Chapters Chapter 2. Ponyville seeing and dying
“Fall back, fall back to the castle!“
”Oh Celestia, they are everywhere!“
“No! Stay awaARGH….”
Rainbow Dash tried her hardest to block out the bloodcurdling screams of the fighting and dying ponies around her as she lead her small group of civilians towards Twilights castle, towards safety. Gritting her teeth, the Pegasus impaled another one of these monsters on her spear. It was a young Unicorn stallion, barley out of his teens. He must have been quite the looker once but now, all that was left was a milky eyed, howling monstrosity with large portions of his paled fur coming of showing the decaying flesh underneath to the world, that tried to rip her to shreds with his bare hand. With a quick yank, Rainbow freed her weapon from the now lifeless corps and looked over her shoulder to her group. Right behind her stood the flower trio, Rose, Lily and Daisy together with Carrot Top. The four mares looked all possible shades of green, their eyes glued the fresh body at Rainbows hooves and the still dripping tip of her spear.
“Stop gawking and keep moving. We need to get you to the castle!” Rainbow Dash barked a bit more aggressive than she had intended. Her charges looked at her, the flower trio seemingly close to fainting while Carrot Top had tears running down her face.
“Oh nonono, no breaking down now!” Rainbow rushed out “You can do that and more once you’re safe inside Twi´s castle but if you do it now, your zombie chow. Get moving!” For one horrible second, Rainbow Dash was sure the mares would just break down bawling or plain pass out. But instead, it seemed Rainbows lucky star had not yet abandoned her as Carrot Top wiped away most of her tears with the sleeve of her shirt that was not in tatters and Lily slung her arms around Daisy and Rose, whispering something unheard to them and ushered them forwards again.
“Out of all the ponies in Ponyville, why had it to be them?” Rainbow muttered under her breath as she looked around another corner to see if the coast was clear. She did not considered herself an overly choosy mare. All she ever wanted was to join the Wonderbolts, become the new captain after impressing Spitfire with her very own brand of radical awesomeness so much that it convinced the other mare enough to retire from her position so that Rainbow could become the new leader of the Wonderbolts and life as Equestrias best and most famous flier. Maybe having one or two nice stallions too, for some in depth relaxation after a long day of being her awesome self.
That was not too much to ask for, wasn´t it?
Well, obviously it was because instead of living her dream, all Rainbow did now was playing babysitter for mares that caused a mass panic over their own shadows and killing zombiefied ponies and beasts that looked like the deepest depths of Tartarus itself had spewed them into the world, in the almost-ruins of her hometown.
Neither Celestia and Luna or even Twilight Sparkle herself knew were they suddenly came from but for nearly seven month now, the monster were running wild in Equestria, turning the land inside out in the most gruesome sense of the word.
Rainbow and her group rounded another corner, passing a group of four soldiers, all clad in the golden armor of Celestias Day Guard. They were hastily erecting makeshift barricades, without a doubt hoping to slow the relentless attacking monsters down for a few valuable seconds.
“You think that will slow em down Archer?” a Unicorn amongst them asked his comrade, an Earth Pony with a quiver and a longbow slung over his shoulder.
“You are welcome to stay and find out if you want Gem.” Archer snapped, heaving a barrel into place.
“Less yapping and more working you two or both of you stay here.” Another Earth Pony, with sergeant insignia on his pauldron barked at Gem and Archer, the two guards shutting up and returning to their work.
“We´re all going to die… we will die here…” Daisy muttered as the mares passed the conglomerate of desks, barrels, crates and the occasional timber beam.
“No we´re not.” Rainbow said to, looking around. Then she pointed at a road sign that read ‘Hay Ave.’ with a victorious smirk. “See, just one more block and we´re at the castle. Easy peasy.”
It was this moment that the five mares heard the soldiers behind them cry out in panic, followed the sounds of colliding blades and combat magic.
As one, Rainbow Dash, Lily, Rose, Daisy and Carrot Top turned their heads and what they saw made their hearts nearly stop.
The barricade not more than maybe one, two hundred meters behind them was no more. More than a dozen of the cursed ponies, civilians and former guards alike, had simply washed over the meager defense and were now tearing into the four unlucky guards.
A wild swing of a notched sword send Gems arm flying, the Unicorn breaking down in shock and being torn apart before he could even scream.
With her heart beating a furious staccato and her ears falling flat into her prismatic mane, Rainbow Dash turned to her charges. “Run.”
The other mares obeyed without hesitation.
°°°
She passed the wide open gate, her shield held at the ready and her head sweeping around. The smell of decaying flesh, blood and smoke flooded her helmet but it did not make her gag, instead if was strangely invigorating.
Bodies littered the ground. They were similar to the Firekeeper in the forest, yet different. They were… brighter, more colorful, most of them at least. Some of these strange people bore the undeniable signs of the curse.
Blank, white eyes. Patches of missing skin. Some whose clothes were torn looked nearly shriveled, so taunt was their skin that one could see the bones beneath without a problem. And most of all, the smell. It was a unique kind of stench. Unworldly and oppressing. Something without a name.
If the Darkness would have had a smell, it would have been this.
She poked one of the corpses with the tip of her weapon, just to be sure. Sometimes, they were not fully dead or worse, were lying in wait to attack an unwary passerby from behind.
Hollows. They are called Hollows. Undead who died to many times and lost their mind over times.<< The thought bubbled to the forefront of her mind, surprising her. Ever since her meeting with the Firekeeper, her dulled mind and senses seemed to slowly but surely return to their former sharpness.
A groan, accompanied by shuffling rang out from her left.
Her head whipped around, coming to an halt on a Hollow clad in the torn remains of what once must have been a beautiful dress worthy of royalty, showing bloodstained white skin… or was it fur… underneath. The female Hollow opened her mouth… muzzle… in another groan, her right hand clutching a bloodstained cooking knife.
Two bodies on the ground began to stir and with wooden looking movements, stood up. Two more Hollows in simple clothing began to stumble forwards.
The smile underneath the helmet returned.
