Lunaris

Chapters

Chapter I - Lower the Stars
Chapter II - Auris
Chapter III - Into the Fires
Chapter IV - Eclipsed
Chapter V - Hollow
Chapter VI - The Caverns
Chapter VII - The Eye of the Storm

Chapter I - Lower the Stars

It wasn’t always this way.

To say things used to be a lot more calm would be an understatement. It’s unknown when it began. Some say a hundred years. Some say a thousand. Some say a million. What is known is that it wasn't like this a long time ago.

Lunaris. A land of eternal night and eternal frost. A land of ferocious beasts and powerful magic. Only those with an enormous amount of strength and willpower could venture out of their hometown and brave the horrors of the Lunaris wilderness. Ponies have been told since they were foals to never attempt to go out in the wilderness alone. Those unprepared either never come back, or become too traumatized to tell the tale.

Who is to blame for this? Nopony knows. Some blame Nightmare Moon, who has taken control of this land many years ago. Some blame a pony named Twilight Sparkle and her group of friends for failing to defeat Nightmare Moon, leading to her rise. Some blame Princess Celestia, rumored to reside in the moon, for failing to tend to her sister. Some even believe that this was meant to be, that this is just a dark chapter in the history of ponykind.

Lunaris seems like an old pony’s tale. A tale about a desolate and dangerous land littered with a few villages and settlements, and occasionally a big city. But this is far from an old pony’s tale. This is real, and the danger is even more awful than one can imagine.

Lunaris is a land of struggles, but also a land of hope. Hope that one day, one day, the chapter of Lunaris will come to a close, and a new era of prosperity will arrive.

They’ve hoped for what seems like eons at this point, but to no avail.

She took a deep breath as she took in her surroundings. Trees… and snow, as far as the eye can see. She had no destination in mind. No idea where she was, nor did she have a goal in mind. Just wander until a settlement is discovered, and repeat the process. She was nothing but a lost soul in a dangerous world.

This was nothing new to her though. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

She looked into the small frozen pond in front of her, and stared deep at her reflection.

She was a bat pony, dark blue as the midnight sky above her. Her rough dark green mane draped over her her head like a wet mop, snowflakes speckled all around it. She ran a hoof through it, cleaning all the snowflakes out. She wore gold spiral-shaped earrings, and had a grey cape with a collar draped over her. She adjusted the cape and continued staring.

Probably her most dominant feature were her eyes. They were deep purple pools of beauty. They almost seemed to have a beckoning nature to them, almost as if they were begging for the viewer to get lost in them. Even looking at her reflection, she couldn’t help but feel compelled by those two pools of purple.

She turned west and started trotting… and trotting… and trotting…

For how long she trotted, she didn’t know. She was all alone. Just her and her thoughts.

And that was all that she needed.

She was never bothered by the chilly weather. Months of wandering desensitizes you to it. She definitely felt it, the cold air drafting around her, the snow crunching beneath her hooves, the freezing wind that made her cape flutter, but her body and mind refused to give in to nature’s wrath.

After possibly hours of trotting, she decided to take a break and sat under a tree. She set her leather saddlebags to the side, taking note of the name stitched on them.

Mythic Azure

It was an interesting name. She always wondered why she was called that. It was practically a riddle to her.

She leaned back on the tree and closed her eyes, ready to drift off to sleep.

CRACK!

The sudden sound made her jump. She quickly stood up and looked around for the source of the sound.

Just a few hundred feet away from her was the roaring beast of a timberwolf.

The timberwolf made a mad dash to Mythic. She had no weapons on her, and no skills in fighting. She had no possible way to defend herself. She stared right at the dashing timberwolf.

And then her eyes began to emit a purple mist.

“Halt!”

The timberwolf heard the voice echo in his head. He suddenly felt a strange foggy sensation inside his mind. His thoughts were going muddy. He couldn’t do anything but slow down and stand in front of his prey.

His prey just stood there, still as a statue, mist emanating from her eyes. She was right there! He could snatch her up in less than a second! Why couldn’t he move!? Trying with all his might to move, it proved to be fruitless. If anything, it just made the foggy sensation even more prevalent.

“There’s no prey here. Turn yourself around and go home.”

The words echoed in his head again. Of course there was prey here! It’s right in front of his face! Every instinct was telling him to fight it. He tried with all of his will, but it was futile. Her power was too strong. He gave up after a couple minutes, and he was finally able to move, but he moved away from his prey. The farther he moved away, the less foggy his mind was. When he was finally free, he ran away, not looking back.

Mythic’s eyes returned to normal, and she breathed heavily. Her head gave heavy pounds. Timberwolves almost never give up that much of a fight. She took some deep breaths as she gathered up her will and relaxed. The pounding in her head ceased, and she gathered up the strength to go back to her tree.

She slumped back and sat down under the tree. She looked up at the tree she was under. Like all the other trees, it was tall. Taller than she could imagine. Probably reached into the clouds. It was almost surreal staring at the mile-high trees. It brought her a strange sensation of peace.

“Pardon me, Miss.” A voice said.

She jumped as she heard it. A relatively young orange pegasus stallion had come up to her while she was trying to relax. He had some golden armor on and carried a spear with him.

“I-I’m sorry. Who are you?” Mythic asked.
“Private Arctic Shiver. Pleased to meet you. I noticed the way you stared down that timberwolf earlier. Pray tell, are you a psychic?”
“I doubt that anypony but a psychic would defeat a timberwolf just by staring them down.”
“Well I must say I’m very impressed. What’s your name, Miss?” Arctic asked.
“Mythic Azure. And thank you. I take pride in defeating my enemies with just a flick of my brain.” She said with a smile.

Arctic gave a chuckle. “Well you certainly do a good job at it. Anyways, I just wanted to ask you if you needed any help. I noticed you out here and wanted to see if you require any assistance.”
“I take it that’s your job. Helping others in need.”
“Correct. Been doing it for about a year. It’s dangerous, but it’s rewarding to see those ponies being guided to safety.”
“It’s good to see there’s still a few glimmers of hope in this world. It’s a rare virtue in Lunaris.”
“Indeed. I’m surprised that you view me so kindly. Most ponies have a hard time trusting me. They think I’m just here to rob them or something.”
“Trust me. I know if a pony has evil intentions.” She said with a wink.
“I see what you mean. Do you still need help, though?” He asked.
“Not right now. But definitely keep doing this. You’re a good pony. Keep that with you, and don’t lose it, no matter what.”
“Thank you, Miss Azure. You’re one of those wanderer folk, aren’t you? Don’t really have any set destination?”
“Nowhere but wherever my mind takes me. Where you from?”
“Auris. A village a couple hours from here. I’d be glad to take you there if you’d like. It’s relatively safe.”
“I’m good. I’m already going there actually. Perhaps I’ll see you there.”
“Alright then. Just stay safe. And keep those brain juices flowing.” Arctic stated with a smirk.
“Oh I will. Farewell, Mr. Shiver.”
“Farewell, Miss Azure.

And with that, he trotted off into the cold mist. Mythic found herself alone again. She wrapped her cape around herself as she felt herself growing drowsy again.
She curled up and closed her eyes, allowing the warm embrace of slumber to take over her soul.

Mythic never exactly “dreamed” in the traditional sense. Being a psychic, her dreams were a lot more… controlled.

All she could see was pitch blackness. Nothing but an eternal abyss of darkness. She flexed her mind and brought forth light. As the light slowly came into fruition, she knew where she was.

The Astral Plane.

Here was where her powers were manifested entirely. Here was where she retreated when she needed to meditate and think deeply. Here was a world that simultaneously existed in her mind, in everypony’s mind, in Lunaris, and in another dimension entirely. Here was a world she could bend to her will.

All around her, stars danced across the realm. She always felt entranced by them. They seemed to give her hope and determination, something she values on a journey through the treacherous forests of Lunaris. She seemed to be standing on an invisible floor. Stars danced and twinkled under her hooves. Mystic willed the floor to become visible.

It wasn’t much. A transparent light blue platform that seemed to stretch on to infinity. She took a deep breath and prepared herself.

She opened her mind and concentrated on trying to receive some sort of message or a sign.

“My name is Mythic Azure. I need to know what my purpose is. Please help me…”

Every time she slept this would be her request, and every time she would get the same answer. An answer that has haunted her for years.

“Lower the stars.”

Eventide never really believed in fate. She always thought that the only two periods that existed were the past and present. As far as we know, the future does not exist. The notion that a pony has a “destiny” of some sorts was something she always found silly. A pony doesn’t have a purpose unless they make themselves a purpose.

She looked down at her robe. The blue fabric immediately stood out to anypony who happened to come across her, especially her brooch, her name under the crest of the Lunar Mages. That moon crossed with a unicorn horn struck fear into the hearts of many. Gold locks peeked out through the hood.

She used to view this robe as a blessing. Something that showed her authority and power. Now she views it as a symbol of her past life. Nothing but a curse wrapped around herself.

And yet she still wore it. The cold would be too much for her if she took it off. She bore it like a badge of shame.

It must’ve been a day since she left. They were coming for her. She knew how they were. And they won’t give up until their job is done.

She kept trotting along the snowy forest. The nearest town was only a couple hours away from here. Her whole body ached from fighting the hellhounds earlier. She didn’t know how much longer she could bear it. Just a little bit farther.

And then she heard it. The sound of a horn glowing with magic. They were here.

She rolled out of the way just in time when a green beam of magic blasted through where she was previously standing.

She turned around and caught a glimpse of two Lunar Mages. A purple stallion and a red mare.

“Funny. I thought you would have brought more of the guild with you. What happened to them?” Eventide said to them.

The two ponies trotted over to her. “Listen here, you bloody traitor! Nopony betrays Her Majesty and lives to tell anypony else the tale! You hear?!” The stallion said.
“You rehearsed that, didn’t you?” Evertide said.
“...Yes I did.” The stallion said.
“You always were the timid one, Tidal Comet.” she said.

Eventide turned to the mare. “And you, Serenity. The one who could barely form a sentence together.”
Serenity bit her lower lip. “B-But I-I…” She trailed off.
“Look, you two are fine magicians, but are you two really the best General Polaris could send after me? I am truly disappointed.”

“More are coming. Just wait…” Tidal said.
“Right. Can we just cut to the part where we shoot colorful lights are each other?” Eventide asked.
Tidal sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

They all stood backed away from each other until they were a few yards apart. Their horns each lit up one at a time as they all tapped into their magic. They stood like this for a while, the only sound being the howling of the frosty wind. They waited intently for the first spell to be cast.

Eventide was no stranger to magic duels. She practically engaged in one every day as part of her training. Whether it was against a monster the mages had captured, or against one of the instructors, she was well known for being able to hold her own.

It was Serenity who broke the silence with a large green beam of magic shot directly at Eventide. She immediately conjured up a barrier that reflected the beam right back at them. The two rolled out of the way as the beam left a noticeable burn on a tree. Tidal began galloping toward her, his horn ablaze as he readied a powerful spell. Eventide braced herself as Tidal fired a powerful shield breaker spell at her. The blue blast connected with the barrier. Eventide tried with all her might to keep it up. Despite her impressive hold, she was quickly knocked away as a bolt of lightning suddenly blasted her. She heard Serenity give a chuckle as Eventide stood back up.

Eventide charged up her horn and shot a blast of fire at Serenity. Serenity shot a bolt of lightning which collided with the fire. Eventide concentrated as hard as she could, while Serenity continued to push her bolt of lightning toward her with all her might. It was an impressive display of magical prowess, neither one of them giving in.

Tidal shot a beam of magic at Eventide. Not making the same mistake twice, she divided her focus to combating the lightning and deflecting the beam. The lightning slowly drew closer to her as she conjured up the barrier again. Just before the lightning caught up to her, Eventide deflected the beam to Serenity, making her stunned. As she was stunned, her hold on the lightning weakened, allowing Eventide to gain the upper hoof and blast the fire at her. Serenity was blasted back into the snow, her robe and mane singed. She tried with all her might to get up, but to no avail.

Tidal seethed with rage. “Now you’re gonna get it!” He shouted. He dashed over to her and violently blasted Eventide with a wave of magic. She flew back but managed to land on her hooves. She conjured up a large ball of magic and sent it flying towards him. Tidal slashed with his magic, sending the ball back at her. Eventide conjured up a magic forcefield, but when the ball connected, it was absorbed into the shield, turning the hazel color to a brilliant blue. She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, concentrating as hard as she could to keep the magic contained. The shield sparked and vibrated as Eventide maintained it. After a few seconds, she forced the magic out, sending a brilliant blast of blueness barreling through the air. It hid Tidal like a brick blasting him away and leaving him buried in the snow.

Eventide panted heavily as she trotted toward the two defeated magicians lying in the snow. “Well then, it’s no wonder you guys want me back so badly.” Eventide gloated.
“Just wait. There’ll be more, and they will be a lot stronger…” Tidal warned as he struggled to get up.
“P-Please don’t h-hurt us a-anymore…” Serenity whimpered.

Eventide glared at the two. They looked so helpless. How could she just abandon these two rookies to die? She took a deep breath and helped the two up.

“There’s a small village about two hours from here. Auris. The way there is not very dangerous. If you’d like, I’ll lead you there and you can rest up.” Eventide said in a monotone voice.

“H-Huh? Why are you offering us this? We tried to kidnap you?” Tidal asked.
“I just… I can’t leave you two here to die. You’re too young. The least I could do is just guide you to a safe place.” Eventide said, struggling a little bit to get the words out.
“T-Thank Y-You…” Serenity and Tidal both whimpered while Eventide helped them up.
“But I swear, if either of you attempt to harm me again, I will not be as forgiving!” Eventide said as the two nodded.
“I’ll give you a moment to recover, and then we’ll head out.” She said.

She sighed as she sat down against a large rock. She reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a necklace. It was a ray of light studded with sapphires. Her mind flashed back to when her mother had given it to her about 3 years ago for her 25th birthday. She felt strangely at peace while looking at it. She turned the ray of light over and read the inscription on the back of it. The phrase had confused her for years. She had thought about it often, and yet she had no answer for it.

“Lower the stars.”

“How much longer, Parallax?” He asked.
“About five hours. Just hang in there, Plaster.” Parallax said.
“It’s been a day since we’ve left. I’d imagine this criminal we’re tracking down has left Auris by now.” Plaster said.
“I’ve done this many times before. They’re almost always in the nearest town. Too stupid to even try to escape. Plus you heard what the Captain said. Don’t stop until he is arrested. Kill if you have to.”

Parallax ran a hoof through his teal-colored mane. The bitter cold crawled over his body, although he shrugged it off. Braving harsh weather was an integral part of his training after all.

“Nature nipping at your muzzle, Lax?” An older pony asked.
“This isn’t even half of what it normally is.” Parallax muttered.
“We better get a warm cup of cider in front of a fireplace when we’re done with this job.” The older pony said.
Parallax couldn’t agree more. Having a nice warm mug of cider and taking a nap in front of a fireplace was the only thing he really wanted at the end of this.
“You can say that again, Topaz. I rarely ever get a chance to relax. It’s always the same damn thing. Guard Fillydelphia and sometimes go catch a criminal. I’m honestly sick of it.” He said.
“Why don’t you just quit?” Plaster asked.
“Because it’s the only good-paying job suitable for me in this Celestia-forsaken hellhole.”

The three stallions trotted through the snow for a long time. Parallax grew increasingly tired with each passing minute. He was so close though. It’d all be over soon. Just hang in there…

“You two holding up okay?” Parallax asked. Plaster and Topaz both nodded, clearly tired, but still finding the strength to trudge forward.

“It seems… Awfully calm to be quite honest.” Parallax said.
“What do you mean?” Plaster asked.
“Have you noticed we haven’t fought anything except for a couple manticores? It just seems… odd.”
“Indeed it does. I don’t like it one bit.” Topaz said with much concern.

The wind gave a loud howl that made them all jump.
“What in Tartarus was that!?” Parallax exclaimed.
“It’s probably just a really strong gust. Doubt it’s anything to worry about.” Plaster said.
Parallax sighed. “You’re right. Let’s just keep moving on.”
The continued on their way, going a little faster.

And then a loud yelp was heard.

All three of them drew their swords. “Okay, now we have a bloody problem.” Parallax stated.

They each stood on their guard, inspecting their surroundings. “Everypony be careful. I think we have company.” Parallax said. He slowly took a couple steps forward, being as quiet as possible.

Another loud yelp was heard, this time a lot clearer.

“Sounded like a dog.” Plaster whispered.
“Indeed it did…” Parallax agreed
They all adjusted their silver armor, making sure they were ready in case worse comes to worst.

A snarl was heard a couple hundred feet away from them.
“Definitely a dog.” Parallax whispered.

The wind suddenly stopped. All that could be heard was the sound of their breaths and the occasional snarl.

Only it started getting closer. And their breathing got heavier.

Until finally the foul beast revealed itself from behind a tree.

It was a large, black dog. It’s hair was very mangled, giving it a very roughed appearance. It also looked very ghastly, something that clearly wasn’t from this world.

But it’s eyes. Those piercing red eyes. Those bright bulbs of crimson. Those glowing spheres of terror.

They all fell silent as soon as they had seen it’s eyes. Fear was jabbed into their minds like a wooden stake. Their heart dropped and filled with absolute horror. Even Topaz, who rarely ever experienced true fear, was practically shaking.

They were looking at a hellhound.

Upon viewing the three ponies, the goddess-forsaken mutt tilted its head back and howled. It was the most awful sound they had ever heard. It was the standard howl of a wolf, only it sounded it came deep from the pits of Tartarus itself. It was almost like a cry of pain, like a soul was trying to escape. All three of them stood completely still, trying to gather up the courage to attack the beast.

Finally, Plaster raised his sword, and the hellhound gave a terrible growl. The mutt suddenly dashed toward them at breakneck speed. The hellhound lunged at Plaster, ready to attack. Plaster swung his sword at the foul beast and managed to slash him out of the way. Parallax then dashed toward the hellhound and gave his sword a powerful swing. He wasn’t so lucky though, as the hound knocked him over into the snow at a terrifying speed.

“Lax!” Topaz shouted.

His head spun as he lay in the snow, bleeding a little from his hooves. He slowly felt himself slipping away from consciousness. The last thing he saw before he fell was the screaming of Topaz and Plaster.

He woke up hours later, exactly where he was before. He looked around for his friends. “Topaz!? Plaster!?”

No answer. He didn’t even see a single trace of them.

Using all of his strength he quickly got up and picked up his sword. He limped over to the nearest tree and leaned against it.

Until he heard a growl right next to him.

Quickly, he turned around and saw the awful rotten face of the hellhound. It was visibly weakened, presumably from when it was fighting Topaz and Plaster. He held on tight to his sword. The hellhound pounced on him and knocked him over. The beast tried to attack his face, but he managed to constrain it with his hooves and throw the ferocious mutt to the side. The hellhound gave a pitiful whimpered. He then sliced the beast a few times and stomped it until it was dead.

He collapsed to the ground and breathed heavily. It was over. He called out for Topaz and Plaster, shouting their names at the top of his lungs.

No answer.

They were either killed and taken away, or they left him for dead. He began sobbing. They were gone. And he was all alone. Why did he kill the hellhound? Why couldn’t he just have let himself die at the paws of that beast.

He looked up at the sky. The stars twinkled and glowed immensely. It reminded him of something. Something his father had once told him before he began training for the guard. Something he had been puzzling for years.

“Lower the stars.”

Lunaris
A My Little Pony fanfiction by Madame Ponka

Author's Note

I'd like to thank my friends Sinny, Tai, Aquila, Heros, and most of all my boyfriend Michael. They've helped me start this project, and I look forward to continuing it.

I know things might be a bit confusing and weird so far, but trust me, it'll get a lot better once things get going. I plan to have the second chapter out in December.

Take care. <3
~ Ponka

Chapter II - Auris

Eventide looked down at her cider glass. Almost empty. She blew through cider faster than she’d like to admit. It wasn’t necessarily good for her magic, especially when she was being hunted, but sometimes one needs to drown their fears with an ice cold glass of cider.

Aurelius was a big tavern in a small village. It was practically the only thing Auris was known for. Ponies from all over Lunaris flocked to Aurelius for some of the best cider and mead in the land. Her eyes scanned her surroundings. Most of the patrons consisted of ponies that were too drunk off their flanks for their own good. Lunaris had no shortage of these types.

What had caught her eye though was a strange bat pony. Unlike most ponies, she wasn’t drowning herself In booze. She hadn’t even ordered any alcohol. From the time she first laid her eyes on her, she could tell what she was. She was one of those “psychics”, or “mind-meddlers” as General Polaris called them. She had been trained to hate them and fight against them. They were one of the few types of ponies in Lunaris who weren’t afraid of the Lunar Mages. If anything the Lunar Mages were afraid of them.

She got up from her table and went to the front counter. She gave the bartender her mug and the 10 bits for a refill. She sat next to the bat pony.

“Eventide, is it? One of the best Lunar Mages. Well, formerly,” the psychic said.

Eventide rolled her eyes. “No sense of privacy, eh?”

“It’s easy to read your mind when your body is overflowing with cider,” the bat pony said with a smirk.

“You got me there. And you are?”

“Mythic Azure. I don’t do much except wander this dark frozen wasteland in search of an answer to all this. Why are we all here?”

“So not only do you have no sense of privacy, but you’re also a pretentious philosopher,” Eventide said.

