Chapters The smell of singed fur alerted everyone in the room that Twilight lost it. The sneering messenger grew quite the pungent puddle as he went from mint green to white. His mane smoked from the magical shot that purposely missed his head.
The normally collected Princess of Friendship showed more emotions for the first time in a fortnight. The Neirulian unicorn with a-knocking knees bowed lowly and fled the hall. Another shot of magic and the urine puddle was scorched away.
The nobility of Equestria took that as sign to leave. Within a breath, the throne room was devoid of all but Applejack and four guards. Applejack coughed before moving closer. Twilight had rested her head on her right cannon.
“Sugarcube?” Applejack ventured.
“I am a horrible friend.” Twilight muttered. “I didn't take in consideration her feelings at all, did I?”
Applejack shared a look with one of Twilight's guards. “No, ya didn't.”
Twilight nodded in the crock of her knee. “Now a Neirulian evil managed to overtake her camp and she might be dead.”
“...”
“She was so happy about the discovery.” Twilight looked up. “The first in a long time. Especially after what I did. I was happy she was talking to me again even if it was through letter. ”
Applejack waited a moment at the bittersweet expression. “I think we should get the rest of the girls and go see for ourselves. If it's true... at least we can bring her home. I mean she's tough, and I doubt an ancient evils overtook her like that.”
“But...”
“Look, Twi, the Sisters I reckon can handle ya up and leaving post especially since it deals with one of us. Neirule may be the oldest pony civilization but they have been at peace for generations. They won't know what to do. And what happens if they get taken over?”
Twilight winced at that. “Alright, gather everyone.”
Twilight turned to a guard. “Silver Shield, please fetch me parchment and ink. I have letters to write.”
▬
“Neirule?” Discord twisted upside down in the air. “I won't touch that place with a itty bitty pole.”
Twilight frowned. “Why?”
Discord shifted into a earth pony version of himself as he sat on the wall. “I may pride myself the Lord of Choas but even I have my limits. Neirule happens to be one of them.”
“Oh, dear me.” Fluttershy shifted in place.
Discord sighed as he tapped his current hoof to his bearded chin. “I'm going to be quite straight with you. No riddles, no jokes. Every time I've ever went there, I've never remembered what happen and for a guy like me, that is quite worrisome. And dear lord, the exhaustion.”
To which he phased, falling through the floor. Then he popped out of the teapot in miniature.
Twilight nibbled on her lip. “When was the last time?”
“Before I took over Equestria the first time.” Discord summoned a chocolate milk glass. “Actually many powerful non-ponies have a tendency to avoid it. Not even Chrysalis or dear Sombra would dare..”
Twilight stared. “This isn't like you.”
Discord's brow furrowed. “This is quite serious, Princess . Neirule is much what once the Changeling lands were. While I will certainly come if you are in trouble, know what it may cost myself or others like myself. After all, haven't you learned that lesson before?”
“Discord.” Fluttershy chastised halfheartedly but he disappeared with a laugh. “I'm sorry, Twilight.”
Twilight held up a hoof. “It's alright, 'Shy. Discord has a point. Dash wouldn't be in trouble if I had thought things through in the last few years.”
Pinkie paused in munching a cookie. “So does this mean we're on our own?”
“Aside from a small squad of Wonderbolts, yes. Shimmer and Spike are staying here to pony the castle.” Twilight tucked her hoof back under her. “Rarity has already gone ahead and dealing with King Solaris. Hopefully, my outburst in the throne room hasn't harmed our chances. Sunburst and the others are trying to research anything about Neirule mythology particularly Geroan Canyon and will contact us through the comm-crystal. Applejack has been arranging transport at least to the border.”
“Um, why to the border, may I ask?” Fluttershy blinked.
“Neirule is protected much the same way the Crystal Empire is – by barrier. Only approved airship can cross. We don't have much time so, we'll land at Farron Port which is two days gallop to Geroan's Fort.”
Pinkie paused for moment. “Can I say something?”
“Yes, Pinkie.”
“Why is fear the enemy but not hate?”
Twilight hoof-slapped her face. “Pinkie. What are you talking about?”