Souls!<<
°°°
Rainbow Das was not a happy mare right now. She felt sick to the stomach, she was bleeding from at least half a dozen wounds, one of her wings felt sprained and right now she could really, really go for a ice-cold bottle of cider. Heck, she would even take a lukewarm one. As long as she had something to wash the taste of blood out of her mouth. Most of it was her own because she had bitten the inside of her cheek when the swing of a mace had graced her jaw just barley but some was also theirs . >>That´s what you get for not keeping your trap shut RD. You just had to mock them, didn´t you? Eugh!!!<< Rainbow Dash shuddered as she remembered being doused with the foul blood after thrusting her spear into another undead ponies chest and pulling it out, resulting in a spray of blackened blood.
“You… shoulda l-left… me… “ the sergeant coughed out, leaning heavily on Rainbows shoulder. “I´m just… slowing you down.”
After she had been sure that the flower trio and Carrot Top were at least half-way to Twilights castle, the Pegasus had turned around and rushed into the fray to support the remaining Royal Guards but to her horror, the only thing that she could do was pulling the badly wounded sergeant of the small group back to his hooves after ending another cursed pony that was about to bring a bloodied wood axe down on him and retreat with the limping stallion while the sounds of Archer, Gem and the other Guard whose name she never got, being torn to shreds by the undead filled her ears. These sounds would give her nightmare for weeks, Rainbow was sure of that.
Not stopping, Rainbow at least tried to flash her trademark cocky grin at the seasoned soldier. “Nah, no can do. Element of Loyalty and all that.” Rainbow said, letting out a low grunt as the sergeant stumbled over a body on the ground, nearly dragging both of them down. Digging her spear into the ground, Rainbow just managed to catch both of them. “Hey! Don´t give out on me now soldier-boy, we´re nearly at Twi´s palace. Y´see, once we´re there, they will patch you up in no time and then you can go back kicking flanks before you can say…”
A long moan, accompanied with the shuffling of hooves and the clatter of armor rung out behind Rainbow Dash and her wounded companion.
The fur on Rainbows neck stood on end as she turned her head.
Two Guards in heavily damaged armor stood there not twenty meters away. One was armed with a sword and a shield, the other dragging a battle-axe behind him.
Two sets of milky white eyes transfixed themselves on Rainbow Dash.
“Oh horseapples!”
The two undead Guards began to move towards them.
Rainbow began to run or at least to move as fast as the wounded soldier that she was supporting with her arm and shoulder could do. She could already see the plaza in front of Twilights palace and the makeshift barricades that had been erected in front of the entrance, to form a last defense post against the relentless charges of the undead ponies.
Maybe two hundred meters was all that separated Rainbow and the wounded Guard from safety.
The armored hoovesteps behind them drew nearer.
Come on, just a bit more!<< Rainbow thought, desperately fighting down the urge to try to fly away from the monsters breathing down her neck.
“Le-leave me kiddo… save yourself…” the sergeant rasped out.
“For the last time, I will not abandon anypony and let them being eaten by those zomponies.” Rainbow angrily snapped back, using her weapon like a hiking staff to aid her movement.
The sergeant chuckled at that. It sounded weirdly wet. “You´ll make a damn fine soldier one day kiddo but now…” The arm around Rainbows shoulders went away and instead, two hands pressed into her back, right between her wings and gave her a strong shove that made the Pegasus stumble forward several steps before she could catch herself. Rainbow Dash whipped around to face the soldier, an angry retort already on her lips.
The stallion just stood there, a smile visible under his helmet, his hands still outstretched. “Save yourself. That´s an order soldier.”
A bloodstained battle-axe came down from behind and bit deeply into the stallions left shoulder while nearly at the same time, a sword burst out of his abdomen.
Rainbow screamed. Tears of desperation welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks as the mortally wounded sergeant broke to his knees. Her hands clutched her spear tightly as she readied herself to rush back into battle, into a meaningless rescue attempt and most likely her own demise.
“For Celestias sake, run you stubborn mule!” the sergeant yelled at her, stopping Rainbow dead in her tracks. Blood gushed out of his mouth as the undead Guards freed their weapons, sending the fresh carcass of the sergeant onto the ground with the metallic clatter of armor. Small specks of blueish white light rose from the sergeants body like fireflies, dozens of them and rushed into the bodies of his murderers.
Rainbow stared at the lifeless body as blood began to pool around the prone form. The sounds of battle all around the mare decreased until they were nothing but a dull background noise against the sound of her hammering heart and the blood rushing through her ears. A knot began to form in Rainbow Dash´s stomach and she felt her knees starting to shake, begging her to just let them give in and fall down to curl up into a sobbing, quivering mess until it was over.
The fighting.
The killing.
Everything.
Sharp pain brought Rainbow back into the here and now as a swords tip grazed her biceps just slightly. Hastily and with a suppressed cry of pain, Rainbow jumped back and held her spear in a defensive way in front of herself.
The two undead Guards had used her moment of catatonia to get in close but luckily for Rainbow Dash, only the swordfighter had swung his weapon at her and clumsily at best so that she just gained a new cut instead of losing her whole arm.
The axe fighter closed in slightly from Rainbow´s left, his deadly weapon raised with both hands above his head, poised for a devastating blow.
Out of reflex, Rainbow raised her spear to parry the attack.
The heavy weapon rushed down in a wide arc, cutting through the wood of Rainbows spear without any real resistance and sliced a bloody gash into the Pegasus flesh from solar plexus down to her left hip. The loose shirt and the tracking shorts Rainbow wore failed to offer any kind of protection.
Much to her own surprise, Rainbow just lost the feeling in her legs and broke down without even an attempt to scream as her whole body entered a shock state.
Shallowly breathing Rainbow Dash looked up into the sky, still clutching her broken and useless weapon with both hands.
So this was how she was going to die. Any other time, Rainbow might have laughed but right now, all she could to was lying there as her body began to feel numb and something warm run over her stomach and her hips, drenching her fur and forming a puddle under her.
Two figures moved into her field of vision. Rainbow managed to lift her head to see the two undead Guards closing in, their weapons already lifted to finish the job.
Rainbows eyes were transfixed to the notched and bloodstained weapons as they arced upwards. She knew she should look away or close her eyes but she could not.
Because of this, she was able to witness a silver blur slamming into the axe wielding undead with a loud ‘clang’ of metal on metal, sending the undead pony to the ground and redirecting the attention of the swordfighter to the newcomer.
