The Old World: Shadows

Smallclover’s streets were fit to overflowing with ponies. After the three days of the Coldheart Tournament drew to a close many travelers bid their families and friends goodbye before heading back to their homes. Farmers gathered their tools and got back to work preparing for harvest, working in their fields long before dawn. Loggers and woodcutters bid their wives goodbye and headed for the forests, ready for a hard day’s chopping. Craftsponies prepared for another day’s work. All was turning back to normal.

All was turning to normal, that is, except for Onyx Shard, Mint Heart, Forest Thorn, and Little Snow. Weddings are serious business and the wedding was to be held the following month. Today, Mint Heart and Onyx Shard were working on writing and sending invitations to send to various family and friends, and Little Snow was busy with the town’s vintner discussing which wines would be needed for the ceremony. Forest Thorn had spent the night at Onyx’s house the last few days too sore to move much at all. He sprawled out on the guest bed, a pallet of straw covered by a coarse grey sheet. A bright yellow light woke him. Groggily, he eyed the shuttered windows and the beam of bright sunlight blazing through its seam onto his face.

Forest Thorn inhaled deeply, stretching out his sore legs even more. With a yawn he sat up. He brought a hoof to his chest, and smiled. Little Snow, I don’t know how you do it. The painkiller draught wore off the night after his return, leaving him very sore and bedridden, but today his chest felt almost normal. He pressed his hoof harder, and was rewarded with a little pain. It’ll still be sore for some time, but I guess that’s to be expected.

He slowly stood up out of bed, and rolled his neck around. He yawned again and walked across the wooden floor to open the shutters. Squinting in the light, he looked out to the streets of Smallclover and all the ponies milling about. He spotted a few foals scampering around playing tag or some such, and he smiled warmly at the sight. Forest left the window shutters open and headed down to the first floor.

At the sound of his hooves clomping down the creaky stairs Mint Heart and Onyx Shard looked up from their invitations. “Good morning sunshine,” Onxy said, eyebrow raised. “You do know its afternoon?”

Forest shrugged. “Killing monsters and breaking bones really takes it out of you,” he said, walking over to his friends. “Need me to do anything?”

Minty gave him a semiserious look. “Forest, I want you in that bed until your chest is healed.”

Onyx shuffled through the list of names they were deciding whether or not to invite. “Yeah, we don’t want a cripple’s help,” he said, grinning. “Seriously though, go back to bed.”

Forest shook his head. “I think that potion of Snow’s finally worked. I feel fine.” He pressed his hoof to his chest. “It’s a little sore, but I think that’s normal.”

Minty sighed. “If you’re sure,” she said. She brought a hoof to her chin, thinking. “In that case, we could use your help. Would you go talk to Father Emerald Flare? Tell him we’ve finalized the date as May fourteenth. We’re almost done with the invitations,” she swept her hooves over the list and letters on the table before her, “but I’ve got to go get the entertainment figured out, and Onyx has to go organize the catering,” she waved her green hoof at Onyx, who nodded sagely. “It’d be great if you could do this for us.”

“Is that all?” Forest said. “That’s nothing. Sure, I’ll do it for you. May fifteenth?”

“Fourteenth,” Onyx corrected. “Clean your ears out.”

Forest grinned. “Alright, May fourteenth. I’ll be back soon.”

“Thanks Forest,” Minty said.

Forest Thorn left the house, a small two-story wooden home with two rooms on each floor. The stone chimney climbed out the center of a thatched roof and it seemed a warm, cheery place. Forest grinned. Onyx’s got a good life ahead of him with Minty. Happy for his friends, he trotted to Smallclover’s main square.

The square was crowded with ponies making travel arrangements, organizing group protection and emergency supplies for the road in case grazing wasn’t an option. On a normal day Forest would have sauntered on in and sold his sword to the highest bidder, acting as a bodyguard for the travelers. Instead he had a wedding to help plan, so he quickly made his way to the town’s church.

Towards the center of the town the church towered above all the other structures, rivaling the size of the castle’s keep. The stone building had a tall square tower rising from one of its corners, a big bronze bell hanging inside. The main hall had a slate roof with stained glass windows adorning each wall. The church’s sturdy oaken double doors greeted him, one of them slightly ajar. Forest made for the door and gently pushed it open. Inside, a small group of ponies were gathered to pray. Father Emerald Flare was giving them his sermon before administering the Sacrament of Protection. He was a tall dark green unicorn sporting a flaming red-orange mane and tail, and he wore simple white garments appropriate for a stallion of the cloth. His eyes were tan, and they blazed with a fierce passion at the ponies in his congregation.

