained to attend to the two dead bodies of his comrades. Makdaktor stayed around, growling orders of some sort in his language. "He just didn't want to help. Maybe proud Sakylthos didn't want a shaman mucking up his hunt."

"Or he wanted an assured escape," Vanguard said. "This is hardly a strong attempt to wipe us out."

"The Rebellion has been harassed by imperial troops ever since venturing here," Anektor said. "They don't seem to mind wasting troops just to show how so much stronger they are." He stooped down until his knees nearly reached past his head, and stared at Applejack. "The big one with the chain...he is their fancy hero, yes? So many foes his size, but he picks on the cute little pony with a matching weapon. I wonder why."

"Dunno," Applejack muttered. She barely heard the question over the ones in her head. Sakylthos had to be lying. He was the hero of an empireful of liars, kidnappers, and slave-traders. He must have said those things to confuse her enough to lower her guard. Well, it didn't work. His chain must be a bad copy, that's all. When he saw the original he wanted to take it. That makes sense. As for associating her with "the Wrangler", he must have simply noticed the name. He probably thought anypony with "apple" in their name was related to Apple Slice.

"You didn't kill anyone, Applejack," Anketor said. "But Maldaktor likes that the ophidite hero hates you. This is a good start. We'll get to the Rebellion tomorrow, and we'll see about helping you stick more bones down thr Empire's craw." With that, he walked off.

"He said something about a tomb," Vanguard said once Anektor and Seshimyssen had moved ahead. "That settles it. At least some of the ophidites in the area are after the tomb of Apple Slice."

"Y-yeah..." Applejack mumbled. Yes, the tomb. That was what she had come here for. Now, she wasn't so sure that she'd want to find out what had truly happened. What if Sakylthos was right? The last vision she had...those angry ghosts begging for mercy...none of it painted him in a good light.

Above them, the sky remained dark, but the rush of battle made it unlikely that they would get any more sleep. Perhaps, that was a good thing. She wasn't in the mood for another vision tonight.

Author's Note

All arcs will have ten chapters give or take.

Applejack 7: The Broken Chain

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 7: The Broken Chain

"Why is there a second chain?"

The question plagued Applejack throughout the rest of the trip to Neksyth's Glory. Moreso than the stinging, biting insects. More so than the slimy things brushing against her in the murky waters she had to wade through. The surviving crocodilians flanked them, all showing some form of injury. The ophidites may have been repulsed, but they had made their marks. Two of the crocodilians had been cut down, and they found the third farther away from the camp; a twisted, mangled mess of snapped bones and torn flesh. Sakylthos was certainly no believer in mercy.

Oh, she had her musings since she first saw the second chain, but Sakylthos's words seemed to choke them all out as readily as he could choke a pony out in his coils. Sakylthos talked about "the Wrangler's will". Seshimyssen referred to Apple Slice as "the Old Bear Wrangler". They were likely the same. How could a murderous ophidite "hero" possibly carry out Apple Slice's will? Impossible. Apple Slice sought to protect Equestria, Ophidus wants to conquer and enslave it. There was no way...

Again, the bloody scene in the outpost played itself in Applejack's mind. There were pieces missing between this scene and the Apple Slice that Sakylthos seemed to see. She had to find out, and she dreaded doing so.

The going was a lot faster now. Or, at least, it felt that way. The crocodilians certainly knew their way around the swampy areas, and they stuck to some unseen route that avoided the thick clumps of trees with skirting too much from a southerly direction.

Vanguard Clash walked next to her, eyes half focused on his footing and half focused on her. "Applejack," he said.

"Huh?" was all Applejack could reply with, and this was after a while.

"That second chain is bothering you, " Vanguard continued.

"I don't understand," Applejack mumbled. "Why is it working for them?" She looked at him pleadingly. "He's a hero...he hated Ophidus!"

Vanguard kept his voice low and his muzzle close to Applejack. "Suppose that chain really is the second half of Apple Slice's like that ophidite says it is, " Vanguard said. "How long do you think they've had it? Several centuries of magical manipulation can subvert even a powerful artifact. I wouldn't put corrupting the chain past the coatls."

Applejack brightened a bit. "You think that's what happened?" she asked. "Guess that makes sense. Those scaly varmints try to enslave everything. Just one more thing of my family I have to take back from them!"

Vanguard didn't look so enthused, though. Normally, that was fine by Applejack. His reactions always were measured and moderate. Still, the concerned look in his eyes gave her pause. "That's not just something you're saying to keep my spirits up, is it?" she asked.

"No," Vanguard said with a sigh. "It was a possibility I was proposing. I can't say with certainty what happened, Applejack. None of us can. Not even Sakylthos, I'll wager, even if he acts like he does."

"But there has to be some reason for this," Applejack went on. "He couldn't have allowed ophidites to use his weapon."

Vanguard's eyes hardened. "Maybe we should also consider that Apple Slice turned on the Legion during his last days," he said.

A moment ago, a warm feeling had been welling up in Applejack, stoked by having Vanguard near and keeping back the swamp's dampness. Vanguard's words just snuffed that out as easily as if he had poured water over a campfire. She bristled inside and stared at him, nearly missing a step in the process. "What do you mean?" she spluttered as she righted herself. "A second ago, you were saying that he can't be bad. Now you're saying he is?"

"I'm saying that we came here looking for the truth," Vanguard said. "Even if it's not the truth we want. I hope Apple Slice is a hero too. He was the first of the earth ponies to be called that and he's inspired likely every earth pony who's joined the Legion. But it's better to prepare for the worst."

Applejack chewed her lip for a while. She didn't want to. Vanguard was sort of right, but it felt as if considering it was a betrayal of Apple Slice, who had seemingly reached out from the grave to help her with his chain. "It ain't right," she muttered. "It just ain't."

Why was he being so cold all of a sudden? She didn't even want to dwell on the possibility. She was so tired of finding this confounded darkness in pony history. She didn't want it in the roots of her family tree as well.

More time passed, all taken up by slow trudging. Sometimes, they were lucky enough to walk on patches of dry ground. The crocodilians ahead hacked gleefully at the greenery, making loud, wide swings to work quickly and to scare off small creatures hiding in their path.

Eventually, Vanguard did speak. His brow glistened with sweat, but he pressed on without panting or slowing. Part of her wanted some apology. Most berated her for expecting one when he was, infuriating it may be, right.

"Since we're a good way away from Neksyth's Glory, mind if I share a story?" Vanguard asked.

The sudden shift left Applejack merely staring at Vanguard. Eventually, she caught herself. "S-sure," she said.

"After we took back Fangbreaker, I visited Pyre Valor, remember?"

"Yeah," Applejack replied. Oh, she remembered alright. The awkward dancing, Rarity's words...hard to forget such things.

"I was going to ask her why," Vanguard said. "And I wanted her so badly to say that she had been possessed by Nightmare Moon all that time. That Nightmare Moon made her destroy Fangbreaker and attack Bastion City. That she fought back as best she could."

Vanguard closed his eyes tightly for a moment. "If she had said that, I'd have believed her. Proof or none, I'd do anything to get her free. Smuggle her out if I had to. She could have lied and that would be good enough."

"But she didn't," Applejack said softly. She wanted to reach out and just stroke his cheek, but his harsh words earlier held her back.

"No, she didn't," Vanguard said. "That was her true self, I suppose. I had to deal with it." A small smile creased his lips. "I was lucky, though. I left her cell in a foul mood, but I hadn't expected somepony to be with me during that time. She didn't need to have all the answers. She didn't need to have a way to save my oldest friend. It was enough that I had her there. "

Try as she might, Applejack could not keep from smiling in embarrassment. She tipped her hat forward to hide her cheeks.

"When you find the truth about Apple Slice, even if it's not the one we want it to be, I hope you find that same comfort."

"Shucks..." was all Applejack could reply. She'd kiss him if they weren't on the move and surrounded by crocodilians. The day wore on, and the faintly gold morning sunlight passing through the branches brightened with the noon, then reddened with the sunset; all spent trudging through this place. Still, Applejack walked with some spring to her step.

That spring proved necessary as it turned out. The swamp only worsened as they kept going. Ahead, the crocodilians struggled to chop away at the increasingly thick woody growths that blocked their way. They proved strangely familiar to Applejack, but she couldn't quite place them. The looks of concern and the troubled grunting among the crocodilians showed that even they didn't expect this. Anektor hung back to walk with her and Vanguard, one hand resting his huge, crescent blade across his shoulders.

"You wouldn't mind sharing some information about this place you're going to, yes?" Anektor asked.

"Why?" Vanguard asked. "What happened here, Anektor?"

"These growths," Anektor said. "They showed up in Neksyth's glory when all this started. They've spread very quickly, it looks like."

"These...these are apple roots and branches," Applejack blurted out. She should have recognized them earlier, but the sheer dissonance of finding them in this swamp left her unsure. Something else was wrong with them as well. The wood was gnarled, twisted, and unusually pointed in the ends, as if some malice lay in the plant and it wanted to cut and poke as much as possible. The leaves had dark spots on them, purplish around the edges and a sickly black in the middle. If these were indeed part of some apple tree, then it must be a terribly sick one.

As if to confirm that, there was a lingering stench in the air, one that had crept over the odor of damp leaves that had surrounded them for most of the trip. It smelled of...really bad farm soil; moldering fertilizer, rotten leaves, apple trees not growing right. Her mind went back to not so happy times in Sweet Apple Acres, when a harvest was bad or the market didn't go so well, there would be an air of despondency around the whole place. Sure, her friends helped out when they could, but there were those times when they barely scraped through...

"This is from an apple tree?" Anektor asked. He suddenly took more of an interest in the growths, pushing a few branches aside and inspecting them. "No apples though."

Oh, she knew that disappointment too.

"Have you tracked the source?" Vanguard asked.

"Yes," Anektor said. He stared at Applejack as he continued. "Tell me more of this quest of yours, ponies, I promise to share some things as well."

Applejack shook her head to clear it of bad memories, then stared back, suddenly aware why Anektor focused on her. She didn't have to look to know that, next to her, Vanguard was tight-lipped and nonchalant all at once. She didn't want to look to him for permission. They were partners here. He hadn't said anything, obviously because he felt the same. Anektor fixated on her clearly because she appeared the easier target. She was going to have to prove him wrong.

"I just told you what kind of tree this is," Applejack said. She hoped she had some kind of shrewd look on her face. She wasn't used to making those. Still, she may not be used to the sort of wheeling and dealing that Legion agents got up to, but she'd been haggling since she was old enough to stand next to an apple stand. "How about payin' me back for that and throwing in a little extra?" She struggled for a moment, recalling a phrase Black Rose had used. "A gesture of good faith."

Anektor's fangs flashed in the dimming light. He glanced briefly at Maldaktor ahead. He was not part of the Rebellion, Applejack remembered, but he knew things about their situation. They may not want him to share, but he had that mischievous look to him. Maybe that's why he and Seshimyssen were friends. Speaking of Seshimyssen, he had been silent for most of the trip, slithering among the crocodilians once in a while, but mostly keeping to himself.

"The Rebellion followed the growth as far as their shamans could navigate," Anektor said. "In the deepest parts of Neksyth's glory, they had to stop because it was too thick. These growths respond poorly to their magic, the same must be for cobrahn magic as well."

Anektor fell silent for a while. This must be where the information got a bit more sensitive.

"You encountered your restless dead earlier," Anektor said. "When I passed there, I felt their cold, but they did not appear. I watched some of your rangers pass, but they did not appear. I felt the same cold in the deeper areas of these growths. There, I have told you much, Applejack, tell me things in return." His grin widened. "Equestria rewards good faith, yes?"

"It's my chain," Applejack said. "They think whoever has it is Apple Slice so they show up...I guess."

Anektor eyed the chain around Applejack's neck with renewed interest. "If I take that chain, it won't do the same for me, yes? That is something only for ponies." He put on a definite shrewd look. "Or maybe just for you."

"That Sakylthos also used one," Applejack said.

"Yes," Anektor replied. "I saw. He was very eager to get yours. Maybe we can get more than restless dead if we get both, yes?"

Applejack nodded. She wasn't sure, but she wanted to take down this Sakylthos anyway. Might as well give that idea a whirl. When Anektor relented with his questions, she finally permitted herself to look at Vanguard. He had the same idea, as it turned out, because her gaze immediately locked on with a satisfied look and a curt nod from him. They didn't speak again, preferring to focus on trudging and paying attention to the darkening jungle.

True to what Anektor had said, the apple growths got thicker and more menacing. They looked like woody versions of Oceanus' tentacles; vile disgusting things sneakily trying to drag her down into the murky waters. More unsettling was that Applejack found her tail still for the first time since she got here. No stinging insects to bother her, no weird swimming things brushing past her legs, and no ominous sounds in the background. Nothing but the soft splashes of their wading, the harsh grunts of the crocodilians ahead, and the snaps of wood falling apart. Applejack flicked her ears at every direction, hoping to catch anything. "Weird place for the Rebellion to stay," Applejack muttered.

"That's if they were given a choice," Vanguard said. "This may be the one place the Empire is having a hard time striking at them."

"Maybe-- ow!"

A large piece of snapped off apple wood floated past Applejack, its pointed tip somehow managing to graze a gap in her barding. A trickle of blood escape the minor cut, staining the wood.

"How far?" Apple Slice roared. He waded through the water so furiously that he sped along as easily as he would on land.

"A couple miles," a black-furred pegasus said as she hovered next to him. "Apple Slice, they're going to join up with Neksyth's troops, they'll overwhelm us!"

Apple Slice looked behind him, revealing to Applejack a large group of legionnaires struggling to keep up. 'Slow down, partner,' she thought. His legs burned with strain and he was breathing hard, but he stood tall, defiant even, as if he could intimidate his own fatigue into backing down.

"If we don't catch up with them now, they'll unload their haul of colts and disappear into Ophidus to live fat, comfortable lives, Crow Flight," Apple Slice growled.

"If we run into Neksyth's troops like this, then Equestria loses those colts and a contingent of legionnaires," Crow Flight said. "Slice, please, we need to break pursuit. Let's regroup at Greenfang and wait for reinforcements."

Apple Slice let out a furious cry. Again, his chain just appeared on his hooves, even though Applejack was waiting for it just to see how fast he drew. The links coiled and flexed, more like a massive muscle rather than metal links, thrashing across the water, then slamming into a nearby tree. The wood cracked splintered before the whole thing crashed into the water. Applejack would have shaken her head, better yet, knocked some sense into his. If Apple Slice had a temper before, separating with his family only made it worse.

"The Prince can catch up to them," he muttered. "Our report..."

"The Prince is tearing the west up dealing with an extermination campaign," Crow Flight said. "That's if our report even made it. Who knows how high up this goes."

"Some other alicorn then...I'm not picky at the moment. Somepony strong enough!"

"Slice, please..."

"Then they'll just die as slaves," Apple Slice said. "And no justice is meted out for these filth? That's how this ends?" He looked at Crow Flight, muscles still tense. For a moment, Applejack was actually afraid he was going to whip the poor mare for speaking her mind. She hovered before him, obviously trembling with that same fear, but resolute nonetheless. After what seemed like hours, Apple Slice faced the other legionnaires. "To Greenfang!" he shouted. A collective sigh of relief escaped the exhausted stallions and mares.

The whole scene faded to black, and Applejack braced herself for another embarrassing awakening before Vanguard and the others.

Instead she found herself surrounded by wooden outpost walls, assaulted by the cacophony of a furious battle. There was a large breach that nearly split one of the walls in two, the edges of the torn wood were blackened and charred. From there, dozens of ophidites poured in, only to be engaged by pony defenders. Far too few of them, Applejack realized. Apple Slice-- wait...she was still Apple Slice?

Blood sprayed across his face when his chain slammed so hard into a constrictor's head that its skull burst into bloody, goopy shards. The body crashed to the ground, joining the dozens of pony and ophidite corpses littering the soft, blood-soaked ground. Apple Slice kept whirling the weapon as more ophidites came at him. Massive constrictors threshed the muck with their thickly-muscled tails, as they slithered towards him with their halberds. Behind, several of the smaller vipren fired arrows. Applejack recognized the tell-tale flash of magic from the two-legged, upright snakes in the background brandishing wavy-bladed knives with one hand and a skull with the other. So this is what cobrahns looked like.

Apple Slice growled deep in his chest as he spun his chain lasso. Only now did Applejack notice the diiferent feel of the weapon on his hooves. The weight and balance was certainly different, but that was probably just the chain adjusting to his preferences. There was a "feel" to it that she couldn't pin down. The chain always had that weird hum of power to it. Like a sound that only her skin felt. Her chain's was soft and muted, barely noticeable. Apple Slice's rumbled like an angry volcano. It's base length was much greater as well, nearly twice as long.

The chain shot in a straight line, end-first through the chest of a charging constrictor. It burst out of the ophidite's broad back in a burst of red mist, then looped itself, landing perfectly around the hooded neck of a cobrahn. Apple Slice yanked, ripping flesh and bone apart. The chain flew up with that yank, slicing through the dead constrictor's torso until it clove its collar. With a shake, Apple Slice flung the head away, then slammed the chain down on a pair of vipren archers with bone crushing force.

The brutality of the attack gave the the ophidites pause...and the ponies fighting them. Apple Slice did not relent, though. He lashed and lashed, slaying ophidites with each strike. His neck and shoulders were burning. The links ground against his teeth until his jaw was numb and throbbing. He switched to his hooves until his fur started wearing down. The bodies piled up around him; scaled corpses broken, dismembered, and ravaged. Still, more ophidites came at them. The vipren focused their fire, as did the cobrahn. The chain knocked arrows out of their flight and killed casters before they could finish their intonations. Still, some attacks came through. An arrow grazed Apple Slice's shoulder, sending bolts of pain across his torso. Applejack wanted to scream, but Apple Slice's lips were locked in a permanent grimace.

The attack eventually dwindled, and the ophidites still inside the walls began retreating. Apple Slice wasn't done. Each step was agony, from his exhaustion, to the cuts, to the poison writhing in his veins, but he kept swinging. Two more constrictors ripped in half, a vipren lost its head, a cobrahn's arm fell off.

And the chain snapped in half.

The loud chink finally brought Apple Slice to a halt. Not just him, all the ponies around him stopped and stared. Fear and uncertainty spread across their faces. The separated half shrank down to a familiar length, writhing in the process like an earth worm exposed. Apple Slice picked it up and stretched out the force links. The magic still remained, but Applejack didn't need to be a unicorn to know that the magic must have been weakened. That it now felt more like the chain she wielded was not lost to her. The slow flaps of an anxious pegasus blew the jungle's musty air down on Apple Slice.

"Slice..." Crow Flight said so solemnly, one would think that she just saw Apple Slice lose a relative.

"Crow Flight, do you remember that time I broke you out of that ophidite kitchen?" Apple Slice asked.

"Of course, Slice," Crow Flight said. "How can I possibly forget?"

Apple Slice nodded, then faced Crow Flight. "You remember your promise, then. I'm calling that favor in." He picked up the half that had broken off. Like the one he still held, this half hummed with the same familiar power. "Leave this place while Neksyth's forces regroup. Take this chain to my family."

"Slice, how am I supposed to reach them in the Heartland?" Crow Flight asked. She was already reaching out for the chain, though.

"Find a way!" Apple Slice snapped. "Give me your word, Crow Flight. No matter what or how long it takes, this chain will find its way to an Apple."

"It will, Slice," Crow Flight said, her hoof finally closing in on the chain. The hum immediately disappeared when Apple Slice let go. "I gave my word. No matter what, this chain will make it to your family."

"Then, leave this place," Apple Slice said. He turned around, ready to lend a hoof to the hurried shoring up of the outpost's defenses. "The ophidites will miss you while they're regrouping."

"At least tell me why, Slice," Crow Flight said. A glance showed her dead set on getting an answer. "I'm about to dedicate my life and more to this near-impossible task. Tell me why, at least. You've never spoken about your family since you transferred south. Why do they matter now?"

Apple Slice didn't answer right away. He breathed hard, focused on his heartbeat, and stared at the ground for nearly a minute. Crow Flight kept her hover up, waiting.

"This is the end of the road for me, Crow," Apple Slice said. He chuckled briefly. "The great hero, Apple Slice, dead in this morass. If my father was alive, he'd die of embarassment. I'm not raising any kids, I'm not training any successors, and I'm not even stopping these slavers. I've got nothing to show for myself, just half my chain. Give it to my family. Let them figure out what for. Maybe some cheap inheritance, a remembrance, or just proof of what a failure I was."

"You haven't failed, Slice," Crow Flight said softly. Applejack was right there with her on that. She choked back a sob. "I promise you, the Southern Legion will be purged for this."

Whatever grim mirth Apple Slice showed but a while ago faded. "You see to that," he growled. "See to it hard."

Applejack awoke to a weird gentle bobbing, as if she were on a boat. A second later, she realized that she wasn't moving her legs. It was Vanguard's broad back beneath her that caused that bob. "Vanguard," she mumbled.

Vanguard looked over to her, relief obvious on his face. He didn't stop moving though. "You're up," he said with a sigh. "Fenrir's Hide, you were starting to scare me."

The pale rays of the morning sun lightly touched Applejack's eyes. "I was out all night, huh?" she said. "This is embarassing." That was probably the last time she would get that. Her half of the chain separated from Apple Slice after that.

That meant that whatever happened during that last stand would have to come from the one Sakylthos used.

"You were out two nights and a day," Vanguard said. "We're about to reach Neksyth's Glory."

The rest of Applejack's senses came into focus. For one thing, she was incredibly hungry. The sound of hacking and slashing ahead of them had become more vigorous, frantic even. Around them, the apple growths looked like a swarm of claws reaching out maliciously. As for the air, this was unusually chilly compared to the muggy heat of Serpentwatch and Highstable.

"So, our fair sleeping maiden is awake," Seshimyssen said as he slithered alongside them. "You've been riding your stallion continuously. I hope you return the favor."

"Shut it, snake," Applejack grumbled. She heaved herself off Vanguard and nearly fell over when she landed on wobbly legs.

"We're here," Seshimyssen replied as he pointed ahead.

They approached a great outcropping of rock, the one great marker of stability in the swirling, shifting muck and foliage. Several crocodilians emerged from the entrance upon their approach.

"The Fungus Complex," Seshimyssen said. "It figures."

"You know this place then," Vanguard said. He squinted at the place. "Solid, defensible location. The high points give good vantage, the entrance will choke large assaults. These apple extensions will only make it even harder to approach. Even for allies."

Seshimyssen stretched out his neck and rotated his shoulders. "A good spot to harvest Fool's Cap among other ingredients," he replied. "This is strange, I helped search this place before. It stretches pretty deep beneath the jungle, and we combed it thoroughly, but found no tomb."

"You must know its insides, then," Vanguard said.

Seshimyssen glanced at the crocodilians traveling with them. "Yes. I should also say that things have gotten worse while they were away," he whispered. "They talk away from you and in their language to hide it, but the Rebellion will not last much longer like this. The growths are chasing away game, making it too difficult to move about, and making their main base hostile. If things get any worse, they will likely start begging Equestria to take them in."

Vanguard put a hoof on his chin for a moment. "That explains the creatures moving closer to Serpentwatch. This could be a useful development."

Applejack frowned at that. She may not like these crocodilians much, especially after hearing about what they did to earn Equestria's hostility, but she knew what it was like to face an uncertain future with little food. "Sounds like they're badly tuckered out," she said. "I'm sure Equestria can help more. If they don't turn against us again."

"Really?" Seshimyssen said with that weird chuckling hiss of his. "Will Equestria take them in fully? Make them part of the nation? That would make you an empire as well, wouldn't it? The Equestrian Empire."

"Woah now!" Applejack said. "That's going too fast. Let's think about not letting them get wiped out first.

They approached the cave's entrance, and it was clear that most, and the largest, of the apple growths were coming from the cave.

"Tenaktor!" Maldaktor growled. He and the other crocodilians approached first. "Bakit dalawa lang kayo diyan? Nasaan yung ibang bantay?"

"Maldaktor!" one of the crocodilian sentries was panting as he spoke. "Sakto dating niyo! Sinusugod tayo sa loob!"

Every crocodilian in the group Applejack was with growled and pulled out their weapons. Despite not knowing what was going on, she did the same. It was only when she noticed the thrumming from her chain and the light shining from it did she get a sinking feeling as to what an attack inside the cave might mean.

"Putaragis," Maldaktor snapped. "Paano nakapasok yung mga lintik na ahas sa loob?"

"Hindi ahas, Maldaktor," the sentry replied. "Kabayong multo!"

Anektor looked to Applejack, then to her obviously agitated weapon. "Restless dead from inside the base!" he said. "You just might be the one to pull us out of this, Applejack." His eyes narrowed. "Or finish us off. Come then!"

Applejack broke into a gallop as everyone in the group rushed in. As they moved past the entrance, a horn blew from behind them.

No more than a hundred feet away from the cave, dozens of ophidites let out a loud hiss and charged.

Applejack 8: Apple Slice's Rest

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 8: Apple Slice's Rest

"Like a frog before a snake."

That wasn't exactly a very popular saying in Ponyville, or anywhere in the Heartland, as far as Applejack knew. Ponies didn't like talking about frogs and what snakes did to them anymore than they liked to talk about apple blights and vampire fruit bat swarms. Still, the saying existed in its own niche in Equestria, and Applejack understood it it just a little but better as she faced down the ophidites charging her position.

She had faced worse. She knew that well enough. She had stood against a brachyurus, against an alicorn soldier, and the Six Companions. A large group of these snake soldiers shouldn't give her so much pause as this near-paralyzing sensation that gripped her at the moment. The lead constrictors were still a good distance away. Instinct screamed at her to lash out already. Take down the lead to slow them down. Why was she scared now?

The scrabbling behind her gave the answer. She had crocodilians and a rogue ophidite watching her back where she was used to having her friends. Some of them had already retreated into the cave. Of those that remained, she doubted that they'd be particularly concerned if she was struck. Battle suddenly never felt so lonely. This wasn't her first fight in the Southern Barrier Land, but the lingering thoughts of Apple Slice's last stand; of fighting in a lonesome outpost surrounded by strangers...it shook her as much as facing down death.

A hoof bumped her left shoulder, followed by a quick blur of grays and blacks out of the corner of her eye. Vanguard Clash, his blade gripped tightly in his mouth, looked ready to take all of their foes on by himself. "Cobrahns first," he mumbled through his weapon.

Applejack nodded and made her first lash. It wasn't hard to find them. Their brightly-colored hoods came in yellows, reds, and green, and they carried sparkling weapons that crackled with magical energy. They were also the only ophidites that stood on legs. The tip of her silver chain struck a cobrahn's wrist, forcing it to drop its wavy-bladed knife. It let out a pained and nursed the unnaturally bent joint.

Perhaps that show of accuracy, range, and power wasn't the best idea, though. The other cobrahns pointed at her and hissed at the rest of the ophidites. Several bows aimed at her. She remembered the burning pain of even a scratch from those things. Already, thoughts of bringing out the golden shield came to mind.

'No,' Applejack thought. 'If the coatls sniff me out, it's over. Especially if they call their emperor.'

The vipren loosed a volley towards her. Apple Slice may be a legend here, but she was no slouch in a rodeo herself. Her chain caught each shaft mid-air, knocking them away, then retracting to her before another attack came.

The lack of surprise from the ophidites hinted their discipline, or the fact that they had seen this before. Sakylthos wasn't among them, but Applejack was sure he was involved in this attack.

The constrictors closed in, halberds tilted towards her, great rectangular shields protecting their faces and torsos. They moved at a measured charge, clearly defensive at the sight of her attacks. Applejack squinted and hung back. It was going to be hard finding an opening against those. Her best option was to keep attacking their back rows.

Vanguard followed through with that plan without so much as glancing at her for confirmation. He and several crocodilians, including Anektor, slammed into the charging constrictors. The shields alone towered over him and the wall of muscled scales advancing behind them made it seem, for a moment, that he would be swept away.

Instead, the constrictors stopped dead in their tracks. The one facing Vanguard looked utterly dumbfounded that it could not even budge a pony a fraction of its size. Vanguard's size, like his demeanor, belied a font of strength that was nigh unbelievable. He was far removed from the snowy lands he was used to fighting on, the enemies he was used to fighting against, and the usual allies he fought alongside with. Yet, he fought back without missing a beat, without even acknowledging that he was in any sort of disadvantage.

The distant crackle of a cobrahn casting a spell put an end to that moment of admiration. The enemy back rows needed to be dispatched or this would be a losing battle. Applejack found the cobrahn responsible holding up one of those weird wavy-bladed daggers up. Blue-white arcs of electricity danced along its edge.

At this point, Applejack wished for a counter spell from Twilight, or a bolt from Rainbow, or a fancy blade from Rarity. The crocodilians didn't seem too keen on ranged fighting, yet one more reason they weren't doing so well. Her chain smacked the knife from the cobrahn's hand, breaking a few fingers in the process from the way the cobrahn's hand distorted. With a flick of her neck, she spun the chain when a particularly brave and stupid vipren attempted to grab it. The upswing smashed silver links beneath the vipren's jaw and sent it flying back. Even then, a momentary, uncalled jerk on her chain along with the sight of a third cobrahn's knife glowing, suggested that she was being telekinetically disarmed. She wrenched the chain free from the magical grip easily enough, in time to see several more arrows coming at her. The chain caught a few mid-flight, but the rest of her defense had to involve a frantic scramble for cover. She couldn't see them, but she knew that the vipren archers were already nocking more arrows.

"You're a terror with that chain, Applejack!" Seshimyssen said as he slithered close. He loosed his own arrow before ducking behind a crocodilian. At least some of these hulking warriors had the sense to use shields. They were no magic golden ones capable of stopping an alicorn's attack, but Applejack was happy to shelter behind them anyway.

"Try not to impress too much, Applejack," Seshimyssen said. "The cobrahns won't risk their wider spells with their grunts in melee, that changes if you turn out too big to ignore."

"Guess I'll have to take all the varmints out, then!" Applejack retorted. She jumped out of the crocodilian's cover, ready to pick out a target. "Cobrahns first" made perfect sense. She had counted four when the ophidites charged, and two of them already lost their hands.

The remaing ones had sheltered behind some constrictors, their spells flashing among their allies. Applejack squinted and paused. No easy way to get at them now.

Seshimyssen fired an arrow in a high arc, aiming for the unprotected top of the circle of shields around the cobrahns. The shot was good, but the arrow merely bounced off an invisible barrier. Applejack expected as much. Twilight would have done the same. She readied a lash with all her strength into it. Ridentem had proven with enough clarity that hard enough strikes could break those magic shields.

The silver links not only lengthened, they also expanded, growing heavier to add weight to Applejack's strike. They struck the invisible shield which crackled loudly in protest. It was like striking a mountainside. Only now, Applejack realized that she had gambled on this working. If the strike bounced off, she might have a large, heavy chain coming at her. Still, the chain dug into the spell, reaching the physical shields beneath. They dented as well. The wielders beneath hissed and buckled. One of them dropped its shield, clutching a badly bent arm.

The strike had not penetrated fully, however. The cobrahns inside desperately shifted their spellcasting, trying to reform their shield. Applejack reared, pulling the chain in for another lash. A scream, one too high-pitched to be from a crocodilian, erupted from behind her. 'What in tarnation-?'

More loud cries, the cries of ponies, suddenly filled the cavern entrance behind them. Applejack nearly dropped her chain. For a moment, her instinct was to turn around and check what that was all about. Were the crocodilians keeping ponies inside their cave? She righted herself at the last second, however. She was needed here. Vanguard still fought at the front, and she wasn't going to abandon him. She lashed again before the cobrahns could reconstruct their shield. The links crashed into the shields, splintering the wood and knocking down the constrictors. Blood sprayed upward as a cobrahn fell backward, the chain buried halfway into its skull.

'One more,' Applejack muttered. She kept her eyes away from the blood dripping from her chain as it retracted towards her, dragging bits of shattered bone and smeared brains, and focused on thoughts of ophidite cruelty. These were villains of the worst sort! Varmints that would kill or enslave them in an instant. An arrow grazed the dragonscale plates protecting her neck. A second one thunked against her side barding only to bounce off. A feeling of exhiliration welled up inside her at the sight of the ophidites scrabbling frantically. Without support from their ranged allies, the frontline constrictors were being overwhelmed.

A second wave of hisses from the right sent whatever elation in Applejack sinking.

"Second wave!" Seshimyssen said with a chuckle. "My, my! The Empire's decided to play seriously!" He placed a hand on Applejack's shoulder. "Call your stallion back, Applejack. There's bound to be a third wave if they bothered with a second one, and once the Empire gets numbers, it gets more free with what tactics it allows."

True enough, more constrictors burst from the foliage with vipren and cobrahns behind them. Ceremonial daggers flashed while Applejack could only grit her teeth. She couldn't reach so many spellcasters, not with an arcing barrage of arrows flying her way.

There came another hiss, not the snake-like sort, but more the sound one would hear from a punctured balloon. A thick, roiling cloud of yellow vapors seeped from the dagger of one of the newly-arrived cobrahns. One look at it was enough for Vanguard, who had not given an inch despite dealing with the second charge, to fall back.

"Cloudkill again!" Vanguard shouted. "Fall back!"

The vapors poured out swiftly, all but engulfing the frontlines. The heavy cloud followed the ground closely, behaving more like a spilled glob of honey rather than spreading smoke. Applejack's heart nearly stopped, only to lurch on when Vanguard galloped away, barely keeping ahead of the advancing yellow wall. Next to him, Anektor ran with two constrictor heads tucked under his arms, which he promptly threw away. The other crocodilians that had rushed into the fray were not so lucky. Their silhouettes convulsed within the fog. The sounds of fighting inside turned into a chorus of coughing, retching, and wheezing. Even some of the constrictors suffered the same fate.

Applejack sent the lasso flying towards Vanguard. As soon as he had a good grip, she pulled him to her side.

"Save your pony, of course!" Anektor shouted as he continued his sprint. Behind him ran two more crocodilians. "Maybe I can rut with you later for that insurance, yes?"

Applejack had half a mind to send her chain back just to smack Anektor across his snout. She was about to help him out when Maldaktor and another similarly attired crocodilian emerged from the cave. They raised their claws and muttered their own incantations. The half dozen warriors accompanying them raised their weapons in a defensive stance.

A strong wind from the crocodilians ruffled Applejack's mane and tail as it pushed back against the vile cloud. It did more than push as well. Invisible tendrils of clean air cut through the thick yellow vapors, dispersing them as water would a fine lather.

The cloud's dispersal only brought a different horror to sight, however. Behind it, the vipren had massed to an even greater number, their bows poised to deliver a huge barrage of poisoned arrows. Protecting them was a long wall of constrictor shields and halberds.

"We can't match these numbers," Vanguard growled. "Especially not with most of the Rebellion preoccupied with something inside the cave."

"Into the cave!" Anektor growled. "Their numbers won't matter as much."

"Anektor!" Maldaktor called out. "Dalhin mo yung mga kabayo sa loob! Baka may magawa sila sa mga multo! Pipigilan namin sila dito!" He and several crocodilians assembled themselves along the passageway.

"Come, ponies," Anektor said. "You're needed inside."

Both Vanguard and Applejack nodded and followed. Applejack didn't like fleeing from a battle, but something inside that cave tugged at her. A lot of these weird apple branches emerged from the mouth before spreading out to the swamp. A scratch brought out a more powerful glimpse into Apple Slice's past. The source might hold more. At least, maybe, if they do deal with what's holding up the crocodilians inside, they'd be able to reinforce the front and push the ophidites away. Seshimyssen slithered behind her, while a couple more crocodilians, frontliners that had stumbled out of the cloudkill with behind Anektor, brought up the rear.

"What's going on in there, Anektor?" Vanguard asked as they hurried deeper into the caves. Lit torches occasionally showed up on the natural stone walls, giving the place a dim, orange glow. The floor was damp and slick with swamp ooze, as well as lightly sloped downwards, making slipping a real danger. Combined with unpleasant, burning odor and the partly obscuring smoke, navigating this hideout quickly proved dangerous.

"Your restless dead are crawling out of the woodwork," Anektor said. "The shamans are having trouble with them, especially since they popped out suddenly mere minutes ago." He looked at Applejack. "Quite a coincidence, yes?"

Applejack didn't even need to look at her chain. It pulsed against the fur around her neck, like somepony's heartbeat, and that heartbeat was quickening.

"It's getting colder again," Seshimyssen said. He kept an arrow nocked as he slithered on, and he glanced from side to side constantly. "Your ghosts are close. If it's you they want, Applejack, put in a good word for me."

Anektor grinned at Seshimyssen. "If these are dead legionnaires, maybe we can appease them with an ophidite sacrifice."

"Plenty outside, Anektor," Seshimyssen replied. "Or are you too scared of the ones that fight back?"

The air grew even colder as if by response. Applejack stifled a shiver, all of a sudden missing the muggy atmosphere that she had been traveling in when they started this trip. She even missed the living enemies still outside. These days, she kept ending up fighting ghosts or dead bodies with plants in them. The chain around her neck was warm, though. Indeed, it was getting hotter by the minute.

"We're reaching the main cavern," Seshimyssen said. "If the Rebellion's settled here, that would be the main spot."

"Quite knowledgeable of the Rebellion's base," Anektor said.

"I've been here before," Seshimyssen said. "Turned it inside out looking for the tomb of Apple Slice for my old master. Your Rebellion picked a spot that's already been scouted out by the Empire, Anektor. It's a miracle that it's still around."

"There are other smaller bases in the marshes," Anektor replied. "This one was picked more for defiance. That it's still here says more about the might of Ophidus, doesn't it?"

"The Empire would prefer a slow and deliberate show of superiority," Seshimyssen said. "If you all surrendered, all the more intact slaves for the citizens."

"But they're coming in force now," Vanguard said. "It seems odd that the Empire would change its mind about slaves now when it's winning."

"Indeed," Seshimyssen said. "We're about to find out it seems. They have their hero out there with the same magic chain as Applejack here. They must be really interested in the Wrangler."

Applejack opened her mouth to reply, but the passageway they hurried along on had widened to an enormous cavern. The floor rapidly sloped from where they were, descending into what looked like a tiny valley filled with mushrooms big and small. There were no torches here. The ceiling was lined with thousands of luminescent fungal stalks that bathed everything in pale green. Anektor led the way, expertly navigating the winding pathway carved into the slope. Below them was a veritable grove of mushrooms. The large ones rose above Applejack, spreading their round, spotted, red caps to create a canopy. Beneath were smaller stalks of white. Within the grove were wooden huts with various tools scattered about. A deep pit, with faint wisps of smoke still rising from it, lay at their center while a half-eaten creature of some sort lay spitted above it. The scattering made it clear that these crocodilians were interrupted by something. There were no sounds of battle though. At the sight of the empty, the other crocodilians with them let out throaty growls.

"No bodies at least," Vanguard said after a quick look around. "They must be here somewhere."

"Where did the restless dead come from?" Anektor asked the other crocodilians. "Kanaktor?"

The first one merely shrugged. "I don't know. I was guarding the entrance when this happened."

"Delaktor?" Anektor went on.

"The restless dead swooped in from the fishing hole's direction," Delaktor replied.

"The water," Anektor muttered. "Always the water."

Delaktor suddenly looked at Kanaktor. "Your shift had been over this morning, Kanaktor. Why were you still there?"

"I was..." Kanaktor cleared his throat. "Covering."

"Inaktor and Anaktri fooling around again," Anektor muttered. "Lintik..."

"I have a good idea where they might be," Seshimyssen spoke up.

"The ophidite knows the situation in the camp best," Anektor said. "The Rebellion's standing strong indeed."

"You lugs should at least know that half this complex is under the water, right?" Seshimyssen said. "If those ghosts are coming from there, then they must be from the sunken tunnels."

"A place you snakes explored, yes?" Anektor asked.

Seshimyssen shook his head. "We tried. Even with waterbreathing spells, we could not get into the deeper parts. The dark resists light spells, the unnatural cold will kill you if you spend too long or venture too far."

"A dark and cold place where ghosts emerge," Vanguard said.

"These apple branches emerged from that fishing hole," Anektor said. "This spot is making the Rebellion look stupider and stupider."

Applejack shuddered. No. Not again. She could have lived with knowing that he was a violent murderer, or that he turned on the Legion. Anything but the abyss.

"Some other alicorn then...I'm not picky at the moment. Somepony strong enough!"

They passed through several more huts, the insides of which were hidden only with a curtain of dry grass leaves. One entrance had been torn down, revealing a multitude of long, curved blades hanging on its walls and ceiling. The crocodilians seemed a filthy, messy lot. Cooking utensils lay scattered on the ground along with crude metal pots blackened by exposure to open flame. They passed by another pit, this one full of gnawed bones. Applejack hoped that none of those were pony.

Eventually, they walked past a thick grove of mushrooms and into a clearing.

"Galdaktor!" Anektor called out to the gathered crocodilians before them. There had to be a dozen of them, all dressed like Maldaktor had been with the beads and the skulls. They stood seemingly frozen around a large pond, their hands clasped and the tips of their fingers glowing.

"Anektor..." One of the crocodilians growled, the strain in his voice obvious. Anektor walked closer and the two conversed in their tongue. Applejack could barely contain her apprehension, now she had to wait.

The cavern's pale illumination made it impossible to see the depths of the pool, but there were indeed large, milky-white fish swimming about close to the surface. It must be quite deep though. Enormous, twisted apple branches emerged from it, resembling the legs of a gigantic spider about to crawl out of a hole. The throbbing along her chain grew all the more stronger as she took a few steps closer to the edge. Once more into the abyss...

"Not so fast, pony," Anektor growled softly as he approached them.

"What's the situation?" Vanguard asked.

"Your restless dead flew screaming out of the pond less than an hour ago," Anektor said. "They dragged down some of the Rebellion's warriors and sent the others scurrying out of the cave before diving back in. This shaman circle is the only thing holding those things in."

"This is pointless then," Seshimyssen hissed. He folded his arms across his chest. "Even if we deal with these pony ghosts, we'll only free up some tired shamans. Not exactly a winning move against the troops outside."

"Applejack," Vanguard said, his eyes still fixed on the pond.

"I need to see what's down there, Vanguard," Applejack replied. She fought a tremble in her voice and a strange impulse to dive in already. "I ain't sure what I'll find, but I'm sure I need to find it."

"We're going then," Vanguard said.

"A waterbreathing spell would be nice," Seshimyssen muttered. "Some protection spell against cold would be nice too."

"Diving into a haunted pond with the ophidites breathing down our necks," Anektor said. "I love this plan."

"Me too," one of the other crocodilians, Kanaktor, suddenly said. All of them turned to face him. Applejack's heart raced. That shouldn't be so odd, but there was something terribly wrong here. The others seemed to pick up on this as well.

"Kanaktor," Anektor growled. "We're fine, yes?"

"Absolutely!" Kanaktor bellowed. His voice lost its gravel halfway through and deepened. His hands moved so swiftly that they turned into dark blurs. Out of the corner of Applejack's eye was the glint of something silvery. Her hooves moved to her chain. Already, she knew what was coming.

"Cobrahn illusion!" Seshimyssen shouted.

Kanaktor's crocodilian form twisted, shifted, and crackled with magic. His legs merged with his tail while his arms and shoulders bulged with muscle. He flicked his wrist rapidly, his arm flexing as he made loops with his chain. His chain all but flew through the shamans around them. In an instant, he had every one of them leashed in silver.

"Sakylthos!" Applejack said.

"We talk later, Applejack!" Sakylthos bellowed. He pulled hard on his chain even as he rapidly slithered forward. The links glowed red followed by the wet sliding of metal over flesh. Blood sprayed everywhere, striking the pond's placid surface with a barrage of crimson droplets. Warm and wet drops trickled down Applejack's foreleg, which she had raised on instinct to protect her eyes. Nearly a dozen heads dropped to the ground.

That was Apple Slice's move. Something Applejack hadn't done before.

There was no time to assess the situation. Sakylthos was on her instantly, his enormous scaled form blotting out the pale light from above. She had her own chain in her mouth, but she had her misgivings with the distance. A quick jump aside--

Sakylthos's enormous palm smacked into Applejack's face, knocking her hat off. His fingers curled around her head, covering one eye and reaching all the way to the back of her head. He didn't stop there. His momentum carried them towards the pond. Applejack grasped his arm, but it was like wrestling with an armored tree trunk. He lifted her off the ground with ease, all the while chuckling.

Applejack sucked in a gulp of air a mere fraction of a moment before they hit the water with a splash so loud that it nearly drowned out the alarmed cries from the others. She braced herself for freezing cold and the rush of water over her head.

Neither came.

It was hard, earthen ground that met Applejack's back, and it was warm air that washed over her. Sakylthos's fingers slackened around her face. Sensing oppurtunity, she jammed a hoof into the inside of his elbow. With a grunt, Sakylthos let go and stepped back. Applejack readied her first lash even as she gave her surroundings a brief glance.

This was no abyss she found herself in. The air smelled of familiar scents; apple leaves and blossoms, farm soil...the smells of home. The golden light that bathed her felt like sunlight. No sun, however. The high ceiling still looked stone. Around them were great branches of a massive apple tree. It almost looked like she was back in Sweet Apple Acres. What made it "almost" uncoiled in front of her.

"Not what I expected," Sakylthos said as he rubbed the inside of his left arm. Blood trickled down the silver chain dangling from his right hand and the plates of armor across his chest and shoulders. Though it no longer glowed red like earlier, his chain was pulsing strongly just like hers. "Now, Applejack, we can determine the succession without interference."

"You knew this was going to happen?" Applejack asked.

"Truly, no," Sakylthos replied. He circled her slowly, eyes fixed on her intently. "But we both knew that this is where we should be, didn't we? Our weapons drew us here."

"You--!" That was as far as Applejack got before Sakylthos's chain flew at her end first. She sidestepped just in time, the chain passing so close that her fur parted from its passage. She lashed on instinct, knowing full well that if she didn't put this ophidite on the defensive, she'd be facing an endless barrage of attacks. Sakylthos threshed the ground as he slithered around her, pulling his chain back at the same time. Her chain struck the branches behind where he was, sending splinters flying along with a spray of...blood?

"Too slow, pony!" Sakylthos roared. He slithered towards her with his left hand extended. He was a mere few feet away before she pulled her chain back and lash defensively. She aimed for the exposed scales in his armpit. A good hit should dislocate his shoulder or even break it. Before she could hit, though, he brought his hand to his chest and slammed an armored shoulder to her face.

Stars burst across Applejack's vision and hard ground struck the back of her head. Blood burst from her nose and it was all she could do not to drop her chain. On instinct, she rolled to the side. The loud bang of Sakylthos's chain smashing the ground where she just was proved her right. She kept rolling, tracking Sakylthos's position by ear. His chain struck the ground a few more times before she rolled to her hooves. 'Gotta slow him down somehow...' she thought.

Sakylthos kept on lunging, constantly keeping himself in melee range and forcing Applejack to outright backpedal. He swayed left and right' always too close to let her have a wide swing and too evasive for a thrusting attack. He slipped past a clumsy swing from her and closed in. His massive, scaled fist struck her side, just under her ribs so that he dug into her liver. Blood swiftly rose up Applejack's throat and leaked out of the corners of her mouth as she doubled over. Sakylthos's fists were wrapped with leather with metal studs. So great was the impact that it pushed her armor into her body. Her mind screamed at her to get up as another attack was coming, but her body was crying uncle. Her legs shook just to keep standing. Through sheer force of will she raised her gaze to watch out for attacks, only to be greeted by a heavy, thudding backhand to the side of her head.

Everything turned to blackness for a frightening moment as Applejack rolled across the ground. It was only out of stubborn reflex that she kept her jaws clamped on her chain. The studs must have torn several gashes across her cheek as blood was already trickling down the side of her face. When she stopped, her vision struggled to return. The pain still throbbed throughout her body and trying to stand up was about as easy as walking a tightrope in a storm.

'Consarn it!' Applejack thought. She knew a chain lash was coming. Sakylthos focused on close range attacks to keep her defensive and then followed through with chain strikes when he established distance after unbalancing her. If she didn't defend now, her head was coming off as easily as those shamans. She was quickly running out of options. 'Sorry, Vanguard.'

She got to her hooves defiantly, planting her hooves and staring at Sakylthos. She concentrated on another ability, one that had saved her in the worst moments. Sakylthos let out a triumphant hiss, twisting his coils like a powerful spring for a powerful lunge. Applejack took no small amount of satisfaction when he slammed face-first against a golden shield that had manifested in front of her. At last, he backed off to nurse his snout. Blood leaked out of his nostrils and mouth. Even then, he managed one more lash. The cave echoed with loud bangs, enough to set Applejack's teeth on edge, but her shield didn't even quiver.

"My turn!" Applejack crowed. She drove the pain back to the corner of her mind, and flicked her neck for a lash while Sakylthos still recovered. It was his turn to back away. He slithered to a distance and crossed the apple branches to try to get to her. She wasn't going to have any of it, though. She tracked him through the grove, making sure her shield faced him.

As Applejack was about to attack though, the branches all around her violently quivered, as if a great wind was blowing through. Leaves scattered to the ground, and the branches twisted seemingly in agony.

"That light!" A dozen terrified voices, both mares and stallions, wailed. "Take it away! Take it away!"

Even Sakylthos stopped and looked around. The branches twisted and cracked, shrinking away from Applejack as the wailing voices grew louder. Shrieking in unison.

"Apple Slice, let us go!"

Then, as quickly as they acted up, the branches fell still. The odd sunlight dimmed until Applejack had to squint. The silence was so thick that she could hear her heart race. The branches their side suddenly rustled, as if somepony was moving among them. The cave resounded with the heavy hoof-falls of a stallion walking. Applejack squinted at where the rustling was coming from. Sakylthos did the same. From a distance, they watched as a russet-coated stallion came ever closer.

Applejack 9: The Last Great Apple

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 9: The Last Great Apple

The approaching stallion walked slowly, hooves dragging across the soil with each step. Applejack recognized the low raise of the legs, the slumped shoulders, and the slightly drooping head. She had walked like this often enough. As did her brother after a long, hard day at the farm. That was a walk that demanded a great supper, a welcoming bath, and a good night's sleep. She had a good idea who this stallion was, and the serious mien on Sakylthos's face showed that he did as well. This was the stallion that they had both been seeking: Apple Slice, the Last Great Apple. At least, as the Barrier Lands saw him. She dug in her hooves to keep from shaking. She was about to find out herself how true that title was.

As Apple Slice approached, another thing became more apparent. He was huge, even for a stallion, probably slightly taller than Big Macintosh. Applejack couldn't properly gauge his size in her visions. In any Apple reunion, Apple Slice would stand at least head and shoulders above most of his relatives. Combine that with his short fuse, and his fighting expertise and he did seem like an outsider of an Apple. He was a veritable giant, a towering stallion with thick muscles rippling across his sides and chest, who had spent more time in the Legion than in the farm, yet he was the one given the leadership of the family. Wrong as it may have been, it was easy to see why the rest of the Apples didn't warm up to him.

Applejack shared neither those fears nor resentment. The Apples were different now. They didn't follow this whole "clan leader" thing and she knew what it was like to suddenly be different. To be involved in other things besides the farm and to clash with the family over it. Yet...what was this fear washing over her? She stared hard, bracing herself for the worse. In her mind flashed the sight of General Gravitas; soaked in the dark of the abyss with the black ice poking out of his hide, and his face contorted with rage.

As Apple Slice neared, however, none of that showed. Rather than hideous black crystals, large, hairless, vertical scars marred his russet fur; two parallel ones, claw marks most likely, from his left shoulder to his chest, and three from his back to his left hind leg. When he lifted his head, he showed a pair of lips in a grim line, green eyes clear and heavy-lidded, and a long black beard that spilled from his cheeks down his chin to his neck. He looked...solid. An oddity when he should be dead and a ghost. Yet, he looked like a living pony anyway.

"Apple Slice..." Applejack started.

"Great Bear-Wrangler," Sakylthos said. He slithered in front of Applejack, blocking her view with his bulk. He clasped his chain tightly in his right hand, and presented it. "The Empire of Ophidus has heard your cry for vengeance against your betrayers. As its champion, I pray grant me your true strength to smite Equestria."

"Don't listen to him!" Applejack shouted. She rushed past Sakylthos, her own chain now wrapped on her right foreleg to be presented. "Your chain's made its way home to the Apples! Just like you wanted. I..." Applejack's breath caught in her chest for a moment as she remembered the gruesome sight of her ancestor's rampage. "You ain't what this snake thinks you are, right? You're a hero who fought and died chasing these slaving snakes."

Sakylthos rumbled in his chest until Applejack turned to glare at him. "The message in your chain is clear enough, Great Bear-Wrangler," he said. "The grudge against Equestria is unmistakable, determined by my ancestors for centuries. The ease that it cuts through ponies, and its perfect fit to the hand of an ophidite warrior...I have spent my life perfecting its use and searching for your final resting place. I stand ready to fulfill your last--"

"Foul snake, I've killed more of you than you have scales. Don't talk to me as if I'd ever be your friend."

Even before Applejack could make sense of those words coming from her ancestor, Apple Slice moved in front of Sakylthos, his hind legs already finding homes just under the ophidite's chest plate. Sakylthos opened his mouth in pained surprise, but only a hoarse cry came out as he doubled over. When he looked up, Apple Slice was already gone. A pair of russet forelegs wrapped around Sakylthos's tail, and lifted him up with ease. Whatever fatigue he showed did not dull his fighting ability.

Between the elation of seeing Apple Slice have nothing to do with Ophidus and watching this tremendous show of strength, Applejack had to remember to breathe. Apple Slice hurled Sakylthos into a great clump of branches snapping dozens of them when the ophidite crashed back first.

"I knew it!" Applejack said. She trotted towards Apple Slice head high in pride of her ancestor. "He was lying all along, you are a hero--"

Applejack was still a few feet from Apple Slice when something smacked into the side of her head. The world went black for a few moments. When her senses returned, she was face down on the ground, her head spinning and her cheek swelling. The gashes that Sakylthos had inflicted reopened, pouring blood down the side of her neck. She tried to get groggily to her hooves, and failed a few times.

"Don't touch me, you weakling," Apple Slice said. His hooves crunched some loose pebbles as he walked towards her. "As if you're any different, seeking out the dead and forgotten to profit yourself."

"That's..." It was a struggle to speak as Applejack had to maneuver her tongue past the swelling. She tasted blood in her mouth, and some of her teeth had probably shaken loose. "That's not true. I wanted..." She hesitated. Well...it was partly true. She had come here also hoping to gain some strength her ancestor was famed for to better fight Equestria's enemies. "I wanted to know what really happened to you." She backed away as he approached. The branches were Sakylthos crashed were already rustling.

"I died, filly," Apple Slice growled. "The ophidites outmaneuvered and outnumbered me while my 'allies' dithered, dallied, and covered up everything I dug out." He gestured to the corrupted apple branches all around them. "But there is justice after all. The guilty stay here until the day comes."

Applejack stopped backing away. "What day?" she asked. "Apple Slice, what have you done here?" Even as she spoke, the branches around them quivered and rustled. The anguished murmurs of dozens of ponies swept through them like a breeze.

Apple Slice held out a front hoof and made a tugging motion. Seemingly out of nowhere, a trail of dark, ooze-like substance materialized in his grip, forming a long chain of blackened links. Thin wisps of equally dark vapor rose from the chain like some perverted form of ice. "The day when the weakness of ponies finally drags us all to where we deserve," Apple Slice said. "The slavers, the cowards, and..." he glanced briefly at his chest. "...and the murderous brutes. All dragged down to the depths."

"No..." Applejack whispered it first, but her voice rose to a shout. "No! We're not falling into the abyss!" Her voice softened afterwards. "Look, what the Apples did to you was wrong, but we ain't like that anymore. Our family didn't turn bad like what you were afraid of. And the Southern Legion...they ain't so bad either. Nothing that deserves the abyss!"

"The Apples..."

For a moment, Apple Slice's brows furrowed and his lips twisted. He stared at Applejack, squinting as if he struggled to recognize what she was. "That chain..." he finally said. "Crow Flight made it after all..."

"Your chain made it back," Applejack said. "It found the Apples like you wanted."

"For what little it matters!" Apple Slice snapped. "My family! My family of collaborators and cowards! They left me here by myself for their precious business. How dare you come here now!"

With that, Apple Slice swung his chain. The black links lengthened as they tore through the ground in a spinning loop that flew towards Applejack. She swung her chain reflexively, smacking into the approaching attack with a wide, horizontal sweep. To her horror, her chain bounced away without slowing Apple Slice's. She jumped away at the last moment, catching some shards of rock on her hind legs as well as a numbing blast of cold. She crashed nearby, tumbling to her hooves as best she could. This time, she concentrated on her shield. Sure enough, Apple Slice had followed his attack with an overhead smash. The black links struck the golden shield with a loud, metallic bang. That she felt some vibration from her shield concerned her. Nothing had come close to that so far. Maybe her newfound power was not that invincible.

Apple Slice's chain retracted so swiftly that it was as if it was as part of his body as his own tail. He looked at the golden shield with nothing more than mild annoyance. "I see," he said. "You've called on them too." He squinted at Applejack and tilted his head. "What's your name, Apple mare?" he asked. "Why did you call on whatever you did to get that shield?"