The blur, now recognizable as a warrior in a silvery gleaming armor, wielding a shield and a strange looking spear with a upside down scythe attached to it, wasted no time however and engaged the swordfighter.
The sword flashed forward but only hit the raised shield, leaving a visible notch.
The silver clad warrior responded by bashing the shield outwards just the moment the blade made contact, causing the swordfighter to open his stance wide as his sword arm was violently flung back and to the side.
With a quick thrust, the silver warrior buried the head of his spear deep in the stomach of the swordfighter, small sparks running from the weapon all over the body of the pony. Kicking the now limp body from the weapon, the newcomer turned towards the axe wielder who was stiffly coming back to his hooves.
The warrior silently brought up the spear and in a mighty downwards arc, sliced the scythe blade seemingly effortless through the helmeted head of the axe wielding undead.
The undead collapsed back to the ground and moments later, dozens of small light specks came from his and the swordfighter’s bodies, homing in to the silver warrior and merging into his body.
A sudden coughing fit wracked Rainbows body and brought the warriors attention down on her.
The newcomer turned towards her and cocked his head, clearly looking at her gaping wound. Then, with a fluid motion, the warrior rammed the spear in the ground and took something from his hip, something that looked like a bell in a cage made of… bones?
Before Rainbow could comprehend the weird nature of the bell further, the knight kneeled down in front of her, the bell held out over Rainbows body.
At first, nothing happened but then, light began to shine from the bell and right at the moment it began to become nearly blinding, the warrior shook the bell resulting in a light chiming sound. The light expanded outwards and all of a sudden, Rainbow Dash felt warmth flowing back into her body. It felt soothing like napping on a cloud in the afternoon sun. The pain in her abdomen receded and somehow she found the energy to sit up partially to look down on her wound. Rainbows eyes went wide as she saw that the large cut was completely healed! Even her fur was completely restored.
With a satisfied looking nod, the warrior stood up and secured the bell at his belt again.
Rainbow Dash was speechless. That warrior just healed her completely without a horn! Just by ringing that little bell. >>Oh, Twilight will have a total fit once she hears about this.<< Rainbow thought.
The Pegasus stood up and sheepishly rubbed her arm. “Heh, thanks I guess, for saving me and all that. I own you one now hm?”
The warrior said nothing and instead looked down at something. Rainbow found that he was looking at her destroyed spear.
“Hm? Oh yeah, one of those zombies broke it. Not really my day, ha ha.”
Again, the warrior did not utter a single word, which frankly was starting to annoy Rainbow. Instead he reached to his side and pulled a simple looking longsword from his belt and held it out to Rainbow. It took the mare a moment to understand and only after the warrior had motioned a bit impatiently with the hand holding the sword that Rainbow understood.
Carefully she took the sword and examined it. It was by all means simple and showed signs of long time use and repairs but just by holding it, Rainbow felt the slightest hint of warmth rising in her chest and her confidence returning.
“Wow, you going to lend me your sword? Just like that?” Rainbow asked.
The warrior nodded, the first real sign of communication.
“But won´t you need it?”
At that, the warrior yanked the spear from the ground and leaned it against his shoulder.
“Ah, okay, makes sense I guess.” Rainbow admitted “But I´m gonna return it to you as soon as this is over. My name is Rainbow Dash by the way. Thanks a ton again for saving my flank.”
A ear-piercing scream shattered the idle moment.
“Sweet Celestia, that sounded like Rarity.” Rainbow winced, her ears swiveling around “No other mare I know has such a pair of lungs. Sounds like she is in big trouble, I need to go.” Rainbow attempted to run of only for an armored hand to hold her back.
“Hey! What gives? Lemme go, I need to help my friend!”
Again the warrior cocked his head, looking at Rainbow Dash´s torn outfit, then shaking his head and gesturing at the gleaming armor covering his own body, giving a nod.
It took a moment until the meaning of this settled in Rainbows brain. Whatever was causing Rarity to scream her lungs out like this, it was most likely dangerous and wearing a solid set of armor would probably increase the chances of survival quite a bit.
Rainbow hated it but the silent warrior was right. Ruffling her own mane, she groaned loudly. “Okay, okay, I get it. I´m soft and squishy, you are hard and protected. Just… just go already.” She sighed. “It just does not sit right with me to leave it to some stranger to safe one of my closest friends, no offense buddy.”
If the warrior took offense, he did not show it.
Another scream pierced the air, this one sounding more desperate than the first. “She´s propably at her house. Look out for a building that looks like a gaudy merry-go-round called ‘Carousel Boutique’. Now go before I change my mind.” Rainbow Dash urged, pointing her hand into the rough direction of her friend’s house.
The silver clad warrior gave a short salute with his weapon and sprinted of towards the shown direction.
Rainbow had just lost sight on her mysterious savior as another shout cut through the air.
“Rainbow!” A voice with a heavy country accent rang in the Pegasus ears. Turning around, Rainbow saw Applejack jogging over to her.
The blonde Earth Pony was wearing a hastily thrown on chainmail shirt over her usual attire of a flannel shirt and ripped jeans. The apple farmers trademark Stetson was hanging by its band around her neck. In one hand she was holding a shield, a clearly used warhammer in the other.
“We´ve been all worried sick about ya sugarcube. Specially when Carrot Top an´ the rest of your lil´group barged inta Twi´s palace without ya, blabbering somethin´ about ya told them ta run and that ya went ta help some Guards against them zombie ponies.” Applejack told Rainbow, hugging her friend tightly for a moment. “Then one a´ the lookouts shouted somethin´ bout that ya were attacked by those varmints so ah took ma stuff and ran over as fast as ma hooves could carry me only to find you standing around, fit as a fiddle. Not that ah want ta sound ungrateful RD.” Then she noticed all the blood and the cuts in Rainbows clothes and went pale.
“Don´t worry AJ, I´m fine again.” Rainbow was quick to assure her friend.
“Fine again?” Applejack asked wide-eyed “Rainbow, ya look worse like ah did back when ah had to help Fluttershy patch up ol´ Bessy after she got attacked by a Timberwolf.”
