Legends of Neirule

Rainbow Dash stared into the distance as Twilight spoke with Doctor Worry. The elderly unicorn seemed content with his scans. Even though Worry assured Twilight that Dash was 100% alright except for a case of dehydration and having anemic.

Twilight glanced at Dash who seemed to be muttering to herself. Twilight wondered if there had been some mental damage as well. Dash, when she thought no one was looking, appeared to be talking to herself.

Fireworks pin-wheeled into the sky. The sounds of celebration echoed into the airship bay. Twilight sighed.

“What about the other two professors?”

Worry pulled his spectacles off and cleaned them with a handkerchief.

“Carter was the lucky one. I mean he's lost the ability to speak or write for now but at least he's not a vegetable like Softbrush.” Worry placed the glasses back on his nose. “Honestly, I'd rather be back in Equestria where I had better resources to deal with their issues.”

Twilight frowned. “Surely, the Neirulians...”

His peppered mane moved with his head shake. “They're still far behind with their medical magics and technology especially in dealing with mental trauma. I've already visited their facilities and even their medical libraries. They were inadequate.”

“There's something else?” Twilight noted that Worry scuffed the floor.

“Whomever did rendered Softbrush comatose wasn't Dragmire.” Worry eyed her. “Several Wonderbolts reported seeing the old horse running from something within the western sector of that town. They couldn't see it but Softbrush was yelling something to let him be. They went after him. They found him in that condition.”

“Have they reported in?”

“Yes, mam. Miss Applejack should receive the reports.”

“Thank you, Worry. You're a credit to your profession.”

“Princess.”

Twilight closed her eyes and took at deep breath. She turned and approached Dash.

“Dash.” Rainbow Dash jerked and looked at her wide-eyed. “Are you okay?”

Dash flashed her a smile. “Yeah. Just a lot happened in that time.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Dash's smile became a bit nervous. “Not now. I still need to process some things.”

Twilight paused. “Okay.”

“Thanks, Twi, you're the best.”

▬

“Darling.” Rarity trotted into the war-room. “Aren't you coming for dinner?”

Applejack sighed. “I reckoned it be a late night, Rares.”

Applejack's muzzle had a smudge of ink near her lip. A half-bitten pen was in the far corner. Papers were haphazardly sorted into file folders.

“Fluttershy told me that she and Pinkie think we're missing something still.” Rarity picked up the empty teapot.

“Ain't. We are.” Applejack groused. “We got ourselves an unknown pony or thing. The good ole Professor J. Softbrush has no thoughts in his head.”

“Twilight knows.”

“Yep.”

“Is she going to do anything about it?”

“Ey-nope.” Applejack scowled. “At least not yet.”

“What do you think?” Rarity prepared a new pot of water.

“What about you, Miss-I-Haven't-Had-Opinions-Since-Forever?” Applejack teased.

“AJ.” Rarity chided. “You know why I must pretend.”

“Yer among friends right now, Ms. Spymaster.” Applejack waved a hoof.

“True.” Rarity examined the tea bags. “It's just hard when I'm not reporting these days.”

Applejack only tilted her hat in response. “Pinkie and Fluttershy have gotten quite close.”

Rarity, as the tea brew, began straightening out the folders. “Sisterly so. Especially since you and I went into 'service'. I never did understand why you chose to be Twilight's adviser.”

“After Big Mac got married and took over the farm, I figured Twi needed more help with running Ponyville after Mayor died.” Applejack shrugged. “I have a knack for business and Twi not so much.”

“True, remember the Hom farm that Applebloom needed funding for.” Both shared a smile at that. “I'd admit I was surprise to see you both share more than the kingdom.”

“I don't know whatcha talking about.” Applejack replied too quickly. “Anyway, do you think about this mysterious whatever it is?”

“Not sure.” Rarity poured herself and Applejack a cup. “Solaris is at this time no use. He's too relieved that Dragmire is dead.”

“It was too easy.” Applejack snarled suddenly. “The fight. Dragmire was just delaying us. Why?”

