Shadows of War

The air didn't smell right in this part of the forest, nor did it feel right Twilight thought; it smelled of death and decay. It was far darker here as well; the sunlight was blocked by the canopy; in places, Twilight needed to use her magic to see. Unseen eyes where on her, they could have beast or ghost for all she knew. Even the Everfree didn't feel like this. Maybe there more to that old mare's tale

Battlesong and Golden seemed on edge as they walked. Neither spoke but their ears twitched every now and then. Golden would sniff the air every few feet, and stare into the darkness for a moment. "Most likely rabbit or wolves." Golden's voice broke the silence.

"Aye, still unsetting. This road has changed from the last time we walked it, Nearly unnaturally so." Battlesong replied.

Maybe we should turn back, not like a few days is going to matter in the long run. Twilight was about to say when she heard the sound of rushing water. Not long after the moss covered stone bridge came into sight. Trees hung over the river letting only a sliver of light in. An ancient rusted blade rested on one left side. This made a pit form in Twilight's stomach, even if she didn't know why.

"Seem in good shape, so let's get across," Battlesong said.

Twilight didn't mind feeling the hard stone under her hooves, or sound of the water. Her hoof hit something hard in a patch of moss. At first, she thought it was white rock, but soon knew it was a bone. If it was pony or beast she couldn't tell only that she couldn't get out of this place soon enough.

Its an old bridge, surely a few wolves have used it over the years, one must have carried its prey over at some point. Twilight reasoned. A shadowy formed catch her eye, it was a way down the river. With the darkness, it could have been anything from a rabbit to wolf.

Once on the other side of the river, they walked for what felt like hours till they came to a run-down old cabin. "Glad it still standing, what do you say we rest here for the night. As if I'm right the sun should be going down soon, and I don't much fancy walking this forest at night."

Twilight couldn't argue with that, even if she would have rathered to keep going in hopes of reaching the end of the King's Wood before morning.

Inside the cabin were twos beds, an old table, a bow and a quiver of arrows. A few pelts hung on the walls, and the hearth laid long unused. "I'll get some wood for a fire," Golden said, before leaving Twilight and Battlesong.

Battlesong went over to the table and dusted it off before placing his saddlebags on it. He then started to dig into them looking for something, he hummed to himself as he did.

Twilight walked over to a cracked window near the back of the cabin. It was dusty and hard to see through, but she could make out an old well, and a small overgrown garden around the back. It looked to have many large green vegetables and a few ripe tomatoes, nor then likely Golden would pick a few if for their meal tonight. After Golden return and the fire had started, and the meal was cooked they set about sleep.

Twilight dreamed she was in the Canterlot Castle Library reading over the history of Equestria.

She had read it many times before and knew every word. She could have most likely told it word for word if tested on the matter. However, she came upon a small foal looking up opposite of her.

The foal was an alicorn filly with bright golden eyes, with a mane to match, her wings were strange seeming to have an ethereal glow to them. "Have you seen my brother around?" She asked with a look of sadness. "I can't find him."

Twilight glanced around the library in the hope of spotting her brother, only to find them alone. She looked back at the filly and smiled, "I'm sure we can come let see if around. So what’s your name?"

"Veritas,"

"Nice to meet you I'm Twilight."

Then Veritas followed Twilight as they looked all around the castle, each room, and wing. She would have asked one of the Royal Guards to help, but she couldn't find any, even the servants had seemed to disappear. It didn't matter, however, as Twilight knew the castle better them most of them. She doubted that very many had been allowed in many of the closed off rooms or the east wing with all artifacts. She didn't think Veritas's brother would be there, but she checked all the same.

As with the rest of the castle, there was a not a pony to be found, and before she could think of another place to look, she awoke to a tapping sound. Golden was on the other in a deep sleep, and Battlesong had fallen asleep next to the heath with his lyre in his hoof. So it was clear neither of them was making the tapping sound.

Twilight listen for a while unable to find where it was coming from but soon it stopped. It could have been in her mind she reasoned, or some animal. Either way, she didn't sleep for the rest of the night.

The next day they set out early, the paths were worse than the previous day, and the feeling of being watched was nearly overpowering. Every tree had eyes, and every shadow moved. Twilight knew it silly but it didn't stop her mind for thinking of monsters in the woods.

They came to a sharp turn in the road, "This isn't right..." Battlesong looked a bit lost. "This road should continue straight on till we reach the edge of the King's Woods."

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked.

"Aye, this ain't right."

They turned down the old path, that seemed to become darker the further they went. The trees seemed deformed and the ground was dry and dead. However, none said a word but it was clear to Twilight that both Battlesong and Golden felt the same unease she did.

"Huntress have mercy," Golden said as he passed into a clearing.

Twilight didn't understand till she passed into the clearing. The bones of countless ponies, lay strewn about. Arrows, rusted swords broken bows, spares and bit of ancient armour laid scattered over the whole of the area. At the heart was an out of place cave.

The whole clearing reeked of death, sulfur, and corruption. Twilight turned to find eyes staring at them. She quickly looked all round at every part of the clearing there were eyes, some low to the ground others at eye level with her.

She could find her voice but the others were aware of them as well, the three backed away from the tree line as a large beast stepped out from where they had entered. It was no wolf, bear, or dragon; it was something that Twilight couldn't understand. Its eyes glowed with madness, hunger, and lust. It had an aura of death about it, and it's breath smelled of death.

Fir... no... arca... Twilight couldn't put thoughts together. So she did the only thing that came to mind, to fired a blot of magic at the thing, but it did little more than blowing it fur. She took hold of as many weapons as she could and fire them toward the beast. All that happened was for them to shatter upon its fur.

Golden took a step forward only to then start backing away. None could form words as the beast and the shadows moved closer pushing them toward the cave. The smell of sulfur becoming stronger as they were forced back. Each hoof step brought them ever closer and closer to the mouth of the cave.

Twilight let less spell after spell, but none had any effect on this thing. For that matter it seemed to amuse the monster, it looked at Golden and Battlesong like prey and to Twilight as if she was a plaything. As she hoof hit the felt the first stone of the cave, she stopped. She knew another step would be the end of them and any hope they had to flee.

The beast was only a feel feet from them, smelling, and licking its lips. Only to step as he got a good look at Twilight. It was then its eyes showed something new, confusion and then fear as it backed away. Then the shadowy forms did the same.

As the beast went back into the woods, felt like this was not the last time she would come face to face with this thing. The look it gave Twilight chilled her to, it was as if to say next time it would stop and would have its prize.

"What... what was that?" Twilight found her voice at last.

Battlesong was pale as he spoke. "That... was a very old... and powerful Devight. How it is here I do not know, or why it didn't feast on Golden and I and have its fun with you I do not know. However, let’s get out of here before it came back."

Twilight didn't need to be told again, neither did Golden the three ran east through the thick trees and brushes earning more than a few cuts as they did. However, none of them cared all that mattered was getting out of the King's Woods. They ran till their legs hurt but kept going, they ran till they came into an open field filled with sunlight, and kept going till they couldn't walk another hoof.

There they rested, not speaking, only trying to catch their breath. A powerful, bone-chilling wind roared through the wood and the field. After sometime Twilight finally was able to think again. "Why didn't my magic work?"

Battlesong and Golden gave no answer as they sat there watching the tree line for a long while. At least Battlesong broke the silent. "Only a few ponies can tell you... one of which we're going to see soon."