“Yeah, like I said, I´m fine again. There was this guy in this pretty cool armor and with this rad spear, he used a weird magic to heal me completely after one of those zomponies managed to hit me.”
“So that was the silver blur ah saw running of when I came over?” Applejack asked after a relieved sigh.
“Yep, we heard a scream from Rarities, he went all ‘You can´t go. You´ll just get minced if you go in there. I have the armor, I go.’ on me, which I admit might be the truth, so I pointed him into the right direction and send him of. What? Why are you looking at me like this AJ?”
“It´s nothin´ sugarcube but I jus´ find it hard ta believe that ya just admitted defeat so easily.” Applejack said, doing poorly in hiding a growing smirk on her orange muzzle.
“Hey, I´m the Element of Loyalty, not Brainlessness. Even I could see the logic behind that guys arguments.” Rainbow pouted, only to slightly double over and let out a wince.
Applejack was quick to support her friend on her strong shoulder. “Well ah guess that mysterious stallion did not get ya all patched up as thoroughly as ya though. Come on Rainbow, let´s get ya hinney back to the castle so that Fluttershy can give ya a proper check-up.”
“Sound good AJ.” Rainbow conceded as the two friends began to make their way back to Twilights castle.
“Hey AJ?”
“Hm?”
“Think that dude will have any problems with Rares?” Rainbow asked.
Applejack took a moment to ponder the question before shrugging. “After what ya told me and what we now about Rarity, mare will probably be all over the poor sap once he reaches her house. Bein´ a mysterious stallion in shinin´ armor an´ all that.”
“Yeah, I guess you´re right AJ.”
Both mares shared a laugh on their friend’s costs as they trudged through the remains of Ponyville.
Chapter 3. Knight in shining armor...
Armored footsteps rang out, accompanied by the clanking of thick metal plates; doing poorly to fill the vacant streets of the peculiar township in place of the variety of sounds that normally must have filled them.
Or was city a more accurate term, seeing as it had its own castle and resident royalty if the words from the striped Firekeeper could be believed?
Jogging in a steady pace down the street, weapon and shield always at the ready, she let this question idly roam through her mind while she scanned her surroundings with attentive eyes.
When was the last time she had been able to think with such clarity or had been able to ask herself such questions for that matter?
Trying as she might, the answer eluded her like the fog in the early hours of the morning.
Fog.
The thought of fog brought an entirely different memory up from the deeper parts of her mind.
A gate, deep down in the innermost parts of an ancient ruin but instead of solid wings of steel and timber, gray fog was hindering anyone to see what lay behind it.
A metal clad hand reaching out to touch the fog, slowly merging into it.
An altar of sorts, weakly illuminated by the flames of numerous candles set into a mighty mural behind it.
The smell of decay.
Wrath, ancient and endless.
Shaking her head, she commanded her thoughts back to the here and now.
She was still unsure on exactly how she came to be "here". Where ever this "here" was, it probably was not Drangleic for she had, on her whole, at times gruesome journey never had encountered people like she did here.
Of course there had been the beast-like Lion Warriors deep in the heart of the Shaded Woods or beings like Ornifex the Crow-Woman and the more grotesque creatures like the double torsoed, frog headed monster that had ambushed her in the belly of the old ship that brought her to the lost Bastille. But nothing like these... horse people? Could one call them that? Sure enough their faces and specially the hooves instead of feet and the pointed ears on their heads seemed like someone had taken them from an actual horse and put them on a human. Well, maybe the faces seemed more like a mixture of horse and men but nontheless.
That line of thought brought back another series of entirely unpleasant and downright nauseating memories from the time she had spent plodding through Aldia´s mansion. Just the faintest thought about all the wretched abominations there was enough to send cold shudders down her spine again.
Something clinked against her boot, a warm, soft sound. Looking down, she spied something in the dirt of the road. Bending down and picking the thing up out of an deeply ingrained habit, she found that it was a golden coin. The surface was almost immaculate and it felt solid as she turned it around between her fingers, not nearly as brittle as those old copper coins people ground to dust between their fingers for good luck. Curiously enough, the stylized depiction of a sun and a moon covered the two sides of the coin. Shrugging, she pocketed the coin for later. For now she had a more urgend matter at hand, namely to find this Rarity and get her back to that gaudy crystalline castle as she has promised this Rainbow Dash.
To look for a building like a Merry-Go-Round, she said but what in the name of the Sun is a Merry-Go-Round?<<
Falling into a slow trot again she cursed herself. This was not the first time something like this had happened, just this time, it was no old, demented woman or a talking cat that send her to look for something she had no idea what exactly it was but a winged horse woman.
Doesn´t matter, she also told me to run towards these ear shattering screams. Should be easier than finding a Giant in a corn field... only, these screams will probably attract every Hollow in ears range. Heh, not a bad thing though. More souls and maybe some nice things to loot too.<<
Another shrill scream cut through the air, this time closer, much closer. It sounded almost like it came from behind the next corner but there were also the unmistakable noises of steel hitting stone and wood.
Rounding the corner, she found herself looking at a truly weird building that absolutely fit the description of "gaudy" this Rainbow Dash gave her. It looked like someone had baked a gigantic cake and then put a lot of ribbons and sculptures of actual horses with thick poles running straight through them, holding them in place all over it.
But what really made her muscles tense and a hungry smile grace her lips where the eight or nine Hollows trying to break into the building, wailing away at the door and the barricaded windows with their fists, more or less broken swords and the odd wood axe. None of the Hollows wore armor but from painful experience she knew very well than even such pitiful opponents where more than able to overwhelm and kill and single much better equipped fighter when they came in droves.
At least when one did not knew how to even the odds in one’s own favor. Grinning under her helmet, she reached into her Duffle Bag and pulled a simple, round vase slightly bigger than her own fist out of the enchanted bag. With a silent war cry she threw the Firebomb straight into the midst of the distracted Hollows, not waiting for the devastating explosion to occur before she charged in, lightning dancing along the blade of her halberd.
°°°
She could hear them. The things outside the boutique. Their fingernails, scraped to the bone as they scratched and scrabbled at her doors and walls, along with the clang of steel and iron. It was all she could do to keep from crying out in pain at the sharp, burning sting in her leg.
But she couldn't give in to despair, not now. Her little sister looked to her for comfort and solidarity. Rarity couldn't lose heart. Not here.