Before Applejack could reply, the nearby apple branches finally erupted with a flurry of movement. Sakylthos rose from the leaves and twigs, his left arm nursing his right shoulder. "If we must prove ourselves to you, Bear-Wrangler, I gladly oblige." He stared at the black chain wrapped around Apple Slice's foreleg. "If there is nothing to inherit, then I will make do with that upgrade."

"Stupid snake, stay your greedy hand," Apple Slice growled. "Both of you came here expecting me to give you something. My own family sharing the same purpose as an Imperial Champion. Somehow, I'm not surprised."

"I'm nothing like those snakes!" Applejack said.

"You both want my strength," Apple Slice said. "Even though it accomplished nothing in the end." Again, he focused on Applejack. "Answer my questions."

"My name's Applejack," Applejack said. "And I didn't call on anything to get this shield. The Queen gave it to me on her own."

"Why?" Apple Slice's eyes narrowed. "You were close to death, weren't you?"

Applejack nodded.

Apple Slice sighed, and, for a moment, a brief smile crossed his face. "Yes, that sounds about right..." He stretched out his chain between his forelegs his eyes now hard. "If it's my strength you two want, then I'll give it to you. One lash at a time."

"Finally, a clear goal!" Sakylthos bellowed. He extended his own chain and let out a weird mixture between a growl and a hiss. His coils swiftly threshed the ground as he charged, likely to employ the same aggressive strategy he used against Applejack. That hind kick to his gut and being hurled like an old horseshoe clearly wasn't enough to convince him that he wasn't going to outmuscle this long dead pony.

Applejack wasn't so quick to dive in. This wasn't what she had in mind when she first thought of finding this place. She wanted to clear her ancestor's name, not fight him. Not discover his involvement with the abyss. She could only watch as Apple Slice met Sakylthos's charge head on, deftly stepping aside when a scaled fist came his way. He raised his forelegs and caught the shoulder charge that followed it. His hind hooves dragged across the ground for a short distance.

If Sakylthos had been surprised that a pony half his size could stop him, he didn't show it. He disengaged, and slithered back, his chain lashing out in a downward strike. Though the countless ponies this ophidite had surely killed remained in Applejack's mind, she had to respect his sheer battle prowess and confidence. He was up against a great unknown, but he charged fearlessly and remained focused on his fighting moves.

Sakylthos's strike met Apple Slice's chain before it came anywhere near. The black links spun in an upward loop with a flick of Apple Slice's neck, flinging away Sakylthos's chain with ease. With an other flick, Apple Slice changed its direction into his own downward lash. Sakylthos dashed away, but the very tip of the black chain suddenly flicked upward, striking his tail with surprisingly brutal force. The ophidite grunted in clear pain and backed away to recover. The broken ground where the black chain had struck was somehow rimmed with frost.

With that strike, the quiet, anguished murmurs from the broken apple branches turned into pained groans and muffled pleas. Apple Slice glanced at his surroundings, his nose briefly wrinkling and his upper lip curling. Sakylthos saw this as an opening and charged again, but the black chain lashed at him three times, the first striking the ground in front of him as quick as a snake strike, the second piercing the side of his armor with the chain's tip and drawing blood, and the third lashing his chain away in a preemptive defense.

Sakylthos backed away cowed. At last, that fierce confidence in his stare gave way to wary doubt as he nursed his wound. Applejack noted that while the tip of the black chain dripped with blood, the gash on Sakykthos's side didn't.

Apple Slice did not press the advantage, instead turning towards Applejack again. "If you don't help him, you won't stand a chance. Shouldn't be a problem for an Apple."

That was it.

"Don't you lecture me, Hero of Equestria," Applejack said between grit teeth. "Not when that's the power of the abyss you're swinging. Don't you tell me a thing about working with evil folk when you've made a worse deal than your brother!"

The black chain slammed against Applejack's shield. A good thing she never lowered it. That strike was so fast that there was no way she would have put it up before getting hit. Again, the shield quivered. It was like walking on a floor that she wasn't sure would hold her.

"Peel called out to the Empire for a profit," Apple Slice said. "I called out for justice and I called out to anyone who would hear." He twirled his chain for a second strike. "The abyss answered. Why shouldn't I accept?"

Applejack waved her hoof towards crying, broken branches, where she was sure dozens of ponies were somehow trapped as "restless dead", as Anektor called it. She had heard enough of the explanations of Twilight and the others about these sorts of things. "This ain't justice," she said. "Where's the justice in you being stuck in this watery hole with all these guilty ponies?" The Queen's words came to mind. "Especially when you've got a place for you in the Eternal Herd with all the other Apples."

The black chain slammed into Applejack's shield again. This time, so hard that sparks erupted from the lash and the golden disc wavered. A second followed, then a third. Apple Slice wasn't even retracting his weapon now. The links moved as if they had a life of their own. Almost like a slim, metal tentacle. Applejack couldn't stay defensive for much longer. She waited until the black chain struck again, then dispelled her shield before it hit, already rushing Apple Slice as she did so. As she expected, his attack overshot its mark, and crashed into the foliage behind her. Her guess should be right; she could move in to attack just fast enough for one before the chain retracted.

As the figure of Apple Slice drew nearer, however, her charge faltered briefly. He was so imposing, not just because of his size, but because of who he was. Already, she despaired of any thought that she could land a hit. He glared at her, more annoyed at the mere thought that she would dare attack him than concerned for any danger. When she came even closer, his lips split into a smile.

"I never would have expected this from an Apple," he said.

Applejack lashed with her chain. Though unsure of what fighting Apple Slice would even accomplish, she struck as hard as she could. That was the first time she had seen show anything besides contempt for her. Though she didn't understand, instinct spurred her to keep fighting.

Apple Slice stepped away from her strike casually, the turned his head just so to avoid her follow up. His chain returned to his hoof, but he made no move to swing it. Instead, he stepped even closer, his foreleg rising for a strike. Applejack struck first with a quick jab from her foreleg, but all she met was his thickly muscled shoulder. She might as well have struck a tree from the result. Again, she lashed. This time, horizontally. She twirled the chain mid-air in a dizzying dance of silver links, but Apple Slice deftly stepped past each swing.

"Filly, I started slinging rope while I still suckled on my mother's teats," Apple Slice said. "I just need to look at your neck and shoulders, and I know where the chain goes." To illustrate his point, he dipped his head, and the chain whizzed past his mane. He closed in with a sudden burst of speed, his hooves already going for Applejack's neck.

Another chain wrapped around Applejack's torso, though. In an instant, she was flying back, towards Sakylthos. His chain unwound from her once she was by his side some distance. He was still holding his injured side, and his massive chest heaved with exertion. "Think this through, Applejack," he said. "We cannot match him in single combat. He is too fast, too strong, and too skilled."

"Tell me something I don't know," Applejack said warily. She was also starting to pant from exertion.

"We will subdue him as a unit," Sakylthos said. "Once he respects our might and calms down, we can negotiate our inheritance. If he must be destroyed, we shall split the reward or kill each other for it." His jaws opened slightly to reveal a row of small pointed teeth. "All instances are better than both of us being slain by this vengeful spirit."

"You're asking me to team up with an ophidite to fight my family, and loot his remains?" Applejack let out a harsh, ragged exhale. "This is crazy!"

Sakylthos glanced at Apple Slice to gauge their distance, then slithered back a bit. "You must not treat him like a living pony just because he appears corporeal. He is a wraith, and all that concerns him is his vengeance."

"What would you know?" Applejack snapped.

"I've studied you ponies enough," Sakylthos said. "The Empire excels at making wraiths. I had hoped that his vengeance would be focused on Equestria and that I could offer myself as his instrument. Once satisfied, he would grant me the succession. Clearly, his rage has a broader focus. We will die in this defiled place if we do not cooperate, pony."

His vengeance. There was a thought. It was meaningless to fight Apple Slice. He might just end up like Black Rose, and be sucked into the abyss. If only there was a way to get him to...to stop being so vengeful. What did he want anyway? He was the one who sent Apple Peel to the Heartland. If he resented ophidites so badly, why was he attacking her as well? Indeed, his focus was mostly on her. And that contempt he has when he speaks of the Apples...

The time for thoughts and planning had come to an end, however. Applejack and Sakylthos had to leap apart as the black chain smashed the ground between them. With one more look at Applejack, Sakylthos dragged himself to action. He still slithered swiftly, though with obvious greater labor than before. His chain strike looked labored and no longer appeared fluid. Applejack galloped to get behind Apple Slice. If she wanted her chain to have chance at hitting, it had to be swung from where he didn't look.

Sakylthos's overhead lash struck the ground just an inch to Apple Slice's front hooves. Instinct told Applejack to make her attack now, to strike at her ancestor's unprotected back. She had something else planned though. She kept charging, closing in until she was a few feet away. At this range he would have to back away, or use his hooves. His chain flew towards Sakylthos almost by itself, flying in a straight line to impale the ophidite. When Sakylthos began to slither away, a flick of the neck turned the unerring stab into a wide, horizontal lash.

Sakylthos had pulled his weapon back at the last moment, and stretched it out vertically with both hands to stop Apple Slice's attack. The silver links stretched taut and bent at the force, so much that even Sakylthos's bulk was pushed back. The black chain quickly spun into a second lash, then a third in rapid succession. The second blow flung Sakylthos's arms back from the impact. The third struck the side of his head so hard that it smashed him to the ground. Applejack was surprised that the blow didn't take his head off. He did fly to the side, and tumbled across the ground. If he had gotten up after that, Applejack couldn't spare the moments to see. She did hear something; a large splash in the background, like a great boulder hurled into a lake. No time to check, though.

The focused assault left Apple Slice open, though not surprised. He glanced at Applejack, clearly confident in his ability to dodge any chain attack. He was still turning to face her when she was on him.

Apple Slice may be nearly un-hittable with lashes, but there was no dodging an attack just inches away. Applejack bit into her chain, then flung her forelegs around his neck. To her relief, even up close, he didn't smell of dead fish and stagnant salt water. In fact, he smelled like nothing at all, not even like a pony. Her forelegs tensed as she gripped as hard as she could, twisting her hips and shoulders to throw him to the ground or even put him off balance. It was like trying to wrestle a tree stump out of the ground. He answered by smashing his forehead between her eyes. Again, her vision darkened, but she refused to let her grip slacken. He put his front hooves against her forelegs and began to pry while a shift from his shoulders lifted her hind legs from the ground. Applejack wasn't done, though. She had her chain in her mouth, and she flung it around so that it encircled his torso and part of his foreleg.

"You've done some wrangling, have you?" Apple Slice asked. His strength was immense, and he had already figured out her goal. Now, it was a grappling contest. The last thing Applejack wanted was to be hogtied now. The black chain was ice-cold against her fur, and she squirmed to keep it from tangling her. She had the advantage for now. With a tug from her neck, she drew back his left shoulder, keeping him from breaking her grip.

"Plenty," Applejack grunted. "Apple Slice, listen, I..."

Something was wrong here. Her chain was glowing very brightly and started feel hot between her jaw. And her chest...her heart was aching. A sudden wave of loneliness, resentment, and despair, alien and familiar all at once, crashed into her. She was suddenly in front of a barn just like the one back home, wanting desperately to go in, but knowing that she wasn't truly welcome in there.

"I wanted them to stay. To love me like they loved each other. I wanted to farm, and harvest, and raise my own branch in the family."

Apple Slice let out a brief cry as Applejack's chain flashed a searing light. With a roar, he reared up, broke her grip, and flung her away.

The rough ground grazed large cuts across Applejack's legs and shoulders as she tumbled. When she staggered to her hooves, her eyes flooded with tears, not from her injuries, but from another hurt. "I'm sorry," she half-sobbed. "I'm sorry for what happened to you."

Apple Slice had his chain raised. It would a killer blow that she wouldn't be able to evade, but it had yet to come. "You..." he growled. He glared at her, the furious words seemingly choking him.

"I'm sorry for what the other Apples did," Applejack went on. "For the wrong stories they told. For what your fellows did. Apple Slice, you've every right to be angry." She sobbed loudly for a moment. "But, if you just let go, you can be happy with Apple Peel, and Apple Core, and all the others."

Apple Slice jerked his chain between his front hooves, causing the links to clink loudly. A scowl, finally something that showed anything besides scorn for his family and would be successors, marred his face. "Applejack, what makes you think that I'm striving to be happy?" he asked. His voice trembled as he took a step forward. "The things that I've done have made me undeserving. All I can strive for now is justice." He gestured to the foliage surrounding them. "Every pony soul here, these liars, slavers, and oath-breakers, are bound to my grudge for as long as I hold on to it. My fall will drag us all to our rightful punishment." He looked down morosely. "Equestria will have its justice, and Mighty Apple Slice would have accomplished something after all."

"No!" Applejack charged again.

"Begone!" Apple Slice roared. "There's nothing for you to inherit here, Applejack!" He swung his chain vertically, the links slashing down at her so fast that they were mere blurs.

The blow struck Applejack's shield with a loud crackling protest of magical energy. The ground behind and to the side of her erupted in a cloud of raised dust and soil particles. Finally, Apple Slice had broken through a small portion around the edges of her shield. She pressed on until she was within a foreleg's reach again. It figured that he was a skillful grappler as well and immensely strong. Still, she had sparked something. Something painful without a doubt, but it was the only way of reaching him. Apple Slice was ready for her this time. His front hoof found her already swollen and bleeding face. Blood ran freely from her nostrils now, making it even harder to breathe. Her mouth was awash in metallic taste from the resulting stream as well as her busted lower lip. Her ears rang loudly. Findingthe right distance to grab Apple Slice proved difficult with barely any vision from her nearly closed right eye, but she found purchase regardless.

Again, Applejack's chest ached with familiar feelings. It wasn't just her chain glowing now. Some inner light was shining from her as well, just like that time in the abyss. She held on for dear life while Apple Slice tried to pry her off. "Tell me then," she grunted. "Tell me why the path to this place opened when I got this chain. How'd I get here at all? Tell me the truth, Apple Slice!"

Apple Slice answered with a furious growl and a redoubling if his efforts. Applejack strained to keep her hooves clasped. Her shoulders strained until she could start to feel them tear from their sockets.

"You wants to see if this chain made it, didn't you? You wanted to see your family after all this time!"

For a moment, Apple Slice ceased grappling. His voice was low and ragged when he spoke. "Filly, your body is almost broken. You know full well that you stand to acquire nothing from this. Why do you persist?"

"Because you're family, you idiot," Applejack said. "The One Bad Apple, the Last Great Apple, I won't let you fall into the abyss."

Apple Slice let out a sigh. "Yes," he said. "I did want to see my family. One last time. I didn't expect an Apple to carry that chain back to me. Especially not one with the skill to use it in combat." He let out a chuckle. "I wasn't the lone freak after all."

Applejack didn't quite know how to react to that, and in that moment of doubt, Apple Slice suddenly gave her foreleg a sharp twist so that her face was in front of his.

"But this changes nothing," Apple Slice said. "I will bring justice to these fiends, and myself!" His forehead smashed into Applejack's face again. And again. On the third time, Applejack's forelegs went limp. She would have collapsed on her back, but Apple Slice grabbed her chest plate to steady her. "I'm glad that a sliver of courage remains in my family. Now, begone. Take that broken chain as your inheritance. The time is almost right, and I will bring everything here to the abyss."

With that, he flung her back for several feet. She land on her backside with a painful thud, but hardly anything compared to the numbing mess of her face. "Wait..." Applejack said. Before she could continue, the ground started to tremble. All around her, the pained murmurs erupted into screams and wails.

"Leave this place, Applejack!" Apple Slice shouted. "You have no place in the abyss!"

The ground cracked open, forming quickly widening chasms. Applejack strugged to her hooves and looked around. The place was breaking apart. The foliage was screaming in agony. Before long, she was going to fall through the chasms. Instinctively she scanned the place for an exit. She got here by falling into a pond. Diving into another one might get her out. Then, her thoughts focused on Apple Slice again. No, she wasn't leaving here without pulling him out. That stubborn, stupid stallion was dead set on falling into the abyss. The place where hideous ponies like Clover the Clever went was no place for him, no matter how bad he thought he was. She found him at the center of a network of widening cracks, his eyes closed and welcoming of his fate. At a distance, Sakylthos was getting groggily up.

The cracks widened until the ground heaved and splintered. The agonized howls rose to deafening heights. At the epicenter, Apple Slice began to sink. A nebulous, black substance boiled up from the cracks, reaching out like foul tendrils. The a cloud of the foulest odor followed the sight, enough to turn Applejack's stomach. There it was; stagnant salt water and dead fish. She turned away and hurled, the remains of her meager rations mixing with the blood in her mouth before spewing out to the ground. She tried to focus on Apple Slice, but her vision blurred and her head swam. Two Apple Slices stood next to each other until she squinted as hard as she could. It was now or never. She flung her chain at him in one last attempt to lasso. She could only grit her teeth when he immediately spotted the bright silver links glinting in the creeping dark. He swung his own chain to simply swat her attack away.

A second silver chain flew across the dark, swatting away Apple Slice's. Applejack's lasso landed on point around Apple Slice's neck, though he had placed a foreleg into the loop to keep it from tightening around his neck.

"He's no use lost to this world!" Sakylthos bellowed. He stumbled as he recovered his chain. "Pull him back!"

"Easier said than done!" Applejack grunted. She pulled as hard as she could, gripping her chain with both forelegs and her mouth. Apple Slice pulled back, throwing his whole weight in the opposite direction.

The result was a stalemate. Applejack was expecting him to pull her into the abyss, though, so this wasn't so bad. She strained against the chain, her shoulders loosening just a little more with each second. She had made up her mind. She was going to pull her idiot ancestor out of this hole even if she ripped her forelegs off in the process.

An eternity of struggle seemed to pass by. Beads of sweat stung Applejack's eyes despite the steadily freezing air around them. The dark rose to the point that its tendrils wriggled close to her hind legs. Sakylthos was trying to get to a position so he could throw his own lasso, but the ground heaved around him. Trying it now would only result in a tug-of-war between them.

A foreleg, an all too familiar gray-furred foreleg grasped the chain alongside Applejack. Her heart leapt and she had to fight an urge to turn around. "Vanguard!" she mumbled between the links. So that was what that odd splash was. He made it here too! But why did he take so long to get to her? The elation melted away when she realized that his fur was soaking wet, and it was black liquid that dripped from it.

"On three," Vanguard growled softly. "Give it everything, Applejack, I've only got enough for one try."

Applejack nodded and waited as he counted down. Could the chain amplify Vanguard's strength too? Didn't it work only for an Apple? Yet, the links glowed until a portion seeped into his fur. Maybe he was close enough. Her heart lurched with some sense of giddiness. Yes, perhaps the chain recognized what he meant.

"Three!"

With that, she pulled with everything still left. The silver links stretched taut, and, for a moment, she feared that nothing would happen, but they loosened again as Apple Slice finally flew througn the air and towards her. The chain flashed with power, and the screams all around them softened. The ground stabilized as Apple Slice crashed a few feet away.

Behind her, Vanguard fell on his back. That he was getting up so slowly was worrying. He was soaking wet all over and shivering. Why? She had arrived here completely dry. Still, he looked up at her, red eyes still bright and fierce, then nodded towards Apple Slice.

"Stubborn filly," Apple Slice groaned. "Why go so far? You could have sunk into the abyss."

"Maybe some ponies gave up on you," Applejack panted. "Maybe you gave up on yourself." She staggered closer, and tugged on her chain. The links unlooped as she pulled it back. "But I won't." She coughed, and hacked up some left over vomit from the back of her throat. "I won't lie...I did come here hoping to gain something from you, but..."

She closed in on Apple Slice, and clasped his face with her forelegs. "I can never abandon family. Apple Slice, tell me the truth. I heard you before. You've always...you've always wanted to be together with the others as well. All this talk of justice is just you being too afraid of being told 'no' one more time."

Apple Slice let out a sigh, and placed a hoof over hers. A trickle of tears escaped his eyes."The Apples have changed," he said huskily. He stood tall, suddenly looking to the distance. "Lord Spatiator!" he called out. "I've made my decision!"

The dark seeping out of the chasms had not receded at all, though it had stopped rising. The moans and cries fell silent. Applejack perked her ears, catching the faint ring of armored hooves touching the ground, and heavy, metal plates clanking together.

"For many of your centuries you made me wait, Apple Slice...now, tell me your answer."

Author's Note

One more chapter, then shift.

Applejack 10: 'Till We Meet Again

Upheaval: Journeys

Applejack 10: 'Till We Meet Again

The dark slowly seeped out of the chasms, as if keeping in time with the slowly nearing hoof steps. It swirled like thick clouds of blackness. At a distance, some of it was starting to form four, long, slender shapes that moved in order. The air had grown still and very cold, Applejack shivered, then immediately looked worriedly to Vanguard. She pressed closer to him on instinct, hoping that the nearness of her body heat would help him. She would have thrown her hooves around him as well if she wasn't so worried about an attack. Vanguard, on his part, also pressed close. His eyes were locked on what was ahead, though. The four slender shapes were converging, revealing themselves as the legs of a very tall, four-legged creature.

The hoof-steps grew louder with each one, and a new scent rose above the typical stink of the abyss; blood. The thick, cloying stench of blood wafted from the figure, and crashed into Applejack's senses until she was reeling. Her head was already pounding viciously from all the knocks she had taken, this only made things worse. The shape finally finished forming once it was only several feet away. As Applejack had feared, it was an alicorn: built like a stallion, as tall as Prince Terrato, and covered in black, metal plates.

Not a single strand of fur showed past the alicorn's barding. His mane wafted from his criniere as deep red mist, like bloody vapor. His tail came out the same. Instead of a champron that might have shown his eyes and snout, a white, mask-like helmet, made to resemble the skull of a larger alicorn without the horn, covered his head. There were holes for the eyes, but they were shadowed and revealed nothing. Only two things revealed the colors of the pony beneath that armor: a long, light-blue horn, notched in several places, and a pair of large wings with feathers of the same color. Applejack's attention lingered on the right wing. It dangled uselessly by the alicorn's side, clearly broken in several places, and twisted gruesomely. A viscous, black, substance seemed to perpetually ooze out of its wounds, trickling down and dissipating when it dripped past the wing.

Despite the heavy, intimidating presence of black plates and red haze, it was easy enough to notice that the figure was translucent at best. Applejack didn't relax just yet, but it was likely that this alicorn was merely a projected image or something, like the one Prince Terrato used before.

"Lord Spatiator," Apple Slice said. He neither knelt nor bowed his head, but his tone carried marked respect. "You came to me when I called out, and you offered me your power when I asked for justice. I will never forget this."

Apple Slice paused, his heavy solemn expression allowing a very brief smile. Applejack couldn't help but mirror it when he glanced her way. Through it all, this "Lord Spatiator" remained perfectly still.

"But I..." Apple Slice went on. "I've held on to this grudge long enough. Even if I've done things worthy of the abyss...I wish to be with my family again. I've dealt enough misery in this world. It's time I rejoined them."

Spatiator said nothing. Instead, he took a few more steps closer. Applejack bit down on her chain. There was no way this cruel alicorn of the abyss would simply let her ancestor go. She had fought Nightmare Moon. She knew their type. Next to her, Vanguard also readied himself despite his shivering. He held no weapon, though. Perhaps, he lost them trying to get here. Nearby, Sakylthos merely observed. Apple Slice, on his part, did not flinch at standing so close to such an ominous figure. Spatiator raised a foreleg above Apple Slice, his horn briefly flashing. In that flash of red, an enormous metal collar of the same black metal as the alicorn's armor suddenly materialized around Apple Slice's neck.

"I knew it!" Applejack shouted. Well, at least she tried to shout. Her voice was ragged from the shouting earlier, and her throat was raw with blood and left over vomit. This Lord Spatiator was going to collar her ancestor like some two-bit ophidite slaver! A hoof from Vanguard held her back, though.

"Look to what it's attached," Vanguard said.

Applejack paused and stared. There must be dozens of black chains attached to that collar, all spreading out to the nearby surroundings. She followed them with her gaze, and gasped. All the apple branches had disappeared. In their place were the tangled, twisted, silhouettes of ponies, all struggling and moaning in pain. The chains wrapped around them, leaving them suspended in agonizing positions. These...these were what the apple branches were all along?

"You will let them go to attain your place in the Herd?"

Spatiator's voice was deep, and surprisingly gentle. Not at trace of outrage at all.

"Yes," Apple Slice said. "This filly showed me the truth of it. I thought I was being just, but I was just being afraid."

Spatiator waved a hoof, and the collar shattered with a loud clink. The chains quivered and followed soon after, echoed by the myriad cries of relief and joy all around.

"Then...go in peace."

Spatiator stepped back and stayed silent as rays of light began to pour out of Apple Slice's chest. He looked at his hooves with shocked disbelief first, then with gentle joy. Around them, the broken, shadowy, pony ghosts also erupted with light.

"Thank you," Apple Slice said solemnly. He turned towards Applejack with a much wider grin. " And thank you." His face turned serious for a moment as he raised a hoof. "To me one last time, chain!"

Some invisible force yanked the chain from Applejack's mouth. A surprised grunt from Sakylthos told her that he experienced the same thing. The two halves converged in front of Apple Slice, who was now glowing brightly and becoming more translucent. He grasped each chain with a front hoof, and held them close. Apple Slice looked at her and smiled a warm and approving smile at last. "You've reminded me of truths I've forgotten in my misery. This here chain's yours now." With that, he plunged both halves into his chest. The light from him flared into a dazzling array of golden motes. When he pulled his hooves out, there was only a single, long chain of fine silver. He extended his hooves towards Applejack, and the links gently floated her way. "We'll meet again someday. You better have some great tales to tell me about what you did with that, you hear?"

Tears streaming from her eyes, Applejack tried to say something, only to choke up. She had to settle for nodding vigorously.

"Bear Wrangler!" Sakylthos called out.

Apple Slice turned towards the ophidite. "You went far and fought hard, Champion of Ophidus," he said. "And you weren't wrong. In my dying moments, I did curse the ponies who led me to that final battle, and that rage passed on to the half you carried. No doubt, you slaughtered many brave legionnaires with my weapon."

"A great many," Sakylthos said. "Say what you will, Bear Wrangler, but I do not regret a single kill, and I believed I carried out your will."

"I've got no grudge against you, champion," Apple Slice said. "You serve your Empire loyally. As much as I despise Ophidus, I admire your dedication." His eyes hardened. "But your time with my chain is over. I've chosen my successor, and what grudge I hold towards ponies is gone."

Sakylthos merely chuckled. "So be it," he said. Applejack could have sworn she heard a sigh between those words. "It was my folly to rely on ponies in the end. Go to your final rest, Bear Wrangler, I shall have to find other ways to conquer Equestria."

Apple Slice let out a snort, though his smile was back. "Not if my family has anything to say about it!" The light from him grew brighter still, and his image was nearly gone. He looked to Applejack one last time. "See you around, filly!" he said. With one more flare, he disappeared, and the light dimmed swiftly. He did not disappear in silence, however. As Apple Slice faded away, a chorus of cheers erupted from the shadowy ponies in the background. Many of them also burst into light before fading away.

Many, but not all.

After all the lights faded, there were still plenty of the ghostly figures drifting about, their forelegs raised in a cowering pose. They quivered and moaned quietly as they slowly circled the place. Applejack didn't understand. They were free of Apple Slice's grudge. What were they still doing here?

"You guilt-soaked souls frightened of the Herd's light, to me. I shall guide you to the abyss."

The pony ghosts swirled around Spatiator, slowly descending upon him until they disappeared into the ground beneath his hooves.

The elation from seeing Apple Slice freed faded. Applejack took a step towards Spatiator. "What are you doing?" she cried out. "They were free!"

"Yes," Spatiator replied. "They are." He looked to Sakylthos. "As are you, Q'tzal-spawn. This abyssal sanctum will collapse soon. Set aside what fight you have with Equestria for now, and leave. I grant you this one time to traverse the abyss without any means to attune yourself to it."

Sakylthos grunted. "Then, I shall take it." He looked to Applejack. "We will fight again someday, Applejack. Until then."

The rising shadows enveloped Sakylthos, shrouding him in darkness for a moment. After that instant, the shadows dispersed, and he was gone. Applejack swallowed and focused. The twisted apple branches were gone, as was most of the odd light. She stood on bare, cracked, and uneven ground with the darkness closing in on her and Vanguard. Her new chain sparkled silver around her neck, but she was still hurt, and Vanguard was in no condition to fight. In front of them, the image of Spatiator stood perfectly still.

"Hello, Applejack."

That alone nearly made Applejack jump. "H-how'd you know my name?" she asked.

"Our Spymistress has made her report," Spatiator replied. "We know all of your names."

"You've sent the others away," Vanguard said. "But you keep us here. Why?"

"Calm yourselves," Spatiator said. "My projected image can only influence a few, specific things where you are. I cannot harm you, even if I wished to. The Element of Honesty will protect Applejack once you traverse the abyss to leave this place. You, on the other hoof, will surely die given the damage you've taken from your last trip. As with the Q'tzal-spawn, I shall give you leave to do the same without further harm."

Applejack couldn't bear it any longer. This alicorn wasn't making sense. "Why did you do this?" she asked. "You spent centuries trying to drag Apple Slice to your abyss, then you let him go 'cause he asked you nicely? Why did you pick him of all ponies? Don't you have enough crazy ponies from the Old Kingdom?" Her voice lowered. "Who...are you?"

At first, there was only silence, and the lingering cold. Despite the throbbing in her head and the stink of blood., Applejack forced herself to listen.

"I am Abysso Spatiator, one of the three prime servants of the Rightful King. I offered your ancestor a place among my knights, Applejack. He thought it through, then refused. I have no interest in slaves so I did not press the matter. And I did not pick him out of so many. Quite the opposite; he picked me."

Applejack's eyes narrowed. She remembered that vision of Apple Slice calling out for any alicorn to help him. She recalled his words about his crying out, and the abyss answering.

"Understand, ponies, that we alicorns of the abyss are sympathetic in spirit. Whether we wish to or not, we hear your cries if they are loud and resonant enough. Apple Slice's grudge disturbed my peace. I sought him out because he wanted to be found and refused to be silent until he was. He should be grateful that it was not Coruscaria or some other alicorn he disturbed."

"I don't believe you," Applejack growled.

"I care not. Now, I have answered your questions. Propriety demands that you grant me a boon as well."

Applejack was about to make another retort, but she shut her mouth. She didn't like this weird interaction with the great enemy they were all preparing to fight for. She almost wished that he was arrogant and self-serving. All she could do was nod instead.

"Tell Prince Terrato that I shall protect his beloved as long and as best I can. In return, he must defeat me first before he dares to draw his regalia against the Rightful King."

That was...reasonable. Too easy even. Though Applejack found herself having to deliver news to Prince Terrato. Again. "I will," she said warily.

"Then, go. When the day comes, Applejack, seek me in the battlefield. It shall be my honor to slay you, and I promise a swift death."

With that, Spatiator walked away. The shadows blurred and coaelsced all around them as he did. The ground gave way beneath their hooves, and the last thing Applejack heard was a very loud splash before the dark overtook her.

With one more ginger tug, Anektor finished binding the last of his wounds: a long gash across the shoulder from a constrictor's halberd. Fortunately, most of the camp's medical supplies remained intact after the Empire's attack, and there were enough for his myriad injuries as well as Seshimyssen's, and their newfound allies.

Well, "allies" might be stretching it for now. Anektor stared at the group of ponies tending to themselves at the far side of the cave. He knew as well as any crocodilian that the Southern Legion's rangers had eyes out in the swamp, even the most remote areas. He was sure that even this camp had, at least, one mark on a ranger's map. What he wasn't sure of was Vanguard Clash's ability to call on them, or their willingness to answer even if it did mean helping a traditionally hostile race.

But help they did. Vanguard must have signaled while they were still outside as it didn't take long after Applejack disappeared into that pond before they showed up. First, the ophidites broke through the defensive line outside the cave. They poured into the camp eagerly, likely aware that Sakylthos had inflitrated the place and softened up the defenses for them. They were right too. By the time they showed up, the only ones left were Anaketor and Seshimyssen. Vanguard dove into the pond after Applejack.

A lone crocodilian mercenary and a vipren traitor was hardly a proper match for so many. They would have dearly sold their lives right there if the Southern Legion rangers had not showed up. The rangers were few in number, but they were some of the Southern Legion's most efficient fighters, a necessity as their agents often had to fend for themselves in the very harsh jungles and marshes of the south with no protective walls or numerous allies. They cut down more than their fair share of ophidites, and they had the advantage of surprise. They held on with surprising tenacity until the ghosts exploded from the pond.

Yes, that was the strange part. More restless dead emerged from the pond, though these ones glowed brightly with white light, as opposed to the darkened, soaked, beings from before. They swirled about shouting and singing joyously. The racket was so unnerving that, combined with the surprise attack and their inability to locate their champion, the ophidite attack broke. The restless dead did not even make a single attack. After a while, they simply disappeared.

One of the rangers caught Anektor staring and glowered. It would have been more intimidating if this mare didn't have a shattered snout and a badly swollen eye. Her companions were still treating her, and she clearly didn't like the nursing, especially in front of the crocodilian who was so obviously mocking her.

Oh, that was a hilarious sight despite the danger. Shortly after the retreat, Sakylthos himself emerged from the pool. It took him a single glance around to realize that he was in hostile territory and had to flee. He was clearly injured: with deep gouges around his chest plates and a head wound. Still, he was an explosion of movement, slithering his way towards the exit while the ponies shouted in alarm. They knew who he was and what he was worth dead to Equestria. Sakylthos moved swiftly and deftly, however, evading most of their attacks. One ranger, the glowering mare, planted herself between him and the exit. She earned a punch to the face for her courage. She should consider herself lucky that the chain he had been using wasn't on him at that time. Otherwise, her companions would be burying a body, not nursing a filly.

The fighting together was the easy part. Anektor counted nearly zero survivors of this major rebellion camp. Only Maldaktor made it out with serious injuries. The Rebellion had not been exterminated, but it certainly was crippled. The ophidites will strike again, harder than ever now that they've committed this amount of troops. Sakylthos will likely fight harder than ever now as he looks to have lost whatever he was trying to acquire here. Destroying the Crocodilian Rebellion would ease the sting of failure, and salvage his reputation as an imperial champion somewhat. The tatters of the Rebellion won't be enough to stand up to the Empire. They needed Equestria for certain, even if it did mean begging and becoming part of that nation of ponies. Of course, Anektor already anticipated being paid to act the diplomat again.

Next to Anektor, Seshymissen was staring elsewhere: a nearby tent under a large mushroom and close to a roaring campfire. He had fought hard, and showed an array of fresh scars-in-the-making for it. "Those two should be rutting by now," he said.

"That bump on your head not enough, Ses?" Anektor asked with a grin.

Seshimyssen shrugged. "It's the proven best thing for them to do."

"Maybe," Anektor replied. "You saying it to their faces certainly wasn't."

The last to emerge from the pond were Applejack and Vanguard Clash. She bore the marks of a brutal beating on her face and legs, though she carried the injuries with a stoic satisfaction. Vanguard wasn't wounded, but he was shivering and soaked, odd given Applejack was dry. Seeing the freezing stallion, Seshimyssen had told them to rut. His medical advice earned him a conk on the head from Applejack.

"My old master performed experiments with this situation," Seshimyssen said. "He wanted to know the best way to revive a slave exposed to enemy frost spells or cold weather. He and his colleagues got some slaves on the cheap, and cast frost spells on them. The control subject died soon enough. One was allowed a blanket, another a campfire, yet another had fire spells cast on him." Seshimyssen snorted. "The first and third died. The second took a while to recover. The last one was tossed into the company of a nubile, young mare. He revived the fastest. As such, they concluded that if a pony was allowed to rut, he would recover from freezing quickly."

Anektor chuckled. "You could have gotten some ponies from the north and asked them. You might have saved some casualties."

"That's what I said," Seshimyssen said. "Of course, no one wanted to listen to the perverted majordomo." He shrugged. "Besides, they already bought the cheap slaves. What else were they going to do with the unskilled labor?"

Anektor stared at the tent. He could have sworn he saw the sides move slightly. "Well, Ses," he said. "If it's any consolation, it looks like someone is listening to the perverted majordomo."

Applejack nestled against Vanguard, her forelegs around his midsection, and her cheek against his chest. The strong and steady heartbeat and the gentle breathing were music to her ears. After an hour or two, he had stopped shivering, and his fur had finally dried. The inner light that flared from her had faded as well. As for her injuries, the rangers provided quick-acting poultices for the wounds, and some minor healing spells that Princess Luna had already distributed among the Legion. More than that, though, she just recovered really quickly for some reason. She breathed with ease already, the worst of the swelling had gone down, and the headache was gone.

"So..."

Vanguard's voice no longer trembled with the cold, but it was softer and...growlier than normal. Applejack's ears twitched giddily. It was almost as if every hair in her ear gently trembled as the sound passed through, softly tickling her in the process. "Hm?" she asked. Even talking straight proved a challenge. His warm, musky scent, mixed with damp vegetation, filling her lungs with each breath: not exactly an odor for parties, but an honest...oddly exciting smell. The warmth spread from her chest and rushed through her like blood coursing through her veins.

"Where do we go from here?" Vanguard asked.

Applejack had to hide a pout. Business as usual of course. She glanced at her new chain by one side of the tent, where it lay along with her armor and her hat. Vanguard's gear lay among them. Mission accomplished, she supposed. " Dunno..." she mumbled. "Think I'll stay south for a while. The crocodilians need help, and I want to do more about ponies helping slavers. Pick up where Apple Slice left off and stuff. Besides, Sakylthos got away. I got a bone to pick with him."

"Our friends?" Vanguard asked.

Applejack sighed. "They got their own things to do. I just got this hunch that we'll come together again in the future. Just...not right away."

Vanguard let out chuckle, his chest rumbling. She could understand. More hunches. "South it is then."

Applejack raised herself against him so her muzzle pressed against his neck. Her own need to get things done protested. She ignored it. She had just freed a hero of the Legion and improved her weapon. She deserved something like this. "No more work talk," she said. "Just for tonight."

Vanguard wrapped a foreleg around her and held her even closer. His muzzle brushed the tuft of fur in her ear when he spoke. "As you wish," he whispered.

Oh, that was it. Her heart throbbing, Applejack put a hoof to the back of Vanguard's head, burying it in his long, thick, black curls, and pulled him in. He tasted of that dried fruit the rangers shared with them earlier: mildly sweet and tangy. He nipped her lower lip slightly with a fang when he kissed her back; nothing painful, but all the more exciting. Their hind legs tangled until he swept her against her back. He broke off for a moment, his breathing heavy. She looked up to a pair of red eyes gleaming brightly against the tent's darkened interior. He smiled, not that gentle, assuring smile, but a predatory one, gleaming with excited anticipation. "For tonight..." he growled.

Applejack threw aside the concerns for the future as carelessly, just as she did her gear. Vanguard all but crashed into her every sense; his scent, his rough fur, his nearly crushing embrace, and his taste. Yes, just for tonight.

Rainbow Dash 1: Rainbow Flies West

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 1: Rainbow Flies West

Rainbow never did like riding airships. They were slow, cumbersome, noisy, gaudy, and full of hoity-toity ponies with no business being up in the air. She hated it when ponies said they were flying on an airship. This wasn't flying, this was lounging around on a floating hunk of wood that slowly made its way somewhere. They couldn't even take a fast airship like the Night Skimmer. Oh, no. They had to take this fancy luxury airship with its load of nobles and legionnaires. If she was an airship, she'd be like the Night Skimmer: fast, sleek, efficient. This tub was Pinkie as an airship: bulky with too much party stuff, loud, and it was an outright miracle that it could even move.

Yet, Rainbow had to take this one. She wouldn't have minded just winging it to where they were going. She was pretty sure her companions were up to it, even if she did have to slow down for Longstride.

Longstride insisted on taking the ride, stating that they should avoid unnecesary exertions and risks on this mission. A sprained wing or a sudden bout of foul weather would put them in unnecessary danger. Rainbow allowed herself to be mollified. If only so she could slightly delay arguing with him for a few days. She supposed that he was sort of right. She certainly wanted to take on Hassyth in top form, not worn out by very long flights.

It had been two days already. They had gone from the heights of Mount Unicornia, past the White Tail Woods, and into the so-called "Undiscovered West". Undiscovered for the Heartland, anyway. The forests became thickly wooded hills, then forested mountains of snow-topped pines and firs. The Heartlanders oohed and aahed at the imposing peaks that dipped into great valleys, the white, raging rivers that cut through the rock southeastward, and the scattered villages with their columns of smoke from their many chimneys.

The chilly winter air necessitated some warm outfits, a bother as far as Rainbow was concerned, but something she was already used to. She had her leather gear on as well, this time with plenty of chain reinforcements woven into it. She was still working on weight increase to both help her speed and stamina. She had thought that Scarlet's armor was ridiculously heavy, until she ran into a lancer flight resting in Canterlot. Their heavy plate and chain armor along with their massive lances and equally ridiculous swooping blades only served as a challenge. Rainbow could only imagine how fast she'd be unarmored once she was able to fly in those. She had considered getting to know lancing while in the west, after this mission. Charging into the fray sounded better to her than flitting about shooting.

As for the sights, they were impressive for a while, until they kept going with no city in sight. Rainbow paced the upper decks restlessly, already bored with the on-board lounge and those stupid deck games Rarity insisted on playing. What's so fun about pushing little discs on the floor with sticks? Leave it to unicorn nobles to create the most unathletic games ever. Lion Court and Octavia were into it, of course. Pinkie was still scarfing down sweets with Nightcanter and Copper Mane in the on-deck cafe while Sablesteel glowered. Rainbow was already wondering if there was anything at all that Sablesteel liked. Pinkie seemed determined to find out. Copper Mane was more determined to get her to listen to a lecture.

"Hey, Rainbow!" Scarlet shouted from across the deck. "Check this out!"

Rainbow flew over quickly. Partly because Scarlet was annoying the other passengers with his yelling, and partly because he was around a gathering of ponies. As she drew closer, the source of the commotion quickly became clear. Longstride sat at the center of the gathering, eyes focused on the massive bow he was polishing. A dark blue pegasus stallion stood in front of him. The long bow slung across this one's shoulders and the Southern Legion outfit made it easy to guess what this was about.

"...stories about the mysterious 'Arrow from Nowhere'," the stallion was saying when Rainbow got close enough. "You must understand that seeing the pony behind the legend will make any self-respecting archer want to test himself against you. A quick contest is all I'm asking for."

The other ponies around them were also legionnaires with a few curious Heartland civilians here and there. Everypony smelled a brewing contest and wanted to see the result, Scarlet in particular from the way he hovered around them.

"I do understand," Longstride replied. He didn't even bother looking at his challenger. Rainbow wondered if he was deliberately being a jerk or it just came naturally without him realizing. Longstride gave the impression that he would be perfectly happy just talking to his fellow Thorns, and Black Rose. He just might have been doing that all his life. "I just don't care. Leave me alone, ranger."

The stallion's eyebrows twitched, his jaw clenched tightly for a moment, and his voice trembled with obvious restraint when he spoke. "Maybe a chance to gain something might catch your attention?" he asked. "I've got a thousand bits here that says I can outshoot you."

Longstride looked, but it was a disgusted wrinkle of his snout that faced his challenger, not a piqued glance. "Gambling is a shameful habit for any legionnaire," he said. "If you're this undisciplined, your archery is undoubtedly inferior. No testing necessary. Leave me alone, ranger."

The stallion spluttered when Longstride resumed cleaning. "Harsh words," he said, "but you sound more scared than angry. Maybe the great Longstride is just afraid that his legend will be smashed." He faced his companions and the gathered observers with a smile. "I'm not surprised. I placed first in the Highstable Archery Tournament for two consecutive years, and I have this year's in the bag as well. I have concrete proof of my skills, while the mysterious Longstride only has whispered exaggerations from the Southern Legion to speak for him. That and some papers likely forged by Black Rose, history's liar and traitor."

The other legionnaires, obviously his buddies, laughed among themselves. "You tell him, High Point," one of them said.

"The Thorns sound more like a propaganda piece to scare imperial spies anyway," another added.

Rainbow was about to put herself between them when she checked herself, well aware that this didn't really have anything to do with her. It's just that listening to such blatant, bald-faced taunting got her hackles up. In Longstride's place, she'd have accepted in a heartbeat, and put this arrogant stallion in his place. She'd get a thousand bits to boot. Why was Longstride refusing anyway? He shot her flank while she was racing. That shot alone was worth ten thousand trophies from this Highstable Tournament or whatever. And that dig at Black Rose? If it was one of her friends this stallion took a shot at, she'd drub him twice as hard. Longstride had to say yes. Besides, it would probably be cool and entertaining to see an impromptu trick shot competition on this mostly boring trip.

"Oh, come on!" Scarlet piped in. "You're going to let these guys talk like that? Let's see some archery! You can shoot circles around this guy! Then, shoot the arrows going in circles!"

"Are you done?" Longstride asked. Rainbow nearly jumped. That almost sounded like he addressed it to her, Scarlet, and High Point. He had set down his bow, and moved on to inspecting his quiver. "Leave me alone, ranger."

High Point snorted and glared at Longstride. For a moment, he looked ready to just shoot Longstride anyway. "Fine," he groused. "I just proved I'm the best archer in the Legion regardless." He turned and walked away with his friends. The other observers left as well, leaving only Rainbow and Scarlet with Longstride.

"Aw," Scarlet groaned. "That was a dull twist. I'm hitting the bar, again. You coming, Rainbow?"

"Yeah," Rainbow said absentmindedly. "I'll catch up." A brief flutter of powerful wings and a quick draft told her he was probably there already. She stood there for a few moments longer, staring at Longstride while he inspected the points of his arrows. Eventually, she had to say something. She stomped a hoof near him. "Why'd you let him walk all over you like that? There's no way you were afraid! Now, he thinks he's the greatest archer in the Legion!"

"What do I care what he thinks?" Longstride asked.

"What was so wrong about taking him on?" Rainbow asked. "You would have put him in his place, punished him for making fun of Black Rose, and won a thousand bits! Refusing just made you look like you were scared."

"Because my archery was honed to serve Equestria," Longstride said. "Not to satisfy anypony's cheap pride; not his, not yours, not even mine. As for Black Rose, if she ever concerned herself with what every overweening ranger thought of her, we would all be dead." His eyes narrowed. "Don't tell Sablesteel about this. That ranger does not deserve death."

"Hmph!" Rainbow groused. She plopped next to Longstride with her forelegs crossed. "So have you won this Highstable Archery Tournament?"

"Black Rose forbade me from ever entering," Longstride said. "She said I made gambling on the winner boring." He snorted. "Even she had her vices after all."

"Yeah," Rainbow said. "I guess that would be like Black Rose."

"Weren't you on your way to join Scarlet?" Longstride asked.

"He'll still be there when I get there," Rainbow said.

No response after that. Longstride was sharpening some arrow points with a small whetstone. Rainbow glanced at the case of bolts she had with her, and the crossbow strapped to her back. She supposed she wasn't that big on all this maintenance that Longstride was showing his equipment. Then again, she wasn't using a super special, magical bow or anything. Her crossbow was fine.

"So tell me more about where we're going," Rainbow said, her voice much lower. "Why is Hassyth to the west?"

"Hassyth was already a disgraced noble before he came after you," Longstride said. "With the loss of his majordomo, and the vicious retaliations he drew from the Southern Legion, he would be in too great a risk if he stayed in Ophidus. He's fled to a secret manor to the southwest."

"So he's all alone then?" Rainbow asked. "This shouldn't be that hard."

Longstride shook his head. "No imperial citizen would be willing to work for him after his disgrace," he said. "But he will still have indoctrinated slaves. He'll also have enough resources left to surround himself with unscrupulous ursan and pony mercenaries. Hassyth himself is a powerful coatl overlord. Make no mistake, this will be a difficult task."

"You were the one going to do it alone," Rainbow muttered. "Don't start telling me about underestimating him."

"If you are killed or disabled in this mission, I will lose my head," Longstride replied. "Your friends will guarantee that. By myself, I could have simply retreated if faced with overwhelming odds. You and Scarlet will make sure that this attempt will be all or nothing. I'd say my chances of death have, at least, doubled."

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow snapped. "Why'd you agree to take us with you, then?"

Longstride was silent for some time.

"Face it," Rainbow crowed. "You know that you need me!"

"I hope so."

Rainbow didn't like the way that came out. "So?" she asked.

Longstride frowned, and finally stopped to look at her. "So what?' he asked.

"Don't give me that! What else is in there? You can't be this mopey if it was so simple. Spill it."

Rainbow swore she heard a sigh on there when he spoke. "The old manor Hassyth has occupied...I am familiar with the place. Given the location reported, it must be the old Willow Estate, where the Longstride Project took place."

"The Longstride..." Rainbow snorted. "Aren't you special? Getting a project named after you."

"You have it on backwards, you stupid mare," Longstride growled.

That name again. "Okay, fine!" Rainbow threw her front hooves up in front of her. "You don't have to be so touchy about it."

Longstride paused, as if just only becoming aware that he lost his monotone. Only when he regained his composure did he speak again. "There are things hidden away in that facility and its surroundings that might prove...useful. The Project's main focus was my creation, but it also involved itself in various endeavors to aid pegasus legionnaires. Including you, potentially. Also..."

Longstride stared off to the west, his lips tight. "When the Project fell apart, I hid most of the research there. If I recover it, and a great deal of additional research and ponies are put into it, then the Project might be restarted now."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "What?" she clamped a hoof over her mouth when her yell drew surprised glances. She lowered to a harsh whisper when she went on. "You mean, you can make more super snipers? Why didn't Black Rose bring this out sooner?"

"Black Rose left the matter to my discretion," Longstride replied. "I hid it away to ruminate on the matter, and I didn't decide until I underwent the stasis ritual."

"You!" Rainbow growled. She grabbed him by the shoulders with both hooves. "You kept this to yourself! Why? So you can be the only super sniper in Equestria? You selfish--"

Longstride pulled her hooves off, taking her aback by how strong his grip was. All that archery must be good for foreleg strength. "Selfish, am I?" he said. His tone cold, almost menacing. "Then educate me, Element of Loyalty, since you're so wise. As a loyal soldier of Equestria, I'm obligated to share any way to improve our nation's strength, correct?"

"Of course it is," Rainbow said. She was already thinking of what a squad of super archers could do: a barrage of perfectly-aimed shots from over the horizon each perfectly hitting their marks, enemies scrambling in a panic, unable to even tell where they should be covering from.

"Twenty five pegasi and fifty six unicorns died to produce me," Longstride said. "By Black Rose's estimate, even a perfected process will cost three pegasi and one unicorn. How many must die to get from the process that produced me to that ideal? Should that price be paid in the name of my loyalty to Equestria?"

"Twenty--" Rainbow's breath caught in her chest. Her image of a squad of weird-eyed super snipers turned into a hill of corpses. Pegasi and unicorns piled on top of each other, lifeless eyes wide and accusing, mouths open in unfinished moans. She stared at Longstride, those things she was saying earlier soured in her stomach. Longstride stared back. His eyes, normally in a slow spin, stayed still. "Longstride...what are you?"

Longstride's snout wrinkled. "I'm a super special sniper that Equestria needs more of," he said. He exhaled, then returned his arrows to their quiver. "We get ahead of ourselves. When we do find the research, I will decide what happens to it. However, I will listen to what you have to say first. Until that time, concentrate on the mission."

"Yeah..." Rainbow muttered. She stood up and shook her head. She certainly wasn't in a drinking mood now.

"Heeey!"

An all too familiar, high-pitched squeal came from across the deck. Before Rainbow could even react, a pink-furred foreleg was across her shoulders and around her neck. "We're docking soon!" Pinkie Pie sang out. She pointed at the great, dark shape looming across the horizon. "You see that huge mountain? That's the Great Delve!" A quick glance behind Pinkie showed that the others were approaching as well; Rarity, moved at an annoying, dignified pace with Lion Court and Octavia in tow. Copper Mane stayed at the far back while Nightcanter trotted ahead. Sablesteel had to be around somewhere...

Eager to put the heavy topic out of her mind for a while, Rainbow flew up a bit so she could see above the heads of every Heartlander gathering by one side of the airship for a view. She had seen her fair share of mountains. Certainly, the Western Barrier Land showed a lot. This mountain though...

This was the mountain of mountains. Its nearly perfect, conical peak disappeared high into the clouds. Rainbow could only guess that trying to reach this peak would only result in death from the too-thin air. Settlements dotted its vast base, likely logging villages from the cleared forest area around. The slope started with a gentle incline near the bottom only to sharply turn upward. The roads around it did not even reach halfway through.

As they flew ever closer, their destination became clearer. Along the side of the mountain they were approaching, as close to the top as possible without being deadly, was a wide plateau, a flat space so sudden that it looked as if a giant had taken a giant axe to the mountain. What looked like a fortress sat on top of this plateau, where several airships were docked.

"The All-Mountain," Sablesteel said. Rainbow's heart nearly skipped when she found Sablesteel hovering nearly a foot away. "It's been a while. Nothing's changed on the outside, at least."

"Nothing?" Nightcanter scoffed as she took her place next to Pinkie. "I bet the Spiral Gateway has never been this busy ever."

"Ooh..." Pinkie said as she looked to Nightcanter, then Sablesteel. "Have you two been here before? Wait! Were you born here?"

"Me, a burrow-digging, gem-hoarding, delvite?" Sablesteel snorted. "Fortunately, no."

Nightcanter frowned at this, then smiled at Pinkie. "Born and raised," she said. "If we have time, I'll show you around my old haunts."

"It's impressive," Rarity said once she had joined them. She eyed the fortress critically. "But it looks quite small for a capital city."

Lion Court laughed. "My dear Rarity," he said. "You're looking at the Spiral Gateway, which is nothing more than a glorified inspection port for pegasi, war balloons, airships, and dragons. To call this the Delve is like calling the back door of a mansion the entire mansion."

"Well, in that case, the Delve sounds quite impressive indeed," Rarity said.

Finally, their airship docked into the fort. Great, wooden platforms extended from the structure to allow the passengers to walk out. At the far end were several legionnaires, ready to inspect and welcome. The docking area was a large open space with several surrounding towers. No doubt, there were ponies in there, either crossbow ponies or unicorns. Maybe even ballistae. Large stacks of crates also lay scattered round them with ponies trotting to and fro to move them. Past the docking area, a lair of massive, wooden double doors beckoned into the fortress itself. Everypony was moving there, so Rainbow guessed the entrance to the Delve was inside.

Well...everypony but her group.

Rarity and Pinkie now looked at her as the others departed.

"Looks like we part ways here, Rainbow," Rarity said. "Do take care."

Pinkie said nothing at first, opting for a sudden, bone-bruising hug instead. "I'll miss you," she said with a sniff when they broke off.

Next to them, Sablesteel put a hoof on Longstride's shoulder. "Good luck," she said. She glanced briefly at Rainbow before staring at Longstride. "Do your job, Stride," she said. "No more, no less."

"The same to you," Longstride replied. "Take care of yourself, Sable." He merely gave an impassive nod when Lion Court gave him a friendly pat on the back, and Octavia politely bowed.

"See ya, girls," Rainbow said. She waved a hoof as they made their way into the fort. She turned towards her companions for this journey. Scarlet Rabbit grinned at her while Longstride already looked towards the side of the mountain. "Right, you guys," she said solemnly. "Let's go."

The winter air so high up the All-Mountain proved even worse than Canterlot's chilly breezes. The wind felt like little needles against Rainbow's wings as she and her companions winged their way down the slope. A lone, treacherous road did wind its way up all the way to the Spiral Gateway, but there wasn't anypony using it at the moment. Rainbow guessed that it was only there for emergencies. The All-Mountain's steep slopes promised death by abrasion for anypony unlucky enough to fall into the quick slide down them, if they didn't just fall into the several sudden drops she spotted as she flew past. The mountainside, as most of the Western Barrier Land, was covered with a layer of snow. It wasn't so bad as to make avalanches a true danger, but only an idiot would be walking around here.

While Rarity and Pinkie Pie got to live it up in the Barrier Lands' capital city, Rainbow's destination was some small village to the southwest called Southwind. Longstride knew it from memory and confirmed it by a recent map so this had be a really old village.

"So, is this Southwind your hometown?" Rainbow had to yell to fight the loud whistling in her ears as they descended swiftly. As swiftly as Longstride could, anyway. This was a comfortable speed, she supposed.

"I'm told I was born there," Longstride yelled back, his eyes focused ahead.

"Told?" Rainbow scoffed. "You're not even sure?"

"I remember next to nothing," Longstride replied. "I spent my foalhood in Willow Manor as a Longstride candidate."

Well, that went someplace Rainbow didn't want to go yet. "What about you, Scarlet?" Rainbow asked. "We close to your hometown?"

Scarlet guffawed. "No way! I was born in Nazcatania, the Imperial Capital itself!" He did a little turn, then a spin, clearly restless with the speed they were going. To see him laughing and smiling remained surprising, though. He had been so berserk at the chance to kill Hassyth back in the Heartland. Rainbow had feared that the thought of actually going on a mission to go after his old master would reduce Scarlet into a frothing beast. She liked to think that he had learned some self-control after that incident. Better that than him simply being terrified of Vanguard Clash.