“Indeed, my brothers and sisters, long ago Solaire the Radiant One promised that the Great Dark, the period of calamity and demonic slavery brought on by our own sins, shall never come again. For when that fell threat arises once more, and it certainly will my friends, our Lord will honor His covenant and send His Herald to destroy this foul blight and spread peace throughout the land! He means nothing but love for all His children, the diverse peoples of the world. Even now, the Lord of Light and Mercy watches over us and protects us, through men and mares with goodwill in their hearts. We are His instruments! He acts through US!” Such was his excitement that he was almost shouting. “Amen, Amen I say to you, rejoice in His merciful forbearance, for our Lord leads us to salvation, forgives us our sins and brings us up into paradise, where we shall experience the Beatific Vision. All we need do is accept His divine offer, freely given! If we let Him, the Lord our God will save us from the sin and pain of this world after death, and we shall bask in His glorious peace forever!” he bowed his head in quiet prayer, as did the congregation. A few moments of silence past, then Father Flare opened his eyes and said, “Come now in hope and love, and share in the blessings of the Lord.”

“Thanks be to God,” the ponies replied. They all got up from their pews and proceeded in a single-file line to Father Emerald Flare.
As each pony approached the dark green priest, he dipped his hoof in a pewter basin filled with grey ashes and smeared it across their foreheads. As he did this he said, “The Lord’s peace and protection be with you always, to the end of your days.”

To which the faithful responded, “And also with you.”

Forest Thorn waited respectfully from outside lest he interrupt, until the end of the sacrament. Once the congregation was finished, he made his way over to Father Emerald Flare, greeting ponies on his way.

“Hello, Forest Thorn. How are your wounds?” Father Flare asked in his deep, smooth preacher’s voice. “I was otherwise occupied at the tournament, or I would have sought you out sooner.”

Forest waved a hoof dismissively. “I’m fine, Father, Little Snow gave me some potion and now I feel great.”

Father Flare smiled warmly. “Glad to hear it. Now, what brings you to church today?” he asked, “Come you for pardon? Or for prayer?”

Forest smiled. “Not today, Father. I’ve come to make arrangements for Onyx Shard’s and Mint Heart’s wedding. They were too busy preparing to come to you directly, so they sent me.”

Walking down from the sanctuary steps, Father Flare’s smile widened. “Ah, yes. I’ve been expecting a response from those two,” he said. “When do they want to have the ceremony?”

“A month from now,” Forest said, “May fourteenth.”

Father Flare nodded. His horn lit up with glowing tan magic, and he levitated a scroll and quill near him. “Got it,” he said, writing. “Give my congratulations to Onyx Shard. It’s about time he asked her!”

“I will. See you later, Father.” Forest said.

“Go in peace.” Father Flare responded.

“Did you write uncle Spring Haze’s invitation?” Mint Heart asked. She and her fiancée were still seated around their table, covered in scrolls and inkpots.

“Mmhm,” Onyx replied, mouth full of stylus. He spat it out, and said, “Just finished it.”

“Awesome! Then we’re done,” Minty said, rising from her haunches. “I’ll go get the entertainment sorted out. Can you clean this up?” she asked, gesturing to the mess of letters and sealing wax.

Onyx gave her a deadpan look, before breaking out in a grin. “Sure, honey. Won’t take a second,” he said.

“Thanks!” Minty beamed, leaning in and kissing Onyx on the nose. “I’ll be back before three.” She donned her saddlebags.

“Mmhm,” Onyx mumbled, carefully sealing the last letter with wax.

Minty left Onyx’s home, and turned her head back to look at it. She smiled excitedly and continued on her way. She made for the town square, now much less crowded than it was at noon. Most of the travelers had left, leaving just a few loitering about among the regular commuters of Smallclover.

The troupe of bards she requested sent a representative a while ago, the minstrel who put Forest’s hunt to song. He’s probably still in the tavern, drinking his bits away. He can wait. She cantered through the streets of the town, passing only a few ponies on the way. The wider streets gave way to smaller alleys, and she found the place they were to meet. She sat down at the corner of somepony’s house by an alley, and waited.

She didn’t have to wait long. Soon the one she was to meet came trotting around the corner, a pink unicorn mare clad in a grey cloak. Mint Heart waved the pony over with a wide grin on her face.

The cloaked unicorn came over to her, and she levitated a scroll out from her pocket. “You are Mint Heart, correct?” she asked, reading the scroll.