“I'm not sure. So?”
“...”
▬
Rarity stared up at the array of crystals. King Solaris smirked as he stepped around Rarity. His horn glowed and the place lit up.
“My dear lady, not many not even the Heavenly Sisters have view the inner sanctum.” Rarity turned a dazed gaze to the King of Neirule. “Within these crystals are the memories of every King and Queen starting with Queen Leto. Her finest creation.”
The light haloed the pale unicorn, his expression for a breath blissful. “I come here when I need advice. The memories of my forefathers and foremothers offer that and comfort.”
Rarity blinked, trying to gather wits scattered by the sheer power and scope. “So we might have answers?”
Solaris ran a hoof through his mane, undoing blonde braids. “Hopefully. Geroan is home to ancient evils that make Tirek and even Sombra look like mere children. Some even say that the Desert and the wasteland beyond breed it as surely as Neirule and Equestria creates order and harmony out of chaos.”
Rarity gave him a look. She knew he was stalling. He chuckled.
“I apologize. It's not very often to see one of your coloring and beauty.” He smiled. “Purple is not a common color among my people since Queen Leto's time.”
“Ah.” Rarity didn't know how to reply. A blush infused her cheeks. He laughed before lowering his head towards the central pool of water.
The Crystals around them flickered to life with arcs of electricity. Humming became strange singing. Solaris's eyes closed as his brow furrowed. Images arose on the water surface.
Rarity saw a glimpse of herself and Solaris talking, Solaris looking out towards the dark barrier, and soldiers reporting. Soon the images were too quick to track. The singing became agitated. Then there was a loud bang and flash.
Rarity felt Solaris as he slammed into her. Both were a tangle of legs and apologies. Rarity froze when her eyes cleared.
A strange pony floated over the pool. Her unseeing eyes clearly tracking them both. Her mane and tail were bobbed quite short. Rarity nearly screamed when she realized that the poor thing didn't have hooves, just forelocks.
“Chi...” Solaris breathed out in awe.
“Master, analysis complete.” The pony shifted. “Would you like me to present dossiers of possible perpetrators based on submitted mode operand.”
“Yes.” Solaris helped Rarity to her feet.
“Based on submitted data, it has been computed at the following outcomes...” This Chi conjured images at the same time. “98% certainity.... Lord Dragmire. Last known locale: Geroan, Geroan Desert province. 85% certainity... last known Umbrum . Last known locale: Crystal Empire. 65% certainity... Pony of Shadows. Last known locale: unknown. 63.5% certainty.... Dark Lord Mort. Last known location: Black Forest, Trotland. 50% certainity....Changeling Ex-Queen. Last known locale: Badlands. 5% certainity....Discord. Last known locale: Cannot compute.”
“I was hoping for someone else.” Solaris muttered.
Rarity stared. “Discord is on the list. Darling, he may cause trouble off and on but Discord is not evil.”
Solaris grinned ruefully. “He's not dangerous to you Equestrians but he had caused issues in the past.”
“I see.” She patted her mane. “Who is Lord Dragmire?”
Solaris winced. “I forget that your people don't have anything before the great Rifting and had left your homelands long ago.”
Rarity's hoof began to move more rhythmically.
“Lord Dragmire was the bandit-king of the Darklings.” Solaris began. “Queen Leto had many encounters with that dark unicorn. He ruled through terror and nercoponcy. He was also the one to collar the monster called Kamil.”
Chi pulled up the image. Rarity recoiled, flashbacks of years ago. “Sombra?!”
“Who?” Solaris's brow furrowed from a moment. “Oh. OH! Chi, what is the likelihood that Dragmire might have been an umbrum?”
“58%.” Chi replied.
Solaris began describing the horrible things this bandit-king had done. Rarity tuned him out, allowing what sounded like an millenniums old rant out.
Rarity hid her face in her mane as she collected herself. A second look made her feel a bit silly. The reconstructed image resembled Sombra but more in a family-way. He had Sombra's muzzle structure and smooth curving horn but the colors were strange. His horn wasn't red-tipped but green. And though his face was intimidating and foreboding, she detected an air of something else in green eyes. Unlike Sombra, he was armored in browns, tans, and whites. There was a red and green gemstone nestled in the folds of his cloak.
