Order in Chaos

Shadows were chasing him through a landscape he didn't recognize or remember how he got there. The white coated stallion remembered the swamp, he remembered the badlands and its meager base, but he didn't remember coming to the strange city that seemed like it was out of some fevered dream.

Tall spires clawed at the sky, ivory and white, though the strange atmosphere made them feel dingy, each one twisted, wrong, in its own way. In another light, or from another view the place could be majestic, almost like Canterlot, if that city evoked terror instead of wonder, madness instead of peace. Winding streets of broken stone curled around the lonely buildings of the seemingly abandoned city and he was forced to follow without know where he was being lead. He wasn't sure why but he had a suspicion that if he was caught by the shadows he would suffer some kind of unfortunate end.

Although the sun stood proudly over the husk of the city there was no warm, only an unsettling light that seemed to produce more shadows than it dispelled, dark tendrils that were never far from the unicorns flanks. He could feel a malevolent presence in the shadows, like the flickering darkness one always catches at the edge of their vision, but he couldn't pinpoint it. That is what drove his flight onward.

A wall of black flame erupted in front of Requiem sending him into a stumbling stop to avoid incineration; the cobblestones that made up the road cracking under the unnatural blaze. The flames gave off not heat, just like the sun above, but that was no comfort to the unicorn. The hair on the back of his neck standing on end as visions of death flashed in front of his eyes. The flames lunged at him like a starving beast as he tried to turn and run but he wasn't quick enough. One of the infernal tongues licked at the back of his left hoof, clinging to his body like oil, searing his coat and flesh as it danced up him. A panicked kick of his legs didn't help and Requiem could feel the flames crawl higher, so hot he felt closer to freezing than burning.

Desperate silver light flared around his horn in an attempt to battle the flames back with his magic and it almost seemed to work, but it was too late and he was too weak to stop the hungry blaze. Requiem held out as long as he could, but the combined pain and exertion brought him to his knees, then his head to the ground as darkness overtook him. The last thing he felt was the corrupting flames caressing his cutie mark.

* * *

“The news is favorable I hope, General,” Celestia turned her eyes down towards the stallion as he entered unannounced into the throne room.

“Is it some kind of holiday Princess,” Belial asked an eyebrow raised as his hoofsteps echoed throughout the room. “It's rare for all the pompery and hanger-on ponies to be missing from the court of the Princess.”

“Stop trying to avoid the question General,” Celestia's voice was flat. “What happens in my realm.”

“Your plans were successful in nearly every city in Equestria,” the general reported. “The garrisons in each of the major cities remain in control and better yet we have managed to capture some of the rebels,” he almost spit the word. “They have yet to give up their allies, but I'm sure with time and persuasion my guests will be ready to sing the names of the leaders of this little insurrection.”

“Some of? Those were not your orders General,” Celestia stomped her hoof against the brilliant white stones of her dais. “Am I to assume that some of them were killed while being detained? I hope nopony saw that.”

“No exactly Princess,” Belial told her taking a half step back. “My forces are moving in now to collect the ponies we have the names of, but there are rumors that there are more.” He could barely get the words out without stammering as Celestia's presence suddenly felt immense and terrifying. “They are only rumors,” he finished quickly trying to keep some of his dignity. “This movement will be over once we get the list of this misguided ponies.”

“Pray you are correct General,” the lady of Canterlot told him softly, struggling to keep herself collected. “I didn't call upon you to fail. If you do I will have to send you back to where I found you.”

“I believe that would be unfortunate for both of us Princess,” Belial replied, finding his nerve again, at least momentarily. “I am the only pony who can accomplish what you ask and would remain loyal, knowing what I do.”

“Yes I know,” Celestia sighed after a moment of thought. “I apologize for my outburst General, the stress of the situation and the concern I have for all my little ponies can move me to act unbefittingly of a Princess. Just remember,” she told him, standing up straight again, her mane dazzling behind her, “the most brilliant light created the deepest shadow. We must be vigilant to make sure all ponies can continue to thrive under my guidance, in my light.”