“Yes, that’s me,” she said. “Sixty-five bits, right?”

“Yep,” the mare responded cheerily.

Mint Heart rummaged around her saddlebags, and pulled out a check. “Here you go,” she said.

She grabbed the note with her magic, and gave it a closer look. Satisfied with its authenticity, she folded it up and placed it in her cloak pocket. She then levitated a small box out of the same pocket, and gave it to Mint Heart. “Congratulations!” she said, before cantering off.

Mint Heart opened the box, and her heart soared. It looked more beautiful than she’d imagined it; Onyx’s wedding ring. Made of blue enameled steel, its metallic luster glinted in the sunlight. A serpent was engraved on it, wrapping itself around the ring. It had a small amethyst eye, glinting in the light. “Well worth it for you, Onyx Shard,” she murmured. She closed the box, and shoved it into her saddlebags. Then Mint Heart trotted towards the tavern.

Onyx Shard ambled through the town’s streets, heading for the Matchwood Inn. It was the closest thing to a café that Smallclover had, and he had to organize catering for the wedding. Humming an upbeat tune, he entered through the tavern’s saloon doors. “Hey Gold Scale,” he called.

“Hey hon!” she drawled back. “Heard tell you’re gettin’ married. Here to order the food?”

“Yeah,” Onyx said. “But I wouldn’t mind a beer or two in the meantime.” He tossed her a bit.

She caught it, and placed the gold coin in her pocket. “So what do you want today, hon? Everfree Ale? Red Mead?”

Onyx sucked air in through his teeth. “Ahhh . . . I’m feeling a Red Mead today, Scale.”

Gold Scale nodded, and reached for a mug. She opened a keg of the drink, and poured him a half pint of the dark red mead. Stopping the flow, she gave the mug to Onyx. “Here.”

Onyx took it gratefully, and took a swig. With a satisfied sigh, he casually looked around the tavern. It was busier than the last time he was here. “So, care to cater for us?” he asked. “We’re looking for the best. That you?”

Gold Scale glanced up at him, drying a mug with a rag. “Is that even a question? Hon, I’m the best baker in this whole town,” she boasted, swelling with pride. “My grandmother had the old recipes, the good stuff, and passed them down to me. I’ll pass them down to my children and to theirs too before I’m done. Flour runs like blood in our family.” She looked back down to her mug.

Onyx Shard smiled at her and took another drink. “Great! So what kind of wedding cake can you whip up for us? And how about the main course?” he asked. “I can pay well.”

“Of that I have no doubt. I heard about--” at that moment, a very distressed Little Snow burst through the tavern’s doors. They swung wildly behind her. “Hey hon, come take a seat at the bar!”

“Sorry Scale, no time,” Little Snow said curtly, shaking her head. She had a very anxious look about her. “Onyx, you need to come with me right now.”

Onyx stood just outside the tavern in the alley behind it, a heartbroken look spreading across his face. Forest Thorn stood beside him, face somber, and Little Snow beside Forest.

“Indeed. The caravan from Ironshod’s three days late. We didn’t think much of it, because of that heavy storm that rolled over from the Cyandorian Mountains. However, my rangers have reported seeing a huge plume of black smoke billowing from that direction.” Lord Frozen Lake stood before them, flanked by two armed guards clad in mail. “There’s no evidence of a raid on the road. The wagons never left Ironshod.”

“Hahhh. . .” Onyx fought back tears, shocked. Why there? Why did it have to be there?

Forest slung a hoof over his friend’s shoulder, sympathy in his green eyes. “I’m sorry, brother.”

Frozen Lake continued, “This is your first mission. Go to Ironshod, and tell me what you find there. I need to know what we’re dealing with.” He paused. “We must know who was responsible. A bandit attack is a serious matter, but if Cyandor’s at fault, this could mean another war. If that is the case, we must gird ourselves.”

His guards shifted uncomfortably.

While Forest Thorn quietly tried to comfort Onyx, Little Snow addressed Lord Frozen Lake. “Of course, my lord. We’ll find out who’s responsible.”

“Excellent. I know you won’t let me down,” Frozen said. He jerked his head down the alley, and his two guards trotted off. Before following them, he gave Onyx a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry. I know your family lived there, Solaire protect them,” he paused. “Find them if you can. Avenge them if you must.”

Mint Heart was headed for the tavern to speak with the bard when she saw her fiancée and her friends standing by the door. “Hey everypony! How are you guys?” Her cheery countenance fell when she saw the looks on their faces. “What happened?” Her tone grew serious.