They finally moved out of their dive and into a horizontal flight. They remained above the treeline, flying across a sea of white-topped greens. Rainbow sucked in a deep breath. That fresh mountain air was so invigorating, she could probably fly for hours with no problem. They soared on quietly for just that, save for Scarlet's occasional loud whoops and maneuvers. It was great to have so much open sky out here. For a while, she could just think that they were on a grand adventure. Their packs had enough food for a week if they scrimped and saved. Their canteens were good for several days, and there didn't seem to be a problem with rivers and streams in this part of the Barrier Lands. Everything still looked good.

Longstride's sudden hoof on Rainbow's shoulder brought perspective crashing back. "Wait," he said flatly. Rainbow stopped to a hover. Ahead of them, Scarlet was a hundred feet away before he realized what was happening.

"What?" Rainbow asked.

Longstride pointed at the horizon. Rainbow squinted, but there didn't seem to be anything out there. Longstride was pointing southwest, though, to the place they were heading. "Smoke," he said. "A large column. This doesn't bode well for Southwind."

Rainbow squinted even harder. There might be a very faint wisp in the horizon...or was she just imagining it just to confirm with Longstride? She nodded, her face serious now.

"Okay," she said. She patted her crossbow and let him ahead. He was the one who could see after all. "Let's do this."

Rainbow Dash 2: The Attack on Southwind

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 2: The Attack on Southwind

Rainbow had heard some stories of ursans; the great invaders from the west. Legionnaires spoke of their raw might, their size, and their unabiding hatred of "und-bog" which apparently translated to Equestrian as "not an ursan". She was used to seeing big things as well. She had taken on a brachyurus, seen a dragon, and the Coldsteel Construct.

These ursans, though...they were something else. Massive bulks of brown fur raged through the village streets, tearing through wagons, doors, and roofs. Even from a distance, their size and power were obvious. Rainbow wouldn't even reach their shoulders if she reared up. When they roared and growled, a row of curved fangs, the size of daggers, gleamed in their mouths. A whole pony could fit there, and those jaws looked like they'd crunch that pony up with one bite. Their paws were outright over-sized. No creature needed paws that huge in proportion for mere survival. They were made for crushing things beneath their weight and for accommodating those freakishly long claws.

Ponies scattered at the sight of these ursans, carrying a few packs and their foals as they fled for the gates to the southeastern portion of the village. Nopony seemed to be putting up any resistance. A quick glance to the northwest gates to the village revealed why. Around a dozen ponies lay dead by the gates. Probably more, depending on how many ponies all the scattered limbs and gore added to. The watchtowers had been knocked over, and the gates had been ripped from their hinges. This village didn't look like it could have survived an attack from pony bandits, let alone so many giant bears. The walls were likely just for keeping ordinary bears and wolves out. The dead ponies weren't even wearing any barding.

The smoke came from the two largest buildings in the village. Rainbow guessed that it was probably the village hall and the local barracks. A few ursans were still hurling rocks at the brick walls of these buildings, knocking holes in them while one carried what looked like a massive tree branch, if not a small tree, that burned from one end.

Rainbow focused on one of the creatures as it reared up and roared. This one was by the village square, having cornered an earth pony mare with a crying foal across her back. A colt and a filly pressed against her sides and whimpered. The ursan had thick plates of armor across its chest, back, and head. The crossbow she held suddenly seemed so puny. Even if her bolts could pierce that armor, it would probably just penetrate ursan hide for an inch. Hardly a lethal hit. She'd have to focus on the gaps or maybe--

As if confirming her thoughts, an arrow struck the ursan's left eye. A second one found its right. When it roared out in pain, a third flew into its open maw, likely piercing its throat from the inside. The ursan staggered about blindly, making horrific gurgling noises as its claws tore deep gouges into the dirt in its agony. The earth pony mare seized the opportunity to bolt.

Rainbow knew better than to look for Longstride now. He was likely too far away to be more than a dot in her vision. That was a tough act to follow too. She trusted her aim enough to get the eyes with some regularity, but not at perfect consistency or with such quick follow ups. Her crossbow took time to load while he fired and reloaded with rapid ease. Still, she wasn't just going to let him upstage her. These ponies needed help, and she was just a part of this mission as Longstride.

Here was a problem, though. A trio of ursans converged on the spot, resembling nothing more than heaving walls of fur, muscle, and metal. They snarled, spoke in some guttural, huffing language, then pointed at her. Rainbow wasn't sure if she should be flattered or angry.

Given her altitude, Rainbow didn't have to worry about being torn apart by those enormous claws at the moment. Brachyurii were capable of fantastic leaps, but these ursans were loaded down by armor. That should keep her safe until she could maneuver to get a shot at some vulnerable spot. One of the three ursans looked to be more of a problem, however. It had great bags hanging off its sides that bulged with heavy, rounded things. It reached into one of them, producing an enormous, smooth rock. With a grunt, it hurled the thing at terrifying speeds. A hit would likely blow a hole through Rainbow's torso. She dodged with ease, and the rock crashed into a nearby building. A volley of rocks soon followed. The draft from their passage ruffled Rainbow's feathers and mane as she instinctively flew up to get out of range. Another ursan with the bags spotted her, and had a rock ready in its massive paw.

Rainbow aimed her crossbow for an eye, but having to worry about giant rocks caving her skull in didn't make for an easy shot.

"Eeeyahoo!" Scarlet laughed as he flitted through several thrown rocks. He passed through one ursan that tried to swipe at him, and pointed his crossbow at its face. When he fired, however, the ursan had already ducked so the bolt struck the armored back of its neck. Rainbow wasn't so eager to dive in, especially when another ursan suddenly roared in pain and clutched at its eye. Here was another problem. Maybe she shouldn't have charged into the fray with Scarlet. The ursans weren't covering up in their armor whenever he fired because they had no idea where he was coming from. She swooped in for a shot, but the ursans were ready. Her target ducked low, facing her with its armor plates while its friends moved in. The heavy lumbering steps vibrated the ground around them. When they swung and missed, the draft alone disrupted Rainbow's flying.

The cries from the blinded ursan must be drawing the attention of the others, because a number of them were converging on the spot. More rocks through the air, forcing Rainbow to focus on dodging and weaving for now. An entire wagon flew just a few feet above her. Then, a piece of roof. Then, a fragment of wall. Nearby, Scarlet flew over a thrown barrel, then a dead pony. When she and Scarlet gained some more distance, the ursans with the bags pulled out large slings from their packs. With a few spins, they launched the rocks over the distance and at greater speeds.

"There's too many!" Rainbow shouted before Scarlet could try to dive in. She hated the thought of retreating, but all it was going to take was a lucky pot shot from those slingers and she'd be dead. She fired her crossbow at one slinger, taking advantage of its need to look up at her to send a bolt down its face. The ursan tried to turn away, but the bolt caught the corner of its eye and tore a vicious gash across the side of its head. Another ursan clutched its face and rolled on the ground in agony. Now, however, all the ursans ransacking the village had concentrated on their attackers. There had to be a dozen of them wrecking the place, and a few more were emerging from the nearby woods.

Rainbow had to turn back. Hopefully, her brief antics were enough to buy these straggling villagers time to run.

"Not for long!" Scarlet yelled. He had glanced behind them, and was now pointing excitedly at the distance. Rainbow afforded herself a glance after gaining some more altitude. To the northeast, a large, flying, weirdly sparkling shape was making its way towards them. She squinted as the shape moved closer, and grew more distinct. It wasn't a single shape at all, rather a concentration of many figures flying in close formation. She flew closer towards them while Longstride met her halfway through.

"Lancer flight," Longstride said. "Looks like a tardy Legion response. The village has already been sacked."

"At least they showed up!" Rainbow snapped. She looked at Longstride, who had readied another arrow. "Can you see their insignia?"

"Lance piercing a line of bones," Longstride said. "Flight Shatterspine, as I recall. One of the older flights given that it existed in my time."

Longstride had fired three more times when the pegasi flew close. This didn't seem a full flight unless lancers organized differently. They looked to be around twenty; all stallions in plate and chain armor. Their barding glittered under the setting sun, each burnished plate nearly at a mirrored finish. Northern Legion pegasi stuck to simple leather and often dyed their armor with light blues and white to blend with the open wintry sky. These lancers went all out in revealing themselves. They wrapped bright blue bands of cloth around their right forelegs, displaying the insignia Longstride mentioned; a white depiction of a spine with a lance breaking the center. Many of their champrons had long pegasus feathers sticking out. They had one lance at the ready position on their right shoulders, needing only to be couched before the dive. Another was strapped by their left, point slightly up and back. These were incredibly long things, at least twice as long as a pony, with great steel heads. Many of the lances had a small flag of Equestria fluttering close to the point.

Their leader flew ahead of them by a few feet and now faced Rainbow. The others stopped to a hover as he spoke.

"Civilians," the leader, a blue pegasus, growled. He wore a champron, but the edges of a gray mustache showed anyway. "Fall back, this is a Legion operation now."

"We're legionnaires too!" Rainbow retorted. "And we were here trying to fight those things while you took your time."

The leader looked at Rainbow's weapon. "That's a light crossbow," he said. "You're a long way from the north, mare. Your little toothpicks might take out a wolven or an ophidite, but they'll just make ursans mad."

"They've done more than your talking," Rainbow muttered. To her surprise, the stallion laughed.

"Right you are!" he said. "Lancers! Move in!"

The rest of the flight let out a yell and picked up the pace. The ursans in the village had noticed, and were closing ranks to ready themselves.

"Novices," Longstride said, his eyes on the ursans. "If they knew better, they'd duck into the houses, and take on a looser formation." He readied another arrow. "They're treating this as if they're being attacked by ground forces at a funny angle. This will be a slaughter."

"If they did, would the lancers lose?" Rainbow asked. She doubted it. There's no way the Legion would keep them around if that was all it took to beat them.

"If the lancers were novices themselves, perhaps," Longstride replied. "These are veterans by their looks and demeanor. They'll flush them out of their shelters easily enough. In a larger engagement, evocation arrays would switch to incendiary spells to burn them out, then the lancers would kill them while they fled."

The lancers certainly made no secret of their approach. A strong breeze suddenly picked up, allowing their flags to flutter proudly. They banged their front hooves against their armored chests in a steady rhythm as they picked up more height.

"Flesh and Blood and Valor and Steel!" their leader shouted.

"Death from above, make our enemies kneel!" the rest of the lancers shouted back.

"To the heart of battle and the glory it brings!"

"Death from above, by the Legion's wings!"

The lancers had reached the top of the village. Sling fire came at them haphazardly, but even the ursans knew that flinging rocks straight up was an invitation for a broken skull. Despite their heavy armor, the lancers knew how to dodge. Those that couldn't simply angled themselves to take the brunt of the attack on their thickest plates.

The leader raised a hoof, couched his lance, and began his dive. Nine other lancers followed. The ursans shouted things in their language, roared, and reared up to meet the oncoming charge.

It was just as Longstride predicted. The lancers were more than a hundred feet above the ursans, and it took them seconds to hit their targets. What slowness they displayed with their normal flying turned into furious velocity when it came to diving. Their weapons stabbed deep, sinking half their shafts into screaming ursans. One lancer crashed dead center on an ursan's back, stabbing so hard into where the plates of its armor articulated that the ursan collapsed on its belly.

'Shatterspine,' Rainbow thought. A fitting flight name.

Two lancers dove side by side and stabbed the same foe. The first pierced the ursan's eye, and tore through most of its upper skull, spraying blood and bine shards across its fur and armor. The second jammed his lance into the open mouth until the point came out of the back.

The attacking force had nearly been slaughtered with that initial charge alone. The lancers at ground level released their lances, and rose, already setting their second ones. The very few ursans remaining charged them, likely hoping to take out a few while they were within reach.

The second wave crashed in a raucous burst of pained roars, furious battle cries, metallic bangs, and the grisly, wet sliding of hard steel on flesh. Blood practically fountained with each successful stab, and the lancers' gleaming armor ran red with thick gobs of gore.

Scarlet laughed at the spectacle, then cheered. "Easy-peasy!" he yelled.

The lancers raised their hooves in a victory salute, but quickly gathered together at the village square for assessment. Rainbow, Scarlet, and Longstride joined them.

"Attend to the villagers," the leader was saying to one of the lancers. One of them brought him a chair. "Scout for enemy reinforcements and stragglers."

Several lancers saluted and flew off. The other lancers began to clear the dead and inspect the damages. They pulled out their lances from the bodies, setting aside the still intact ones. The leader then faced Rainbow. "Captain Razor Beard, Flight Shatterspine of the Western Equestrian Legion," he said with a salute.

Rainbow and the others returned the salute before she spoke. "Legionnaire Rainbow Dash..." she paused, suddenly unsure of what should go there given the whirlwind of events in such a short time that led her here. "Flight Dreadwing of the Northern Equestrian Legion."

"Legionnaire Scarlet Rabbit, Special Operations, Third Squad of the Northern Equestrian Legion," Scarlet said.

"Legionnaire Longstride," Longstride said. "Highstable Rangers of the Southern Equestrian Legion."

"A motley crew you have there," Razor Beard said. He looked over the devastated village and clucked his tongue. "We flew as fast as we could," he said. "The report was that a group of ursans was making its way east of the village, not the village itself. Fool scouts forgot to mention that the infighting in that group was reaching breaking point until much later."

"This was a splinter group," Longstride said. "Young, arrogant ursans, barely more than cubs, refusing to take orders from their elders."

"You know your Prince-damned bears," Razor Beard said. "We weren't ready for deployment. We thought this was just some routine check and maybe a brief evacuation. Had to force-fly to get here with as many as I can get ready."

"There will be more," Longstride said. "The better-trained and older ursans are clearly up to something."

"The rest of Flight Shatterspine will arrive. I've got a flyer going back to get more reinforcements just in case. I don't like these ursans skulking about. Why are they here? Nothing in this podunk village worth getting. It must be something else."

Longstride looked farther southwest, but he didn't reply. Rainbow could guess why.

"What about you lot?" Razor Beard asked. "What brings you so far out here?"

"Uh..." Rainbow scratched her head. "We're here to kill a coatl," she said. She didn't want to mention anything about Willow Manor, or the Longstride Project. Longstride can figure that stuff out.

"Two crossbow pegasi and a ranger are going to take on a coatl?" Razor Beard scoffed. "That's a little too daring, don't you think?"

"We have our plans," Longstride said. "But it looks like our missions are about to overlap, Flight Captain. These ursans are coming from the same direction as our target."

"Mmm," Razor Beard grunted. "So these aren't Ursinium grunts. Mercenaries possibly working with a coatl. We'll need some magical support."

Longstride turned his gaze away from the manor's direction. "More than that," he said. "The trees a few miles from here are shaking violently. I see gaps in the woods where there should be trees, but not. As if something had cleared them for easier movement."

"Really?" Razor Beard asked, his tone low.

"What does that mean?" Rainbow asked. "It's just trees, something's moving among them."

"Not any 'something'," Longstride said. "Something huge and bulky; a greed dragon perhaps, or more likely..."

"Titan," Razor Beard said. "Lancers!"

The lancers stopped what they were doing, and gathered around their captain.

"We're fortifying here," Razor Beard said. "Get the villagers to a safer location. We might take on another ursan attack."

"Another?" one lancer said. "We haven't taken on one yet."

The others chuckled until Razor Beard raised a hoof. "More than that, boys, we've got a titan skulking nearby."

A collective gasp moved among the lancers. They looked at each other, mouths agape and eyes wide. Rainbow wasn't surprised. She heard little of ursans, but there was plenty of talk of the ursan titans in that little. They were the biggest and nastiest of a big and nasty lot. They dwarfed even brachyuri, and easily trampled entire towns in their berserk rampage. Anypony would hesitate taking on such a behemoth.

"When was the last titan kill?" a lancer asked.

"Flight Gorehowl got one twenty years ago," somepony from the back replied.

Another lancer snorted. "Pah! The skewers did most of the work for that. Gorehowl stuck their lances on an almost dead titan."

"Steelfang and Gorehowl had titan kills for this century," another lancer said. "Before that, Rendlance got the last one. Finally, Shatterspine gets a turn."

"Wait," Razor Beard said. The rest looked to him as he spoke. "First titan kill of the new era of reunification."

The softly spoken words seemed to flitter onto each lancer. Wide grins spread on their faces as they looked to each other. Soon, they were pawing the ground and laughing excitedly among themselves. There was an infectious sense of excitement among them, one that spread to Rainbow as well, despite her worries. She was almost looking forward to seeing this titan.

Night descended on Southwind without any more violence. Some of the villagers gathered the courage to return. They thanked the legionnaires and asked to bury their dead, which the lancers assisted with. A number of them, mostly teenaged earth pony colts and fillies, volunteered to aid any more efforts against the ursans. Razor Beard had them digging from sunset to well into the night. Walls, at least ones able to be constructed with available time and resources, would be meaningless before an ursan frontal charge. Thus, they dug wide and deep trenches to trap and wound their attackers. They dismantled some of the houses, using the wood to create sharpened stakes that lined the bottom of these trenches.

Rainbow stood atop one of the surviving houses and watched the whole affair. She didn't like this development. Too many ponies involved now. She had this weird tingle of restlesness in her wings and a feeling that things were only going to escalate from here. The urge to fly off, and leave any major battle to the western legionnaires hovered around the edges of her mind. She couldn't leave, though. Already, she was invested in these lancers' victories.

Scarlet sat next to her, humming a tune to himself while inspecting his crossbow. "Think we should get ourselves one of those lances?" he asked as he glanced at her. "They'd work better than crossbows, I think."

Rainbow sighed and stayed silent for a while. She had been thinking about that as well. "I don't think we can just pick then up and use them like pros, Scarlet," she said. She remembered the fight against Ridentem, then the ghost of Hurricane. Maybe she could...if she put some thought into how to do it right. A sonic rainboom with a lance at the end. That might work, but a normal lance might not be enough. Applejack had a magic chain, Rarity had magic blades, Pinkie Pie had a wierd stone tablet. Maybe she could get something like they had.

Longstride landed next to them, a bundle of various grasses and flowers around his foreleg. "Save your rations," he said.

"So what did you see out there?" Rainbow asked. "Is the mission still on?"

"I had expected Hassyth to have around half a dozen ursans working for him given his declining fortune," Longstride replied. "The grounds around the manor tell otherwise. The only way to get these many working under you, especially with a titan, is to be allied with a patriarch or matriarch. Hassyth has acquired a powerful ally. We'll need to depend on heavy Western Legion support. Besiege Willow Manor, the kill Hassyth in the confusion."

"I thought so," Rainbow said. Longstride didn't mention the research, but he was likely planning on how to keep the manor from being destroyed during the fighting. So that's a coatl overlord, and an ursan clan leader with a titan. What had she gotten caught up in?

"Great!" Scarlet said in between chewing on some mountain flowers. "I swear, I'm not letting Hassyth escape this time!" Rainbow followed his example and chowed down on some of the grass. The tingly, minty flavor was definitely better than dried, salty fruit and hard bread.

"We were lucky this splinter group blundered around like this," Longstride said. "Their antics got the Legion's attention. We can always count on the ursans to be their own worst enemy."

"Villagers weren't so lucky," Rainbow retorted.

"No," Longstride said. "They will be avenged though."

Rainbow guessed she could let it go at that. It's not like it was his fault these ursans attacked. "So," she said when Longstride had also settled down. "Something tells me you're not a Highstable ranger."

"Anymore than you're still under Flight Dreadwing," Longstride said. "If we were being honest, you'd introduce yourself as Legionnaire Rainbow Dash of the Elements of Harmony."

"Yeah, but I was a member of Dreadwing," Rainbow replied. "Were you ever a Highstable ranger?"

"It was my cover back then," Longstride said. "You didn't go around introducing yourself as a Thorn, no matter how many rumors cropped up. It was easy to pose as a ranger. Many of them worked alone or in pairs anyway."

"Not that true now," Scarlet said. "They keep rangers in squads now, said that all that solitude made rangers a little crazy."

"But then they'd be easier to track," Longstride said. He sighed. "The indiscipline these days..."

"Hey, it can't be that bad," Rainbow said. "I'm sure they're still kicking tails down south. What's wrong with taking care of your rangers?"

Longstride quietly chewed on his meal for a while, mulling that question over as if it was a novelty. "Perhaps they are better off," he muttered. Rainbow frowned at the speed he chowed down on his meal. Longstride ate like a machine, likely not even bothering to taste anything. She was only halfway through when he was getting up. "Turn in," he said. "We might have a fight ahead tomorrow."

Scarlet and Rainbow glanced at each other, then went back to eating. Longstride may not enjoy these brief leisures, but that wasn't going to stop them. Tomorrow was going to be hard enough.

Rainbow Dash 3: Ruminations on Loyalty

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 3: Ruminations on Loyalty

Rainbow had expected the morning to be explosive; something to hearken to that day she first saw King Fenrir. Of course, she wasn't expecting to encounter Arugek, but she thought she'd wake to a scramble with shouts for an imminent attack. Instead, she was up to a cold, dull, and gray morning. Upon realizing that there was a greater force awaiting them than anticipated, the plan shifted. The Legion was going to engage these ursans, and probably Hassyth. It was best to wait for reinforcements for now. Let the Legion engage the bulk of the forces around Willow Manor, then get in there to get what was needed.

She stretched her legs out, then her neck and back. Sleeping in leathers was one thing. Mail was another. The weight left her a little stiff, and the links occasionally pinched her wings. How Applejack slept in her plate and chain since the beginning was a mystery. And Vanguard Clash in that nightsteel...ridiculous.

Most of the villagers had fled for Clearspring Valley, a fortified town and the closest settlement. That left a lot of vacant houses, which the volunteers agreed to let her and the others sleep in. Anticipation of a big fight didn't let her get too much sleep, though. That along with these lumpy mattresses and low ceilings. What was it with earth ponies and compact homes? She'd have slept on the roof if she wasn't worried that some ursans might start chucking rocks and smash her to a pulp while she snored. That and freezing to death. It was warmer here thanks to being farther south, but it was still quite cold.

Outside, things were shaping up a bit. The trenches were deep and spread out. They even got some of the fallen watch towers up and occupied. There was a large gathering by the village square. Judging from the smell of vegetable stew wafting from that direction, the reason was obvious. The rumbling in Rainbow's belly also made her response to that smell quite clear.

"Hey, Rainbow!" Scarlet called out from a roof by the square. He was holding a bowl in his front hooves while thick droplets of stew glistened around his chin. "You better hurry! These lancers chow down like wolven!"

Rainbow took off. Sure enough, there was an enormous cauldron at the center of the gathering attended to by some of the volunteers. She hesitated a moment. There was no way these villagers could sustain feeding so many, especially with winter still on. These villagers were putting it all on the line for the Legion. There had to be a way repay them. She approached Razor Beard, who was sitting among the other lancers.

"Legionnaire Dash," Razor Beard said. He tapped the lancer next to him who produced a bowl of stew for Rainbow. "Heavy sleeper, are we? Don't tell me the Northern Legion's softening up." His gaze fixed on Rainbow's flank. Some of her cutie mark's colors still showed through the mail. "Or is that more of a chosen thing?"

"Neither," Rainbow said. She slurped up some of the stew: salty, a little thin, light on the leafy vegetables, and plenty of mountain potatoes. "Besides, better late in the morning than late for a fight."

"Aye," Razor Beard said with a sheepish chuckle. "It's a poor start to a mission, but we'll finish strong."

"You're not going to rely on the village for food the whole time, are you?" Rainbow asked. "They're going to run out for winter."

"Supplies are on the way," Razor Beard said with a snort. "Southwind will be repaid for this. Did you mistake us for a swarm of locusts just devouring everything in sight, Legionnaire Dash? The Western Legion takes pride in its good relations with civilians."

"You better," Rainbow muttered as she finished off her meal. She looked around a bit. The rest of Flight Shatterspine was finishing up. They buckled on their barding, splashed water on their faces, and set their lances. It must be impossible to use those incredibly long things in any enclosed space. Even a slight turn would catch onto obstacles. The "swooping blades" strapped to their sides wouldn't be useful either. They were heavy, curved blades, made for deadly slashes as lancers swooped; a tactic they fell back on once their lances splintered. For close quarters, it looked like their only resort was their tramplers. She imagined that she'd have to resort to the same thing in the same situation. That wasn't good. She hadn't exactly been working on fighting up close. The last time that happened, Applejack pinned her to the ground, then beat her snout in. Not exactly a shining display of her prowess.

'Why am I even thinking so hard?' Rainbow asked herself. 'The enemy is Oceanus. We're obviously going to fight him in the wide open abyss, not inside a broom closet."

Of course, the reason gnawed at the back of her mind anyway. This big mission started out more as something to distract from the fact that she had no clear path to improving herself. Sure, killing Hassyth might make her feel safer and better, but it had nothing to do with gaining strength. Longstride mentioned finding something in the manor, but that was obviously a long shot. Rainbow nearly snickered over the term, much to her chagrin. As much as she hated thinking things through instead of doing something, it was clear that she had to do more of it to get anywhere.

Her light crossbow was useful for taking out wolven, and possibly those ophidite things, but the biggest fights in recent memory required a Sonic Rainboom charge into the enemy. Slamming her head into her foe would be obviously dumb, and she shouldn't always rely on Twilight's protective spells. A lance on the other hoof...yeah, a lancing stab empowered by her Sonic Rainboom would be an improvement. But even as she relished the notion, the weakness she discovered in using either a crossbow or a lance came to her again. Foal of a nag...when had she become such a worrywart?

As she continued to look around, Rainbow finally found the other thing she was looking for. Longstride was stitting atop one of the watchtowers, gazing southwest again. In a second, she was landing just a few feet away. "Hey," she said. One of his ears perked, likely the only gesture he'd make to show he heard her. Otherwise, he continued to scan the horizon.

"Do you need something?" Longstride finally asked.

"What do you do when your targets manage to get up close?" Rainbow asked. She recalled their encounter in Mount Unicornia. He may be resilient and strong, but he wasn't a close quarters fighter.

"I'm normally at great distances if I'm actually engaging in combat," Longstride replied. "It will take an extreme situation for me to find myself in close quarters witht the enemy."

Rainbow smirked. "You mean like that time on Mount Unicornia?"

"Yes, the extreme idiocy of my mark does count," Longstride replied. "But if I am in danger of being attacked up close, I'd prefer to fly away preemptively. Barring that, I have Sablesteel's needle mines set up when I can, or I request emergency remote teleportation from either Blue Moon or Black Rose, or I retreat reactively. If cornered, I will rely on close combat techniques.' His eyes narrowed. "You scoff because of a single incident, Rainbow Dash. I had no intention of harming anypony at that time. Don't think you'll get the same results each time. Sablesteel's lessons are thorough, and I've seen her murder three stallions with a darning needle."

It was only after those last words that Rainbow realized two things. First, she had stopped hovering and taken a seat near Longstride. Second, she distinctly heard her name instead of "stupid mare", and she had purposely annoyed him too. "So you rely on your friends most of the time," she said.

"Of course," Longstride replied. "Even the best equipment and training can only do so much. Do you find it odd?"

Rainbow snorted. It was the best she could do to hide a smile. "Of course I do," she said. "I mean everything about you screams 'I'm a grumpy loner'. Anypony would find it weird to hear that you rely a lot on your friends!"

Longstride was silent for a while. He stopped scanning the distance, but he stared off anyway. "You said that twice now...friends," he said as he focused on her. "The other thorns were my squadmates, comrades. 'Friend' would not fit how I work with them."

"Oh, come on," Rainbow said. "What's with the stupid semantics? How many years have you spent fighting next to these ponies? You even stuck yourselves together somewhere to come out alive after hundreds of years!"

"We were all agents of Black Rose," Longstride said, his voice very slightly rising. Rainbow considered herself slowly improving on noticing that. "What we did, we did out of duty--"

"You just said that the best equipment and training isn't enough," Rainbow snapped. "I'm not going to believe you now when you say that you did all those incredibly difficult things just out of duty."

"Believe what you want," Longstride said with a sigh. He spoke again after another moment of silence. "I suppose I have come to rely on Sablesteel and Blue Moon more so than the others. If you must agitate yourself about this, then they may fit being my 'friends'."

"See?" Rainbow was beaming inside for some reason. "You do have friends." This felt like a win. A very small, probably pointless win, but she loved winning.

"And I thought you were being earnest by discussing tactics," Longstride said. "If you're done with your frivolity, let us try to attend to this mission."

"I wasn't being frivolous," Rainbow said. "And I'm not done!"

Longstride stared at her, his irises spinning lazily. "What else do you need?" he asked.

"Uh..." Rainbow looked around the watchtower. That put her into the spot. Finally, her gaze landed on the enormous bow that lay in front of him. "Hey...can I take a shot with that bow?"

That was incredibly stupid and Rainbow knew it the moment it left her mouth. She braced herself for a withering stare from those weird eyes followed by a blistering rebuke. "I-I mean, I'm trying out different weapons, maybe--"

"You may," Longstride replied. "The matter of 'can', however, remains to be seen." He lifted the bow, the strange runes covering it glowing at his touch, strung it, then offered one end to her.

"Really?" Rainbow's eyes widened. She reached out for the weapon, but stopped short of an inch of it. "This thing isn't going to curse me or anything, is it?" she asked.

"Its magical properties will not function for anypony but me," Longstride replied. "But it will still function as a bow. As for magical defensive measures, there aren't any. Make no mistake, Camellia will punish you for any inept archery you display."

Rainbow looked at the weapon. That would be pretty cool, having a fancy weapon then giving it a name to really make it stand out. Outwardly, she merely wrinkled her nose. "Camellia, huh," she said. "That's kind of a lame, girly name for a bow. I thought it would be something cool like 'Horizon Shot' or 'White Death'."

"If Horizon Shot or White Death made the bow, then it would be called Horizon Shot or White Death," Longstride replied.

"So somepony named Camellia made this bow for you?" Rainbow asked. "Were you friends?"

Longstride's irises stopped their spin. His voice lowered when he spoke. "Here," he said, offering an arrow from his quiver. "Aim at a tree over there, away from anypony. Pick a big one."

"Uh...okay," Rainbow repied. She cursed at that misstep, but she was hardly to blame. How was she supposed to know what subjects got him mad or just mildly annoyed?

The glowing runes dimmed the moment the weapon left Longstride's hooves. The bow didn't look like it was made from just one type of wood given the layering of reds and browns that a closer inspection revealed and it was oddly warm despite the chilly air and being an inanimate object. It was also surprisingly heavy. Rainbow picked a large tree at a distance, let out a couple of exhales, then took aim.

"Foal of a nag..." Rainbow grunted. She threw a quick glare at Longstride to warn him off trying to assist. The sinew felt like a bar of solid steel when she first started pulling on it. The arrow shook as she tried to keep it nocked. It must be some kind of faint defensive enchantment on the bow Longstride didn't mention. She eventually got it to somewhere close to a full draw. No time for a lot of aiming, though, it was as if the bow was fighting her every step of the way. She pointed it in the general direction of the tree, then loosed.

A sudden, horrible pain struck Rainbow's left foreleg. She cried out and grasped it before crumpling to the wooden floor. The bow clattered next to her. Her left foreleg stung so badly that it felt like a snake just bit her there. She nursed the injury, already pushing back the groan welling up from within. A strange, alien sound came from nearby, somehow familiar and not all at once. It was a faint, brief thing; a few short "hm"s in rapid succession. It sounded like...oh, that's it.

Upon realizing that it was a chuckle she just heard from Longstride's direction, Rainbow's agony swiftly turned to indignation. She flew up, still nursing the foreleg, and glared daggers at him. "It is cursed!" she yelled. The sight of him hurriedly slipping back the stoic mask mollified her a bit.

"There was no curse involved," Longstride replied. "The bowstring struck the inside of your foreleg when you let it go; a common mistake by beginners. I told you Camellia will punish any inept archery."

Rainbow looked at the angry welt forming on her foreleg. Oh good. By noon, it was probably going to ripen into a patch of mottled black and blue. "Oh, forget this," she groused. "A bow was a bad idea anyway. It's not like I need more ways to attack from a range."

"As you wish," Longstride said. He unstrung his bow, then went back to watching the distance.

"And...uh..." Rainbow lowered her voice. "Thanks for letting me try anyway."

When he didn't reply, she took off. She hadn't gotten far when a splotch of red caught the corner of her eye. "Scarlet," she said. True enough, Scarlet hovered a short distance away, a sly, knowing look on his face.

"I saw that," Scarlet said. "That was pretty smooth."

"What are you talking about?" Rainbow asked. She found herself on the defensive for some reason, despite his cheery grin. She had nothing to hide as far as he was concerned, but the things he said whenever he was in this mood didn't have a good track record for her.

"Good job buttering him up," Scarlet said. "This way, his guard will be down when you approach him for his beating."

Rainbow's eyes widened. "Approach him for his..Scarlet, why would I do that?"

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. "Why? Why not? He shot our flanks and got us captured, didn't he? We owe him a bloody snout at least. Maybe a few broken bones. And some black eyes. I know we're on a mission, but once we deal with Hassyth, we're free to do some stuff."

Rainbow crossed her forelegs. "Scarlet...that's insane and really stupid."

"What?" Scarlet threw his forelegs up. "Why? Seems pretty straightforward to me. He hurt us, we beat him up. Look, he hasn't even bothered to apologize. If we can crack a few bones, he'll be begging for forgiveness."

Rainbow pressed a front hooves against her head. Again, the thoughts came anyway. It was nothing new too. It wasn't like she hadn't considered this before. It crossed her mind as early as before even crossing the abyss. That was a terrible time to bring up the matter with him, though. They were in a difficult situation and needed to help each other. If she had started something, everypony else would have been annoyed with her. "No," she said. "Scarlet, that's just dumb."

"What's so dumb about it?" Scarlet asked. His grin twisted into surprised indignation. He was volatile, she knew that. He wasn't going to do anything though. For one thing, she knew he was better than that. For another, she was ready. He'd probably get an arrow somewhere too if things got hairy.

"What do I get out of it?" Rainbow asked. "I've got who knows how long to have something to show the others, and they're off to improve themselves. Even killing Hassyth just makes us safer not stronger." She looked back to the watchtower. Hopefully, Longstride didn't have hearing to match his sight. "Longstride's got something to help me. Attacking him just makes things harder."

"He nearly had you enslaved by ophidites!" Scarlet said. "Doesn't that count for something?"

"It does," Rainbow muttered. She faltered briefly, remembering that humiliating trek southwards. That horrible night under that ophidite with her whip and poisons, surrounded by ponies that showed her the fate that waited in Ophidus. Then that stay in the cave...Longstride did owe her. More so than that beating he got in Mount Unicornia.

'No, loyalty,' she thought. Yes, that was where she was going. Hopefully. "But I've got bigger things to worry about. I got into that trouble to begin with because I was worried about a stupid race that nearly got us killed. I can't keep thinking about stupid little personal grudges."

"Pff," was all Scarlet could say for a while. "Fine," he muttered. "We'll not beat him up then."

Rainbow let out a harsh sigh when Scarlet disappeared in a red streak. Loyalty, huh? Where had that come from? She sat on snowy roof of a nearby house. Maybe it was a good thing that this wasn't the explosive morning she had thought it would be. 'Stupid Longstride..." she muttered. His constant mocking made her hesitate, made her think things through so she didn't look like an idiot. At least Scarlet was always supportive, and honestly believed that she was awesome. All Longstride did was snipe at her with either annoying observations or actual arrows. Just getting him to stop calling her "stupid mare" was a challenge each time they spoke.

Then there was that stuff he said on the airship. What kind of answer was she supposed to give to that? When did Loyalty become this complicated anyway? Loyalty was supposed to be the element of not doing things. She had never betrayed her friends. At least, not without some kind of mind-affecting spell or something. She had always done her best not to leave them when they were in need. What more was there to it? Why did she have to ponder things like the rightness of Longstride reviving this project of his. Or if it was right for her to get some personal revenge when it was better for Equestria and her friends if she didn't.

Rainbow sighed.

'Am I doing the right thing?'

She asked the question mentally, but she was looking towards the watchtower.

Half the day passed without incident. The lancers dug in with the volunteers while maintaining their weapons. Longstride stayed in his watchtower, though he flew off briefly a couple of times. Rainbow busied herself practicing her aim, exercising, and restlessly waiting for something.

Another group of lancers, the rest of Flight Shatterspine, arrived by noon. They had brought with them the bulk of the flight's supplies, which included food, water, and a large number of extra lances. Shatterspine's vice-captain reported that ground troops were on the way as well, including earth pony skirmishers, crossbows, "bear skewers", and unicorn magi.

"I can't believe I'm going to get to see an entire lancer flight in action!" Snow Feather said. He hopped in place excitedly and stretched out his white-feathered wings. "There's no doubt now. I'm joining the Legion by spring!"

Peach Leaves frowned at this, somehow evenly distributing her disapproval towards the lancers and Snow Feather. "Just what we needed," she said softly. "A massive battle tearing our village apart."

Snow Feather and Peach Leaves were siblings and part of the group of volunteers that stayed in the village. Rainbow had chatted them up during the morning, and they were happy to talk to "an actual chosen". Snow Feather, a white pegasus with a dark blue mane, had volunteered in hopes of impressing the lancer flight, thus making a name for himself before he joined the Legion. Peach Leaves, a pink unicorn with a dark green mane, volunteered in hopes of getting this incident over with as quickly as possible so Southwind's idyllic days could return.

"What do you think, Legionnaire Dash?" Snow Feather asked. "How big will this battle be?"

"Uh..." Rainbow tapped her chin with a hoof. "Pretty big if they got all the big weapons." She glanced at the worried Peach Leaves. "But if they're setting their arrays here, that means the fight will be a long way away, right?"

"I hope so," Peach Leaves said. She sighed before continuing. "Our ancestors founded Southwind in this remote location so we would not be in the paths of any extermination campaign or slaving routes. Yet, here we are now, thrust into the fighting anyway."

Snow Feather snorted. "There's no escaping the fighting," he said. "It's just like the great Yargh said 'you can run from your troubles, but you will always tire before they do'."

"Who is this 'Yargh'?" Rainbow asked. "That doesn't sound like a pony's name."

"But he is a pony," Snow Feather said. "His actual name has been lost to history, but he chose to call himself Yargh."

"Imagine the bloodcraze it takes to name yourself after your war cry," Peach Leaves added.

Snow Feather pushed his sister with a hoof before continuing. "He was one of the 'Four Lances of the West', and the greatest captain of Flight Gore Howl. I swear, I will follow in his hoofsteps as a great lancer."

"He was so reckless that he tried to lance an envy dragon," Peach Leaves said. "Is that how you want to end up too, dear brother?"

"By the Prince, yes!" Snow Feather said with a stomp of his hoof. "Going out in a blaze of glory under the Legion's banner. I'll take that over dying in my sleep after a hundred years of farming vegetables."

"You're really a big fan of this lancer, aren't you?" Rainbow remarked. She remembered all that time she spent gushing over the Wonderbolts. She supposed Barrier Lands ponies also went through the same thing.

"He grew up on stories of Yargh," Peach Leaves said. "He's the big local legend here because he died where Willow Manor was built."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "You don't say?" she said. "Was this after--" she caught herself before she mentioned "Longstride Project". "Was this before or after the manor was used?"

"Before," Peach Leaves said. "Willow Manor was built over the lair of the envy dragon that Yargh died fighting."

Well, that was something to think about. Did Longstride know that? He probably did.

"Say, they're bringing unicorn magi as well, Peach," Snow Feather said. "Maybe you can show your skills."

Peach Leaves shook her head. "I'll be happy to stay in this village," she said. Before, she could say more, Scarlet's loud cry broke through their conversation.

"Rainboooow!" Scarlet shouted. He landed hard on his hooves, sending bits of snow flying.

"Scarlet, what?" Rainbow asked as she shook herself clean of snow.

Scarlet grinned. "Time to move, Longstride just spotted a small group of ursans making their way here."

"Small?" Rainbow asked. "They're not serious, are they?"

"Probably negotiations," Scarlet said. "Longstride says they've got a matriarch on the way."

Rainbow nodded and looked towards the southwest gates. Before she could fly, however, Scarlet put a hoof on her shoulder and leaned in. "You just say the word if you change your mind, Rainbow," he said. "I got your back."

With a snort, Rainbow took off.

Rainbow Dash 4: Willow Manor

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 4: Willow Manor

A single look at the ursans that had emerged from the treeline was enough to impress on Rainbow that these were cut from a far different cloth from the ones that Shatterspine slaughtered yesterday. They were much larger, more grizzled, and walked with a degree of calm and confidence. Three of them walked casually towards the village's southwestern gates, seemingly unaffected by all the lances already pointed their way.

"Pff..." Scarlet muttered. "They're not going to fight. Too few of them coming out."

Of the three, the central one commanded nearly all attention. This had to be the ursan matriarch that Scarlet had mentioned.

She towered over the other ursans with her, and Rainbow suspected that the size difference had a lot of say in why she was the leader. Great plates of smooth, polished metal covered her back, chest, and most of her legs without compromising the great claws at the ends of her paws. What parts of her not covered with armor were still protected by thick, grizzled, dark gray fur. The hair around her broad head and thickly muscled neck was particularly long and thick, so much that she had braided it to hang down both sides of her head.

Rainbow's eyes narrowed when she noticed the the matriarch's choice of hair decorations. Pony skulls, bleached and polished to a gleaming white, and decorated with beadwork, hung from the matriarch's head. They were held in place by having hair pass through the eye sockets as part of the matriach's elaborate braids.

Razor Beard matched that confidence by standing firm despite the great masses of fur, muscle, and metal looming before him. Even when the matriarch stood on her hind legs, allowing her to reach the height of even the watchtowers, and let out a powerful roar, none of the lancers so much as flinched.

"We should go," Longstride whispered when he got to Rainbow's side. "This is no negotiation."

"How'd you know?" Rainbow whispered back.

"The ursans never negotiate," Longstride replied. "They appear, demand that you submit so they can kill you quickly, then leave promising a brutal death."

"Then, why don't they just attack?"

"Setup," Longstride replied. "Perhaps their forces are not in place. Reconnaissance too. Ursans are terrible scouts with their size and bulk, but their matriarch is exploiting the fact that the Legion will honor the parley to, at least, get a cursory look at the enemy forces arrayed against them."

Size, bulk, recon...

Rainbow lit up and flapped her wings. "So we're going too," she whispered excitedly. "Because lancers are bad at scouting and we're Reconnaissance."

Longstride nodded. "Surprisingly quick uptake," he said.

Rainbow tilted her nose up. "Give me some credit here."

The three of the flew away from the meeting, keeping low as they glided into the tree line. Though he was the slowest of them, Longstride led the way. He was the most familiar of this area after all, even if his memories were hundreds of years behind.

"You think we can kill a few of their stragglers?" Scarlet asked as he flew next to Longstride. He was visibly straining as he said this, as if flying slowly took more out of him than flying quickly.

Longstride replied with a withering glance. "You have ways to make a thousand pounds of armored bear disappear, Scarlet?" he asked. "They're not like the wolven sentries you're used to. As soon as they find a dead sentry, the manor will know that the lancers have infiltrators with them."

"Hey, I was just asking," Scarlet said.

"Least, you're not a stupid stallion," Rainbow muttered. Though she relied mostly on Longstride's heightened sight, Rainbow surveyed their surroundings nonetheless.

One didn't need to be some seasoned ranger to figure out where the ursans had been. Trampled shrubs, snapped branches, and small trees broken in two marked where they moved. 'Don't have to worry about ambushes,' Rainbow thought.

What did worry her as they flew deeper into the woods was the sight of an uprooted, large tree. This one had freshly fallen, with no signs of having sunk into the ground. The trunk had not been overrun by vines as well, though a large chunk of its bark appeared to have been scraped off.

There were no paths through these woods. No roads or even well-used trails. Perhaps there used to be a long time ago, when ponies used this manor. Longstride flitted through the trees, his eyes shifting from them to the ground with ease. He must still remember some old paths to the manor. Rainbow held her crossbow close as she followed. Unlike Scarlet, she wasn't as eager to run into some ursans, not when she had all these confusing thoughts about fighting in her head. She wouldn't have the focus and confidence she needed.

It wasn't long when they spotted their first ursan, rather their first group of the monstrous things. They dropped low at once to hide in the underbrush.

"Advance camp," Longstride whispered. "If they can afford to make some, this is a large force."

They inched closer, first making sure they were downwind of the camp. Not even a small campfire burned where the ursans laid about. Four of them were asleep, apparently for a while now judging from the layer of snow that had already accumulated on them. Three more sat around looking bored. One of them began growling, muttering some kind guttural language. Rainbow looked to Scarlet, who shrugged. "I can barely speak Imperial Common," Scarlet whispered.

Another ursan growled back in the same language.

"The first one is voicing his complaints," Longstride whispered. "They are all clan-bears, but he does not like the direction their matriarch is taking them." His eyes narrowed. "So they are cooperating with Hassyth, but not just for money. The second one agrees. Interesting."

Another one growled loudly. Rainbow may not understand a word, but she knew anger when she saw it.

"The third one is berating them for questioning the matriarch," Longstride whispered.

The snow around the camp flew up as the ursans suddenly came at each other in a flurry of motion. The ursan that got angry lunged at one of the complainers, its claws grinding into its opponents armor and slipping between the plates. The other ursan had done the same, locking them into place. They grunted and heaved, their hind claws gouging large marks on the ground. Finally, the angry ursan managed to hurl the other one to the ground. No follow up though. It growled in its tongue again then sat back down.

"Pity," Longstride muttered. "Since he won, the others will shut up. Let's keep going."

They flew on, deeper into the forest. The trees towered around them now, the thick canopy allowing only bits of snow to cover the ground. Again, Rainbow noted the large gouges across the ground where something massive must have moved around. Several trees had collapsed around here as well. That they formed a path to allow something massive to move through, made it clear what had passed through.

The ground was also starting to dip. They were probably going into a valley at this rate. Rainbow supposed that this Willow Manor was probably close to a river.

"Just how deep into the forest is this manor?' Scarlet groused. "Of course, Hassyth has to hide in some hidden hole."

"The Manor was built to keep prying eyes out," Longstride said. He glanced around briefly. "The increased foliage is new. The centuries have changed a lot."

Rainbow followed his gaze. She could get some height in this wooded area, but it would be next to impossible to get a straight path down without crashing into some branch or another. "The lancers can't charge like this," she said.

"They can fall back on swooping blades," Longstride said. "They'll have to rely on skirmisher support, or get the arrays to clear enough trees."

The sudden, loud crackle of huge branches and the groan of trunks straining sent all three of them flitting for cover.

The ground shook in the rhythm of a four-footed creature's gait. Leaves fluttered to the ground from the vibrations. As if the canopy wasn't blocking the pale winter sun enough, a great shadow passed by, temporarily plunging them into darkness.

For a moment, Rainbow could have sworn she heard a very deep rumble, and the loud whiffs of something huge breathing. She pressed her back against a tree and held her breath until she could hear her heart.

The rumbling eventually passed, and the three of them grouped up again.

"That was the titan, right?" Scarlet asked with an excited grin.

"Yes," Longstride replied. "We should keep going in. The titan appears to be moving closer to Southwind. Their matriarch must have ordered it to hint at its presence as intimidation."

"What if it attacks?" Rainbow asked. "Maybe we should go back to help the others."

"We have little to contribute to a fight against a titan," Longstride replied. "Better to push on and see what we're up against."

"Are you saying we should abandon those lancers to a titan fight?" Rainbow hissed. She flew in front of Longstride and raised herself up so she stared him down.

"Stupid mare, check your ego," Longstride said. "Those lancers have been fighting ursans all their lives. You think they'll drop dead without you? We are more useful to them here than there."

"But--" Rainbow seethed, but followed as Longstride flew ahead. That wasn't what she meant at all. Longstride loved to make her sound like a jerk, but he was worse.

The deeper they flew into the forest, the higher the trees rose, and the thicker the vegetation got. That wouldn't really be such an oddity, but the normally straight firs and pines were also becomming more twisted. The branches stuck out at odd angles. The bark was discolored with odd shades of green. All in all, they radiated an unpleasant aura.

"What's going on with these trees?" Rainbow thought aloud.

"You feel that?" Scarlet asked. His grin had disappeared and the muscles around his neck and shoulders were tense. "Coatl magic right there. Hassyth must have forced these trees to grow to hide his hidey hole better." He frowned and sniffed around. "Tried to make the place feel like home too. Damn flying snake..."

"That's not all Hassyth has altered here," Longstride added. He pointed towards a distant tree.

Rainbow squinted and followed the hoof. "What am I looking at?" she asked.

"There's a Glyph of Warding etched into that tree," Longstride said. "Look at the faintly glowing sigil on the trunk. It's not just there, I've spotted several. He's probably warded his perimeter."

Rainbow squinted harder. Eventually, she did notice a faint glint of something on a tree. It might just be her wanting to see such a thing, but she nodded anyway. "What do they do?" she asked. "And what do we do about them?"

"The wards will sense you if you approach them at a certain distance. If you haven't been marked by their caster, they will strike you with lightning, then alert the caster. If we trip one of them, Hassyth will find us. As for our countermeasures..."

Longstride frowned and stayed silent for a while. "This would not be a problem if we had a skilled abjurer to dispel them," he said. "Barring that, I can spot them, and we can navigate around them, but that would take hours. Or..."

"We can rush them!" Scarlet whispered excitedly. "I've dealt with Hassyth's wards before. If you zip by fast enough, they won't have the time to sense you."

Longstride cleared his throat. "True. A glyph takes a couple of seconds to detect. If you move fast enough, you can outfly them without triggering them."

Rainbow Dash grinned and puffed out her chest. She had to consciously control her voice when she spoke. "A couple of seconds? That's plenty of time."

Longstride nodded curtly. "I'm not fast enough for that rush." He looked up. "I can see Willow Manor from here. It should be easy to set up a sniper position. You two can close in to get better details."

Rainbow Dash froze. "Hold on," she said. "How are we supposed to find this place? We might get lost. You're the one who knows this place."

"I'll guide you," Longstride said. He pulled out what looked like a small pin shaped like a five-petalled black rose. "Attach this to your barding's collar."

Rainbow did as asked. "What's this?" she asked. "Some kind of Thorns membership pin? Am I an honorary Thorn now?"

"In a way," Longstride replied. "Black Rose developed these devices herself for our use. Each Thorn was given one and a spare. That's my spare." He tilted his head slightly, and spoke close to his collar. It was only now that Rainbow noticed that he was wearing the same pin. "Think of a pony then speak into it. If that pony is wearing one of these, your voice will reach them."

True enough, those instructions came out of the pin on Rainbow's collar. "This is pretty awesome," she grudgingly admitted.

"Don't lose it," Longstride said. "That is a valuable, enchanted device, and..." his voice softened. "...one of the few things left connected to the Mistress."

Rainbow looked away. "Okay, I'll take care of it," she muttered. "No pressure, right?"

"Don't I get one?" Scarlet asked.

Longstride answered with a glare before flying up towards the branches of a particularly tall tree. Rainbow grabbed Scarlet by the collar and pulled him away. "Come on!" she groused. "Let's get this over with!"

"This is Longstride. Follow a straight path from there." Longstride's voice came out of the pin softly. "The wards extend for half a mile. Keep up the high speed until my say so."

"Half a mile of wards?" Rainbow muttered. "How scared is this snake?"

"Not a problem, is it?" Scarlet asked with a grin. "You might get tired."

Rainbow flapped her wings vigorously. "Really?" she asked. "More like I have to save your butt again!"

They flew off, reaching high speeds in the space of a second. The cold, musty forest air turned into a chilly draft, blasting past Rainbow's mane and feathers while the snow-covered leaves turned into blurs of white and green.

'Launching speed's pretty good...I'm not feeling any burn either,' Rainbow thought. She wished there was a reliable way to know when the Element of Loyalty kicked in. For now, she wasn't feeling anything different. She concentrated on maintaining as straight a flight path as possible without crashing into any trees. Nearby, Scarlet stayed neck and neck with her, swooping as close to some trees as possible, almkst as if he was taunting the wards that might be there to go off.

Finally, after what felt like a tense hour of trees zipping past her, each time driving in the fear that she might set something off, the dark outline of a huge manor loomed ahead of them.

"Stop."

Rainbow didn't need the prompting to stop. The mere sight of the manor came at her like a wall. Nearby, Scarlet did the same. Both of them dropped low, enough to let the grass to hide them a bit. Again, Rainbow cursed at her coloration. Maybe she should have dyed her mane and tail or something? She had been right. Willow Manor sat atop a small hill, just by the bend of a large river. There were no trees around its area, and the large stumps all around made it clear why.

Around half a mile of forest had been cleared around the manor, all to support what looked like a massive camp. Rainbow had been to the circus a few times before, and those huge tents reminded her of a bunch of big tops clumped together.

A huge forge lit up the center of all the tents, so big that it would be easy to toss several ponies into the massive fire burning in it. A single, dark gray ursan worked before the thing, pounding away at a piece of armor plating big enough to cover a small boat. It towered over its fellows and bellowed what sounded like orders. Patches of fur were missing from its face, and three parallel scars ran deep down its left eye. Nearby, smaller, brown-furred ursans rushed about doing chores, whether it was collecting ingots, tossing coal into the fire, or working the bellows.

The rest of the camp was a mixture of ursans sparring and wrestling, lazing about, or gorging themselves on....something. It was clearly a carcass, but there was no way it was a pony from the size.

"That's a lot of bears," Rainbow whispered. She looked past the camp, and towards the manor itself.

Willow Manor loomed over the ursan camp from its hill perch like a hungry vulture. Closer to the foot of the hill were smaller, box like buildings of wood and stone, already partly crumbling and uninhabited by the looks of it. These would have remained hidden if there were still trees around them.

The main building, the manor itself, looked like it had some restorations done to it already. The pointed, black, iron bars of the massive gates blocking the path looked newly-forged. Past those gates, the great double doors into the manor itself also looked new. The gray, moss-covered walls did not look so fortunate. They were crumbling in some parts, with lines of cracks spreading out like spider webs. The gabled, tiled roof had collapsed in some areas while the most of the many large windows had long since shattered and boarded over. The manor resembled one of those fancy unicorn houses that Rarity used to fawn over in her lifestyle magazines in the past; all tall things with pointy little towers and big windows. It didn't seem at all like a place for experiments. Crumbling statues of pegasi holding drawn bows decorated the still whole parts of the roof. Between the iron gates and the main front doors was the suggestion of some sort of garden from the way the slope had been landscaped and decorated with now-broken stone walls.

"Now what?" Rainbow asked through the pin. "Even you can see how big the ursan group is from there." As she spoke, Scarlet leaned in at an uncomfortable distance to listen.

"I can," Longstride replied. "This is a true Ursan clan. More than mercenaries after all. The Matriarch is out there negotiating while that Patriarch is building up gear. The numbers are quite standard and will require a unified Legion strike. But, we must confirm a few more things."

"What's that?" Rainbow asked.

"An entrance into the Manor we can use when the Legion besieges it," Longstride said. "The goal is to assassinate Hassyth. If the Legion pushes hard, he will flee. He must be attacked as the distraction grows but not until the situation looks dire."

"You lived here," Rainbow said. "You should know one."

"Circle towards the sheer face side of the cliff," Longstride said. "Close to the base and near the water."

"Heh..." Scarlet said with a sly grin. "What's that? Your secret tunnel where you snuck in booze and tail? I didn't figure you were the type, Longstride."

"It should be very old by now," Longstride went on. "But it was reinforced. It should lead to Twenty Four's quarters. Ascertain its condition, but don't pursue Hassyth."

Rainbow frowned as she took the lead in circling the hill. Sentries patrolled along the perimeter of the camp in twos. These were the smallest of the ursans from the looks of it, and the least armored. They growled and muttered to each other as they walked by. Rainbow may not understand their tongue, but she recognized grumbling when she heard it. "You said Twenty Four like it's a name," she said softly, once she made sure there were no nearby patrols. "What kind of name's that?"

"A good enough name," Longstride replied. "This is not the time for that. Have you found the entrance? It used to be hidden in thick shrubbery. The entrance has a camouflaged door to cover it."

Rainbow hovered close to the water, scanning for spots where the sheer face of the hill came close to the river and had plenty of shrubbery around it. Now, she wished she had an eye for detail. These bushes all looked the same, and all these rocks looked the same. Frustrated, she dove into what looked like a good spot, and started pawing for fake stone covers, or possibly buried tunnels. Nearby, Scarlet took inspiration, and found his own spot.

"That is not an efficient way to look for it," Longstride said.

"Well, maybe you should manage to fly here, slowpoke," Rainbow groused. "You're the one who knows this--"

Rainbow gasped when her hoof struck a large rock. The strange thud from that bump quickly set her into a flurry of movement. Scarlet swiftly noticed and was next to her digging away in an instant. In a minute, they had dug around the thing, revealing a large flat rock. Rainbow knocked on it a few more times. There was definitely a space behind it.

"I think we found it," Rainbow said through the pin. "Now..."

She paused. A prickly sensation ran down her neck, and the ominous feeling of being watched seized her chest. What was going on? Longstride was watching for them, true, but this sensation...

"Rainbow, flee!"

The sudden loudness and urgency in Longstride's voice nearly made Rainbow jump. "What are you yelling for?" she whispered harshly.