Twilight would probably want as much information as possible so Rarity listened well. Perhaps she might have missed early actions, but later ones tended to be more important. After all, if this Lord Dragmire has only woken up, he'll do things similar to last known behaviors.
It's a pity King Solaris wasn't her type. Apparently having millenniums of other ponies' memories leads to issues that Rarity didn't think she wanted to touch.
▬
A pile of sand moved. A pair of vultures hopped down from the top of the canyon to see what would come out.
Groaning, a blue leg lifted out, followed by another. Professor Carter pulled himself out of the escape hole, his eyes rolling in his socket.
“They're here.” He sang softly to himself. “Can't get away. No, never get away.”
He stumbled out of the safety of the canyon. “Tears of blood, rivers of blood?”
The vultures screamed as they fled the crazed unicorn.
“Hiding. Screaming.”
His horn sparked. “No escape!”
His shout attracted the attention of other high flying forms.
“Crying, tears. No tears, only dust. Dust, I tell you! Nothing left.”
The hum of a crystal caught his attention.
“We've found one of the Professors.” He squinted at the blurry shapes. He giggled as he stepped closer.
“She cried, you know. Is crying. Blood in rivers. All dust.” He swayed side to side. “It's in the light. In the light. All gone.”
The comm-crystal crackled with orders too quick for Carter's muddled mind to follow.
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Pale horse. Dark horse. Oh, Celestia. Dark horse. Pale horse. Must hid.”
“Professor Carter, is it? Why don't you come with us? The Princess is waiting for you.” One of the pegasi gestured to his partner.
Carter screamed and bashed his head against a rock. His horn fractured slightly and magic sparked. He slid into oblivion, muttering about blood, dust, and hiding.
The silence stretched out between the two Wonderbolts.
“Buck.”
Applejack surveyed the wreckage Twilight made of her room. She whistled lowly. Twilight, carefully repairing, only flicked an ear as she worked with pottery.
“Angry much?” Applejack leaned against the doorpost.
“Are we even sure that he's an ancient evil?” Twilight's fragile grip on her aura wavered. “He spoke fairly clear Equestrian.”
Applejack mulled it over in her head. “What would you have me say, Twi?”
“If Queen Leto, all those millenniums, could only seal him up, what can we do?” Twilight turned to Applejack. “He extracted those crystals without harming any of the arrays. He ripped through the Neirule's wards like nothing. He controls over three hundred skeletons and about the same amount of those shadow creatures.”
“What are you trying to say?” Applejack moved closer to Twilight.
“...”
“Twilight!?”
“He might be my equal or even better, AJ.” She leaned into Applejack.
“He might be just a very clever pony.” Applejack countered after a moment of comfort. “He might only be trying to unsettle us. Weren't there spells to learn languages lickety split?”
“Yes.”
“And about how old are those?”
Twilight blinked and then laughed. “Thank you, AJ.”
“Anytime, Twilight.”
▬
Pinkie Pie's tail twitched twice, stopped, twitched once, stopped, and repeated. Flutershy glanced at Pinkie in concern as she spoke with a darling little lizard. The lizard informed her about the strange Neirulians and their strange beliefs. Only when the lizard bid her good day and disappeared into the gardens, did Pinkie speak.
“I think we're missing something and it isn't Dashie....”
Fluttershy tucked her hooves under her as she sat closer to Pinkie. “Agreed. This place is strange, isn't it?”
Pinkie pulled a couple of soda cans out of nowhere. “The unicorns live in mostly a few places and we're not allowed to enter other sections of towns. Makes me wanted to go see these other areas.”
“Twilight would be very unhappy if we violate the agreement with Neirule.”
“Hmph. Twilight's no fun anymore.” Pinkie pouted.
“Ponies change.” Fluttershy stated firmly before sipping on her soda.
“I know. I know.” Pinkie waved a hoof. “I kinda wish Twilight hadn't become a meany boring-pants. Maybe Dashie would have been home more. I missed our pranks.”
Fluttershy sighed. “I miss her too.”