Forest Thorn looked away.

Little Snow looked uncomfortable, shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. “We’ve got some bad news. . .”

Onyx looked at his fiancée, tears flowing from his angry yellow eyes. “We fear Ironshod was attacked. They saw smoke rising from the town, and we’ve had no road traffic from there since.”

Minty’s heart fell. She felt the sensation of a heavy weight in her stomach, the slow sense of horror emanating from her gut to the rest of her body. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry. . .” she said, closing the distance between them and embracing Onyx in a warm, tight hug. Tears fell from her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” She felt his body tense up, and a furious heat radiated from his body.

Onyx pulled away, blinking tears away from his downcast eyes. “We leave for Ironshod today. It’s our first mission, and we’ll find who did this.” He raised his eyes to meet Minty’s, liquid and full of anguish. “I’ll have justice by the end.”

“You’re not alone, brother,” Forest said, walking towards him. He put a hoof on his shoulder. “Come, it’s nearly one-thirty. We should get going if we’re to make it by nightfall.”

“I’ll get us provisions, I already have my saddlebags ready,” Little Snow said, jerking her head towards the Matchwood Inn. “You two go get geared up. We’ll meet here in half an hour.”

Onyx sniffed, and nodded. “We’ll be back sometime tomorrow, probably.”

Mint Heart caressed his red mane gently. “Make sure you do. Take care to come back to me, love.”

He took her hoof in his, and kissed it. “I swear it.” He turned, and cantered to his home, leaving Mint Heart standing in front of the tavern.

She sighed, and walked into the tavern. “Scale, give me the strongest thing you have.”

Wearing his grey traveling cloak, Forest Thorn stood alone in front of the Matchwood Inn, tapping his hoof anxiously. Where are they? He looked at the sun’s position, judging that it was about two-thirty. He huffed, and scanned the road again. He grimaced as he saw Onyx Shard approaching from the distance.

Clad in his boiled leather traveling armor and wearing his hoofblade and shield, he took long strides to reach Forest. “Where’s Snow?”

“I don’t know. She should be here by now,” Forest replied, glancing back up at the sky. “It’d be about two-thirty right now.”

After another ten minutes of waiting, she came galloping around the street corner. “Sorry I’m late!” Little Snow called. “I was getting my father’s sword.” She gestured towards her hoofblade. “Tough Nails’ still working repairs on mine.” She wore a grey aketon and her sword on her left hoof. She wore leather saddlebags and a determined look on her face.

“We ready?” Forest asked. He glanced at Onyx.

“Time to go,” he replied.

Forest led the way, with Little Snow behind him and Onyx taking up the rear. They traveled single file out the wooden gates of Smallclover, and made it past the last farms nearby at about three-thirty. The road wasn’t a difficult one, though the silence on the party made oppressive the atmosphere. An anxious mood lay over the members of their little company, each member wanting to get to Ironshod as fast as possible, yet wishing they’d never arrive. Soon the rolling hills and fields that surrounded Smallclover gave way to vibrant woodland, teeming with trees, foliage, and small animals crisscrossing across the road. All these simple pleasures were lost on Onyx Shard, who trod on with single determination, a burning anger, and a faint hope in his heart.

As the trees grew thicker and the sun began to set, the path started to follow a burbling stream. The sound of the cool water soothed their troubled hearts a small bit, and wordlessly they all stopped for a quick drink. Moving on, the road began to twist and turn through the dense woods, and Forest Thorn grew wary and kept on the lookout for any predators that may be lurking nearby. Nothing happened as the trees thinned again, greatly improving visibility. They kept their heads slightly down, and their pace was swift. They ate up miles quickly.
Darkness fell. When the forest dwindled away they knew they were getting close. They traveled across a winding road through hill-country, their way lighted by moonlight. As they crested a large hill, Forest saw the remnants of the smoke that Frozen’s scouts reported. He also saw the town it came from. He froze, and his heart plummeted so far down he was sure it was in his hooves. The village was utterly destroyed; what few buildings still stood were either charred wood or blackened stone, and all the rooves had caved in. No more great fires burned, though the smoke still rose from a few smoldering houses here and there. “Oh, no. . .”

“Is it that bad?” Little Snow asked as she reached the top of the hill. “Ah. . .” she said, experiencing much the same emotions Forest just did. She stood there shocked and in sickening confusion. “Who would do something like this? To a farming village?”