The doors would hold for now, and the windows were long since boarded. All Rarity could do was pray somepony would save them from certain doom.
"Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked, her voice subdued, trembling, so unlike the joy that normally accompanied it.
"Yes, dear?" Rarity fought through the pain to offer a small smile, as if the simple gesture would make things better.
The small filly, eyes trailed down her calf, where an open gash bled freely, staining her sister's normally immaculate ivory coat. "Your leg..."
"It's fine, Sweetie Belle. I just need..." She gasped as her leg unintentionally bumped a coffee table and the stream of blood increased. "Here. Help me."
Sweetie helped her to a nearby table where Rarity summoned a bolt of cloth, pins and scissors. She fashioned a number of strips into a makeshift bandage, snug and taut against her wound and though the clot stained red with blood it would help her body heal and knit the injury.
"I'm scared," Sweetie muttered, and Rarity pulled her into an embrace.
"Hush now, darling. It'll all be okay. You'll see. Somepony will come. Our friends, a gallant knight or somepony else. They'll drive the monsters away." Lies, she told herself, but it did seem to help her sister a bit. The foul creatures had wreaked havoc in Ponyville. The residents had been driven from their homes, either to escape in the wilderness or seek refuge in Twilights castle or another city.
She remembered how the creatures appeared as if by magic, with no warning on the unprepared town. The screams, the smoke, the chaos and the horror they sowed, so unlike anything beyond her wildest imaginations and now, now who was left to help them?
They'd followed them here, to the boutique. Hardly an impenetrable fortress itself. At the very least the monsters did not seem to possess a high measure of intelligence, or else she and Sweetie would have been long dead. Rartity hoped they stupid things would either forget about them or grow bored but the creatures were nothing if not relentless.
For an hour, the longest hour she'd ever waited, where mere seconds seem to stretch into eternity, the creatures had amassed at her doors, and any wanderers had been attracted by the sound of their ilk, causing the horde to grow.
Rarity had seen firsthand what they were capable of. Mindless husks that killed indiscriminately, stallion, mare and foal, it did not matter to them. She'd witnessed how they cut down the townsfolk, friends and acquaintances she'd known throughout most of her life. She remembered the hacked ponies, cut to pieces, dismembered, opened from groin to chest, their insides spilled out and many other atrocities the creatures sowed in their relentless march.
She shivered at the thought what they would do if, no, once they got through. At the very least she hoped beyond hope that Sweetie, that darling little filly who now clung to her in the same manner as her infant years, that she would be granted the mercy of a quick death.
"Come on, Sweetie. We can't stay here." With her little sister supporting her, the duo made their way upstairs. It was slow going but it offered some measure of comfort to Rarity. They locked themselves in the master bedroom and Rarity wasted no time barricading the door with her armoire, an expensive thing gifted to her by Fancy Pants to commemorate the opening of her Canterlot Boutique, now scraped and torn, used as a makeshift shield.
Sweetie Belle wasted no time burying herself in the silken sheets of Rarity's bed, as if hoping the monsters would go away. Futile as the gesture was, Rarity joined her soon enough, comforted by the warm embrace of Sweetie Belle. If only, she thought, if only she could have lived a full, happy life
°°°
The Hollows proved as clumsy as she'd expected, two went down by the explosion alone and before the remaining ones could get their bearings, she'd already speared one through the neck, a swift practiced motion severed the head completely. Two more swings, the clashing of steel on flesh and two more hollows now lay armless. A stab through their still hearts and out their backs finished them off, swarms of souls rising from their bodies and converging into her own.
But the Hollows now recovered from her surprise attack and turned their sights on this new enemy. They spread out and attempted to swarm from all angles, brandishing their weapons and howled, an unearthly sound that would normally cow and inspire fear on their victims, but to the Bearer of the Curse, were little more than irritants. She had slayed bigger and more terrifying enemies like the lost white Knights of Heide or the hulking Undead of the Huntsman´s Cope.
With a broad, sweeping motion of her halberd, the Bearer swung the weapon low, knocking the Hollows off their hooves and into the ground. She felled three more as they lay helpless and cut a path before they could right themselves. She sneered, hoping for a better fight and tossed yet another Firebomb at the clustered Hollows. Their wails of pain proved satisfactory and as the last of them withered away to nothing, the Bearer nodded in approval and turned her attention to the boutique.
The door lay open, charred and in tatters. It seemed her first Firebomb had weakened it enough, but had the Hollows made their way through? She gripped her halberd tight and hurried through, wondering if she hadn't been too late.
°°°
Sweetie Belle's breaths came short and quick and Rarity was not too far behind. The creatures had broken through and the two sisters listened with growing dread as they shambled and stumbled upstairs. The sound of breaking furniture, ripped cloth and crushed glass could be heard, but in their wake, a slew of unexpected sounds emerged as well. An explosion, the roaring of flames and the very familiar sound of metal cleaving through flesh and bone.
Rarity could have even sworn that a number of the creatures had backed away from the boutique and though the ones downstairs were still very much alive, their howls and the pattering of their hooves were greatly diminished. In fact, save for the few monsters clustered outside her bedroom, she could not hear any more.
This could only mean one thing. "Help! Save us! We are upstairs, please!"
The creatures' efforts doubled at hearing her voice with several heavily damaged blades starting to punch through the wood of the door, but amidst their renewed struggles, Rarity heard the very distinct sound of metal clad hooves pounding on wood. Her spirits lifted and her heart soared as she heard the creatures turn towards this new target. She hoped with all her might they would not fell this brave soul.
But she needn't worry. After a short struggle outside, she heard the clanging and slashing of steel and the thumping of flesh on the ground and all went quiet. The metal clad hoofsteps clanged anew, taking careful, measured steps closer to her bedroom. She heard the knob turn in vain, the door was locked. Then, to her great surprise, Rarity heard three heavy knocks against the remains of her bedrooms door.
"H-hello? Who is there?" Rarity called out, still holding her darling sister close but straightening her posture on the bed visibly. After receiving no immediate answer she asked again "Hello? Are you a member of the Guard? For Celestia´s sake, say something."
Carefully the seamstress slipped off the bed, making one hesitant step towards the door.