“You could say that,” Mythic said.

“Let me guess, you’re also an egghead.”

“You’re catching on, Eventide.”

“You psychic folk are always the same, I swear,” she said.

“When you can single-handedly destroy armies with a thought, you become a lot more… introspective.

“Right. Have you ordered anything?” Eventide said.

“I don’t do alcohol unless I’m having a garbage night. You can probably guess why.”

“Being intoxicated probably does wonders for you,” Eventide said sarcastically.

“Oh you don’t even know. One time I set a bar in New Ponyville on fire.”

“Damn…”

“Yeah. I had a bounty on my flank for six months after that. Couldn’t go anywhere near New Ponyville for a long time.”

Eventide gave a chuckle as she took another swig of cider. “So why are you here if you aren’t interested in alcohol?”

One of the bartenders came and placed a slice of raspberry cake next to Mythic.

“Aurelius has amazing dessert.” Mythic said.

“You can say that again.”

Mythic took a deep breath as she started eating the cake. She looked over to Eventide as she took another swig of cider. “Do you ever just stop and think about why it’s like this? Why Lunaris is the way it is?”

“The way I see it, we’re all just stuck in a loop. It’s been this way for who knows how long, and in the end we’re all just struggling to survive,” Eventide said with a burp.

“I see what you mean. For generations we’ve all been stuck in a constant battle between our will to survive, and those that want to take that will away,” Mythic said.

“It’s been said that things used to be much more peaceful. Ponies used to thrive and make peace with one another, and didn’t have to worry about being mauled by monsters. Barely any record exists of those times. Makes me wonder if there’s a point to it all. Are we really going to be remembered if history becomes lost in the end?”

“Perhaps this is just another chapter in the story of ponykind, a dark and possibly long chapter, but it’s just a section nonetheless,” Mythic said. She telekinetically lifted the fork and ate a piece of the cake.

Eventide stared at the strange mare. “You make a good point, but what if this is just the end? We have nothing more to look forward to until the day we all just murder each other for our own selfish desires,” Eventide said.

“You’re quite deep when you’re drunk,” Mythic said.

“You get used to it after all these years,” Eventide said as she took another swig of cider.

“Nothing truly ends. We may decline, but ponykind will never truly die.”

Eventide gave a nod. “It’s just been a bit hard for me. Adjusting to this new life and all.”

“Anyways, what’s your story? Why’d you leave the Lunar Mages?”

Eventide froze for a second as her period of drunkenness paused.

“Well?” Mythic said.

Eventide leaned over and whispered to her.

“Meet me in Room 47 of the inn and I’ll explain,” Eventide said.

Mythic nodded. Eventide quickly finished her cider, tipped the bartender, and went outside.

Mythic scoffed. It’s always the drunk ones.

Eventide sat on the old wooden bed. It creaked loudly with even the smallest of movements. The walls were covered with cobwebs and dust. The moisture had collected on them over years of neglect. The books on the shelves hadn’t been open in ages until she read a couple pages in the late hours. Botany was so boring to her. The drawer knob broke off when she first used it, and the closet contained nothing more than a torn cloak and a smelly old boot. No wonder it was so cheap, she thought. The innkeeper was puzzled when she had requested to settle in room 47. Most ponies requested the lower number rooms. The higher numbers were reserved for the bums and tramps. Eventide didn’t mind though; they won’t find her here.

She was reading the botany book again when she heard a knock on the door. With a touch of her magic, she opened the door and was greeted by that psychic bat she met at the tavern.

“Huh. No wonder the innkeeper was confused when I asked to visit this room. Looks like a load of crap.” Mythic said as she walked in.

“Poor bastard probably thinks we’re running some sort of illegal operation here. Why else would two ponies gather in such a mudpile?”

Mythic sat on the bed next to Eventide. “Last time this room’s been in use has been… about four years,” she stated.

“Well, make yourself comfortable I guess. At least, if you’re able to.” Eventide said.

Mythic laid down on the bed. Despite the roughness of it, it felt leagues better than the patches of dirt and snow she so often slept in.

“Don’t fall asleep on me, Mythic. I still have to explain why I left.”

“I’m all ears,” Mythic said. Eventide cleared her throat.

Four knocks on the door rang in their ears. Eventide jumped, though Mythic didn’t even flinch.

“Who in Lunaris could possibly be here?” Eventide said as she opened the door.

Parallax stood in the open doorway, clearly looking like he’d been through Tartarus and back.

“Oh great. A damn guard. What do you want?” Eventide asked.

“Name’s Parallax. I’m a member of the Fillydelphia Royal Guard. My, uh, friends were killed on the way here, and I am looking for a place to stay,” he said.

“I take it nopony else let you in,” Mythic said.

“Basically. Look, I’ll only be here for the night. I won’t touch anything or whatever. You won’t even know I’m here.”

“And why should I let some complete stranger in here? How do I know you aren’t just somepony who was sent to spy on me?” Eventide asked with a glare.

“Relax, Even. Let me handle this,” Mythic said as her eyes emitted the purple mist.

Eventide rolled her eyes. This wouldn’t end well. Parallax froze up. He had been probed by psychics before. It wasn’t painful. In fact it was sometimes pleasant, but at a moment like this, when he was still shaken by the loss of his friends, it made his heart drop.

“Do we really have to do this? Now is… not the best time,” Parallax said with a shudder.

“Just relax. Fighting back will only make this even more hard,” Mythic said as she focused on him.

Parallax took a deep breath and prepared himself. He was practically shaking with fear. Mythic could sense it within him.

Mythic’s presence gently closed around Parallax’s mind. He froze completely still like a freshly cut statue. His thoughts became foggy and he felt as though he was floating on a cloud. His mind tried to relax, but it kept running with thoughts of trepidation and loss.

Parallax heard a voice echo throughout his head. “I said to relax. If you don’t, then I’ll make you,” Mythic telepathically said. He tried to tell her that he couldn’t, but he found himself unable to open his mouth. He attempted as hard as he could to relax, but to no avail.

Mythic was getting frustrated. She understood that most ponies hate having their mind probed, but there was something… different about him. He didn’t struggle, but his mind was obviously on red alert. It was filled with fear. More so than anypony else she had probed in recent memory. She knew what she had to do.

“I take it back. This will hurt a bit.”

Before he had a chance to react, he felt a sharp pain in his head as it was psychically assaulted. He tried to relax. Guards suffered through pain all the time, and he was trained to stay calm in the face of it, but her power was incredible. He was sweating greatly and his breath was growing shorter.

Mythic hated to do this, especially to such a troubled pony, but it was necessary for their safety. She closed around his mind even harder, searching his thoughts for any hints if the stallion's true intentions differed from what he said.

Eventide looked on with a blank stare. “What a baby,” she thought to herself. Being a mage, she was trained to suffer through stuff like this.

Parallax fell to his knees as the pain grew more intense. He groaned as Mythic assaulted his thoughts. She felt around his mind, and came up with nothing but fear and sadness. She slowly began pulling out of his head. Parallax was visibly twitching and struggling as his thoughts started coming back to him.

Mythic fully pulled out of his mind.

“Huh. Poor lad. He was scouting out the wilderness with some friends when they both got killed by a hellhound. He barely managed to survive in one piece,” Mythic said.

“A hellhound!? Oh please. I can take those out in ten seconds flat.” Eventide boasted.

Parallax struggled to his feet. He was visibly drained from the probing he had just received. “S-So… a-am I welcome here or not?” he said with a quiet voice.

Mythic stared at Parallax for a good few seconds. “Fine,” she said with a sigh. “Just don’t do anything stupid and we’ll be good.”

Parallax gave a weak nod. “Thank you.”

Eventide rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. Are we seriously gonna let the scrawny little guard who could barely manage a hellhound into our little clique?”

“Better than a thief or a murderer. Besides, The poor lad has been through some tough times. The least we could do is let him rest,” Mythic said.

Eventide sighed. “Fine,” she muttered as she sat back on the bed.

Mythic rolled her eyes. “You’ll have to excuse her. She’s a bit arrogant at times. Anyways, I’m Mythic Azure. As you can guess, I’m a psychic.”

“Parallax. You probably know all about me because of… well, that.”

“Yeah… sorry. I hate to do it, but it was necessary. We can’t exactly trust many ponies here,” Mythic said.

“I understand. Just… please be careful.”

Mythic gave a nod. “The other mare’s name is Eventide. She’s a member of the Lunar Mages. Well, used to be.”

“Used to be?” Parallax asked.

“Yeah. Well, she hasn’t explained why yet. She was going to, but we were interrupted by you,” Mythic said.

“Right. Sorry for interrupting,” he said.

“There’s no need to apologize. You were desperate for help and you needed it. It’s the least I could do.”

“Well, thanks so much. I really appreciate it,” he said with a nod.

Mythic smiled and nodded back. She trotted back over to the bed and Parallax followed.

“So, about you and the mages…” Mythic said.

Eventide sighed. “Oh, right. Hm... I’ll spare you all the details and get right to the chase.”

Eventide cleared her throat.

“I first had an interest in magic ever since I was a filly. I had studied day and night for weeks and months on end. My dream was to join the Lunar Mages just like my mother and father had. I wanted to fulfill Nightmare Moon’s goal of total dominance over Lunaris. I had truly felt at a young age that this was what I was called to do.

I was always considered to be a prodigy. Frankly I find that to be a load of manticore crap. I became powerful because of my intense training and determination, not some lame genetic thing. Anyways, everypony was impressed with my abilities. After a long time, I was finally accepted into the Canterlot Magic Academy, and was subject to intense training. To say it was hard and rigorous would be an enormous understatement. Every damn day was the most brutal training one can experience. All under the strict watch of the guild’s elders, and the leader, General Polaris. Even for someone as strong as me, they still kicked my flank any second they could get.

Eventually, after numerous tests, I finally became a Lunar Mage. Throughout the years, I slowly became one of the guild’s strongest members. Even General Polaris himself knew that I was a strong asset to the team, and he’s hard to impress.”

Her voice started shaking. “My duties were… awful. I had… executed so many of the enemies of Nightmare Moon. I slaughtered countless rebels and traitors, destroyed many settlements and separated many families.”

She started trembling. “Do you know how it feels?” she said quietly. “To hear the cries of the innocent as you’re about to slaughter them? To hear the screams of the damned as you beat them senseless?” she said as tears formed in her eyes. “To see the fires of destruction as you burn down houses?” Eventide’s voice began growing louder. “They’re sounds and sights you can never stop hearing! They echo in my head like the loudest blast of a horn! I’ve been haunted by them every single damn day! I hear them in my dreams, and I see it all when I close my eyes!” she said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “

Parallax spoke quietly. “Eventide… if this is getting too much for you, you can take a break. We’re getting the idea.”

“No, no. I’ll be fine… I’ll be fine…” Thanks for understanding,” Eventide said.

She sniffled as she wipes the tears from her eyes. “All of this weighed on me during my service. I initially enjoyed it. I enjoyed the feeling of power and loyalty to Her Majesty. I had felt alive through the blood of the innocents. I felt like this was my calling. To do Her Majesty’s will and fulfill it to the best of my ability. But the more pain I caused, the more pain I felt inside of myself.

“After a while, I grew tired of the same old crap. I had started to realize that there was likely more to life than what Nightmare Moon wanted to do. So I left. I left…. and never looked back.”

Mythic chimed in. “Wise choice. The Lunar Mages are a borderline psychopathic group. What do you plan on doing now?”

“Well… that’s a hard question to answer. Here’s the thing. The Mages aren’t done with me yet. I was one of their most powerful members, and they want me back. They’re going to do anything in their power to bring me there, even if it means killing everyone who stands in their way. I already met two of them on the way here. We dueled around for a bit, and thought about killing the two poor sods, but… I decided to lead them here and buy them a drink and a room. They were only a bunch of mediocre rookies.”

Mythic ran a hoof through her mane. “Any idea where they’re at now?”

“Hell if I know. Probably hightailing it back to General Polaris. Poor lads never stood a chance…”

Parallax sighed. “So what you’re saying is that you’re one of the most powerful mages in Lunaris and these borderline insane mages are continuously hunting you down and will stop at nothing to bring you back. Sounds bloody dandy. I take it you’re always on the move then?”

“No shit. I plan to take a good night’s rest and hightail it out of here to… someplace. I don’t exactly know where yet,” Eventide said.

“You know the rumors of Las Pegasus, right? The alleged rebel capital? Perhaps you could head there and see if you can join their ranks,” said Parallax.

“Not a bad idea, Laxxy. We’ll see,” Eventide said. Parallax cringed at the lame nickname.

“Want us to tag along? Better than trotting around all alone in the frozen dark wasteland for days on end,” Mythic said.

Eventide paused as she glared at the two.

“I’ll think about it. Right now I need to take a nap.”

“Right. Eventide, you and Parallax can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor,” Mythic said.

Parallax looked at her bewildered. “You sure? The floor ain’t exactly the most comfortable place to sleep.”

“I’ve spent weeks sleeping in muddy snow and rotten trees. I can handle a damn wooden floor,” Mythic said.

“Suit yourself,” said Parallax.

Eventide gave a yawn as she took off her garments and threw them in the chair. Her long golden mane cascaded down her face as she gave a long stretch. Mythic and Parallax both blushed as they stared at her. Eventide rolled her eyes as she got into bed.

“Right… Well, you go and get settled. I’m going to go outside for a bit,” Mythic said.

“Mind if I come with?” Parallax said.

Mythic gave a nod and headed out the door. Parallax gave one last look at Eventide, who was starting to fall asleep, and quickly followed after Mythic.

The halls of the inn were a breath of fresh air, at least compared to the rotten wood of room 47. They were dark, yet gave off a comfortable atmosphere. He followed Mythic down the hall and outside the inn.

Mythic stood on the front porch of the inn. She took in her surroundings. Old, drabby houses that look like they were built eons ago. Peasants fixing up their dinners of hay stew with beans and carrots. Guards patrolling the perimeters of the village. Yep. It was Auris alright.

Parallax stood next to her. “Can’t believe I had to end up in Auris of all places. ‘Pigsty of Lunaris’ it’s been claimed to be.”

Mythic nodded. “Could be worse. Least it’s not Artem. You ever been there?”

Parallax shook his head. “Don’t reckon I have.”

“Think Auris but the bar is a load of trash,” Mythic said. They both gave a light laugh. “Damn rum isn’t worth the mold off a timberwolf’s foot.”

“I certainly hope we don’t go through there on the way to Las Pegasus,” Parallax said.

“Doubt it. Artem’s way up north. Las Pegasus is to the west,” Mythic said.

“Right, right…”

They both stared for a moment. Parallax shuffled his hooves through the snow.

“That Eventide is an… interesting lass,” he said.

“It’s always the loud and brash ones that have the darkest pasts,” she said. “Eventide seems like a good pony, just a bit hardened from her traumatic past.”

“Not every day that you come across a Lunar Mage who managed to break free. Usually they’re just captured and used for target practice by the students there,” he said.

“Comes with the price of having them on our flanks constantly. Gives us no room to rest,” Mythic said.

“Indeed. We head out west to Las Pegasus first thing when we wake up and only stop when necessary.”

Mythic nodded in agreement. She adjusted her billowing cape and stared up at the night sky. “I’m, uh, sorry about your friends. No offence, but I thought you’d be more… upset,” she said.

“Should’ve seen me when I came into town. Was a damn mess. All bloodied up and had trouble breathing and all that. Thankfully the clinic healed me up a bit. That and a few mugs of cider helps,” he said.

“Glad that you’re doing okay. Got a family?”

“Used to have a marefriend. She got… killed by bandits a year ago,” he said quietly.

“Holy shit. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“Welcome to Lunaris, I suppose. Where all your friends and loved ones get slaughtered in the blink of an eye,” he said.

“It’s a harsh reality we live in. Sometimes it’s not a matter of if we die young, but when…” she paused for a moment.

“Sorry. Don’t think I’m helping things,” she said.

“No, no! You’re fine. For all intents and purposes, I kind of agree,” Parallax said.

“Let’s not focus on that though. Just set our minds towards our goal,” she said.

Parallax nodded in agreement.

“Do you plan on going back to Phillydelphia and meeting back up with the rest of the guards?” Mythic asked.

“Maybe someday. After the death of some of my friends, I don’t have much to go back to. Right now I just want to get to Las Pegasus and do what I can to help,” he said.

“Will the guards be okay with you leaving for a long time?”

“Guards do it all the time. Plus there’s thousands of them. They can afford to lose one,” he said.

“Ah.”

“So… a psychic, eh?”

“No, I just pretended to probe your mind,” she joked. “But yes, I am. Been practicing psionics since I was a filly. I don’t do much aside from wander around Lunaris in search of a meaning to all this,” she said.

“How long have you wandered?” he asked.

“Couldn’t say. At least for a few years now.”

“All alone?”

“No, I’ve been a member of some groups over the years. Most have either split up, or had most of their members killed,” she said.

“So it’s all a routine for you. We’re just one of many groups that you’ve been a part of,” he said with a sigh.

“Something like that.”

“And you’ve survived this harsh land for years. It’s amazing that you’re still here. Most ponies just die within a few weeks or months,” he said.

“If there’s one thing ponies learn about surviving in Lunaris, it’s that you don’t mess with a psychic,” Mythic said as she grinned.

“Can see why. I’ve met a few psychics before. Most seem to be very pensive individuals.”

Mythic closed her eyes and breathed deeply. “When you have the ability to melt brains, it’s all but natural to feel that way. It’s interesting, you know. How psychics can just bend the world to their whim with a single thought. How just a few pounds in a pony’s skull can do incredible things. Not just in the realm of psionics, but in everything ponies do.”

“I see what you mean. How long did it take to master psionics?”

“Can’t really say that I’m a master. Even I, a 30-year-old mare who spends most of her life deep in thought, have barely scratched the surface when it comes to this. Started doing this when I was 7, so about 23 years.”

“Was it hard for you?”

“Unbelievably. I studied it all by myself. Took me months to even telekinetically lift a leaf. Of course, when all you have to go by is a bunch of ancient books written in outdated languages, it becomes a tedious process.”

Parallax gave a nod, and stared up at the night sky. The snow fell gently on his muzzle and he wiped it off.

“How long do you think it’s been like this?” Parallax asked.

“The only one who truly knows is Nightmare Moon herself, and even she’s refused to come up with an answer,” Mythic said.

Parallax gave a nod. “Could just be a century, or it could be millions of years. You’d think we’d have some written records of life before Lunaris, but that’s all long gone,” he said solemnly.

“Destroyed in the War of the Cosmos, at least according to rumors. Nightmare Moon wanted everything about that era destroyed. She wanted to practically erase it from existence. In a way she kind of succeeded,” Mythic said as she ran a hoof through her mane.

Parallax nodded. “Sometimes I don’t mind it. Staring at the night sky gives me a very relaxed feeling. It’s almost hypnotic.”

“I agree. If it weren’t for all the crazy shit out in the wilderness, I’d be perfectly fine with living out there,” Mythic said.

They remained silent for a minute, basking in their surroundings.

“You know, you’re quite alright, Parallax. Seem like a decent pony. That’s more than I could say for most ponies I’ve accompanied,” Mythic said as she put her hoof around his shoulder.

“Thanks, Mythic. I appreciate it. You’re alright too,” he replied.

“Think we should head inside?” Mythic said.

“Sure. Eventide’s probably fast asleep by now. We need some shuteye. Got a big day ahead of us,” said Parallax.

“Let’s go then,” she said as she trotted back inside the inn. Parallax followed closely after. The inn was eerily quiet since everypony was asleep. They trotted quietly to their room.

Mythic opened the door and trotted in. Eventide was fast asleep in the old bed. She gave a quiet snore as she turned in her sleep a little. Parallax took off his armor and set it by Eventide’s robe. He climbed into bed right next to her. He pulled the blankets over him and sighed happily. Even though the bed was old, the blankets were as soft as a cloud.

Mythic sat in one of the old wooden chairs. She wrapped her cape around herself and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she was on the Astral Plane and doing her nightly routine. Parallax stared at the bat pony as she sat as still as a statue. He almost felt bad for letting her “sleep” in that old creaky chair.

He stared up at the ceiling and reflected. The pitch blackness engulfed the room. He had lost two close friends in the past 24 hours, joined a strange group of ponies, and would walk back into the jaws of the wilderness when he woke up. It had truly been an eventful day. He felt the embrace of slumber take over, and he closed his eyes and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

“Eventide! Wake up!”

The sudden shriek instantly made her awaken. She glanced up and saw the horrified face of Mythic staring at her.

“The entire village is under attack! We have to go!” she cried. Eventide quickly got up from her bed and threw on her robe.

“Who in Lunaris could possibly be attacking us?” Eventide said in a panic.

“I don’t know. I tried sensing their presence or something, but I couldn’t. Something was preventing me from doing so!”

“Shit. Where’s Parallax?”

“He went outside to help defend. Come on! We need to get to a safer place!” Mythic said.

“I’m right behind you,” Eventide said as she followed Mythic out of the inn.

Eventide’s thoughts raced at a million miles an hour. She wondered if this was all just a horrible nightmare, but the longer she lingered on that thought, the more she realized was that this was real. As she stepped outside of the inn, the thoughts of creating a plan started to fade, and were replaced with a sense of dread.