When no response came, Rainbow went with her gut and simply made a dash for the nearest tree line.

"Hey!" Scarlet whispered harshly as he flew next to her. "What's with the flying?"

As if to answer the question, an arrow flew at them from the side, whizzing so close that Rainbow flicked her ear at the buzzing passage. Wait...that came from Longstride's direction. "Longstride, why are you shooting at us?" she practically yelled into the pin.

An arrow from the opposite direction answered that question.

This one flew closer, actually grazing Rainbow's mail. She finally decided to look back, but there didn't seem to be anything chasing them. Besides, they were flying at high speeds now, it was unlikely that anything could catch up. Another arrow from Longstride's direction flew above them, followed by a far too close shot from the other direction. This time, it would have torn through Rainbow's wing if it had been an inch closer.

"You're being pursued by an archer pegasus," Longstride said. "We need to escape."

"Just one?" Rainbow snapped. "We'll take him!"

"No!" Longstride shot back. Another exchange of arrows flew past them. "Those shots would have all hit you if I wasn't throwing him off at the last moment. Hassyth will be chasing soon, if not every ursan in the area."

Rainbow swallowed hard. So much for a stealthy approach. They had flown away from the ursan camp and had reentered the warded section of the forest.

"What's going on?" Scarlet called out. "We fighting something?"

"Keep flying!" Rainbow replied. "We've been spotted!"

How could that be, though? Sure, they were messing around by the river, but they had dodged the ursans, and there was nopony around the manor itself. How could they have been seen? Unless...

The Willow Manor's purpose flooded back to her mind, and the nature of their enemy. Trembling, she flew faster and spoke to the pin. "Longstride, who's chasing us?" she asked.

"It's Twenty Four. I can see his eyes. The markings all over him are foreign. Hassyth must have found a spell--"

"Why Twenty Four?" Rainbow asked. "Is that really his name?"

"Candidate Twenty Four for the Longstride Project," Longstride said harshly. He didn't sound like he was even answering her. Rather, he sounded like he was talking to their pursuer. "Total successful arcane grafts: four, the best of the current three candidates. Primary concern: discipline problem."

Another shot from Longstride. The arrow from Twenty Four, however, gashed the metal links protecting Rainbow's flank enough to draw blood.

"Status: Deceased," Longstride went on. "Cause: Fatal exsanguination from multiple stab wounds sustained in a bar fight." His tone grew harsher still, outright resentful in fact. "The best of us!"

"We have to have outflown him by now!" Scarlet yelled.

"No," Longstride said. "Twenty Four possessed arcane wing grafts to greatly increase his already naturally high speed. I can see he has no artifact bow, but his leg grafts greatly increase his maximum pull strength. Keep flying."

"Can't you hit him?" Rainbow asked. "You're supposed to be a super sniper!"

"He can see me from where I am," Longstride replied. "We were all trained to dodge counter shooting."

"Right when we need--!"

A roar, a deafening blast of sound so great that Rainbow's whole body reverberated, swept across them. It started out from a distance at first, a rising wave of rustling and snapping, almost like a great wind about to blow. It swiftly moved nearer, along with the loud thumps of someting massive walking and the rapidly increasing snaps and creaks of trees being pushed away.

Despite the danger she still faced just avoiding the enemy archer, Rainbow looked towards the sound. A dark shape approached them swiftly, bounding across the forest floor with frightful ease. Large trees bent and broke around its run as if they were twigs. Another powerful roar ripped through the forest, leaving Rainbow's head ringing and throbbing. The thing was coming at her from the side and quickly catching up. She had to switch directions or--

Too late. The creature, a bear so big that it could probably swallow a village of ponies with a bite, tore through the foliage. Rainbow flapped her wings to right herself as the draft from its passage fouled the air currents around her. A massive paw swung around, cleaving trees as if they were matchsticks. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Scarlet just barely winging past the creature. She wasn't as lucky. The claw didn't hit, but the draft from the swing sent her flying back.

Leaves and twigs snagged against her armor and left cuts along her exposed hide as she crashed through the foliage. Then a crack against the back of her head from a trunk before blackness...

Rainbow Dash 5: A Lucky Find

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 5: A Lucky Find

A throbbing ache to the back of her head told Rainbow that she was awake. She winced, instinctively raising a foreleg to massage the offending spot. She was alive at least. More than she had expected after that attack. She tried to open her eyes, only to realize that they were open. Wherever she was, it was dark. The ground was damp, cold, and rough stone. She flapped her wings, breathing a sigh of relief when they moved without problem. She had that going for her, at least. A quick feel around near her revealed her undamaged crossbow. Where was she anyway? She hit her head and fell, but there was no way she would have ended up anywhere besides the forest floor unless...

A cold draft blew against Rainbow's side, revealing an opening to the outside of the cave. No light shining though. It must be night already. A quick flutter of wings brought her up short. She had her crossbow loaded and aimed at the opening already when a familiar voice whispered from the entrance.

"You're up," Longstride said as he flew in. The cave ceiling wasn't particularly high, but had enough space for a low glide. He landed near her, his golden eyes the only specks of light in the dark "Can you move well enough?"

"I'm fine," Rainbow replied. She looked around. "Where's Scarlet?" Her chest tightened. She dearly hoped that he hadn't gotten killed during that mess.

"We were separated," Longstride replied. "I shouted at him to fly back to the village while I went for you. He should be fine. Twenty Four went after us. It took a while to lose him and find this hiding spot."

That was another relief. Rainbow focused on Longstride for now. "Hey," she said. "We're not flying for our lives now. Who is this Twenty Four? What kind of name is that in the first place?"

"A good enough name," Longstride said softly. He didn't meet her stare, instead focusing on the entrance. He might be looking out for danger, but Rainbow also suspected that he was seeing other things too, things from a long time ago. "He was a candidate for the Longstride Project as I was. We were part of the last trio taken in by the project before it ended."

"What happened to him?" Rainbow asked. "And why is he shooting at us?"

"He was killed in a bar room brawl in the Great Delve, a place he had no business being in, where he did things he had no business doing," Longstride replied. "Perhaps Hassyth has managed to learn a very powerful reanimation spell. I recall that Twenty Four's remains were interred into the manor's morgue, to be preserved for study. Willow Whip might have come up with a way to preserve him indefinitely in hopes of reviving him, or at least learning more from his natural gifts."

"Great," Rainbow muttered. "So we have to fight some kind of zombie sniper now." She looked at him worriedly. "You're better than this guy, right? You're the one who made it out of the Longstride Project."

The silence after that question proved just as frightening as the roar of an ursan titan.

"Those two don't follow," Longstride replied. "It's true that I was the candidate who did succeed, but that doesn't mean I was the the best of us three."

"What?" Rainbow clamped a hoof over her mouth when the question came out too loudly. How could it not follow? That was like saying that the pony who came at first place in a race was not the best racer. "How does that make sense?"

"Twenty Four was far stronger than me," Longstride said. "My body was only good enough to withstand two arcane grafts. He was hardy enough for four. He was the superior athlete, and we merely matched at archery. If he hadn't died prematurely, he would have undoubtedly been picked to take on the name of Longstride. I was, at the end of the day, the useful substitute."

Rainbow chewed on her lower lip. Not the response she was hoping for from him, but the worry dissolved into concern while she watched him. It was hard not to look at Longstride's eyes when their golden glint was the only bit of light in the cave. Those discs were perfectly still, muted in color, and staring away at some distant memory. The melancholy around him made the shadows seem deeper, and the chill just a bit colder.

"Don't be such a downer," she groused. That her voice sounded less harsh and more comforting was annoying. She should be worried about how to deal with the situation, not whether Longstride was feeling well. "You're still the real Longstride, and he's just a dead loser. You got the magic bow, and all that time working for Black Rose. He's got nothing on you!"

Those golden discs began to spin once more. "I do not need your reassurances, Rainbow Dash," Longstride muttered. He flitted close to the entrance. Keeping only a small fraction of his head exposed, he looked around. Rainbow tilted her head.

"See him?" Rainbow asked.

"No," Longstride replied. "He has the vantage point as well. If he is an animated body, he will have no need for rest or sustenance. He'll be out there hunting us."

Rainbow looked behind her, deeper into the cave. Flying out may be out of the question. "Do those eyes of yours see in the dark as well?" she asked.

"To a degree," Longstride replied. "I can see better in low illumination than normal sight. In the dark, my sight is limited."

The cave floor proved free of clutter. Unfortunate. Rainbow hoped for some wood to burn at least. "What's our next move?" she asked. "Don't tell me we're going to sit here until Scarlet shows up with help."

"Twenty Four will have alerted Hassyth," Longstride replied. "He's probably included descriptions. Hassyth knows we are hunting him."

"Guards everywhere at this point," Rainbow groused. It would be a lot easier for this Twenty Four to spot them than the other way around, and she wasn't interested in taking another arrow to the flank to be dragged before a coatl overlord. Some reconnaissance this turned out to be. Then again, it would have worked if it wasn't for that zombie sniper. Who could have planned for that?

Longstride looked past her and deeper into the cave. "This might be a fortuitous find," he said. "I know that there is a network of caves that extend to Willow Manor. The place was built on top of an old dragon's lair after all."

"Yeah, I heard about that," Rainbow replied. She let herself smile a bit. She didn't expect chatting up some villagers to prove useful. "An envy dragon, right?"

"Sir Yargh's final charge against Vilfadora," Longstride said. It was too dark too see, but Rainbow just felt that he smiled a little. "You fit his tale well; a reckless hero driven by ego, blundering forward until even an envy dragon was slain."

"I don't blunder!" Rainbow snapped. "And I fought the abyss, way cooler than a dragon."

"Let's see where this might lead for now," Longstride replied. "If our luck holds, we might reach that lair and find our way into the manor from there."

"We're still going to sneak in?" Rainbow asked. She had push down the elation.

"The mission is still on," Longstride said. He pulled out a small orb, the size of a walnut, from one of the pouches strapped to his leathers. Rainbow recognized an illumination orb. Back in Canterlot, she actually got some from a Legion quartermaster. With a swift strike against the cave's wall, he caused it to glow with red light, bathing their surroundings in scarlet.

The two of them proceeded deeper into the cave. With minimal light around, Rainbow found herself edging closer to Longstride. His magic eyes clearly had no problem navigating the dim glow. The going proved slow. They moved at a low hover so the rough, uneven cave floor wasn't an issue. The damp, musty air was a different issue though. Rainbow could feel her feathers soaking very slowly. It might take several baths to get that old, stale air smell out of her wings. They moved tentatively, however, in case they might be disturbing something deeper in.

The cave was a monotony of rough, natural stone. The only sounds were the soft, steady beats of their wings and the ocassional drip of water on stone. The general silence proved deafening, combined with the dark, Rainbow struggled against the stifling sensation. "Hey," she whispered.

"What is it?" Longstride asked.

"You said 'the three of you' earlier," Rainbow said. "The zombie sniper is Twenty Four, so who's the other one? Is he another zombie sniper out there too?"

"No," Longstride replied. "Ca--" he fell silent for a while. Rainbow raised an eyebrow. Something's going to be off with whatever he'll be saying next. Even she could tell he was picking his words. "Twenty Five was not valuable enough for Willow Whip to preserve. Twenty Four was wasted potential. The project probably preserved him in hopes of making use of his corpse. Twenty Five was weaker than even me. She only had one graft, and she had badly injured herself." His voice quivered just a mite. "Garbage as far as the project was concerned, and Willow Whip would not have wasted resources on garbage."

So Twenty Five was a mare. And one who fared poorly at the project. That was an odd tinge of sympathy in Longstride's voice. From the way he was so judgmental, it was hard to imagine him feeling sorry for, and trying to help a straggler. Maybe they were...Rainbow scoffed at the idea. Longstride barely understood what being friends was about. There was no way he was...wait. If she was Twenty Five... "Twenty Six," Rainbow whispered.

Longstride stopped completely upon that utterance.

"There were three of you," Rainbow went on. "Twenty Four, Twenty Five, and you, Twenty Six."

"Brilliant deduction," Longstride muttered as he resumed moving.

The single tunnel was descending at a slight slope, narrowing as it did. Soon, Rainbow flew close not only to maintain her brearings, but also because there wasn't a lot of space move in. The tunnel stretched on regardless. Rainbow wasn't sure, but she had a pretty good feeling that they were moving towards the manor. Hours must have passed. It proved impossible to tell. A few smaller tunnels branched out, but Longstride merely looked down them, and shook his head. Eventually, they found themselves a small chamber, where Longstride stopped to sit.

"Rest," Longstride said. He took out some dried fruit, and chewed on them.

With a shrug, Rainbow did the same. "Tired already?" she asked. Truth be told, she was feeling a bit exhausted herself. It wasn't out of exertion. She was maintaining a slow flight. It was the tension of this place that weighed on her. She preferred the open sky. Even the threat of a zombie sniper didn't seem too bad at the moment. The tunnel was dark and claustrophobic and it weighed her down immensely.

"Let's keep our strength up," Longstride said. "We may as well consider the chance that their are guards directly underground of the manor."

They ate silently for a while, washing down the dry meal with water from their canteens.

"Get some sleep, I'll keep watch," Longstride said.

"Don't be ridiculous, " Rainbow replied. "I got knocked out for a while already. You're the one who's been up all day. I'll keep watch."

"You can barely see in this dark," Longstride said. "How good of a watch can you keep when you're half-blind in this darkness?"

"And if you don't get some sleep, we'll both be half-blind, idiot!" Rainbow shot back. "I'll wake you if I hear or see even the smallest thing, okay?" She planted herself close to the illumination orb, which should be good for several hours more, and crossed her forelegs. Longstride stared at her, his eyes spinning lazily.

"Do as you please," he groused. "At this rate, we'll both just lose our strength." He laid down, and turned away, his head resting on his packs while his bow lay close by. Rainbow stared at him for a while, then at the orb, occasionally examining her surroundings. After a while of nothing, she focused on Longstride again.

"You're awake, aren't you?" Rainbow asked.

"...yes," came after a moment of silence.

"Foal of a nag, Longstride!" Rainbow snatched a pebble, and hurled it at his back.

"Your watch doesn't offer enough sense of safety," Longstride replied. "Sleeping is impossible."

Again, silence. Longstride abandoned lying down, and simply reclined against the stone wall to stare at the light.

"Some break," Rainbow muttered. Longstride simply picked up his bow, then started wiping it clean with a small rag.

"Resting must suffice," Longstride said.

"So," Rainbow said. "What was Willow Manor like?"

"Is this small talk necessary?" Longstride asked. "The Manor during my time is no more. I don't know what has become of it after the centuries."

"Come on," Rainbow groused. "It's too quiet and dark. It feels like I'm alone like this. I hate being alone."

"Stupid mare, if you cannot stand your own company, who can?"

Rainbow simply stared at Longstride, biting back a retort for that annoying moniker he often slipped to.

"The Manor was...difficult," Longstride finally said with a sigh. "Everypony lived a strictly regimented life, especially the candidates." He paused for a moment. "It was comforting in a way. We knew what was expected of us. We knew what we were meant to do in the next hour, or day, or week."

"Sounds boring," Rainbow remarked. She remembered her time in Flight Academy. It was boring too. The daily schedules and monotonous lessons...she could only take so long before dropping out.

"That's what Twenty Four thought too." Longstride shot her a brief glare. "And it got him killed."

"Hey, if you like that structured stuff, go ahead," Rainbow said. "It's just...not for me."

"Clearly," Longstride muttered.

"Why does Twenty Four piss you off so much anyway?" Rainbow asked. "Besides him turning into a zombie that's trying to kill us."

"Because he was so gifted," Longstride replied. "Yet, he threw it all away. if he had been disciplined, so many things would have been better."

"Wouldn't have the project thrown you away?" Rainbow asked. "Is that what you want?"

"What I wanted was irrelevant," Longstride replied. "Equestria is better served if the best soldiers emerged from training." He stood up. "We've had our rest. We should keep going."

Rainbow shrugged, and stood up as well. "Fine, sheesh, lead the way."

The farther they went into the tunnel, the more the trip became a slog. There was something...foul about this constant dark. Rainbow was in the abyss again, plumbing the depths, utterly lost, but still persisting in moving forward. The hours passed by. They must have. Longstride had to light another illumination orb. Then, she offered one of hers. It was all the same as far as she was concerned. More rock, more dampness, and a seemingly endless path forward. They took the trip in silence. Not an awkward one this time. Rainbow just didn't want to seem annoying.

Suddenly, just as Rainbow was about to wonder aloud if this was a bad idea, Longstride suddenly shook the illumination orb vigorously, putting it out.

"Light ahead," Longstride whispered.

"Finally," Rainbow whispered back. "Are we under the manor now?"

"Close." Longstride strung his bow, and slowly flew forward. Behind him, Rainbow armed herself as well. It took a while until she also noticed a speck of light much farther ahead.

They edged closer, expecting guards hired by Hassyth to protect the area. Rainbow squinted as her eyes adjusted to the brightness.

They stood at the edge of one entrance to this place, the floor dropping off to a sheer drop of a good twenty feet or so to the chamber's floor. The light came not from any sort of torch or fire, but from dozens of large, glowing orbs that illuminated the massive chamber. The tunnel that they emerged from was but one of several that connected to this place.

Longstride quickly turned off his light, flew down, and ducked behind a nearby rock. Before he could gesture for Rainbow to follow, she had done the same.

"This is it, right?" Rainbow whispered. The lights were a bad indictation. She had hoped above all things that Hassyth hadn't occupied this place. With the lights on, clearly he was up to something here as well. The brief look she had of the chamber's entirety revealed, long, tall structures rising out of the ground. She couldn't be sure, it looked quite a bit like a gigantic skeleton.

"You'd think the Legion would have made use of all that dragonbone," Rainbow whispered.

"Envy dragon bones are mildly toxic, worsening as the dragon ages," Longstride replied. "Prolonged contact with it causes large lesions. Even being near it eventually causes swelling around the eyes and nose."

Rainbow instinctively covered her snout. Great, it was probably a bad idea to stay too long in this place.

Longstride peered out cautiously, his bow nocked and ready. "Pony workers around the place, a dozen visible. They're searching the place."

Rainbow grit her teeth. She didn't want to hurt any ponies, even if they were indoctrinated slaves. "What are they looking for?" she asked. "The dragon's treasure?"

"Vilfadora's hoard was picked clean by other dragons before this manor was built," Longstride whispered. "The Legion only demanded the spear of Yargh, but the dragons claimed they never found such a thing."

'They're looking for a spear, huh?' Rainbow thought. The spear would have deteriorated to nothing after the centuries. If others still searched for it for so long, it must have some magical power. She imagined a great glowing spear with a golden haft and a silver head so sharp that it pierced dragon scale. To acquire that would make this trip more than just securing her safety from Hassyth. "Maybe we could find it here?" she suggested.

"The Project sent many teams down here to look for the famed spear of Yargh," Longstride replied. "They never found it."

The loud beats of powerful wings at a distance silenced both of them. Rainbow trembled slightly, as if a great, oppresive weight had been placed on her. She strained her neck to look out of her cover, already aware of what just happened.

At a distance hovered a great serpent, its red-streaked, bright green scales glittering in the magical light. Its wings were massive and magnificent; feathers shimmering with all the colors of a rainbow as they gracefully flapped. Silver and gold chains, studded with sparkling gemstones, wrapped around its long body. Rainbow nearly forgot to breathe at the beautiful sight. When she checked herself, the awe merely turned to fury at the sight of her would be enslaver. It wasn't right that such an evil creature could look so good.

"Stay still," Longstride whispered. "This is not a favorable position to attack."

Rainbow merely clenched her jaw tighter and nodded. Oh, she wished so hard that this was a favorable position to attack, but even though she had never fought a coatl before, every instinct in her warned of a direct charge. Hassyth looked as frail as he was pretty, with a head even smaller than Hashymissa's despite being much longer. He was also more slender. He had no arms, and those wings didn't look like they were meant for buffeting ponies to death. It was his magic though. She heard enough of coatl magical might from listening to chatting legionnaires. If only she could...

A wave of...something, suddenly washed over Rainbow. It nearly bowled her over with the sheer shock of it, but she righted herself. What was that? In a panic, she looked to Longstride to see how he reacted, but he was still observing Hassyth. The wave was still hitting her, like a hot gush of water that wasn't there. She was still dry, but her heart was racing and her breath was quickening. She began to understand better after a while. Nothing physical was hitting her, it was more like a...a feeling. A wave of alien rage was coming from somewhere, seemingly resonating with her own indignation at Hassyth's sight.

"What's wrong?" Longstride asked. He was focused on her now, eyes still with concern.

Rainbow looked to the source. To her side, in a dusty, cluttered corner of this chamber, was a dark spot. Nothing remarkable at all. Probably some forgotten spot in the dragon's massive lair with nothing worth mentioning.

Except this unbearable feeling.

Rainbow ducked low, staying so close to the ground that her belly nearly scraped rock. With a surprised hiss from Longstride, she scooted over to that spot on instinct. Fortunately, there were no workers even remotely near this spot. She scrabbled a bit throught the pieces of rock until she found the thing.

The thing seemed to throb with the rage that was hitting Rainbow. Other than that, it had to be the most mundane thing to catch her attention like this. It looked like a large, long piece of bone tied to a piece of wood. On closer, inspection, it was two pieces of bone, crudely lashed together with some very ancient sinew. One bone had been broken to produce a sharp, pointed tip, while the bigger bone was tied to the wood.

Breathlessly, Rainbow picked up what looked nothing more than a piece of old junk. The moment her hoof touched the thing, a jolt of hot pain, like being struck by a small bolt of lightning back in her weather managing days, ran up her foreleg. She gasped, but held herself steady. A cry of pain now would kill her and Longstride.

For a moment, she wasn't in the cave. She was standing in the middle of a vast plain, her front hooves bloody and shaking. The pieces of bone she held looked fresh, still covered in blood and entrails. A large, shaggy body lay in front of her, its insides mutilated with some leg bones missing. Ahead stood an alicorn, as tall as Princess Celestia with a flowing golden mane and red eyes that stared haughtily at her. Then, the image was gone, and she was in a cave again.

The piece of bone was throbbing quickly, like an enraged heart. Rainbow held her breath and winced. This was no piece of junk. With this, she could stab Hassyth dead, then stab all those more powerful than her. She whirled towards Hassyth's direction, unable to keep herself from grinning.

What a lucky find! This was the perfect weapon! She could take on a hundred coatls, then all the alicorns. She flapped her wings for the final charge Hassyth was ever going to see in his life.

Longstride grabbed her by the shoulders and shook. "Stupid mare," he hissed. "What are you doing?"

The urge to stab this powerful sniper welled up. Rainbow had recovered enough from the sudden tide of feelings, though. She gripped the thing tightly, briefly battling it for control. 'This isn't the plan!' she berated herself. When the thing resisted, she fought harder. She wan't here to stab everyone more powerful than her. She had a concrete goal: to grow stronger and contribute to defeating Oceanus.

As she pictured the vast emptiness of the abyss, her only representation for the enemy, the piece of bone settle down.

"I'm okay," Rainbow whispered. She made a step towards the cover, and stumbled. Longstride easily caught her, and carried her to the spot.

"What is that thing?" Longstride asked, looking pointedly at the bone.

"I don't know," Rainbow replied. "I just...felt it was there."

"It looks like offal," Longstride said. "Maybe the ancient remains of the dragon's meals."

"No, it's not," Rainbow said. "I'm going to hold on to it."

Longstide returned to watching Hassyth, who appeared to be instructing his workers. Rainbow strained to listen to what Hassyth was saying, but all she caught was some barely audible hissing. Even if she heard it clearly, Hassyth was probably talking in Ophidite or something. After a while, he flew off. Rainbow quickly noted the tunnel he had flown through. "What now?" she asked.

"We've confirmed a route to the manor," Longstride said. "It's time to withdraw, and aid the Western Legion."

Rainbow nodded, then looked back to the cave they crawled out of.

"You think Twenty Four's stopped hunting us?" she whispered.

"Perhaps," Longstride replied. "The alert would cease after a couple of days. They will assume we made it back to the village. Hassyth will not want his prize sniper roaming the woods with the Western Legion so close."

Rainbow braced herself for another long trek past that awful cave. She glanced at the piece of bone as well. Still, things didn't turn out too bad.

Rainbow Dash 6: The Challenge

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 6: The Challenge

The backtrack through the long cave proved less agonizing for Rainbow. Probably because she wasn't moving into the unknown this time. She and Longstride made good time, memorizing the path through the place. Tucked away in her pack was the crude bone thing she had picked up. The thing didn't even look like a decent secondary weapon, but something about it compelled her to keep it close. It was throbbing with power earlier. It was dormant for now since she wasn't holding it. Still a faint "hum" emanated from the thing, passing through her body in a steady wave.

"Think the Western Legion can take on Hassyth's group?" Rainbow asked. She knew the answer, but it was still good to just keep up the conversation to stave off both boredom and focusing so heavily on the bone thing. Just thinking about the thing tensed her up like a bowstring in need of release.

"A good portion of the Western Legion has been deployed to the Heartland," Longstride said. "More so than the other Legions as they have been assigned the bulk of training Heartlanders. Even more of the Western Legion has gone north. This will be a stretch of their strength, but they should still be able to muster troops for such an obvious threat."

"Yeah, we got this," Rainbow said with a grin.

Longstride looked back at her. "If you already knew the answer to your question, what was the point of asking? he asked.

"I just wanted to hear you say it," Rainbow snapped. "Don't you get excited for a mission? We're about to get into the heat of ours soon."

"Better to stay calm," Longstride said. He held a foreleg over his eyes as the glare of sunlight marking the entrance finally appeared. "The mission will be accomplished regardless."

Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief. At last, she could soar. A slow, low hover with rocks above her was no substitute for a soaring flight. The trek back may have been faster, but it probably still took half a day. She flapped her wings quickly in anticipation.

A distant boom, like passing thunder, gave her a brief pause. She looked up. Not a trace of storm clouds past the canopy. She didn't smell any dampness. "You hear that?" she asked.

Longstride nodded. "No use worrying about coordinates," he said. "Just follow those explosions."

"What are they?" Rainbow perked her ears, trying to distinguish the sound. She'd heard those sounds before, fairly recently in fact. Where though?

"Arrays," Longstride replied. "Come on."

They flew at a hustling pace, still wary of incoming attacks, but making as best a time as possible. The trees whizzed past them with no deadly arrows in sight. Already, Rainbow saw the edge of the tree line. A bright explosion of colors rocked the ground, shaking the nearby trees, and blowing a strong draft past Rainbow. A few clumps of dirt rained down on both of them as well. The nearness of the blast only excited Rainbow further. She glanced behind her to find Longstride already stringing his bow. Both of them waited for another series of explosions before flying out.

Straight into a whirlwind of fighting.

The ursans were charging the village in huge numbers, more like an avalanche of armored fur than an organized attack. There was no way the village's paltry walls were going to remotely resist this force. Behind the main assault force, more ursans whirled massive slings, hurling small boulders at either the lancers above or the earth ponies milling about. Even as Rainbow looked on, a huge streak of magic arced from behind even the farthest edge of the village, exploding just a few feet away from the slinger group. Even without the direct hit, the blast still forced nearby slingers to hunker down.

Razor Beard's lancers circled the battlefield in loose formations, weaving through boulder shots with practiced maneuvering. They descended in waves, making sure that a fresh one was diving while the first was rising up for another charge. They focused on the slingers, as they should in Rainbow's eyes. Though they survived glancing blows, once every so often, a boulder struck a lancer hard, crushing his armor or tearing off a limb, sending him spiraling to the pitiless ground below. Shatterspine's lances found a lot of new homes among the ursans, stabbing deep into the gaps of their armor, their eyes, their maws, and even through the steel plates. Blood spurted and fountained with each dive, echoed by pained cries and battle shouts.

The main ursan assault would have broken through the village, given that the lancers were not actually blocking their path. The Western Legion's earth ponies persistently harrassed them, however. These brave, outright reckless, legionnaires charged the ursans with over-sized blades and spears while sporting very little protection, diverting the charge into all sorts of directions. They never fought head on, always retreating once attention focused on them, while allies closed in on the sides to slowly bleed out the enemy. It was a perilous task they performed, and a vital one. Behind them was a path to several groups of unicorns in their arrays.

"We've got to help!" Rainbow told Longstride. He already had an arrow nocked even as he flew up. Rainbow didn't have the luxury of being able to hit so precisely from such a distance. She flew in, easily dodging a few clumsy swipes from some surprised ursans. Several boulders flew over her, but nothing too threatening. She had singled out a particularly large ursan who was lumbering towards the gate. This one had successfully batted down a couple of unlucky lancers, shredding their armor with its enormous claws, and knocking them into the dirt. One of them lay unmoving, his neck in a terrible angle. The other was trying to crawl out of the way, but he could barely drag himself around with that broken foreleg and wing.

"Hey!" Rainbow shouted. She flitted in, placing herself just a foot away from the ursan's armored face before firing her crossbow at an eye. She grunted when the ursan proved fast enough to avert its face, leaving the bolt to penetrate its face plate and draw a trickle of blood. Rainbow flew back, the passage of a retaliatory claw swipe ruffling her forelocks. Her forelegs moved with practiced ease now, pulling out another bolt from its case, and loading her weapon.

A fat lot of good it was doing, though. She flitted past another claw swipe, well aware that it was a dangerous game she was playing. This wasn't going to be like the time she got hit by a brachyurus. A good hit would likely shatter her bones or shred her into bloody ribbons, and there was no Applejack around to hold the monster back while she crawled away.

The ursan she fought lunged after a third swipe, nearly reaching her even as she climbed. Its hot, foul breath reeked of fresh blood and drool as it whooshed around her. Its jaws snapped shut with a loud clack a foot away. Rainbow aimed her next shot. Another attempt to get the eyes seemed pointless if the ursan was aware of her. A simple move negated her efforts too easily.

The ursan had more problems than just her. It roared in a fury and turned around. An earth pony skirmisher grinned, hefting a huge, bloody-tipped spear over his shoulder before daring the ursan to chase.

Rainbow thought of shooting the ursan as it roared and swiveled to the side. The sight of the bloody spear however, left her frozen for a few seconds. A lance. Her crossbow wasn't cutting it. She could use a lance. It was insane to try it out now, in the heat of combat, but she'd never forgive herself if this fight ended and all she had to show for it was an empty case of bolts and a bunch of useless shots.

There was no way she could just fly up to one of the lancers right now and ask for one. She scanned her surroundings. Maybe somepony had dropped one. There were plenty of dead lancers on the ground. But most of them were lanceless. Among the dead ursans, there were plenty of lance hafts poking out of their corpses. She was about to fly over to one of them when she hovered close to a dead lancer.

The bone thing in her pack throbbed wildly at the sight of all this fighting. When she entertained the notion of grabbing a lance, it felt as if the thing was about to jump out of her pack. She flitted towards the dead lancer. His lances had been broken by either the swipe or his terrible fall.

Another ursan roar, this time from behind. The explosions from the evocation arrays as well as the constant shouts from everypony could disguise even a giant bear plowing madly towards her. Rainbow rolled through the air the instant she felt the warm breath from of an ursan maw. Those frightful jaws snapped shut without touching her. She wasn't out of danger yet. A swipe would definitely follow that lunge. With a furious wing beat, Rainbow righted herself and picked up some altitude. Claws whistled past her, but all she felt was a brief draft.

That, and her pack opening.

Her heart skipped a beat as some of her stuff tumbled out thanks to a snapped cord and her acrobatics. The food and illumination orbs were replaceable, but the bone thing fell out as well. Rainbow dived for them, winging past the ursan as its momentum carried it ever forward, and into the waiting spears and blades of several earth ponies.

Rainbow frantically looked around, flitting through broken gear, dead bodies, and scattered, bloodstained snow. She found the bone thing next to a dead lancer. It had landed next to the poor stallion's broken lance, surrounded by fragments of his shredded armor. The thing pulsed excitedly.

"I don't know what you're up to," Rainbow muttered. "But stop showing off."

On the outside, it didn't look any different. Just a ratty pair of old bones lashed together. She squinted at some of the old sinews. Were they always loose like that or did they come apart?

The sinews suddenly squirmed and wiggled, like the limbs of a frantic spider. Rainbow gasped at the sight. Instinctively, she picked up the broken lance, and poked the thing as if it were a venomous creature. The sinews latched onto the broken end of the lance, gripping tightly, wounding themselves into secure knots, and affixing the thing as the lance's new head. Now, the whole lance pulsed with power. The wood grew warm to touch, more frighteningly, it started oozing some kind of black sludge. The bones did the same. Panicked, Rainbow threw the thing away, only to discover that it was stuck to her hoof. The sludge felt ice cold as it covered the tip of her hoof. Oddly enough, even though it kept oozing out of the lance and actually dripped, not a single drop hit the ground. The droplets simply dissipated mid air.

"Let go!" Rainbow yelled out of impulse. She shook her foreleg, but the lance held fast. A cold far worse than any wintry wind ran up her leg, chilling her blood, and making its way to her heart. Rainbow was about to slam the thing into the ground when the blasted thing sudden blazed up. "Foal of a nag!" Rainbow braced for searing pain as the white-hot flames covered the lance with a burning corona. The cold merely subsided. Rainbow let out an exhale. It was pointless to try to make sense of what was happening. She was better off trying to use this to her advantage. She raised the lance. At least, she assumed it was still a lance. Her hoof disappeared into an enormous, oozing spike of blackness engulfed in white flames.

Nearby, a pair of legionnaires let out a yell, and pointed at her. "That lance!" one of them said. "Flowing dark crowned with fire! Just like the stories!"

"Yargh's spear!" the other yelled.

Their cries alerted not just other legionnaires, particularly the lancers, but the ursans as well. A big one, quite possibly the same one that had been distracted earlier, spat out the broken remains of an earth pony, and charged.

Rainbow flapped her wings hard, taking as much height as possible within that short period of time it took this behemoth to close in. She could have just kept safely out of reach, but the lance in her grip flared brightly, bleeding blackness that threatened to take her entire foreleg. That charging ursan looked pretty powerful. A veteran too. It had taken down a few lancers with precision blows, and successfully ran down a skirmisher. This thing knew what it was doing. It could easily take her down with a timed swipe. Even its roar was so loud as to disrupt her flying.

She had to kill it.

With a quick shift of her wings, Rainbow turned her frantic climb into a furious dive. The lance seemed to approve, if she could interpret the increased gushing of blackness and intensity of the flame as approval. She circled quickly in her dive, making sure to approach from behind faster than the ursan could turn. She picked her spot carefully: the gap between the plates that covered the ursan's neck and back.

Yargh's spear clearly had some kind of life of its own. It shifted in Rainbow's grip, making it feel as if it were dragging her into the charge. As she hoped, the ursan had no time to turn, and the charge struck true. The blackened, oozing tip tore through the metal with ease. Rainbow had braced for a jarring impact that might rip the spear from her grasp, but she had forked through melons with more resistance than this. Blood burst from the gaping wound she opened, only to sizzle and evaporate from the flames. The ursan roared, but immediately fell silent, collapsing into a heap when the spear head pierced its neck bones and shattered them. Rainbow pulled back, realizing that if she didn't the spear would simply keep going until she was going through the corpse.

She flew up again, panting from both elation and exertion. The sounds of battle around her muted while the crackling of flames around the spear loudened. That was...that was amazing. Even she was surprised how easily that had gone. This thing...as ominous as it appeared gave her the strength she was looking for in this trip. And that charge...it felt so natural, like she had been doing it all her life. Maybe she was and she didn't realize it. She had to try that again. Maybe a bigger, stronger, better armored, more skilled ursan. There was undoubtedly one out there with enough power to rip her to shreds. She was going to find them. There was that titan too. And Hassyth. So many powerful targets to pierce.

"Rainbow!"

Longstride's voice came from the pin attached to Rainbow's collar. She had nearly forgotten that she had put it there in the resulting skirmish, "Yeah?" she replied breathlessly. She continued to scan the battlefield.

The ursans were not letting up. Several of the bigger ones had been taken down along with a lot of the smaller ones. Huge blasts of magic flung dirt, snow, and ursan slingers into the air in great clouds of whites, browns, and crimson. The Western Legion appeared to have a slight, growing advantage, but there was no shortage of dead ponies scattered around.

"What is that thing you're holding?" Longstride asked.

"Don't know," Rainbow replied. "It's really effective, though!"

"Fall back!" Longstride said. "Deactivate it, at least. We don't know what toll it will take."

"No way!" Rainbow shouted at the pin. "I've finally found something that can really help, Longstride! I'm not wasting it!"

"Stupid mare!" Longstride shot back. "There isn't an artifact in this world that doesn't demand a terrible price. Not one!"

Rainbow didn't hear him. She found a new target: a big ursan warrior who was dangerously close to the village. It was covered in blood, drenched in fact. Given how vigorously it was still moving, that was likely pony blood. Several broken skirmisher spears dangled from its armor. She climbed once more, her new spear ready for a killing stab. Yargh's spear pulsed with approval.

The next instant, she was haft deep into the ursan's back, her spear gushing with both black sludge and blood. The ursan merely growled softly, ineffectually clawing at her spot between its shoulder blades. Rainbow twisted the spear, working it out of the soon to be corpse. That was faster than she had anticipated. Her hooves slipped a bit, forcing her to grasp the spear tightly to right herself. She was dizzy with adrenaline and the sick stench of blood. Nearby lancers yelled joyously at her fresh win. With a yank, she pulled out the spear, and held it aloft. More nearby ponies cheered and redoubled their efforts.

'Next one,' Rainbow thought. She was in the zone here. Her strikes were pinpoint accurate. Her speed was topnotch. She was still fresh. She could be this battle's deciding factor if she could keep going.

"Rainbow!"

That was a different familiar voice. She looked up in time to find a red streak making its way towards her.

"That was amazing!" Scarlet gushed. He was also covered in blood. One look at his bolt case showed that he was empty. "One stab to take out an ursan? Even the best lancers can barely manage that!"

Rainbow's chest puffed a bit. She had missed praise. Longstride only ever had dire warnings. "I'm not done yet, Scarlet," she said.

"Great!" Scarlet replied. He pointed to the tree line, where a great many trees were shaking violently. The other ponies had noticed it too. "We've got the main course coming up!"

"Skewers ready!" Razor Beard shouted. "Our guest of honor's finally showed up!"

Ponies scrambled forward while the ursans backed up. Many of the lancers, especially Razor Beard, had huge grins on their faces. The skirmishers were not as eager. Even the arrays stopped pummeling the ursan rear lines to anticipate what was coming next.

Rainbow's heart throbbed in time with the spear's pulses. She couldn't even tell anymore if the excitement welling up was hers or the thing's.

A small hill burst through the tree line; a brown, shaggy hill propelled by giant claws and accompanied by a thunderous, ear-shattering roar. It had fur for grass, and knots of thick, rippling muscle along its slope. At its fore was an open maw lined with jagged fangs, and thick with frothing drool.

The roar alone stunned many of the ponies, and even some of the ursans at the front. The smaller trees it bowled over flew up, knocking one unfortunate lancer from the air. Its massive strides and sheer power carried it across the ground at horrific speed. A skirmisher failed to get out of its way fast enough. The poor stallion looked up and was about to let out a panicked shriek when his body disappeared under a thick pillar of muscle and fur. When the leg rose, the snowy ground beneath was covered with gore.

Two lancers disappeared into its maw as it snapped its jaws shut. The blood spurting from the sides of its teeth showed just enough to tell all what happened to them. A hoof even dangled out.

The titan kept rushing while the ponies recovered from the initial onslaught. Nearby, earth ponies with massive crossbows attached to their backs hunkered down while their partners aimed their weapons. Razor Beard had set up his bear skewers along the perimeter of the battlefield. Rainbow had not noticed then firing into the fight earlier. Likely, they were conserved for this very situation. The skirmishers had abandoned the front line as well, pulling out their own crossbows. While they were not as big as the bear skewers, they were still much bigger than the ones used by Northern Legion pegasi.

The first wave of bolts flew out while the ursans rallied to their titan. The still-surviving slingers renewed their assault, hitting the lancer flight with hails of small boulders. Rainbow dodged and weaved when several of them picked her out as the most dangerous target on the battlefield.

The skewers struck along both sides of the titan, though some missed given just how fast it was rushing them. The thick shafts, reinforced with metal bands, and tipped with tempered steel, punched through even the plates of the titan's armor. The titan grunted while more bolts struck its shoulders. These smaller ones did not penetrate as well, but Rainbow figured that even minor wounds helped with bleeding it out. They didn't slow it down, however. Judging from the change from grunts to a furious roar, they mostly made it angrier.

Something did slow it down, however. A lone, perfectly placed arrow struck the very center of its left eye. The shot was true despite the speed of the target. Rainbow wasn't surprised, even she couldn't outfly that ridiculously precise shot. The titan stumbled, and growled in pain, rivulets of blood running down the side of its snout. The eye had shut, but the titan continued its charge. With a wild swing, it batted two more diving lancers from the air, driving them into the ground with a sick crunch.

The fates of their fellows did nothing to deter the rest of Flight Shatterspine. Razor Beard yelled out orders from above, urging the others to converge on him. Rainbow was about to join them when Scarlet pulled her back. She stopped, then briefly dived low just enough so a boulder zipped past her.

"Don't charge with Shatterspine," Scarlet said. "You're the big player on this battlefield, stand out, don't blend in!"

"Don't be an idiot'" Rainbow snapped. "They need--!"

"Stay clear of the Shatterspine charge," Longstride said through the pin.

"What?" Rainbow shook her head and glanced at Scarlet. This had to be the first time these two agreed on anything. "Why?"

"Your presence is enough to make you as dangerous as a lancer flight in their eyes. If you charge from elsewhere, their slingers will be divided."

Rainbow had to admit that she liked the sound of that. The whole having several ursans focused on trying to kill her not so much, but that did sound like praise. With a shout, she raised her newfound weapon. The spear seemed to respond by blazing brighter and spurting more sludge. That got the ursans' attention. She circled the main charging group, making sure she drew them away from the village. More boulders zipped past her as she lowered her spear for a dive.

As Longstride had planned, Shatterspine managed to dive in. Their lances punched through the straggling ursans, swiftly whittling down the rear lines as the ursan group charged. The titan obviously didn't care for its smaller brethren, and its wild abandon infected the ones still alive.

That all the lancers didn't pile on the titan was surprising as well. Rainbow was sure they were going to race each other to kill the titan first, but Legion discipline still let them focus on defeating the enemy force before glory seeking. The skewers still worked on the titan after all.

Razor Beard dove straight for the titan along with a small group of lancers. With a cry he struck true, burying nearly half his lance between the titan's back plates. With a touch of his hoof, he released the lance. Behind him, his escorts were not as successful, but they stabbed well regardless, so hard that the hafts snapped.

The titan roared, in pain this time, and shook them off. It stopped its charge and thrashed wildly. A wild swipe shredded one of the lancers still withdrawing, spraying chunks of stallion and pieces of armor across his comrades. Razor Beard and the others withdrew, covered in blood, but unharmed.

Rainbow placed herself dozens of feet above the titan, swerving in midair as more boulders flew past her. She couched her spear just like the way she saw the lancers did, though she had to support it with a foreleg given her lack of a lance rest. The spear seemed to sense her incoming charge. It moved in her grasp, pointing down and straight towards the titan on its own accord. "Stop getting getting ahead of me!" Rainbow groused. 'Foal of a nag, am I this bad?'

That moment when she changed from hover to dive felt far too long. A few seconds provided an endless number of opportunities to back off and fly away. That she remained resolved while already in a dive felt like a miracle. Her wings refused to cooperate at first, fear kept them stiff. That the titan's roar drowned out all other sounds, and blew foul, blood-stinking air at her didn't help. With a loud grunt, Rainbow willed them to move until they burned, speeding her dive up until she was undoubtedly a streak of colors quickly approaching the titan. Scarlet shouted something. Longstride yelled something through the pin as well. Whatever they said, went unheard, blocked by the wet crunch of her spear impacting.

Rainbow had aimed for the face. Only when she made contact did it cross her mind that such a decision made no sense. Why the face when there were thick plates protecting its head? Where she had to fly close to its terrible maw, and within range of its deadly claws? Why?

The spear's black tip ran through the metal plate protecting the titan's forehead with all the difficulty of pushing a tack through cork. Blood burst from underneath the torn metal, mixing with the foul sludge that ran across her spear's haft. Rainbow closed her eyes when the warm, sticky liquid spattered across her face. When she opened her eyes again, she realized that her stab was still going.

The haft was halfway in when Rainbow instinctively pulled back. She was in too deep. The spear was probably lodged in some bone. She had to let to, except the sludge held fast to her front hoof. If she couldn't withdraw this thing, she was stuck. Not only that, the spear was pulling at her foreleg. It was still going.

The titan didn't roar. It didn't even growl or moan. No paw came to swat Rainbow away. The haft was two thirds of the way in, so close that Rainbow touched the titan's armor when it hit her. This insane charge was the most straightforward way to face the titan's power. It was about as crazy as charging an envy dragon. Or charging her allies because they were strong. She pulled back harder, slamming her free legs against the titan's armor.

'You listen to me, you stupid spear,' Rainbow thought as she faced the the thing. 'I've had enough of you doing your own thing! You're my spear now, you do what I tell you!'

The answer proved shocking, mostly because Rainbow didn't expect one at all. An image flashed in her mind: the titan dead with dozens of ursans piled on it, all killed by her and the spear. A glorious victory she could be proud of. She imagined telling her friends about it. Then telling the Prince how she cleaned up the western front. That'd probably bring a smile to his dour face. The image rippled and changed in response. The dead ponies joined the pile: Longstride and Scarlet defeated along with all the lancers of Flight Shatterspine. Rainbow recoiled, shutting her eyes tight and desperately shaking her head. No. Absolutely not. More bodies added to the pile: the royalty, Black Rose and the rest of her Thorns, countless legionnaires, those alicorns they fought before, all slain by the spear, all trophies to her fighting skill. If they were strong, she'd beat them. That was the only requirement. Her friends...

At the first hint that they might appear, Rainbow let out a shout. "Enough!" With one powerful tug, she pulled the spear out, splashing blood and sludge all over her. The titan shifted, and started to fall to its side. Nearby legionnaires let out a wild cheer.

Rainbow couldn't respond. Not when the sludge covering her hoof had creeped up to her shoulder. She ground her teeth, flapped her wings hard despite staying in a hover, stared at the sludge as if she could intimidate it into backing off. This thing lacked focus. Even she could see it. So much that it was embarassing. She was all for coming out on top, competing even with friends, and being acknowledged. This spear was all that increased a hundredfold: a mindless thing that just wanted to dominate and kill everything that might be strong. She wasn't like that. She refused to be like that. If only she could get this stupid thing to understand.

"I don't want to hurt them!" Rainbow grunted. She willed the image to change. This was her mind, damn it, and she was going to tell this spear what it was allowed to fight. Oceanus. That's right. She was traveling to find a way to fight Oceanus. He was the only target in mind. She thought back to the great void that she saw him as. 'This is your only target,' she thought. 'Nopony else!'

The image fought to stay on. The spear pulsed and raged, but Rainbow had an image to focus on and resolved to hold on to her goal. She had lost sight of what was important before. Not anymore. Blackness finally blotted out the sight of all the dead ponies. Yes, this was the blackness of the abyss. She had won this battle of wills, and winning felt good.

The spear's rage withdrew, leaving her foreleg free. Finally, she could focus on her actual surroundings.

The ursan titan lay dead beneath her, a great hole on its forehead proving to be its undoing. The other ursans were dead or retreating. The bear skewers and skirmishers closed in, firing as rapidly as they could while the lancers stepped up their diving. A barrage of telekinetic blasts flew from the arrays, slamming into the earth ahead of the retreat to cut them off. Most of the ursans, disoriented, surrounded, and demoralized, circled themselves while the Legion closed in. All of them were skewered before they could make it to the tree line. A few managed to break through regardless.

The dust finally settled, and the roars finally stopped. For a few moments, the legionnaires stood and hovered, simply taking in the battlefield without their foes. Then, all eyes focused on the giant corpse strewn across the ground, only a dozen or so feet away from the village.

Razor Beard raised his last surviving lance, and let out a yell. The rest of Flight Shatterspine followed, then the skirmishers and bear skewers.

"Eeyahoo!" Scarlet shouted, nearly crashing into Rainbow in his enthusiasm. "That was awesome! You killed a titan!"

Rainbow glanced at the spear she still held. "Y-yeah..." she mumbled. Her heart was still racing after that reckless dive and the struggle against the spear. She still held on to the abyss's image, afraid that the spear would resurge if she wavered. Was she going to have to maintain this state of mind for the rest of her life? Longstride may be right after all. There wasn't an artifact around that didn't ask a high price, and having to fight this thing mentally all the time did seem like a really high price.

"Hey!" Scarlet nudged her hard with a foreleg. "Say something!"

Rainbow glared at Scarlet first, but he was pointing to the crowd of lancers around them. They hovered at a safe distance, all focused on her.

"Come on, hero!" Scarlet whispered harshly. "Do a victory cry or something. Raise your fancy new spear at least!"

With the adrenaline already slipping, Rainbow was more in the mood for a nice, long nap than cheering. She didn't fail to notice the small group of lancers at ground level working on a still living ursan whose limbs they had pinned with multiple lances. That was a lucky break, maybe they could get some information as to why the ursans insisted on attacking, and why they were protecting--

Rainbow shook her head. She was turning into a worrywart like Longstride. Maybe this was a good time to revel in her awesomeness after all. Finally, she raised her new spear high and let out a yell.

Flight Shatterspine eagerly joined in.

"Yargh's Spear is with us again!" one of them yelled.

"Shatterspine takes the new era's first titan kill!" cried out another.

Enthused, her chest swelling with the moment, and eager to put aside Longstride's worries for a while, Rainbow flapped her wings and pumped the spear even higher, followed by another triumphant shout. The spear echoed the rising jubilation in the area with a silent cry, the sludge that had started to wane spurting out again, and the fire roaring to life.

"That's enough," Longstride whispered harshly through the pin. "Provoking an artifact we know little about for no reason is madness." Rainbow suddenly found it extremely annoying that he couldn't even be bothered to fly up to her with congratulations. Just to spite him, she raised the spear again, letting it have its fun. The spear seemed to oblige, letting out another "cry" through its presence.

The crowd fell silent.

For a moment, Rainbow panicked and looked around wildly, afraid that she had done something offensive and everypony was about to turn on her. To her surprise, everypony was still cheering. No sound simply came out of their mouths. 'Have I gone deaf?' she thought. The ursan roars were very loud. She hummed a few notes. No, she definitely heard that. She was about to say something to Scarlet, who was still yelling something excitedly to her, when blackness overwhelmed him. Witha gasp, she watched as the same dark blotted out the other lancers, then everything else.

"What's going on?" Rainbow yelled. She looked frantically at the spear, which oozed and crackled excitedly. "What did you do?"

She was in the abyss, no doubt about it. The cold, impenetrable void, the disorienting nothingness...a few moves and she wouldn't even be able to tell if she was upside down or not. She squinted out of reflex, desperate to find some kind of landmark to place her in this wretched dark. Anything at all.

And something did emerge from the dark as a landmark. A brilliant flash of sunlight burst from a distance, piercing the cold with a soothing warmth. Rainbow smiled briefly, then furrowed her eyebrows. Was Princess Celestia here? This was clearly the power of the sun, once more saving her from the abyss. It made no sense when Princess Celestia and Prince Terrato should be on a trip of their own.

The lit grew brighter, painfully so, as it moved closer. Rainbow shielded her eyes, then perked her ears when a faint, ethereal choir accompanied the incoming presence. The fragrance of sunflowers wafted all around her, like a delicate embrace. Whatever fear the abyss invoked in her shrank back at this display of brilliance.

"Rainbow Dash."

That didn't sound like Princess Celestia at all. The pitch was slightly higher, though majestic nonetheless. "Hello?" Rainbow replied. Rainbow's eyes finally grew accustomed to the brightness. Indeed, a tall alicorn hovered before her, white, thought tinged with a hint of gold. Her mane was a scintillating haze of radiance, painful to look at directly. And her eyes...they may look gently at her now, but those bright red eyes could not hide their ferocity not matter how hard they tried.

"Be honored, little pony, for your cry has traversed the abyss to reach my ears."

The invisible choir picked up, rising to a glorious song in a tongue Rainbow didn't recognize.

"I am Solis Coruscaria, Dark Sun of the Abyss, First of the Rightful King's Maidservants, and Overseer of His Faithful."

Coruscaria spread her wings, her chin tilting upward in the process. She looked down on the spear, that serene smile on her face wrinkling very slightly.

"Through that abomination, you have issued to me a challenge, as its creator did a long time ago."

Rainbow remembered the strange image in her mind when she first picked this thing up. Yes, that was Solis Coruscaria; same mane, same face, same eyes. Not as radiant then as now.

"Element of Loyalty, I see you have done this out of ignorance. For this, I shall grace you with my mercy. Lay down the weapon, and fall to your knees. Worship me, and, through me, the Rightful King. Do this, and I shall forgive your blasphemy, and grant you my blessing. You shall become the strongest among your peers, and rule over all pegasi upon our rise."

Coruscaria still spoke in sweet tones, as if she was doing the ultimate kindness. Her words soured in Rainbow's ears though. There was venom in those words, there was arrogance in that look, and, now that she paid closer attention, a very faint whiff of stagnant salt water in that fragrance. "No," she said. She scowled and stared directly at Coruscaria, even if her eyes ached in protest. "I'm not worshipping you or Oceanus." The spear pulsed empathically when she raised and pointed it at Coruscaria.

That gentle look very slowly turned into a budding glare. Still, Coruscaria spoke gently. Something felt odd though. Rainbow winced at the sudden prickling sensation. It was as if thousands of needles were pricking her face and neck. She tasted metal in her throat and tongue.

"Little pony, your Princess Celestia raised her spear against me a long time ago. I broke her before her father. That spear's creator raised his spear against me, and I destroyed him with a gesture. I beseech you, find your wisdom within, and worship me. If not, we shall meet upon my rise, and you shall wither before my light. When your ruined and burned soul is parted from your body, I shall begin your punishment."

The glare grew stronger. Rainbow opened her mouth to say something, but she somehow couldn't find her voice. Her legs trembled and ached. She felt so weak all of a sudden...weak, dizzy, and fragile. Her stomach heaved, and vomit exploded from her mouth. Blood...a great gob of blood splattered on her legs and spear. Something warm and foul dribbled down her hind legs and tail. Her vision blurred, and she collapsed on her belly. At least she would have if Coruscaria's telekinetic grip wasn't holding her by the throat. The alicorn's voice was now truly laced with venom.

"Worship me, vermin. Worship me, and I shall be merciful. With that spear, your cries can reach me. Send me a fervent prayer at any time, and I shall grace you with my blessings."

Rainbow hawked up a glob of blood and phlegm, then spat. She was so weak, however, that it merely dribbled down her chin. The spear clattered beneath her, free of both the sludge and the fire. Then, her vision failed completely.

"Rainbow!"

Longstride's loud cry shook Rainbow awake. Her eyes fluttered open, and found his concerned face looking down at her while she lay on her back. A look around revealed that she was still by the village's entrance. Western Legionnaires surrounded her along with Scarlet.

"I..." Rainbow patted herself down. She was cold and soaking wet. Not only that, she stank of dead fish and stagnant salt water.

"I warned you," Longstride said softly.

Rainbow couldn't answer that. She looked to the spear, which had reverted to being a ratty old thing. 'What did you just drag me into?'

Rainbow Dash 7: The Weight of One Spear

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 7: The Weight of One Spear

The Legion very rarely took prisoners in northern and western front. Rainbow had heard enough from her time in it to know that. It wasn't so much because they delighted in killing far too much to attempt it, but more because the enemy just didn't allow for it. Both wolven and ursans preferred to fight to the death. When forcibly restrained, they starved, broke themselves against their bonds, or even clawed their own throats out. Ursans, in particular, were nearly impossible to hold. They were too large, too vicious, and too proud. As such, Rainbow didn't exactly find it too shocking to see the extremes Flight Shatterspine took to secure their prisoner.

It was a slightly smaller than average ursan they captured, which likely contributed to how they managed the thing. Blood trickled down from its knees and elbows, where the lancers had stabbed with their weapons. Several unicorns from the arrays had moved in. They inscribed some sort of circular pattern on the ground where the ursan now stood, and they surrounded the inscription with their horns alight. A magical glow enshrouded the ursan, likely to severely restrict its movement. The casters involved looked pretty hard-pressed in maintaining the hold. Even hamstrung, the ursan put up a serious fight against its bonds.

As Rainbow walked closer, the nearby lancers watching the thing looked at her, then parted to let her pass. Scarlet was quick to alight next to her while she moved to stand next to Longstride. Next to him, Razor Beard gave her a curt nod before returning to overseeing the proceedings.

"Stop struggling, ursan," Razor Beard said. "We both know how this is going to go."

"What's Hassyth up to?" Scarlet asked. When Razor Beard glared at him, both Rainbow and Longstride pulled him back. "What?" he muttered. "We all want to know, right?"

Another lancer stood to Razor Beard's other side. He said something in some growling, guttural tongue. Most likely the same thing his commander just said. The ursan answered with a roar that had Rainbow step back instinctively, her front hoof already reaching for the bone thing she kept in her pack. The others stood firm while the ursan went on growling in its tongue.