Onyx reached the top of the hill and beheld the sight that disturbed his friends so profoundly. His mood darkened further, and his flickering hope for his family was extinguished immediately. Fresh tears welled up from inside, but he shook his head and blinked them away. “Come, let’s take a look. We shall see what we shall see.” His voice cracked with grief.

He started down the hill. As Forest and Snow followed him, Forest noticed something moving around near the dilapidated buildings. “Hey!” he hissed, “movement in the village! Get down and follow my lead!”

Movement? A desperate hope flared in Onyx’s heart once more. Then there’s a chance. . . Snow and Onyx crouched, and followed Forest as he quickly but quietly picked his way down the hill, using shadows and tall grass to conceal his movements.

They reached the town and were once again filled with disgust and horror at the sight, this time up close. Charred corpses littered the ground, burned beyond recognition by the bloodthirsty flames. They crept through the ruins, taking great care to avoid the bodies of the fallen, edging their way ever closer to the center of the town. As they reached what used to be the alley behind the church, Forest saw a pony sauntering confidently across the road in front of them. He wore a padded leather jacket and a hoofblade on his foreleg. An unkempt mane hung raggedly on his shoulders, and he looked as if he hadn’t bathed in months. Forest held up his hoof, motioning for his friends to halt. He carefully edged closer along the stone wall, and perked his ears at the sound of talking.

“-another mare, hiding in the tavern’s cellars. A stallion was with her, little more than a colt, must’ve been her brother. He didn’t stand a chance!” the stallion laughed.

“Ha haha haw!” another voice. “Did ye bring ‘er up with the rest?”

“Naw, I didn’t wanna share. She put up a right good fight, nearly lost me jewels!” they guffawed some more. “I taught her a fine lesson after, though.”

Forest Thorn curled his lip in a disgusted sneer. Bandits. He looked back at his followers. They heard the conversation too. Forest only needed one quick look to understand that Little Snow and Onyx Shard were ready for blood, their faces were dark and eyes full of death. He silently jerked his head towards the church wall, and motioned with his hoof for them to go around the building to surround them.

Onyx and Snow nodded, and they quietly crept around the church. Forest waited ten seconds. When he was fairly certain his friends had reached their destination, he quietly approached the outlaws ahead of him.

“She was a fine catch, though.” The first bandit whistled. “Don’t think I’ve had tighter!”

The other slapped his hoof on his companion’s shoulder. “Nothin’ beats a lass’s first fuckin! Where is she now?”

“Naw, she’s dead. Tired to nip my-” he didn’t get a chance to finish. Forest Thorn had snuck up behind him, and in one quick motion rose to combat stance and plunged his blade deep into the bandit’s neck. His eyes widened in shock and pain, and red blood spurted all over Forest and the other outlaw.

“’Ey! You sticked me mate, we’ll stick you!” the other spat, furious, rising to fighting position and unsheathing his own slightly rusted blade.

Before he could swing it, a sword broke its way through his chest. “Not if I stick you first!” Little Snow sneered, ears splayed back. He looked down in confusion at the bloody sword poking out of his belly. Suddenly it disappeared, and Little Snow swung the hoofblade roundabout to lop the bandit’s head off. Red blood sprayed on her white face as her enemy’s head spiraled through the air before landing unceremoniously on the stone stairs to the church. Onyx Shard appeared behind her, shield and sword at the ready.

“Hoy, what’s goin’ on out there?” a voice hollered from within the burned-out church.

“Help! Help us!” a female voice screamed.

“Shut your bitch mouth, you!” Onyx heard a sharp smack and a whimper. His face twisted with rage, and he charged into the building, ears flattened, screaming bloody revenge as he went. Forest and Snow were right behind him.

Inside the church, most of the pews had been burnt to cinders. Five more bandits were inside, two at a game of dice on an overturned pew and two guarding the mares where the sanctuary once stood. Another was advancing to the doorway when Onyx charged in. His eyes widened in surprise, but before he could unsheathe his blade Onyx Shard leapt upon him. He stabbed his sword deep in the brigand’s chest, and with the force of his leap he tackled his foe to the ground. The stallion grunted and exhaled sharply, his eyes glazing over. Onyx pulled his sword out, and sprinted for the hostage guards, shield raised and screaming.

Forest and Snow made for the dice players. They got up as Onyx killed their friend, but Forest was faster. Right as the bandit unsheathed his blade, Forest sliced his neck open. The outlaw brought his hooves up to his neck in a vain attempt to stop the bleeding, and collapsed on his side. Forest ran right on past him to the hostage guards, determination in his eyes.