Everything in Auris was on fire. Every last building and home was set ablaze in scorching embers. Corpses of unfortunate souls who were caught in the carnage lay bloodied and burned. The screams of the villagers and the cries of their children, combined with the crackling hellfire, sounded almost like a symphony—a most horrific symphony that could make even the most courageous pony’s hearts shrivel up in fear. Eventide’s fear only grew even more as she made out the figures of a couple ponies in robes. The exact same robes that she was wearing.

Parallax quickly ran up to them, beaten from trying his best to defend the village.

“It’s no use! We have to get out of here now!” He shouted. Eventide barely heard him, too focused on the carnage that ensued all around.

“Give me a minute…” Eventide said as she started trotting towards the robed figures.

“Even! What do you think you’re doing!?” Mythic shouted.

“I’ll be right back! I promise…” she said as she trotted further towards the robed figures. The ponies looked at her and gave a dastardly smile.

“Finally turning yourself in, eh? Quite anticlimactic, if you ask me,” one of them said.

“I’m not here to turn myself in,” she said. “I’m here to have a little talk. Now where is General Polaris?

“He’s right behind you,” an all too familiar deep voice sounded from behind that sent a chill down her spine. All the mages in front of her suddenly quickly bowed as fast as they could.

“It’s impressive that you’ve eluded me for the past month. Most ponies don’t even last a week,” he said.

“Well aren’t I just special,” Eventide said, still staring at the mages.

“Indeed. The problem with being one of our best mages is that you’re so hard to capture. It’s quite astounding, really,” he said.

Finally, Eventide turned around and faced him.

“Make that formerly one of your best mages.”

Author's Note

I'd like to thank my editors and friends Michael T. S, Sinny, Tai, Aquila, and Heros. You guys mean so much to me and I couldn't do this without you.

And that's chapter 2! I hope you lads enjoy it. Chapter 3 should be out sometime within the coming months.

~Ponka <3

Chapter III - Into the Fires

Everything was silent, aside from the crackling embers that torched the buildings. The screams had faded away as the final glimpses of life escaped from the unfortunate victims. The rest of the town’s residents were scrambling out of the village into the jaws of the wilderness, barely holding onto their lives. In a matter of hours, the town of Auris was nothing more than a burning pile of ashes.

The only ponies that stayed behind were a small platoon of robed ponies, their esteemed leader, and three brave ponies that dared to oppose them.

“Formerly, eh? Come now, my dear Even. You know better than to oppose us and Her Majesty’s Glorious Empire,” the general said.

“I said no,” the rebellious mare said with a piercing glare.

“Even… Even, my dear friend. Look inside yourself. This is not you. You are not this glorious little rebel hero. You’re a soldier, Even! You have immense power and strength. We have trained you how to use that power, and with us, your power will only increase. You are only wasting your time here. For years, any and all resistance had been swiftly crushed under the hooves of Her Majesty, and we will not hesitate to kill you and your plucky little friends, Mythic.”

“If death be my only option, then so be it. I’d rather die opposing your horrific deeds than continue to leave death and destruction in your wake.”

“Leaving death and destruction in your wake!? Look at what you’ve done to this place! This wouldn’t have happened if you never left us! You caused the death of all these ponies and the destruction of this town, Even! And it’s all because of your foolish decision.”

Eventide was seeing red, seething with pure anger. She trotted closer to him and spoke sternly in his face. “Listen here, you pathetic fucking excuse for a general! There’s no chance in Tartarus that I’m rejoining your silly clique of despicable little mages. If ponies have to die because of my decision, then so be it. I’d only bring more suffering by being a part of you. And I swear on the moon itself, I will do every last thing in my power to stop you.”

“You think we’re scared of somepony like you? Your power may be impressive, but keep in mind we have an entire army on our side. Thousands of ponies loyal to Her Majesty’s cause. We can easily crush you and your pathetic trio like a filthy insect, Even.”

Every word made Eventide’s rage grow more intense. She fought back the urge to blast him straight in the face right then and there. Mythic watched on with a blank expression. Standing in the presence of one of the most feared ponies in all of Lunaris shook her to the very core. She wasn’t scared very easily, but the experience of having one of Nightmare Moon’s most revered generals threaten her had left very few rational thoughts in her mind. Parallax wasn’t doing much better. His heart thumped rapidly and his breathing became sporadic.

Polaris turned to the two other ponies accompanying his former soldier. “I suppose you are her two companions, huh? How quaint. You, the guardspony.” He pointed to Parallax. “Shouldn’t you be guarding Fillydelphia by now? What are you doing out here helping this traitor?”

Parallax gulped. “L-Look, general… I don’t plan on staying with her for long. My friends… they were recently killed, and I’m trying to move on.”

Polaris chuckled. “Aw, you poor little colt. I do offer my condolences, but you must realize that we don’t let ponies off just because they got their insides ripped out. As far as we know, you’re just aiding the enemy. And I’m sure you know what happens to those who commit this high act of treason.” Parallax gulped again as his words shook him to the very core.

Polaris turned to Mythic. And you, the bat pony. You strike me as having a lick of common sense. Do you happen to be a psychic?” She could only nod.

“Oh, what fun. I’ve crushed many mind meddlers in my day. Why in Her Majesty’s name do you think that you can oppose us?”

Mythic stared him dead in the eyes. “I got nothing better to do. I’ve wandered this dead wasteland for years. I’ve seen the horrific struggles of ponies trying to survive. I’ve seen my companions being murdered in cold blood. I’ve fought creatures and other horrors you wouldn’t even dream of taking down. Every single damn day is a fight for survival. If this is what my life is, I might as well oppose the tyrannical kingdom that caused this while I’m at it.”

“You’ve wandered for years and yet you still don’t understand the purpose of all this. All this death and suffering is a part of Her Majesty’s glorious world. A world where every pony, young and old, bows down before her wondrous majesty. A world where-”

“Ponies scream in terror as their loved ones are ripped apart by the monsters and thieves that lurk around every corner,” Eventide spoke. “A world where everypony has to fight for their survival. A world of nothing but being stomped under an iron hoof until the end of time. I know what world you want.”

It was then that Polaris struck her in the face with a heavy hoof. Eventide fell to the ground, her cheek bruised. Her friends stood watching, too scared to do anything.

“I want you three to listen very carefully. It doesn’t have to be this way. You’ll only cause more suffering if you continue to act in this foolish manner. You’re only going to waste your time. Please, Even, come back with us. We can forget this ever happened, and move on to accomplishing what Her Majesty wants. If you come back, and your two friends give up and move on, nopony will get hurt. And if you don’t… heh… I think we know what happens next.”

Eventide struggled to her hooves, her nose leaking blood. “Alright. If this is how you want to do this, I’m not going to hold back.” She wiped the blood off her face.

Polaris chuckled. “You never change, Even. So eager to fight. You still have that lunar mage instinct inside you. It’s such a shame it’s come to this.” His horn ignited into a maroon aura as he turned to his soldiers. “Take care of her two friends. I’ll handle the filthy traitor.” He turned back to his opponent, her horn ablaze.

Mythic’s eyes glowed and Parallax drew his sword. The group of mages stared at the outnumbered duo. For a moment, the only sound was the frosty wind that blew in anticipation for the first attack. It was one of the mages that broke the floodgates. He conjured up a blast of fire from his horn and shot it towards Parallax. He easily dodged the blazing embers and dashed towards the crowd of mages. One of the mages attempted to put up a protective barrier, but she failed to do so before the blade slashed down upon her. She fell to the ground with a deep slash on her chest, barely clinging on to dear life.

Another mage shot a bolt of lightning at the distracted warrior, sending him flying back. Mythic seized this opportunity to attack, her eyes ablaze with purple mist as she tapped into the deepest corners of her mind. She began transferring the psychic magic into her hoof, making it glow a deep purple. Two of the mages began charging straight at her, their horns charging up a spell. As they were about to fire the spell at her, Mythic hit the ground with her hoof, sending a wave of psychic magic at the two. The two brought up a dark blue barrier in front of themselves that absorbed most of the wave. The barrier began to waver, however, as it took in more magic. Parallax took this opportunity to dash over to them and slam down on the barrier. With a loud crash, the barrier exploded and the magic was sent towards the two mages. The suddenly became paralyzed, and Parallax stabbed one of them square in the chest, his body collapsing to the ground. Before he could strike the other one, however, a dome appeared around the paralyzed pony. Mythic looked over and saw one of the mages conjuring the shield. She charged at the pony while the mage was distracted and used her telekinesis to choke him. The dome flickered away and Parallax stabbed the paralyzed pony, ending her life in an instant.

Meanwhile, Eventide’s duel with Polaris was evenly matched, neither one of them giving in. She sent a chain of lightning towards him, which Polaris deflected with ease. The general sent a large fireball at her, which she dodged with relative ease.

“I must say, Even. Your magic hasn’t faltered one bit. Only makes it more of a shame that it has to end like this,” Polaris said.

“One mustn’t ever let their magic die, general. I believe it was you who taught me that once,” she said as she sent a beam of ice at him. Polaris put up a blue barrier in front of himself, which deflected the beam back at her. Eventide jumped out of the way, the freezing cold beam hitting a nearby house with a loud crackle.

Eventide charged up a large blast of magic in her horn and fired it straight at the general. He created a large, shimmering dome around himself that made the blast deflect back at her. The bright explosion of magic hit Eventide square in the face, sending her flying back.

“It’ll take more than that,” she said, struggling to her hooves.

The tides were quickly turning for Parallax and Mythic. The remaining ten mages began to evenly split up into groups of five. Parallax slashed one of the mages to the ground, but was quickly countered by another mage tackling him to the ground, losing his grasp of his sword. Another mage brutally kicked him in the face, but he countered with a far stronger kick. The mage was knocked off of him, but another took his place in an instant. He charged his hoof full of crackling fire and slammed down onto Parallax’s neck. He screamed as his neck was scorched by the unrelenting sorcerer. The snow melted around him, the blood leaking into the fresh mud.

As the mages charged at Mythic, she charged up her hooves with lightning and sent the crackling bolts at them. Three of them took on the attack without flinching, while the other two became paralyzed from the psychic’s lightning. The bolts seeped into their minds and distorted their senses. Mythic thrust out her hoof and forced the three mages into the two paralyzed ones. The sounds of bones snapping could be heard as they crashed into each other. One of the mages managed to get up and charge towards her, his horn preparing to unleash a blast of fire. Mythic located large beam of wood from one of the destroyed houses next to her, and lifted it up with telekinesis. As the mage prepared to blast her, Mythic swung the wood as hard as she could. The poor magician feel to the ground, his head bleeding profusely. Mythic stared at the poor stallion who was whimpering in pain. She raised the plank, preparing to finish her off.

She was interrupted by a tackle from two of the mages. Her face was blasted by a bolt of lightning that seeped through her body and made her senses shut down for a few seconds. She tried to telekinetically push them off of her, but they wouldn’t budge one bit. Summoning all the magic she could, she connected their minds and attempted to confuse them. The two mages, however, were well prepared for something like this. They forced her out of their minds with relative ease. Mythic tried forcing the confusion spell harder, but to no avail. The mages grunted and clenched their teeth as they defended themselves even further. As she tried to break into their minds, another mage sneaked up behind her and blasted her with a bolt of lightning, sending Mythic flying back. She landed in the snow with a loud thud, her blood seeping into the frosty powder below.

Polaris charged up his horn with magic and blasted Eventide with a brilliant ray of dark blue at her. Eventide countered with her own ray of magic. As the two beams connected, Eventide slowly began to overwhelm him. With a surge of strength, Polaris forced the raging beam of magic back at her. Eventide struggled to counter his rush of strength. Her heart beat at a rapid rate as she was slowly overwhelmed by his superior strength. Polaris chuckled maniacally as his magic proved to be far stronger than her’s. With one final surge of strength, he blasted the inferior mage back, sending her into a pile of blood-stained snow.

The general trotted up to the struggling mage. His horn glowed, and dark blue magical chains wrapped around her hooves. Eventide struggled to move as the chains wrapped tighter around herself. Polaris charged his hoof full of magic and struck her in the face, breaking her muzzle.

“Competent, but overall futile. You did put up more of a fight than most of my challengers, though. That I must admit.” He bent down low and stared right in her face.

“Now, here’s the thing. I won’t kill you, Even. Dueling with you, I was reminded of your strength. You’re too valuable to be murdered. Your two friends, won’t be so lucky however. We’re going to take you back to Canterlot, and we’ll force you to become a mage again. Even if you refuse…” he chuckled. “...Let’s just say that we have other methods. I’m sure you’re all too familiar with them.”

“You’ll never make me join you again! I swear on Her Majesty’s moon!”

“Oh, Even, my friend. We’ve dealt with rebellious mages before, and they’ve all joined us again without much trouble. You won’t be any different.”

Eventide’s heart pounded in her chest. She tried her hardest to escape the chains strangling her hooves, but to no avail. She was struggling to remain conscious, her mind growing weary and her vision dark. With a final strike from Polaris, she finally slipped away from consciousness.

Before she fainted, she heard a faint roar cry out in the distance.

Eventide woke up hours later in a worn-out bed, naked and shivering. She looked around the bedroom, which looked similar to one of the rooms of the Auris inn. Sitting up, she stared out the window and recognized the destroyed buildings of what was once Auris. A couple corpses of fallen mages were buried underneath a blanket of snow. Suddenly, a muffled, yet familiar voice rang out through the silence.

“Um… are you sure this is a good idea?” a quiet voice asked.

“No, not at all. Look, she spared our lives and showed hospitality to us. The least we could do is help her through this.”

Her ears perked up at the two voices. “Tidal? Serenity?”

“Oh great. She’s awake. Now remain calm, Serenity,” Tidal said as he opened the door to Even’s room. “Hey, Even! You’re finally awake! We thought we lost you.”

Eventide looked at them with bewilderment. “W-What happened? Where’s Polaris? Where’s Mythic and Parallax?”

“Even, relax. You’re safe now. Polaris and the rest of the mages retreated back to Canterlot, and your friends are waiting for you outside.”

“B-But why!? I thought you two ran off!”

“We were, but we wanted to make sure you left Auris safe, so we hung around for a while longer. Obviously… heh, that worked out quite well for us.”

“Well aren’t I just the luckiest mare in the land? Okay, so… why in Tartarus did Polaris retreat? It’s not like him to just run off like a damn coward.”

The two didn’t answer for a second, until Serenity finally spoke.

“Um… A dragon…”

Even’s eyes widened at the mention of those horrific creatures. “Holy mother of Luna…”

“Yeah. If there’s one thing the lunar mages are scared of, it’s those damned scaly bastards. While they tried to defend themselves, Serenity here cast an invisibility spell on us and your bodies and we hid until they ran off. You should’ve seen the look on old Polar’s face. I’ve never seen him that mad, and that’s coming from two ponies who pissed him off more times than I could count.”

“Damn… uh, thanks, I guess…”

“Heh. Well, it’s the least we could do.”

“So, where do you plan on going now? I take it you’re also rebelling?” Eventide said as she donned her robes.

“Yeah, we plan on going to Baltimare and settle down there. We don’t have any interest in being mages anymore, Even. We just want to live a normal life. Or… at least as normal as possible.”

“Well, I guess I wish you two luck. Me and the rest of the group plan on heading west to Las Pegasus to join the Rebellion there.”

Tidal’s eyes widened. “Las Pegasus!? That’s so far away, though!?”

Eventide sighed. “It’s not like I have anything else to live for. Nothing but wandering this frozen and dark
wasteland with a pansy soldier and a pretentious psychic.”

“J-Just be c-careful, Even…” Serenity whimpered. Tidal nodded in agreement.

“Thanks, guys,” Eventide said with a light smile. “Oh, uh, one more thing.”

“We’re all ears, Even,” Tidal said.

Eventide breathed deeply.

“Am I a good pony deep down?”

Tidal and Serenity didn’t respond right away. They just stared at the poor mage with a curious expression.

Finally, Tidal nodded. “Yeah, I’d say that you are.”

“I’ve done so much awful shit in my past. I’ve murdered countless ponies and have eradicated many villages. I’ve left my own mark of hate upon this world, and I don’t think and amount of good I can do will ever truly make up for it. It eats away at me every second.”

“Even, I’ve seen the good in your heart. The way you spared us, it showed me that you are a kind pony beneath your rough exterior. When you look back on the awful stuff you did, you learn what not to do, and you become a better pony because of it.”

Eventide scoffed. “I think Mythic’s starting to rub off on you. Can’t wait to deal with her philosophical ramblings. But, uh, thanks, you two. I’ll keep that in mind during my travels.”

Serenity smiled and nodded. “W-Want to see your friends?”

“Yeah… sure,” Even sighed.

Eventide trotted out of the room and went through the destroyed halls. Articles of clothing, books, and other belongings were strewn everywhere. The walls had suffered immense damage and burns. Blackened streaks covered the stone walls and wooden chairs and tables. Every step Even took sent a jolt of pain through her body. She limped out the front door and saw her two friends sitting under a nearby tree.

“Even!” Parallax galloped over to her. “Oh I’m so glad you’re okay!”

Eventide nodded as Mythic trotted up to her. “Well, glad to see that the poor lass who got us in this mess is doing okay.”

Eventide rolled her eyes. “Yeah, thanks. Almost dying is a wonderful way to begin this epic journey.”

“Well, you better get used to it. The Lunaris wasteland takes no prisoners,” Mythic said.

“Right. Can’t fucking wait. Well, you’re the apparent expert on this land. Lead the way, I guess,” Eventide scoffed.

“We’re gonna rest up and heal for a while. Maybe scavenge for some supplies. We’ll head out to the Hollow Shades once we’re all ready to go. Sound good.” The two nodded.

“Great! Now, Parallax, go into those houses and bring back anything useful. Eventide, can we talk for a second?”

Eventide stared at her. “Y-Yeah… sure…” she said with unease.

“Good,” she said as she began wandering around town. Eventide followed close behind. “Are you… nervous at all? About our little adventure?”

“Oh you don’t even know. I can’t wait to be torn to shreds by hundreds of wendigos.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll let you in on a little secret, Even. I’m also scared shitless. Any sane pony would be horrified at the idea of going out to the Lunaris wilderness.”

“You’ve wandered it for years, Mythic. Why’re you so terrified by it?”

“Even, my friend. It’s true that I’ve wandered the land for years. I’ve had many near-death experiences. I’ve seen and felt things that will make a pony curl up and want to die. I’ve seen friends die in a matter of seconds. I’ve seen them get kidnapped and never return. I still hear their cries for help from beyond the grave. I relive those Goddess-forsaken images ever night when I go to sleep. And you know what? I’m fucking horrified at the thought of this cute little adventure. I’ve seen the horrific things this world can bring. I weathered the damn storm every single night. It’s the ponies who’ve experienced the worst that are the most scared, Even.”

“I’m sorry that you have to go through that, but you’re not really helping here,” Eventide mused.

Mythic sighed and spoke in a low voice. “I’m sorry… I get carried away sometimes. I don’t doubt your fear, Even. I can feel it within you and Parallax. Fear is like a parasite that latches onto you at a young age and it never lets go.”

“You’re getting into one of your philosophical ramblings again, aren’t you?” Eventide raised an eyebrow at her.

“I’ll make it short. Don’t let that fear within you win, Even. I know from experience. It’s caused the life of friends and innocent ponies. I’ve stood frozen with fear with nothing I could do as the breath of life escaped them. Even a powerful psychic such as myself has trouble defeating that terrible thing. No amount of pure magic can defeat it. But there is something that can…”

“Let me guess. Hope and friendship?”

“Um, I was going to say tackling your fears head on and telling them to go fuck themselves, but yeah, that’s not a bad thing to have,” Mythic giggled.

Eventide laughed along with her. “You’re pretentious as shit, but you’re quite alright, you crazy psychic.”

“Oh you think I’m pretentious now? Wait until we hit the road. I have lots of philosophical speeches planned out.”

Eventide stared at her. “Oh fuck me…”, she mumbled.

Parallax stared into the crackling embers that sat in the center of the circle of sitting ponies. The snapping flames melted the snow around it, leaving a wet mud behind. He sat there thinking about the journey ahead. He was scared, but he didn’t have much to live for at this point. So what if he died? His friends and loved ones were long gone. His job was awful, and even still he might not be able to keep it for much longer.

He looked around at the circle of companions. Tidal and Serenity were checking their supplies. Mythic was meditating; she sat up straight with her eyes closed, breathing deeply. Eventide was chewing on a piece of celery, staring intently into the flames. He looked up at the shining moon in the middle of the sky. He could make out the faint shape of an alicorn’s head made of the craters. The wind howled and screamed. The blistering cold made him shiver and gave him goosebumps.

“You holding up okay, Laxy?” Eventide said, still staring at the roaring fire.

Parallax nodded. “I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

“About what, pray tell?”

Parallax hesitated to answer the mare next to him. He looked down at his dirty, blood-stained hooves. “About what I have to live for. My friends and loved ones are gone. Everything that brought me happiness has been taken from me. The only thing that gives me a bit of hope is joining the rebellion, and our chances of getting there are slim.”

“It’s a harsh reality we live in, Parallax. I’m… so sorry for everything you lost, but you need to stop moping around in the past and start preparing for the future. It does no good to just be sad all the time. You need to be strong, Laxy.”

“I know, I know. But it’s easier said than done.”

Eventide said nothing. Parallax looked over to the meditating bat pony next to her. She breathed deeply, doing her daily pondering of life’s unanswerable questions and unsolvable enigmas. Her dark grey cape gently billowed in the frosty wind as the cold barely affected her disciplined soul. He envied her strong will and calm mind.