"His name is Gra-Gel-Huf, Sir," the translator said. "He demands a swift death, preferably by his own claws."

"Of course he does," Razor Beard replied. "Trapped and surrounded after a humiliating defeat, and it's still about what he wants. Tell him we'll let him kill himself if he gives us enough information. If not, we're starving him to death."

While the translator growled, Rainbow whispered to Longstride. "So he dies either way? How's that going to get him to talk?"

"He has been placed in a position of humiliation with this capture," Longstride replied. "His shame will not let him live after being beaten so soundly by ponies. Even if he does choose to live and flee, his fellows will know he was captured, and they will kill him anyway. Ursan honor demands that, if he's faced with certain death, his own claws are the least shameful route."

"And the most humiliating is a slow kill by his lessers," Razor Beard added. "I've heard that dying that way nets you the worst fate in their afterlife. You're surprisingly compassionate, Rainbow Dash, I didn't expect the one to carry on Sir Yargh's rampage would be so kind."

"I was just thinking that he wasn't going to cooperate if he had no way out of this alive!" Rainbow retorted. "These ursans are crazy..." She glanced at the bone thing, still attached to that broken lance she now carried around. She had the thing for a day so far and ponies were already assuming she was some insane killer. The bone thing did not glow or ooze. Perhaps her exertions tired it out. Or maybe it just didn't find anything strong enough to want to kill.

"He says we should ask our questions. He'll decide if they're worthy of answers," the interpreter said.

"Arrogant glob of fur..." Razor Beard groused. "Are they here on official Ursinium business or is this a private matter?"

The interpreter growled and grunted the question. The ursan replied with a curt series of growls.

"This is a private venture," the interpreter said.

Razor Beard stroked his namesake with a hoof. "Is that right?" he asked. "Why are they here, then?"

"He doesn't know," the interpreter replied after an exchange.

"Holding out on us already, bear?" Razor Beard asked.

Rainbow imagined herself in the ursan's position. It was going to die either way. What made more sense? Hold on to some information to protect some allies that would kill her anyway? Or give up everything and be killed anyway? She'd hold out to the end, for sure. But that was if it was Equestria she was protecting, and her comrades were her friends. If the Legion made no secret of immediately killing her just because she failed once...well, that's hardly motivation to be so loyal. She just might spill the beans in that case.

This particular ursan looked young and fanatical, if she had to guess. The first ones she saw were rebellious teens or something. This one was more naive loyalist: all gung ho about his race. He was a lucky find. She was about to say that aloud, but stopped herself. She had her fill of Longstride's comebacks for the day.

The ursan growled again after some prodding from the interpreter.

"Only the leaders know," the interpreter said. "The Matriarch tells him and he goes."

"And that's it?" Razor Beard asked with a sneer. "So much for ursan pride if he has no problem shutting up and working with the Empire."

The ursan roared when the interpreter repeated this, following it up with a series of indignant growls.

"He says the coatl is a tool," the interpreter said with a smile. "The clan will let him have his pony magic, only after he has made his payment."

"Big talk from a pack of mercenaries," Razor Beard said. "You don't have what it takes to make a coatl work for you. He must laugh every time he thinks about it."

When the interpreter repeated those words to it in its tongue, the ursan growled deep, then lunged at Razor Beard. The unicorns strained to keep it in check, and the lances that kept it impaled shook. Still, the bonds held, even if its enormous claws did come within a foot of Razor Beard's face. Seeing its efforts fail, it roared out some words. Flecks of blood and drool struck Rainbow's snout and forelocks. That and the stench of this ursan's breath forced her to turn away briefly.

"He says the coatl has nowhere to go but the Ursinium court, and the only way he can accomplish that is through the clan's approval. The coatl cannot hope to burn this bridge or he will have nothing at all."

"So it does tie with their court," Razor Beard said. "Even if indirectly."

"Wow," Rainbow muttered after wiping her snout. "He spilled all that just because of a taunt? Talk about easy."

"Yes," Longstride replied. "Reminds me of another easily led around idiot."

Rainbow was about to let out a retort when Razor Beard spoke first.

"What a pack of lies," Razor Beard said. "As if Ursinium accepts anything that isn't ursan. I thought I was talking to a warrior, bear, not lying scum."

The ursan roared again. Rainbow was ready with a foreleg to cover her face this time.

"He didn't like that lying remark," the interpreter said.

"I can guess that myself," Razor Beard said. "I can also guess that those first few sentences were just strings of impotent cursing, so get to the useful bits, Legionnaire."

"He says we know nothing of Ursinium's current affairs," the interpreter said. "Dar-Sa-Haf will bring magic to bear in their Extermination Campaigns."

"Dar-Sa-Haf..." Razor Beard's eyes narrowed. "Not Arugek."

"I've heard that name before," interpreter said. "Some big-shot matriarch on the rise in Ursinium's court. Arugek's new favorite whore-bear, probably."

"One who can get these thick-skulled bears to start exploiting magic," Razor Beard said. "Mission's clear then: the coatl needs to die before it presents itself to Ursinium proper." He turned towards Rainbow. "Your mission is Western Legion business now, northern legionnaires. I expect full cooperation."

"Given that we need the Western Legion to assault Willow Manor, we expect the same," Longstride replied.

"Tell us about the clan stationed in the manor, bear!" Razor Beard yelled out behind him. "Is that Dar-Sa-Haf's clan? Is she your matriarch?"

There was only a soft growl, then silence.

"He doesn't want to say anything else, Sir," the interpreter said. "And the blood loss looks to be getting to him."

"Fine," Razor Beard snapped. "Chop his claws off. Let him bleed out."

When one of the lancers pinning the ursan approached with a swooping blade, Rainbow stepped forward. "Hold on," she said. "You said you'd let him kill himself."

"He just screwed his side over by being a prideful hot-head," Razor Beard said. "You think he deserves an honorable death?"

"But--!" Rainbow closed her mouth. The ursan was going to die anyway. It shouldn't really concern her how it did. What Razor Beard said sort of made sense. The ursan was a traitor, even if accidentally. Sad given that it was its own pride over the Ursan cause that tripped it up

The ursan howled and struggled. Not enough to hide the gruesome slicing and squelching noises.

"Let's go to my quarters," Razor Beard said. "You did some scouting, correct? I want to hear what you've found out."

Debriefing was short and curt. Longstride's magic eye powers apparently included memorizing everything they saw or something. Or he just had a good memory. Rainbow had expected him to skip over that other sniper because it was clearly personal, but he had no problem reporting on it. He did skip the part about how they related to each other. Rainbow found herself under a great deal of scrutiny as soon as the business of attacking Willow Manor was out of the way. How did she come upon the spear? Was she related to Sir Yargh? What powers did the spear possess? Could she give the spear over if she wished to?

Rainbow answered as best she could, which didn't help much given how little she knew and what she did know, she wasn't too comfortable sharing. The last question proved the sore sticking point. Razor Beard clearly wanted the spear to stay within the lancers. Rainbow thought so too, but she still held the thing closely.

"What's the matter?" Razor Beard asked, his gaze steely. "Think you're the only one to wield that Western Legion artifact?"

The other lancers in the room stared at Rainbow impassively for the most part save for that clench around their jaws. "Yeah," she said. "I found it, it's mine."

Razor Beard looked like he was going to take a step towards her, but Rainbow matched his gaze and held her ground.

"I seriouly doubt you've even had even basic lancer training," Razor Beard said. "You got very lucky in the last fight, Northern Legionnaire, but even you have to agree that you're under-trained and over your head. You have the attitude. Even I can see that, but you lack weight. Don't you think you should at least start out with a regular lance before moving on to an extremely valuable artifact?"

Rainbow bit her lip, growing all the more aware of not just the stares from all the present legionnaires, but their underestimation. It was like she was back in Flight School for a few moments, being called names and being expected to fail as she often did. Razor Beard did have a point. She could hand it over for a while, train with normal lances, then ask for it back.

"Hey, she's shown how awesome she is with that thing already!" Scarlet snapped. "She doesn't need this put down! I bet she could charge a full-grown dragon and take it down as she is!"

Rainbow winced, suddenly remembering the brachyurus she also thought she was capable of bringing down. A dragon...

"I'm sure that Yargh thought something similar," Razor Beard said. He turned to Longstride. "Ranger, you look to have a more sensible estimation of your friend's lancing."

Rainbow braced herself for another put down.

"That artifact will not function for anypony else," Longstride said. "Legionnaire Rainbow Dash may not seem much at first glance, but she has proven capable in difficult times. The spear clearly thinks so too."

"How can you be sure it can't be used by others?" Razor Beard asked.

"Because, if it was, the Legion would have taken it from Yargh before he was anywhere near stupid enough to charge a dragon," Longstride replied. "They didn't, meaning they had to either trust him to use it well or they were stupid enough not to secure it. The spear functions for Rainbow Dash. It will serve Equestria better than being a Shatterspine trophy."

"Maybe we should try it first," Razor Beard said. He took a step closer to Rainbow. The other lancers weren't so eager.

"Are you really going to test what kind of other defenses this artifact might have?" Longstride asked.

After another moment, Razor Beard merely shrugged and smiled. "Stubborn filly. Try not to end up like Yargh too." He backed away, but Rainbow was quite sure that wasn't going to be his only try.

With that out of the way, the coversation turned towards logistics and planning. The Western Legion had the advantage after repulsing that attack, but fighting ursans that were dug in was a different story. Pushing into the woods, and away from the open sky of South Wind, will limit lancer effectiveness and visibility for the arrays. There was also the coatl itself. The Western Legion rarely dealt with the Empire. Usually it was just a band of slavers or two, or a spy cell. A coatl overlord, even a disgraced one, would prove a unique, and very dangerous, challenge.

"How is he in terms of magical power?" Razor Beard asked.

Scarlet, who had been content to hang out by the back of the room after his initial outburst, stepped forward. "That bastard's got a lot of spells to throw," he growled. "He used to do magic contests back in Nazcatania. He's pretty up there with the best of them."

"Damn...we don't want a repeat of the Deadmarsh Incident, but we can't expect the south to send some rangers at a moment's notice," Razor Beard said.

"Deadmarsh Incident?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh, I know that!" Scarlet replied. "The Western Legion sent some arrays to help the Southern Legion with an operation in Deadmarsh. They got the job done, but a coatl caught them by surprise before they could withdraw."

"All twenty four unicorns died before they could even react," Razor Beard said. "The arrays hit hard, but they need a wind up. A quick-firing coatl will slaughter them up close."

"Hassyth has acquired a pair of eyes that will point his spells at the right targets from great distances," Longstride said. "It will be better to keep the arrays here and rely on maximum range besieging bolts."

"Besieging bolts?" Razor Beard asked with a snort. "With the manor barely visible and thick forest cover? You have a plan, ranger?"

"I will mark the targets," Longstride replied. "Send in your skirmishers to provide us with a distraction. Once the manor is marked, the arrays can pound the manor. With all the destruction, we can assassinate Hassyth."

"Leave it to me!" Scarlet said with a grin; a rather overenthusiastic grin that was halfway into a grimace. He failed to notice the withering stare from Longstride, forcing Rainbow to put a hoof on his shoulder to calm him down a bit.

"Get some rest then, ranger," Razor Beard said. "We'll commence this operation as soon as possible."

The three of them left, Rainbow eager to get a nap in after this incredibly tiring day. Behind her, some of the lancers were talking excitedly.

"First flight to take down a coatl!"

"The flight that rediscovered Yargh's spear!"

"By our Prince, this is a glorious start of an era for Shatterspine!"

That this "glorious start" involved plenty of casualties for Shatterspine was not lost on Rainbow.

"Hey, Rainbow!" Scarlet said once they had moved away from Razor Beard's office. "Think you can lend me that spear for that mission?"

Rainbow frowned, her front hoof instinctively moving to protect her pack. "What? Of course not!"

"Oh, come on!" Scarlet said. He hovered next to her. "This is Hassyth we're talking about! I have to get that killing blow on him!"

He presented such a longing look that Rainbow hesitated. A glance to the pegasus by her other side, not even looking at his face, was enough for her to shake her heard vigorously. "Like that matters!" she snapped. "Haven't you been listening?"

Rainbow paused again when that longing look turned into a defensive jut of his jaw. She let out a long exhale before steeling herself.

"I get it, okay? He was terrible to you since...well, since you were born! But he's a problem to all of us now." Her voice lowered. She suddenly thought back to that moment back in the airship and understood it better. "This spear is for fighting for Equestria...not helping your revenge."

"Pff...fine!" Scarlet snapped. "I'm fine with killing him with my bare hooves. You're really losing your fun side, Rainbow! You're becoming just as stick-in-the-muddy as Longstride!" He flew off towards his resting spot.

"Losing my fun side?" Rainbow snapped. She raised a hoof in a half-hearted attempt to stop him, but knew all too well, that it was impossible to try to catch him. "I'm just trying to better at this Element of Loyalty and legionnaire thing..." With a sigh, she went back to walking on with Longstride.

Finally, after a few more minutes of walking, Longstride spoke up. "You surprised me," he said. "I thought you'd be quick to hand over the responsibility of that spear."

"I hate this thing already," Rainbow muttered. "I like being awesome, but everypony's after something with me now."

"You can hand it over to Flight Shatterspine any time," Longstride said. "None of them will be able to use it, but that would free you of the responsibility. You are already an Element of Harmony. Nopony would blame you if you refused to shoulder more weight."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "What? No 'You must live up to that spear's power now' or 'Everypony expects a lot from you and you better deliver' from you?" she asked. "Or maybe you think I can't handle having a super weapon like you?"

"I was trying to say something good about you, you stupid mare," Longstride retorted.

Rainbow snorted, then turned to look at him. The earlier battle hadn't done much to Longstride. Not surprising when he could fight from so far away. Still, he had a worn look about him. Not old or anything, just a weird sense of being tired. He stared back, his eyes spinning lazily. "What is it?" he asked.

"You worked with the Legion as a Thorn, right?" Rainbow asked. "Did you get a bunch of ponies wanting to take your bow?"

"Plenty," Longstride replied. "Camellia attracts the weak and undisciplined like flies: ponies who think that, if they could only have a magical bow, they would be great archers."

"Yeah, except you, huh?" Rainbow remarked. "You deserve your magic bow."

"Says the mare who owns an artifact she just picked off a cave floor," Longstride replied. "Is your line of questioning going anywhere or are you just wasting rest time again?"

"I was going to ask how you dealt with them!" Rainbow snapped.

"No different from what you just did," Longstride said. "You were awkward and hesitant, but that can be blamed on your inexperience with ponies wanting things from you. You answered correctly, Rainbow. At least, I think so."

Rainbow stopped at that, forcing Longstride to do the same. "You really think so?" she asked.

"I did not have the option to refuse Camellia when it was given to me," Longstride said. "However I 'dealt' with it came because I had no choice. You do have a choice with that spear, but you've chosen to carry it anyway, weight and--"

For a moment, Rainbow could have sworn his eyes widened, as if he had surprised himself. "Think nothing of it," he muttered as he moved on. "Ultimately, my thoughts on the matter are irrelevant."

Rainbow found herself having to rub her face to keep from grinning like an idiot. She was beaming inside, but there was no way she was showing it to Longstride.

"Rainbow..."

The renewed seriousness in Longstride's tone helped manage the unbidden smile on Rainbow's face as they resumed walking. "What?" she asked.

"Have you thought of what you're going to do after this mission?" Longstride asked.

"Rainbow let herself grin this time, then patted her pack. "I'm gonna master this new weapon I got!" she said.

Longstride's eyes narrowed. "How lucky you stumbled upon it," he muttered. "What were you planning before you acquired it?"

"What does it matter?" Rainbow asked with a snort. "It's the plan I have now! Besides, why are you asking?"

"After this mission and its complications are settled, I wish to accompany you further."

"Why?" Rainbow asked defensively. "You want to keep me out of trouble because I have this spear?"

"No," Longstride replied. He was silent for a while, leaving the scrunch of their hooves against the snow to fill the void. "You have a very important cause that I have good reason to help see through."

Rainbow strained her ears when she could just hear a ghost of a long exhale from Longstride.

"I also find you good company for what it's worth."

That should have been a moment worthy of mockery or at least a tiny bit of gloating. Longstride didn't allow for a lot of openings and Rainbow had been waiting for such a chance to rub his nose into the fact that she was better than what he expected of her. She opened her mouth, but whatever gloating she had prepared didn't come out. It just didn't feel right saying it now. It was probably because she was tired and didn't want to argue anymore. Yes, that was it. She was so tired that she was feeling a little lightheaded and the upcoming battle left her giddy. "Um..." she said. "Sure. You're pretty okay company too. I guess..."

Longstride merely nodded. Once they reached the house Rainbow staying in, he flapped his wings to leave. "Goodnight," he said.

"Night," Rainbow replied, her tone oddly too subdued for her liking. She watched him fly off to some nearby trees. Being skilled at sleeping among branches herself, Rainbow didn't find that too strange. It just didn't feel right, though, that he stayed so far away from the village and his fellow legionnaires. She didn't get the whole loner thing. What was so good about being alone?

Realizing she was about to call after him and ask him that, Rainbow shook her head and darted inside. Rest, and the chance to clear her head of all these weird things awaited.

The following morning came by too swiftly. Rainbow rubbed her eyes and shook her head. She had gone to bed tired, but somehow stayed awake for too long anyway just staring at the rafters.

'Stupid Longstride,' Rainbow thought. 'He should have just insulted me and gotten it over with. Instead, he had to make it weird...'

The bone thing remained in her pack. She had slept with it still strapped to her, as uncomfortable as it was, out of fear that somepony might try to steal it. Even now, she was hesitant to show it, as if the mere sight of the spear might inspire ponies to do things they wouldn't otherwise. She carried the haft of a spear with her as well. When the time came to fight, she counted on the bone thing to attach itself to one end like before.

Shatterspine was on the move. They probably started at the crack of dawn. Heavy, plate barding gleamed in the morning sun along with polished, steel-tipped lances and curving swooping blades. The lancers were in high spirits, despite the presence of several wagons meant to carry their dead.

The earth pony skirmishers were in a more somber mood. Theirs was less of a glory role. No decisive charge to break the back of an ursan unit, no deadly barrage of powerful spells to scatter the enemy. Yet, they suffered the highest number of casualties yesterday, and everypony expected the same for today. They were the ones that Rainbow's group was going with into the forest.

Then, there were the unicorns, casting minor cantrips with each other to "warm up". They got to hang back, away from the main danger. It would be an enviable spot if Rainbow didn't know that the enemy would be keeping them as a top priority, and that, if the ursans or Hassyth did reach them, it would be a slaughter.

Each group stopped whatever they were doing briefly to look at Rainbow as she passed. She heard some of the whispered and muttered words: "Yargh", "Spear-bearer", "Secret Weapon", "Upstart north legionnaire". It was a relief when she finally spotted Longstride and Scarlet. With a wave, she flew over to them.

"You ready to kill Hassyth?" Scarlet asked with a grin. Rainbow answered with one of her own and a vigorous nod, happy to put that outburst of his behind her.

Next to him, Longstride merely scanned the forest ahead.

"You see anything?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes," Longstride replied. "He's waiting."

Rainbow Dash 8: Numbers and Names

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 8: Numbers and Names

The earth ponies of the Western Legion marched through the forest with neither preamble nor any attempt at subtlety. They trampled bushes, scraped against trees, and scuffed rocks all the while cursing and muttering to each other. At a distance, silently flitting among the branches, Rainbow watched them with...well, she wasn't sure. Admiration? They were a far cry from how she saw heroic legionnaires. No gleaming armor or precise formation. No fearsome charge or flying colors. Just a motley bunch of earth ponies with a collection of spears and blades. They grumbled among themselves like they didn't even want to be there. She wouldn't want to be in their position, and that sort of didn't fit "admiration".

They felt...heavy. It didn't take long until she didn't even want to look at them. These ponies were going to risk everything to give her and her allies a chance at Hassyth. It wasn't just a matter of not disappointing them or proving them wrong, as was how she had dealt with pressure in the past. Some of these ponies were going to die, and the best she could do was to make this worth it. More than ever, now that she was separated from the Elements of Harmony, she felt that weight.

Ahead of her, Longstride looked surprisingly on edge. She was expecting him to be the calm one in this mission. Especially when, next to her, Scarlet was quivering with anticipation.

"How are we going to go after that Twenty Four?" Rainbow whispered. "You've got a plan for him, right?"

"I can catch glimpses of him from here," Longstride replied. "He hasn't attacked straightaway. Unusual for Twenty Four. I cannot get a good aim on him like this."

"Can't we just blow past him?" Scarlet grumbled. "He's a magical corpse, right? If we kill Hassyth, he'll fall over dead!"

"Or he'll put arrows in our flanks and we'll die," Rainbow replied.

"I will watch Twenty Four while we move on," Longstride said. "He will need to move in to start sniping, and I will spot him when he does so."

Rainbow nodded, and they pressed on silently. She didn't like the plan, really. Probably because she didn't figure in it. It was just Longstride's plan of action for himself. He probably thought that Twenty Four was just his problem. How stupid. He was wasting his biggest advantage over Twenty Four: her. Well, she wasn't going to have any of it. First opportunity to move in to finish this sniper and she was taking it. Of course, she has to make sure she didn't get shot in the flank again.

If the ursans were planning to engage the skirmishers, they were taking their time. The earth ponies continued their march for Willow Manor unchallenged. Rainbow and her group flitted ahead, always among the thicker branches. Always with their eyes peeled for every danger.

A mighty roar finally broke the tense silence within the forest. Rainbow turned on instinct towards the sound, expecting a line of ursans to come out to fight. Before she could see anything, Longstride slammed against her midriff, knocking her down into some branches. Stiff, needly leaves jammed past the joints of her barding, nowhere near hurting her, but causing a very nasty itch. She was about to yell at him, but understanding beat her to it. She saw no arrow, but Twenty Four must have shot at her, using the exact moment of the ursan roar as a distraction. It would have worked too. Cursing at her inattentiveness, struggled to right herself.

Longstride was just as hasty, rolling back to his hooves. "He's flying in!" he said harshly. His bow was nocked and ready in an instant. That didn't make sense. Why would a sniper move in? Secondly, how could he do so quickly? For all his archery, Longstride was a good flyer at best.

"Look out!" Scarlet yelled just as the skirmishers let out their own battle cries. That cinched it. Rainbow looked ahead, her front hooves moving towards her weapon.

Just past Scarlet hovered a large, pegasus stallion. Rainbow's gaze swiftly went to the many glowing symbols encircling his forelegs and lining his wings. They glowed gold, easily seen on his white coat and feathers. His eyes were the same golden discs as Longstride's. They glared past the red curls of his bangs and right at her.

Rainbow flew to the side in a near panic, instinctively understanding what was coming next. She felt the thunks of a couple of arrows lodging themselves among the branches where she had been a moment ago. 'He's open,' she thought. She grasped the bone thing, and held it to the spear haft she carried. As she had expected, its straps came alive, and grasped the end. She should be able to...

Another arrow flew at her.

Fortunately, Scarlet had dashed in throw off Twenty Four's aim. Both arrows-

Both? Was he shooting more than one at a time, or did he draw and nock that fast?

Twenty Four replied by slamming a front hoof into Scarlet's midriff, then smashing another against the side of his face when he doubled over. Scarlet flew spinning into a nearby tree, and crashed among its branches. An arrow flew from Longstride's bow, but Twenty Four had managed to fly to a distance with a single beat of his wings, and fired his reply at Longstride, who had to duck into some branches.

Rainbow, her spear ready, charged in. Black sludge burst from the tip and ignited as she charged. She had her opening surely...

Twenty Four's front hooves moved as blurs, drawing arrows from his quiver, then firing rapidly. Three arrows flew to meet Rainbow's charge, forcing her to veer away.

'He's so fast!' Rainbow thought. Around her, the sounds of pitched battle raged. The skirmishers were not meant to destroy the surviving ursan forces, just to engage and harry them. Still, she couldn't be pinned here. Not by a lone sniper. The Western Legion counted on them.

Twenty Four was on her in an instant. His hoof reached for the haft of her spear while another moved for her face. Rainbow twisted her weapon away in time, and took a hoof to the side of her head for it. The impact nearly wrenched her head from her neck. Her vision darkened and stars burst around her peripheries. She clutched her spear hard, though, and grit her teeth, forcing her way back from the brink of consciousness. She flew back by just a foot, enough to get some distance for a stab, then lunged with her spear.

But Twenty Four was gone again, nearly a dozen feet away with another arrow aimed at her. It would have been a clean shot if Scarlet hadn't rushed him with a snarl. He grappled with the bigger Scarlet, face calm and lips in a smile. The markings around his forelegs glowed bright as he forced Scarlet's grip away from him.

'He's freakishly strong,' Rainbow thought. Her head was still spinning from that glancing blow from Twenty Four's hooves. She got it now. He had the same magic eyes as Longstride, but his forelegs and wings were also enhanced. Longstride was specialized for sniping. Twenty Four could do that as well, but he had the legs to wade into a melee like this, and the wings to rapidly switch from long to short range, then back again. So this was what upset Longstride. He could have been a much better super sniper...

She had to kill him.

He was definitely stronger than Longstride, and he was an enemy. If she could kill him, it would be the same as killing Longstride, only more. What a powerful target. Her spear blazed brighter and oozed great gobs of filth as Twenty Four hurled Scarlet away, then dodged another arrow. Her muscles tensed up, like a great spring winding up for a mighty dash. She was his to kill. Kill. Kill.

Rainbow was about to hurl herself as hard as she could, when she wrenched her own wings to a hover. Her mind was hazy. She thought it was just the aftereffects of that blow, but it was still there. A thick haze that made it difficult to think. 'Wait...the mission...the mission is to...to kill Twenty Four?'

No. No, that wasn't right. She shook her head. When nothing happened, she struck it against the spear's haft. 'I know you're doing this!' she growled inwardly. She glared at the spear as if it could possibly be intimidated. She had no time to struggle with this now! Scarlet and Longstride still kept Twenty Four at bay, with Scarlet forcing the issue with close range combat while Longstride fired at every opening. Still, Twenty Four fought on without taking a hit.

Kill. Kill. Kill. That pony is strong. He must die.

The spear didn't actually talk, literally or mentally. It simply emanated a pervasive mood that made her think those thoughts. She fought hard to push them away.

Wait...

Did she have to for this one, though? She needed to kill Twenty Four anyway. She could ride on the spear's bloodlust this one time. The moment she considered that option, she was before Twenty Four, spear plunging deep for a killing strike to his neck. His eyes widened at the quick charge; a moment she relished. He shifted his head to the side and batted the spear with a foreleg. Even then, the tip grazed the side of his neck, drawing blood. The ooze hissed and smoked when his foreleg touched the haft.

The surprise didn't last long though. Rainbow withdrew her spear for another stab when Twenty Four flew back. Still elated by the close strike, Rainbow flew forward furiously, expecting to keep up with Twenty Four as he back away to go back to sniping.

To her surprise, Twenty Four fell sharply, letting slip beneath her as she flew forward. He grabbed her sides with his forelegs. Panicked and furious, Rainbow grasped his forelegs, and tried to pry them loose. It was like trying bend a pair of steel bars. With a grunt and a heave, he hurled her downwards. Rainbow flapped furiously to get back to a hover at least. She looked above her to find Twenty Four already shooting.

An arrow whizzed by as Rainbow desperately twisted. She flapped furiously, fully aware that Twenty Four never shot just one arrow.

A horrific burst of pain exploding by her hip told her exactly how right she was. Rainbow bit down, refusing to cry out in pain while she finally righted herself. She glanced at the wound, just above her left leg. That was still a lot of shaft dangling from the wound, it must not be too deep. Maybe it hit bone. Not much blood, but her leg was already seizing up from the excrutiating pain. It was probably best to leave it there until the fight was over.

'I'm really going to kill this stallion!'

Whether that thought came from her or the spear was irrelevant at the moment. Rainbow focused solely on striking down the enemy. It was all she could do to keep the pain to the back of her mind. Above her, Twenty Four had broken away from Scarlet again and was flying back, his bow aimed at Longstride. Her spear reached him before he could release the string, forcing him to fire wildly at no one just to defend himself. Again, the best she could do was graze him, this time across his left foreleg. He was so quick to shift focuses. Three of them against him: two of the fastest ponies in the Legion and a super sniper, and he still held his own.

Rainbow stabbed again, and again, wildly and with the painful awareness that she wasn't exactly showing off any fancy technique. What could anypony expect? She had this thing for a day so far. A stab even she knew was too deep left her open to a hoof to the face. She flew back, blood trickling from her snout to her lips. Lips, she was suddenly aware of, that were set in a wide grin. She pushed on anyway. What strength this stallion had in his forelegs, what skill in being able to use hoofstrikes against a spear. How was he even killed?

An arrow flew from behind Rainbow, this time finding a home in Twenty Four's right foreleg. His lips briefly pressed tightly together in what looked like a grunt of pain. A few trickles of blood ran from the wound as he flew back. Rainbow ground her teeth and had to force her head not to look back furiously. 'My kill!' the spear raged. Rainbow jerked back, suddenly forced to go against the spear when it redirected its fury.

That moment of distraction was all it took for Twenty Four to slip past the spear's tip. His hoof dug deep just above Rainbow's gut, straight into her solar plexus. She doubled over, barely able to hold on to her spear as her breath wooshed out of her lungs and her guts squirmed in pain. Twenty Four seized her by the shoulders with a crushing grip, then hurled her towards Longstride.

Rainbow braced herself for a crash into a tree, but a streak of red zipped by the corner of her eye. In an instant, two pairs of forelegs held her steady, and eased her back to a hover. She wheezed and grunted, forcing air back into her lungs despite her body protesting. She raised her gaze, and found Twenty Four hovering several feet ahead and above them.

Scarlet tensed again, his crossbow hanging empty by his side. Rainbow could understand. Trying to get into a shooting match with Twenty Four was likely a bad idea. Longstride was struggling, and he was their best shooter. Speaking of Longstride, he had another arrow drawn. Rainbow raised her spear for a charge of her own.

"Twenty Six!"

Hearing Twenty Four speak froze Rainbow briefly. Wasn't he just a magical corpse?

Longstride kept his bow aimed, but he lowered it slightly at this. Even Scarlet seemed surprised.

Twenty Four lifted the foreleg where Longstide's arrow still dangled. "This your best shot, Twenty Six?" he asked.

Longstride's reply flew true, it's trajectory: Twenty Four's heart, but Twenty Four moved swiftly out of the way. He was in close range at once. Rainbow barely got her spear pointed at him when he reached melee range. Twenty Four didn't even look at her, though.

"I know what happened," Twenty Four said. "Give me the bow."

"This bow belongs to Longstride," Longstride replied. "It will not function for you. Even if it could, you don't deserve it."

"I don't care," Twenty Four replied. His forelegs turned into blurs, and an arrow flew into Scarlet's wings just as he was about to rush, flinging him back and pinning him through several feathers, into the tree behind them. He raised his voice. "Twenty Five is mine. Give her to me."

"Hold on!" Rainbow yelled. "You're not a magical corpse being controlled by Hassyth at all! Why are you fighting us then?"

"Be quiet, idiot mare," Twenty Four said. He didn't even look at her. "This is between me and Twenty Six."

"I have nothing more to say to an ophidite puppet," Longstride replied while Rainbow trembled with rising rage.

"Hassyth restored my body inside the manor, hoping to experiment on a living vegetable," Twenty Four went on. "He didn't expect a full revival. I can leave if I want, Twenty Six. I will on one condition."

"You cannot have this bow," Longstride replied.

Twenty Four fired two more arrows. Rainbow raised her spear on instinct, as if she could block such fast shots. The arrows whizzed past her, however. Scarlet, who had just freed his wing without ruining his feathers, suddenly found his other wing pinned.

"We both know that Longstride's name and bow belongs to me," Twenty Four said. "We always knew. Mistakes happened, but they've been fixed now. This fight proves it. Our archery may be close, but my body is better; more versatile and powerful. That bow will serve me better. Give it to me. I'm sure even Twenty Five will agree."

Longstride's eyes narrowed, his irises spinning quickly. "I see," he said. "I think I understand. It took a very powerful spell by Black Rose to keep me from drifting off this world. Yet, you have managed to linger on without outside help."

"I die even better than you," Twenty Four said.

"You lingered in that manor all this time because I took the name and the bow that should have gone to you. All this time, you wanted to correct the mistake you caused."

"I will carry on Longstride's duties," Twenty Four said. All of a sudden, he sounded so reassuring. Like a reliable older brother taking over for a flustered sibling. "I know you, Twenty Six, you never wanted that name. I will fix everything. Twenty Five will not have died for nothing by making that bow."

Rainbow turned towards Longstride, a hoof extended to stop him. There was no way he was going to give up his bow! Especially to this creep! "Long--" she started.

"You will never have this bow, Twenty Four," Longstride snarled. "And you will never have this name!" He raised his bow for the next shot.

"Can we stop talking now?" Rainbow snapped. "They're still fighting out there!"

"Stubborn, envious colt!" Twenty Four snarled. "You don't deserve Twenty Five!" He flew back, his bow also aimed.

Just before she charged into the fray again, Rainbow noticed the tremble in Longstride's shoulders. That wasn't fatigue and it didn't persist. This stallion, who could stay perfectly stone-faced while being taunted by strangers, finally showed a crack.

Two more arrows flew from Twenty Four towards Longstride as he flew back to get some distance from Rainbow. She looked back to him, aware that she should be focused on the enemy, but unable to resist checking up on him anyway.

Longstride's irises spun at a speed Rainbow never saw before. Were they malfunctioning? That was the last thing she need right now. He flew to the side to avoid the first shot. Then, his foreleg flickered as the second flew past. In an instant, the shot disappeared, and an arrow zipped towards Twenty Four.

Rainbow didn't wait to see where this shooting match was going. Even if it did look like Longstride snatched an arrow from the air. These two snipers were negating each other's shooting by whatever special training they went through in the manor. If she just kept attacking, she could either land a hit or just distract Twenty Four enough for Longstride. True enough, Twenty Four winged past the arrow, his magic-infused wings about to send him straight into Longstride. Rainbow saw it coming this time. It figured that he would try to use his extra special limbs to get the advantage over Longstride. Typical show off. She crashed into him at the last moment when he twisted his body just enough to turn her spear charge from vicious impalement to a gash on his torso. Drops of his blood rained down on the forest floor below. Rainbow was sure that the flames of her spear would seal the wound, but it was better this way.

A bash to the side of the head by his free hoof knocked those stupid thoughts out of her head. This was no time to be distracted by random details. She pulled back, but the back of her neck encounted the inside of Twenty Four's bow. With both hooves grabbing the weapon's ends, he pulled her head forward until her snout met his forehead

Rainbow's vision went black for a moment as her head recoiled from the impact. Blood burst from her nose and ran down her chin. She tasted metal on her lips. The bow's shaft moved up, freeing her from its grasp, but a hoof grabbed her barding to pull her back again. Instinctively, she raised her forelegs to protect her face. Big mistake. A hoof slammed into her midriff, doubling her over. Her wings stopped flapping as her muscles seized from the pain. If he tossed her now, she might crash to the forest floor. She braced herself, even as she tried to pry his iron grip. A second one was coming for sure.

A streak of red changed that instantly. Scarlet was suddenly between them, barging in with enough force to separate them. His knife whipped about, nearly catching Twenty Four's eyes. Rainbow struggled to flap her wings as she fell, but the pain still left them stiff and folded. She could barely suck in a breath and her vision was paying for it. Her heart hammered between her ear and she was certain the ground was coming ever closer.

And she did hit something. Something hard, but not the cold, hard, pitiless soil. Rather, it was Longstride, his forelegs stretched out to catch her. For an instant, the sudden weight made him start falling too, but his wings struggled until he got to a hover.

"How many times will you let him hit you before you notice he's too strong?" Longstride asked.

Rainbow smeared the blood on her face across her foreleg. "And how many times will you keep making those awful shots?" she retorted. "I know you're better than this! You're aiming for his edges instead of the center!"

His eyes were still spinning wildly. Rainbow could have sworn that there was a trickle of blood around the edges of his eyes. "What would you know?" he muttered. She winced when his grip tightened, then nearly gasped when he tossed her aside. She had recovered enough to hover on her own, however.

"Twenty Four!"

Rainbow nearly forgot to keep flapping. That was the first time she ever heard him shout. He aimed his bow upward, nearly vertically, then loosed an arrow. That shot didn't make sense. It didn't even point at Twenty Four's direction.

Twenty Four had just knocked Scarlet's knife away with a powerful strike to the fetlock. His other hoof struck Scarlet's snout at an upward angle, sending Scarlet reeling and hovering back. His bow was in his hooves so quickly that Rainbow was starting to think it was magic and teleported between his back and forelegs at a moment's notice.

An arrow would have found Scarlet's heart if Twenty Four had not heard Longstride's shout. He snapped alert quickly and dodged to the side when the first shot came flying at him. Rainbow scowled. She knew little of archery, but it was stupid to call Twenty Four's attention, and that shot would have hit a shoulder or foreleg at best.

Things were looking up, though. Longstride suddenly strafed by one side, making sure he stayed locked on to Twenty Four. "Wait for it here!" he told her as he passed by. He fired a second arrow, this time towards Twenty Four's other side. Again, Twenty Four merely switched directions with a flap of his powerful wings. Compared to his speedy maneuvers, Longstride's flying seemed so labored. Still, Longstride pressed on, shifting directions as well, firing shots that were almost embarassing for him. Rainbow bit her lip as she watched, a hard thing to do when her spear practically squirmed restlessly in her grasp. What did Longstride mean by "wait for it here"? She was tempted to just ignore him and dive in, but none of her earlier charges had worked. Continuing to fail would just be embarassing, especially after she chastised him for his failed shots.

As far as embarrasment was concerned, Longstride wasn't helping his case despite his renewed assault. Twenty Four all but danced around him, an arrogant smile actually twisting his lips. The braggart was enjoying this, flaunting his superior flying ability. Any minute now, he'll charge to engage in melee just to show off his strength again.

An arrow fell on Twenty Four's back.

The shot came down vertically, landing between Twenty Four's shoulder blades. The effect proved telling immediately, from the shocked look on Twenty Four's face wiping that stupid grin to his flying halting in mid air. The point might have jammed partially into a wing's rotator. Even if it didn't the sudden pain should ruin his rhythm. Even with his magic wings, he can't do his fancy maneuvers now. But, how did that shot--

Rainbow's eyes widened. Yes, of course, that initial shot aimed skyward. The arrow naturally arced down so...even she couldn't hide a smile. Even if Longstride remained stone-faced, she smiled out of pride for him. So those other shots weren't useless after all.

She took a second to admire before springing into action. No need for any prompting from Longstride. This was what he meant by waiting for it. She charged Twenty Four head on, reaching him while he was still falling and trying to control his flight.

The bone thing finally struck true. Rainbow tore it through Twenty Four's torso, ripping skin and muscle, and splintering the lower ribs. The tip burst from the other side of Twenty Four's body, almost with a satisfied sigh. Blood splattered across her face, enough for it to drip down her bangs and run down her cheeks. A trickle got in her eye, forcing her to blink it away. Warm, thick rivulets ran down the spear's shaft and her hooves. For a moment, the spear's incessant, furious rumbling was silent.

Twenty Four continued to fall, like a broken twig forlornly spiraling away from its branch. He gripped his wound tightly, vainly trying to keep his insides from leaking away. An arrow pierced his gut from above. Then, a second one.

When he crashed to the forest floor at last, Longstride was just a few seconds behind. Rainbow followed suit, Scarlet joining in with her.

"Got him at last!" Scarlet crowed as they both landed behind Longstride. "Nice hit there, Rainbow!" He grinned widely, but he wasn't exactly the picture of total victory. Like her, he was bleeding from his snout. His left eye was also badly swollen. She wasn't exactly in a position to poke fun at him. With the tension of the battle and the elation of getting a good hit in waning, Rainbow's injuries began begging for attention. An arrow still dangled from her hip. She had to remove it at some point before an infection set in. Her face was pretty beat up too, and she was sure that she was going to have some horrendous bruises along her belly. She'd probably be coughing up some blood for a while.

They approached Longstride, who was kneeling by Twenty Four's side.

Twenty Four was a broken stallion, clearly not a threat anymore, yet Longstride glared at him as if he might vomit a stream of arrows. Blood pumped from the devastating wound Rainbow had given him. The impact of his fall had snapped one of his wings in an unnatural angle. Just looking at the injury made Rainbow's wings ache. Despite all this, Twenty Four managed the strength to curl his lips,

"Some victory," Twenty Four rasped. "Three of you--"

"Be quiet, corpse," Longstride retorted. His voice was soft and harsh all at once, like a whispered growl. "You could have hung back while we pressed on, harrassed us with sniper shots while we focused on our mission. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that's what Hassyth told you to do, and you ignored him. You assaulted us despite our numbers and you're going to die for it. Only you can die the same stupid death twice, Twenty Four."

Twenty Four hacked up a glob of blood and mustered a grin. "Lecturing like that old nag--." He gurgled each word out and failed.

Longstride grabbed the broken stallion by the neck and forced him up. Even Rainbow winced at the move. That had to be agonizing. "Keep that grudge," Longstride said. "I hope this defeat adds enough to it so you're sucked into the abyss. I hope they turn you into a sea-soaked wraith. Then, I can find you again on the final battle, and humiliate you one more time."

Twenty Four could only glare. The writing around his forelegs flared up as he tried to break Longstride's grip. He trembled, hacked up more blood, and grit his teeth, but he failed to even budge them. Finally, after one last defiant stare, he went limp, and Longstride hurled him to the ground like garbage.

Even Rainbow knew better than to speak up right away. She stared at Longstride's back while he focused on the ground for a few more moments, before he turned towards her. "We have to keep moving," he said.

The fighting noises had grown distant. The skirmishers had led the ursans away.

Rainbow nodded and was about to take flight when she winced. Her arrow wound finally refused to be ignored. When Longstride's gaze went to the wound, however, she shifted on instinct. Being embarassed to show she was wounded seemed stupid, but she just didn't like the notion that he might be annoyed by the delay because she let herself get shot.

"That must be treated," Longstride said. He fiddled with one of his packs, then produced a small vial of greenish white...something. Before she could protest, he was by her side. She winced, and bit down on her lip. No way she was going to give him the sight of her crying out.

Longstride gently eased the arrow out, careful enough to keep the barb from doing more damage. It wasn't even as painful as Rainbow expected. "Sablesteel made a few of these for our mission back in Canterlot," he said. "It's a healing p--"

That was all Rainbow really needed to hear. Flustered and eager to get going, she grabbed the unstoppered vial and poured its contents down her mouth. Bitter of course, grainy too. Typical medicine. The fluid was so thick that she had to shake the vial a bit to get it to come out, even sucking on it when it trickled out too slowly. The wound still hurt badly. "Are you sure this stuff works?" she asked. "Some healing potion!"

"It was a poultice, you stupid mare," Longstride snapped. He produced another one while Rainbow gagged. "Stand still. Sable knows her medicines as much as her toxins, and these have been infused with minor healing magic by Princess Luna."

"So how come I didn't get some?" Rainbow groused. She had to inject some annoyance to that question. As soon as Longstride's poultice-covered hoof touched her hip wound, a wave of soothing balminess crashed against the throbbing ache.

For all his sharp, biting retorts, Longstride's ministrations were surprisingly gentle. He spread the poultice in small, circular motions, pressing just firmly enough not to hurt. A soft piece of cotton to dress the wound, then a fresh bandage all from his packs, and the injury was almost a thing of the past. When his hooves moved to her wings, though, she nearly reared up with a start. "Hey, my wings are fine!" she said.

"After those tumbles?" Longstride replied. "Better to check."

"I can do that myself," Rainbow insisted. "You don't have to fuss--"

Rainbow's complaint trailed off at odd mien around Longstride. His eyes stayed still, in some odd reminiscing gaze. He could use this more than she did. She might as well oblige him. Something about this fight left him wounded, even if he never took a blow or a shot. He ruffled her feathers slightly, checking for cuts and bruises, picking out bits of needly leaves and twigs before smoothing them down. Her wings tingled, then twitched on reflex. She bit her tongue in response. She'd never live it down if she suddenly giggled at the mild tickling.

This didn't look like the first time he had done this for somepony. Maybe with Sablesteel? That didn't seem likely. Sablesteel looked and acted so prickly that she'd probably maim anypony trying to nurse her in any way.

"Hey, I'm pretty hurt over here too!" Scarlet piped in. He grinned when another vial landed on his outstretched hooves.

"So..." Rainbow mumbled. "You must have really hated this guy."

"Yes," Longstride replied. "He was the worst kind of scum. You saw how much of a reckless braggart he was and how it got him killed."

That really should have come out with more spitting malice. Rainbow figured that it would have if it came from her. She'd probably have more to say and Twenty Four just got one shot on her. It was a weird feeling, though. Part of her wanted to poke him over the fact that he wasn't so above it all. He didn't just help defeat Twenty Four, but basically rubbed it in Twenty Four's face. Even she knew, though, that this wasn't the time. Or that there should be a time for such a matter.

Longstride moved to the next wing, hooves moving so lightly that a slight breeze ruffled her more.

"So," Rainbow said. "Why was he talking about giving him Twenty Five? Is that your bow's original name?"

Longstride paused for a moment, eyes distant, before applying some poultice on some abrasions he found. "To craft this bow, a pony had to be sacrificed. Her name was Twenty Five, so Twenty Four assumed that it would be the name given to the bow."

"But it's Camellia," Rainbow said in barely a whisper. It didn't seem right to go beyond that.

"When I was chosen, we had a talk about her name," Longstride replied. "She was smiling and laughing when I brought it up. She thought it was a silly thing for the Longstride the concern himself over. When she saw I was in earnest, she told me I might as well come up with one for her since I was apparently the only one who cared. When we were separated, I thought it over, then settled on Camellia."

He said that name with a sense of reverence. He wasn't referring to a weapon this time, rather a pony.

"Camellia, the flower of spring, because it was going to be a new beginning for her, a new life free from trying to be Longstride, the flower of excellence, passion, faithfulness, all things I thought she was and had to be just to make up for having only one graft. We were separated before I could tell her. I was told that she was sent to the Delve and planned to join the Legion. I thought we would meet again one day in some battle."

"What really happened?" Rainbow asked. Nearby, Scarlet was also leaning in. Longstride seemed so lost in thought he either didn't notice or care.

"To lock the bow's enchantments onto me, the sacrifice must be one I was close to, a pony who I grew up with," Longstride said. "The project's protocol dictated that it should be my handler, Sharp Mark, but he died suddenly. There was a scramble to find a replacement. Twenty Five volunteered in secret. I did not know of what transpired until after I had entered Black Rose's service."

"Sorry," Rainbow blurted. That didn't make sense, though. She had nothing to do with what happened. Longstride would have pointed that out with some sarcastic jab. Nothing came, though.

Longstride went on. "Twenty Four should have been Longstride. His gifts were unmatched. His handler stayed alive long after the project was dissolved. If he had been picked, the Thorns would have been more effective, and Camellia would have lived." Longstride's harsh tone trembled. He picked out a twing from her feathers, and flicked it away. "Ponies who squander their gifts deserve worse than death."

"Come on," Scarlet remarked. "Not like you're awful at it. Aren't you even a little glad about your skills, and that you get to go hundreds of years into the future?" Rainbow nearly jumped in to tackle him.

"No," Longstride said flatly.

"You're using the name though," Scarlet replied. "And the eyes, and the bow."

"There isn't a day that goes by that I don't despise having been chosen," Longstride said. "But, I have to stay the course. If I don't, then everypony would have died for nothing." He moved on to Rainbow's face, dabbing lightly on the cuts around her eyes, feeling around her snout to see if it was broken. They had to stay in eye contact all throughout. She tried to picture him during those moments: being laughed at by his friend, concentrating on a name...it seemed like such a brief moment lightness, like a ray of sunlight, in the long, heavy cloud of duty he was always on about. He should have more. It was for his own good. Besides, it would be a sight to see. Those gold irises didn't show emotion very well. Eyes were supposed to be windows to the soul. So she heard. If they were, Longstride's were covered with stained glass; pretty, but unrevealing. Still, she was starting to see something behind them after all.

"What's the matter?" Longstride asked.

It dawned on Rainbow that she must have been staring all that time. Her heart was pounding, probably left over adrenaline and the awkwardness of this situation mixing together. "You should get one too," she blurted out.

"What?" was the flat reply.

"A name, I mean," Rainbow said. "Your own name."

Longstride frowned. "I have a name."

"Look," Rainbow said with a sigh. "I get it, the whole loyalty thing. You have to be this archer you were made into. But, you're not in the project anymore. You can at least have some small things. A name you picked isn't much, but isn't that why you were so bothered by her name? Loyalty shouldn't have to be so rigid."

There was silence after that. Rainbow could just sense that Scarlet was about to start laughing. She'd probably throttle him if he did. Longstride merely turned around, and got to a hover. "We've spent enough time recovering," he said. "Let's go."

The skirmishers were nowhere in sight, neither were the ursans. The mission was still going well, it seemed. After a moment to test if she was good to fly, and to return her spear to its inert state, Rainbow took flight once again.

Rainbow Dash 9: Relentless

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 9: Relentless

Willow Manor.

Here they were again. The place really shouldn't mean anything to Rainbow: just the first stop in her long journey to improve before Equestria called her to battle the abyss. That was all it should be. It was just the first step.

Not so for Scarlet Rabbit to her right. He snorted, and flapped his wings hard while they hovered. The rage in him was so palpable that it warmed the air around him. His breath came out in thick clouds of vapor and his forelegs twitched in anticipation. Likely, he was already envisioning them wrapped around a snake's neck, crushing...crushing...

Rainbow could understand. It wasn't as if Hassyth hadn't hurt her. But, if she ever felt anything like Scarlet did at the moment, that fire seemed to have gone out. She did want Hassyth dead, but it was more so she didn't have to worry about him throughout the rest of her journey. For Scarlet, the death of this snake was years, maybe even decades, in the making; an end in and of itself. She remembered him furiously struggling while they were captured. His was a rage so great that Ophidite drugs could not affect him. That sort of strength was nothing short of amazing. Yet...what was going to happen if they did kill Hassyth?

To her left, Longstride hovered with a great deal less agitation. This was a long time in the making for him too; a full circle like Scarlet. He started out in that benighted manor as the product of what has got to be the most awful athletic program in all of Equestria and beyond. Now, he's back. Her thoughts went to the decision he had asked her to make with him. It loomed over her now, and she hadn't really given it much thought. Was he really expecting some sort of wise advice from her just because she was the Element of Loyalty? That was stupid. He was expecting too much of her as he always did. He was back to his emotionless expression, nowhere near that silent fury or that weird tenderness from earlier. He caught her staring, but, for the first time, looked away and towards the manor instead of holding her gaze. Maybe he was embarassed by his behavior earlier.

The grounds before the manor had been swallowed up by the forest up until recently. The many stumps around suggested that it had been cleared for the new residents. The ursan camp was a lot less populated now than their first visit. Still, the smithy still operated, and another really big ursan stalked the camp, roaring at the few warriors standing at attention.

"That's the matriarch," Longstride whispered. "She's not happy with the situation. As I suspected, she's supposed to report to an even higher ranking ursan." He listened further, frowning as the matriarch continued to rant. "The main bulk of their troops have yet to arrive, including her superior."

Rainbow shook her head. Just what she needed; more bears. Next to her, Scarlet was practically hissing like a kettle. They glided closer, moving low and always behind some foliage, making sure to not even brush against a leaf lest they were heard.

"We've got to kill him now, then!" Scarlet whispered harshly. "He's going to disappear into Ursinium, and I'll never find him!"

"First we accomplish our mission," Longstride said. He readied his bow, and reached for his quiver. The arrow he picked easily stood out from the others. The head was marked with strange writing. The letters were different, but Rainbow recognized the same style as the markings on the fire bombs she used up north. The arrow head was also covered in some kind of gold leaf. She doubted that this was going to hit a living target. The head was too big in order to accomodate the writing, and the point was quite blunt.

Meanwhile, the matriarch had turned her attention away from the smaller ursans she was yelling at to the manor. She stood on her hind legs, and let out a thunderous roar, enough to rattle Rainbow's teeth even at a distance. That roar had a a spoken word in there. She may not speak Ursan, but it was easy to tell what it meant. The look on Longstride and Scarlet's faces suggested that they came upon the same conclusion.

Hassyth emerged from one of the manor's windows with a flutter of rainbow-colored wings. He glided gracefully through the air, as if he were swimming through the currents with the way he slithered. Up close, Rainbow could make out some details now. His head was also covered in feathers, with a plume of bright purple ones forming a crest atop his reptillian head. His scales were a scintilliating purple on his back, slowly turning bright yellow along his belly. He had a small set of jaws for such a long snake. His was a mouth for talking, not biting it seemed. His eyes were an unblinking yellow; pitiless, fierce, and covetous.

"I'm busy," Hassyth hissed. "How many times must I say this? You want results, but you interrupt me at every turn."

"The Legion is upon us, snake!" the matriarch growled. "Show something for your work, or I will show your head to Dar-Sa-Haf when she gets here."

"The modifications are almost ready," Hassyth replied. "Send in your volunteers, and I will--!" He stopped, then looked around. Rainbow's blood nearly froze when his gaze turned towards her direction. "There's magic nearby! There are ponies somewhere here!"

Longstride loosed the arrow. It arced gracefully through the air, landing in the middle of the camp before anyone could react. As soon as it struck, the head exploded into a flash of brilliance, briefly forcing Rainbow's gaze away. When she looked again, a thin pillar of golden light rose from where the arrow struck, extending to the skies as a clear marker.

"Pony!" the matriarch roared. "You will die for that!"

Longstride replied with a series of grunts and growls. The effect was immediate and telling. The matriarch went livid. Rainbow guessed that Longstride didn't say anything nice. Then again, the matriarch would probably be just as livid simply because a pony spoke her language.

With that, Longstride bolted, the matriarch and several warriors in hot pursuit. As far as Rainbow was concerned, he was flying dangerously slow. The matriarch was practically snapping at his heels. She bit back the urge to fly in front of his pursuers and lead them away. He wouldn't have taunted them if his plan involved being rescued. Of course, no wonder he moved in with her even if he could shoot that arrow from far away. He could lead these ursans away, and still find purchase to shoot at his target. Now if only she and Scarlet...

Longstride hadn't made it that far when the Western Legion responded to his signal. A massive, scintillating bolt of magic struck the camp, just a few feet from where the pillar of light rose. The telekinetic pounding ripped up the ground, sending chunks of earth, soil, tents, and bits of armor, flying. A second one followed shortly afterward, then a third.

The last one struck one of the smaller ursans. Its armor crumpled on impact, bending so much that the metal likely pierced its hide. The force sent it careening to a bunch of barrels full of tools, burying it in pieces of wood and metal. The trail of blood on the ground gave a good hint on its condition.

The matriarch roared again, louder this time. It seemed as if the evocation arrays were responding to her as another bolt came flying in, this one somehow finding her for a direct hit.

The matriarch rose on her hind legs and opened her forelegs seemingly for an embrace. The bolt struck her chest in a brilliant flash and a deafening boom. She didn't even flinch. Nor did the bolt even move her, or even leave a dent.

Rainbow swallowed a lump in her throat at that raw display of might. She looked to Hassyth. A bolt flew in close...

...then simply bounced off.

A globe of magical energy envelope Hassyth, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. This was hardly Rainbow's first time dealing with magical shields, but it was going to be her first time dealing with it without magical help.

All of a sudden, her casual taking on of this mission didn't seem so brilliant. How was she going to even hit this snake with a crossbow or a regular lance? She could only hope that the bone thing was as good at piercing magic as it was armor and hide.

"Hassyth!"

Scarlet screamed at the top of his lungs. His cry was the easiest to detect of him as he had turned into a red blur, streaking towards his former master.

"Scarlet..." Rainbow muttered through grit teeth. The bone thing was already oozing and ready in her grasp when Scarlet bounced off Hassyth's shield as easily as that bolt of magic. A split second was all it took for Scarlet to bounce off again. And again. It took a third before Rainbow could even start a charge of her own.

By Scarlet's third impact, the protective shield crackled and distorted briefly. A patch of blood trickled down its surface where Scarlet had struck. More dripped from his head and forelegs.

"My prize racer reduced to a rabid animal," Hassyth said. He spoke in a surprisingly calm tone despite his targets now facing him. His head and tail swayed rhythmically as arcs of magic coursed through him.

"You're dead, Hassyth!" Scarlet snarled. "Dead!"

Scarlet crashed into the shield for the fourth time. This time, Rainbow stuck with him. The bone thing pierced the shield readily, almost eagerly, as if relishing the chance to prove that it was the stronger force. The colors crackled violently, then shattered like glass, allowing Rainbow and Scarlet to fly through. Rainbow kept the point up, ready to skewer Hassyth in the same charge. Next to her, Scarlet let out a mixture of a furious yell and an elated cry.

Only Hassyth wasn't there as soon as the shield disappeared.

On instinct, Rainbow looked behind her, thinking that the coatl had teleported behind them. No Hassyth behind them either.

"You coward!" Scarlet yelled. "Your marks are here, Hassyth! Come and get us!"