"Rarity? What happened? Are we safe now?" Sweetie asked from behind her big sister.
A new series of knocks could be heard.
Making another step towards the door, Rarity tried to use the new holes in her door to catch a peek at whoever was on the other side. "Applejack, dear, is that you?" Rarity asked. Of course it could have been that some of her friends had come to their rescue, the Unicorn told herself but why would they not answer her calls? "Rainbow Dash? If this is you and your idea of a joke than so help me, I swear that I will dye your coat a new color in your sleep!"
Something silver flashed behind the holes in the wood, accompanied by the shifting of heavy metal plates.
More knocking, this time growing insistent.
"Yes, just give me a moment to unblock the door darling." Rarity told her mysterious savior before addressing Sweetie Belle in a more hushed tone and ordering her to take cover behind the bed, just in case. Nodding satisfied that the young Unicorn followed her order, Rarity looked around and picked up the broken leg from her make-up chair. She highly doubted that she could do much damage with the not even forty centimeter long piece of wood but by the Sisters, if whoever was behind that door would try anything improper, they would feel the fury of a Belle!
With quite some effort, Rarity levitated the heavy armoire, the strained wood groaning under its weight and eased it away from the door, just enough so that she could peek at whomever lay behind. Shambling over, gripping the length of wood like a sword at the ready, she drew a deep breath and opened the door.
The sight before her took her breath away. An armored figure clad in resplendent steel that shone like silver. Eyes measured her from behind the helm, cool and collected. The would-be weapon fell from her grasp as she opened the door wider, taking in her savior's full features. Even though she could only guess but deep inside her, Rarity knew that behind that t shaped visor must surely lie the chiseled and noble features of a true noble soul, a real Prince Charming. An exquisite looking, spear like weapon leaned against broad shoulders that just begged to be leaned against during a romantic moonlit stroll and a kite shield with an exotic crest was securely held in the other hand. Surely the crest of a minor Canterlot noble, Rarity was sure of that. Maybe the crest of the last son of a defamed family, who had set out to regain his and his families honor with a noble and perilous quest and this quest now had lead this mysterious silver knight to Ponyville and right to her doorstep where Fate saw it fit that he saved her and Sweetie Belle. Feeling her cheeks warm up, Rarity fought down the imminent urge to throw herself at her savior.
After all, a true lady did not threw herself. At most, she swooned and fainted, to be caught by strong yet gentle arms.
"Ehrm, Rarity, I think your nose is bleeding again." Sweetie Belles voice chased away the rosy clouds of Rarity´s daydreaming.
With a small yelp, Rarity´s hand shot up to her snout, actually feeling the slightest trace of sticky liquid. Thankfully her savior did not seemed to have taken notice of this shameful slip so Rarity was at least able to save that shred of dignity.
"Wow mister, your armor looks gorgeous. Are you from a special branch of the Guard?" Sweetie asked, gazing at the stranger with wide eyes. "Or are you like one of those lonesome knights in these books Rarity tries to hide under her bed?"
The silver knight ever so slightly cocked it´s head to the side.
"Ähem, Sweetie, dear, we will have words about this later." Rarity felt her cheeks flush as her little sister mumbled some sort of apology. "Anyhow, allow me to introduce myself. I am Rarity Belle and this," she gestured to the form of her younger sister who was again gazing in wonder at the armored form of the knight "Is my younger sister Sweetie Belle. You have my unending gratitude for saving both our lives good Sir. Any moment longer and those horrid creatures might have gotten us."
Remaining silent, the silver knight said nothing but performed a small but perfect curtsey.
Rarity quirked an eyebrow. Curtsies were normally done by ladies and fair maidens, not gallant knights. She dismissed it quickly enough. "Might I have your name, my prin... I-I mean, my good sir?"
Her savior did not respond. Instead, his gaze trailed down her figure and Rarity had to fight an incoming blush, thinking she was being appraised. She was so filled with euphoria and hormones that, had Sweetie Belle not been there, she'd all but allow her savior to take her right then and there atop the hardwood floor.
She followed his gaze to the trail of dried blood making its way down her leg and suddenly became all too aware of the dull, throbbing pain in her calf. The sight made her dizzy and she stumbled, unintentionally latching on to the knight, who held her in a firm, but careful grip.
"I'd forgotten about that. Oh, Celestia does it hurt," she breathed. The knight shifted his helmet, eyes meeting hers, laced with concern. Before Rarity could say another word, her savior bent and easily and deftly as picking a rose, carried her off her hooves. The mare was startled for but a second before she eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck, losing herself with what fantasies and imaginations a romantic such as herself was prone to.
"Awwww sis, that is not fair." Sweetie Belle mewled half annoyed as her older sister once again was lost in her little fantasy world but in all truth, Sweetie found herself just a tiny bit jealous of being cradled like that in the strong arms of a gallant knight.
Ignoring Rarity´s theatrics, the silent knight regarded her with a curious look from the depths of his helmet before he set his shield down and began, Rarity still supported by one arm, to rummage through a pile of old fabric.
Sweetie watched in curiosity as the knight took a long, old shawl, brought it through the two handles of the shield and managed to tie the ends together with a knot. Then the knight took the shield and walked over to Sweetie Belle who watched in wide eyed wonderment as the knight used the improvised sling to hang the shield over her back. It was a bit heavy at first but not terribly uncomfortable.
Still wondering what the knight was up to, Sweetie watched him turn around and go down on one knee, turning his head halfway around to her. It took a few moment before Sweetie fully understood but as the knight gestured with his head, she finally followed the invitation and climbed onto the armored back, wrapping her legs as far as she could around the knights waist while her hands found a surprising firm grasp on the armors shoulder sections.
°°°
The Bearer watched with bemusement at the scene that unfolded before her. She really should show the mare that she was not a male like she so obviously believed, yet she found herself curiously amused by her antics. With both sisters secured, she made her way out the boutique to reunite the ponies with their friends and hopefully, make her way closer to this Twilight Sparkle she was meant to seek out, hoping the Princess could shed a bit more light on this strangest of situations.
Chapter 1. An Undead has come to play
Chapter 1. An Undead has come to play
The Everfree forest lay in silently in the early evening sun. It was a, if not the last, truly wild forest in the otherwise peaceful and organized land of Equestria.