“How do you even do it? Your life could very well end in the next 24 hours and you sit there meditating your little heart out.”

Mythic smiled. “If I’m going to face death, I might as well face it with a peaceful and welcoming embrace.”

“That’s… a dark idea.”

“It is, and I’m still fearful deep down, but it’s better than letting your enemies gain pleasure from seeing your terrified face. Death isn’t necessarily as black and white as it seems. Sometimes we need to face the end with joy, so we can go out with a smile on our face.”

Eventide stared at her. “It’ll be hard to smile when your guts are spilling out.”

She shrugged. “Just a hypothesis I’m working on.”

Eventide rolled her eyes and scooted closer to Mythic for extra warmth, something she gladly offered. Parallax moved closer to the mage, leaning into her warm lunar robes.

For the first time in a long, long while, Parallax smiled.

Chapter IV - Eclipsed

General Polaris sat reflecting in his quarters. His anger had calmed, but the pain still remained. He was so close. He had the damn traitor within his grasp. He could still smell the euphoric scent of her blood and sweat. His goal had been met, and in a matter of minutes, he failed. And it was all because of that winged reptilian bastard. He had spent the last several hours staring out the window at Her Majesty’s glorious moon. Normally it gave him a sense of pride, but staring at her glorious canvas now only made him more disappointed in himself.

A knock sounded at his door. “Come in,” he said in a stern voice. He didn’t dare look at the pony that dared to intrude his quarters. She spoke in a frightened voice.

“Um… Her Majesty would like to see you.”

His heart dropped. “Is that so? I’ll be there in a minute.”

The mare quickly trotted out of the room and shut the door, too terrified to stand in his presence any longer. Polaris sighed and donned his robes. One must always look presentable when standing in the presence of the ruler of Lunaris. He trotted out the door and began to make his way to Her Majesty’s residence, at the very top of the Canterlot Castle. The castle was relatively quiet at this hour. Most of the mages were sound asleep. The guards stationed at every doorstep stood as still as a statue, their thousand-yard gaze piercing into the souls of those who trotted by. They saluted as the general passed by them. He saluted back, and after many winding staircases and silver doors, he arrived at Her Majesty’s throne room.

The instant that he knocked on the humongous doors, they slowly creaked open. He braced himself and trotted inside of the throne room. As soon as he went in, a cold draft descended upon him. He had gotten used to the freezing weather of the wilderness, but standing in Her Presence made him shiver down to the bone. Gathering his wits, he began to trot towards the empty throne.

He looked at the wondrous stained-glass windows that adorned the hall. They told the story of this wondrous land. How the astral sisters defeated Discord and King Sombra at the beginning of time. How they tended to the land and took care of its citizens. How Her Majesty had rebelled against her sister. How her sister locked her away inside the moon for a millennium. How the stars aided in her escape, and how she managed to crush the six ponies who dared to oppose her. How she locked her older sister inside the former prison. How she took over the land and dubbed it Lunaris. How she ruled over said land and took care of its citizens.

And how she ascended into her… almost godlike form.

A voice sounded that made his hairs stand on end.

“The stars are so beautiful tonight…”

Her voice was as quiet as a chilly winter wind, but as regal as her glorious moon. It echoed in his ears as a dark blue mist began to fill the room, wrapping it in an astral embrace. The glimmering stars speckled the walls and floors. Polaris shuddered as the room grew even colder. A dark blue sphere appeared in the empty throne. It hovered there, emitting the chilling mist. He could do nothing but bow in the presence of his master.

“You may rise, General.”

Polaris obeyed, trying to fight off the shivers.

“I have heard of your little… incident, General.”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. And I deeply apologize for it.”

“Polaris… I acknowledge that my wonderful world can have a mind of its own at times. A dragon is a tough thing to defeat, and I’m very impressed that you managed to defeat one.”

“But… Your Majesty, we lost track of our prisoners.”

The starry sphere began to shimmer even more. “Yes, you did. And I am obviously very disappointed in you. I expected better from you, General. Eventide was such a wonderful asset to our order. It’s a shame to see her escape from our grasp once again. And now she has that incompetent swordspony and that weak psychic with her…”

“Your Majesty, it is very likely that they are heading west to Las Pegasus to join the rebellion. If they manage to get there, they’ll prove to be valuable assets to our enemies.”

“Oh please. I can crush them in seconds if they were to ever come into my presence.”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. But… how do we capture them?”

“I’ve sent some…” she chuckled, “special visitors to take care of them. Should that fail, we’ll discuss our plans at a later date.”

Polaris shuddered at these words and nodded. “I understand, Y-Your Majesty. Now… w-what about my punishment?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve always admired that about you, General. Always willing to submit to me. It’s quite adorable. Anyways, I got something special planned for you…”

As Polaris looked around, he noticed that the walls seemed to melt. The entire world around him seemed to warp and distort into pools of darkness and rot. The ambient sounds of her presence intensified and filled his ears. He shook with fear as his vision dimmed. All he could see was the eternal abyss of darkness that surrounded him.

And then the pain began. All at once, he felt as if his entire soul was being set on fire. He felt every bone in his body being twisted and snapped. He tried to scream, but nothing came out. He twitched and contorted with each wave of pain that came washing over him. Every few seconds, he would see flashes of colors fly through his vision. Blue, lavender, orange, and green. Every flash made him spasm and shake. The pain filled his whole body, but he accepted it all. He knew that he deserved it…

Reality was collapsing all around him. His memories became warped and twisted to Her Majesty’s will. All he could remember was pain. His entire being became an essence of suffering. He wanted to scream for mercy, to beg for it to end, but to no avail. He was just a puppet, a toy for Her Majesty to play with, and he accepted every tinge of pain and misery that came upon him.

And then it ended just as fast as it began. His vision slowly came back to him and the pain slowly began to wilt away. He was lying on the floor of the throne room, Her Majesty staring down at him. He struggled up to his hooves, and a voice spoke in his mind.

“You are dismissed.”

“I’m just saying, I could never take somepony named Nightmare Moon seriously. Sounds like the name of a villain in a little foal’s tale,” Parallax said.

Eventide sighed as she trudged through the snow. “Naming things was never her strongest trait. But believe me, I’ve been in her presence before. It’s… different for everypony. You see, she knows your fears. She knows your desires. She knows your strengths and your weaknesses, and she uses them to her advantage. Some may go in and come out feeling rejuvenated and full of pride. Some may come out quivering in fear that will take weeks to recover from. Some even go in… and they never return.”

“I don’t doubt that for one second. It’s just… Nightmare Moon… what a name.” He chuckled.

They had been trotting for what seemed like days, although it was only a few hours. It felt like forever since they left the ruins of Auris. The three trotted through the snow at a slow pace, the hoofprints behind them speckling the path through the dark forest. All they had encountered were towering trees and the occasional corpse and abandoned encampment.

“How long until we get to the Hollow Shades?”, asked Even.

“About a day. We should probably rest up in the next hour or so,” Mythic murmured.

The two others nodded in agreement. Their legs ached from the long hours of trudging through the snow. The warmth spell that Eventide had cast was beginning to wear off. The brutal cold started to chill the gang to the bone. Another half an hour passed before they spoke again.

“You all h-holding up okay?” Parallax asked.

“Y-Yeah… Starting to lose f-feeling in my hooves and all, but other than that, I’m okay.”

“I’m fine. We’re almost done. Just keep moving forward and we’ll be there in no time,” Mythic said. The cold even made her shiver a little.

The three continued on their way in complete silence. The snow continued to fall and crunch beneath their hooves. Their trotting began to slow down as they continued. The wind had even gone silent for the past hour or so…

Crunch!

The three looked around for the source of the noise. There was nothing but the frozen blanket of snow and the towering trees.

“Okay, don’t panic,” Mythic whispered.

“Oh great. Time to fucking die, I guess,” Eventide said.

“Quiet, you! We aren’t going to die. Just stay together…”

Snap!

Parallax unsheathed his sword and scouted around. Still nothing. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest.

“Mythic, you sense anything?” he asked.

“I’ll see what I can do,” she whispered. Mythic closed her eyes and opened her mind. She expanded her mind across the general vicinity and tried to search for anything. Suddenly, her mental vision turned dark and she heard a horrific growling sound that made a chill ran down her spine. It sounded like a distorted growl of a hellhound, only much more sinister.

Mythic lost her focus and snapped back to reality. Her eyes went wide as she realized what their unexpected guest was—

“The Eclipsed…”

The words cut through them like the sharpest dagger. As they tried to comprehend it, a loud groan sounded. The three turned around and saw a black billowing mass of smoke. The three froze, too shocked to move. A voice suddenly sounded in Eventide and Parallax’s minds.

“I’ve fought these bastards before. They’re a tiny portion of Nightmare Moon’s essence. They know you’re afraid. Just… don’t panic. When they begin to form, keep staring at them. Whatever you do, don’t look away.”

The two nodded towards Mythic and stared at the black smoke. As they stared, the smoke slowly began to split and morph into the shape of an earth pony, a bat pony, and a unicorn. Their bodies were completely black and grey, with small rotting holes throughout them. Their eyes were an almost blinding white. The light seemed unnatural as it invaded the trio’s senses. The Eclipsed continued to make those horrific guttural noises. It almost seemed like the dying noises of a pony who’s life was coming to a violent end. And throughout it all, the trio continued to stare at them.

“They know your strengths, and they know your weaknesses. They know everything about you just by getting even the smallest glimpse at you. Once you look away, or show any signs of aggression… let’s just say that the result won’t be pretty. I don’t know what they’ll combat you with, but it could be anything. These little shits are skilled in almost any field. Now when I give the signal, give those bastards hell.”

The trio nodded and continued to stare at them. Parallax readied his blade and Eventide lit up her horn. The Eclipsed penetrated their souls with its white gaze. The horrific noises emanating from them began to grow even louder.

“And… now!!”

The trio sprang into action and charged at the ghastly ponies. When Parallax came into contact with one of them, he thrust his sword forward, only to be countered by a misty black blade. Parallax and the ghostly spirit exchanged a few blows before he kicked it to the ground and attempted to stab it. The Eclipsed rolled out of the way and slashed at his leg before getting back up. Parallax was unfazed by the puny scratch, however, and retaliated with a furious strike aimed at the neck. It parried just in time before swinging into one of his hooves. Parallax dodged this swing with ease and exchanged a flurry of blows with the ghastly opponent.

Eventide had instantly shot a fire spell when the signal was given. The blaze shot toward one of the Eclipsed with expert precision, but it countered with a grey magical forcefield that absorbed the flames. Eventide galloped towards her, charging one of her hooves full of magic. She struck the shield with astounding force, causing it to crack and shatter within seconds. The Eclipsed was blown back, but it managed to land on her hooves before charging up a large blast of magic in her horn. Eventide quickly countered with a magical barrier that deflected the blast back at the Eclipsed. With a flick of its hoof, the Eclipsed fired a beam of dark magic that absorbed the blast into it. Eventide used her telekinesis to hold the dark magic in place. The two attempted to push the dark magic into each other, but Eventide proved to be stronger and slammed the magic into the Eclipsed, sending it flying backwards.

Mythic and her astral adversary connected their minds together, and within seconds, they were on the Astral Plane. The stars and galaxies warped around the Eclipsed as it stared at the stoic bat pony. Mythic could feel her opponent’s psychic magic as she stared at it. The Eclipsed was the first to attack as she fired a blast of dark magic from one of her hooves. Mythic thrust out her hoof, and she forced the dark magic back at her opponent. It erected a barrier that absorbed the magic and deflected it back at her. Mythic braced for the attack and tapped into her astral magic. She stood perfectly still as her mind defended herself from the attack. The magic threatened to tear her apart, but her iron will proved to be far stronger. As the attack subsided, Mythic readied a blast of light within her hooves and fired it at the Eclipsed. The starry pony created a dome around herself that destroyed the blast of light.

Parallax smirked as he gained the upper hoof on his opponent. He had it knocked down to the ground with its sword knocked out of its hoof. He readied the finishing blow, but was caught off guard by a quick kick to the stomach. It’s hoof was icy cold and made him feel uneasy. As Parallax stumbled, the Eclipsed quickly got up and summoned its sword again. It dashed towards him and readied a powerful swing. Parallax ducked and swung at the demonic pony’s hooves, making it stumble a little. It swiftly recovered and countered with a slash to Parallax’s shoulder. He grunted in pain, but he pushed that feeling aside and continued to slash at his opponent. With a few quick slashes and parries, he found an opening and stabbed the starry pony in the throat. It made a horrific guttural noise, to which Parallax responded with another stab to the chest. The Eclipsed collapsed to the ground and split back into it’s misty form, ascending back to the heavens.

Eventide had clearly underestimated her opponent’s magical capabilities. Her starry adversary had her pinned down with a binding spell which she struggled to escape. She fired a beam of magic at it, which was countered by a deflecting spell that sent the beam back at her. As Eventide was struck with her own magic, an idea sprang to her mind. She wiped the blood off her brow and focused on a tree behind The Eclipsed. Tapping into her telekinesis, she uprooted the tree and forced it to slam down on her opponent. It tried to get out of the way, but it was quickly crushed by the large tree. Eventide felt her magical bonds become undone, and galloped over to her opponent who was trying to crawl out from under the tree. Eventide smirked and charged her hoof full of magic again. The Eclipsed tried to defend itself, but its puny shield was no match for her magic. With a horrific noise, it turned back into its smoky form and rose back up to the stars.

Mythic was impressed by her opponent’s abilities. The Eclipsed unleashed a powerful wave of fear upon Mythic. She felt her mind become swamped with visions of her long gone friends and allies. She saw how they died and how they left her. She saw those who betrayed her and those she failed to save. Mythic could feel her soul about to be torn apart as she became overwhelmed with these sights, horrific memories coming at her from all sides. She gathered up all her power and attempted to force back the fear spell at her opponent. She refused to let that fear overcome her and focused all her astral energy on the Eclipsed. She felt her thoughts come back to her as she pushed the fear out of her mind. The Eclipsed tried to push it back into her mind, but Mythic’s will proved to be far stronger. Mythic forced the spell back onto her adversary, and it screamed in agony as she forced the pony back into its misty state. With it’s mind destroyed, the psychic bond was broken, and Mythic came back to reality. She watched as the Eclipsed ascended back to the stars.

As the three finished their duels, they collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. Parallax’s open wounds oozed crimson blood, making him wince as he tried to regain his composure. Eventide was sure that a bone or two was broken. Mythic held her aching head as her senses slowly came back to her, trying to push away the last remnants of the fear spell.

“Well... we’re not dead. That’s something at least,” Parallax groaned.

“For our first battle together, I’d say we did pretty well, if you consider being alive in one piece to be well,” Eventide said, trying her hardest to stand up.

Parallax slowly trotted over to her. “You alright, Even?”

“Does it look like I’m alright!?” Eventide spat.

“Take it easy, Magey. We’ll get your poor little hoof fixed up soon. Mythic, you holding up okay.”

Mythic trotted over to the two. “Y-Yeah… I’m fine… Parallax, got any medical supplies?”

“A couple bandages and some anaesthetic. Not much, but we’ll have to make do. I’ve learned a few medical tricks during my time in the Guard. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Ooh what fun! Are you two going to play doctor on me? I bet that’ll be a treat!”

Mythic rolled her eyes. “Alright. Let’s rest and recover here for a few hours and continue on our way. Barring no more unfortunate setbacks, the Hollow Shades will be our next stop. Parallax, you get to work on the poor bastard’s leg. I’ll create a fire.”

Within a few minutes, the trio had built a small fire pit surrounded by a couple logs. Eventide’s leg was all bandaged up, still numb from the anaesthetic. They sat around the red embers, the cold giving away to the wondrous warmth.

“It’s almost become second nature to me…”, Mythic murmured.

Eventide looked at her curiously. “What has?”

“This. Sitting around a dingy little fire with a few acquaintances. I’ve done it so much over the years. It’s a ritual I do every few nights at this point.”

“Yeah, well, I’m new to this whole sitting-around-fire-and-having-an-existential-crisis business. What do you normally do during this?” Parallax asked.

“Tell stories, pass around information of various places, get drunk off our flanks.”

Eventide’s ears perked up. “I’m interested in the last one.”

Mythic giggled. “Hate to break it to you, but we don’t exactly have any cider.”

“Damn. How else am I gonna deal with you guys? Guess I’m gonna have to do it the boring way, eh? Who wants to tell the lame-ass story?” Eventide rolled her eyes.

“I’ll do it, I guess. That battle earlier made a lot of memories come flooding back. These eyes have seen so much,” Mythic said.

The two nodded and continued to stare into the fire.

“It was… around six years ago, I think.”

I used to be a very adventurous soul. It was near the beginning of my travels throughout Lunaris. I wasn’t nearly as meditative or reflective as I am now. I was always looking forward to going on the next adventure with my group of friends. My short mane, my green cloak, my plucky voice. All remnants of a more… innocent time in my life.

It was in the starting days of the Fourth Lunarian Civil War. The worst this land has ever seen. I’m sure you two remember it. The Rebellion was about to begin their advance on the capital of Canterlot. Me and my gang were just four ponies caught in the middle of this horrific event.

First there was Swift Trip. A dark blue pegasus who was an expert swordspony. I swear, that lad can defeat anypony. His form was almost beautiful. The way he swung with such grace was just incredible. He had a rough exterior, though, and was by far the most aggressive of the group. He’d often boss the rest of us around. At the time, I looked at him as a nagging bastard who needed to shut his damn mouth. Nowadays, I’m kind of thankful for him. He saved my flank numerous times.

There was also Sunlit Rose. She was the obligatory mage of the group. Her magic was some of the best I’ve ever seen. Her defense spells were practically impenetrable, I swear. She was also kind of an egghead, always having her nose stuck in those books. She even wore this cute pair of glassed at time. I, uh, had a bit of a relationship with her… Eventide! Quit giggling! I know I’m blushing!

Anyways, the last member was… my older sister. Mystic Soul. She was a psychic, like me. We were so close together. Our abilities combined were almost unstoppable. She was the strongest telepath I’ve ever seen. We had so many journeys together, whether it was into the depths of Lunaris, or the wonders of the Astral Plane. She was… a lot like how I am now. Philosophical and deep in thought. Our bond was like the moon and the stars. Never able to be separated, and always there for each other. She was almost like a mentor to me. She taught me a lot about life, about magic, and about the world.

We were in Canterlot on the day it happened. We weren’t part of the Rebellion or anything, just four ponies trying to make it in this world. The ponies of Canterlot were very harsh to us, especially since we had two psychics in our group. Keep in mind that the Astra Rebellion was fresh in ponies’ minds. We had both gotten used to it though. Any attempts at violence against us were met with a quick blast of lunar magic. Truth be told, it only added more fuel to that fire, but hey, it got those bastards off our flanks. Anyways, we were there to settle down for a month. We had just finished a long trek through the wilderness, so we decided to take a well-deserved break.

We rented an old cottage near the center of town. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. I slept with Sunlit one night. Her warm embrace made me feel so safe and secure. I still think about it every day…

Except that night I couldn’t sleep. You see, for a few nights, I began to have this vision. I rarely get visions of the future to begin with, but this one was especially noteworthy. If I remember correctly, it began with these white dots. Must’ve been about a dozen or so. I could hear voices emanating from them. There was happiness and laughter coming from them. They were filled with so much joy that I couldn’t help but smile the first time I saw it.

And then… it became quiet. The dots slowly turned to a dark crimson. The smile faded away from my face as I stared with a blank expression at them.

And then there were screams…

They pierced my ears like the sharpest needles. They ripped my entire mind to shreds. The blood-curdling screams and cries were unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. They seemed other-worldly and animal-like. My entire body shook and I began to scream, too. I couldn’t help it. The tears streamed down my face as I was assaulted by those damn screams of pain.

I would wake up a blubbering mess. Sunlit was always there for me, goddess bless her soul. She tried her hardest to comfort me, but I couldn’t help it. I would bury my face in her shoulder as I let it all out. I can safely say that it was one of the scariest moments of my life.

That night, I was too scared to sleep. I just knew that I would get that awful vision again. I snuggled up close to her. After a couple hours of staring at the ceiling, she woke up. She asked what was wrong, her voice like a soothing balm to my tortured soul. I told her of my little predicament. About halfway through my explanation, I began to tear up a little. I was quivering from fear, and I just couldn’t push that fear away.

She pulled me tighter in our embrace, and I buried my face into her shoulder. She kissed me on the neck and told me it would all be okay. I wanted to believe her, I really did, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t do it. That fear was wrapped too tightly around me, and I couldn’t escape no matter how hard I try. I don’t know how long I cried, but at some point I fell asleep. As it turns out, I did have that vision, and it was just as horrific as ever.

I woke up horrified and unsteady. Thankfully everypony else was getting ready to head out at the time. As I trotted down the streets of Canterlot, Mystic could sense something was wrong. She asked me about it, and I told her about my vision. She… didn’t exactly hold back in her explanation. To make a long story short, something bad would happen in the near future, and I would have to prepare for it. I nodded and asked what I can do to prepare for it. I still remember her words to this day...

“Our lives are speckled with many horrific events, and we must always be ready for them. Be strong, Mythic, for you never know when the last time you see a pony will be.”