Little Snow swung her sword in an uppercut stab, which the other gambler barely parried in time. She quickly spun, slashing out with her hoofblade as she did so. It cut through her enemy’s chest, cleaving between ribs and through his soft flesh. The bandit swung again, but was unused to fighting a left-hoofed opponent. The swing was sloppy, and Little Snow easily parried and riposted, cutting deep into the bandit’s unprotected abdomen. His entrails spilled out on the floor, and a swift punch sent him sprawling out next to them. As Snow bounded after Forest, the bandit weakly tried to push his guts back in his belly, frightened and confused.

The hostage-guards had more time to get ready, though one of them seemed visibly shaken by how the battle was going. The other, clad in scorched mail pinched off one of the corpses, was clearly drunk. “Yew wanna fight? Come get one!” he slurred. He stepped down to swing his sword savagely at Onyx, who deflected it quickly with a strong shield bash. The force of his own swing rendered the bandit off-balance, allowing Forest to follow-up with a quick thrust to his unarmored neck. He struck true, and the bandit drowned on his own blood. He toppled to the ground with the sound of clinking mail, bleeding out.

The final bandit panicked, and tried to flee. He quickly scanned his opponents. He singled out Little Snow as the weakest, assuming the diminutive mare couldn’t stop him. He desperately bull rushed her, swinging his blade wildly.

Little Snow parried his sword, and with her right hoof punched him hard in his nether region. The bandit doubled over in pain, and stumbled to the ground. He fell down the sanctuary stairs, and lay there groaning. He recovered somewhat, and scrambled along the ground in an effort to escape, but Little Snow easily caught up to him. She stomped her left hoof on his back to pin him to the ground, and her right on his blade, preventing a counterattack. She brought her sword to his throat, letting it rest on his dirty fur.

Realizing the futility of the situation, the bandit accepted defeat. His tensed muscles relaxed under Little Snow’s iron grip, and he got back to moaning about his balls. Little Snow looked up at Onyx and Forest. “We should interrogate him. Find out what he knows.”

Forest stepped down to Snow’s level. “Good idea.” He craned his neck down so his head was very close to the bandit’s. “You’re going to be cooperative. You wouldn’t want to upset Lord Frozen Lake’s officers, would you?” he asked, flashing his badge.

“I-I didn’t do anything! I didn’t touch those mares!” he groveled, tears flowing freely from his eyes.

Little Snow grimaced. “Good. You know the punishment for rape is gelding.” She looked thoughtful for a moment, and then turned her cold blue eyes back to the outlaw beneath her. “You know, I don’t think I believe you.” She glanced at Forest. “Cut him.”

He sighed. “Why do they go bandit? It’s never worth it,” he mumbled, just loud enough for said bandit to hear. He brandished his hoofblade, and reached for the stallion’s manhood.

“aaAH! No! Please, no, I’ll tell you anything!” the bandit screamed, pleading for mercy. “Anything! Just don’t geld me!” In fear, he released his bladder’s contents on the church’s floor, further defiling the scorched and bloody flagstones. He was a sobbing, pleading, peeing mess under Little Snow’s unforgiving hooves.

While Snow and Forest got about the interrogation, Onyx started freeing the hostages. As he approached, all the mares backed up in fear, as far as their ropes would let them. “Don’t worry, I’m here to help,” he spoke softly, cutting the nearest line. “Come here, let me see if I can get those bindings off.”

As he said this, a shaky voice piped up from the back of the line. “Uncle Onyx? Is that you?” it quavered.

Onyx’s dying spark of hope reignited, and roared to life as a raging inferno in his chest. “Quicksilver?!” he exclaimed. “Quicksilver, you’re alive!”

“Yes, I’m alive, I’m fine!” she said, crying.

Onyx Shard quickly got about setting all the mares free, and after freeing the first six he reached Quicksilver. His sister’s daughter, she was a dark green young mare of about seventeen years with grey eyes and a grey mane and tail. He saw that her eyes brimmed with tears as she spoke. “I’m so glad you came! That you rescued us!”

Onyx sawed through her bindings, and gave her a deep hug. “Did they. . ?” He spoke unsteadily.

Even more tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat. She nodded her head and wept into her uncle’s shoulder.

Onyx gently caressed her mane, squeezing her tighter in his embrace. “They’ll never hurt you again, I swear.”

She nodded, staring at the bandits’ corpses scattered on the ground.