In other places, Pegasi regulated the weather, manipulated clouds and used their innate magic to bend the meteorological events to their will.
Earth ponies used their connection with the very earth itself in a much subtler way. They plowed fields, grow crops and took care of nearly every kind of plant life, from simple flowers to mighty trees.
And the Unicorns, they used their powerful magic abilities to aid Pegasi and Earth ponies in their daily endeavors wherever their own powers were not enough.
But the Everfree Forest took care of itself.
It was a place brimming with all kinds of predatory life, from the curious wooden creatures that were known as Timberwolves, the mighty and territorial Manticores, the cunning Cockatrices, the many headed Hydras of the swamps and the gargantuan Ursas, sleeping the centuries away deep inside their caves.
An ancient, untamed kind of magic saturated everything within the forests borders, from the tiniest blade of grass to the tallest of the Everfree´s majestic trees. It touched something deep inside the cores of every living being that dwelled under the forests canopy for even just a little while, made them feel more primal, heightened their senses for the dangers around them, brought instincts long forgotten back to the light.
And this unnerved the ponies of Equestria beyond belief. They viewed the forest as something unnatural, as something that successfully shrugged of each and every try to subdue it, to bring order in what the ponies of this land in their, sometimes boundless, naivity labeled as chaos . The Everfree frightened them and so they left it alone as much as they could afford to, only really dealing with it when one of its dangerous inhabitants had wandered to close to civilization for comfort.
To Zecora, it was a home away from home. Here, in the wild, untamed heart of the ponies nation, the zebra shamaness felt the sting of homesickness only once in a while, when she prowled through the underbrush searching for rare herbs and other ingredients for her countless potions, salves and other herbal medicines.
When she merged with the living, breathing organism that was the Everfree, Zecora sometimes closed her eyes and nearly felt like she was back home, in the sheer endless planes of her beloved Roam, the ancestral land of the zebras since ancient times.
Of course, there were notable differences. Instead of the mighty Lions, there where Manticors to watch out for and the Jackals of Roam where replaced by the Timberwolves. The air was more humid and had a more earthy smell to it than the dry air of her homeland and the songs of wild birds never heard by any other zebra before filled her ears.
Sometimes, when she was deep in meditation or even just sitting with her eyes closed and listening to the forest, Zecora could faintly hear the Everfree´s voice. As a shamaness, Zecora was used to communicate with the unseen , spirits both benevolent and malevolent in nature. Most of the times, when the forest itself talked to her, it whispered locations where Zecora could find ingredients ready for the harvest, a wounded animal that she either delivered from its pain if it was beyond help or in most cases, brought it at the doorsteps of Fluttershy, a freelancing veterinarian and animal caretaker that dwelled in a small cottage right at the Everfree´s borders.
Even though the shy Pegasus, like most other ponies in the nearby town of Ponyville, had shunned Zecora for her foreign behavior for years, Zecora had been unable to hold a grudge for long after a little, curious filly by the name of Applebloom had disregarded all prejudice the townsfolk held for her and had approached her in order to get to know the mysterious stranger, since then bringing so much joy, so much color into both, Zecoras life and her heart.
Oh, the wonderful thing that was the youth, Zecora had thought many times since then.
Over the years, Zecora had learned to listen to the forest, not only its spiritual voice but to the Everfree as a whole. Every small change in the symphony of its accumulated sounds could indicate to dozens of things and right now, the Everfree was holding its breath.
No birds could be heard singing in the tree tops.
No small animals rustled through the underbrush.
Not even the prideful roars of the Manticors cut through the air.
Something unnatural, oppressive had entered the forest and it was on its way to her!
It is near! the voice of the forest whispered into Zecoras ears, sounding uncharacteristically fearful.
The zebra mare sat on a log, in front of the hollowed out yet still living tree that contained her humble dwelling place. Being a child of Roams hot climate, Zecora never had worn much clothing besides a simple loincloth and the traditional golden rings around her neck, her wrists and in her ears but in order to better withstand Equestrias much milder climate and not to offend the in her eyes sometimes silly shamefulness of the ponies, she had since added a simple cloth wrap to cover her chest and a long, hooded cloak to her apparel.
Scanning the woods around her, Zecora added another piece of wood to the small fire that she had lit in a shallow pit ringed with stones from a nearby river. Something deep inside her had told the shamaness that lighting a small bonfire would work in her favor over the course of the coming events.
Zecora took a small pouch from a pocket inside her coat and sprinkled a powder into the flames that made them burn brighter for a second before the flames nearly died down to embers, but still radiated an enormous warmth that seeped into the bones and chased away the cold no matter how persevering it seemed.
Slow movements disturbed the bushes in front of Zecora and the mare straightened herself.
It is here!
From the darkness, Zecora felt that something was observing her, taking her in, every little detail and it unsettled even the stoic zebra a little bit. The feeling she had experienced back in her youth, when her father had taken her on her first hunt came back to her mind. The anxiety, the anticipation, the urge to run back home and hide behind her mother’s legs.
“There is no need for pretense, for I can feel your presence.” Zecora called out in an even voice “I do not wish for a fight, so please leave the shadows and step in the light.”
She got no answer and was about to call to the mysterious presence again but just as she opened her mouth, the underbrush slightly to her left parted and a something stepped into the small clearing in front of her hut.
It was tall, probably as tall as herself if she disregarded the Mohawk she styled her mane into, Zecora guessed. The being was clad completely in an elegant set of armor that gleamed silvery in the firelight. The armor plates covering the arms, chest and legs were decorated with flowing gravures. Deep red cloth could be seen in between the free spaces not covered by the gleaming metal. A full helmet made seemingly of the same material and likewise decorated, that hid its wearers face completely sat on the beings head, the small crest on top of it reminding Zecora a little bit of the helmets the Royal Guards wore. Through a T-shaped hole in the helmets visor, hidden eyes seemed to flick from the sitting zebra and the embers of the fire, Zecora could feel it.