Little did I know how prophetic her words would become…

“I’m sorry… I c-can’t continue. It’s just too much,” Mythic said, fighting to hold back tears.

“It’s alright, Mythic. You don’t have to continue,” Parallax said.

Eventide said nothing and continued to eat her dinner of beans and stale bread.

“Thanks. That battle earlier… it brought back some awful memories. I’ll continue the story at a later time. I just need to rest for now. Memories are funny things. They sneak up on us when we least expect us and take over our lives. They’re chapters that make up the book of our life. After all, what’s a pony if they don’t have a few awful memories?”

Parallax chuckled. “I can relate. Although, some reflect on them more than others…”

Eventide remained silent.

“Not necessarily a bad thing. They can teach us, but they can also be painful. A double-edged sword, if you will,” Mythic sighed. “Sorry, I’m just rambling again. We should get some rest. Sleeping in the middle of the forest isn’t exactly the safest idea, but we’ll have to make do. Once we all wake up, we’ll head out and we should end up in the Hollow Shades in a few hours.”

“I’ll cast a spell that’ll alert us of any unwanted visitors, along with a dome around us,”Eventide said, as she began casting the spells. “That should keep us safe.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Parallax nodded.

Within a few minutes, Eventide had cast a hazel dome around the group, along with the security spell.

“There. That should keep us safe from those bastards.”

The three had packed their things back into their saddlebags and laid down on the logs. “Remind me to get some sleeping bags next time we visit a merchant,” Mythic said. “Goodnight, you two.”

The two nodded. “Goodnight.”

With that, Parallax slept and Mythic “slept.” Eventide stared up at the stars, their twinkling rays stretching across the sky, bowing down to the wondrous light of the moon. It both relaxed her and made her feel uneasy. For years she had worked to maintain Her Majesty’s wondrous creation, and now she seeks to destroy it. She felt awful at the thought of ripping apart this wonderful sky. Even with all the pain and misery it’s brought, it still manages to be quite beautiful. She continued to stare at the stars before the darkness of sleep took over her body and lifted her from the grip of reality.

The Astral Plane was strangely quiet tonight. Normally she would hear the ambient sounds of galaxies warping, but now her ears were filled with complete silence aside from her hoofsteps. Mythic stared into the far-off nebulas and pulsating stars, feeling their magic entering her body and making her feel at peace. She tapped into her powers and made herself levitate. Closing her eyes, she forced herself into a state of deep contemplation. She let the lunar magic fill her soul, her cape and mane gently billowing from all the energy surrounding her.

The galaxies continued to remain silent...

Chapter V - Hollow

Parallax shivered under the glowing moonlight. All he could think about was arriving at his destination and plopping down in a nice warm bed. He breathed heavily, the cold piercing his body like knives. Even through his silver armor, he could still feel the chilly wind penetrate his soul with stinging force. For hours, the sounds of crunching snow filled his mind and pounded in his head. He could see thick vapors from his breath filling the air. But even through all the painful cold, he still gathered the strength and willpower to continue trotting.

“W-We’re just a few miles away,” Mythic said. “I can feel it. Stay strong. Once we get there, we’ll rest for a few days to recuperate.” Even she looked exhausted from the walking and the cold.

Eventide nodded. Her leg healed while they were sleeping, but it took her a while to gain full use back. She still felt a sharp pain whenever she took a step. Eventide didn’t mind though; he had been through far worse. A broken leg is foal’s play compared to her past injuries.

The trio could see a faint light in the distance. It stabbed their eyes yet brought a warm sense of relief into their souls. They picked up the pace, their hoofprints turning into a steady row as they trotted quickly. As the light grew closer, the warmth became even greater. The ice in their hearts seemed to give way to the wonderful sense of relief they were about to experience.

As they came closer, the homely village of the Hollow Shades came into their view. Snow-covered huts dotted the town’s landscape. Robed bat ponies trotted back and forth through the snowy alleys, going about their mundane daily routines. The guards stationed at the entrance stared blankly at the three travelers.

“State your name and business,” one of the guards said.

“I’m Mythic Azure. This is Parallax and Eventide. We just need a place to stay for a few days.”

One of the guards nodded and stepped aside. “Just don’t cause any trouble and you’ll be okay. The inn is located three blocks down. Has the big sign on the front. Can’t miss it.”

“Yeesh. Your guys’ security never ceases to astound me,” Mythic said.

“Would you prefer a fight to the death? Perhaps a dangerous fetch quest? Or a game of chess to determine if you enter or not?”

“Yeah, I’ll pass. You’re just pulling my leg now, Echo.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just move along and let me do my job, Mythic.”

Mythic giggled. “Have fun staring into an endless abyss of snow and trees for hours on end.”

Echo grumbled something to himself and went back to guarding. Parallax looked at Mythic puzzled.

“You know that pony?”

“I grew up here. Echo’s a good fillyhood friend of mine! A bit gruff, but he’s a nice fellow deep down.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not exactly in the mood for a family reunion,” Eventide said.

“That’s… not something we’ll have to worry about… Anyways, let’s get a room at the inn and then we’ll dick around here. Oh yeah, and try not to piss off any of the psychics here. Believe me, it won’t end well for you.”

The trio trotted through the misty streets of the Hollow Shades. The citizens carried out their daily tasks quietly and without interruption. Young bat foals played out in the open, making snowponies and throwing snowballs at each other. Some of them shuddered when they saw Eventide’s robe, to which she responded with a simple eye roll. A long-maned stallion in a dark blue cloak looked at the trio. Mythic nodded at him, and he nodded back. Parallax and Eventide looked at him puzzled, but they continued on regardless. The lovely smell of hay and tomato stew filled the group’s nostrils. Mythic breathed deeply.

It felt good to be home.

“I can’t deal with this lame town. Everypony just seems so boring!” Eventide said, sprawled out on one of the hotel beds.

“Better than having spears at our throats every second,” Parallax murmured.

“Us bat ponies are known for being the quiet type. Ever since some former Astra members settled down here after their uprising, it’s been relatively peaceful. It helps to have some powerful psychics keeping watch over things.” Mythic said.

“Is that what that stallion was? Some sort of psychic police pony?”

“Crimson Wing is his name. He’s a good friend of mine. I meet with him every time I come here. He’s a former member of Astra who settled here years ago. We’ll meet him in a bit at his house.”

“Another one of your egghead friends, eh?” Eventide said.

Mythic gave her a sharp glare, to which she giggled.

“Anyways, I’m going to meet up with him right now. Stay safe, and for the moon’s sake, don’t eat all the biscuits they’re serving down there, Even.”

“Not like I was planning to. They tasted like damn cardboard.”

Crimson took another swig of hard whiskey and chuckled as he and Mythic trotted on the outskirts of the Hollow Shades. “The Rebellion, eh? Nopony’s heard from them in a while… four months, I think. Rumors say that Las Pegasus is completely cut off from the outside world. Nopony goes in or out. I doubt you’ll get much out of them. They’ve been doing this for millennia, and they haven’t put a dent in Canterlot’s defenses.”

“I say fuck it; it’s worth a shot. Not like we’ll get anywhere just by sitting still and getting drunk off our flanks,” Mythic said.

“Heh… oh, Mythic. Do you know why I left Astra?”

“Because they erupted into internal conflict after their rebellion and you couldn’t take it anymore?”

“That’s it in a nutshell. But here’s the thing. In the period of time before the conflicts arose and after the uprising, members grew silent and their power began diminishing. Any attempts to contact them failed. What they didn’t know is that tensions were rising, and within a few months, Astra broke out into intense conflict. Their capital of Orton in the north became completely destroyed, and the members spersed out across Lunaris. Astra was severely weakened. Now it’s just a lowly group of psychics seeking a goal that for the most part has always been fulfilled.”

“Astra was a cult dedicated to the desire of justice for persecuted and discriminated psychics. It’s lasted for only a few decades at most. The Rebellion seeks the end of Nightmare Moon’s horrific rule, and it’s lasted for centuries.”

“Listen, Mythic. I think it’s great that you and your little friends are going to join the Rebellion. But here’s the thing. The Rebellion isn’t what you think it is. It may seem like they have a desire to destroy Nightmare Moon once and for all, but on the inside, they’re struggling. For years there have been political struggles and failures from inside Las Pegasus. I’m sure you remember the failed uprising in New Whinniepeg a year ago.”

“All too well. I was caught in the middle of it.”

“Well, listen, I sense that something terrible is brewing in the Rebellion. The fact that they’ve gone AWOL doesn’t help. We’ve seen this with Astra, and it seems like it’s about to happen with the Rebellion, too.”

“You were never a member of them, though. How could you possibly know what’s happening in Las Pegasus?”

“I never said that I did. Shit, maybe they’re perfectly okay. But you need to realize that this could very well be pointless. Even if you manage to join those bastards, which isn’t a certainty, it might be too late. Do you really want to risk your life for that?”

“What’s life but an endless journey full of risks?”

“Mythic, you’re a wonderful pony. You’re smart, powerful, and you’ve got many years ahead of you. I’d hate to see you risk your life for something that may be all for naught.”

Mythic glared at him. “I’ve done enough moping around. I’ve seen the horrific deeds of Nightmare Moon. I’ve seen my friends die by her hoof. I want to do something about it, Crimson. I want this to end!”

Crimson took another gulp of whiskey. “Mythic… listen to yourself. You’re being a bloody fool. This won’t end. This has gone on for millennia, possibly even eons. Do you really think that you can defeat a goddess and her army?”

“What’s a goddess but a queen with a big ego? And what’s a queen but somepony with a bit too much power?”

“Somepony who can crush you and your friends with a single thought. I don’t care how powerful of a psychic you are; you are not going to be able to take down the night, even with the entirety of the Rebellion united by your side. The moon’s fury is too powerful.”

Mythic glared at him, her eyes seeming to pierce into his soul like the sharpest dagger.

“The moon and stars must always set and give way to the sun.”

He pulled his blue cloak tighter around himself and sighed. “You know what, fine. If you want to do this, I won’t stop you. But please… be safe. You’re a good pony, and I’d hate to see you get killed because of this risky decision.”

“Eh, it’s a start. Anyways, how’s the town been since I last left?”

“Oh, nothing but the same old shit. Stopping foolish robbers with my mind gets old after a while.”

“Hey, it’s better than having the Eclipsed on your ass.”

Crimson stared at her in bewilderment. “You encountered the Eclipsed!?”

“Oh, did I ever. Heck, I fought one of them on the Astral Plane. Poor lad didn’t stand a chance.”

“Heavens above, Mythic! Do you know what that even means!?”

“That Her Majesty knows about us and is on our flanks? Of course I know. That’s the consequence of having a renegade mage in our group.”

“Mythic, for the stars’ sake… I always knew you as a dangerous mare, but this is just too far. You’re joining the Rebellion AND you have the Eclipsed on your flank!?”

“I’m not gonna get anywhere in life without taking on a few challenges.”

Crimson sighed. “But you shouldn’t go so far as to get yourself killed in the process.”

“You’re acting like I’m thinking this will be easy for me. I know this is dangerous and all, and I know that this could very cost me my life, but if I don’t spend my life challenging myself to overcome these obstacles, then all I’ll ever be is an insignificant little bat with nothing to her name. I’d rather die young while taking these risks than die old and unremembered.”

Crimson gladed at the young bat. “Fine… just stay safe…”

Mythic smiled. “I knew you would come around eventually.”

After a long walk, the two finally arrived at Crimson’s cottage. Upon trotting in, Mythic was greeted with the familiar sight of a stone fireplace and bookshelves full of thick tomes and spellbooks. It was quaint, but it brought a warm smile to Mythic’s face. Her mind flashed back to her days as a foal, when she would spend hours playing by the fireplace, trying to practice her telekinesis or attempt to meditate. But after a few minutes of reflecting, that nostalgic smile slowly turned to a frown.

“You okay, Mythic?”, asked Crimson.

“Yeah… Yeah, I’m fine…”

Eventide looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a maroon cloak with a matching robe and boots. They wrapped tightly around her body and made her feel all toasty.

“What do you think, Even?”, Crimson said. “It’s my wife’s old battle outfit. She won’t mind if you use it. It’s not much, but it should warm you up during your travels.”

Eventide nodded. “It’s different… but I like it.” She adjusted the sleeves, swished the cloak around herself, and tightened the boots. “Hopefully nopony will lose their shit when they see me now.”

Mythic giggled. “I dunno about you, but I think you look quite cute in that.” Eventide glared at Mythic, though it only made her giggle more.

Parallax sat close to the fireplace, his armor and sword cast aside. “You look fine, I guess. Not exactly an expert on mage fashion, but at least we won’t spook any more ponies.”

Eventide nodded. “Thanks, I guess,” she said as she sat by the fire.

“Dinner will be done in a second. Hay and tomato stew. It’s the most popular dish here in the Hollow Shades. Mythic likes it extra spicy, right?” He winked.

“Yeah, yeah. Just make it snappy. I haven’t had anything to eat except old beans for the past few days.”

After a few minutes of waiting, the four finally received their dinner. “Trust me. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried this,” Crimson said as he served the bowls.

Eventide levitated a bite to her lips and ate it. Her eyes widened. “Um, are you sure you didn’t give me Mythic’s? This is ridiculously spicy. It’s good, but damn.”

Crimson chuckled. “That’s one of the more mild servings. Us bat ponies enjoy a little spice to our morsels.”

Parallax ate his stew happily. He didn’t care if his tongue was on fire. He was just happy that he finally had something to eat. Mythic’s mouth was practically screaming at the taste, but she didn’t care. It brought her back to her youth. Memories flooded back of her eating stew with her parents and Mystic. She smiled at this nostalgic thought.

“So… what do you three have planned next?”

“Continue traveling west to Las Pegasus,” Mythic said. “Try not to get killed.”

“You three are aware of the Foal Mountains, right? They’re just outside of town. If you want to get to Las Pegasus quicker, you’ll need to ascend them. Well there’s this little settlement near the summit called Oront. Was established a few months ago to help any climbers. They’ll likely give you some supplies to help you on your journey. Only problem, of course, is climbing the damn mountains.”

“Oh fuck me,” Even groaned. “I’m scared to death of heights.”

“If you’re only concerned about heights, then you clearly haven’t climbed a mountain before. There’s… many foul creatures that roam the mountains. Wendigos, dragons, you name it.”

Eventide glared at him. “You’re not helping.”

“Not like you’ll get much help out there,” Parallax said.

“How tall are the mountains?” Mythic asked.

“Oh dear… about 1200 feet, I think,” Crimson said. The group’s eyes widened at this revelation. “But… at the foot of the mountain, there’s this cave system-”

“Caves aren’t much better,” Even said.

“Shush it. There’s this cave system that will lead you to the summit. It’s still quite dangerous, but it’s better than mountain climbing when it’s snowing sideways.”

“How do we make our way through the caves, though?”

“I’ve been through that cave a few times before. If you lads want, I can lead you through the caves and help you scale those mountains.”

“Are you sure? We’d hate to see you get hurt because of this,” Mythic said.

“Oh please. With two psychics, a mage, and a swordspony, I’m sure we’ll get through in one piece.”

Mythic thought it over for a second. Even and Parallax looked at her and nodded.

“Alright. Just be careful.”

“Oh, now you’re concerned for safety,” Crimson chuckled. Mythic rolled her eyes at him. “We’ll rest up and leave once everypony is ready.” The three nodded and went back to their dinner.

“How long have you lived in the Hollow Shades, Crimson?” Parallax asked.

“Slowly coming up to six years, I believe. It goes by so fast. I wouldn’t ask for anything different, though. I’m sure Mythic told you that I work for the town’s guard. Just making sure nopony kills each other.”

“Sounds quite dangerous,” Eventide said.

“It is at first, but a quick blast of psychic magic is no match for a measly dagger. You should see the face of those bastards when I catch them red-hoofed. They quiver like little foals. It’s quite the amusing sight.”

“You sure they won’t mind you missing a day or two?” Mythic said.

“Bah! I’ll go notify them in a bit. They’ll understand and hire a replacement. It’s no big deal.”

The door slammed open and a bright yellow bat pony mare with a black mane trotted through. “Whew! We struck a bounty today! 114 pounds of silver! Most we’ve come across in a - oh for the love of the moon! What did I tell you about inviting too many guests over!?”

“Relax, Snowy. These are some good friends of Mythic’s. This is Parallax and Eventide. You two, meet my wife Snowy Shores.” The two waved at her.

Snowy sighed. “Nice to meet you two. Sorry. I’m just not a fan of having strangers in our house. You never know what could happen. Once second you could be having a wonderful chat over dinner, and the next moment your throat is slit and your home is robbed.”

“Relax, love. These are good ponies. Now sit down and eat your stew.”

Snowy sat her saddlebags to the side and joined the four in dinner. “As I was saying, we hit quite the bounty today. 114 pounds of silver. Chief said we would get a raise, which took me by surprise, but hey, I ain’t complaining.”

“That’s certainly good to hear.” He turned back to the others. “My wife here’s a miner. She hits rocks with a pickaxe all day in dark tunnels in hopes of finding shiny stuff. “

“Boring as shit, but hey, it pays well. What else is there to do? Farming? In this weather? No thanks.” She telekinetically lifted another bite to her mouth.

Parallax looked at her curiously. “Are you also a psychic?”

“I can do basic telekinesis and some weak shields and that’s it. Some of us bat ponies are more attuned to the night’s power than others. I thought about learning more, but I don’t see a reason why. Just need to manipulate a pickaxe for my job.”

“That’s how some ponies are about magic in Fillydelphia. Don’t really learn much except basic telekinesis. Sort of a shame. In this world, one needs all the power they can get,” Parallax said.

“Yeah, well, some of us don’t exactly desire a life of power and strength. Some of us just want to live a regular life, not having to worry about getting your skull caved in by a timberwolf or some shit.”

“We all do, Snowy…” Mythic said, taking another bite of her blazing hot stew.

Eventide stared out the window on the top floor, and through the thick mist, she saw their next goal far out in the distance. The Foal Mountains peaked over the landscape like stalagmites in a cave. Its height both amazed and frightened her at the same time. She had seen drawings and heard descriptions of these legendary peaks, but seeing them in person made her jaw drop.

“Quite something, aren’t they?”

The voice behind her made her jump. She turned around and saw Crimson Wing trotting over to her.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright. Yeah, it really is something, alright. Even more amazing in person. Quite intimidating, too.”

Crimson chuckled. “My father always told me that life is like a series of mountains, always made to be climbed and conquered.”

Eventide nodded and turned away from the window. “So, where am I sleeping tonight? Better be someplace comfortable. Sleeping on logs does wonders for your back.”

“There’s a spare bedroom down the hall and to the left. Don’t mind all the clutter. We use it as an extra storage area.”

“I’ll have fun sleeping with the knick-knacks, I suppose.”

He laughed. “Well, better than a log in the middle of a cold forest. Mythic will be sleeping with you. If you’re going to have some fun, just be sure to keep it quiet.” Eventide blushed.

“We’ll leave for the mountains once everypony wakes up. There’s no real rush though, so don’t feel pressured or anything.

Eventide nodded. “Thanks, Crimson. You’re not bad for a complete egghead.”

“Heh… I try my best, I suppose. If you need anything, I’ll be in my study planning our journey. Take care and have a good rest.” He trotted back downstairs.

“Take care.” She trotted down the cramped hall and opened the door on the left. The room was littered with a bunch of old weapons, clothes, and various other souvenirs and trinkets. She spotted an old bunk bed in the corner. She took off her clothes and shoved them under the bed, then laid down in the bottom bunk. The old bed creaked as her weight pressed down on it. She pulled the old blankets over her body. It wasn’t much, but it’s a step above sleeping in the middle of nowhere. She curled up, meditating on the trip ahead.

Mythic trotted in a few minutes later. She removed her cape, casted it aside, and levitated herself to the top bunk.

“If a window breaks at some point, don’t panic. That’s just my psychic abilities reaching out into the physical realm.”

“Uh… sure… sweet dreams, I guess?”

The four stood at the edge of town, looking towards the direction of the mountain. “Only a few kilometers away,” Crimson said. “Just stay close and we should be fine.”

As the four trotted towards the mountain, the Hollow Shades faded away into the mist behind them. Not a sound was made aside from the crunching of snow and the blustery wind, which whipped up some of the snow and blew some of it onto the group. But still, they trudged on.

Crimson suddenly stopped trotting. “Wait…”, he whispered. “I feel something. I don’t think we’re alone here.” His eyes emitted a blue mist as he relaxed, then focused on his surroundings, trying to identify the source of the strange feeling. The world began to quiet down, the wind slowing down its gusty assault.

“Get down!”, he shouted as he summoned a blue psychic barrier around the group. A flurry of arrows suddenly came flying at the group, bouncing off the shield. A group of twenty ponies trotted out from behind the trees, carrying crossbows in their hooves. Their bodies were obscured with long flowing robes and their faces with bandanas.

A stallion unicorn with a strange black symbol on his bandanna began to speak in a gruff voice. Parallax guessed he was the leader.

“Relax,” the leader said. “We don’t have to settle this with violence. We’ll give you a simple wager. Just give us your saddlebags and we’ll be on our way. No bloodshed necessary.”

Crimson continued to maintain his shield. “You bandits are always the same. Trotting up to some helpless ponies and robbing them of their shit. It gets boring fighting you guys after a while, you know.”

“One more word from you and we’ll smash your puny shield to the ground and take your stuff ourselves. You’ll be lucky if you survive.”