▬
“Five more minutes, mum.” Dash muttered.
Dash jerked and screamed as she flailed.
The furball clasped claws over its ears as it floated slightly away.
Dash landed on her back to see the strange yellowish sky. She closed her eyes and groaned.
“Great, I'm still in Tartarus.”
“Why did you wake me up?” Dash groused.
“Buck no.”
The furball raised a brow. Dash grumbled as she rolled onto her hooves. Dash kept up for at least a few moments when it hit her.
“Are you coming with me?”
The furball stopped and rubbed the arch of its muzzle hard. The furball muttered to itself in the incomprehensible language before speaking in her head.
The furball rolled it's large eyes.
Dash's ears lowered. Yep, sarcastic fuzzbutt had a point. She even could imagine her friends or even the camp's reaction.
“Hey. Where is the original owner anyway?”
The furball blinked slowly and responded in measured tone.
Dash glowered and gritted her teeth, keeping up with the slowly backing creature. “It's been a rough week.”
Amber gold eyes closed and the pony-goblin-thing hunched its shoulder.
The eyes opened.
Dash shuddered. “Must you describe it like that?”
A shrug was all she received. Dash wondered if other beings was part of what made Tartartus hell.
▬
Celestia looked concerned as Twilight relay the facts. Luna was snoozing in the background with an ink mark on her muzzle. Sunburst was on his back on a table, a back leg pawing the air in his sleep. Twilight could swear she saw Spike's tail off the edge but Celestia moved.
“By time I and Luna were old enough to leave our village. Dragmire was simply an unpleasant fire-side tale. So was Kamil.” Celestia pulled off her tiara. “Actually Kamil was a boogey-pony up until Nightmare Moon.”
“Huh?”
“If you don't eat your hay, Kamil will come and crack your bones for his bread.” Celestia recited a quote she had heard often long ago. “Things like that. Or, what was the other one.....Don't break promises otherwise if Kamil finds you, you may lose face. That was one of the stranger sayings. I'll ask Starswirl and the others. They would have heard less twisted accounts of the tales growing up.”
“Thank you.” Twilight frowned after a moment. “So nothing on Geroan.”
“Except the claim of being the birthplace of evil? And even according to Discord, a dangerous place.” Celestia shook her head. “Nothing. I was there once but I had found the desert a rather quiet desolate place where one went to lose oneself. Not evil but just sad. It is strange that not even the neighboring cultures' recorded folklore have anything but to avoid it.”
Twilight nodded. “When Sunburst can, could he analyses what mana data I've sent. I might be missing something and everyone else but Rarity thinks I am but I'm not able to see it.”
“Of course, Twilight. Do be careful. I believe that Solaris is acting rashly in wanting to breach that barrier. However neither of us can tell him what to do.”
Twilight's smile was tight. “I'll try to talk some sense into him. I hope you have better luck than I am. Night.”
Applejack picked her head off the bed. “Ah take it, we ain't gaining any ground.”
“Somewhat. If Dragmire is some sort of umbrum, the question is what exactly is Kamil?” Twilight moved back into bed. She opened her right wing.
“Hm.” Applejack shuffled closer. “Hey, Twilight. Just thought of something. Why is Dragmire restoring that town?”
Applejack closed her eyes, only to find herself being half-slung off the bed. Twilight was shouting. The alicorn was partially tangled in the sheet as she had lunged for a quill and paper.
“That's it!”
“Wha?” Applejack slurred.
“Where that partial map the archeology team submitted? And what we got from the Viewers?” Twilight rushed about. “By the Sun and Moon, I wish Spike was here.”
Applejack pulled herself back into bed and groaned. “Can't it wait until 'morrow, Twi?”
“Not really. I mean I supposed but it is just I need to check.” Applejack stared as Twilight just kept speaking rapidly. “Here they are. Yes. It's does look like an seal array. Why didn't anypony noticed before. Unfortunately we need the full array...”
“Twilight, put down the quill and get your plot back in bed.” Applejack snapped. “It's been stressful and what not. But we do need rest!”
“But.”
“Twilight.”
“But.”
“No.”
“Ah-.”