“Of course Princess,” he agreed forced to lower his eyes to the floor, her righteous presence blinding. “I will make sure there will be no mistakes moving forward.”

“That would be in your best interest General,” her voice had returned to it's even, regal tone. “Please inform me when your task is completed and not a moment before.

* * *

“We found him in the ruins captain.” the voices sounded distant and almost like they were underwater. “He was the only one,” the speaker sounded dejected. “And he isn't one of ours either.,” the words suddenly turned harsh.

“Hold on there Ember,” another voice entered the conversation, “look at him, he was as much a victim as our friends, maybe he was that new transfer.”

“Sorry, you're right captain,” the filly identified as Ember admitted, “it's just I . . .”

“We all lost friends. They knew what they were doing, just like you do.”

“Yes captain.”

“That doesn't mean we shouldn't take precautions,” the older sounding stallion told her. “Go ahead and use the restraints, he can tell us his story when he wakes up.”

For just a moment Requiem wanted wanted to let himself sink back into the darkness. He was exhausted trying to stay awake and it sounded like he would at least be safe here. That moment passed when he remembered the black flames tearing at his body and the strange lonely sun he couldn't seem to lose.

“No get away,” Requiem gasped stumbling up onto his forehooves. “Stay back,”

his voice barely cracked a whisper, but the two ponies in front of him seem more concerned by the black aura the enveloped his horn.

“Captain get back,” Ember thumped her superior with her flank, pushing him out of the way as a blast of inky ebony energy hit her, slamming her into the wall ten feet behind her. “Ugh,” her groan echoed though the room with the sound of her hitting the wall, her orange body sinking to the stonework floor.

“Kid calm down,” the captain shouted putting himself in between Requiem and the downed Ember. “Nobody here is going to hurt you. Why would we go to the trouble of pulling you out of the rubble if we were going to?”

Requiem paused for a moment, memories flooding back into his dazzled mind. He remembered the screaming of dying ponies, the thunderous explosion, and the deadly stillness afterwords. He wasn't sure how he survived it, but he had. The stallion looked over his body shakily, noting he didn't look any worse for the wear, until his gaze fell to his flanks. His cutie mark was gone, at least mostly, and his back legs and tail were covered in night black fur. He remembered the flames now, grasping and crawling up his pure white coat and his overworked body trembled.

The black aura around his horn flickered, then died, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he hit the ground once more. Still unsure of what the unicorn was capable of the captain kept himself between Requiem and Ember as he called for help for the injured ponies.

* * *

“I am going to have to insist you stay in the palace after you raise the moon Princess,” the deep blue coated pegasus addressed Luna. “Princess Celestia said nobody is to leave at the moment.”

“Don't think you can tell me what to do Nocturne,” Luna huffed as she brushed by the captain of her guard, unimpressed with his proclamation.

“Your sister is staying put as well,” Nocturne tried to explain befure his lady could take off into the night sky his amethyst mane brushed back by the princess's powerful wings. “You don't want to make Princess Celestia look bad do you? The last thing we need now is the two of you at odds.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Luna sighed and used her magic to shut the large windows that overlooked Canterlot from her room. “As much as it vexes me I will not go out as I normally do, but tell me Nocturne why are you here telling me what I should do? It is highly improper to enter a lady's room unannounced, especially a princess. You presume too much.”

“I meant no disrespect Princess,” his dark cheeks flushed even deeper in embarrassment. “I just wanted to keep drama in the palace to a minimum; as the head of your guard a peaceful palace makes things easier on me. I apologize for my selfishness,” he finished stiffly.

Princess Luna turned towards her guardian keeping the same level gaze Celestia was known for, but that lasted for all of a few seconds before a giggle rose from her throat, turning into a mirthful snort as it passed her lips. The alicorn shook her head briefly, mane dancing in the air, before her mysterious deep eyes turned to regard Nocturne.