“You sure you want to take that risk? I don’t know if your pathetic little platoon can defeat two psychics, a mage, and a swordspony. If I were you, I’d pick on somepony who wouldn’t rip me to shreds within minutes.”

The leader remained silent for a second. “We’ve handled groups far bigger and stronger than yours. Soldiers! Ready your arms!” The group aimed their crossbow at the group. “Fire!” The arrows bounced off the shield, but Crimson struggled to keep it up.

A voice rang in the other three’s heads. Once the shield breaks, give these bastards all you’ve got. Don’t let them intimidate you. They love it when you fear them. Parallax, take the ones on the left. Mythic, you’re with me. We got the ones on the right. Even, take out the rest. Parallax drew his sword and Eventide and Mythic tapped into their magic. All was silent as everypony waited for the next move, the wind serving as the symphony before the battle.

Another wave of arrows was fired, and the shield shattered.

Parallax took the time while they were reloading to spring into action. He dashed over to a couple of them and slashed them, making them fall to the ground with a heavy thud. The bandits managed to fire again at him. Parallax rolled out of the way of the arrows and lunged at the rest of the bandits. He punched one of them in the jaw and stabbed him while he was on the ground. Another countered with a swift kick to Parallax’s jaw, to which he responded with a fast slash on his neck. The bandit’s blood stained the blanket of snow a dark red.

Eventide immediately fired a bright orange bolt of lightning at the group of bandits. One of the unicorns managed to conjure up a weak shield around the group of bandits. Eventide pushed the lightning harder, and the shield shattered, shocking the bandits. She conjured up a blast of fire in her horn and fired it at the group. The bandits managed to get out of the way in time and shoot another flurry of arrows at her. Eventide managed to summon a shield, the arrows impaling into it. Summoning all the power she had, she forced her magic outwards and deflected the arrows back at the robbers. Some managed to roll out of the way in time, but the others had multiple arrows lodged in their throats and chests, collapsing to the ground.

The bandits fired a barrage of arrows at the two psychics. However, they each used their telekinesis to stop the arrows in midair and forced them back at their foes. A couple unicorns summoned a shield which made the arrows bounce off it. Mythic charged her hoof full of psychic magic, making it glow a dark purple. She dashed over to them at breakneck speed and punched a couple bandits in the face. She could hear their jaws shatter from the force. Crimson finished them off with a powerful kick while they were on the ground. The rest of the group attempted to fire at the two, but Crimson used his telekinesis to jam their crossbows. Closing her eyes, Mythic took the opportunity to telepathically assault them. The weak ones tried to resist, but she swiftly overwhelmed them and forced them into the snow, killing them.

Parallax kicked one of the bandits to the ground and crushed his throat with a powerful stomp. Another one took this opportunity to fire an arrow at him, which lodged into one of his hooves. He shouted in pain, but he managed to focus through it. He slashed at the pony, though he managed to dodge him to his surprise. With a swift kick, however, he managed to fell the bandit and force his sword through his chest. Another arrow came streaking towards him, which he blocked with his sword. He dashed over to the last bandit and slowly slit her throat with his blade. He collapsed to the ground exhausted.

Eventide telekinetically grabbed one of the bandits, choking him. He gasped for air to no avail. She tightened her magical grip even more, crushing his throat. As she threw the corpse aside, she fired a large bolt of electricity at another one who managed to block it with a magical barrier. Eventide focused the lightning harder and attempted to penetrate the barrier. The bandit tried to keep the barrier up, but to no avail. Eventide shattered the barrier and delivered a hot bolt of lightning onto the pony, her corpse falling into the snow. She slammed her hoof into the leader’s jaw and shot a powerful blast of magic at him while he was on the ground. The leader managed to deflect the blast back at Even, throwing her into the snow. She slowly managed to get back up and tackle him to the ground. With a magically charged hoof, she jabbed him square into the face. The leader tried to retaliate, but his strength slowly left his body and life slipped away from him. Eventide rolled off of him into the snow exhausted, her cloak and robe blood-stained.

Mythic conjured a psychic shield around herself that deflected the arrows back at the bandits. Some evaded them, while the unlucky ones ended up with an arrow straight through the throat. Crimson levitated and slammed two bandits into each other, making their skulls crack. Mythic charged up her hoof full of a dark purple lightning and fired it at one of the bandits, frying her to death. Crimson focused on two ponies and cast a confusion spell on them. Their minds suddenly became clouded. They tried to fight it, but to no avail. He bended them to his will, and forced them to fire their crossbows at each other, killing them instantly. The two psychics took heavy breaths as they concluded their battle.

The four ponies gathered their strength and looked at the pile of corpses around them. “Everypony okay?” Crimson asked.

The three nodded. “Got an arrow lodged in my damn hoof,” Parallax said, “but other than that I couldn’t be better.”.

Crimson sighed in relief. “Glad you’re all okay, for the most part anyways. We’re not far from the mountain. Once we get there, we’ll treat everypony’s injuries, including your hoof. Grab what you can from these bastards and let’s move.”

Eventide stared at one of the corpses she had killed. It’s dead, soulless eyes pierced into her soul like a silver dagger. Blood poured from her mouth like a leaky pipe. The stench of blood and rotting flesh filled her nostrils, a scent she was all too familiar with. She could swear that she saw the corpse twitch a little.

The four arrived at the foot of the mountain moments later. Mist surrounded the group, obscuring the peak from their view. The weathered granite was rough and worn. To the left, they could spot a small entrance to a cave.

“We’ll enter in a second. Let’s tend to those wounds first. I have a good amount of experience in medicine, so this shouldn’t take long.”

Crimson opened up his saddlebags, pulling out a few vials and bandages. He set Parallax’s hoof down and numbed it with one of the vials. Within minutes, he had extracted the arrow and bandaged his hoof.

“Try not to kick anypony with that for the next few moons,” Crimson said. Parallax nodded and stood up with a groan, the anaesthetic beginning to wear off.

Crimson quickly bandaged Eventide and Mythic’s minor wounds. The four trotted towards the mouth of the cave. It was very narrow, barely able to fit a few ponies. Parallax tensed up a bit at seeing the small passage, but he pushed that fear aside. The alternative was much more dangerous.

“Right then. Onward and upward. Stay close behind and we’ll be okay.” Crimson entered the cave. The three followed close behind, Eventide illuminating the way with her horn.

General Polaris sat with his advisors in the war room. It had been nicknamed the “Slaughterhouse Star” by many. Polaris quite liked the name. It had a pleasing ring to it.

“General, we have located their position. On your orders, sir. The rest of the council recommends it, but the final verdict lies with you,” one of the head colonels said.

Polaris smirked.

“Proceed.”

Chapter VI - The Caverns

Eventide breathed deeply as she followed Crimson through the tight, dark caverns. The damp walls enclosed the group like a stone prison. She always hated caves. The thought of being trapped in complete darkness without any hope of escape rattled in her brain. Upon seeing how tight of a fit it was, she was reluctant to continue. Still, she gathered up the courage to go forward. She wasn’t going to let a silly mountain cave defeat her.

It helped to have Crimson’s lovely ramblings calm her. “So there we were, with the ice cracking beneath our hooves. It was almost certain that we would drown within the freezing waters down below. Me and my fellow explorers prayed for a quick and painless death. Then, from out of nowhere, a bright light flashed just beyond us. It hit the lake of ice, and wouldn’t you believe it, the whole thing repaired itself. It was incredible. From the source of the light, I could faintly make out the shape of a unicorn stallion in tattered robes. He called out to us to hurry up, and we cantered with much caution. We got there and the poor lad collapsed from exhaustion. He explained to me that he was the sole survivor of a hunting expedition gone wrong. The poor sod had been badly injured as a result of an encounter with an Ursa Minor. After nursing him back to health, we allowed him to join our little group. His name was Spearhead, I believe. Nice chap, he was. He bought us all gin once in Manehattan.”

“What happened to him?” asked Parallax.

“Mauled by a timberwolf. I was traumatized for weeks. Never got to accomplish his dream of settling down in Canterlot. Of course, that was before the city became the oppressive dump it is now. If you ever go there, just… don’t do, say—heck, don’t even think about anything that goes against Her Majesty’s will. It will only end in… horrific punishment.”

“Lucky for us,” Mythic scoffed, “We’ll have to pass right by the city once we’re done with this cave.”

“With a high-profile mage on the loose, the area surrounding the city has heightened security. Even, you know illusion magic at all?”

“A good amount.”

“Great. Of course, some of the more advanced guards might see through your tricks, but it’ll help you out a great deal.”

“Oh great. Dark caves and the outskirts of the place where I’m wanted with my head on a silver platter. What a journey it’s been so far.”

“You could head southwest a little and go through Ponyville. Would take a bit longer, but it’s safer. Although… you’d also have to go through the Everfree Forest…”

Mythic interrupted him. “Let’s focus on getting through these caves first. Then we will decide our next course of action.”

“Suit yourself, my friends. It’s your journey. I’m just a guide. Once we get out of this place, I’m heading back to Hollow Shades.”

“One less mouth to feed, I suppose.”

The four trotted through the tight and winding corridors. A few stalactites poked through the ceiling like long, frozen drops of water. The only sound was the faint dripping of moisture and the group’s echoing footsteps. The stench of dirty water and dust filled the air. They must have been trotting for several hours by now. To Eventide, it felt like several days. The rocky halls wrapped around the group like a dark canopy. She tried to relax herself by chatting more.

“Will we be… encountering anything in this cave?”

Parallax scoffed. “Yeah, now’s a good time to ask.”

“We might come across a few cave insects,” Crimson said, “but nothing that will cause any harm to us.”

Eventide sighed in relief. If there’s one thing she hated more than caves, it’s a cave full of things that want her dead.

Mythic spent most of the expedition in deep thought as always. Walking through the pitch black caves helped her to meditate. She focused on what was ahead. A few hundred meters ahead, she felt the cave widen into a bigger room. She was relieved to feel this; the tight caverns were making it difficult to utilize her powers.

“We’ll come across a bigger area soon,” she announced to the group. “I think I even feel a water source there.”

Crimson’s ears perked up at this revelation. “Excellent!”, he said. “We’re headed the right way! We’ll rest there and then keep going. Shouldn't be too long before this mountain is conquered.”

Parallax was ecstatic. His hooves and eyes were losing strength from all the trotting. He never wanted to see a rock wall again after this experience. The four picked up the pace to get to the destination quicker, and within a few minutes, they came to the large room.

A small brook flowed from one alcove to another across the length of the room. Several stalagmites poked out of the ground, and some rocks dotted the surface.

What caught their eyes, though, was a small set of carvings on one of the walls.

They trotted over to the strange carvings. They seemed to be very smoothly crafted—clearly the work of an expert artist. At the very top they spotted some writing:

"The Ones Who Fell”

Below it, they saw a carving of six ponies. The one in front had a straight mane with a crown on her head. Behind her stood five mares wearing pendants with the respective shapes of a lightning bolt, a butterfly, a balloon, a gemstone, and an apple. They glared at a large, menacing mare who was cackling at them. Her tall shape was surrounded in armor, and her face was one of glee.

The next drawing saw the six young mares floating in the air, the magic from the pendants surrounding them. What puzzled the four, however, were their faces. They seemed to be scared and struggling, as if the magic they were conjuring was taking a toll on them. The dark mare only cackled harder at this pathetic display.

The third display had a large chunk taken out of it where the maniacal mare’s horn began. Crimson deduced this as showing that she was firing some sort of blast of immense magic. The six mares were shown in immense pain as they were destroyed by the nightly queen’s superior magic. The poor mares appeared to scream and wince as they were utterly demolished.

The final showed the six mares still alive, but so weakened that they couldn’t even stand. The victorious mare only continues to guffaw at this pathetic sight. Her eyes pierced into their souls, as if to rub it in their faces that the land was now her’s. At the bottom of this carving was another inscription.

“It’ll never end… obey her while you can. Never repeat the mistakes of Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow, and Fluttershy. Hail the Lunar Queen.”

“The Fallen Six…” Mythic said.

“Quite a basic explanation,” Crimson said, “but an interesting take nonetheless.”

“What happened to them after… all this?”, Parallax asked.

“It’s hard to say. Some tried their best to rebel against her, to no avail. Some might’ve gone into exile and disappeared from existence. One is rumoured to have killed themselves years later. There are many different tales and legends of these six. It’s hard to know what’s true and what isn’t.”

“What are those weird pendant things?”

“Nopony knows for sure. Some refer to them as ‘The Omens’ or ‘The Harmony’. They’re long gone now, though. Crushed under Her Majesty’s iron hoof. If they even exist now, they have as much use as a brick.”

Crimson turned to Parallax. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard this story before. It’s something everypony knows.”

“I always learned it differently. Was taught that Nightmare Moon lead an immense army of followers to Canterlot who sacked it and overthrew her sister. No silly peasants with pendants or whatever,” Parallax said.

“I’d suspect that Her Majesty wanted to make her climb to power more grand and impressive,” Mythic said. “This version strikes me as the truth, as strange as it sounds.”

“How so? This sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me. How could six ordinary ponies be so stupid?”

“There’s a good amount of evidence that suggests this,” Crimson said. “As much as Her Majesty wants to hide the truth from her citizens, there are many writings from around that time that still exist and tell the full story. Of course, you’ll be beheaded if you ever come across any of these old writings, so don’t go around sharing this out in public.”

“Plus Her Majesty’s military and servants are some of the few ponies allowed to hear this story, along with a bunch of other truths,” Eventide added.

Parallax rolled his eyes. “Well, shows how much I know. Any other shit you guys want to shed light on?”

Eventide smirked at him. “Well, there’s the whole thing about the First Lunar Civil War, the Conquering of Yakyakistan, the Orion Incident-”

“Alright, alright. You guys expose the truth later. For now, let’s focus on taking a much-needed break.”

The others nodded and got to work. The four found a patch of land next to the brook to set up camp. Even created a fire, and the group sat on their rocks around it. Thankfully, Crimson brought some food. They snacked on some eggs and berries as they planned their next course of action.

“Is Ponyville even safe?” Parallax asked Crimson. “With it’s close proximity to Canterlot, it must be under Her Majesty’s tight control.”

“Not as much as one might think. It is heavily guarded, but the citizens there enjoy a good amount of freedom. The city is known for their underground farms, which are sights to behold. They grow some of the best produce in the land, so you should have no trouble getting quality food there, hehe.”

He continued. “Of course, since the town is home to the Fallen Six, it’s gained a bit of infamy, especially since it’s so close to the place known only as The Shrine of the Beginning. It is said that this is where Nightmare Moon defeated the Fallen Six. It’s been rumoured that anypony who enters this sacred place receives what it is they desire most.

“Since it resides in the heart of the Everfree Forest though, many who take the journey never return. Even before Lunaris was created, the Everfree was one of the most dangerous places in the land. Nightmare Moon just made it even more horrific. I beg of you, if you ever go into that awful forest—be careful. There are things in that forest that will rip you to shreds in seconds. Avoid that damn place as much as possible.”

“I dunno. If the shrine could give me a lifetime’s supply of cider, I’d be willing to take that risk,” Eventide quipped.

Crimson chuckled. “Hey, it’s your journey. Do whatever you want. Just keep something in mind. You’re good ponies, and I’d really hate to see something bad happen to you fine folk. As much as I think your goal is futile, you have good intentions. After we get out of these caves and I leave you, I’d still like to see you again.”

“Crimson,” Mythic said, “for the hundredth time, we’ll be careful.” She rolled her eyes.

“That’s what they always say. ‘It’s alright. I’ll be careful. I won’t get into trouble.’ But what happens to them? They get mauled by the damn hellhounds. You three have the entire Lunar Empire on your flanks, on top of all the other monsters and gangs. The odds are massively stacked against you. I’d be surprised if you get out of Ponyville alive.”

“Well aren’t you just a bucket of sunshine tonight,” Parallax said.

Crimson stared into the fire. “Sorry. It’s just that I’ve seen too much of this. Groups remaining optimistic despite their obvious disadvantage. It never ends well for them…”

“I don’t have much to live for anyways. My friends and lovers are gone, my family is…” Mythic refused to finish that sentence.

“You still shouldn't throw it away like that. You three constantly strive for a better tomorrow, and that’s admirable. Hang on to that desire to your very last breath.”

“We will. Thanks, Crimson.” Even and Parallax nodded in agreement.

“Let’s get some sleep. Nothing should interrupt our slumber… hopefully. Once we wake, we’ll continue on our way for a few more hours and we’ll be out of these caverns.”

“Felt like years since I’ve last seen the moon…” Eventide said.

Even curled up on her patch of land, only the dying sounds of the fire and the gentle ripples of the brook filling the soundscape. Mythic had sat by the brook to meditate, and Parallax and Crimson laid down on a few rocks. Eventide let these sounds soothe her to sleep. She peered down the rocky corridor from which they entered. She felt herself tremble and grow very unsteady as she stared into the dark tunnel before flipping herself around, looking away from the tunnel.

The fire died out, leaving the group shrouded in darkness.

Eventide heard voices.

It began with a slight whisper. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, her eyes still closed and face turned away from the entrance. But she knew they didn’t sound like her friends. It sounded like the voices came from the entrance. She pretended to stay asleep, trying to listen in on their conversation. The whispers came closer to the entrance, becoming more audible.

“I think I see them,” a feminine voice said.

“Quiet! We don’t want to wake them!” said another.

She wanted desperately to wake up and confront the intruders, but she was afraid that would only make things worse. She barely opened one of her eyes and saw Mythic meditating by the lake, along with Parallax and Crimson sleeping soundly. How was she the only pony to notice these intruders!? Surely this must be a dream!

No. It was too real to be a dream. She continued to listen in on the voices.

“Okay, how do we go about doing this?” asked one of them.

“You heard General Polaris’ orders. Just slit their damn throats and knock the mage unconscious.”

Her heart dropped as she heard the name. They’d been sent to assassinate her friends. She tried her hardest to remain calm so as not to act suspicious. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the two lunar mages trot over to where they were resting, their backs turned away from her.

“What if they wake up?”

“We use our last resort. We’ll likely die in the process, but we’ll die heroes.”

One of the mages drew a knife from her belt and trotted over to Parallax’s sleeping body. Eventide’s heart pounded like a drum as she crouched over his body and put the knife to the edge of his throat.

A powerful telekinetic blast suddenly blasted the two mages away, slamming them into a wall and waking everypony else. Crimson held the two in a telekinetic grip on the wall.

“Now, who in Tartarus are you and what do you want!?”, he roared.

“We’re just passing by! We mean no harm! We swear!”, one of them said.

“Don’t play stupid with me! You came to murder us, didn’t you?” The other three trotted up to them, groggy and weary.

“Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now!”

One of the mages chuckled. “We have a nice surprise ready if one of us were to die.”

“Enough of your damn games! What in Lunaris are you planning to do!?”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. If you’d like, we can help you out a bit.”

Crimson stared at the two, fury blazing in his eyes. He slammed the two into the ground, blood staining their faces.

“Private, you know what to do. May Her Majesty bless you with the finest gifts in the afterlife,” said one of the mages.

The other mage’s horn began to glow a brilliant pink as he raised it to the rocky ceiling. Crimson lunged forward at him, attempting to distract him, but it was too late. He fired a beam of magic at the ceiling. Cracks began to form in the surface and the whole cavern began to shake, little bits of rock and dust showering the group.

“We need to get out!”, Parallax shouted.

“This way!” Crimson picked himself up and made a dash for the exit, the others following closely behind.

The entire cavern began to cave in, large chunks of rock suddenly filling the room. The rocks splashed into the brook, streaking water everywhere. One of the mages fired a beam of magic at Eventide, making her collapse right before the exit. She tried to pick herself up to no avail, a large rock knocking her back down.

“Even!” Mythic mentally reached out to her, picking her up in a telekinetic grasp. The rocks began to rain down even faster as Mythic pulled her closer to the exit. As she finally reached the rest of the group, the entire cavern was destroyed, becoming nothing but large chunks of rock and debris.

“Even! Are you alright!?” Parallax cried out. Even picked herself up, a large gash in her head. Pain throbbed throughout her entire body, but she managed to push it aside. Now wasn’t the time to be weakened. They had to push forwards.

“I’m okay! We have to move!,” she commanded. “They might send reinforcements!”

Crimson nodded and began to lead the way throughout the winding passages. Mythic kept scanning the surrounding area for more mages, while Parallax kept his sword drawn and Eventide kept tapping into her magic. Every step shot pain throughout Eventide’s body, her heart beating rapidly. The four galloped as fast as they could throughout the dark caverns, when suddenly a beam of fire shot towards the group.

“Watch out!” shouted Crimson. The four ducked in response.

A small number of lunar mages trotted out of the darkness towards them, led by an older mare. They stared at the four, not attacking at all. The mare began to speak.

“I’m sure you know why we’re here…”

“Brigadier Whispy. I thought you had been discharged,” Eventide said.

“I was brought back for this one assignment. In fact, they’ve brought a lot of retired and discharged soldiers back. The entire Order has put all its focus in bringing you back, you know. Ever since that night a few weeks ago when you managed to escape, things have never been the same. Quite a shame, really. Her Majesty has been absolutely furious, and the entire city of Canterlot is on lockdown because of you. Curfews and everything.”

“All because of a silly mage who enjoys alcohol too much, eh? I knew you guys were desperate for power, but this is just getting ridiculous.”