Applejack gave her a 'Granny' glare and patted the bed. Twilight wilted.
Solaris's steel armor gleamed in the sunlight. He jogged down his lines as he inspected his ponies. Twilight's wings fluttered against her side in agitation. Only Applejack's steady presence kept her from bolting down and give the stallion a piece of her mind.
Solaris had been avoiding her for the last several hours.
Her eyes wandered to the non-unicorn portions of the army. They were rather bland. The pegasi and earth pony portions were decently armored in paler blues. However they seemed more disciplined than their unicorn counterparts. Twilight puzzled at the oddity.
A rust roan met her eyes briefly. He seemed a bit confused but gave a slight nod. As his unicorn commander shifted, the earth pony returned to parade stance.
Twilight was struck by his vivid blue eyes.
Solaris, seemingly satisfied, spoke in his native tongue to his people. Twilight had wished she had learned Neirulian when she had the chance. The cadence of his voice was steady but the mien serious. The unicorns looked in discomfort but the rest of the army remained stoic.
“Vanzei! Vanzei, Solaris-ra!” The army shouted at the end of the speech.
Solaris strutted toward the building, only pausing a step when he saw Twilight and company.
“Morning, milady.”
Twilight glared down her nose. “Hmph. Are you now ready to hear what we've found?”
He caught her hoof and kissed the back of it. “Of course. I apologize but it is often difficult to get my army prepared.”
“I see.” Twilight didn't think so but she let it go. “The town is a giant spell.”
Solaris crashed into one of the pillar. “What?”
Twilight's lip twitched at the humorous sight. “The only reason Dragmire is repairing the town? It's a powerful containment spell as far as we can tell. I and my researchers have identify the two anchors from what information we obtained. Earth and wind. An wiser and more experience mage identified a partial glyph as being fire.”
The king wheeled on her and placed his hooves on her shoulder. Applejack glared darkly at him.
“What other information have you put together?”
▬
Carter groaned as he attempted to splat out cotton that wasn't there. His head hurt in only the way a fractured horn did. He couldn't quite remember what had happened. Except that whatever it was, was BAD.
The memories were there, but they seethed in the dark corner of his mind. He couldn't, won't touch it, not yet. The time wasn't quite right.
He stared at the wooden beams of the roof. Shifting revealed a restraining cuff on each leg. Carter sighed to himself. Maybe he should have listened to his sister and not gone into archaeology.
By time, the doctor had returned, Carter had drifted into a deep sleep.
▬
Dash kicked the last block into place. The make-shift stairs would allow her to climb to the top.
“You know, it sucks not being able to fly here.”
The furball scanned the horizon for any strange red-eye bugs.
Dash pulled herself up the ledge and paused. “I realize you never gave me a name.”
The furball stopped its scan and turned to Dash. There was genuine surprise and a painful emotion. Dash shifted.
The furball said slowly after a long moment.
Dash received the feeling that there was more to that but didn't push. Impa was snarky, sure, but the creature had been friendly in its own way.
Dash continued to climb. Impa warned her of the stupid trumpet head bird thing just before it blasted her in the face with its cry. Dash managed to give it a good buck.
“Are you sure this is not Tartartus?”
Impa countered as they walked down a corridor of stone.
Dash didn't see the low-glowing glyph until it was too late. Suddenly she wasn't in the strange world anymore.
She had her claws deep in someone's chest. The armor scraped her scaled forearm but didn't impede the strike much. The stallion, wild-eyed, flailed. The eyes were strange-looking. She couldn't see anything reflected in it. The stallion's lifeblood slowed as his body shuddered. He slipped off her claws. She pulled her arm freed. Humming, she lifted the blood-stained claws and stroked the stallion's slacken jaw. Before she could reach for his eyes, an arrow sprouted into the dead stallion's side. The light of day dulled a bit. She leaped over the corpse and dove into the desert sand. Hundred of arrows peppered the spot and the corpse she had been near.
As sudden as it was, the episode was over. Impa was yelling in her ear. She attempted to bat Impa away, but her claws past through.
Dash stared at the claws that slowly returned into hooves. The spell that allowed her her birth-form hummed. When she was safer, she would freak out but this place was not the time to do so.