“He didn't seem to pleased to see Rainbow Dash.”

Applejack closed her eyes as she thought deeply. “He was shattered actually, pardon the pun. He was expecting someone else?”

“That Kamil monster?” Rarity put out.

“Mabbe.” Applejack started.

“DASH!” Twilight screamed.

Applejack and Rarity rushed with most of the crew to the top deck. Fluttershy nearly blasted by, just in time to keep Twilight from going over. Applejack helped Fluttershy keep Twilight down as she tried to get to the railing.

“Twi, what happened?” There was no response, only Twilight trying to buck them off.

Rarity muttered an apology and splashed them with cold water from the deck bucket. Twilight's sense seemed to come back. She spluttered about a dark blur pulling Dash from the ship deck.

Dash suddenly shot up, straight into the night sky. Something dark clung to her before letting go. The airship shuddered slightly as whatever was attacking landed hard on the ballon. Applejack murmured thanks to all the engineers and mages that had worked on the airship.

Suddenly the attacker jumped off onto the roof. The Wonderbolts, whom wisely took to the air, activated portable spot-lights. Applejack nor Fluttershy flinched at the creature's appearance. The creature, skeletal thin and unnaturally lanky, shielded its eyes.

What fur and mane it had was matted. The skin where not armored by painfully thick looking scales seemed to be a map of scars. It look like someone had tried to merge a dragon, a rock, and a deer and failed. At least, Discord looked natural.

Dash dived towards her attacker. The creature gibbered in some tongue as it dodged. The Wonderbolts, not supporting lights, also tried to side-swipe the monster.

After a few more dodges, it hissed, baring fangs before throwing a bit of roof tile at one of the light-bearing Wonderbolt. It hit with a clang, the Wonderbolt jolted. When he regained control of the swing light, the creature fled.

Dash landed, her neck bearing claw-marks. “Horsefeathers.”

“What was that?” Twilight nearly screamed in everypony's ear.

Dash winced at her touching her own neck. “That was one of the creatures in the maze.”

▬

“So, let me get this straight. Our night visitor, whom is probably responsible for Professor Softbrush's condition, was from this subdimensional maze?”

“Seesh, Twilight. How many times do I have to retell you the story?” Dash idly touched the bandage around her neck.

“I'm sorry, Dash. It's just we might have released something worse than Dragmire.” Twilight rubbed her temple.

“It could simply be hungry.” Fluttershy put out.

“What in tarnation would you think that?” Applejack stared.

“It might be a faerie.” Fluttershy shrunk down under everyone's stare. “I mean, the two professor suffered some sort of mental trauma except Rainbow Dash. And a nice Mr. Lizard mentioned how all Neirulians wear charms to protect against faerie.”

“And ole Softbrush according to them reports were trying to drive something off verbally.” Applejack tapped the tabletop. “I hate to admit it, Twi. It's possible.”

Twilight laid her cheek on the table. “This is a nightmare.”

Dash leaned forward. “Whatever it is. We need to hunt it down and trounce it all the way back into that portal. Collapse the portal and-”

She clopped her hooves loudly. “Done. No more trouble from Mr. Ugly.”

“Then what, Dash?” Rarity finally stopped sipping her tea.

Dash sighed. “We get Neirule seal the town back up. As much as I want to keep doing the dig, we don't have the knowledge right now to deal with the portal. It's Pre-Rifting magic.”

Twilight wilted as she considered the facts as well. “And not even Starswirl and the Pillars know much about pre-Rifting magic.”

“What about the Neirulians? Don't they have records?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Rarity shook her head. “The Royal Family of Neirule have the Memory Crystals. If Solaris is any indication, they aren't exactly magic-study inclined. Also, it's aligned to that Royal bloodline.”

“Hitting the books again, Rarity?” Applejack almost smirked.

“Someone has to be able to dumb down Twilight's words for the common pony.”

“Hey.” Twilight felt a bit insulted. However, Rarity and Applejack was going that banter friend-rival thing so Twilight tried not to feel too upset. As long as she had her friends, she was positive everything would turn out alright.