“Do you find me that harsh a mistress captain,” she asked, trying to sound serious. “I know to Equestria as a whole I am seen as the more frightening of the Princesses, but I'd hope you knew better than that.”

“Of course not princess,” Nocturne tried to stop his blushing. Truth be told he had just been put in charge of her guard ponies and he still was trying to figure out his complex new mistress's moods. He had guarded VIPs in Cloudsdale before but this was entirely different. “I am just unsure of how things work here. The rulers in Cloudsdale are a bit more formal with their employees.”

“The pegasi there are a bit too full of themselves for my tastes. Arrogance and pride can only lead you down a dark path. One I know all the well,” she sighed to herself. “Just remember Nocturne, I can see the hopes and fears of anypony I wish and that is why I want to be out there now. I care about my realm as much as my sister and I can help in my own way.”

“I understand Princess,” he told her shifting from hoof to hoof. “Just promise you don't get bored and take a look into my dreams. I don't need to be embarrassed more than I am now.”

“You're dismissed captain,” Luna told him her laughter musical. “And if you're lucky the nightmare spinner Luna may not pay you a visit tonight.”

* * *

The presence of Princess Luna was missed that night, ponies tossed and turned since nopony was there to blunt the fears nighttime brought, something Luna had taken upon herself to do. Monsters crawled out of the darkest shadows, pegasi fell from their clouds somehow forgetting how to fly, and other ponies were lost in the woods by themselves unable to escape no matter how hard they ran. Nightmares ran rampant through the majority of Equestria, though for most ponies they had only seen that kind of terror in their dreams, few had truly experienced it while waking.

One of those ponies grimaced as he was prodded and poke by a stallion that had identified himself as a doctor and his assistant nurse. Both sets of his legs were shackled together and a cap placed on the end of his horn. Requiem couldn't fault them for the precautions, or the guards, he had just tossed one of their toughest ponies into a wall and nearly broke her legs.

“I still want to know where I am,” Requiem insisted trying to keep his voice calm, eyes on the medic. “Like I tried to tell you before I was carrying a package to the outpost under the orders of Princess.”

“Yes I know,” the doctor cut him off before he could speak more. “You don't need to speak her name here we all know who sent it.”

“I don't understand what's with the secrecy, all of your are obviously part of the military.”

“A military, yes,” the doctor correct him. “One that actually fights for Equestria.”

“You're not making any sense,” the stallion protested even as the red coated doctor prodded his flanks with his horn. “Who are you ponies and what do I not know,” his voice took on a sharper edge than he intended.

“More than you imagine kid,” the pony that had only been addressed as captain before announced, entering the room. “And like it or not, willing or not, you're part of it now. What have you found out doctor,” he turned to aske him before Requiem could get in any other questions.

“It's like nothing I've seen before Captain. Whatever killed our friends left nothing but bone, like some kind of starving beast. He was spared, if you can call it that,” he nodded his head towards the now ink black flank that looked like it had been clawed at by the flames. Underneath that was only the faintest idea that he ever had a cutie mark. “I've tried all I know but nothing has removed the,” he struggled for the right words, “stain.”

“That is a tragedy,” the captain replied glancing from the doctor to the injury. “Another we'll have to pay back.”

“You two know I'm not dead, right,” Requiem told the two stallions, “and if anybody is going to be settling debts its going to be me.”

“I don't know if you should say that so impulsively kid. You don't know who'll be paying up.”

“It doesn't matter,” Requiem snorted suddenly irritated at the secrecy and his treatment. It was an anger more intense than he had ever felt and he wanted somewhere to direct it. “Whoever did that to those ponies deserves it.”

“I like the conviction son,” the captain turned to actually address him. “And everypony here shares that same sentiment. The question is do you really mean it?”

“OF course I do. Now tell me,” he could feel the anger rising, but didn't notice that even with the inhibitor on his horn the black glow surrounded it. “Who did this to all those ponies?”

“Celestia,” the captain told him, both he and the doctor taking a cautious step back.