Forest Thorn reached into his saddlebags, and procured a coil of rope. He cut two short segments, and hobbled the last surviving bandit’s legs together. “Now tell me, and don’t lie, are there more of you hiding out in the village?” He stripped him of his hoofblade, deemed it recoverable, and stowed it in his saddlebags.

Little Snow twisted the hoof that was firmly implanted in the prisoner’s back. “I’ll know if you’re lying,” she said, flicking an ear. “If you are, we really will snip you.”

The bandit must’ve been no more than sixteen years old. His young eyes widened even further, his irises shrinking in fear. “Di-di-did you kill the two outside?” he stuttered.

Forest nodded. “Yeah. Friends of yours?” he asked.

The bandit shook his head vigorously. “No, no, not like that.” He looked up at Forest and Snow. “If you killed two out there, you’ve gotten all of us.” He sniffled. “Please don’t geld me! I didn’t touch them, I swear!”

Little Snow stepped off the bandit. “We’d better sweep the area, just to be sure,” she said, looking on the bandit with disdain. “Can’t trust his word.”

“Agreed,” Forest said. He turned back to face Onyx Shard. “Onyx, we’re going to go search for more bandits. You gonna stay and protect the mares?”

Still hugging his niece, Onyx cast his gaze over her shoulder to Forest. “Yeah. Go,” he said, tears of relief and fury in his yellow eyes.

Forest nodded, and he and Snow cantered out of the ruined church into the burned-out village of Ironshod.

Onyx turned his attention back to the mares he untied. “Stay near the sanctuary. If anypony else comes in here I’ll kill him,” he asserted. “None will lay a hoof on you.”

One of the mares nodded. “Thank you,” she said, gratitude in her teary eyes. She turned and gestured towards the back to the others. They followed her to the altar.

Onyx felt Quicksilver’s sobs wrack her body, and he felt a pang of sympathy for her. Poor filly. Gently, he stroked her mane. “Shhh. I’ve got you, you’re safe.”

She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. They got mom and daddy,” she said. “They killed them.”

Fresh surges of anger and grief gripped Onyx’s beleaguered heart, but he didn’t show it. He just kept stroking Quicksilver’s mane. “I know, dear, I know. But you don’t have to worry, we got justice. They’ll never kill anypony else.”

Quicksilver shook her head quickly, and pulled back from the hug. Holding Onyx’s shoulder’s at arms’ length, with angry, teary eyes she said, “No, you didn’t. Those bandits weren’t the ones who razed Ironshod.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “Men dressed in red, bearing white roses, led by a huge grey pony clad in black.” She flattened her ears and shut her eyes at the memory, quaking. “The screams. . .” she broke down into sobs once more.

Forest Thorn and Little Snow patrolled all around the town, scanning for signs of movement or danger. Forest stood on his hind legs, brandishing his blade and a torch to light the search. Snow followed on all fours as backup. It took them about twenty minutes and they found not a soul alive. Forest sighed. “Colt didn’t lie.”

Little Snow nodded. “Good,” she yawned, “then let’s get some rest. Pick up the search in the morning. We’ve been on our hooves all day.”

Forest nodded. “Go tell Onyx that we got all the bandits, then get some sleep,” he said. “I’d like to take another look around.”

Snow nodded. She turned around, and cantered back to the church building. The broken structure still had its bell tower intact, clad with stained glass windows. What stories they once told were gone, blackened from the smoke.

Forest walked slowly and carefully around the ruined buildings, carefully examining the wreckage as he went. He picked through the rubble of a few of the houses, pushing aside blackened boards and brushing away ashes.Bodies still indoors, most of them. The corpses’ skin had burned away, leaving scorched and cracked husks littering the ground, frozen in their death throes. Many were piled around where the doors had been. They tried to escape. Something stopped them.

Something wasn’t right. Forest looked around at the bodies, the houses, and the streets. He felt that something was . . . off. I’m missing something. He took a closer look. Forest picked through the rubble more thoroughly, lifting charred beams and brushing ashes away to see what lay beneath. He found an old trunk, partially concealed by ashes next to the destroyed wooden wall of what used to be a cottage. It was still locked. Why didn’t they take this? Did they miss it? It was locked, but heavily damaged by the flames. He kicked the top of the chest open, splintering the burnt wood under his hoof. Inside laid a small treasure trove; a copper goblet inlaid with four small garnets, a bag of bits, a small locket made of silver, and an intricately carved comb made of bone. Some villager’s lifesavings most likely. He frowned. They couldn’t have missed it, it wasn’t hidden at all. Why didn’t they take this?