“What the buck was that?” Her voice was hoarse.
<...> Impa was frowning.
Dash looked at the concerned little monster and shook her head. “Nothing. What happened?”
Impa gestured at the ground.
Impa made a soft grunt and the soft glowing glyph became bright. It didn't look like most glyph she had seen before. She looked to Impa whom sighed.
Impa grunted.
Dash hummed as she memorized the form. As an archaeologist, she had come across many a glyph and accidentally activate more than her fair share. Foreknowledge was a nice bonus.
Dash nodded.
Impa pulled her own energy back and it returned to its original state. They exchanged a glance and silently began to move again.
The strange half-light seemed to fade as a blue light began dominating. Impa's form began looking transparent in that light. However it continued forward so Dash didn't express concern. Impa seem to hate the fact of its intangibility or reference to it in any manner.
Dash's thoughts were captured by the portal. It was like a mirror, reflecting forms in infinity that weren't present. Impa bobbed side to side, her claws wringing.
Impa cried, pulling on its ears.
Dash frowned before spotting a loose feather. Dash gulped.
“Not good.”
Impa jumped into Dash's shadow.
Dash nodded and leaped for the portal. The portal wobbled like a pool of water. There was resistance and then Dash felt everything stretch.
The colors rushed past and she felt somewhat disoriented by the shift. Suddenly her hooves hit stone. Then suddenly they were claws as the form-shift spell failed. Dash could feel Impa's mounting anger as the furball scrambled to reweave the spell. She crashed into the far wall.
They were in the inner most sanctum of the Town Heart. Dash was puzzled by the lack of sand and debris but she recognized the place as where she had saved Carter. The sound of battle draw her attention.
She scrambled onto her feet and lunged for the door. Impa, cursing in that strange tongue, trying to redo the spell.
▬
Dragmire was an impressive stallion. Twilight couldn't help but admire the dark Lord. Aside from his army of undead, he clearly could hold his own. Solaris, being the typical stallion, had gone toe to toe with the ancient warlord.
Despite being actually more slender than Solaris, he met blow to blow without sweating in the hot sun. Twilight blasted a few more of the ink creatures. It had been a surprised to find Sumimonoke, not umbrum or any other shadow-beast.
Rarity was still complaining on how hard it would be to get the ink out of her fur after this. Twilight dodged being speared by one of the skeletons. It didn't last long under the blasting spell. Shards of bones rained down.
Applejack was busy bucking the Minotuar skeleton. Pinkie and Fluttershy were holding an retreat route to the airship. Twilight's moment of distraction placed her right in the path of one of the dragon skeletons.
Twilight stared blankly for a heatbeat at the blackened fangs. Then a familiar blue blur slammed into the undead's skull. A familiar ah-yeah rang out. The entire battle stopped.
Twilight looked into the sky. There, jacket torn, Rainbow Dash hoovered. A familiar smirk was on her lips. Twilight's eyes teared up.
“Sorry, I'm late.” Rainbow Dash stretched her wings in a beat. “Shadow-butt over there had a nasty maze.”
Dragmire screamed. “Cijo!”
Solaris was sent rump over head when Dragmire used a magic blast. Dragmire shifted to a shadow form and leapt into the air. Dash dodged him easily but he flowed after her.
Twilight scrambled to think of a spell to stop Dragmire. The calm and collected king had disappeared, leaving what looked like a crazed pony. Twilight finally remembered a spell she could use.
The skeletons had collapsed where they stood, creating an annoying obstacle field. Twilight kicked a skull, accidentally knocking it into one of Solaris's soldiers attending on of his comrades. Twilight called an apology.
Dragmire was shooting energy blast after energy blast. Rainbow swooped and dodged. Twilight estimated she might have a minute or two more before Dash tired. Twilight flapped up onto one of the balconies of one of the buildings. She only needed a clear shot.
There!
Dragmire bellowed in rage as he crashed into one of the damaged garden plots. Twilight in the far corner of her mind was puzzled by the fact he returned to solid form. The Medusas spell hobbled him before rushing over him. He was frozen in a partial upright state, his mouth opened in a scream of “Cijo.”