Rainbow wasn't so eager. She swore she could still hear the mighty beats of the coatl's enormous, rainbow-feathered wings, but the explosions of the camp getting pounded by telekinetic bolts made it difficult to pinpoint. Scarlet's shouting wasn't helping either.

"Rainbow."

Longstride's voice, calm and reassuring came from the communication pin. Rainbow's eyes widened. Was he seriously gong to talk to her while evading that massive ursan? She could hear the roars through the pin, and the loud whistles of boulders flying through the air. "What is it?" she asked.

"He's twenty feet from where you are, to your front, rising at a thirty degree angle."

"Will you just concentrate on your own fight?" Rainbow snapped. She turned her gaze towards the direction Longstride pointed though. Things were easier once she knew where to look. The wing beats did seem to come from that direction. She squinted, and the faint distortions of light from both Hassyth's casting and the light passing through him showed. She had to act quickly though. She charged straight ahead, way off from where Hassyth likely was. At the last moment, she shifted to an upward climb, spear raised for a deep stab.

There was no way to tell how Hassyth reacted to that feint, given his invisibility. Rainbow hoped that, like Longstride, Hassyth assumed she was an idiot, and that she had no plan besides charging in random directions. Again, the air crackled as the bone thing gleefully pierced the Hassyth's shields. Rainbow inhaled sharply as the seconds stretched out. Her oozing, blazing point moved closer...

And she did hit something, just a graze from the resistance she felt. That was enough to dissipate the invisibility, it seemed. Hassyth's scaled coils suddenly materialized before her, his head close enough to reveal his fangs, and his wings beating furiously. Magic surge through him, ready to unleash, when a familiar red streak flew in. Scarlet took advantage of the shield's brief disruption to slam into Hassyth's back.

"I got you now, master!" Scarlet roared. "Give your prize racer a hug!"

Hassyth let out a loud hiss as the lift beneath his wings fouled. For a couple of seconds, he was actually falling. Behind him, between his wings, Scarlet laughed and pulled out his knife.

"Ingrate!" Hassyth shouted. Electricity crackled around him, coursing through Scarlet as well. Red fur smoked and sizzled, but Scarlet held on. He raised his knife for a stab, one aimed for a wing joint. Rainbow rushed in to follow it up, though she already feated that she was closing in to just pull Scarlet out of there.

Neither of them got what they planned for. The arcs intensified into a flash of bluish white light, enough to force Rainbow to avert her gaze. When she looked again, it was to notice a smoking trail arc downward into the still exploding camp.

"Scarlet!" Rainbow shouted. With a mighty beat of her wings, she shifted course, turning her charge into a desperate dive. That lightning bolt...even her fur was standing on end. The bone thing protested. Such a powerful spell was the hallmark of something that needed to die. Scarlet was weak and stupid; better off dead. If she focused on saving him, Hassyth would regroup. They were unlikely to survive an assault of spells if that bolt was any indication of his power.

The smoking trail suddenly changed directions, from the downward spiral of a defeated foe to a resurging upward charge from a furious pegasus.

"Scarlet, back down!" Rainbow shouted. She had to beat him to the punch, this time. The bone thing wrenched her towards Hassyth instead. "Not now, stupid spear!" she growled.

She may have caught up with Scarlet once, even in his berserk state. In these short bursts, however, it seemed impossible. Hassyth's shields were back up, as evidenced by Scarlet slamming into them. His barding was already crumpled and scorched. It was only getting worse.

"Decades wasted on you only to see you turn rabid," Hassyth hissed.

Rainbow charged from below. She had to take Hassyth's attention off Scarlet. That shouldn't be too hard. She had the magic weapon that could pierce his shield.

"Rainbow, fly back!"

Longstride's warning forced Rainbow to veer off. Just in time too. A bolt of telekinesis crashed into the ground ahead of her. It would have been a perfect hit if she had continued.

That bolt must have been the last one. The sky suddenly darkened above the camp, followed by the loud battle cries of furious pegasi.

"Finally!" Rainbow muttered.

Flight Shatterspine crashed into the fray, focusing more on the already scatterd ursan troops. Rainbow hoped that they had the matriarch in their sights to relieve some of the pressure on Longstride.

"Coatl!"

A large group lancers veered off the main force, and towards Hassyth. Even at a distance, Rainbow could spot the gloryhound eagerness lighting up their eyes. "Fall back!" she wanted to shout.

Hassyth's spellcasting proved faster. A roiling cloud of...something burst from Hassyth's wings. It was hard to tell. No colored smoke for this one, not even wisps of magical energy. A sense of toxic warmth brushed against Rainbow as the spell passed her on its way to the lancers.

Then, the spell hit. Rainbow could only guess it had at first as the lancers suddenly stopped midflight. Their wings flapped erratically. Their mouths were open to cry out, but no sound came. Suddenly, their eyes bulged, only to shrivel and sink into their sockets. Their tongues followed suit, and their lips. Pieces of their barding fell away, having come loose when the flesh they once fit unto so snugly shrank beneath them as withered, dessicated husks. All of the charging lancers fell from the sky as skeletal, emaciated husks, dissolving into fine powder long before they were anywhere near the ground. Their barding clattered across the camp's floor.

Several lancers dead in a blink...

With a growl, Rainbow picked up the pace again, making a mental note of where the spell had hit and where the wind was blowing in case it really was an invisible gas. Scarlet had arced a long way, his trail still carrying wisps of smoke.

"I tire of your jabs, rainbow-pony," Hassyth said. "Submit, and I will spare you."

"I've heard that before!" Rainbow yelled.

"Not from one such as I!"

Hassyth held his wings aloft for a brief moment, enough to remain suspended in the sky as he unleashed another spell. Bolts of magic flew from his wings in a shower of prismatic colors. They rained down on the ground below for a second, only to gracefully arc towards Rainbow.

At the sight of such a massive swarm of projectiles flying her way, Rainbow let instinct kick in. She flew straight at Hassyth. She didn't have to get a good look to know that his beams were tracking her. Their brightness let her track them with peripheral vision. They swirled into a spiral pattern, flying at her, not quite at the speed of shot arrows, but certainly enough to keep her exerted. No way she was going to find out what would happen if one of them hit her, especially after what happend to those lancers.

Scarlet's shout still filled the air. He was still forcing his way through Hassyth's shield. From all the crackling around the coatl, he was at least making progress. With a grunt, Rainbow forced her concern for him out of her thoughts for a while. She flew as close as she could towards Hassyth's shields, then climbed sharply. The bolts flew towards the shield.

Then followed her climb with relentless precision.

Rainbow let in a sharp inhale. Okay, she may have underestimated Hassyth, even with all the caution she was sure she had been showing. She twisted in mid-air, both to make herself harder to hit and to catch a better view of her pursuers. The projectiles were rapidly picking up the pace. She had to assume that they didn't have to bother with things like fatigue. A blue bolt whizzed past her face, a purple one streaked a few inches away from her leg. Four more zipped past as she continued to twist.

Dodging once didn't help that much, though. The bolts that zipped past her swerved, then came back. Rainbow ground her teeth. This was wasting her time! Hassyth would have far too much breathing room for more spells. Out of frustration, she swung her spear at one of the returning bolts, smacking it head on. The goop on the spear seemed to pop and fizzle, but the bolt flickerd out of existence. Well, that was a better move than dodging. She swung the bone thing wildly a few more times. Again, the spear took on a life of its own. Fortunately, it did have some concern for Rainbow after all, if only so she could kill more things with it. It struck several more bolts.

Rainbow switched directions, from a steep climb to a dive, all the while spinning, zigzagging, and circling Hassyth. She concentrated on her flying, allowing the bone thing to guide her forelegs. It spun and flickered with speed and skill, flicking away bolts as if they were pesky gnats. It felt weird having her forelegs seemingly move on their own, but she didn't want to risk crashing somewhere or getting hit. She looked to what she hoped was Longstride's direction. It's been a while now. He should have put arrows into that matriarch's eyes and come on over here while the lancers finished the matriarch off.

She caught a glimpse woodland brown and green flitting about, maybe a hint of a large bow. What was taking him so long? He should already be here helping! The matriarch rampaged across the camp; an armored hill of fur skillfully snatching a lancer in mid-charge and stuffing him in her mouth. She leaped high into the air, swatting away another lancer without breaking off the chase.The unfortunate mare bounced off the ground viciously, then tumbled to an unmoving heap. As soon as she landed, she scooped up a chunk of ground and hurled it at more charging lancers, crumpling their armor as it struck them, and sending their crushed bodies to the ground.

The bone thing swatted away the last of the energy bolts. Rainbow's forelegs were starting to hurt. It may be the spear directing the moves, but her forelegs also had to strain. Each impact jarred her from hoof to shoulder. The bone thing seemed know this, even planned for it. It wrenched hard at her, forcing her towards Hassyth's direction. Her shoulders burned from the strain. She had to either drop the weapon or go along. She doubted that she could do anything against Hassyth's power without the bone thing.

She looked up in time to see Scarlet crash into the shield for who knew how many times. Hassyth wasn't even paying attention to his badly burned former slave. Lancers charged him from multiple directions. He waved a wing, engulfing a pair in a torrent of flame. One of them lunged at his face, only to be enveloped in prismatic telekinesis. The lancer's head twisted one way, his shoulders another, his hips yet another. His body strained, his shout turned into a strained croak, then he simply ripped into three, showering the ground below them with blood and gore. Hassyth hurled his pieces towards another pair of lancers. His magic crackled within the pieces, blowing them up shortly after in a burst of red mist. The lancers flew back, their armor smoking and sizzling where some of the blood got onto them.

Scarlet charged regardless of the gruesome display. He crashed into the shield so hard that he finally broke through. The loud crackle and spark from such a forceful breaking quickly brought back Hassyth's attention towards him. The same prismatic telekinesis enveloped Scarlet. Unlike the lancer earlier, however, Scarlet simply refused to hold still. The telekinesis trembled and fizzled as he growled and struggled. Rainbow winced when Scarlet's right foreleg twisted and snapped in three different places even as she winged in for a stab. The knife fell to the bloody, snowy ground below.

"Hold this back, Hassyth!" Scarlet roared. He broke through the magic, his foreleg dangling by his side like a limp rag. Hassyth was already casting another spell, Rainbow was only a dozen feet away, a distance she could close in a second, but Scarlet still beat them both to action. His ruined leg smashed into Hassyth's face hard enough to send the coatl reeling and fluttering back. Scarlet struck again and again. His foreleg cracked some more. Splinters of bone tore through his foreleg's hide, sticking out obscenely. He didn't even seem to feel a thing.

The beating did stun Hassyth for a while, shutting down whatever spell he had at the ready, but Rainbow didn't miss the glowing outline around him that dimly flared with each blow from Scarlet. It terms of actual damage, Scarlet's insane assault was still not doing much. Snake scales didn't show bruising and Hassyth displayed no wounds save for the small gash Rainbow inflicted on him.

'You're about to take more!' Rainbow thought. She would have screamed that, and the bone thing certainly encouraged it, but she was faced with a foe she had so clearly underestimated. Now was not the time for shouting attacks. She glided in, aiming her spear at Hassyth's wing joints. Grounding him was an obviously good secondary goal if killing him outright was out of the question. He didn't have any healing spells from the looks of injuries.

Scarlet's screaming rage proved an advantage. That and the lancers still going at it. Hassyth remained focused on him until the very last moment. Rainbow aimed for the very middle of the coatl's back, to sever his spine and finish him off. His constant slithering in place made that incredibly difficult. The bone thing struck that second layer of protection he had, tearing through it and finding exposed scales beneath.

The pained hiss from Hassyth was music to Rainbow's ears. Finally, a good hit! His coils twisted away, sparing his wings, but her strike found a portion of his back anyway. The bone thing's tip sank for a good inch or two before the crackle of magic told Rainbow to fall back. A surge of lightning flew past her just as she spun away to recover. That was twice now. She should be able to assume that he responded with that when forced into close quarters.

Whatever next move Rainbow was planning garbled out at the sudden explosion of joyous and furious thoughts from the bone thing. A good hit! The first of the many to skewer this powerful foe that tore through even the Legion's lancers! Even Scarlet, for all his speed and berserker rage, could do nothing, but she could! Now to kill...kill...

The bone thing flared bright and oozed so thickly that it looked twice as big as it actually was. The burning, smokeless sludge covered nearly the entirety of Rainbow's right foreleg, giving the appearance that it was swallowing her whole. The ooz didn't really feel or smell like anything. All it gave her was a creepy, crawling sensation along her foreleg. That it wrenched her hard, though, was a different matter. Her forelegs were really starting to strain now. She had been fighting with her own weapon for quite a bit, more wrangling it to where she wanted to go as opposed to just carrying it. 'The prey is wounded!' it pressed into her thoughts. 'Time for a finishing strike!'

Hassyth was indeed wounded, but hardly enough for her to consider him weakened. It looked more, in fact, that his wounds had enraged him instead. Blood poured down his coils, dripping off the tip of his swaying tail. His wings flared bright with magic all the while pegasi came him from all sides.

"Is this my end?" Hassyth asked. "Skewered by lancers in a backwater Equestrian province?"

"More like dead by my hooves, Hassyth!"

Burned, electrified, ripped up, but still flying, Scarlet charged again. This time, Rainbow made sure to match him.

They came at him at different directions. Rainbow flapped hard, desperate to hit those newly reformed shields first. She could pierce and shatter them with ease while Scarlet looked ready to splatter if he kept pushing himself. By some miracle, she did hit first. Her forelegs might be burning, but her wings were still game. Being propelled forward by her weapon also helped.

Once more, the bone thing pierced the shield with ease, but Hassyth clearly learned from earlier mishaps. He had his sights on Rainbow, twirling through the air to make himself a difficult target. A cloud of cloying, yellow gas escaped his mouth and wafted around him. The lancers seemed to recognize it and fell back. Even Scarlet was forced to stop and circle around. For a brief moment, prismatic light enveloped the bone thing, but the ooze quickly sizzled and forced it to dissipate. When that didn't work, Hassyth turned his magic on Rainbow herself.

The air rippled before Rainbow, like water quivering just before something huge crashed through it. She focused on Hassyth, wings tense and ready to dodge as she charged. What was it this time? More fire and lightning? A second barrage of bolts? Hassyth's eyes glowed bright with his magic. He thrust his head forward, opening his mouth as if he spat something. Maybe this was a breath of fire or poison gas. Nothing of the sort came billowing out. Rainbow pulled back her spear for a deep thrust...

And something did strike her head on; an invisible wave that stopped her charge cold. Her head snapped back and her vision blackened for a moment. The world around her wobbled and spun while her ears rang. It was as if she crashed head first into the side of a mountain. Her wings failed to coordinate and she began to spiral downward.

Had he conjured another shield? The bone thing should have have pierced it then. And the rest of her body had not felt any impact, this force had struck only her head but had passed through her. What...

Rainbow shook her head. No time for that! She was falling to her death and Scarlet needed her! She struggled to right herself. Her brain felt two sizes too big for her skull, and it throbbed hard from her efforts. Still, she managed to gain altitude again. She just had to charge again.

Hassyth's magic flashed again, this time nearly blinding Rainbow with the sudden flare up. Her eyes narrowed on instinct.

"Stop right there!"

Hassyth's voice boomed in Rainbow's head. Her body jerked a stop and, to her horror, refused to budge. Even the bone thing raged and tugged, but could not get her out of her hover.

"I have you now, pony," Hassyth hissed. His voice felt like a razor drawing across Rainbow's mind. She would grit her teeth if she could move at all. "Your weapon is incredibly strong and you are a nimble and fast flyer, but your mind is soft and undisciplined, unprotected by magic or a berserk state. Now, drop your weapon."

Rainbow's forelegs shook. Her right hoof was indeed trying to let go of the bone thing. Fortunately, the thick, burning ooze held it fast to her like a gob of tar. Even if she actually wanted to, she wouldn't be able to get rid of this spear so easily. That was reassuring and terrifying all at once.

"How stubborn," Hassyth went on. "Fly closer then. Put yourself between me and Scarlet Rabbit."

Rainbow's wings flapped on their own, forcing her to make her way towards Scarlet. Hassyth had been keeping him at bay with short range lightning bolts, his persistently recovering shield, and evasive flight, and this was with concentrating his spells on Rainbow.

Her heart racing, Rainbow strained against her own body, desperately trying to pull it away. Nothing was working. She couldn't believe she could get caught in this sort of trap...

Something grazed Rainbow's flank, right across her cutie mark. She inhaled sharply. That was about as much she could do involuntarily with Hassyth's grip. The sudden pain felt like somepony just scratched her with a red-hot poker. Blood trickled down the wound. The draft from that passing scratch felt like an arrow's passage. She nearly got shot in the flank again...

The memory flooded her mind: long nights of carrying a snake on her back, prodding hands, uncaring stares, stupefying drugs, agonizing stings, and blood across her back. She remembered that shot alright, the shot that signaled her humiliating trek. She wasn't going to let this snake enslave her, not after all the things she and her friends had to go through! She promised Applejack that she wasn't going to need rescuing again!

Her legs shook violently. The spell faltered. She felt that, like a crack within her mind that suggested a failing hold. She struggled even harder, holding on to those dark hours trapped in a cave with a bunch of slavers, the sting of the Emperor's Tears...never again. Her forelegs tore free of the compulsion. Her wings followed suit.

It was clearly a mistake now for Hassyth to have beckoned her closer. At this range, Rainbow burst through his hold like one of his own lightning bolts, reaching him before he could even begin intoning another spell. His first shield crumbled, his second one fared no better, and his delicate scales may as well have been paper. The cry of pain from Hassyth was music to her ears.

The bone thing bit deep, but low. Hassyth had ascended in time and Rainbow had sacrificed a good aim for sheer surprise. Blood from Hassyth and ichor from the bone thing splattered across her face as she tore through her foe. She wiped the mess off furiously with a foreleg as she circled, just in time to see Hassyth's a good couple of feet of Hassyth's tail fall forlornly to the ground. Blood pumped out of the wound, but magic quickled fizzled around it. The sight of a grievous wound drove the bone thing to a frenzy. The ooze all but swallowed Rainbow's foreleg and even part of her shoulder as it demanded a second strike.

It wasn't the only one. The sight of the injury drew Scarlet in faster than honey would a fly. He struck true before Hassyth could reform any shields. He struck like a meteor, so hard that he drove Hassyth from the sky. Both of them crashed to the ground with Hassyth's coils writhing in agony before wrapping around Scarlet. Weaponless, Scarlet had resorted to a more gruesome attack. His jaws clamped down on Hassyth's throat, crushing scales and drawing blood.

This should have ended the fight. Rainbow dearly wanted it to be over. She should be exhausted, but more energy welled from within, sustaining her wings and legs, and steadying her breathing. Still, she was afraid of what the bone thing would do if this fight dragged on, most importantly, the horrendous injuries on Scarlet had to be taken care of. She hovered above the struggle, fearful of what a diving attack might do now. Nearby, some lancers had gathered as well.

An explosion of magic shattered the faint hope that this was finally ending.

Hassyth raised himself up, his wings arching defiantly as lancers circled above like vultures. Scarlet still dangled off his throat, digging deep, twisting, and making horrific growls while blood dribbled down his chin. Magic coursed through Hassyth, surged within him even greater than before. Rainbow flapped her wings into a dive.

"Scarlet, let go!" she screamed. Her heart hammered in her chest. She was no scholar of magic, but the mere sight of so much gathering magical power would clue in even a magical dunce like her. "Let go!"

Of course, Scarlet didn't let go. He never could. Oh, she thought she could get him to. She brought him out here after all. She let out one more scream, more rage and frustration than warning. She couldn't even hear herself when a thunderous boom erupted from Hassyth. She refused to slow down, instead driving the bone thing forward. Lighting parted against its charge, arcing all around her and fusing with the rainbow trail she left behind. She forced her eyes open even if they strained against the flash. All she could see past the blinding whiteness was a small silhouette flying away from Hassyth's darkened form.

She screamed again. With the ringing in her ears, it all seemed as if she was just opening her mouth. Only her throat hurting told her otherwise. She drove forward anyay. Hassyth had no time to maneuver and his defenses were useless against her. The bone thing found Hassyth in that web of lightning, fire, and thunder, burying itself hungrily in coatl flesh. Blood spattered across Rainbow's face, but she kept the charge even as her eyes burned. She struck the ground spear first, impacting so hard that the bone thing tore through the earth as well. Her bones jarred, from her hooves to her teeth, but she didn't feel any pain. She turned towards Hassyth, still expecting the coatl to fight on, only to find his two halves flop to the ground.

Both halves writhed and twisted. Hassyth still rose up, supported by his wings even as his severed coils pumped out blood. He opend his out menacingly, glaring at her, letting out a furious but greatly weakened hiss. Magic coursed through him for one more spell, but they simply fizzled into small, meaningless sparks. Rainbow steadied herself for the last blow to this dying slaver. One more blow...

A streak of red flew past her yet again, carrying with it the stink of burnt flesh and boiled blood. Scarlet Rabbit, at least it had to be Scarlet, struck Hassyth with a mangled foreleg, then stood over his writhing body.

"I got you," Scarlet wheezed. He spat out a great gob of blood then struck Hassyth with the burnt remains of his unbroken foreleg. Hassyth's head seemed to cave with the first hit, and nearly a dozen followed after it. Scarlet grinned, widening it with each strike. "I got you at last! All these years dreaming, all this time they told me you were dead, and I got you at last!"

Hassyth's coils writhed, tried to wrap around Scarlet, then desperately tried to slither away. He tried to shield his skull with his wings, but Scarlet battered them as well until the frail things snapped and fell away. Finally, after several brutal seconds, the struggling stopped.

Scarlet gasped and wheezed, finally forced to acknowledge the strain with his revenge complete. He slipped on the bloody snow, chuckling weakly as he struggled to right himself. Several charred feathers dropped from his wings, fluttering gently until they joined the mess of rainbow feathers around him. He looked towards Rainbow, finally giving her full view of his badly burned face. "Hey," he wheezed. The continuing sounds of battle drowned out the words, forcing Rainbow to guess them from his lips. "We got him!"

Rainbow was already next to him before he started to collapse, immediately extending her free foreleg to support him and let him lie down gently. It was all she could do not to rip herself apart just so she could keep the bone thing away from him.
The spear looked as if it had devoured the entirety of her foreleg and was clearly not happy with Scarlet.

'My kill! My kill! He had nothing to do with it! This thief must die as well!'

'Shut up!' Rainbow thought back. Her foreleg twitched and struggled, but she held it firmly in place, even as she focused on Scarlet. "Come on," she said softly. "Come on, Scarlet, we're going to make it out of this alive..."

Scarlet flashed a grin. The same grin he had always flashed since Rainbow met him; cocky, carefree, more than a little crazy. He opened his mouth to say something, but all that came was a trickle of blood.

"Scarlet?"

Rainbow waited for a while. Scarlet's eyes were still open, his grin still wide. He was about to crack some ridiculous line or something. These seconds just seemed to last for minutes, that's all. When the bone thing stopped struggling, letting out a wistful exhale of frustration, the truth started dawning. Scarlet's body had already stiffened. His chest didn't move and his eyes were vacant.

"Scarlet..."

Rainbow's shoulders quivered, her chest squeezed hard, and her tears welled up. "You should have slowed down!" she whispered harshly. A few drops fell across the burns on Scarlet's face. "You should have slowed down, and let me catch up! I thought we were going through this whole trip together!"

She had just gently laid Scarlet down, when an enormous shadow darkened Rainbow's view. She heard the familiar growl, the warm rush of breath blowing down on her, the stink of an animal's gaping maw, and the thick heave of great lungs breathing in anticipation. She grit her teeth, letting out her own growl. The bone thing quivered in anticipation, eager to put this horror aside in favor of more carnage. Rainbow could sympathize. The pain was too much. She didn't want to look at Scarlet, didn't want to dwell on his loss. There was still a battle around her and an insatiable spear to make all these bears sorry for being born. Longstride was still fighting, and she wasn't going to lose another one.

With a flap and a snarl, Rainbow raised the bone thing.

Rainbow Dash 10: Without Falter

Upheaval: Journeys

Rainbow Dash 10: Without Falter

"I hate losing. That includes friends."

She said that to him with full confidence, the sort that came when one didn't really think of what they were saying. Rainbow remembered that moment as clearly as if it had just happened a minute ago. She had been proud of that line. She may not have thought it over before saying it, probably because she was getting pummeled by Scarlet when it happened, but she judged it to be a pretty cool line afterward.

What garbage.

What trash. What crap. What complete and utter swill. She looked like an idiot, promising things she had no way of accomplishing. The words tasted like ashes in her mouth, and felt like weights on her heart.

The bone thing was having none of her grief. It wrenched her forward like an angry, savage dog might yank on its leash. It wasn't just doing so physically. Its presence pulled away from her thoughts, as if embarassed to be around them. 'Kill everything,' it shared. 'That will protect my friends. Kill everything that might take them away.'

Rainbow's thoughts went to Hassyth. The bone thing had a point besides the one it killed things with. If she had killed Hassyth sooner, Scarlet would not have needed to push himself to the death. She should have finished Hassyth quickly. She had the power and speed for it. She hesitated. She could see that now. She hesitated at the sight of Hassyth's magical power. She spent too long fleeing and dodging. If only she had been faster. If only she tried harder.

The ursan matriarch loomed ahead. She pulled down an overconfident lancer from the air, ripping him in half before he even hit the ground. The matriarch kept her head low, eyes averted from Longstride's general direction. He had put several arrows through the gaps along her neck and back, but her thick fur and hide allowed for little penetration. Rainbow couldn't even tell if he was drawing blood.

Longstride circled around. He likely didn't have a lot more chances. He may have a magic bow to hit at any distance, but not a magic quiver to give him an endless supply of arrows.

'If I ever have to fight him again, I'll prolong the encounter and make him waste arrows, then kill him,' the bone thing shared.

'I'm going to make Longstride miss over and over am I?' Rainbow thought, more to shut the bone thing up than anything else. Also to shut the bone thing up further, she picked up speed and dove for the matriarch. She didn't have to aim for gaps in the armor. She just had to pierce. The bone thing would penetrate for sure; whether it was metal plate, bone, or flesh. All the better for it. She wanted to be done with this. Her aching heart was all too eager to put this place behind her. Unfortunately, the matriarch saw her approach early. It was hard to miss a blazing glob of blackness after all. Especially one that was rapidly approaching.

For such a massive, heavily armored beast, the matriarch was swift on her paws: turning on a dime, doing a short hop, and raising her long, sharp claws to intercept.

Those claws looked hard and sharp enough to rip dragonscale open, and big enough to do so to an adult dragon. Even just one would cut Rainbow in half, and she had five coming her way from the side at a frightful quick swipe. Instinct told her to break her dive and shift direction. The bone thing and her building rage encouraged the gamble of swooping past the swipe with more speed.

The decision had to be made in less than a second. Indeed, when the massive claw swooped past Rainbow, she was still unsure. The rest of her body had gone ahead regardless. The bone thing surged on with Rainbow right behind it. No hesitation now. No fear of a sudden magical attack or weird mind games.

The matriach was no pushover, though. Perhaps, she had already heard of what happened to the things struck by that spear when she had to deal with the loss of her titan. She stepped to the side, forcing Rainbow to adjust. This was far from her first encounter with a lancer. Up close, Rainbow caught a passing glance at the long scars under the matriarch's protective face plate, right before those frightful jaws pushed forward for a quick bite.

The hot stink of pony gore, both fresh and old, crashed into Rainbow's senses, enough to make her eyes water and her throat tighten. Those enormous yellowed teeth dripped thick gobs of drool and blood, and the cavernous maw behind them looked like a bottomless hole. A pony's hind leg appeared stuck between the back teeth. Rainbow nearly faltered as her mind flashed back to Fangbreaker Fortress, where she had also faced a giant maw.

"No more!" Rainbow growled. She thrust the bone thing into the matriarch's face, much to the thing's elation. Its tip tore through the edges of the matriarch's face plates, cutting through steel like it was paper, and leaving a great gash from snout to cheek. It would have found an eye, but the matriarch was quick to turn away. Blood dripped down from the torn face plates as Rainbow flew back, not to retreat, but to ready a second charge.

A second swipe was already coming at Rainbow. The matriarch was relentless, and surprisingly disciplined after Longstride's initial taunts. Perhaps, with her forces dwindling and Hassyth dead, her fury had tempered to a grim edge. Rainbow sucked in a breath sharply. She had put a lot of effort in that backward flap to obtain some distance. There was no time to change directions.

The matriarch roared and pulled back the giant paw in pain. Several arrows jutted out from between its second and third digits. Another had plunged directly beneath one nail and into the unprotected flesh within. Rainbow didn't need to look. Longstride continued to circle around the fight. He wasn't the only one.

Some lancers, including Razor Beard, charged at the opportunity. One of them went off mark, his lance grazing solid steel plate hard enough to send sparks flying. The matriarch backhanded him with her injured paw, sending him flying into some nearby trees. He didn't come flying out straight away, or at all. A second one drove his lance between the gaps of the matriarch's shoulder plates. He buried his weapon deep enough to draw some blood, but the head remained stuck. He was quick to fiddle with his harness, but the matriarch's practiced response to stab wounds proved quicker.

Those enormous jaws moved like lightning; an instinctual move that the matriarch herself likely didn't even notice. They snapped shut and tore away, leaving a red splotch on her armor.

Razor Beard fared far better. His lance buried itself nearly a foot into a gap between the matriarch's left shoulder blade and her torso. He was gone before she could retaliate. Barely. A claw swipe passed close, enough to rip off a few pieces of metal from his armor and leave a large gash underneath. He faltered for a moment, but managed to remain aloft.

Rainbow wasn't interested in seeing more. She dove in again, this time aiming for throat. The fight had gone on for too long. 'Longstride will cover me,' she thought. ''He's down to his last arrows. I'm his best shot.'

That sort of sounded like something the bone thing would arrogantly suggest, but Rainbow recognized the thought as her own. He could keep the matriarch's paws away long enough. Rainbow just needed a perfect, driving strike. Her path seemed much clearer upon considering that. Her wings lighter, and her forelegs ached less. One uninterrupted charge. He could give that to her at least once. The first few shots to the matriarch's paw was his way of showing it. She didn't need to look at him to confirm, or hear him say so through his magic pin.

With a long inhale to gather both courage and energy, Rainbow charged. She maintained the straight line, despite instinct warning her that she would be swatted away. She aimed for a gap between the neck and the shoulder plates, just above the collar bone. She was pretty sure that the bone thing could pierce the armor anyway, but this charge had to be right.

The matriarch saw Rainbow's approach, and knew straightaway what was happening. She tucked her head close, keeping her neck compact in a defensive posture. Her jaw hung low, ready for a quick counter if Rainbow made one mistake. That was the danger of flying towards the neck. The mouth was only a little way away.

She nearly paused, nearly, when Longstride came into view. When had he been that close? She was sure that he was at a distance, waiting for another good shot from out of range. That was what snipers did, right? Yet, here he was even farther ahead than her, his bow taut, his eyes focused. He was at eye level with the matriarch. There was no way she could move her head away without exposing her neck.

A roar of pain quickly echoed Longstride's shot. His arrow flew for a few feet, then lodged itself into the matriarch's right eye. The matriarch's head went up out of reflex, as did its uninjured paw. There was the neck, ready for a stabbing. Rainbow was still in her charge. That paw was coming up to shred Longstride, though, and he was flying far too slowly to move. Rainbow slammed into him, the bone thing slipping past between his torso and foreleg. Up close, she could hear his confused grunt and the sudden intake of his breath. Her push brought both of them past the counterattack.

The bone thing found its target with a brief mental sigh followed followed by an uproarious surge of emotion. It punched through tempered steel, thick fur, a thicker hide, and heavy musculature. It even grazed a collar bone as it stabbed up, and instinctively searched for the right vein to sever.

Longstride, momentarily pinned between Rainbow and the matriarch, squirmed free and flew away from the clash.

The feel of the bone thing come alive in her grasp by twitching and spasming nearly made Rainbow let go so she could recoil in disgust. The goo poured into the wound it created, pushing back damaged flesh to let more blood out like gruesome tendrils. The shaft of the spear even bent slightly to worsen the wound.

The matriarch let out a long, burbling moan, the best she could do with the horrific wound in her neck. She reared up, dragging Rainbow upward as well. Her claws coming up on instinct, the last attempts, not to win the fight at this point, but to drag her killers down with her.

Mentally, the bone thing was "laughing" maniacally. The joyous sensations felt like a horrible intrusion, especially with Rainbow's thoughts still lingering on Scarlet. Furious, disgusted, and impatient for a resolution for this too long fight, Rainbow wrenched the bone thing out. At once, her shoulder tore out from the strain, followed by an agonizing spurt of pain shooting through her right foreleg, and radiating into her torso. Her hoof went limp from both the shock and pain. The bone thing would have dropped if it wasn't stuck to her. She faced a bigger problem, though. Her right wing refused to move. The muscles around it seized up and failed to respond. With the bone thing free from the matriarch, Rainbow had nowhere to go but a downward spiral and a hard landing. That is, if the matriarch's claws didn't just shred her before she could fall, and those claws were coming. She closed her eyes, still trying and failing at a last second miracle at flying.

No claws came, however. Longstride's --she just assumed it was Longstride's-- hooves encircled her torso, briefly lifting her and bearing her away from the coming attack. They made it for a few feet when the draft of ursan claws ruffled Rainbow's feathers. All of a sudden, Longstride's unsteady flight turned into a sudden descent.

"Longstride!" Rainbow cried out. Before she could do anything, they tumbled onto the ground. He had been descending, and they weren't far up anyway. All Rainbow had to endure was a bit of a hard tumble. Even then, Longstride shifted his weight to take the worst of the impact.

Behind them, the matriarch crashed to the ground with the loud bang of metal crunching stone and the echo of a dozen or so lancers cheering.

Warm sticky liquid got onto Rainbow's back again, slowly seeping into her fur and feathers. She squirmed out of his grasp, an easy enough task as his grip had significantly loosened. She was on him at once, drawn to the sickening splotches of crimson just below his left shoulder.

The whole wing was gone. A jagged stump of bone, obscenely white and naked, poked out of Longstride's torso, surrounded by brown fur blackend by blood. He was breathing hard, and wincing in pain, but not even a moan escaped his lips.

"Longstride!" was all Rainbow could say. She could barely breathe herself and her heart was about to burst. Not this again. Not this again! She hovered over the wound, her free foreleg trembling, wanting to do something but not knowing what while the other foreleg held the bone thing out as far as possible. Longstride was still awake, and struggling to rise.

'He can't fly anymore, it will be easy to divebomb him,' the bone thing suggested.

Rainbow slammed the bone thing's side against a nearby rock. Its shocked protest ground against her mind, prompting her to slam it again until it squirmed. She pulled out a knife and pressed the blade hard against her aching right foreleg. "Let go of me, damn you!" she growled. "Fight's over! Let go of me or I'll cut the whole leg off and nopony will ever use you again!"

That was a stupid threat and she would have been backed into a corner if the thing called it, but it squirmed some more before retracting its goo, then plopped to the ground. It was back in her pack instantly. With that out of the way, she focused on Longstride.

"Call for aid, stupid mare..." he whispered harshly. It was likely as far as he could go. Still, he may as well have had thunder for a voice. His words jolted her out of her useless panic just as well. "I'm about to faint..."

No more time to waste. The battle had ground to a halt with the matriarch's demise. Rainbow frantically waved down the surviving lancers, desperately hoping that they had a medic with them.

Rainbow stared at the entrance flaps to Longstride's tent.

A bunch of things happened for the Western Legion once the camp and the manor was cleared out yesterday. Rainbow didn't really care to find out. She was lucky that there was a lancer who was good enough at first aid and had some supplies with him. He was able to keep Longstride alive until the unicorns moved in with their healing spells shortly after the fight. They had tents set up quickly for the wounded. No digging graves though. Instead, a lot of talk in the background about identifying remains and sending them all to Legion's Rest.

Well...there was one thing the Western Legion brought up that caught her attention.

"I'n sorry about Legionnaire Scarlet Rabbit," Razor Beard had said. He was nursing several deep gouges along his torso, just more scars along his already damaged body. He spoke softly and somberly; a far cry from his joyous shouts when the matriarch fell. "He fought well and he gave his life to slay a coatl. An honorable and glorious end. We will transport his remains to the Northern Legion's tombs within Legion's rest. If you can tell us of any relatives and friends to contact, we would appreciate it. As would they."

Rainbow couldn't answer. If Scarlet had any relatives, they were probably slaves in Ophidus. As a friend...there was only Vanguard Clash, not counting herself, and he was somewhere in the Southern Barrier Lands at the moment, on some secret mission with Applejack. Rainbow made her mind up at that moment. She would be the one to tell Vanguard what happened.

'Honorable and glorious death, huh?' Rainbow thought. Scarlet was her friend. Despite everything that had happened, from his insane race to his berserk revenge, this was true. Still, she doubted that his death had anything to do with his honor or glory. She raised her right foreleg, holding back a wince when her bandaged shoulder protested with a burst of fresh pain. She wasn't going to be flying for a while.

Rainbow sighed. At least she'd be back at flying at some point. Finally, she mustered the nerve to push past the tent's flaps.

Longstride was awake and up. The bloody bandages that covered what was left of his ruined wing had just been replaced. His bow was in his hooves and he was sweating profusely. It didn't take much to figure out what he had been trying to do.

"Are you nuts?" Rainbow snapped. She was by his side in an instant, already taking Camellia away. He didn't even have the grip strength to resist her. "You're in no condition to shoot!"

"I know that," Longstride replied. "I just tested the extent of it. The loss of flight is obvious, but the shoulder has also been compromised. With some rehabilitation, I should be able to regain its use."

"You could have found that out later, you stupid stallion," Rainbow groused. "We're both grounded and we're not going anywhere."

"Scarlet Rabbit," Longstride said. He looked at her quizzically. Well, he couldn't have known after all.

"He's dead," Rainbow replied softly. The wound still stung. The tears had come last night, along with a long, uncontrollable bout of sobbing. She was lucky to have been given her own tent, and she made sure to keep it shut all throughout the night. It was only now, later in the morning, with her eyes less puffy, that she could bring herself to face Longstride. She braced herself for some harsh, judgmental retort from him. It would be like him to say he expected it or something infuriating. Or mock her for crying.

"I'm sorry," Longstride said.

Rainbow's eyebrows were already meeting when she spoke. "Hey--! What?"

"I said that I'm sorry," Longstride said. "He was your friend. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Yeah...uh..." Rainbow wasn't quite sure where to go from that. She looked at him a little more closely, to check for even slight traces of scorn or sarcasm. His gold eyes spun slowly when he held her gaze, revealing nothing but sincerity. "Sure..." she added. "Um...I'm sorry about your wing."

Longstride look to his the injury impassively, as if he was just checking a splinter. "A setback," he said. "I can still serve. We can still continue with your journey if you want."

"What?" Rainbow asked wide-eyed. "We should head back to Canterlot! Princess Luna can make it grow back!"

"We will make the return trip if you insist," Longstride replied. "But the wound will have closed by the time we make it back. Healing magic works with the body. Her Highness might be able to mend the torn muscles and complete the wound's sealing, but I doubt that it will grow a new wing. If she could, she would have regrown her brother's horn and wing, I would think."

Rainbow crossed her forelegs defensively, stifling a squeak of pain when her shoulder ached again. "We'll try it! Stop being such a downer!"

"I will," Longstride replied. "Now, can we both get back to resting?"

"No more archery!" Rainbow snapped. She grabbed a hold of Camellia, looking at him to see if he would challenge her. When he didn't, she walked out. Only to pause and look back at those tent flaps. For a split second he looked like he was smiling. But was he? Probably a hallucination caused by the pain.

A couple more days passed. Rainbow had hoped to get Longstride to Canterlot while the wound was fresh, but they were both grounded and the return walk to the Great Delve would have probably killed them. Flight Shatterspine promised a lift back to the Delve, but only after a few more days of recuperation, out of fear that the flight would severely worsen their injuries regardless.

The Western Legion had moved into the manor, slowly exploring it with their camp by its grounds as a base. Rainbow listened in on reports mostly to alleviate her boredom. It turned out that Hassyth had scattered traps all along the halls of the manor and this was in addition to older security measures used by the original occupants of the place. Progress was slow and halting. More than a few legionnaires had to be carried out due to injuries.

Longstride, for his part, didn't seem to mind having the Western Legion moving into his old home. He watched the proceedings without emotion, doing his best to advise legionnaires on the manor's layout. It was probably because he knew that the research he hid wasn't in the manor itself.

Seeing him involve himself, despite his serious injury, left Rainbow restless. Her shoulder still hurt. Even walking was agony. Yet, Longstride was already making better use of his time. She stared at the flaps of her tent. Any sort of lancing practice was out of the question. It wasn't like she could help with the wounded like Fluttershy, or do research like Twilight, or run off on the whims of a weird rock like Pinkie. What could she--

The flaps to her tent opened, and Longstride stepped through. Rainbow nearly jumped at the sudden intrusion.

"How are you feeling?" Longstride asked. "Can you walk short distances on moderately rough ground?"

That was obviously a challenge. Even if he didn't say anything to that regard, Longstride pretty much meant that he was able to do that much. For Rainbow to be unable to match him when he had the worse injury would be humiliation.

"Of course, I can!" Rainbow said with a snort. "I can even walk long distances on super rough ground!"

She stomped a hoof on instinct for emphasis, barely stopping herself when she realized what she was about to do. Her hoof hit the ground at a slight impact, enough to send bolts of pain across her torso. Rainbow had to bite down on her lip just to keep a straight face.

"Let's go then," Longstride said. "Give me Camellia." His tone brooked no argument. Rainbow didn't mind, he looked fine and he wasn't a complete idiot. With his weapon back, he walked back outside with Rainbow following shortly behind.

"Where are we going?" Rainbow asked.

"Quiet..." Longstride replied in a harsh whisper."It's time I retrieved the Project."

Rainbow swallowed a lump after hearing that. All of a sudden, the legionnaires around them left her a little worried. What would the Western Legion do if they discovered the Longstride Project? Would they demand that it be given to them? She could almost imagine Flight Shatterspine eagerly trying to get those special body parts to be better lancers. How far would they go? It was best to keep this quiet for now.

They walked past still busy legionnaires, who saluted when they were close, and towards a still forested area behind the manor. It had been lightly snowing last night so their hooves scrunched against a fresh layer of frost on the ground. Nothing too bad. Rainbow didn't even need the layers she had on. They had to go up on a slight slope over hard, rocky ground and some fallen timber. It was a fairly simple walk.

Rainbow was sweating and panting by the time they made it to whererever they were going, though. The pain was mild for the first dozen steps with her injured foreleg. Then, it worsened with each one after that. Her jaw ached from the constant clenching just so she didn't make a single pained grunt. She was hiding a tremble too. Clearly, she had overestimated her recovery, but she'd be damned before she told Longstride that.

Not that Longstride fared much better. He was sweating and panting as badly. He had to lean against a tree to catch his breath and his forelegs clearly trembled. Rainbow looked worriedly at his bandages, afraid that fresh blood would start seeping through them at this rate. He seemed fine, though.

As for the spot they were in, it didn't look particularly special. Overgrown with hardy weeds capable of surviving the cold, surrounded by trees...it was just another patch of wilderness. Rainbow supposed that was the point. If one was to hide something really important, then a place that didn't stand out would be a place nopony would bother to look into.

Longstride looked around once he had rested a bit. He had an odd look about him again; eyes distant, lips seemingly on the verge of a wistful smile. Perhaps he was seeing this place as it looked like all those centuries ago, taking in any familiar landmark. Rainbow couldn't imagine finding anything familiar in any place after such a long time, but those eyes of his might. He rummaged through some undergrowth, pulling away vines and shrubs. With a sigh, and upon seeing that some of those plants had small thorns that were jabbing into his forelegs, Rainbow joined in. The nod of appreciation from him was a mildly pleasant surprise.

It took a while along with a few splinters, but they cleared the spot out. Under all that hardy undergrowth was a bare patch of hard ground. A few sweeps of Longstride's foreleg cleared a thick coating of dirt from a large, flat rock.

"All this time," Longstride said softly, tenderly even. "Hello again, Camellia. I promised a visit, didn't I?" He fiddled with one of his packs, then pulled out a folded piece of paper.

Though she felt like an intruder, Rainbow stretched her neck out to get a look. She expected something like a magic invocation or a special symbol or something of the sort, but all she caught a glimpse of was a pressed flower; the many pink petals of a camellia forming a circle. She pressed her lips against each other tightly. Why did he even bother to bring her here then? This was clearly a personal matter.

The wistful mood around Longstride seemed to slowly dissipate, like so much morning fog. He pressed a hoof against the flat rock, then concentrated. Something flared up with bluish white light where he touched. Slowly, as if somepony was inscribing something on the rock with a burning, sparkling pen, the picture of a five-petalled rose formed on the rock. Even Rainbow recognized the symbol of the Thorns. "Black Rose," she said.

Longstride shook his head. "Blue Moon. This is an old enchantment. The Project rests next to Camellia through Blue Moon's magic. The retrieving enchantment will only recognize me or him."

"I thought Black Rose was the sort to just use the Project straightaway," Rainbow remarked. "She seemed the type."

"I thought so too," Longstried replied. "But she ultimately left the handling of the Project's remains to her brother, and he then left it to me." His eyes narrowed in thought. "Perhaps, neither of them found the Project that important, especially with the cost."

"Maybe they were just thinking about you," Rainbow suggested. "You went through the ordeal. Maybe they did think you should get to decide what happened to it."

"My feelings on the matter are irrelevant--" he caught himself "--were irrelevant." He was quiet for a while when he spoke again, Rainbow could have sworn there was a sigh before he started. "I never understood the mistress. Of the six of us, I knew her least. I was far more content when she just assigned my targets."

"That's the easy way out," Rainbow scoffed. "She obviously thought you were better than that."

The spell finally completed, and a set of books appeared before Longstride. They were in remarkably good condition. Rainbow guessed that was part of the spell too. The infamous Longstride Project...all that horror and power written on some ridiculously plain books. They looked like they could contain pie recipes or tax records. "What are you going to do with it now?" she asked.

"What do you think?" Longstride replied.

There was the question. Rainbow stared at Longstride, still half-expecting him to sneer, then laugh before she said anything, scoffing at the notion that he would take advice from a "stupid mare". She'd prefer that actually. Just make this whole thing a terrible prank on his part. Of course, that wasn't the case. He looked to her sincerely. For a moment, Rainbow wondered if Black Rose ever felt like this, being called on for some wise words by all these grim-faced super soldiers like Longstride and Sablesteel.

"Take it," Rainbow finally said. "I say we take it back to Canterlot."

"You know the cost that this research will take," Longstride replied. "You will pay that price?"

"No," Rainbow said. "We'll do it better this time. Slow and steady..." she paused. She couldn't believe she just advocated being slow and steady at anything. "Safety first, and no crazies like Twenty-Four. We can do this, Longstride."

"You would trust Equestria to stay true to being safe?" Longstride asked. "That no ruthless pony will throw lives at this for the glory of being the one to perfect the process? That colts and fillies won't be taken from their homes to live and die for the sake of creating more like me?"

'He was going to argue no matter what I said, wasn't he?' Rainbow groused mentally. No, even she wasn't dumb enough to think that. Maybe there was somepony out there just eager to just give everything for the Project. The more she spent time exploring the Barrier Lands and learning its history, the more she noticed ponykind's tendency to keep taking it too far. "No," she replied. "Not really. I don't know everypony in Equestria."

"Then, why bring out the Project again?" Longstride asked. "When so many have paid the price?"

"I..." Rainbow considered giving up. Just throw her hooves up and say "whatever". Why was he being so argumentative? It was his choice to begin with. He got her involved in this. That was shallow resentment though, she bitterly admitted to herself. "Look," she said. "I get it, okay? I mean, I sort of get it. Obviously, I didn't go through the whole thing like you did and--!" She shook her head. "They made a mistake, okay? They were nuts, these ponies that ran your Project, they did a bunch of things wrong. I'm sure, if we sat around just picking at everything they did, we can list down all the things they got wrong. They...they...!"

Rainbow put her front hooves on her head and paced about a bit, kicking up a bit of snow and dirt. Why was she making speeches? She was terrible at speeches. This was Twilight's thing. Longstride continued to stare. He wasn't laughing despite her awful attempt at wisdom. She lowered her voice. "They did you wrong. I get that. But ponies get things wrong all the time; whether it's your friends, your team, your nation...but you stick with them anyway. You don't give up on them even if they're screw ups. What I mean is..." Rainbow let out a sigh. She had a point for sure. She had it in her grasp, but it kept trying to slip away. She was getting distracted by Longstride's intense stare and how embarrassingly smug she must sound. Still, she pushed it all down like a bad breakfast. "I think you should give Equestria that chance. That's loyalty for you. But you can't just hang back and watch what they do with that chance--!"

Rainbow hung her head, her chest aching yet again. "I had to learn that the hard way just recently...so I..."

Longstride's hoof touched her neck, just above her shoulder. He must have been about to touch her shoulder only to remember that it hurt. "Enough stammering," he said. "I've heard enough. I will hold on to the Longstride Project. It will not be lost to Equestria, but I will only give it when I see for myself how it will be used."

Rainbow looked up in time to hold Longstride's gaze. "Really?" she asked.

"Yes." Longstride looked back to the flat rock. "They will not have died in vain after all." His eyes focused on her again. "Thank you for helping me settle this business."

Rainbow made a dismissive wave, more to hide her smile than anything.

"What are your plans after Canterlot?" Longstride asked.

"Like I said, get better with my new lance. Damn thing nearly got me killed." Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "I want to check out this Dar-Sa-Haf thing. I don't like the sound of her."

"What about your friends?"

Rainbow shrugged. "I dunno,' she said. "We'll all meet up again, I know that much. I don't have to start chasing after them as soon as possible. I can play it cool."

Longstride nodded, seemingly to himself. "I have lost my ability to fly, thus reducing my ability to create distance and vantage points, but I would still accompany you if you let me."

Rainbow scoffed, turning away when their staring went on for too long. "Oh, come on," she said. "Like that's a problem. I'll just carry you to a good spot you pick out before charging in."

"As you wish," Longstride said. He was about to walk ahead when Rainbow's eyes hardened and she held him by the shoulders.

"Don't start with that 'as you wish' thing," Rainbow said. "I'm not going to be your new Black Rose, telling you what to do so you don't have to figure it out. That's easy loyalty."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, stupid mare," Longstride said. The implied sneer in his tone was a bit infuriating, but Rainbow actually liked it after that long, heavy moment between them a while ago. There was no sting to it. It was't even genuine scorn. "You are nowhere near the mistress in any way." Longstride let out a snort. "I suppose you can take that as both praise and insult."

Rainbow snorted as well, then quickly placed his foreleg around her for support. "Come on," she said. "This place is too depressing."

"You're injured too," Longstride replied.

"Still better than you!" Rainbow shot back. Though he snorted his scorn at the notion, he did not pull away.

With the Project in hoof and their answer to its question made, they slowly made their way back.

Pinkie Pie 1: Upper Great Delve

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 1: Upper Great Delve

It was a subdued, almost solemn Pinkie Pie who walked through the halls of the Spiral Gateway along with the latest batch of visitors to the Great Delve. It was a good attitude to take. The guards, as was typical of Barrier Lands guards, were curt and impatient, taken to prodding stragglers along with the butts of their spears. Unicorns among them cast their spells, their dogs sniffed at containers, while other studied the faces of each passer-by closely. They didn't look the sort to be amused by somepony hopping about and yelling in excitement.

Pinkie wasn't quiet because of that, though. She had been parting with friends piece by piece. First it was Twilight and Fluttershy within the Royal Palace, then Applejack just outside. She had shared the trip to the Western Barrier Land with Rarity and Rainbow, but Rainbow just parted ways with them outside the gate. She was down to Rarity, and she knew full well that they would be apart once they got inside. They weren't going to meet for quite a while. Pinkie just knew this. Loneliness and fear swirled around her like the deep waters of a great sea. For the first time since ever, Pinkie was going to face great difficulties without any of her old friends by her side.

Yet...there was something else. An irrepressible sense of wonder that did put some bounce in her hooves. This was a brand new adventure, with brand new friends! The Barrier Lands were full of mystery, a whole side of Equestria that she still knew so little about. She had a ton of questions, and she knew they would only lead to tons more.

And this was an important trip too. Enough to make her want to hold her head high and solemnly. She was on a mission as the Element of Joy. If she succeeded in this, even that grumpy Prince Terrato would nod approvingly, and offer his congratulations. That would be a sight to see.

The weight of her task dragged her down, but the wonder of it lifted her up. In the end, Pinkie just couldn't figure out the right mood for it, and ended up showing nothing.

"Nervous?" Nightcanter asked with a light nudge to Pinkie's side. "You're not getting cold feet, are you, Pinkie?"

Pinkie shook her head vigorously and grinned. "No way!" she chirped. "This will be fun, you'll see!"

Behind them, Copper Mane shook his head disapprovingly. "This will be a solemn introduction to the clans," he said. "Not a fun outing!"

"We'll make it both, True Earth Pony," Nightcanter replied with a wink.

Ahead of them, Rarity's group had just passed the last checkpoint with no trouble. The guards, however, weren't as keen to do the same for Pinkie's group.

"You are ridiculously well-armed, Miss," one unicorn guard said to Sablesteel, his horn glowing. "And your luggage is giving off dangerous vibes."

Sable had taken to walking ahead of the group, her cloak wrapped tightly around her while she pulled along a large suitcase. "My name is Sablesteel," she said. She took out a short scroll from a saddlebag, and unfurled it. Pinkie couldn't make out the writing, but the embossed silver seal of a crescent moon at the end gave her a good idea what it was. "I am an agent under Princess Luna here on official business."

"Official, huh?" the guard remarked after inspecting the scroll. "Does Her Highness want to kill a small army or something?" Sable made no reply. Pinkie was worried for a moment that she might get mad, but the guards nodded them through without further incident.

"How odd," Rarity remarked once they were walking together again. They were moving through a large tunnel; the passageway that connected the Spiral Gate to the city. A brilliant, yet soft light, like particularly strong moonlight, shone at the end of the tunnel, seemingly beckoning them. "We're all armed, but only Sablesteel was stopped."

Pinkie wondered that too. Especially since Octavia had passed with little trouble, even with her big, magical cello in tow. She looked to her own gear. Her channeling stone didn't really cause too much of a stir. She had another thing as well. A small gem given to her by Blue Moon before they left.

"That gem will access my extra-dimensional space for one time, Pinkie Pie," Blue Moon had said. "Use it to summon Frenzy Heart's sword. It might be useful for negotiating with the True Earth Ponies. They'll certainly want their artifact back. Try to gauge the situation first before bringing it out."

They hadn't noticed the gem. Pinkie had to admire the skill it must have taken Blue Moon to make this happen.

"It's to be expected to find visitors and locals alike to be armed for protection, my dear Rarity," Lion Court replied. "A few blades here or a bow there does not raise eyebrows for the Delve Guard." He looked at Sablesteel, still all smiles. "Sable is not armed just to defend herself, though. A portable lab for brewing her toxins speaks more 'mass murder' and less 'self defense'."

"Such a high-handed tone," Rarity said. "As if you're any less of a killer yourself, Lion Court."

Lion Court shrugged, as if he was taking a compliment with false humility. "I do my part. Every Thorn has some skill for taking a life when the situation calls for it. I merely state that Sable happens to specialize in it more than any of us."

"You're just envious," Sable muttered as she walked past Lion Court. Pinkie and her other escorts had to quicken their pace to keep up. "I dispatch in minutes what takes you hours."

"An epicurean savors his meals, my dear Sable," Lion Court replied. "It is boorish to gobble."

Sable didn't bother replying. Pinkie thought of interfering. Weren't the Thorns supposed to be friends? That didn't sound like friendly banter at all. Lion Court should apologize, but Pinkie getting involved would probably just worsen everypony's mood.

Before Pinkie could agonize over the matter, however, the light from the city filled her peripherals, dragging her attention to the sight before her. Her jaw dropped almost instantly as the tunnel gave way to their destination.

"Welcome to the Great Delve," Nightcanter said with a grin.

A massive cavern stretched out before them, so vast as to make it difficult to see the other side. Pinkie couldn't help but immediately follow where the strange, soft light came from. Far below them, at the center of the cavern, suspended by a tall, tapering spire, was a brilliant orb of light, like a miniature sun that shone solely for the city.

They stood on a wide ledge, close to the top of this great vault within the mountain. From this ledge stretched forth a bridge of stone and metal, as wide as any road Pinkie had seen in the Heartland, which connected to a pillar of rock.

Pinkie couldn't see much of what lay below the from this vantage point. Her legs wobbled as her mind reeled from the effort of taking it in. They were so high up that all she could make of the city below were many smaller lights and the distinct shapes of various buildings. She should be underground, but she still felt like she was flying in the sky. The pillar their ledge led to was several times the thickness of any castle tower. A wide road spiraled by its sides upon which many ponies and even carriages travelled on. Multiple bridges stretched out from this central pillar, each one connecting to a different level of the city. Pinkie now understood why this entrance was called Spiral Gate.