Forest shook his head wearily. He sighed. It’ll all be here tomorrow. He extinguished his torch and walked back to the church. When he got there, he saw that Onyx Shard had started a fire at the foot of the sanctuary, and he stood watch over all the mares sleeping around it. Little Snow stood with him. Forest went over to Onyx and whispered, “Why don’t you get some sleep? You had it the hardest.”

Onyx looked gratefully at his friend. “Thanks.” He quietly went over to where Quicksilver was sleeping. “Oh, Forest,” he said, “Quicksilver told me the bandits didn’t attack the town. Not initially.” He paused. “She described them as men bearing red with white roses. Could only mean Cyandor.” He curled up next to Quicksilver’s sleeping form. “She said they were led by a huge pony, a beast of a stallion, clad in black.”

“I don’t know of anypony like that,” he replied.

“Me neither. We’ll look some more tomorrow.” Onyx closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Forest Thorn glanced over to Little Snow. “Hey, I can take the first watch. I’ll wake you up at about two,” he said, quietly.

“You sure?” Snow asked.

Forest nodded.

Snow flashed him a look of gratitude, and lay down where she stood. She sprawled out on the stone floor near the crackling fire and fell asleep quickly.

The last awake, Forest sat down a little ways off from the fire, stooped in shadow. He lifted his hood to cover his face. Eyes trained on the doorway, he thought about the bodies that lay outside.Mare and man both. He frowned. How did these mares survive? No men did. And why did the Cyandorians leave behind all that loot? It was just lying there for the taking! Deep into the night, Forest pondered the situation. It doesn’t make sense. There’s a piece of this puzzle we’re missing.

Solaire’s sun rose in the east, casting its warm rays through the church’s open doorway. Little Snow welcomed the warmth and the light, and got to waking up the rest. She prodded Forest’s sleeping form with her hoof. “Wake up.”

Forest’s eyes shot wide open, a little tired but alert. “Right. Let’s get Onyx up.”

He got up from his rest and stretched the sleep out of his stiff legs. Then he turned to his black friend and gently shook him awake. “Hey. It’s time to see what happened here, get up.”

Onyx opened his eyes, and saw that it was dawn. He shot up, indignant. “Why didn’t I take a watch? Why didn’t you wake me?”

Little Snow allowed herself a slight grin. “Because you needed a good night’s sleep. We’re all tired, but you were emotionally exhausted.” She cast her blue eyes over the hostage mares, who were just starting to wake up. “We can leave them here for now, they’ll be fine. Let’s go see if we can figure out what happened outside.”

Onyx Shard yawned. “Alright, let’s go.” Onyx gently shook Quicksilver awake. “We’re going to go search the town. Yell if you need us,”

She nodded her head, bleary-eyed.

Forest led the way, followed by Snow and Onyx. They started combing the village, picking through the dead bodies and the burnt rubble.

Onyx shook his head in disgust. “Look at this,” he said. “Over here.”

Forest cantered over, followed by Little Snow. “What’d you find?” Snow asked.

Onyx waved a hoof at the ruined building before them. “This used to be the garrison,” he said, pointing at the scorched and crumbling stone walls. “Look at all the bodies inside,” he said.

Forest took a look. “They’re all stallions, judging by their jawlines. All trying to escape through where the door was,” he gestured to their positions on the ground. “Must’ve been Lord Frozen’s soldiers stationed here. Cyandorians must've snuck in, probably disguised, hit them first.”

"Horrible way to die," Snow said.

Onyx nodded. “Let’s split up,” he said, “we’ll cover more ground that way.”

Snow and Forest nodded, and they separated. Onyx Shard took a closer look at the garrison, Forest went to see the remains of the town hall, and Little Snow picked around the houses.

“Onyx! Forest! Come here!” Snow called, waving her hoof. After searching for nearly two hours she was in the middle of what used to be one of Ironshod’s residential districts.

“What is it?” Forest called back. He cantered over to Little Snow, Onyx right behind him. “What’d you find?”

“Look,” Snow said, gesturing around her. She stood in the ruins of a particularly large house, what might have once been the home of a well-to-do merchant or craftspony. “See all the bodies?”

They nodded. “There are corpses all over, Snow,” Onyx said, a little irritated.

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I mean.” She waved her hooves to the charred dead around her. “Look at these,” she said, “no foals. And over there,” she pointed to the far side of the ruins. “No foals. And back there,” she pointed back towards where the church was. “No foals. None.”