The ink-forms dissolved into mist. Dash landed delicately, favoring a slightly singed hock. She seemed to regard Dragmire in a contemplative mood. She then whipped around and bucked the statue as hard as she could.
“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled as Dragmire broke into three pieces.
Dash looked almost as angry as the day their friendship had fractured. “Sorry, Twi. He more than earned that kick.”
Twilight didn't say anything. It did horrify her a little bit to see Dragmire killed so easily but the relief of finding Dash and averting evil overran that part.
She pounced on her old friend and cried into her shoulder. Dash muttered 'ow' but wrapped a hoof over her shoulders.
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.
Twilight frowned as she stared at the barrier that cut the Geroan canyons off from the world. The Wonderbolts reported that while they couldn't get close, they did make out figures moving back and forth. Twilight stroked the box under her hoof.
“How in tarnation does sand get in everything?” Applejack muttered as she shook out her hood. “Need anything, sugarcube?”
Twilight shrugged before removing the lid of the box. The technomagical devices laid silent. Applejack wrinkled her nose at the mechanical creatures.
“Ya think it is wise to use them? Didn't you say last time, they blew up?”
Twilight smiled. “Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have improved the design. They're quite sure the Viewers are stable this time.”
Twilight extracted the controller. Carefully she ensured there were no defects or loose bolts in the Viewers. With a muttered spell, she turned them on.
The dragon-fly Viewers buzzed into operation. After using the controller, she released them. In a fit of mischievousness, she had one land on Applejack's nose. It startled a laugh out of her dearest companion.
Then in a flare of magical burst, both headed to the barrier. Twilight watched through Viewer One's eyes. The barrier only gave a token resistance. So the repealing ward was just for living organisms.
Twilight blinked. The canyon was unchanged. Not a single sign of corruption or even alterations. The scans only returned a slightly high level of mana but not enough to account.
Her mind crashed when the Viewers entered the ancient town. Skeletons and shadow-creatures were all over the place, doing errands of all things. It is one thing to hear about skilled practitioners.
'The last one was what...Barkus the Bold during the Yakazan war?' Twilight found it hard not freak.
The shadow creatures niggled at the edge of her mind but she couldn't place what they were or where they were from. However the fact the town was being repaired was strange within itself.
She found Professor Softbrush and all of the Neirulian unicorns that were part of the archaeology team. The unicorns were chain-ganged and resting under the eaves of permanent structures scattered in the central fields and gardens. The skeleton ponies stood motionless in guarding.
Professor Softbrush was also resting in the shadows of a fallen look-out tower, pouring over what looked like a text. The skeleton guarding him was a massive Minotaur and he also had one of the shadow creatures whom appeared to be getting things for him.
“Fascinating.” He mumbled, barely audible to the microphone.
Twilight landed Viewer One closer as the other Viewer began recording layout. Softbrush paused to write something down.
“Syllabic...brilliant.”
Twilight inched the Viewer closer when everything went rump up. A massive shadow burst, catching both. Twilight caught sight of glowing green eyes before the connection cut out.
“What the hay was that?” Applejack heard the sudden screech of magic.
“I think that was Lord Dragmire.”
▬
“At least, we know the camp is still alive.” Fluttershy offered in a quiet voice. “Lord Dragmire isn't like Sombra.”
“No, but that makes him dangerous.” Rarity retorted. “According to King Solaris and that Chi construct, Dragmire was highly intelligent and clever. And if he's sane, we'll have to move carefully.”
“So I wake up millenniums later than I was, what do I do?” Applejack's hoofs hit a slight rhythm on the table.
“Why, get all the information I can, silly.” Pinkie poured Fluttershy a cup of tea. “After all, think of everything that has changed? He's like four millenniums old, right?”
The room went silent. Wonderbolt Noisemaker spoke up. The young roan shuffled nervously forward. Twilight mentally sighed at the partial worship in his eyes.
“What about language? I mean, if he's from preEquestria, weren't there like a different languages for ponies?”
Twilight smiled encouragingly. “Excellent points, Noisemaker. Maybe that's why Softbrush wasn't with the others? If I recall, his specialty is language.”