“No, Even, you’re more than just another lunar mage…”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m apparently ‘extremely powerful’ and all that. I appreciate the compliments, but I’ve heard it all before.”

“Her Majesty is scared of you, Even. Her recent wrath has come from her fear of losing you. She knows of your potential to lower the stars…”

Eventide’s heart dropped at the mention of those words. “Lower the stars…”

“Yes. She received a vision many years ago. A vision where one of her faithful subjects would betray her, and lead a rebellion to topple her reign, and bring back the light which she’s sworn to seal away. When you betrayed her, Her Majesty felt something she never felt. An intense fear erupted in her heart. She knew you were destined to be the one in her vision. You aren’t just a powerful mage. You’re destined to be the one to destroy her reign, and that’s something she simply can’t allow.”

Eventide’s heart thumped in her chest at this revelation. “So… I’m destined for something greater than just running around this awful land while some silly grunts in awfully itchy robes hunt me down.”

“I wouldn’t say greater, but yes. I know not where this vision came from, or if we even can prevent this from taking place, but I trust Her Majesty with all my heart. Nothing will stop her, and she will always be victorious!”

Mythic began to speak. “Oh there you go again. Just blindly following your leader without a care in the world. You’re all the bloody same. Acting like your leader is such a wonderful being who is always right.”

“And who do you have to guide you and answer to? Your own free will? Give me a break! You have no hope without your glorious queen! She cares for you, gives you a life worth living, and a wonderful place to call home! You were born of the moon, you live by the moon, and you will die with the moon.”

“She never cares. It’s all just a big game with her. She pretends to care for us, and in turn she grows more powerful by the second. We’re just pawns for her to toy with while she lets us wallow in our sorrows and sufferings. I and many others have wandered this shithole for bloody years while you lot are mindlessly serving her and obeying her every command without question. It’s utterly sickening. If she truly cares for me, why do me and countless others suffer so much?”

“Spare me the self-pity for later, darling. It’s getting quite tiresome. The price of power comes at a price, my dear.” Her mouth turned into a devilish grin. “A very… expensive price. Now, Even, you’re quite the special mare. You and your friends absolutely shake our queen to the bone, which is mightily impressive.”

“How do I know you lot aren’t just making this up? As if it’s some elaborate ruse to trick us or something?” Eventide glared.

“I see you still know how to be skeptical. That’s quite good. You’ll need that should you get out of here alive. It’s quite simple, really. I’m sure you remember The Future Ritual every mage-in-training receives from Her Majesty, where she looks into your mind and sees a rough outline of what you are destined to become. Of course, she never reveals it to you, because she likes surprising her subjects.”

Eventide dug through her memories of that moment. “I remember… I remember her being very distraught when she was done with me. I don’t think I’ve seen her that upset before. When she finished, she simply told me to leave. Anytime I asked somepony about it, they simply ignored me and walked away. Do you mean…”

“Yes. She knew of what you were destined to do, and what it would mean to her and her kingdom.”

“But why didn’t she kill me right there? If I was her, I’d have ended the whole problem right there.”

“Through her wondrous power, Her Majesty has managed to reverse these visions before. Should she reverse this vision, she would gain a powerful ally in you. She saw the magical potential you had, and decided to take that risk.”

Her mind flashed back to her days in training. She remembered being beat down over the head with ‘extraordinary’ tales of Her Majesty and all the wonders and good things she’s done. She remembered the long lectures and lessons that were jammed into her cranium in hopes of brainwashing her into obeying. In fact, she remembered receiving more of this propaganda than the rest of her students...

Her vision turned red as rage erupted in her body. She grabbed Whispy by the throat and slammed her into a nearby wall. The mages readied their horns and the ones in front readied their magic spears.

The Brigadier chuckled. “You really never change, Even. Still as vengeful as ever.”

“One more word and you’re getting a face full of lightning, you bitch!”

“Okay, now you’re just sounding ridiculous. I can barely take you seriously. If you’re the supposed savior of ponykind, then it’s not going to end well for you.”

Eventide slammed her face with her hoof, the other mages only preparing themselves more.

Whispy ignored the blood running from her nose and turned to her mages.“Relax, my subjects. Don’t strike unless I tell you to. Let me sort this out.” She turned back to Eventide, grinning like a madmare. “Even, look at you. You claim to be for ‘peace and tranquility’, and then you go ahead and do that. You’re off to a bad start, my friend.”

Eventide only responded with another strike. “When did I ever claim that I was for peace?”

The Brigadier only chuckled harder. “You fit right in with the lunar mages.”

“Even! For the moon’s sake, stop!”, Mythic shouted at her. “You’re only making this more difficult!”

“Who said this wouldn’t be difficult?”, she said as she struck her in the face again. Whispy’s face was drenched in blood, and Eventide’s horn was erupting with magic in response.

“This reminds me of the time when you slaughtered the mayor of Whinniepeg! Or maybe that time where you threatened that one barkeeper in Ponyville for scamming you!”

“For the love of the stars, please don’t do this!”, Crimson shouted.

“Are you going to kill me, Even?”, Whispy asked.

Eventide paused for a minute. Her rage had only doubled since the scuffle began, and it showed no signs of dimming. After a minute passed, she smirked.

“I’d take great pleasure in it.”

“How pathetic, Even. Or should I say… Lieutenant Eventide?” Whispy said with a devilish grin.

Eventide slammed her face first into the cold, rocky cave floor. The sounds of bones breaking filled the tunnels. “Do not mention my previous name, you cold-hearted bitch!”

Parallax watched the incident occur in silence. Even when his companions spoke up, he remained silent. But something in him awakened when she slammed the brigadier down. He drew his sword and pointed it at Eventide, his breath shaky.

“Even… don’t hurt her anymore. We can… We can settle this peacefully.”

The Brigadier giggled. “Oh great. Here comes your knight in shining armor to save you. Figuratively and literally!

“Settle it peacefully!? Do you even know who we’re dealing with!? There’s no reasoning with these bastards! They’re utterly brainwashed with no chance of redemption! They’ll kill us without a second thought.” She turned to the group of mages. “Isn’t that right!?”

The mages stood there in silence, their magic and spears still ready. None of them so much as blinked in response to her.

Even shot them a nasty glare that pierced into their souls. “I thought so… predictable as always.”

Parallax trembled as he tried to reason with her. “Even, this isn’t you. You’re not a damn murderer. You need to leave the old you behind.”

Eventide trembled, her hooves at Whispy’s throat. She attempted to blink back tears to no avail. Whispy simply stared at her, her gaze soulless and empty. She wanted to kill her so bad. She knew that with a few quick movements with her hooves, she could end this pony’s life. One more of her enemies defeated without much hassle. But something in her refused. She couldn’t simply murder her when she was never attacked. Still trembling, she moved her hooves away from her throat and allowed Whispy to stand up.

“Show the slightest act of aggression and your head will be sent back to Her Majesty on a silver platter,” Eventide warned.

Whispy chuckled as she stood up. “So you still have some mercy in you, Even. Quite honorable, I must say. Although I’m sure you will find some of the other mages to be… a lot less forgiving.”

Mythic stepped forward. “Listen, we don’t have any interest in harming you… well, most of us. We’re willing to settle this peacefully—”

“Then give us Even and we’ll be on our way. Nopony will be hurt and killed, and you can continue on your silly little journey west.”

“You aren’t going to stop us from joining the Rebellion?”

“Why would I? The Rebellion is a pathetic group of weaklings as it is. Adding a few silly ponies in the mix will do nothing to change it.”

Eventide cleared her throat. “With all due respect, I’d like to state that you can take your offer and shove it up your bloody arse.”

“My! Such foul language! You always had a potty mouth, my dear. But I’m afraid if you don’t accept my offer, I’ll have to use my wonderful platoon of soldiers here. Unlike that cowardly bastard Polaris, you’ll find I’m much more forgiving. As such, we will only knock the mage out and simply hold down the rest of you. Simple as that. Of course, if you show any signs of being REALLY aggressive, we might have to… kick things up a notch.”

Crimson glared at her and the army. He never expected to come across this when he agreed to help Mythic and her group. They were clearly outnumbered 16 to 4. The tight caverns didn’t help at all. How could two psychics, a swordspony, and a mage take down 16 high-ranking warriors trained to fight under the most powerful empire in Equis?

Only one way to find out, he thought.

“Even’s not going anywhere,” he said. “Bring it.” Mythic and Even nodded in agreement. Parallax hesitated, but he too agreed.

“Finally! I’ve been waiting for this part for ages!” She turned to her mages. “Don’t kill them unless I tell you to. Only stun and hold down.”

Crimson spoke to the others through their minds. Don’t kill them. The exit is nearby. Bring the battle near the exit, and when I give the signal, make a run for it.

The other three nodded and stared down their foes. Parallax breathed heavily as he readied his sword. Mythic felt rage bubble inside her again as she tapped into her magic again. Mythic and Crimson remained calm as they focused on their magic. Whispy and the mages stared at them, their faces showing no emotion, tapping into their magic.

After a long silence, the battle began with a ray of blue light from one of the lunar mages in front.

Parallax charged at the platoon with a loud shout, readying his sword to slash at one of the mages in front. Suddenly, the mage he was aiming for erected a blue dome of magic that knocked him to the ground. The mage next to her tackled Parallax to the ground, hoping to restrain him. Parallax rammed his hoof into the mage’s face, but she retaliated with a dodge and slammed his face into the cold ground, the rough surface scratching his face. Summoning all the strength he had, he grabbed the mage and threw her off of him, forcing her down the corridor near the exit. Another mage charged at him, but he retaliated with a quick jab with his blade. The mage swiftly dodged his swipes, something he was impressed by. With a quick sweep kick, he managed to take down the mage.

Eventide engaged in a duel with one of her former leaders. At the beginning, she immediately teleported right in front of her and struck her in the face. Whispy barely even flinched as she took the strike, retaliating with a bolt of magic straight to Even’s chest, blasting her to the wall. Whispy chuckled as she summoned an arrow of bright green magic in her horn and aimed it right at her. She launched the piercing arrow, but Eventide managed to roll out of the way just in time, the arrow making a large explosion and taking a large chunk out of the wall. Even summoned a bolt of lightning through her horn, her head growing a bit numb from containing the magical energy. She fired it at the Brigadier, but Whispy managed to erect a solid barrier of magic in front of her that absorbed the crackling bolts. Magic poured throughout Even’s horn, summoning as much strength as she could. Whispy felt her protection weaken. Even clenched her teeth as she poured her magic out of herself. Whispy’s barrier hit a breaking point as she couldn’t contain the magic any longer. Her shield shattered, and was sent hurtling into a group of mages fighting the others. She swiftly picked herself up and smiled.

“Oh, look at you go! You’re still just as strong as when I last saw you! I’m glad to see that. Gives me an actual challenge.” Whispy chuckled at her.

Eventide returned the chuckle. “And you happen to be the one who taught me this. It’s much appreciated.”

Whispy rolled her eyes. “Your power is impressive, but you were always a slow learner. It does show, to be honest.”

Eventide retaliated with a bright blast of magic that brought a streaking light across the cavern. Whispy summoned a green dome around herself that reflected it back towards Even. She managed to jump out of the way in time, the blast creating a loud explosion as it hit the wall.

Mythic loved it when her foes were bewildered by her abilities. One second she would disappear in a cloud of mist, and the next she would slam a poor mage into the wall. The mage was dumbstruck, being attacked by seemingly nothing. He tried to get up, but an invisible force seemed to keep him from recovering. He rolled his eyes. He always hated fighting against those damned mind-meddlers. Mythic, still invisible, was suddenly pinned to the wall by a nearby mage and her spear, breaking her focus and turning her visible again. Mythic reached into her mind and, with a few mental flexes, flipped herself and the mage to the opposite cavern wall. Pinning the mage against the wall, Mythic prepared to fling her down the cavern, but the mage retaliated with a swift kick, knocking Mythic down and freeing the mage. She tried to tackle the psychic and hold her down, but Mythic managed to grab a hold of her and fling her down the rocky corridor.

Crimson grabbed a few nearby mages in a telekinetic grasp and tossed them further towards the exit. He could faintly see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. Just a few more meters…

His voice echoed in their minds. Now!

Almost instantly, the others ran down the caves as fast as they could, knocking over any remaining mages they could reach. The four galloped as fast as their hooves could carry, some of the remaining mages giving chase. A few of them even fired a few spells and threw their spears. Crimson retaliated by summoning a barrier behind them. However, one of the mages teleported right in front of him and tackled him to the cold ground.

“Crimson!” Mythic shouted.

“I’ll be okay! Keep going!” He tried to throw the mage off of him, but a few more mages piled on top of him, preventing him from escaping. Mythic looked back at him. She wanted to help, but she couldn’t face down the mages by herself.

It’s okay, Mythic. I’ll be okay…

Mythic stared at the scene, tears forming in her eyes. She turned around and galloped as fast as she could. She was falling behind the other two, but she managed to catch up with a couple teleports. She could swear that she heard a scream in the distance behind her. They approached the exit, the rocky corridors giving way to the familiar snowy landscape. The three welcomed it with open hooves, Eventide especially breathed a sigh of relief. Mythic looked back into the cave.

Silence was the only thing that looked back at her.

Chapter VII - The Eye of the Storm

The harsh winds had died down, bathing everything in an eerie silence. The snow continued to fall, small patches of blood staining the frosty blanket it created. The trio of ponies stared down the cave they had just escaped from, nopony saying a word. The sudden rush of cold, the first one in days, brought a wave of shock to their bodies. Wisps of air blew from their muzzles as they breathed heavily. Their limbs ached as they touched the snowy ground for the first time in a day.

Parallax finally broke the silence. “Oh, stars above! We can’t just stand here! We have to help him!”

“I can’t sense his presence. He’s long gone now. Not dead, but they’ve taken him away,” Mythic sighed, struggling to force the painful words from her mouth.

Eventide rolled her eyes. “There’s no sense in moping about. We need to get going. Canterlot’s close by, and they’ll be amping up their security after this little incident.”

Mythic nodded. “Good idea. But first…”

Mythic turned to Eventide and slammed her hoof into her head, knocking her into the snow with a loud thud.

“You pathetic bastard!” Mythic shouted. “If it wasn’t for your little act of ‘courage’, Crimson would be right by our side! If you’re the supposed savior of ponykind, then I frankly fear for this rebellion, and the land of Lunaris!”

Eventide tried to stand up, but Mythic held her down with a strong wave of telekinesis. Eventide spat at her. “I figured you’d be used to this by now, given how long you’ve wandered here.”

Mythic grabbed her mane and lifted her up. Even was struck by a piercing glare from her deep purple eyes. All Parallax could do was watch.

“Who in Tartarus do you think I am? Let me tell you this, hero of ponykind. While you were dicking around wreaking havoc with your mage friends, I experienced things nopony should go through. I’ve fought with ponies and monsters that could crush most ponies in seconds. I’ve seen entire cities get slaughtered before my very eyes. The screams of foals and their mothers as their lives were taken away from ponies like you. I see and hear them every night, and I’ve never grown used to it. You’ve only seen a glimpse of what this awful world has to offer, and at the rate your sorry flank is going, you won’t live to see much more of it.”

Eventide lit up her horn and, before Mythic could retaliate, blasted her away with a bright ray of magic. Managing to land on her hooves, Mythic glared at her, fuming with anger.

Eventide glared back, her horn bursting with rage. “Do you really think that I haven’t suffered too? My entire life is filled with regrets! Tell me, Mythic…” She struggled to force out the next few words. “How many innocent ponies have you killed?”

Mythic took a deep breath, trying to find her center. “The way I see it, nopony is entirely innocent. But… I’ve taken my fair share of good lives. It’s something that most ponies have to do at some point.”

“But do you regret it?”, Eventide asked.

“Even, it’s not as black and white as you think it is. Part of me wants to say yes. That I’ve grown over the years and have learned not to take a pony’s life for granted. But I also want to say no. In this world, it’s only you and your companions. Everypony else is just a pawn for you to use to your advantage.”

Eventide trotted over to her, still recovering from Mythic’s harsh treatment. “A day never went by without me taking an innocent life. It was like a brutal game to me. How many rebels or heretics could I slaughter in a day?” She struggled to fight back tears. “You were out in this wasteland, acting like a morally grey warrior just trying to survive, while I spent all my years doing things I regret with my whole heart. A puny mind-meddler like you wouldn’t understand…”

Mythic stared at her with a hint of familiarity, but it faded as quickly as it began. She shot her a nasty look as her eyes emitted the familiar purple mist. “Why you insolent little-”

“Can both of you shut up for a few seconds!”

The two gave Parallax a dirty look, who barely managed to pull himself together. “Listen… we both have a painful journey to get through, and we’re not going to get through it by hearing you two bitch about your past.”

“Oh great. Now the pansy-ass swordspony is going to preach to us,” Eventide said.

“One more word out of you and you’ll… regret it!” Parallax stuttered. “I swear, you two are acting like bloody foals. If you two don’t stop it this instant, I’m going to drop out of this little clique, march my flank to the nearest village, and settle down there without a hint of regret. You can bitch about this stuff later. Right now we need to focus on not getting murdered in cold blood.”

Mythic sighed, a big wisp of air escaping her mouth. “Fine. Let’s get moving.”

Eventide rolled her eyes. “We’ll settle this later,” she conceded. “Ponyville is close by. What’s the plan?”

“It’ll likely be on high alert due to what just happened. I don’t think we can risk entering the city without getting captured.”

“Any possible way to avoid it?”, Parallax asked.

She shrugged. “We can, but it will take a while. A week at the least, and that’s not counting the Everfree Forest.”

Eventide cursed under her breath. “We can’t afford a week going around the city. Its close proximity to Canterlot means they’ll catch up to us in no time.”

Mythic mused for a second, her brain running amuck with ideas “Perhaps I can work a few illusions to disguise us.”

Parallax’s eyes widened. “Would that really work?”

“I’ve done it before when I was on the run for burglary a few months ago, and it worked like a charm. I bet we can make it work.”

Eventide pondered this idea. “Well, I suppose it’s our only option at this point. What do you mean by disguise?”

“Make us look like completely different ponies, of course! They won’t suspect a thing!”

“What makes you think they won’t be able to see through your illusions?”, Parallax asked. “I’m sure mages have been trained to distinguish them.”

“You’re talking to a psychic who managed to live a month in Canterlot during the Third Griffon War, when the city was in complete lockdown and I had a bounty on my head for allegedly aiding the enemy. I’m sure I can fool those silly farmponies in Ponyville.”

Eventide groaned. “Fine. Let’s do it. You better not make me wear a dress though.”

The city of Ponyville is considered to be one of the crown jewels of Lunaris. Responsible for 80% of the empire’s agricultural needs, it played an important role in the stability of the great land. For a town littered with huts and underground farms, it managed to grow into a bustling metropolis over the years. What completed the town was the giant spire in the center, a monument commemorating the spot where Her Majesty returned all those years ago, and brought her leadership and care to ponykind.

Captain Stride hated times like this. For the third week in a row, the city had been placed on lockdown, all because of a silly mage. And here he was, guarding the city gates when he should be off at the pub with a mug of cider and a pretty mare. The intense blizzard rumored to arrive soon didn’t make things any better. He wasn’t the only there one of course. Three others stood beside him, still as a statue, watching for any approaching visitors.

He could faintly make out three ponies in the distance. They trotted through the intense snow and wind. A stallion and two mares.

“Heads up, everypony,” he called out to the rest of the guard, their attention shifting towards the trio approaching them. “We got company.”

The stallion was a grey earth pony, clad in dirty robes, his black mane shaggy and disgusting. He couldn’t make out anything extraordinary about him at all. His ragged appearance led Stride to believe that he was from that nearby village of Ontroto. One of the mares, a unicorn, was wearing a blue cloak, which brought out her blonde mane and purple coat. She looked like an average nightly traveler. The other mare, also a unicorn, wore a fairly well-kept red dress wrapped around her yellow coat, her blue mane billowing in the wind. She had a peeved expression on her face, almost as if she was uncomfortable about something…

“State your name and reason for entry,” Stride said in a stern voice.

The cloaked unicorn spoke up in a posh accent. “I am Storm Watch, a magician from Fillydelphia. I come with my two friends here,” she pointed to the stallion. “This here is Shining Bright, a blacksmith from Ontroto,” she pointed to the other mare, “and this is Twister, a seamstress from Canterlot. We’re stopping here for a few days before we head to Vanhoover to visit family.”

The captain stared at the three with a suspicious eye. “And how, may I ask, did you come here in one piece without an escort? You don’t seem like the kind of ponies who would survive the wilderness.”

Storm giggled. “You’d be surprised what we can do when we put our abilities together.” She winked.

“How charming.” Stride rolled his eyes. “Hand us your saddlebags.”

The three obliged and handed Stride their saddlebags. He fished through them, but all that he found were some old fruit and nuts, and a few thick tomes on Lunarian flora and fauna. He hoofed the bags back to the three.

“Alright, you’re good. Corporal, check for any falsehoods or illusion spells,” he ordered to an older mare beside him. Her eyes emitted a green mist as she mentally scanned over the three. They could feel her entering their minds, scanning them for any hints of deception, but they remained calm throughout the process.

The mare stopped. “They’re good. No illusions nor lies. They may be let in.”

Stride nodded, and with a push of his magic, the large gates into Ponyville opened up.