"Oh my stars!" Rarity said breathlessly. She had also frozen in her tracks just a few feet behind Pinkie's group. "Magnificent..."

Octavia stayed silent, but she was just as wide-eyed and awestruck. "Beautiful..." she whispered.

They walked on, reaching the pillar and joining the quick-flowing river of ponies that was the road. The incline was slightly steep, not enough to be particularly dangerous, but Pinkie suspected that if one rolled a ball on this road, it would keep going for a long, long time.

"This is the Spiral Way," Nightcanter said. She trotted close to Pinkie, her chest just a bit more puffed up than usual "The ever-bustling central highway of the Delve. We can get to any district of the Upper Delve from here."

"Don't cause a scene, Pinkie Pie," Sablesteel said. "Anywhere else, the Delve Guard will give you a warning first for lollygagging or causing a disruption. On Spiral Way, they'll haul you off for a few lashes."

"Actually, they've eased the punishment for that to moderate fines," Nightcanter said.

"Of course," Sablesteel remarked. "Leave it to the delvites to find new ways to be softer."

"I'm not going to cause a scene," Pinkie Pie said with a pout, eager to ease the tension. "You're always expecting the worst from me, Sable." She was happy to look around, though. Large numbers of ponies walked with them on this road, many pulled carts of all sorts of goods behind them from food to pottery, to even jewelry and weapons. There were lots of little outposts attached to the pillar, where the Delve Guard most likely kept watch. There were also patrols of armed guards, very distinct with their very shiny breastplates and bright blue outfits beneath.

"I've noticed that even all the pegasi are walking this highway, Lion Court," Rarity said. "But I can see them flying around those huge stalactites at the distance."

"The Guard insists that all travelers on the Spiral Way be on the ground," Lion Court replied. "It makes their job a great deal easier if they can put more focus on the ground. Pegasi are allowed flight only among the Stonetooth Aeries, which you just observed."

"How restrictive," Rarity said. "Necessary, I suppose."

"The pegasi can leave the Delve anytime if they don't like it," Copper Mane said. "They are guests here, not prisoners. They have been for more than a thousand years."

"I was merely observing, Mister Copper Mane," Rarity replied, her voice steely. "No wonder they've stayed for so long, though. You are so charmingly hospitable."

They had only travelled a short while when they came upon their first extension road. A bridge of metal and stone, suspended by wires attached to the cavern's ceiling, connected Spiral Way to a gigantic stalactite, the foremost among many. A portion of the stalactite had been drilled through and hollowed out, allowing it to be occupied as a building. From this stalactite sprung a veritable web of smaller suspension bridges that connected all the stalactites in a complex network of hanging roads.

Pinkie didn't know much about stones and stonework, at least not as much as her sisters, but even she could tell that these stalactites were not natural. They were too big and ridiculously uniform in their shapes.

"The Aeries have expanded a lot since I last visited," Sablesteel remarked.

"Most of it was from Mayor Coal Dust's building projects a couple of centuries back," Nightcanter said. "A real pegasus sympathizer, that one."

Sablesteel snorted. "That couldn't have gone easily with the other delvites."

Nightcanter shrugged. "The unicorns didn't mind too much, I've read," she said. "Not much rumblings from the earth ponies either. A lot of rumors that his pegasus wife put him up to it."

"There were plenty of objections!" Copper Mane said. "We True Earth Ponies rejected the idea. Those new stalactites wouldn't have been built too if Clan Corundum's shapers weren't so soft."

"A lot of Clan Quartz builders helped too, Copper Mane," Nightcanter said with a smirk. "Don't leave your clan out of the credit."

Copper Mane replied with sullen silence. He stared at the stalactites as if they were monuments of shame. "As if this city hadn't been enough of a roost as it was," he muttered.

The mention of Clan Corundum caught Pinkie's attention. This wasn't the original Clan Corundum from which Rock Maven and Smart Cookie's clans came from. She read enough of Lexarius's notes to know that this referred to the remains of Smart Cookie's clan after they begged Rock Maven to be taken back among the earth pony clans. Looks like they were a bit more helpful than the other True Earth Pony clans. She glanced worriedly at Copper Mane. He was Clan Quartz. She would have to start there. Hopefully, Corundum would be receptive to her as well.

They continued to descend the Spiral Way. Pinkie gasped and could barely avoid pointing when some wolven walked past them, followed by a big, dark green snake-creature carrying some crates. None of her companions and the pony travelers, save for Rarity, seemed to react.

They reached their second connecting bridge. The Delve's silvery light caught on tall, tapering spires, glittering blue-green and white. This district was easily the brightest section of all the Delve. If that light at the center was a small sun, these buildings were the moon. The bridge connected to a shining tower of translucent, gem-like material. From there, the hazy silhouettes of ponies descended spiralling stairs into the main district. This time, Rarity's group stopped.

"Well, Pinkie Pie," Rarity said, her eyes slightly misty and her voice soft. "Looks like this is where we part. This bridge goes to the Gemstone Quarter, where I have business to attend to."

"Oh, Rarity!" Pinkie exclaimed. She threw her hooves around her friend and hugged tightly for a few moments. This was it, the moment she had been thinking about since they departed Canterlot. The moment where she would begin her grand adventure without her old friends.

"Come now, Pinkie," Rarity said while patting Pinkie on the back soothingly. "We're still in the same city. When we've finished the brunt of our tasks, we can meet up and compare notes. I'm sure of it."

Pinkie brushed a tear away with her foreleg once they separated. "Sure, Rarity," she said. She stifled a sob. At least, she tried to. "That would be great!"

"You take care, Pinkie," Rarity said. She looked to Sablesteel and Nightcanter. "Please watch over her. She can be a hoof-ful sometimes, but she's more than worth it." She looked to Copper Mane. "I trust that you will look after her too, Mister Copper Mane."

"I'm not your slave, unicorn," Copper Mane replied. When glares all around descended on him, he pursed his lips defiantly for a while before adding "I will do my best. She is important after all."

"My dear Sable, do take care of yourself," Lion Court said. "You represent so many things now, after all: from your grandfather's legacy, to the Thorns, to your new...employer."

"I don't need you reminding me, Lion," Sablesteel snapped. "The list grows longer, but they all get my full devotion."

"Of course," Lion Court said with a smile and a slight bow. "I meant no disrespect."

Octavia merely bowed slightly to Sablesteel, and gave Pinkie a brief, impassive look before moving on.

With that, the two groups parts ways. Pinkie stood there waving for a while until Nightcanter cleared her throat. Sablesteel was already about to move ahead.

"So what's Deepstone Quarter like?" Pinkie Pie asked as she bounced to get back in pace with the others. The question was supposed to be meant for Copper Mane, but she didn't focus on anypony when she asked it.

"A proper place for an earth pony," Copper Mane said. His mood was already brightening. "Teeming with ley energy, close to our element, and far from large numbers of unicorns and pegasi. I already sent a letter ahead. They are expecting us."

"Not really a place for me, Pinkie," Nightcanter said. "I know the Underbelly quite well, which is pretty close to Deepstone Quarter, but not the place itself."

"It's dark, cramped, and gloomy," Sablesteel replied. "Even other earth ponies aren't that fond of it. The True Earth Ponies only like it because eveypony else hates it."

"You've been to Deepstone Quarter?" Copper Mane asked pointedly. "For what? Every pegasus I've seen trying to enter always turned into a nervous wreck!"

Sablesteel actually flashed a brief smile. Pinkie couldn't help but lean in a bit to hear her. "Assassination," she said. "Some Clan Basalt elder had been overreaching so Black Rose sent me. I simply needed a few lessons from Frenzy Heart."

Copper Mane spent the rest of their walking making sure Pinkie and Nightcanter were between him and Sablesteel. They passed one more bridge, the Mineral District, as Nightcanter pointed out. It stretched to the opposite direction of Gemstone Quarter, towards an elevated plateu at a distance. The buildings there resembled more familiar structures; the compact, squat structures of earth pony dwellings. Plumes of smoke also rose from many chimneys and forges. Pinkie remembered Blinkie's letter. Her youngest sister would probably be apprenticing over there.

Now that they were closer to ground level, Pinkie could now see the veritable forest of huge mushrooms that covered the southwestern section of the Great Delve. Thousands of tiny blue lights glittered from within their stalks. There was also no missing the huge river that bisected the city, flowing from the north side and feeding into a lake at the center. It was at the center of that lake, on a small island that looked like a stalagmite with its point chopped off, where the bright light of the Great Delve stood suspended. There were other fort-like buildings on the island too. Pinkie guessed that they must be pretty important.

The walked on, reaching ground level at last. There, they encountered multiple roads extending from Spiral Way, including one that led to that mushroom forest. The ground section proved more familiar to Pinkie. She was surrounded by typical earth pony dwellings. It was nice to see that a lot of them resembled one she would find in Ponyville. Well, there was no house designed to look like cake, but this was nice too. The silent, business-like demeanor of the ponies climbing up and down the Spiral Way melted into a more jovial mood down here. A large market surrounded the Spiral Way, with vendors of all sorts showing off their wares to the ponies arriving from other districts. Pinkie's mouth watered at the sight of various treats. They had pastries here, and fresh fruit, and was that a stand of different mushrooms?

"Hungry?" Nightcanter asked with a smile. "I'm sure we can afford a quick stop and a meal."

"We should really just move on as quickly as possible," Copper Mane said. "There's plenty of food in—"

"Pinkie Pie?" Nightcanter asked again.

"I'd love to!" Pinkie sang out. Before anypony else could say anything, she was already weaving through the crowd to get to her first stand.

"Hey, chosen!" somepony called out. Pinkie turned to look on instinct. One of the vendors, a blue green earth pony stallion, looked at her with an inviting grin, gesturing for her to come closer. "You just arrived in the Delve?" he called out. "You've got to try my yam fritters!"

Pinkie checked her money pouch. The small sack was bulging with coin. She still had her legionnaire salary. The royalty also gave her quite a sum to help her in her journey. "I'll try it!" she said. A minute later, she had a nice, freshly cooked yam fritter on stick to munch on; crispy and golden on the outside with bits of caramelized sugar, chewy and mildly sweet on the inside. It tasted better with the knowledge that ponies from the Delve were surprisingly welcoming of "chosen". Pinkie had been mildly worried that her cutie mark would upset some ponies here.

"Chosen!" a mare called out. "Wash that down with a coconut drink over here!"

A stallion joined in. "Chosen, try something savory this time! Buttered corn on a stick or cup over here!"

Pinkie's gaze flitted from one stand to another. Her legs followed suit, as did her her money pouch. It took only a couple of minutes until she had a paper bag full of various goods tucked in her foreleg as she moved along.

"Woah, slow down there, Pinkie!" Nightcanter said. She came out of the crowd, seemingly out of thin air, and draped a foreleg across Pinkie's shoulders. "I said a quick stop and a meal, not gather supplies for a campaign. Don't let the friendly faces fool you. As soon as they saw you were chosen, they knew they could unload their goods on you." She peeked into the paper bag. "What have you in there? Are you seriously eating all of these?"

"I got some of those for you, Sable, and Copper Mane," Pinkie replied. She was wondering why every vendor was eager to grab her attention. She had also noticed that she wasn't the lone "chosen" here. The Great Delve must be getting a lot of visitors from the Heartland. She supposed she had spent enough money. She focused on one last stop: the mushroom stand.

"Oh, you've got your eye on Loamy Legs's stand," Nightcanter remarked. She trotted next to Pinkie as they approached the stand. "Loamy!" She held out a foreleg as if to embrace the grizzled, dark green stallion.

"Huh?" the stallion asked. He scratched his short, brown mane for a while before his eyes widened. "Nightcanter? By our Prince, you've been gone for a while! Haven't seen you around since Morning Trot got married!"

"Duty calls," Nightcanter replied. "This is Pinkie Pie, Loamy, This'll be her first time with the Delve's specialty mushrooms."

Loamy Legs eyed Pinkie for a moment. "Befriending the chosen now, are we?" he said with a grin. "Figures you'll be the first to have a go at them. First three pounds are on me, Pinkie Pie."

The wide array of mushrooms made even Pinkie hesitate. There was no way she was getting some of each without getting crushed by the weight. She eventually decided on some of the thin bundles of white stalks, the thick chewy ones that looked like ears, and a large, yellowish block that looked a lot like a loaf of bread.

At the last one, Nightcanter clicked a tongue and whistled. "Rafrak's Gift...bold choice there, Pinkie!" She tossed a few bits towards Loamy Legs and gestured towards where the others were waiting.

"Huh?" Pinkie replied. "How come?"

"Rafrak the Exile perfected that breed," Nightcanter said. "He swore that it tastes exactly like pony."

With a shrug, Pinkie took a bite. "Wow," she said. "We taste pretty good. Maybe even better with some melted butter and some salt."

Copper Mane sat by some benches a good distance from the bustling marketplace. His gloomy face brightened a bit when Pinkie offered some of the snacks.

"Where's Sablesteel, Copper Mane?" Nightcanter asked.

Copper Mane pointed to a tall, pointed pillar some distance away from them. For a moment, Pinkie thought it was a small stalagmite, but a second look showed its smoothened sides and four cornered base. This was a tall pyramid like structure. It didn't seem to serve any practical function. It certainly wasn't supporting anything. There were, however, several ponies around it with their heads raised solemnly and one of their forelegs to their chests. Sablesteel stood a few feet away, looking at the whole scene.

"The Lovers Protection Stone?" Nightcanter thought aloud. Her lips curved into an amused smile. "I didn't expect that from Miss Hardened Assassin."

Neither did Pinkie, which was why she was trotting alongside Nightcanter as they approached Sable.

Sable stared at the ponies with the same harsh glare that Pinkie had long since pegged as her neutral face. When Nightcanter and Pinkie approached, she turned towards them and nodded towards the stone.

"That's the Lunar Vengeance Stone," Sablesteel said quietly. "It used to be in the Mineral District. Why was it moved here?"

Nightcanter stared at Sablesteel in bewilderment. "Lunar Vengeance Stone? That's a weird name to remember it by. To answer your question, the original Lovers Protection Stone is still in Mineral District. This is a replica, built so ponies wouldn't have to keep travelling to Mineral District."

"Lovers Protection..." Sablesteel's eyebrows rose. "So that explains the strange invocation. That mare was saying 'May the moon's light protect our newly forged marriage'."

Nightcanter nodded. "Sounds about right. Just a typical mare in love going through a traditional gesture. Now that news of Princess Luna's activities have reached here, we can expect more supplicants."

"Wow," Pinkie said. "So Princess Luna is actually popular here? And that sounds like a sweet little tradition!"

Sablesteel's shoulders shook. For a second, Pinkie raised her forelegs in a calming gesture. She was about to offer a snack too when a brief laugh escaped Sable. "Is that what they think that stone is for?" she asked. "Times really have changed!" She walked back with them to the benches, and accepted a sweet bean stuffed bun from Pinkie.

"So what was that stone for?" Nightcanter asked. She wasn't smiling this time.

"Don't let me ruin your tradition," Sablesteel replied. "I'm sure the moon princess appreciates knowing that you delvites see her as a protector of love. Besides, this was a tale told to me by my grandfather, who was told of it by the other Blackmoon Blades. It's no more factual than your loving tradition."

"I want to know too!" Pinkie chimed in. Some crumbs flew out of her mouth as she spoke. Well...she sort of wanted to know. Part of her just wanted to see that stone as a symbol of loving couples, but this was a chance to hear Sablesteel being talkative.

"We should really—" Copper Mane stopped after a hard nudge from Nightcanter.

"A long time ago..." Sablesteel began. She stopped and pushed Pinkie's leaning head back. "I'll raise my voice if you can't hear me properly, Pinkie Pie, so give me some space! As I said...a long time ago, early into the Division and at the height of the Blackmoon Blades' power, there was a troubled couple; an old and rich merchant and some young strumpet he married. They were undergoing a separation and a judge was deciding how their estate was to be split. But the judge was corrupt and in the mare's pocket. He was sure to award her with nearly everything the merchant owned. The mare knew this, and openly flaunted it with lavish spendings and even whoring with stallions."

Pinkie didn't like the story already. That didn't sound like a love story at all. Still, she continued to watch silently, if only to hear Sable keep talking about something other than missions and her being a pink imbecile.

"The merchant was desperate," Sable went on. "He wandered the city drunk and in a daze knowing he was about to spend the rest of his life poor and miserable. He stumbled upon the Vengeance Stone. At the time, it as just a scuplture done by Silver Star, an artist known for making several paintings and statues of Princess Luna for the Blackmoon Blades and the Night Parade. He prostrated himself before the stone, convinced that the Blades observed all of Silver Star's works. He argued that he had his wedding ceremony at night, which meant that the oaths were sworn before the moon princess, and that he did everything he could to stay true to those oaths, but his wife had planned his predicament from the start. A commotion had begun before the guards hauled him off."

"What happened after that?" Pinkie asked.

Sablesteel snorted. "After a few days, the mare hung hind fetlocks first from that scuplture, throat cut open and drained of blood. Her ears were missing, of course, and the symbol of the moon was carved on her belly. The Delve Guard started an investigation, but no ponies were identified or caught. Afterwards, every marriage done under that judge's jurisdiction had a night wedding with the couple presenting themselves to the sculpture. The judge was eventually investigated, convicted, and executed." Sablesteel let herself smile. "And now ponies look to that stone asking for moonlight to protect their love."

"And here I thought it was the Moonlight Rondo that started that tradition," Nightcanter said wistfully. "I suppose 'may the moon's light protect our newly forged marriage' sounds much more romantic than 'may fanatical assassins murder my spouse if they cheat on me.'"

"All Equestria got from the Rondo was 'Luna's Piss', the Moaning Top incident, and the spread of a variety of sex-related diseases," Sable said. She looked to Copper Mane. "We've ignored the True Earth Pony for too long, let's continue on to his clan home."

They finished up and let Nightcanter take the lead. As they moved farther away from the Spiral Way, the bright light from the miniature sun grew dimmer. Nightcanter led them through smaller side paths where the rooves of buildings and houses began to intersect and block out the light. As they moved on, the pretty earth pony dwellings became more and more ramshackle. The smell of freshly cooked snacks and perfumes gave way to the stink of open gutters and moldering trash bins. The floor wasn't as smooth or as even here. Pinkie nearly tripped a couple of times. She shivered when an errant step left her foreleg fetlock deep in a puddle of foul-smelling water. It was amazing how well, the prettier buildings near Spiral Way hid these ones from view.

"Keep your money pouch secure and hidden, Pinkie Pie," Sablesteel said. "We can take care of a bunch of Underbelly thugs easily, but I don't want to show off what we can do until we need to."

"Okay," Pinkie replied. Witha a good bit of her enthusiasm missing.

Eventually, Nightcanter led them to a large circular hole with the metal rungs of a ladder running down one side. Pinkie wrinkled her nose as she looked down. Faint blue lights marked a floor below, but it was a good distance of ladder down. A mild hint of sewage wafted from the place.

"Is that where we have to go?" Pinkie asked. "Does everypony going down have to take this stinky tunnel?"

"What's the matter, Pinkie?" Nightcanter asked. "You didn't think the Great Delve was all grand vistas and prosperous districts, did you? This is one of the many entrances to the Underbelly. The safest."

Pinkie shook her head. She supposed not. "Well," she said after Nightcanter started climbing down. She grasped the cold, metal rungs. "Here goes."

Pinkie Pie 2: Lower Great Delve

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 2: Lower Great Delve

It didn't take long before the smell of open gutters proved to be the least uncomfortable aspect of the Underbelly for Pinkie. She walked through a reasonably large tunnel. Reasonably, she figured, given the sight of the many much smaller branches by the sides. Otherwise, she'd just think this tunnel was pretty cramped too. Nightcanter and Copper Mane walked ahead while Sablesteel matched her pace by her side.

No light from the big, sun-like device made it to these tunnels. The long, vertical shaft they had to climb down ensured that. Instead, a multitude of small, glowing mushroom clumps lining the walls and ceiling lit everything in a cold, rather unsettling, blue glow. This looked like a repurposed mining tunnel, with large support beams along the way, and the traces of a railway track along the floor. Most if the ties and actual metal rail was gone, though, leaving the damp, stony ground bare. Trash littered the sides; piles of fruit peelings and seeds, pieces of wood too rotten to be reused, half a broken down cart...Pinkie did a double take. That looked like a foreleg sticking out of one pile...or was it just a large piece of mushroom? Her companions obviously weren't interested in stopping to investigate so she moved on.

The ponies that occupied this tunnel were also a far cry from the ones above. Most of them couldn't even be bothered to look. They moved past the group hurriedly, heads low, and lips tight, wearing mostly rags and strips of salvaged barding. A few did look, mostly the ones sitting around or rummaging through some of the garbage piles. Those weren't looks of welcome and curiosity being thrown their way. The weight of sullen appraisal made Pinkie's shoulders a bit itchy. It was like being swarmed by horseflies or buzzards. Not at all a pleasant feeling. She wanted to take solace in the sight of a patrol of guards moving through the tunnel with them, but these ones shared the same bored, sullen look that all the ponies here had.

Fortunately, they were sticking to the larger tunnel for now, but they were still descending. Pinkie's stomach churned a bit as her thoughts went back to the last time she went into a deep, dark place. The last time, she had to climb up to go down, now she was just flat out going down.

"Stop quivering," Sablesteel whispered as she walked a little closer. "You've gone to the abyss and back. What are you afraid of? These tunnel rats? They wouldn't dare. Even if they did, we'd kill them by the dozen."

"I'm not afraid," Pinkie whispered back. She put on a grin to hammer the point in, but Sablesteel didn't look convinced. "And could you please try not to kill anything by the dozen? I want this to be a nice, friendly visit!"

"Then stop acting so scared," Sablesteel replied. "Underbelly thugs look for easy pickings like scared chosen mares who look like they've never been here."

That did firm up Pinke's spine and keep her legs steady, not out of any renewed courage, but more out of concern for the ponies here.

They were walking past houses now. These were mostly old, repurposed buldings, probably foundries, ore storage, and workers' quarters. They were typical earth pony mining stuff; basically large, stone boxes with windows and doors. Pinkie remembered that the Pie Rock Farm had similar stuctures. These ones, however, had rickety wooden modifications coming out of them, like mushrooms growing out of a dead log. The inhabitants likely built them to add an extra room or two or to patch up a broken wall. Signs made of thin wooden planks tied together hung on some of the walls, advertising things like a pawnshop, cheap repairs, and "random merchandise". Bits of junk sprawled across their front areas while dirty, mussed-maned ponies hawked wares.

Graffiti covered the tunnel walls: names of what Pinkie could only guess were gangs, all sorts of weird symbols, "Mayor Strip Mine is an Ophidite Plant" in big, green letters, a crude drawing of a mare doing the—

Pinkie focused on other sights, like a mare bathing a colt outside a hovel using a tub of water and a cracked dipper. Pinkie was half-sure, that soap she was using looked like detergent. The suds ran down the gutter along with everything else flowing in there. A stallion staggered nearby on his hind legs, eyes half-lidded, lips smiling in some kind of daze. He was holding a small pouch, which he promptly held to his snout for a long, deep, inhale.

It was all...well, Pinkie couldn't lie to herself about it. This place was really gross. Everything and everypony seemed worn, messy, and barely holding up. A layer of grime seemed to cover every inch of this place. She was sure it was getting on her as well. Hopefully, the True Earth Ponies had baths available.

Nightcanter looked over her shoulder. "Same old Underbelly," she said to Pinkie.

"Isn't somepony doing something about this place?" Pinkie asked. "I don't think these ponies like living like this."

"Somepony's always planning to do something about it," Nightcanter replied. "Especially when mayoral elections come up. It's still the Delve's cesspool. That true during your time too, Sablesteel?"

Sablesteel merely nodded.

"There's no improving this sewer," Copper Mane said. "Better to just throw out these squatters, burn out their filth, and build more useful things. Nothing good has ever come out of the Underbelly, just thugs and filth."

"Hold your tongue, boy," Sablesteel hissed. "You know nothing of who has survived this place."

Copper Mane opened his mouth in some instinct to argue, but he swiftly closed it when his senses caught up. "You can't deny that it's filthy..." he mumbled.

"Do you know some ponies from this place, Sable?" Pinkie asked.

"The mistress," Sablesteel said softly. "And Blue Moon, of course."

"Oh, that's right!" Pinkie said. "Blue Moon said that in Sky Mirror Lake. Hard to believe that those two grew up in a place like this—" she waved her front hooves in front of her wildly. "I mean, I'm not saying Blue Moon lied or anything! But, you know...because they're both so graceful, and clean, and stuff..."

"They're strong, skilled, and determined," Sablesteel replied. "You must be all of that to survive and escape a place like this."

"Hard to imagine Black Rose running with some Underbelly gang," Nightcanter chimed in. "I guess we all have to start somewhere."

"Did you start out like that too, Sable?" Pinkie asked. "I mean not in a gang or anything, and you said that you weren't a delvite, but you're also strong, skilled, and determined, so maybe you also grew up somewhere that's sort of like this place?"

"Slow down with the talking," Sablesteel replied. "And speed up with the walking."

Pinkie did quicken her pace. It was a good idea too. She didn't want to spend too much time here. Deepstone Quarter had to be a nicer place. It was pretty easy to be nicer than this place. She hadn't given up on hearing Sablesteel's answer though, and looked to her several times, in between watching out for the deeper puddles of stagnant water. At least, Pinkie hoped that was water, and the smell of stale urine was coming from the nearby gutters. Some of the wider, deeper ones had weird green gunk floating on the surface. Flies buzzed around them, though flies buzzed around nearly everything and everypony here. Pinkie glanced at one house in time to see a huge rat, bigger than most cats Pinkie had ever seen, scurry out the door.

"I didn't grow up in a disgusting city if that's what you were asking," Sablesteel finally said. She kept her gaze forward though. "Grain Basket," she added after a while.

"Hm?" Nightcanter said. "That's a village just south of the Delve. Mostly rice farmers."

"I'm surprised it's still around," Sablesteel remarked. "It was a rat hole on the verge of collapse when I left with my grandfather."

"Economic recoveries do happen, you know," Nightcanter said.

"Ooh, maybe we can visit after this!" Pinkie said with an excited hop.

Unfortunately, Sable's frown remained, not exactly what Pinkie was going for. "Why?" she asked harshly. "You looking to buy some rice, Pinkie? That's all there is to that place."

"Well, some rice sounds tasty," Pinkie replied. "Especially if it's the sticky sweet stuff with jam or beans inside! I tried some of that before maybe—" she caught herself. "I mean, I thought you'd like to see what your hometown looks like after hundreds of years."

Sablesteel was quiet again. She fiddled with one of her many small pouches, then pulled something out. Pinkie's ears started drooping as more awkward silence passed.

"Pinkie," Sablesteel said, a lot softer this time. "I appreciate your concern and effort—" At this, Pinkie perked up again, just in time to hear the venom flood Sablesteel's tone, "—but focus on your task, will you?" She put a hoof to her lips, then suddenly turned away from Pinkie to make a sharp blowing noise. It kind of sounded like spit...but not really.

Pinkie's ears flattened, and her lower lip jutted out a bit. Nowhere near what she was hoping for. And was that a weird spit in derision? At this, Nightcanter began to giggle. Before either Pinkie or Sablesteel could say anything, she hung back a bit, and drew Pinkie closer with a little telekinetic nudge. "How adorable!" she said. At her nudging, Pinkie walked a bit faster so Sablesteel brought up the rear while Copper Mane led. "Don't worry, Pinkie, I've got your back on this."

Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "Well, duh!" she said. "Princess Luna did send you to escort me, didn't she?"

"Yes, she did," Nightcanter said, again with a brief giggle. "But I'm quite flexible with these things."

Pinkie wasn't quite sure she liked the smile on Nightcanter's face, and she was a big fan of smiles. This one was playful with an odd touch of meanness, like a cat staring at a mouse.

They passed some time in silence. The slope along the floor had been very gradual at first, but slowly increased in steepness. The wall they were following was no straight line either. They were descending in a spiral. The smaller tunnels they kept passing by were straight, though. Probably to create levels that expanded the Underbelly. The main tunnel just kept going down.

"We're getting close now," Copper Mane said. He looked over his shoulder. "I can easily explain Pinkie Pie, but it will be harder for me to successfully vouch for a unicorn and a pegasus."

"This is Legion business," Nightcanter said, still all smiles. "If Clan Quartz, or even Clan Basalt, refuses, I'll be happy to involve our Prince, and he is in a very, very bad mood at the moment."

"The True Earth Ponies will not be pushed," Copper Mane insisted.

"And I'd sooner be dead than let Pinkie Pie disappear into Deepstone Quarter by herself," Nightcanter replied. She put a foreleg around Copper Mane's shoulders, a move that made him flinch as if a snake had draped itself around him. "Don't worry, Copper Mane, we'll be meek and contrite while you talk to them." To emphasize, Nightcanter put on a sad look and a pout. "Just the way the True Earth Ponies like, am I right?"

"Your high-hoofed mocking is certainly not what we like," Copper Mane said as he shrugged off the foreleg. "But we certainly expect it. You're a delvite, correct? Let me guess: the daughter of some old money unicorn house in Gemstone Quarter? This would be my first time meeting one, and you're fitting the bill."

"House Gallop is hardly old money," Nightcanter replied. "We've got only a little more than a century under our belt. We can't even get invites to House Song's parties."

"It's ridiculous that House Song is still around," Sablesteel remarked. "Weeds really are the hardiest plants."

"You've had some run ins with them?" Nightcanter asked. "They are an old old house after all."

"I eliminated two of them on the High Commander's orders," Sablesteel replied.

"I can think of a couple more if you're interested in that streak," Nightcanter said.

"Unicorns," Copper Mane remarked. "All smiles and parties while you murder each other. Through hired killers too. And you call us True Earth Ponies hateful. At least, we tell you to your face where we stand."

Pinkie had to step in. "Oh come on, Copper Mane, unicorns—"

"That's true," Nightcanter said with a knowing nod and a smile. Sablesteel also nodded at this. Copper Mane, clearly expecting an angry defense merely looked away, and focused on walking. Baffled, Pinkie shrugged and decided to be glad that her companions at least found something to agree on.

They were moving away from the houses now, this place must be so deep that even Underbelly settlers didn't like it. It was darker too. Fewer patches of glowing mushrooms lined the walls and ceilings with few, if any, ponies to cultivate them specifically. Pinkie quickly noted that this particular tunnel didn't smell of stale urine. It was cleaner too. No need to dodge scattered, rusted scrap and puddles of...something. There was more to that, though, a sudden hum of power all around her. Her tail twitched just a bit, not the sort to indicate a falling object, but it felt like...a presence. She looked around on instinct. Ahead, Copper Mane looked back at her with a pleased smile.

"You must have noticed already," Copper Mane said. "Yes, the ley energies here are frequently manipulated. This is True Earth Pony territory now and we do not tolerate the Underbelly's filth."

They stopped briefly at a tall, stone pole, about twice the height of a stallion. A stone mask of a pony's featureless face, the same sort as the ones Pinkie saw the True Earth Ponies wear, topped the pole. Beneath it, a metal hoop hung off a short peg, festooned with a few feathers big enough to be pinions and some colored cone-like things. A closer inspection left Pinkie horrified. These were horns, pierced so they could be attached to the hoop as morbid decorations. At the pole's base lay a few pony skulls. These looked old, bleached white and smoothed, obviously prepared for display. One of them still had the base of a broken horn still attached.

Beyond that pole was a large pit with a spiral staircase lining its sides. It looked like whoever was building these tunnels grew tired of the slow process and must decided to dig straight down.

"How welcoming," Nightcanter remarked as they all stared at the pole.

"Gross!" Pinkie added.

"We have had more than our fair share of intruders," Copper Mane said. "The Delve Guard is not nicer to criminals, Nightcanter, and certainly not the Legion."

Pinkie looked to Sablesteel, who was staring to the far sides of the tunnel. She squinted for a better look, but the shadows revealed nothing.

"It's starting to go numb, isn't it?" Sablesteel called out. "That's right, rat, it wasn't some insect that stung you. Another half hour and you'll have to cut that leg off. If you want the antidote, come out and present yourself. I mean all of you."

A sligh rustling came from the shadows, followed by a silhouette unsteadily walking out of them. More than that, a sudden disturbance in the ley energy of the place hit Pinkie like a surprise breeze. These were True Earth Ponies, but how had she not noticed earlier?

The figure walking...no, limping, towards them was small, probably a mare, skinny too. To Pinkie's surprise, a better look revealed a dark brown stallion's jawline, and an unkempt beard of reddish brown. Three more ponies, all similarly sized, emerged around the tunnel, surrounding them.

"What the—!" Copper Mane snapped. "Clan Sandstone channelers! Why?"

The one that came out first didn't seem to hear. "You've made your point, bird!" he cried out. He was sweating profusely and his eyes were wild with panic. "Now, give me the antidote! Is this how you plan to introduce yourself to Deepstone Quarter? By killing someone for watching you?"

"Spying, you Sandstone rat," Sablesteel said. "Too bad for you, Frenzy Heart's already taught me what to watch out for." She pulled out a small syringe from one of her pouches, and threw it over to him. "I'm sparing you so you can tell your fellows not to try their usual tricks on us."

"We're not just here to watch," the spy grunted. He settled down once he administered the antidote. After a few seconds of just catching his breath, he turned towards Pinkie. "Your visit has been expected Legionnaire Pinkie Pie, Elder Magma Flow wishes to speak with you as soon as possible."

"Elder—!" Copper Mane gasped. "Clan Basalt's leader!" He was quick to recover, though, and his shock turned into into narrow-eyed defiance. "I'm to present her to Elder Clearstone first!"

"If you insist," the spy said. He kept his gaze on Pinkie. "If you want to harness your channeling, you should learn from the best. Clan Quartz will stunt your talent with gem polishing tricks. Clan Basalt will show you how to move mountains."

"But I don't want to move mountains," Pinkie replied with a tilt of her head. "That's dangerous. What if there were ponies on them, and they fell off while the mountain was moving? Anyway, you guys are moving way too fast. Can you, at least, show me around Deepstone Quarter?"

"We will," the Sandstone spy said. "For you. The goat and the bird must stay by our border tunnels."

"We go where Pinkie Pie goes," Nightcanter said. Her smile was gone at this point. "That's not negotiable."

"You are in the bowels of the All-Mountain, goat," the Sandstone spy replied. "We dictate terms here. Not your moon princess."

"Like how you begged Sablesteel here to spare your life?" Nightcanter asked. "I'm terrified."

"Um...girls?" Pinkie said. Even she caught the mention of a moon princess. These ponies knew stuff. When Sablesteel was suddenly holding a pair of feather-shaped throwing blades, she tugged at the pegasus' sleeve. "Can we calm down a bit?"

"We will, Pinke Pie," Sablesteel said. "As soon as we remove intimidating us or getting violent from their diplomatic options, everypony will be in a more reasonable mood. Relax, I'm not using any lethal mixes."

"That's great and all, but—"

"Halt!"

Pinkie flinched at the deep and powerful below followed by the clatter of multiple hooves over the stone floor. Another group of earth ponies emerged from the pit. Several of them had channeler tablets out, and they were all clad in stone plates.

The biggest, and the obvious leader of these new arrivals stepped forward and removed his stone mask, revealing his long, braided, light gray mane. Hazel eyes glared at the Sandstone spy as he spoke. "This is Corundum territory, Burrows, you will cease your channeling, and stand down."

Clearly outnumbered, the Sandstone spy called Burrows glared at the new arrivals first, but gestured at his fellows to ease up. They retreated into the shadows, then disappeared. Once more, Pinkie couldn't feel their presence within the ley lines.

"Thank you, Chisel Sharp," Copper Mane said. "That could have gotten quite ugly. We owe Clan Corundum for this."

"It's nothing," Chisel Sharp replied. He gestured for his followers to go back into the pit. "We just don't like these Clan Sandstone ponies suddenly deciding that they get to inspect visitors. You aren't the first to be harassed." He looked over Pinkie's group. "This has not been a proper welcome and we apologize. You are free to enter the Deepstone Quarter, even the unicorn and the pegasus, if they have the fortitude for it. We would provide an escort through the Sifting Tunnels, but you have Copper Mane for that. Cause no trouble and your visit will go well."

"We'll be fine," Sablesteel replied. "I know Clan Corundum has always been the most welcoming, but this is a very relaxed stance, even for you lot."

"I don't know how long it has been since you came here, Miss," Chisel Sharp said. "But the changes have been long coming and gradual."

"If they are, then 'long' is an understatement," Sablesteel said. "Around seven hundred years ago, Clan Corundum stayed at the edges of True Earth Pony society. It seems to me that you're still there."

Chisel Sharp stayed silent for a while, eyeing Sablesteel as if he was halfway towards challenging her to a fight. Eventually, he relaxed his stance. "Clan Corundum will always remain at the edges," he said. "The True Earth Ponies never forget any grudge. It's who we are, but that doesn't mean adjustments can't be made." He focused on Pinkie Pie. "Miss, our clan leader, Ruby Red, would also like to meet with you, after Copper Mane introduces you to Clan Quartz of course, but preferably before you engage with Clan Basalt or Sandstone."

"Um...okay," Pinkie replied.

"Magma Flow will not take kindly to your meddling, Chisel Sharp," Copper Mane said. "I, at least, can claim that Clan Quartz reached out to her first. Hasn't Clan Corundum brought down enough anger from Clan Basalt on its head?"

"You talk like a Sandstone weasel," Chisel Sharp retorted. "Let Magma Flow fume, these are new days. Even down here, we can feel it."

"Wow," Pinkie said once Chisel Sharp's group walked off. "We just got here and everypony wants to have a talk."

"What did you expect, Pinkie Pie?" Sablesteel asked. "You are an important pony. Now, you thrown yourself into the heart of their politics. Expect each clan to try to use you." She looked pointedly at Copper Mane. "Including Clan Quartz."

"I haven't held any pretense that I've been doing all this out of the goodness of my heart," Copper Mane said. "Pinkie Pie wants to harness her potential. My clan will benefit from a prestigious channeler. It's a fair exchange."

"Silly Copper Mane," Nightcanter said. "You should have focused getting on her good side. If you compete solely on the benefits of training, Clan Basalt will naturally crush you."

"I trust that Pinkie Pie will show honor, and reciprocate Clan Quartz for reaching out to her first," Copper Mane replied.

The peals of Nightcanter's laughter echoed all over the tunnel. Even the corners of Sablesteel's lips turned up a bit. At this, Copper Mane's face flushed a deep red that showed even in the dim, blue lighting.

"I'm right here, you know," Pinkie said with a frown at Nightcanter.

"Yes," Nightcanter said as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Yes, yes you are, my honorable lady."

"Enough of this!" Copper Mane snapped. "Let's go through the Sifting Tunnels so I can bring you to my clan already!"

Pinkie had read about the Sifting Tunnels. They were a project of Magma Dart, one shaped after Rock Maven's death. The Sifting Tunnels symbolized the True Earth Ponies' growing isolation. They were a maze of cramped, dark tunnels, the sort that could only be navigated by well-trained earth ponies. The tight spaces, the dark, and the sheer depth of the place supposedly drove unicorns and pegasi mad as they wandered the place. Pinkie didn't miss the names thrown out there either. Magma Flow, the leader of Clan Basalt...maybe a descendant of Magma Dart himself? Basalt was his clan. It could just be a title every leader of the clan took. Regardless, she would have to face Magma Dart's legacy sooner or later, and that would definitely involve Clan Basalt.

"Say," Pinkie said to Copper Mane. She had to pay close attention to her hooves. The stairs were quite steep and the pit was dimly lit. Copper Mane led the way with her and Nightcanter behind, followed by Sablesteel. "How did those spies do that? I couldn't tell they were there were through the ley lines at all."

"Clan Sandstone specializes in stealth and subterfuge," Copper Mane replied. "They can be compared to g— unicorns focused on illusions."

"Only in the broadest sense," Nightcanter said with a tilt of her nose. "Illusionists weave spectacle and subtlety in harmony. We're all performers to some degree along with whatever we actually do professionally. Sandstone channelers are rats. They scurry about using their earth pony channeling to squeeze into burrows to get into places where they're not wanted so they can spy and steal."

"What would you know of Sandstone channelers?" Copper Mane snapped.

"I was Delve Guard before I signed up for the Legion," Nightcanter replied. "I've caught my share of Sandstone thieves. A good way to be introduced to True Earth Pony entitlement." Nightcanter raised her voice to a nasally whine, her face twisting mockingly. "Your ancestors owe mine for slavery, goat. I'm only taking what you should be paying as reparations!"

"It's wrong for them to steal things," Copper Mane said. "But you do owe reparations."

"I've never owned a slave, Copper Mane," Nightcanter said, her tone sincere this time. "Neither have my parents, or their parents. You were never a slave, unless you were captured by ophidites once, and neither were your parents and grandparents. You should let this go."

Pinkie found herself nodding silently.

"The True Earth Ponies never let go," Copper Mane said. "It's who we are. By the Oathstone's unyielding face, we will never let go."

Behind Pinkie, Sablesteel sighed. "Why should you even bother?" she asked softly. "Frenzy Heart was one of them and he couldn't make them budge. You are an outsider."

"I have to try," Pinkie replied just as softly. She looked down the side of the winding staircase and at the seemingly endless pit she was going into. "I won't give up on them."

Pinkie Pie 3: The First Impression

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 3: The First Impression

Pinkie swallowed what had to be a third sigh as she continued to stare at her food. Food was a bit of a stretch, though. This was a bowl of rocks. Quartz, to be specific. Basically, a big bowl of glassy chunks. She didn't dare protest. This was a ceremonial welcoming meal by an earth pony clan; Clan Quartz in this case. It was an honor. Too bad honor didn't make food more appetizing.

A bowl of rocks was hardly the thing she was looking forward to when they were navigating that horrible maze of cramped tunnels. There was no way she could have made it through by herself, ley channeling or whatever. Two turns, and she was lost. By the fifth, her rump had wedged into a particularly tight passageway, eliciting some embarassing giggles from Nightcanter and a swift, and painful, kick from Sablesteel to push her loose. By the ninth, she envisioned a big, welcoming feast by the end just to keep her going. What she got was a dour welcome from Clan Quartz, along with this meal. Pinkie shifted her weight on her seat, wincing as she did so. Her backside might be a little bruised after that incident. Maybe not having a feast was a good thing.

She could eat these easily if she put her mind to it. Rocks were a frequent meal back in the Pie Family Rock Farm. She just had to make sure she didn't shred her soft palate with the sharp edges. All earth ponies could do it too. It was just that most didn't. It made sense when Pinkie left the farm. Rocks were boring. They tasted boring, they looked boring, even their names were boring. They were a chore to eat. Some earth ponies flaunted chowing down on rocks because only earth ponies could do it. Pinkie didn't care about stuff like that. Once she discovered pastries, rocks lost all their charm as food. She placed a large chunk in her mouth, and munched away, putting on an appreciative smile while their hosts watched like hawks.

Pinkie sat at the end of a long, rectangular table of polished marble, in a room lit well enough by blue-glowing mushrooms. The clan had a receiving chamber in their portion of the maze of tunnels that Deepstone Quarter turned out to be. The walls were worked to a smooth finish, with contours to make it seem like they were inside a big egg. Tapestries hung on the walls, showing off the clan emblem: a white crystalline shape forming three points. She appreciated the lighting, not just for the obvious reasons, but also because it showed that Clan Quartz had no problems entertaining visitors without True Earth Pony senses.

Opposite Pinkie was Clan Quartz's leader: Elder Clearstone. He was an old light blue stallion, probably a given to carry the Elder title, with a long white mane slicked back to reveal a wrinkled forehead. His thick beard was more salt than pepper, but those light gray eyes still bore some youthful energy. A bowl of quartz also sat in front of him, but he made very little pretense about eating, instead spending his time observing her. Several earth ponies stood behind him, all masked and vigilant. In all honesty, Pinkie felt less like a guest and more like a weird experiment. She could feel the ley energy all around her swirling with purpose, obviously directed by somepony.

"Um..." Pinkie started. This didn't seem like a good time to start getting into it with the True Earth Ponies and their customs straightaway, but the silence throughout the meal was too uncomfortable.

"Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie," Elder Clearstone said.

"Pinkie Pie's perfectly fine!" Pinkie said with a smile. "Or just Pinkie. That's what my friends call me!"

"Miss Pie," Elder Clearstone replied, his lips straight, his gaze unamused.

"I guess that works too," Pinkie said, more subdued this time.

"Clan Quartz is honored that the Element of Joy has approached the True Earth Ponies and has come to us first," Clearstone went on. "I can sense an incredibly vast innate strength in your connection to the earth." He leaned forward intently. "Perhaps you also come from an earth pony tradition that fosters this power? It would be interesting to know if True Earth Pony clans developed in the Heartland. Even if you call them something else."

"No," Pinkie replied, shaking her head for emphasis. "No True Earth Ponies in the Heartland. Just me. I mean...I'm not really a True Earth Pony, I mean I am a—" she shook her head. She had already gone down that confusing train of thought. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes," Clearstone replied.

"How do you know all this Element of Joy stuff? Did Copper Mane tell you? Does everypony in Deepstone Quarter already know?"

"News spreads quickly in the Delve," Clearstone said. "And the delvites are insatiable when it comes to news about the Heartland and the 'Elements of Harmony'. Quartz does not have Sandstone's spies, but we have many members mingling with everyday workers throughout the city. Copper Mane's correspondence only confirmed it." He looked to Copper Mane with a nod of acknowledgment.

"Did I not say that making a pilgrimage to the Heartland was a good idea?" Copper Mane said, his chest puffing up.

"Wow!" Pinkie said. She nearly jumped up from her seat. So you've got no problem working with not True Earth Ponies!"

"Not at all," Clearstone replied. "Many of the infrastructures you'll find in the Delve is the result of Clan Quartz workers, and these are things all ponies in the Delve benefit from."

A slight chuckle to her side brought Pinkie's attention back to her friends. Beside her, Sablesteel and Nightcanter sipped stoically on a thick stew of Deep Moss, mushrooms, and grotto grubs. Pinkie Pie was suspicious at first that the True Earth Ponies were insulting her friends by serving them bugs, but Copper Mane also dined on the same stew, along with other True Earth Ponies. The nearly spherical, wormy things stood out against the dark greens and browns of the moss and mushrooms with their glistening, white bodies. They looked kind of gross and slimy, but Pinkie had to admit that a nice, savory smell wafted from that stew, definitely more appetizing that chunks of Quartz. Sablesteel picked one out with a fork in a surprisingly dainty move, and popped it into her mouth with a crunch.

"How fortunate!" Nighcanter said with a big smile. Pinkie also didn't like that one. It dripped with playful sarcasm. "You've hit the motherlode already, Pinkie. Obviously, this is the clan to stay with."

"Yes," Clearstone added. He rested his forelegs on the table, resting his chin behind them. His icy gaze shifted to Nightcanter for a moment, before locking on to Pinkie again. "Miss Pie, I shall be blunt and direct, and you'll find that I am the only one among the clan leaders who will do this for you. We want you to make clear your support for Clan Quartz, both to the other clans and to the rest of Equestria."

"What?" Pinkie asked, her eyebrow raised high.

"The honesty is appreciated," Nightcanter said, but we'd appreciate it more if you laid out what you can do for Pinkie first." She tilted her head slightly. "Or ask what she's actually here for to begin with."

"She is here to absorb the knowledge of the True Earth Ponies," Clearstone replied, "so she can hone her incredible potential. Clan Quartz can provide all the training necessary. I know you are inclined to underestimate us, but I assure you, Clan Quartz's channeling techniques fall second to none. We have always suffered from a lack of natural talent, but that has only spurred us to rely on technique."

"Actually..." Pinkie said. "Uh..."

"Elder Clearstone, Pinkie Pie is also here on other matters," Copper Mane said. He looked to Pinkie. "If you can tell us those, Pinkie, we might be able to comply. Of course, we've already made clear what we want."

"Of course!" Pinkie said as she fumbled with her saddlebags. She had brought along several books from the Hidden Archives, something that really upset the legionnaires still combing through them. "I was trying to get to that. I wanted to talk to you guys about Magma Dart, and the Oathstone...and Wind Glance the Assassin...and Rock Maven..."

In her rush, Pinkie jostled through the rest of her saddlebag's contents until Blue Moon's gem caugh her eye. "Oh, that's right! I'm supposd to return this to you guys!"

Pinkie willed the gem's activation on instinct. It was only when the flash of blue light temporarily filled her vision did it occur to her that this may not be the right move. A quick side glance to the shocked looks on Nightcanter and Sablesteel's faces only added to her worry.

Too late, though. A massive, stone sword sprang into being, seemingly unsheathing itself from thin air so that its hilt quickly slid towards Pinkie. She grabbed it with her mouth, more to keep it from smashing into her snout than any sort of swordfighting technique. The stone blade, aglow with ley energy all of a sudden, slammed into the floor, leaving large cracks where it struck.

"Pinkie, what have you done?" Copper Mane said, aghast.

"The Anathema's Blade!" Clearstone gasped.

"Oh, that's what you call it?" Pinkie asked, her words partly muffled by having to grip the blade. She lifted the thing to keep it from adding more pressure to the floor, then flipped it with a casual toss so the blade pointed up.

For a moment, Clearstone's eyes looked ready to erupt from their sockets, but he wrangled his face into submission eventually. "I will assume that you meant no insult in bringing that weapon to us, Miss Pie," he said. "I will go out of my way to even assume that you thought it would please us to recover an artifact that had been lost to the True Earth Ponies for centuries."

"The True Earth Ponies never lost that sword," Sablesteel said. She had returned to eating her stew after the initial shock. "Frenzy Heart never stopped using it to drag the rest of you out of your hole."

"Miss Sablesteel, the Anathema murdered thirty True Earth Ponies, including twelve strong channelers and a Clan Basalt Elder," Clearstone said.

"Thirty-six," Sablesteel retorted. "And they were trying to force him into cutting off his connection."

"You talk as if you were there," Clearstone replied. "But, enough, I have no intention of discussing the Anathema with a pegasus. Miss Pie has brought the sword back to the True Earth Ponies where it does indeed belong. Please explain why you offer it up now."

"Well, duh," Pinkie said with a shrug. "Didn't you just say this sword belongs to the True Earth Ponies? Of course it should be returned."

"But you will want something in return," Clearstone said, his eyes narrow.

"Oh, come on!" Pinkie snorted as she let the sword down. The loud bang on impact made her jump, but she kept the indignant face up. "Can't I just give it back because it's the right thing to do? I just want to help!"

For a moment, everypony was silent. Pinkie let out a sigh at last. Doing something nice for these ponies seemed so hard.

"I apologize if my doubts offended you," Clearstone said. "Thank you for returning the artifact, Miss Pie."

"Elder, Clan Basalt will demand that the blade be given to them," Copper Mane chimed in.

"And they shall have it," Clearstone replied, again with a sly smile. "Magma Dart was its creator after all."

"Oh! Oh!" Pinkie waved a foreleg. "Speaking of things Magma Dart made, I was hoping I could see the Oathstone!"

More silence. The smile disappeared from Clearstone's face, replaced by a suspicious, tight-lipped frown. "That is a very serious and extremely difficult request to grant, Miss Pie," he said. "Even most True Earth Ponies are not allowed in the Oathstone's presence. Allowing you to see the Oathstone is beyond my power. It requires a majority of the clan leaders in agreement."

"But you'll vouch for me, right?" Pinkie asked with a smile. "So that's one?" She leaned in eagerly towards Clearstone, who looked taken aback.

"You have done my clan a favor already, Miss Pie," Clearstone said. "And the sword is a strong gesture. Try to understand though, that you are asking for great things too quickly. Stay here with us longer, hone your power and connection to the True Earth Ponies, and our clan will agree to let you come before the Oathstone."

Pinkie deflated a bit at this. She was hoping for a stronger start.

They returned to their meal shortly after, once several True Earth Ponies carried away the blade. "Has Copper Mane been teaching you about the Oathstone?" Clearstone asked Pinkie. “That seems an odd topic to bring up with a novice."

"Elder, I've never mentioned it to her even once," Copper Mane replied.

"Oh no," Pinkie replied in between crunching up some quartz shards. "I found out about it from some books. Lexarius wrote about it himself."

"Then your knowledge is flawed," Clearstone remarked. "Since it came from Lexarius the Outsider."

"Hey!" Pinkie replied with a snap. "Lexarius did a lot of good things for ponykind! He helped Rock Maven's rebellion fight the Old Kingdom, he helped found Equestria, and a bunch of other stuff!" She crossed her forelegs. "Besides, he stuck around for hundreds of years. It's not fair to still call him 'outsider' after all that."

"Then tell us, Miss Pie, what Lexarius said of the Oathstone," Clearstone said.

"Well, he— ow! Why'd you poke me, Sable?"

"Perhaps at a later time, Elder," Nightcanter chimed in with a smile. "Pinkie Pie will end up telling the same thing over and over if she takes it to one clan leader at a time. For now, Pinkie wants to see the Oathstone and, obviously, she has no intention to harm or disrespect it."

"I see..." Clearstone turned his gaze on Nightcanter and Sablesteel, observing them intently as he finished his meal. Pinkie found herself doing the same. She polished off her quartz quickly, then looked on longingly while her friends got to eat the more interesting food.

When they were done, the True Earth Ponies escorted them to some rooms within the clan leader's large burrow, as True Earth Pony homes were called. No big houses within caverns here, Deepstone Quarter was one big collection of caverns and burrows with a few large tunnels that acted like highways.

"Please keep within our guest room for now," Clearstone said from the doorway while Pinkie and the others settled in. "Once you are rested, we can begin."

It was only when the door closed did Pinkie finally relax. Her legs were ready to give way, and she hadn't been exerting herself. It was just that she felt stretched taut all throughout that dinner.

"That was an odd welcoming meal," Copper Mane said. "Too many incidents to my liking." He smiled though as he picked a bed. "I'm glad you are staying with my clan, Pinkie Pie."

Pinkie found herself flat on her belly by the center of the room. "I'm still hungry," she groaned.

Copper Mane raised an eyebrow. "Then you should have said something!" he said. "Our clan has plenty of food to spare."

"I don't want more quartz," Pinkie grumbled. "Ooh...I could use some dessert. A nice slice of cake...ice cream...chocolate..." She looked to Copper Mane, who looked away with his nose up.

"Such sugary fluff are unicorn inventions," he said with a huff. "Earth pony food is nourishing, filling, and healthy. We do not indulge in chocolate treats."

"Quiet," Sablesteel groused. She had not wasted any time laying out the large box she carried with her. It separated into three small shelves, all containing a variety of vials, test tubes, beakers, and even a small burner. She glanced at Pinkie. "Spend your time productively, Pinkie Pie. Get some rest, work on your channeling, perhaps plan ahead."

"I can't..." Pinkie muttered. "I need something sweet and tasty." She trembled and reached out with a hoof, as if she was dying of thirst in the middle of a desert.

A small, paper bag suddenly struck her face.

Pinkie was about to yell something, but she heard the very familiar crinkling of small, crumbly pieces of bread within packaging. She went through the bag quickly, her lips splitting into a grin at the sight of pastries. "Cookies!" she exclaimed. A couple disappeared into her mouth before she looked for the source. The bag had been thrown from Sablesteel's direction.

"For exactly this sort of emergency," Sablesteel said without looking. She was, at this point, surrounded by sharpened metal. Several pieces of cloth lay around her, serving as mats for dozens of small knives and darts, as well as multiple glass cartridges filled with liquids of various, ominous colors.

"Where did you get those?" Copper Mane asked. "Certainly not our kitchens."

"Back in the Upper Delve Markets," Sablesteel replied. "There was a filly; a fat, slovenly thing. It was the last thing she needed, so I took it."

Nightcanter leaned closer at this. "So you took a bag of cookies from a filly?" she asked with a bemused smile.

Sablesteel's eyes narrowed. "For her own good," she replied with a steely tone. She looked to Pinkie, who had hesitated only briefly upon hearing the origins of her treats, but dug in anyway. "You did not tell me you were carrying Frenzy Heart's sword."

"Don't take it personally, Sablesteel," Nightcanter chimed in. She was trying out the beds, clearly perturbed that they were essentially just thin rugs over elevated platforms of more rock. She tentatively felt around the pillows, likely to check if they were stuffed with rocks, before looking at Pinkie. "She didn't tell me either."

Pinkie threw up her forelegs. "I'm sorry!" she said. "I guess telling you two just slipped out of my mind." She peeked past her forelegs. "You're not mad, are you?"

"Oh, of course I'm not," Nightcanter said with a smile. She tilted her head slightly upon looking at Pinkie, then looked over to Sablesteel. "Same with you, Sablesteel?"

Sablesteel had move on to fiddling with her foreleg devices. A sharp, wicked looking blade popped out with an ominous "snikt!" which she began cleaning. "Yes," she said absentmindedly. At that, Pinkie lowered her forelegs with a sigh of relief.

"I wish you did tell us, though, Pinkie," Nightcanter continued. "That sword was a card you should have played later."

It was Pinkie's turn to tilt her head. "How can a sword be a card?" she asked. "You can't shuffle a bunch of swords or make a house out of them."

"I mean that you should have kept it to yourself until later," Nightcanter said with a sigh. "When you could have asked them for something in return."