In its right hand, the silver knight held an impressive weapon, a strange spear with a more than a whole hand long, broad spear head with an additional, upwards pointing and slender scythe like blade at its base and a smaller spear head on the opposite side. The weapons pole was of a deep red and rich golden ornaments at its head and butt made it look as deadly as beautiful. The left hand loosely held a triangular shield, clearly painted with a crest but Zecora could not see it fully. On the beings left hip, a surprisingly simple longsword hung in a likewise simple leather hanger and on the other hip hung what looked like a small chime in a frame made of bones connected to a simple wooden handle.
“How curious, to meet deep in the forest a stranger in a gleaming knights attire.“ Zecora smiled and gestured to the free log on the other side of the firepit. “My name is Zecora and I welcome you at my fire.”
The strangers head cocked slightly to the side, still alternating from looking at Zecora and the fire.
“Now, don´t just stand there like a twit, come over and sit.” Zecora said with warmth in her voice and a smile on her face.
Finally, the armored figure sat down on the log in front of Zecora, giving her more opportunities to get an even closer look. There were no holes for ears on top of the helmet nor a protective sheath for a horn, Zecora noticed and the front of the helmet was way to flat to house a muzzle behind it. No tail of any kind swayed between the legs of the strange knight. And the legs ended not in the typical armored horseshoes but in something long and pointy, something that looked like it could house a something along the lines of a dragons hind feet. The being rested the spear cassualy against the right shoulder and leaned the shield against the log, allowing Zecora to see the full crest painted on it. To her, it looked like two serpents of sorts, facing each other and their long bodies partly intertwined. One serpent was black on a white background while the other was white on a black background. Several large cuts marred the surface, giving clear evidence that it had served its owner well.
The armored form stared into the embers, seemingly mesmerized by the flickering flames as if the soft glow of the fire connected to something deep inside the beings soul.
Slowly starting to relax again, Zecora leaned forward a bit.
“It is an interesting time for a visit that you choose. For six long moons now, monsters unknown to even the Celestial Sisters are on the loose. Magic foul and darker than the blackest abyss is nowadays hard to miss. A curse infects all living, ponies, griffins and dogs and it turns them insane. They hunt their brethren like they were game and every take on a cure has been in utterly vain.” Zecora told her silent visitor, watching her opposite’s body language closely.
The eyes behind the helmet were now solely fixated on Zecoras face, the hand around the spear was tightening and even though the body was hidden underneath layers of cloth and armor plates, Zecora could see muscles tense up in anticipation of the hunt, of the battle.
“The curse I speak of is not an unknown to you am I right?” Zecora said, causing the silent being in front of her to stiffen up. “I am a shaman, you see, with powers on my own right. The darkness of the curse, I can feel it rushing through you with all its sinister might.”
The strange knight jumped up at that, in an attempt to get into a battle stance of sorts while gripping the spear with both hand.
“Halt!” Zecora shouted, holding out her open palms to show that she was peaceful “Please, put down your arm, I mean you no harm.”
Her visitor kept the weapon at the ready but stood still.
“Even though your soul is afflicted with this blight, I assure you, deep inside you, there is still light. It may flicker and even now I can see it sway but believe me, this light is what will you make see many another day.” Zecora told the armed and armored stranger in a soothing tone.
The spear was lowered, its razor sharp tip now pointing at the round.
For a moment, Zecora was silent, just gently looking at her mysterious visitor, listening to the renewed whispering of the spirits filling her ears.
With a consenting hum, the shamaness nodded. “I understand it now, my mysterious friend. From here on, you will go on a journey as the first step towards your stories end.” She stood up and beckoned the armored form of her visitor to follow her. She lead the mute knight to a well-traveled path that went away from her hut, deeper into the forest. Turning to the silent figure, Zecora pointed with her hand down the path. “Follow that path. Leave the forest and behind a hill, you will find a town called Ponyville. Seek an audience with Princess Twilight who rules there. She is a dear friend of mine, knowledgeable and fair. She will aid your endeavor in this land, of that I am sure if you greet her with respect in good measure.”
Her mute visitor looked at her for a moment before reaching for the helmet and pulling it off.
Surprise played visibly over Zecoras features as she witnessed the face underneath the helmet for the first time and a warm smile returned to her muzzle as another set of lips, pale and thin, mouthed a wordless ‘Thank you.’
Moments later the helmet was back in its place and with a final, respectful bow of the head, the strange being walked down the path.
Zecora stood there, her eyes following the mysterious being until the last trace of the silver armors gleaming was swallowed by the Everfree´s shadows.
After a while, Zecora turned around to walk back to her hut, only to look over her shoulder one last time. Staring into the depths of the darkness, the shamaness silently muttered “Far thee well, Bearer of the Curse and may the spirits shelter you from the worst.”
With that, the zebra mare returned to her hut.
The Everfree let go of the breath it was holding and once again, the air was filled with the songs of evening birds, the rustling of small critters in the underbrush and in the far distance, a Manticor roared.
°°°
Ponyville. Go to… Ponyville. Find… Princess… Twilight…<<
That simple thought echoed sluggishly in her mind as she set armored foot before armored foot.
Her trusty halberd swung in her right hand with every step, while her left hand again held onto her battle scarred shield.
Soon enough, the forest began to clear out and not much later, she stood in a grassy plain.
For a moment she just stood there, blinded by the vibrant colors of her surroundings compared to the seemingly endless dark and dense forest that had held her captive for so long.
A breeze picked up.
She perked up. There were sounds in the wind. Sounds that were strangely familiar.
The sound of blade meeting blade or biting into shields.
The sounds of magic roaring through the air.
Screaming.
The sounds of battle!
Instinct took over as she fell into a sprint that carried her down a winding path. With a long leap, she crossed a small river and jogged up a small hill. From atop the her vantage point, she could overlook the plains before her and there, not far away stood a big castle that glistened in the evening sun as if it was made of diamonds. A town spread out around it, houses with thatched roofs and mostly white walls making up most of the settlement. A wall was following the border of the town, with a moderately wide gate in it. The gate was wide open, several columns of smoke rising from within the town. Small figures could be seen, running around or lying on the ground.
A smile grew on the hidden face underneath the helmet as its owner fell into a jog again, down the hill and towards the town.
The Firekeeper in the forest had shown her the right direction!
Author's Note
Grab your gear, stash enough effegies and fill your Estus flasks fellow Undead, we´re going to Equestria!