“I give you my thanks, good sir,” Storm said, the three trotting through the gates. Watching the three enter the city, he felt the psychic tap his shoulder. He turned around.

She nodded at him. He immediately knew what to do.

“I can’t believe that actually worked. How’d you even avoid their detection spells?”, Parallax asked, lying down on the inn bed.

Mythic smirked. “I could feel that it was a half-hearted attempt at detecting. Just some simple and stealthy mental maneuvering and she could be fooled easily.”

“That’s great and all, but what do we do now?”, Eventide said, struggling to get her dress off.

“We stay here for a few days and wait out the blizzard,” Mythic said, a sigh of relief escaping her lips, “and then move on west. Las Pegasus shouldn’t be too far away. I can almost sense it.”

“A few days!?”, Parallax exclaimed. “Are you nuts!? There’s no way we can keep the illusion up for that long!””

“Parallax, you worry too much. We’ll be okay as long as we stick together. And Even, I hate to break it to you, but you can’t take that dress off. It’s attached to you as part of the illusion.”

Even groaned, flopped onto the other bed, and let out a string of curses that would make her mother blush.

The enormous spire towered over the city, striking through the clouds with the pointy tip. Carved into the exterior were elaborate works of art depicting Her Majesty’s conquering of the land and the establishment of the Empire of Lunaris. Her soul-piercing gaze kept a watchful eye over not just the citizens of Ponyville, but everypony in the empire. Crowds stood at the base of the spire worshipping and paying their respects to the lunar goddess.

The trio gazed at said spire from a distance, marveling at it’s beauty, yet frightful at it’s scope.

“Her Majesty really has a thing for giant pointy towers,” Parallax said, gazing up at the clouds obscuring the tip.

“Feels more like a fetish, to be perfectly honest,” Eventide murmured.

Ponies around them said their prayers at the foot of the spire, and left as quickly as they arrived. A throng of guards was stationed around the spire, keeping a watchful eye over the worshipping citizens. Attached to the walls of nearby buildings, the trio could spot wanted posters with a crude sketch of Eventide on them.

Wanted
For betrayal and treason against the Lunarian Empire
Major Eventide of the Lunar Mages
Reward of 1 million bits and Her Majesty’s eternal blessings to anypony who captures her

Eventide scoffed at the poster. Treason my ass, she thought to herself. They didn’t even get her eyes right.

“The sun will rise again!”

The voice startled the many ponies crowded around the spire. A young mare galloped through the crowd and stood near the base of the spire, announcing her presence to everypony. The crowd hollered insults and curses that even surprised Eventide.

“These days of torment will come to an end! Your horrific regime will stand for no long-”

The mare was quickly knocked to the ground by one of the guard’s blades. She was held down by a strong pair of hooves, the crowd cheering loudly as the pony struggled to escape.

“State your name please,” one of the guards asked.

The mare spat at him. “Why should I tell you lot!? What’re a bunch of mindless slaves like you going to do?”

The guard holding her down sighed. It was practically a daily routine at this point. “Do you recant these blasphemous statements you have made against Her Majesty? If you do, your punishment will be significantly lessened.”

“I will not recant, and I swear that on Her Majesty’s fat arse.” She smirked.

The entire crowd gasped and only grew more agitated. Ponies screamed and expressed an insatiable desire to see the poor mare hung or tortured, but she didn’t show any signs of weakness.

“Fancy yourself a martyr, eh? Alright, fellow soldiers, take her away and execute protocol 48B,” the guard said with a nasty grin.

Mythic flinched as he finished his orders. The other soldiers grabbed the poor mare and began to drag her away.

“You bastards won’t get away with this for much longer! Your reign will end soon!”, she tried to shout, but her proclamations were drowned out by the jeering crowd.

Mythic shuddered, her soul chilled to the bone upon viewing this incident.

“You okay, Storm?”, Parallax asked.

With a great effort of will, she managed to push away the feeling. “Y-Yeah… I’m fine… come on. I think we need to stock up on food for the long road ahead.”

The underground farms of Ponyville are some of its most cherished landmarks. It is from here that ponies grow, buy, and trade produce for their journies. The entrances to these extraordinary works of engineering may look odd to the average pony, with it’s claustrophobic stairway into an underground network. However, what’s housed inside is one of the many important sources of life in the land.

Ponies gathered around a darkened window, staring out at the gardens below. A wondrous ball of yellow light hovered above the budding vegetable and fruit, bathing them in its wondrous warmth and rejuvenating them. Even with the dark shield protecting them, the crowd could still feel a wave of heat and an intense light that pierced through their eyes. Nevertheless, they were was amazed by the incredible invention. Every once in a while, a pony wearing pitch-black clothes and goggles trotted in and inspected the plants, the ball of light, and the ceiling for any moisture from up above. The trio, still clad in their illusions, watched closely.

“Even in a world that wants to kill us, there’s still room for little hints of beauty,” Mythic murmured to herself, much to Eventide’s unenthusiasm.

“My mother used to work in one of these back in Fillydelphia,” Parallax said, squinting at the magical light. “Poor mare almost went blind every week.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Even. “Giant balls are great and all, but let’s focus on what we came here for.”

The two nodded, and they trotted over to one of the many produce stands near the garden. An older stallion stood behind the stand, exchanging and bartering food and supplies to nearby ponies for the oncoming blizzard. As the three stood in line, Eventide’s eyes wandered around the underground market, gazing upon the scenery and Lunarian citizens. She could hear one of the bartering citizens at a nearby stand get progressively angry, her face turning red as her offers were turned down. She screamed multiple obscenities that impressed Even. As she stormed out of the farmer’s market, ponies around her began chuckling, which Even couldn’t help but join in herself.

Her joy was cut short, however, as she spotted a few of the familiar wanted posters that bore her name and crude drawing. No… That isn’t me she thought to herself. That old me is gone.

“You alright, Miss?” a voice in front of her asked, making Eventide jump. She looked up and saw the old merchant right in front of her.

“O-Oh! Yeah, I’m fine…” she said, nodding to Mythic.

Mythic cleared her throat. “I’m Storm Watch, and these are my friends Stride and Twister! We’d just like some of your finest produce for the road ahead!”

Eventide’s eyes continued to wander as she let Mythic do all the bartering. She decided to listen in on a nearby couple’s conversation.

“Third week in a row that this is happening. I wish those damn bastards would catch that bloody mage already!”

“Don’t talk so loud, dear! They’ll hear you…”

The stallion sighed. “Sorry, my love. You know how I get when the city goes on lockdown. And there’s a damn blizzard coming. At least this day isn’t uneventful.”

The mare wrapped her hoof around his shoulder and pulled him closely. “You worry too much. Just listen to what the officials said. Get as much food as you need and wait out the storm in your homes. Don’t go out for any reason.”

“What I don’t understand is why Her Majesty decided to send one so soon after the last one. And during one of the biggest crimes of the century!? It strikes me as counterproductive.”

“Everything Her Majesty does is for a reason, even if we may not understand it…”

Even’s mind wandered away from the conversation and quickly focused in on another. She couldn’t bear to hear a bat pony screech about carrot prices to a merchant.

“Mum, what’s happening?” a foal asked.

“We’re just here to get some groceries. We’ll get home soon.”

“But mum, what if there’s no more? What if the big snow comes here? What if that scary mage tries to kill us?”

“Level, don’t worry so much. Her Majesty and her armies will keep us safe. She’ll supply us with all the food we need, and she won’t send the snow until everypony is secure in their homes.”

“What if Her Majesty doesn’t protect us?” The young foal started to whimper.

“Sweetie, don’t speak such blasphemous things! We’ll be okay, I promise! When has Her Majesty ever failed?”

Eventide could think of ten times right off the bat. Perhaps that moment when she failed to provide power to the underground farms for a whole week? Or when the defense shields around Manehattan fell and the city was raided by bandits?

“Twister!” Eventide jumped as Mythic called out to her. “We’re done here. Unfortunately the poor bastard won’t knock down the price of melons for a few extra herbs, but we got something out of the deal.”

Eventide rolled her eyes. “You’re not the only one, I bet.”

Uneasiness came over Eventide’s mind as she and her friends trotted through Ponyville. Everywhere she looked, she could see armed guards and wanted posters scattered throughout the streets like specks of dust. The snow around her hooves seemed to seep into them, bringing an icy chill to her body. Here she was, trotting through the jaws of her enemies, yet completely hidden from them. She could see the whites of their eyes, but they could not see through hers. She wanted to scream and let out her fury at her nearby foes, the cold seeping through her body, practically begging her to do so, but she managed to hold back. Now’s not the time. Not yet…

The trio decided to stop at a nearby tavern. After all, when you’re jammed in the heart of your enemies, the least you deserve is a pint of cold whiskey. As they went inside, they were flooded with loud commotion. Ponies downed their drinks like a parched soul to a babbling brook. Shouts of joy and rage rang out as hoof-wrestling contests were held near the back. They could even see a bar fight about to break out near the counter.

“I’ve seen worse,” said Eventide.

Upon ordering their drinks, they sat at a table far away from the commotion and began to whisper and exchange ideas.

“Alright, are we going through the Everfree?”, Mythic asked, taking a sip of her cider. Normally she didn’t drink alcohol, but it’s not everyday that you get a chance to try out a glass of famous Ponyville cider.

Parallax chuckled. “Yeah, screw that. We’d get torn to shreds in seconds. Ultimate truth or whatever is nice and all, but I’m not one to risk my flank because of it.”

“It’d cut down a significant amount of time to take to get to our destination,” Eventide said. “If we get through that shithole in one piece, we’ll be in Las Pegasus this time next week.”

“I’d rather play it safe. Las Pegasus isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.” Parallax downed a glass of whiskey. “Have you ever been through that horrific place, Mythic?”

“Once, about two years ago. In all honesty, I can’t remember why. Must’ve been a dare or some shit. All I remember is that it was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. I never met any of the monsters there. I only traveled through the outskirts, and even then I felt a sense of unease. Everything was… quiet. All I could hear was the sound of my hoofsteps trudging through the mud. But I felt a horrific dread wash over my mind. I felt like I was about to collapse from exhaustion. I saw ponies that weren’t even there. I felt my thoughts become muddied and sloppy. My senses became washed out and my perception collapsed. I screamed, and yet nopony heard me. I knew I was going to die at that moment. I blubbered like a little foal and tried my hardest to hang on for dear life. Here I was, a pony that tried her hardest to remain calm even in the direst of circumstances, screaming and begging for it to all end. I said my final prayers and passed out.” She took another swig of cider, fighting back tears.

“I woke up later outside of the forest completely unharmed. Not a mark on my body, not even a speck of mud. I felt completely fine. A bit traumatized from the whole experience, but I managed to recover shortly after. I have no idea how I got out of that forest. All I know is that I don’t exactly have a big desire to go back into it.”

“That sounds like a big understatement, if you ask me.” She downed her glass of cider and pushed it aside. “Alright. We won’t go through the spooky tree forest. The ultimate truth probably isn’t worth it anyways.”

“I prefer to speculate anyways,” Mythic chuckled. “We’ll leave this place after a quick nap once we get back to the hotel. Las Pegasus is just a heartbeat away.”

“As long as we don’t get our heart ripped out in the process, of course,” Parallax said.

A young peasant pony suddenly trotted up to their table. “Excuse me. Are you Storm Watch?”

Mythic stared at the pony. “Yes, I am. Why do you ask?”

“One of the owners would like to have a word with you and your friends. Something about a job for you and your friends to do,” the young pony said, feeling a bit intimidated.

Mythic carefully scanned through the young pony’s mind, performing a few mental maneuvers to avoid detection. She couldn’t feel any evil intentions in this young filly.

Mythic sighed. “Alright. Lead the way.”

The young filly trotted towards an old wooden door in the back. Upon opening it, they found a small, yet empty closet. With a flick of her magic, the young filly found a trapdoor in the center that revealed a dark stairway. The trio felt a sense of unease wash over them like a tidal wave, but they moved on regardless.

They entered a dark cellar with nothing more than a few barrels and crates housing old food and alcohol. They were puzzled as to why they were brought to such a strange location. A young stallion suddenly trotted out from the shadows.

“Ah, pleased to meet you three. I’m glad you could arrive,” he said in a warm voice.

Mythic glared at him with suspicion. “What do you want from us?”

“Oh Storm, there’s no need to act suspicious. I’m your friend here. I just have a simple task for you to complete. I’ve had a desire to meet a mage like you for a while, and you strike me as just the mare to help me out. And with your friends, of course.” He smiled warmly at them. It striked Mythic as oddly sincere.

“Alright then. Name your task,” she said.

“Excellent! But first of all…”

The trio heard the sound of three ponies teleporting right behind them. They suddenly grabbed them by their necks and put a dagger to each of their throats. The three could spot the familiar sight of the armor of the Lunar Guard.

The young pony glared at them. “One hint of aggression out of you, and your throat will be nothing more than a fountain of red.” The three could do nothing but watch, their hearts pounding rapidly. “Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be.” Green mist seeped out of his body, clouding his appearance. When the mist dissipated, it revealed the familiar shape of General Polaris. He turned to the young filly that led them to the trap. “Her Majesty will bless you immensely for your good deeds. You may go.” The young filly galloped out, full of both fear and pride.

He turned to the captives and chuckled. “Did you three really think that you could evade us with your silly illusion spells? I’m sure you’re smart ponies deep down, but frankly, this is ridiculous, even for you.”

“But… how!?”, was all Eventide could utter.

Polaris trotted over to her, gazing deep into her eyes. “Your illusions were quite impressive, but we’ve improved our illusion-tracking in recent weeks for obvious reasons. We’re always one step ahead. When you three were at the gate, we knew it was you three. We let you enter in order to let your guard down. Attacking you out in the open would simply be impractical and would draw some unwanted attention. By letting you in, we let you think that you were in the clear. All the while, we set this simple plan in motion. And here you all are, falling for an old trick that, frankly Eventide, you should be used to this by now. Trickery is Her Majesty’s specialty after all.”

“You… you bitch!” Eventide blurted.

“Even, please, spare me your whining for later. It gets really tiring. Just because Her Majesty received a vision detailing you overthrowing her, doesn’t mean it will come to fruition.”

“So you say that Her Majesty is wrong.”

“She’s not wrong at all. Think of it as being prepared. Taking whatever means necessary to prevent something. And you’re not alone in this, Even. Many others have come before you, prophecies of overthrowing our empire attached to their names. And each time, they have fallen. You aren’t special, Even. The only difference is that we might offer a speck of forgiveness.”

Eventide could hardly believe what she was hearing. “If I won’t, then somepony else down the line will!”

Polaris only chuckled. “It’s been eons, Eventide. If Her Majesty were to fall, somepony else would have done it by now.”

Eventide wanted to respond, but the dagger around her throat prevented her.

“Now, here’s the thing. Eventide, you’ll be escorted to Canterlot and brought to Her Majesty. It’s unknown what she’ll do to you, but we know that you’ll come out… a changed mare, shall we say.” His smile widened to an almost psychopathic expression. “As for the others, if you don’t repent of your crimes for aiding the enemy, I can assure that you will face a public execution. And I can assure you that Her Majesty will not bless you in the afterlife.”

Mythic rolled her eyes. “Because Her Majesty’s blessing is so important to me.”

Polaris chuckled. “You have such a stoic reaction to facing death. I like that. I take it you do not repent of your crimes then.”

Mythic spat at him, the dagger pressing deeper into her neck. “You and your army are absolutely pathetic! Thousands of ponies working together to create a convoluted plan just to kidnap three travelers! Do you lot even know why we’re doing this!? It’s because you don’t give a damn about your world! Her Majesty only cares about conquering other lands-”

“If you’d like, we could begin your execution now.” Mythic only responded with a nasty glare.

Polaris turned to Parallax, who was quivering in the soldier’s grasp. “And you, the cowardly, yet strong soldier. Do you repent of your crimes?”

Parallax was hyperventilating at this point. “Okay, yes! I repent! For the moon’s sake, don’t do this to me!”

Eventide glared at him. “Why you disgraceful coward!”

Polaris smiled. “A wise choice. Her Majesty will judge you, but your sentence will be significantly more lenient.”

Mythic could hardly comprehend what she was hearing. Her companion completely surrendering to the enemy. It disgusted her and made her feel sick. Normally she didn’t agree with Eventide, but…

“Right then. There’s a carriage waiting for us outside. You’ll be taken to Canterlot and your punishments will be carried out. It saddens me in a way. This silly chase has been brief, but fun. Even, I look forward to working with you again. Soldiers, follow me.”

He led the three out of the cellar, the daggers still pressed against their necks, leaving small, but nasty scars. As they trotted through the tavern, the others jeered at them as they were led out of the establishment. A carriage was parked outside, flanked by a large number of lunar guards. Curses and empty mugs were thrown at the three criminals. The trio didn’t dare respond. They were led outside where more citizens cursed at them.

“Hang those bastards for their crimes!”

“Mount their heads on spears!”

“Execute them in front of the entire town!”

Polaris chuckled at the enthusiastic citizens and raised his voice. “My fellow Lunarians! These rebels have been apprehended and are being taken to Canterlot to stand trial for their crimes! But I can assure you that the mage will soon become like us once again! She will soon learn to love Her Majesty again! Let her story serve as a lesson to those who dare oppose Her Majesty!”

The crowd erupted into cheers at this. Some ponies were even in tears from both admiration and fear. The trio were lead into the carriage, the guards forcing them to sit down daggers still pressed near their necks. Within minutes, the carriage began moving, headed towards Canterlot. The crowd attempted to follow the carriage, but were prevented by some of the soldiers. A wave of pride swept through the crowd as another criminal was finally apprehended.

It was at that moment that an explosion detonated right under the carriage.

The first thing Eventide heard was screaming, and the first thing she felt was blistering cold.

The snow under her was stained with her blood. She struggled to lift herself up, her vision blurred and her ears ringing. Through the flurry of snow, she could make out houses burning and ponies running for their lives. Oddly enough, she didn’t even see a single lunar guard.

“Mythic!? Parallax!?”

No response. She picked herself up, her body aching with every twitch of her muscles. The snowstorm only seemed to intensify as she got up. She trotted through the streets at a slow pace, searching for anypony who could assist her. Every step in that cold snow sent a chill up her spine. The citizens didn’t even notice her despite what happened earlier. As her hearing gradually came back, she could make out the sounds of brawling in the streets. Sword clashes and heavy punches echoed out through the town. In the distance, she could barely make out the shape of a lunar mage fighting a pony wearing familiar yellow robes...

“Even!”

She spun around and saw Mythic and Parallax standing in a nearby alleyway, battered and bruised from the recent explosion, and covered in snow. She breathed a sigh of relief as she galloped over to them.

Even spoke in a raspy voice. “Okay, what in Tartarus just happened!?”

Mythic struggles to hear hear her other over the monstrous wind. “The rebellion’s here. They set up some sort of attack here. What we need to do is get out of this town!”

Even’s eyes widened. “The rebellion!? Let’s go join them then!”

“We can’t! They’re not exactly being friendly to anypony, including us,” Parallax said.

“What!? Surely they’d be friendly to a couple rebels like us!”

“They’re not going to take any chances. I tried to explain ourselves to one of their leaders, but all I got in response was a duel that took way too long to finish,” Mythic said.

“Shit! Can we try to escape town?”

“The entire town and the surrounding area is practically a war zone!”, Parallax exclaimed. It’d be suicide for us to attempt to leave!”

“Hundreds of guards are stationed at every entrance and exit, and they’re not in any mood to let anypony go. Plus this blizzard is stretching out for miles! There’s no way we can survive going through the wilderness!”

Eventide racked her brain for ideas. “What about the Everfree?”

Mythic and Parallax stared at her like they just witnessed her slaughter an innocent family. “Are you crazy!?”, Parallax shouted.

“They would be crazier to chase us down in there. Not only that, but the Everfree is protected from the harsh weather. We can wait out the blizzard in there. It’ll be an awful experience, but at least it’ll throw them off.”

Mythic glared at her and sighed. “This idea has a good chance of getting us killed. I know it. But if we pull it off, we could throw the Lunar army off. If we just escape the town like normal, they’ll certainly send a search party after us.”

Parallax wanted to protest, but he sighed in defeat. “Fine, but if we die, this is all on you.”

“Better to die at the claws of a timberwolf than in the grasp of the moon,” Mythic mused.

Eventide pointed to a large set of trees near the edge of town. “Over there! Should we make a run for it?”

“Screw it. It’s close enough. Let’s go,” Parallax said, Mythic nodding in agreement.

The trio took off in a gallop towards the forest. Immediately, factions of lunar and rebel soldiers took notice of the trio and charged at them, sheathing their swords and igniting their horns. A bolt of lightning whipped past the trio and blew up a nearby cottage. Archers shot a flurry of arrows at them, which Eventide blocked with a dome of magic. Swordsponies attempted to ram their blades at them with as much force as they could muster, but were countered by Parallax’s own blade. The Everfree drew closer in the trio’s line of sight. Just a few more gallops, Even thought to herself.

The ground underneath them ignited into flames, scorching the trio’s limbs as they galloped faster. The snow melted into mud and water speckled with ash and drops of blood. As the three finally entered the forest, the flurry of spells and arrows tapered off into silence. The remaining soldiers looked onwards as three infamous criminals dove head first into the maw of the most dangerous part of Lunaris.

Even they prayed for their safety.