Pinkie scrunched her lips together for a while. "That's just wrong. It was theirs to begin with, right?"

"It was the Anathema's," Copper Mane said. "Technically, it belongs to Clan Basalt as it was created by Magma Dart, but Magma Dart created both the blade and the Oathstone to serve all True Earth Ponies. Clan Quartz has just as much right to it." Copper Mane's eyes narrowed. "Speaking of which, what do you intend to do if you see the Oathstone, Pinkie Pie?"

"Well..." Pinkie hesitated, then glanced at Sablesteel, then Nightcanter. "Promise you won't tell the others?" she asked.

"I—" Copper Mane fell silent, his face furrowing in an obvious inner struggle. "I promise," he finally said.

"That's a Pinkie promise!" Pinkie warned. She looked around. It may be stone walls all around with just her eyes, but the flow of ley energy around her told more. Everything was nice and quiet, like a bubbly, undisturbed stream on a nice summer day. Nopony was spying. She concentrated extra hard, just in case those Clan Sandstone ponies were up to something, but all she managed was to hurt her eye muscles in the straining. She blinked a few times then glanced at Sablesteel. Sable should be able to notice those so she relaxed. "If you break it, bad things will happen!" she added.

Copper Mane was about to reply when the "snikt" of Sablesteel retracting her foreleg blade cut him off. He merely nodded instead. Sablesteel went on to clean the needle portion of her gear. Whether that timing was coincidental or not was hard to tell.

"Lexarius said that Magma Dart created the Oathstone after Wind Glance the Assassin killed Rock Maven," Pinkie said.

"That is true," Copper Mane said. "Wind Glance the Assassin and Rock Maven fought together during the final battles against the Old Kingdom. She was his trusted friend and considered by all of the clans as an honorary earth pony. When she got him alone and inattentive, however, she killed him with a poisoned knife, the perfect proof that pegasi can never be trusted. Magma Dart built the Oathstone over Rock Maven's tomb as a symbol of True Earth Pony resolve. We will never be tricked again."

"But don't you find it a bit suspicious?" Pinkie asked, her scowling face a few inches from Copper Mane's. "Lexarius was best friends with Rock Maven, but the earth ponies refused to let him visit! Nopony got to see Rock Maven after Wind Glance the Assassin killed him!"

"Rock Maven spent his last days constantly extending himself for ungrateful unicorns and pegasi, leading the way in transforming his beloved home into a roost for strangers," Copper Mane replied. "Magma Dart made sure that his body, at least, could be at peace. He knew that Lexarius the Stranger and the other unicorns would have loved to experiment on his remains to discover the source of his power."

Sablesteel snorted. "So he was murdered and none of you saw the body," she said. "You just accepted that he was killed by a mare who was killed as well without any proof."

"First of all, the presence of Rock Maven across the ley lines was immeasurable!" Copper Mane said indignantly. "Nopony needed to see him fall to know that horror that happened. They all felt it, like a great sinkhole that shook all of Equestria's ley energy landscape. Second, Magma Dart was Rock Maven's most trusted apprentice; trusted to carry on leadership of the earth ponies should Rock Maven step down or die. His word on those events is enough."

"Well, it's not enough for me," Pinkie Pie said, her forelegs crossed. "Lexarius said that Rock Maven and Wind Glance were very good friends. Even if Magma Dart thought that Rock Maven should be left alone, he shouldn't have just blocked off that place. I don't trust that Oathstone."

Copper Mane raised his forelegs in a placating gesture. "Have a care, Pinkie!" he said worriedly while looking around. "You have no clue how important Magma Dart is to us! Without him, the clans would have completely splintered apart after Rock Maven's murder."

"I agree with Copper Mane on this one," Nightcanter added. "At least when it comes to not going around telling the True Earth Ponies that you don't trust Magma Dart."

"If you don't trust the words of Magma Dart, Pinkie Pie, what do you expect to find past the Oathstone? And how will that help the True Earth Ponies?" Sablesteel asked.

"I'm not sure," Pinkie mumbled. She popped the last cookie in her mouth, and chewed slowly. "I guess something to loosen Magma Dart's hold." She looked to Copper Mane. "Do you really like doing everything Magma Dart's way?"

Silence. A long, oddly reassuring silence. Pinkie expected a quick, vehement yes from Copper Mane. That he thought about it first meant a different answer. She was glad to wait the silence out until he was ready.

Copper Mane sighed. "Now you must promise in turn, Pinkie Pie," he said. When Pinkie nodded, he went on. "No, I don't like everything about our old traditions," he said all but whispered. "I don't like how Magma Dart said that earth ponies who don't follow our ways should be abandoned. I don't like that he was supposed to lead all of us True Earth Ponies, but left nearly all the leadership for Clan Basalt, and solidified their place of power by keeping the rituals for severing a clan secret."

Pinkie brightened at this. "Then you get it, right?" she asked eagerly. "We can find a better way than what Magma Dart's been doing. You've already been trying!"

"We're not on the same page, Pinke Pie," Copper Mane said. "I want small reforms. You sound like you want to overturn everything." His eyes narrowed. "But, after today's meal..."

Pinkie held back, puzzled. Sablesteel, on the other hoof, suddenly focused on Copper Mane. Likewise, Nightcanter.

"What is it?" Sablesteel asked.

"I didn't expect Elder Clearstone to be so aggressive in gaining your help," Copper Mane said. "Some things may have happened while I was away. The way he reacted to Anathema's sword is strange too. I thought he'd immediately return it to Clan Basalt, but he seems perfectly fine in courting their anger by holding on to it."

"Is that bad?" Pinkie asked. More and more, she was regretting ever pulling that sword out without thinking.

"Clan Basalt was the most powerful of the True Earth Pony clans during my time," Sablesteel said.

"They still are last I checked with the Delve Guard," Nightcanter added. "The True Earth Ponies don't do anything without some of Clan Basalt's approval."

"That's right," Copper Mane said. "Though, I think it shouldn't be right. Every clan should be at an equal footing." He looked to Pinkie. "They will find out that you gave the blade to us," he said. "I'm afraid you've already made an enemy of Clan Basalt."

Nightcanter's lingering smile turned into a frown. "Copper Mane," she said softly. "Did we just get your clan to start a war with Basalt?"

Copper Mane's eyes widened. "What? No! We wouldn't dare! Magma Flow alone can bring down half the Quarter on our heads if forced to!" His his breathing quickened, his eyes darting about as if he was already seeing the destruction. "An open fight among True Earth Pony clans would devastate Deepstone Quarter and expose us to being wiped out by opportunistic unicorns and pegasi. It's unthinkable!"

"It sure is," Nightcanter scoffed. "The Delve's unicorns aren't lying in wait as a whole for you True Earth Ponies to fail, Copper Mane, the houses can barely agree where to hold meetings." Her eyes remained focused and worried, however. "Getting caught in a clan war is no laughing matter, though...how desperate is Quartz to pull of this stunt?"

"Not at all!" Copper Mane snapped. "We're secure in numbers, strength, and resources!"

"But your leader's fine with you wandering off to the Heartland to get some converts," Nightcanter said with a mild smirk.

"Nonsense! I had been proposing similar trips for a long time! It's because I was per—!" Copper Mane stopped himself, his hoof instinctively touching his lips. "The timing is unusually perfect."

"Not really in the loop with your clan, are you?" Nightcanter asked.

"Hush!" Sablesteel snapped. She had rolled up her gear and replaced them in her suit.

Odd...Pinkie expected her to take off the rest of her gear to get some rest. "What's wro—?"

And then Pinkie found out just what was wrong. The sudden shift in the area's ley energy crashed into her so hard that she fell on her face. She wasn't even looking! She bounced back up, her ears perked and her heart racing. A loud boom erupted outside their room followed by alarmed yells.

The ley lines were going crazy. They shifted and swirled around Pinkie's legs before flowing out of the room, like water being sucked out. Her legs tingled and ached. This wasn't right. Nothing at all like the flow of power she saw when she faced Smart Cookie. Somepony was channeling, but in a way that was painful to everything.

Another boom. That was it, she had to see, especially when the waning flow of ley energy within the room seeped out accompanied by odd, dark wisps. "Come on!" Pinkie yelled. She opened the door, immediately recoiling at the wave of heat that smacked her in the face. The end of the hall connecting her room with the main hall glowed an ominous orange that suppressd the soft blue of the glow mushrooms.

After a moment to collect herself and to see if the others were behind her, Pinke galloped towards the commotion.

Pinkie Pie 4: The True Earth Pony Clans

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 4: The True Earth Pony Clans

Even though the Clan Quartz burrows were still unfamiliar territory for Pinkie, she needed no guidance to reach the source of the commotion. The ley lines pulsed painfully raw, like the nerves of a frightened creature. She winced just sensing it with her periphery. This wasn’t right. She still considered herself a student in the use of ley energy, but she could tell by instinct that this was not how anypony should do it. She galloped past several true earth ponies also rushing to see what was happening while her friends followed her.

“Pinkie Pie,” Sablesteel said. She had taken to flying low and next to Pinkie. “What’s going over there? Are we under attack?”

“I don’t know!” Pinkie replied. “But we have to stop this anyway!”

They burst through the half opened doors that led to Clan Quartz’s reception chamber. Immediately, a wave of heat crashed into Pinkie’s face so intensely, she closed her eyes and looked away, afraid that her eyes would start boiling. Stumbled a few steps back, but Sablesteel’s hoof held her steady.

“This must be the Element of Joy,” somepony said in a rasping, soft voice, like that of an old mare. Pinkie managed to open her eyes through force of will, only to behold a reception chamber bathed in lurid, red-orange light. A pool of lava now dominated the chamber, raising the temperature to near-unbearable, and separating the ponies in the chamber to two distinct side. Pinkie stood with Elder Clearstone and a few masked channellers. At the opposite side stood the source of the sudden trauma to the ley lines.

This must be Elder Magma Flow, clan leader of Clan Basalt. The use of magma alone was a dead giveaway. She was nearly hairless, no mane at all, and with wrinkled, gray-brown skin showing off only a few, random tufts of red hair here and there. Her face and neck were tattooed in mottled, swirling brown and green patterns. It was her eyes, though. Enormous eyes, enough to put even an owl to shame, stared at Pinkie with pupils so wide that they appeared to suck the light into them. Pinkie swallowed a lump in her throat instinctively. She had heard some rumors here and there, and Copper Mane had mentioned the odd way that ponies from Clan Basalt looked. To actually see it up close though...it was like staring at some alien creature from the depths of the earth, an image of a pony that some creature thought up after only getting a vague description.

To further Pinkie’s discomfiture, Magma Flow stared back, those enormous eyes agleam with cunning. Under that stare, Pinkie felt more like a prize than a pony. Like Clearstone, she was flanked by masked channellers.

“You overstep your authority, Magma Flow,” Clearstone said. Ley energy swirled around his hooves. Reassuringly, his channeling seemed the normal sort. It was Magma Flow’s that had Pinkie worried. The ley lines around her gave off the feeling of open wounds.

“You overstepped first, Clearstone,” Magma Flow replied. “You dared to accept the gift of the Slaughtering Blade, a gift that the Element of Joy obviously intended to give to Clan Basalt. You tricked her, taking full advantage of her ignorance of True Earth Pony society and her first encounter being one of your channellers.” She glanced at Copper Mane, who flinched visibly. “He should have introduced her to me first, regardless of his clan. This has been noted.”

“The Blade’s return is Miss Pie’s gift to all true earth ponies,” Clearstone said. “Clan Quartz has as much right to house it as any other clan, including Basalt. And you will do nothing to Copper Mane.”

“The Blade was forged by my ancestor,” Magma Flow hissed. “Clan Basalt resources, Clan Basalt channeling, Clan Basalt craftsponyship. Your right to it is symbolic, and the only reason why we haven’t viewed this as outright theft , Clearstone. Our claim is material and bound by blood. Give us the Blade, it belongs with us.”

“Typical Basalt bullying,” Copper Mane muttered, his eyes on the floor.

“Hey, hold on!” Pinke called out. She stepped between Clearstone and Magma Flow. Beads of sweat ran down her face and neck, whether it was from the nervousness of having to deal with this tension or the really hot pool of molten rock in the room, she wasn’t sure. “I did give back that sword for the sake of all true earth ponies! There’s no need to fight over it!”

“Miss Pie, having relinquished the sword, you have no more say in the matter of its fate,” Magma Flow said.

“This is a matter between the clans now, Miss Pie,” Clearstone added.

“Is that so?” Pinkie asked. She walked over to the stone blade. “In that case, I’m taking this back! I wanted it to help relationships with the all of you, not make things worse!”

Nightcanter reached out to grab Pinkie by the shoulder. “Pinkie, that’s not—!”

Magma Flow raised a hoof, then brought it down with a heavy tap. Pinkie winced at the sudden lurch of ley energy. The magma pool in the room suddenly bubbled and heaved, splashing slightly towards her direction. On instinct, Pinkie waved a hoof as if to bat away the droplets of liquid rock that might be splashing her way. A flash of colors followed that motion, and not only did the droplets miss her, but a portion of the pool had reverted to harmless, ordinary rock, albeit rock lined with glowing veins.

“Impressive skill for one outside the clans,” Magma Flow said. “You would do well under Basalt tutelage, Miss Pie.”

“Your channeling is weird and wrong,” Pinkie replied, her lower lip sticking out. “I don’t want to learn that sort of stuff.”

Magma Flow’s thin lips slowly stretched into a smile, though one that looked more like a particularly large crease on really old parchment. For a moment, Pinkie was worried that her lips would cause the rest of her face to crack “You should not get ahead of yourself, Miss Pie. ‘My channeling’ is not so easily achieved. I was offering more along the lines of basic and intermediate training, the sort that our best channellers obtain.” She tapped the floor again, and the rock that Pinkie has converted from lava split into molten rock again.

“Very impressive,” Nightcanter chimed in, “but is this really your big recruiting strategy? Barge in here, show off, then expect Pinkie to be impressed enough to join?”

“No,” Magma Flow replied. “My task here is to claim the blade crafted by my ancestor. Seeing Miss Pie’s ability is an extra.” She reared up slightly and brought both front hooves to the ground. The entire chamber rumbled slightly, enough to make Pinkie wince again as power pulsed across the ley lines.”

“That is enough, Magma Flow!” Clearstone snapped. He stomped a hoof of his own, and a weaker pulse of ley energy steadied the rumbling. “Take the blade if you are this crazed about it.”

With another tap of her hoof, Magma Flow willed the pool of lava in the room to solidify completely, leaving not even a single crack. When she spoke again, her smile was gone, and her tone had taken a flat, if a bit imperious tone. “Tomorrow, we will convene a meeting of clan leaders to discuss the matter of the Element of Joy’s visit.” She flashed a quick, scathing glance at Sablesteel and Nightcanter. “She may bring her escorts if she insists.”

“Miss Pie has already decided to stay with Clan Quartz, Magma Flow,” Elder Clearstone said.

“We do not recognize this hasty decision,” Magma Flow replied. “It’s only fair that she should meet with every clan before deciding such things. If she had done so at the start, she would not have given you that blade. Clearstone, your tricks will not go unnoticed.” She turned towards Pinkie. “Miss Pie, you will be asked to speak before the clan leaders to explain the purpose of your visit.”

Pinkie swallowed a lump in her throat. Tomorrow? She had an idea of what she wanted to do, but knowing it and trying to explain it to a bunch of ponies were very different things.

With that, Magma Flow grasped the sword, causing glowing veins to appear across its stone blade. She hefted it across her shoulders with ease, before turning around and walking away. Her escorts followed suit.

“As unpleasantly arrogant as any coatl,” Sablesteel hissed softly.

“Please forgive this incident, Miss Pie,” Clearstone said. The other true earth ponies in the room channeled ley energies to repair the chamber. “Magma Flow has always been imperious, but she has been getting worse with age. She sometimes forgets that this is a union of clans, not Basalt’s little empire. Please return to your room, we will deal with this convention in the morning. Stay with them, Copper Mane.”

“Reminds me of the House Song matriarch,” Nightcanter said with a chuckle. “So used to being obeyed that she can’t be bothered to be subtle. What do you think, Pinkie? Want her to be your mentor?”

“Hold on—“ Copper Mane started, but Nightcanter put a hoof to his lips.

“No,” Pinkie said with a pout. At this, Copper Mane shoved Nightcanter’s hoof aside, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Don’t be so hasty,” Sablesteel said softly as they made their way back. “You are here to become more powerful, and that was a display of power.”

“What? Are you saying that I should learn under that...that, wrinkly hot-head?” Pinkie snapped. “No way! So she can make lava come out, big deal.”

“It is,” Sablesteel replied. “I’ve fought more than my share of true earth pony channellers, Pinkie Pie, including several elders. I’ve known Frenzy Heart, who was one of the most powerful of them all. Even he would admit that we’ve seen something powerful.”

“Frenzy Heart? You knew the Anathema?” Copper Mane asked incredulously. “That would make you hundreds of years old!”

“Something to that effect,” Sablesteel muttered.

Nightcanter put a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Well, you don’t have to grovel under that nag, if you don’t want to,” she said. “Any technique worth learning is worth stealing, correct?”

“It wasn’t just how strong she was,” Pinkie said softly. She had to admit, she had no clue how to even get ley energy to behave so that she could make lava. Not even the slightest instinctual clue. Still... “There’s something wrong with how she uses channelling.”

“All the more to investigate,” Sablesteel said as they reached their room. “And learn. We will meet all of them tomorrow, it would be better if you, at least, pretended to be interested in all their offers to keep options open.”

Pinkie plopped down on the rock hard bed, eyes focused on the ceiling for a while. She didn’t want to think about what to say tomorrow.

This bed was not much different from her old bed back in the rock farm, really. She looked to the others. Nightcanter and Copper Mane had gone over to their beds, while Sablesteel sat by one corner, eyes alert.

“Aren’t you going to get some sleep, Sable?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m fine,” Sablesteel said. “Hurry up and sleep, Pinkie Pie. And don’t call me Sable.”

“If you need something warm and soft to get your sleep, I can scoot over,” Nightcanter added. She patted the side of her bed for emphasis. Pinkie opened her mouth to protest, but decided to observe Sablesteel instead. For her part, Sablesteel merely gave a brief glare before focusing elsewhere.

“You are safe in Clan Quartz’s burrows,” Copper Mane said, frowning. “A watch is not necessary.”

“Says the Clan Quartz channeller. Don’t take it personally, Copper Mane, I’d set up perimeter alarms and a watch while sleeping in the Royal Palace.”

“By the way, Pinkie, have you carefully thought about what you will say tomorrow?” Nightcanter asked. She was all smiles as she said that, her head resting on her right hoof as she looked at Pinkie. “This is rather important. I hope you’re not just going to blurt out your theories on Magma Dart before them. Poor Sablesteel here might have to gas the whole room if you do.”

“Hey, even I know that!” Pinkie snapped. “I’m not stupid, you know!”

“Of course not,” Nightcanter replied.”Just be the curious and eager student for now, Pinkie, we’ll slip that Magma Dart business later, like a blade through some ribs.” She turned around and rested her head on a pillow without another word.

With that, Pinkie focused on getting some sleep, lest Sablesteel started scolding both of them.

The Great Deepstone Quarter Meeting Hall, nestled at the very center of the quarter, where tunnels from every clan’s burrow converged. Each tunnel from a clan’s burrow led to the section where its members were to be seated. A stone podium stood at the head of the assembled seats close to the center of the circular chamber. When Pinkie and her group arrived with Clan Quartz, Elder Clearstone took that spot while she and her escorts took the seats directly behind it. He was dressed more formally this time. A stone mask covered his face, a large, diamond-shaped chunk of quartz at the center of where the eyes should be. Behind them, Clan Quartz ponies armed with spears and heavy crossbows guarded the entrance.

Another clan had arrived before them, much to Pinkie’s surprise. Sable had woken her up really early. At least, it felt really early. It was hard to tell underground, but she definitely still felt very sleepy so it had to be. She was sure they had arrived too early and would be sitting by themselves for an hour or two. She already knew what to expect from each clan’s appearance, including the names of their leaders. Copper Mane talked a lot about them back in the airship.

The clan already inside must be Clan Corundum. Pinkie recognized Chisel Sharp sitting behind the podium along with several masked channellers. At the podium stood a mare that must be their clan leader, Elder Ruby Red. Like all of them, she wore a type of barding made up of stone plates strapped on to her with chains. Pinkie remembered her troubles with barding back in Bastion City, and that was just with metal. How these ponies bore stone and metal while still standing was a wonder. She did notice, though, the very faint glowing veins along the insides of those plates when they turned just right. Ruby Red’s pinkish white mask was a solid chunk of corundum with a circular ruby for a left eye, and a blue sapphire of the same size and shape for a right. As with Clan Quartz, armed and heavily armored ponies guarded Clan Corundum’s entrance.

Clan Cypress came next, led by Elder Stout Limb. He was a large stallion, the largest in the whole chamber so far. His mask was wooden, with twigs sprouting from its sides that somehow had new leaves growing from them. His thick, white beard flowed out from beneath the mask, reaching down to his chest like old roots. Instead of armor, he wore a green cloak, designed to resemble large leaves sewn together. A remarkably detailed one too. Pinkie squinted at it for a while, surprised to find individual veins and discolorations on the leaf patterns. While they also had crossbows, Cypress guards also had large axes, the hallmark of being the lone lumber clan among the True Earth Ponies.

Clan Sandstone scurried in, moving so swiftly and innocuously that Pinkie nearly missed them. They were a small lot. It almost looked like a class of older colts and fillies had come filing in to observe. No armor for them as well. They were dressed in drab greys and browns, designed to blend in with the cave walls as best they could. Their leader, Elder Sand Scour, had on a mask of brown sandstone, featureless and smooth like an egg. He had with him what looked like a large box, which he stood on to level himself with his podium. Pinkie had to suppress a snicker. She didn’t mean to be mean, and she certainly didn’t want to start off on the wrong hoof.

Then came Clan Gneiss, in the opposite manner as Sandstone. A pair of ponies first appeared by the entrance to their tunnel armed, not with spears or axes, but with trumpets. They blasted the chamber with an obnoxiously grandiose series of notes just as Elder Sparkle Sheen pranced in. Her stone mask was gilded with gold around the edges, and studded with various gems, particularly diamonds and emeralds, so that there was little room for smooth surface. Its chin was attached to a fine, platinum chain that linked to an enormous golden collar around Sparkle Sheen’s neck. The collar itself was gaudy with gem work. Sparkle Sheen placed her hooves on the podium with deliberately exaggerated slowness, showing off a pair of gold fetlock bands.

And the last to arrive, likely on purpose, was Clan Basalt.

Magma Flow walked in with a regal mien, as if she was a princess about to address her realm. Her mask was dark grey basalt with lurid streaks of rust red like bloody tears. In contrast to the dark mask, she wore a long cloak of brightly coloured feathers. Normally, Pinkie would have adored such a whimsical, riotous explosion of colors, especially in this gloomy, serious cave full of very serious ponies. But she had already heard of pegasus pinion cloaks, and how they were meant to show off how many pegasi the clan had killed. For a cloak to be so luxurious...Pinkie didn’t even want to imagine it. While her back bristled with the morbid trophies of dead pegasi, Magma Flow’s neck and chest were wrapped in strips of cloth and chain, creating a harness festooned with colorful horns. Though she had the outward appearance of being the most whimsically dressed of the clan leaders, Magma Flow remained a bastion of oppressive intimidation.

Behind Magma Flow, Clan Basalt channellers filled the seats and guarded the entryway. They were all clad in dark gray robes bright red veins that resembled cracks. It was as if a thin sheet of rock was the only thing holding back a torrent of magma they hid inside themselves. Their masks were also dark gray, but without the rust red streaks. Pinkie didn’t see any ordinary true earth ponies like she did with the other clans. She leaned over to Copper Mane and whispered. “Is Basalt all channellers? Is that why they’re in charge?”

Copper Mane first glanced at Clearstone before whispering back. “From what I’ve been told, they’ve always been able to produce many talented channellers, but this is the first time in our history that they have been able to fill their chamber seats entirely with them. I suppose the blood of Magma Dart is not only strong, but resurgent. They do have non-channellers, but this is clearly for show.”

Before Pinkie could say anything else, the sharp rap of a gavel meeting its sound board called attention to Magma Flow. “Everypony is here,” she said. “The True Earth Pony Clan Leaders convene today to discuss and decide on the matter of the Element of Joy’s arrival.” She shot a look at Pinkie. “Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie came here after speaking with one of Quartz’s ‘missionaries’, a commendable result of what we first viewed as a waste of time.” At this, that red-stained mask turned slightly towards Copper Mane, who turned his eyes to the ground, visibly shaken. “Basalt approves of this, and we would send more true earth pony missionaries if the Legion wasn’t so strict on the influx of our ponies into the Heartland.”

“All well and good, Basalt, but your clan tried to imitate that move with a large, heavily armed group, and they were massacred,” Stout Limb rumbled. “Maybe the boy was just lucky that he found Miss Pie, and the Heartland as a whole is filled with hatred for true earth ponies.”

Pinkie glanced nervously at Sablesteel, who remained seated with her forelegs crossed. At least she wasn’t wearing her gear.

“Basalt sent troops and an elder to take you in when they intercepted Copper Mane’s message to his clan,” Sablesteel had explained back in the airship when Pinkie brought it up. It seemed like something to know before meeting the True Earth Ponies. “They were instructed to use any means necessary to get you. The mistress ordered me to take care of them.”

That was a bit of information best not brought up.

“The loss has been noted,” Magma Flow replied. She glanced briefly at Clearstone, who held her gaze without a flinch. “As has Quartz’s attempt to bring Miss Pie to their side before the other clans could have a say. What is important, however, is that she is actually here and now in the presence of all clans. Miss Pie, we are aware that you must have come here for a purpose. The True Earth Ponies will hear you as a whole.”

Pinkie took that as a sign to stand up. When Magma Flow gestured to the center of the meeting chamber, she trotted over tentatively, passing a nervous glance towards her “escorts”. Nightcanter replied with a smile and a little wave for support. Sable offered a curt nod that Pinkie took as approval. Copper Mane had on a worried look that didn’t quite help her confidence.

“Um...hi!” Pinkie began when she took the central floor. She did a little spin to show her face and her best smile to each clan leader. Their stone masks and lack of movement was all the reply that got her. “My name’s Pinkie, and—“

“What are those marks on your rump?” Stout Limb asked. “Are those slave brands? Were you a slave in the Heartland?”

“My—“ Pinkie turned around just to check. “Oh, those are my cutie marks. No, they’re not slave brands! I was a baker in the Heartland, not a slave!”

“All the ponies from the Heartland carry that mark, Cypress,” Ruby Red said. “Not just the earth ponies.”

“I see,” Stout Limb said, his forelegs crossing.

“I can see a growing fashion trend starting from them,” Sparkle Sheen remarked. The chain on her mask jingled as she tapped her chin. “We’ll make a killing with our tattoo artists.”

“Let Miss Pie finish,” Magma Flow said with a quick rap of her gavel.

“Um, right,” Pinkie went on. “Like I said, my name’s Pinkie, and I’m not a slave. I’ve been learning about ley channeling ever since I found out about it from one of your travelling elders. It’s been really useful, especially when I was fighting that mean old alicorn, and then those ghosts in the abyss...”

Though the clan leaders all wore masks to hide their expressions, the weight of their incredulous stares pressed down at Pinkie from all sides.

“Anyway,” Pinkie continued as formally as she could manage, “as Element of Joy, I need to master as many skills I can to help me and my friends fight the abyss. That’s why I’m here, to learn from the True Earth Ponies.” She straightened her back and stood as confidently as possible as she looked at her audience. She wasn’t really lying, but it still felt weird to hide what she wanted to do.

“The True Earth Ponies remain citizens of Equestria,” Magma Flow said. “We know already of the Elements of Harmony and their purpose in fighting the enemies of Equestria. If our tradition of ley channeling can help one of them, we are obligated to lend our strength.”

Pinkie’s smile widened a bit. That sounded good, especially coming from that cranky Magma Flow. How the True Earth Ponies knew about the Elements of Harmony continued to be disconcerting, but she supposed it made things go a little bit smoother.

“I have seen for myself a measure of what you can do with your brief foray into ley channeling,” Magma Flow went on. “And, certainly, each of the clan leaders in this room can sense your potential. We are also pleased that you have returned the blade stolen by the Anathema to us. For all of this Clan Basalt shall take you in for your continued education, under my personal tutelage.”

“You are presuming too much, Basalt!” Clearstone exclaimed. “Miss Pie has already said that she will learn within our clan.”

“Um...yeah...” Pinkie replied, this time with a bit more restraint, as Magma Flow wasn’t flinging magma around. “I did say something like that.”

“When did these dealings take place?” Stout Limb asked. “I did not take you for the conniver, Quartz.”

“I’m impressed,” Sparkle Sheen added, leaning forward from her podium. “But I do not agree that the Element of Joy’s education be left to the sheer luck of finding her first. No offense, Quartz, I have nothing against your clan’s techniques.”

“How about a vote, then?” Sand Scour finally spoke up. The entire room fell silent after that. That mildly pleasant feeling Pinkie was getting earlier dissipated while the clan leaders focused on Basalt’s podium.

“Agreed,” Magma Flow swiftly replied with a sharp rap of her gavel. The council shall now vote on the clan to initiate Miss Pie into proper True Earth Pony ley channelling.”

“Clan Cypress votes for Clan Cypress,” Stout Limb groused unenthusiastically.

“Clan Gneiss votes for Clan Gneiss,” Sparkle Sheen chimed in.

“Clan Quartz votes for Clan Quartz,” Clearstone said.

Pinkie looked around her in bewilderment. Things weren’t going to go anywhere if—

“Clan Sandstone votes for Clan Basalt,” Sand Scour said.

So that was why the rest of the clans were so uneasy with the voting. Pinkie glanced back to Magma Flow. That dark stone mask merely hid that conniving smile. Even Pinkie could tell it was there. Obviously, all it would take was for Clan Basalt to vote for itself.

“Clan Corundum votes for Clan Quartz,” Ruby Red said.

Heads in the chamber swivelled so fast that Pinkie could have sworn she heard a whiplash.

“Corundum...” Magma Flow said. “Did you just misspeak? Or perhaps you forgot your clan’s name?”

“Clan Corundum votes for Clan Quartz,” Ruby Red said even louder. “Is that clear enough for you, Basalt?”

Silence again, with every mask now facing Magma Flow.

“Then, Clan Basalt votes for Clan Basalt,” Magma Flow said. “We have a tie. We hereby invoke the mandate passed down to Magma Dart by Rock Maven himself. In the event of a tie between the choice of the Unified True Earth Pony Clan leader and that of another, the leader’s choice shall prevail.”

“Hold,” Sparkle Sheen said. “You are skipping steps, Basalt. During such a deadlock, clan leaders are first allowed to re-evaluate their votes. Only when the tie remains does Magma Dart’s mandate take effect.”

“And who has re-evaluated their vote, Gneiss?” Magma Flow asked.

“We have. Clan Gneiss votes for Clan Quartz.” Sparkle Sheen looked to Clearstone as she said this.

“It’s settled then!” Clearstone called out. “Miss Pie remains both guest and student of Clan Quartz!”

The clan leaders murmured with the ponies on their side. Magma Flow remained as still as any statue, her mask turned towards Ruby Red. After a while, she spoke again. “Very well, we acknowledge that Miss Pie shall learn under Clan Quartz...for as long as she wishes to.”

“You are inventing provisions on the spot, Basalt,” Clearstone said.

“If Miss Pie were to decide to move on, Quartz, are you going to stop her?” Magma Flow asked.

“Certainly not,” Clearstone replied.

“Then it is as we have just said,” Magma Flow said. She looked over to Pinkie. “Do you wish to say anything else to the council?”

“Yeah!” Pinkie replied. “Uh...” she stopped when she noticed Nightcanter make a face out of the corner of her eye. “I mean...not at the moment.”

“We will adjourn this meeting then,” Magma Flow said. She rapped her gavel against its sounding block one more time before walking away. It was only when she had disappeared into Clan Basalt’s entryway did Pinkie breathe a sigh of relief.

“Quartz!” Sparkle Sheen called out while the rest of Clan Gneiss walked out. “A word with you.”

Ruby Red said nothing, but she and Chisel Sharp also stayed behind while Clan Corundum departed. Nightcanter, Sablesteel, and Copper Mane trotted over to Pinkie.

“I am so glad you decided to stay, Pinkie,” Copper Mane said. “You are a mare of honor.”

Nightcanter let out a brief snicker, but she patted Pinkie’s back with a hoof. “Surprisingly composed and restrained,” she remarked. “Not bad.”

“Don’t be so quick to celebrate,” Nightcanter said. “Clan Corundum just upset Clan Basalt’s typical way of winning. They will try more extreme methods.”

Both Ruby Red and Sparkle Sheen were approaching Clearstone when Pinkie looked up.

“Time to find out what our little help just cost,” Nightcanter said with a smile.

Pinkie Pie 5: Duplicities

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 5: Duplicities

“You’re slowing down, Miss Pie!” Clearstone called out. “Surely, the great hero of Equestria and the Element of Joy, can do better than this!”

Pinkie couldn’t be bothered to reply. The heavy, stone mask she had on would have just muffled her words anyway. Unless she channeled energy to let her voice pass the mask, just as she has to channel energy just to keep the mask on her face, to let her breath go through despite the lack of holes for her nose, and see as it had no eye holes either.

This was too much like the very brief time she was with the Northern Legion’s Infantry. She had thought that ley energy channeling training would be more mystical and stuff. Her little sessions with Copper Mane didn’t seem so dull now. Sure she had to sit through long spiels on True Earth Pony history before learning a little trick, but that was better than her current regimen.

For several days now, all Pinkie had been doing was running laps around Clan Quartz’s training chamber, their biggest cavern within Deepstone Quarter. For the first day, she had to wear a heavy mask that took channeling just to keep on. After she got used to it, she had a pair of stone bands for her front fetlocks. Then, another for her rear ones. Now, Clearstone fitted her with a heavy stone collar. All the while, she had to run, and run, and run, while her friends watched. She huffed, panted, and sweated through each day. At the end of which, she would be gasping for breath, wobbling on leaden legs, then stoically chewing on rocks and the occasional mushroom or grub stew. This wasn’t training, it was torture. Maybe it was a test before the actual training, just to see if she could be driven off by pain and monotony. They might be right.

Finally, the gruelling session came to an end. The stone mask slipped off Pinkie’s face instantly, landing with a very heavy thud on the floor. She stumbled a few times trying to step out of her fetlock bands and she merely ducked to let the collar slip off. She was just too tired to pick up after herself. Fortunately, these things were as tough as they were heavy.

“Another good day of progress, Miss Pie,” Clearstone said as he collected the heavy gear. Tomorrow, you might be ready for the final piece.”

“When am I going to learn some channeling tricks?” Pinkie asked between pants. “I’m not going to beat the abyss by running circles around it!”

“And you certainly can’t beat it if you can’t even run circles,” Clearstone replied. “In time, Miss Pie. You promised to trust in our regimen.”

“I thought it was going to be about throwing ley energy balls and stuff...” Pinkie muttered. Clearstone did not reply. Instead, he went ahead to return the gear. Pinkie wobbled on towards the meal chambers while Sablesteel and Nightcanter joined her.

“Where’s Copper Mane? Pinkie asked. “He’s usually here.”

“Clan business,” Sable replied.

“Aw...” Pinkie managed some energy to pout. Copper Mane has been around the first days of her training, enthusiastically encouraging her as she struggled with Clan Quartz’s regimen. Maybe it was just out of pride for his clan’s training methods or a genuine desire to support her endeavors.

“I’m sure he regrets missing out on your progress,” Nightcanter said. Suddenly, she bumped a foreleg against Sablesteel’s shoulder. For a second, Pinkie was worried that Sable would see that as an attack.

“You are losing enthusiasm, Pinkie,” Sablesteel said after a brief glare at Nightcanter. They sat in their own little group in the dining hall while several true earth ponies offered them the usual. Eating rocks was apparently important for ley energy channeling. Something absorbing the power of the earth directly. Not even all the explanations in the world could have helped Pinkie enjoy these bowls of rocks.

“I’m just no good at this daily training stuff,” Pinkie groused in between crunches. “I never was...rock farm, Infantry training, this...you name it.”

“This is a good clan to start with,” Sable said. “Quartz is ubiquitous, literally the grains of sand. It is used for common tools, but they are hard and strong. Their techniques focus on very strong basics.”

“I didn’t know you were following along, Sablesteel,” Nightcanter said.

Pinkie looked up. Sable and Nightcanter had to be at a distance while Clearstone explained his clan’s way. He spoke softly too, with his mouth covered.

“It’s important to always learn more about those around you,” Sable said softly. “You never know when you might need to kill every pony here.”

Pinkie looked around in alarm. None of the true earth ponies appeared to hear, however. “You don’t have to put it like that!” she hissed.

Sable merely popped another grub in her mouth. “The feeling is mutual with them,” she said. “You don’t think every true earth pony here has been thinking of plans on how to kill me or Nightcanter if we get unruly? They probably started as soon as we came here.”

“That would be failure, though,” Nightcanter said with a smile. “Surely, an agent of Princess Luna would not want that.”

“You get used to it,” Sablesteel muttered. “The failures and killing, I mean...”

Pinkie paused for a moment, both to rest her aching jaw and out of curiosity. “Really?” she asked. “I mean, not the killing of course. I just didn’t think you were the sort to fail over and over again.” She raised her front hooves defensively. “I mean the way you move and...”

“How do you think I started out as, Pinkie Pie?” Sable asked. She gave Pinkie an earnest look, free of that harshness that normally came with those stares. “Did you think I came out of my mother as an elite agent of Black Rose? On my first patrol in the Southern Legion, we were ambushed by an ophidite hunting squad. Half the patrol died in the initial assault. Half the survivors succumbed to venom during the retreat. I was carrying my captain to the nearest outpost when a blood thorn dragged him off.”

“Not bad,” Nightcanter said. “Brachyurus pounced on my spell firing line during my first wolven engagement. Gulped half the line up with one bite. The surviving group got separated from the rest of the attacking force during the retreat. We had to spend a week in some hole before relief came.” Nightcanter swirled the water in her glass briefly before drinking. “My marefriend at the time was mad with hunger. She tried to eat me and not in the fun way. “ She shrugged as she set the glass down. “Kind of funny looking back at it. Relief came just a few hours later after I put her down. She only had to hold on a little longer.”

Pinkie closed her eyes briefly, picturing herself in a swamp being chased down by enormous snakes with venomous bows, then being trapped in an icy cave with a crazy pony. She wouldn’t know how to deal with such things. Especially not on her own. Maybe with her friends...but these two were mostly alone. “How’d you two survive?” she asked.

“A natural hardiness, I guess,” Nightcanter replied with a shrug of her shoulders. “And the will to live. Some luck was likely also involved.”

“More than that,” Sablesteel said with a brief glare at Nightcanter. She turned her gaze back to Pinkie. “The training helped. Long hours of this boring, basic training that bothers you so, Pinkie Pie. I spent countless hours in the lonesome dark of the Blades’ sanctuary practicing and studying, then even more hours doing basic legionnaire training. I know you don’t like it. I didn’t either. No legionnaire and no blade ever did or ever will, but it will build in you the spine you’ll need in difficult times.”

“But I—!”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Sable added. “You’ve shown great strength, but your strength comes from your friends. That’s why you were fearless in the abyss, but worried about common street thugs in the Underbelly. I understand that you miss your friends. Without them, your strength isn’t there. That’s one purpose of this trip, isn’t it? Stick with these difficulties. You’ll be much better off for them.”

“Yeah,” Pinkie said with a grin. “I will. Thanks, Sable!”

Another nudge and a smug little smile from Nightcanter caused Sable to stand up. “Enough babbling,” she said. “Time for your rest. You take on their full gear tomorrow.”

Part of Pinkie deflated at the thought of adding even more weight, but she was still feeling bolstered by Sable’s words. With a hop, she made her way back to her room with her two escorts right behind her.

There was little in their shared room to add to Pinkie’s cheer. She had offered to add a few decorations to the very drab chamber, but Clearstone rebuffed her. The room is intentionally dull, he had said. A lack of distraction should help her focus inward, and strengthen her connection to the ley lines. He didn’t look too convinced when she offered that the lack of distraction was very distracting.

The door to their room suddenly opened and Copper Mane strode inside.

“Did you have fun with your clan meeting?” Nightcanter asked with a smile.

“Our clan meetings are never about fun, Miss Nightcanter,” Copper Mane replied.

“Only because you don’t try hard enough,” Nightcanter said.

Copper Mane didn’t bother replying, clearly growing used to Nightcanter’s prodding. Instead, he turned towards Sablesteel. “Actually, it’s you I wanted to talk to this time, Miss Sablesteel.”

Sable, who was back to fiddling with her portable lab, closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She looked up at him with her green eye glaring. “This better be important, Copper Mane.”

“It is,” Copper Mane replied, his tone steely for the first time ever while talking to Sablesteel.

Pinkie’s ears perked. She leaned over to listen, suddenly curious at the surprising show of mettle. Nightcanter looked as well. Even Sablesteel relaxed her glare to a mild frown. “Well?” she asked.

“Miss Pie’s words earlier had me curious about Rock Maven and Wind Glance the Assassin,” Copper Mane said. “The clan meeting was actually short. I spent some time going through our books and tablets on the matter, particularly Wind Glance the Assassin.”

If Pinkie was curious before, she was elated now. She didn’t even know she got Copper Mane to do this. Sablesteel was so pessimistic about the True Earth Ponies, but this showed that not all hope was lost.

“I already know what the True Earth Ponies think of Wind Glance,” Sablesteel said.

“I knew that too,” Cooper Mane continued. “What I had missed out on were some descriptions of what she was like. I mean...beyond how she was shifty, cunning, cruel, and seductive, staying by Rock Maven’s side to influence him, and turning her nose up on earth pony traditions—“

“Get to your point, Copper Mane,” Sable retorted. “Before you get mine!”

“There was a record describing her fighting alongside Rock Maven,” Copper Mane said. Though he remained steady, he did give a passing, nervous glance at the arrayed, feather-shaped, throwing blades that Sablesteel was attending to.

“Let me guess,” Sablesteel said. “The evil, useless bird hid like a coward while Rock Maven took care of all their foes.”

“No,” Copper Mane replied. He scratched the back of his head with a hoof. “Well...not entirely. The writer did call her fighting cowardly...but she did fight! They were attacked by a sect of Old Kingdom fanatics outside the Delve. The writer describes Wind Glance as leaping from foe to foe, extending her time in the air with her ruined wings, and attacking with short blades and flung darts that caused her foes to convulse.

Even Nightcanter leaned towards the conversation after that. “Envenomed blades and darts,” she said. “Now, that is interesting. Before the first skirmishes with the Empire of Ophidus as well. Indeed, before there even was an Empire of Ophidus.”

“I would like to know if your Blackmoon Blades had anything to do with Wind Glance the Assassin,” Copper Mane said to Sablesteel. “The fighting style and choice of weaponry is very similar.”

“Wind Glance lived and died long before the Blackmoon Blades was even an idea,” Sablesteel replied.

“Well...uh...” Pinkie raised a foreleg and waved it about until every pony in the room looked to her. “I read that too. From Lexarius’s notes. He was really curious about the techniques Wind Glance knew, but she was super secretive about them. All he had to go on was that Wind Glance must have learned most of them through Pansy.”

“It was out of shame, maybe,” Sablesteel muttered. “Or she was irked by his prodding.”

Nightcanter smiled, then tilted her head towards Sable. “Maybe we should approach this differently? I’d like to know where the Blackmoon Blades took their focus and their techniques.”

Copper Mane looked eager to know as well. Pinkie nodded vigorously, although it could just be down to hearing the very prickly Sable talk more about herself.

Sable paused for a while, then slowly let out a sigh. “The transient grandmaster; Grandmaster Red Sand,” she said. “He was the one who initiated the change from the Starlight Sentinels to the Blackmoon Blades. Nearly all the toxins I learned started from his recipes. He also designed the original suit and the various devices.” She turned one vial with a hoof, inspecting it for things Pinkie didn’t know, but were probably super important. “Red Sand’s techniques and recipes were a carefully preserved family tradition, as the Blades recorded. Passed down within his family long before the Division or even the Time of the Three. It was kept secret most of the time because of the vile effects of toxins and the so-called dishonorable nature of assassination. Red Sand saw the opportunity to popularize it with the Blades once they decided to focus on secretly killing those who would disrespect the moon princess.”

“They could have learned it from Wind Glance the Assassin!” Copper Mane said, his eyes lighting up.

“Wind Glance died childless,” Sablesteel retorted. “Perhaps she had students, or siblings, or a secret love child. What does it matter, Copper Mane?”

“I was hoping you would have more lore on her,” Copper Mane said. “Something beyond what the True Earth Ponies know.”

Sable pressed her lips tightly together for a very brief moment, then went back to inspecting more of her vials.

“You’re hiding something,” Nightcanter said. Her smile only widened at Sable’s glare. “Oh, come on. Even you want to say it. A former agent of Black Rose would not have such a tell if she was adamant in not sharing.” She turned her gaze at Pinkie. “You have such a captive audience too. Do share, Sablesteel.”

“It never feels right sharing Blackmoon Blade lore,” Sable groused.

“The first time always feels awkward,” Nightcanter said softly, enough to raise the hair on the back of Pinkie’s neck “But, I promise, it will feel so much better when you get used to it.”

The curls close to Nightcanter’s left ear suddenly flew up, as if caught by a brief breeze, even though they were all underground. A loud ping followed, then the clatter of something metal on stone. Pinkie followed the supposed breeze’s passage with her eyes, her gaze eventually alighting on a feather-shaped throwing blade on Nightcanter’s bed. The wall behind Nightcanter has a small niche marring its otherwise smooth surface.

“Sable!” Pinkie cried out aghast.

Nightcanter’s reply was swifter, however. Her laugh filled the room briefly, then she tossed the blade back to Sable. “Sorry, sorry,” she said, still all smiles, even as Sable bristled some more. “I’m not laughing at the attack. Warning taken. I just remembered a certain somepony that’s all. Threw a fireball at me for teasing her about basically the same thing.”

“Grandmaster Red Sand was very open about teaching his skills to the newly-created Blackmoon Blades,” Sable went on. “We do have a great deal of records about them and their history.”

“I’d like to see them for myself,” Copper Mane said.

“You would have to travel to the main Blackmoon Blade Sanctuary, true earth pony,” Sablesteel said. “It’s out in the Slaying Sun Sands far to the southwest. Even if you found it and made it there, I would be duty-bound to kill you afterwards.”

Nightcanter let out a low whistle. “Leave it to the Blades to make their own lives difficult at every turn. Why the desert?”

“In the desert, the night is a blessing and the day is a curse,” Sable replied. “It teaches you early on to stay in the shadows. The large deposits of toxic minerals was also an advantage. As was the local population of ghost needles and hundred-leg horrors.” Sable paused for a moment before adding “the dry air also made for good moon viewing.”

“Did you spend a lot of time there?” Pinkie asked. She just noticed that Sable spoke of this foreboding “sanctuary” in the middle of a deadly desert with a fonder tone than Grain Basket. Perhaps, she considered the place more of a home. Sable’s seemingly natural glare softened with nostalgia. “Not that long,” she replied. Her eyebrows furrowed again as she grabbed Pinkie by the forelocks and pushed back. “Your face is too close again, Pinkie Pie!”

“But can you tell us some of what you’ve read?” Copper Mane asked.

“I had committed all of Red Sand’s recipes to memory by the time I was ten,” Sablesteel said. “His histories, I read for recreation. You would have to trust the word of a bird, Copper Mane. Can you do that?”

Copper Mane nodded, his face earnest. “I’ll do my best.”

“Red Sand could indeed trace his lineage all the way back to the time of the Old Kingdom,” Sable went on. “And, yes, there was a mention of Wind Glance in them.”

“What did they say about her?” Copper Mane asked.

“That she defected from Cross Guard’s New Pegasus Nation for Rock Maven’s United Earth Pony Clans,” Sable replied. “During that time, Red Sand’s ancestors were convinced that the earth ponies would soon be proficient in Wind Glance’s fighting style and be able to create all of her toxins. They were relieved when the earth ponies murdered her. They thought it was justice.”

“That can’t be,” Copper Mane said softly. “If she didn’t kill Rock Maven for the Pegasus Nation, who did she kill him for?”

“Maybe she didn’t,” Pinkie said. “I was wondering that! Lexarius thought it was weird when the two of them were so close!”

Copper Mane’s initial shock faded before a fresh wave of indignation. “Even if I take your word for it, what proof is there of what you’re saying?”

“About as much as Magma Dart provided,” Nightcanter said.

“Their dead bodies will do,” Sable added. “I’m happy to match histories with you and the rest of the True Earth Ponies, Copper Mane. I have ways to examine even bones to determine if they died by toxin.”

“I’ve already told you that no pony is allowed to enter the final resting place of Rock Maven!” Copper Mane replied. “Even if every clan leader agrees to let Pinkie Pie visit, we certainly wouldn’t allow you to so much as touch his bones!”

Sable crosses her forelegs. “Then this is a dead end,” she said. “Don’t waste my time again, Copper Mane.”

“Well, it doesn’t have to be,” Nightcanter said. She walked in leaned closer, mockingly mimicking Pinkie from earlier but pulling her head back when Sable’s shoulder tensed.

“What are you on about?” Sable asked suspiciously.

“Well, we apparently have our very own Wind Glance the Assassin among us,” Nightcanter said. “That may be our little double-edged sword of a card right there. She looked to Copper Mane. “I’ll take it that Copper Mane here may be more open than most of the True Earth Ponies, but he’s hardly the razor-sharp genius. If he’s made a connection, others will. You did poison that Clan Sandstone spy.”

“I’m not as stupid as you think I am, Miss Nightcanter,” Copper Mane retorted.

No reaction from Sable this time. She focused on a vial intently, perhaps too much just to compose herself. “Here I thought my mission was to protect Pinkie Pie,” she said. “You have a penchant for theatrics, illusionist. I don’t like it.”

“I’m just exploring options,” Nightcanter replied. “Our main plan is still the same: Pinkie Pie will work with the different clans to earn their trust and visit their Oathstone. Along the way, she will try to fix whatever it is that she thinks she can.”

“I don’t see where you are going with this,” Copper Mane said. “Most of us hate Wind Glance the Assassin. We only hate her slightly less than Princess Platinum, Smart Cookie, or Puddinghead.”

“That’s true for now,” Nightcanter replied. She suddenly placed a foreleg around Sable and Pinkie, drawing them slightly closer together. “But if certain things turn out as I suspect them to be, then we’ve got quite the combination here.”

Sable merely shrugged Nightcanter’s foreleg away before finishing up her usual maintenance. “Time for sleep.” She looked to Pinkie. “Especially you, it’s more hard work tomorrow.”

“I know,” Pinkie said with a sigh. More running. In full gear this time. Her bones ached just thinking about it.

Pinkie suddenly rolled over her stone bed, eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling. It wasn’t the next day yet. At least, it didn’t seem so. She had plenty of ponies to wake her up if it was the right time. Copper Mane snored softly nearby. She rolled some more in a vain attempt to find a comfier spot on her bed. She was still feeling dead tired, but something tugged at her thoughts, keeping her nerves taut. This was a problem. Even if she didn’t feel like it, she needed the sleep knowing what was in store tomorrow. What time was it anyway? Did she get a few hours of sleep at least?

It was difficult to tell how late in the night or early in the day it was in a place so deep underground. The softly glowing mushrooms along the main passageways of Deepstone Quarter remained steady regardless of the time of day. Pinkie had tried at first to just remember the time when she first arrived at the Great Delve and count the hours from there. That proved an impossible mental task. “Feel the ley lines connecting to the the Under-Sun,” Copper Mane had told her. “You can tell when the Under-Sun brightens and dims that way and thus tell time.”

Of course, the solution was more ley channeling, just like everything else in this place. Pinkie understood the value of exercise, but, as far as she was concerned, exercise was a brief morning routine; a light jog, a few jumping jacks, some stretching. It wasn’t heavy exertion all day and all night long, which was what the True Earth Ponies and her companions were expecting out of her. This was like doing push ups every time she wanted to look at a clock. With a soft sigh, she sat upright. She may as well give it a go. Maybe focusing on something would calm her down and squeeze out a few more hours of sleep.

She had to admit that it was getting easier and easier to focus on the lines of power within the earth. Maybe this whole training stuff was starting to pay off. No more need to squint or grit her teeth or scowl. She could even do it just lying down. The feel of warm, coursing power flowing everywhere around her remained an intimidating sensation, however. Especially here, within the Deepstone Quarter where the ley lines pulsed and flowed so strongly. It was like being surrounded by mighty rivers, being within them and just outside them all at once. The ley lines connecting to the Under-Sun specifically...Pinkie has to comb through a lot. It wasn’t fair, really. She only had a quick glimpse of the Under-Sun from afar, but Copper Mane expected her to just find its sources of power and to do all that for the sake of just telling time.

Pinkie redoubled her efforts. The ley lines around her chamber pulsed brightly in her mind as she sifted through them until...

“Don’t take me for a fool, Captain Nightcanter. I may have spent a lot of time training alone, but I’m not some soldier hermit like Longstride.”

That sounded like Sablesteel’s voice, reverberating through the earth and reaching Pinkie’s senses. ‘Hold on,’ Pinkie thought. ‘I’m trying to sense ley lines not...what was it Copper Mane called it? Trimmy Sense?’ She cast about her mind. It had something to do with a heightened sense for vibrations. Supposedly, Prince Terrato and really skilled elders could use it to hear talking from a long way away. It was said to be impossible to hide from the Prince so long as a single body part touched the ground. She looked towards Sablesteel’s bed. Sure enough, Sable was gone. So was Nightcanter. They couldn’t have gone far. No way their guards would let them.

This wasn’t the sort of channeling she was going for, but Pinkie held on for a moment.

“I’m not taking you for a fool,” Nightcanter replied. “Even if you make it hard to at times with your feigned ignorance. We both know what’s going on.”

“I want nothing to do with it and it should not be your business. You are sticking your snout where it doesn’t belong”

“I just think it would be good for all parties involved mentally. Likewise for resolve.”

“Or it could make things worse. Even if it doesn’t, I am not interested in doing such a thing. This is not up for consideration, Captain Nightcanter.”

“Really? Forgive my boldness, but if Black Rose propositioned you, would you say the same thing?”

It took a while before any reply came. Pinkie could have sworn she heard steel sliding. She was already tensing to rush out to wherever they were.

“I would reciprocate. With all my heart.”

“Really?” Nightcanter couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice for a moment. “Why, when—?”

“Because she’s the greatest of us all and deserves everything she asks for.”

Nightcanter sounded like she was about to say something else, but Pinkie withdrew at that point, suddenly aware that she was listening in on something she shouldn’t.

‘Okay, wrong use of channeling,’ Pinkie thought. She sat straight up this time, eyes clenched tightly, the need for sleep temporarily set aside. She felt embarrassed and self-conscious for some reason, even though she had no idea what those two were talking about. Ley lines, not trimmy senses. Follow the right ley lines to check on the Under-Sun. She immersed herself into following the flows, eager to put that weird conversation behind her.

A sudden prick to her senses brought Pinkie up short as she followed a particularly large line, like a mild sting to her ley channeling sensing thingies. It might be the Under-Sun’s source of power. After all, such a huge thing that lights up the city must feel extra weird in the ley lines. She followed this one, though it was odd that she was moving away from the surface.

The stinging sensation worsened as Pinkie followed it deeper into the messy mesh of lines further into the depths of a Deepstone Quarter. She winced, then pressed on. It felt like running a hoof across a fresh cut. This wasn’t the Under-Sun’s power source. Still, it felt far too weird. The shimmering colors that flooded her senses carried with them now thick wisps of black, like the tendrils of a plant creeping along a trellis. Frowning, she followed on. She had seen this before, in another underground place. The ley lines were also converging here. Gathering into a single point that shone brightly in the seeming distance. This wasn’t the Under-Sun, but such a construction must be a True Earth Pony creation. The way these lines bent and curved didn’t feel natural. That point of convergence...it must be the Oa—

Something slammed into Pinkie’s senses, blurring out the ley lines and nearly knocking her out of focus. It was like running hard into a wall. Her head was spinning and her limbs shaky. Something in the ley line grabbed her. On instinct, she tried to pull away physically, even backing away to a corner of her bed. Still, this thing held on to her senses tightly, forcing her to stay in her focused state.

“You are overstepping your welcome, Miss Pie,” resounded a rasping, familiar voice in Pinkie’s mind. “You should focus on your training and leave. No need to involve yourself too much.” It let her go after that, leaving her recoiling and panting as her focus ended. Sweat dripped down the sides of her face while she recovered.

“Pinkie Pie,” Sablesteel whispered harshly. She sounded that she had just entered the room, but a second later, Pinkie already felt hooves touching her shoulder and supporting the back of her head. “What’s going on?”

Nightcanter quickly trotted into the room as well. Staying by the other side of Pinkie’s bed with a look of concern.

“The Oathstone...” Pinkie mumbled. She felt lightheaded and weak. Not what she was hoping for with the next day approaching. Hopefully, she still had some hours. “We really need to check it out.”