Applejack flipped open his dossier. She scanned the file quickly. “He speaks Middle Old Neirulian among others. Dragmire would probably need him close.”
“So unicorns are being used to do farm work. An odd twist in expectations, ne, Applejack. Softbrush is probably teaching him our modern tongue.” Rarity ticked off. “What about Rainbow Dash? Or poor Carter?”
“Doctor Worry said he gotten exposed to some powerful leeching magic.” Twilight stared at the maps and folders on the table. “I concurred. However someone or something saved him from whatever it was.”
“You think it's Dashie?” Pinkie inquired.
“Might have been.”
The room remained silent for a long time
▬
Rainbow Dash continued forward randomly through the maze. Her companion, the shadow ghost thing, sighed.
“Shut up!” Dash screamed.
The figure pulled itself free. The small furball folded their arms.
“Was I suppose to leave Carter to die?”
The furball sighed.
Dash scowled. Knowing that the furball would have suffered instead? As if. The dimness grew a bit more. The furball's over-sized ears twitched. The amber eyes snapped to the darkness.
“What is it?” Dash's wings fluttered.
It disappeared into Dash's shadow.
“Bucking Tartartus!”
▬
“Dear Wisdom, I must make more trips outside my country if you, lovely ladies, are any indications of those beyond.
Twilight's carefully constructed facade hid a slight twitch. Rarity hadn't been kidding about Solaris's fascination with mares with purple coloring. Fluttershy hid a snicker behind a fan at Twilight and Rarity. Rarity took it with good grace. Twilight felt like ripping his throat out.
“Thank you for permitting an audience so quickly.” Twilight countered.
“So you have confirmed it?” Solaris sank down onto his pillow after guiding the three mares to their seats.
“Yes, it is Lord Dragmire.”
“Was there an armored monstrosity with him?”
“As far as we can tell no.” Twilight delicately nibbled at a cracker. “Why?”
“If he was alone, he hadn't managed to summon Kamil.” Solaris wiped his brow.
“Is Kamil a demon?” Twilight's ears perked.
“Queen Leto thought so.” Solaris leaned to rest his head on his cannon. “No one had ever seen within the armor. The only reason Leto knew it was a creature was the black acidic blood that destroy any weapon that pierced the armor.”
Twilight frowned. “Is that good that Kamil hasn't been summoned?”
“Quite.” Solaris hummed. “The reason Neirule is built using stone, concrete, and metal was avoid another massacre by Kamil. Kamil has power over plant-based materials. And how the exact way
A glance to her left showed Fluttershy, brow furrowed, as she regarded Solaris over her teacup. Rarity, on her right, seemed more interested in flirting with Solaris. Twilight let the banter wash over her as she considered the new information.
A siren pierced her thoughts.
“My king, there's an intruder in the throne room!” A harried guard stumbled in. “He just ripped through the wards like paper.”
▬
Twilight was struck at the vivid stain-glassed windows and alabaster stonework of the throne room. The guards were also vivid with their peacock blue armor lined with gold. And then there was HIM.
His dark gray pellet contrasted with the pale colors of the Neirulians. His armor, brown and leather, seemed to be more real than the polish of the Nierulian guards. He stood, crown-less head high, gazing as if there wasn't a ring of guards, archers, or mages ready to strike him down.
“Ah, you must be King Solaris.” His sibilant tones carried in the room.
“Lord Dragmire, how kind of you... to grace us with your presence.” Solaris moved to stand in front of his carved throne.
“I've come as courtesy.” His tone has a odd tone to it. “I will reclaim all that is rightfully mine.”
“Rightfully yours?” Solaris went from calm to rage in less than a breath. “You're an old relic of the past! You have no more claim now than you had in the past!”
Dragmire remained quite collect. “An old relic? No claim? We will see, colt.”
Dragmire turned towards Twilight as Solaris spluttered. “Princess.”
With a sharp beat of his hoof, shadows bubbled up from the floor. The shadows swathed Dragmire and he faded like fog before a sunny sky. On the floor were the two Viewers. The power crystals had been carefully removed.
