Revelations - Matters of Madness and Other Poisons

The three ponies prodded on through the Everfree in the middle of the night.  It was unusually quiet at this time, even for the Everfree.  It seemed the wild predators of the forest had better things to do than mess with a succubus and the monster she couldn’t kill, and instead kept their sights on smaller prey.  Viktor kept a steady pace and appeared to be quite content with his current situation.  Jean, on the other hoof, still exhibited much fear of the surrounding forest despite being accompanied by its two most dangerous creatures.  Sarah walked with a spring in her step and a song in her heart – things were finally looking up.

“So how do you know so much about the Shadow Beings?” she asked.  Her voice shot downward towards their ears, and for the first time Viktor and Jean noticed how exceptionally tall Sarah was for a mare.  She was even taller than Viktor, suggesting that she too was middle-aged rather than a younger adult.  Her long legs carried her delicately, but retained a sense of rippling power within them.  Beautiful yet deadly.  A gorgeous demon indeed.  Pheromone turned her attention to Viktor and continued her line of questioning.

“I mean really, I’ve heard we aren’t even mentioned in pony lore.”

Viktor smiled.  “You’re right.  I suspect nobody but I and possibly the princesses could know of your existence.  But that’s only because I learned some of my best magic from studying the succubi.”

Sarah’s mental processes came to a grinding halt – she stopped in her tracks and stared blankly ahead.  A fit of giggles erupted from her throat.  “You?!  Learn from the succubi??  Oh that’s a good one Doctor.  Unless you’ve been alive for over a thousand years, I’m not buying it.”

Viktor halted and glanced at the snickering pegasus with an eyebrow raised.  Did she think this was a joke?  “Having a good laugh there Sarah?”

She nodded whilst giggling.

Viktor released a huff of air and shut his eyes deliberately.  His horn flared to life, and once again a dark shadow enveloped Splice’s body, transforming him into the likeness of Shining Armor.

Sarah stood dumbstruck.  Her mouth hung open in shock and she slowly reached a hoof toward Viktor’s face, as through desperate to feel for herself the presence of her people’s long lost magic.

“The process, however, isn’t exactly complete…” Viktor explained.  As he said this Sarah’s hoof touched the side of his face, and she jumped back when it wavered like the surface of water.  Viktor’s snout stretched and contorted – a hologram rather than a true disguise.  It soon faded entirely and Viktor regained his original form.  Beads of sweat lined his forehead from his exertions.

“I could never hope to achieve the same level of proficiency as a true succubus.  My spells are obvious illusions even to the illusionists.”

Sarah guffawed.  “It’s not perfect but still… how??”

“Observation my dear.”  Viktor continued walking.  “From afar of course.  I’d never approach a succubus; they’re far too dangerous.  Er—no offense.”

“I take it as a compliment,” she purred.

“But anyway, many years ago I was the leading mind in the scientific community, charged with the discovery of knowledge and the foundation of new ways to improve the lives of others.  I researched the world’s most dangerous organisms.  Parasites, viruses, animals, and even the Shadow Beings.  It is only natural I should pick up on some of their magic.”

Sarah seemed giddy as a school-filly.  “What other Shadow magic can you do??”

Viktor stopped walking and rubbed a hoof to his chin thoughtfully.  “Well, I’ve learned a bit of the Succubus Mental Persuasion, but it’s nowhere near as effective as it would be coming from a true succubus.  If a pony were aware of what I’m doing, or if my focus is broken, their consciousness will begin to fight against the false reality I’ve created for them…”

“Wow…” Sarah seemed lost in thought, reminiscing on the olden days of shadow magic.  Suddenly it hit her like a freight train.  “Wait, how could you have observed us?  Our species has been in hiding for over 1000 years!”

Viktor waved this off with a chuckle.  “In due time my dear.  For now, we’ve work to do.”

With this, he began trotting off into the Everfree Forest.  Sarah made to follow, then noticed Jean sitting off to the side, watching the scene unfold before him curiously.  Sarah smiled.  “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.  My name is Sarah Pheromone.”

Jean returned the smile gratefully.  “Nice to meet you, Sarah.  My name i—”

“Oh don’t waste your time with him dear,” Viktor called over his shoulder, “that’s nobody.  Just a useless mistake.”

Jean’s glare spoke volumes of his resentment towards this statement.  Before he could retort Sarah laid a hoof on the young colt’s shoulder.

“Ignore him.  May I ask for your name?”

“My name is Jean Splice.”

“Well it’s a pleasure to meet you Jean.”  They began following Viktor at a snail’s pace as they talked.  “Are you… Viktor’s son?”

Jean laughed nervously.  “Not exactly…  I’m his clone.”

Sarah cocked her head.  “What’s a ‘clone’?”

“Umm…”  Jean scrunched up his face in consideration.  Since Sarah had lived her entire life hiding from the rest of pony society, it seemed only natural that she shouldn’t have a grasp on scientific concepts such as cloning.  But explaining it was a bit challenging for Jean.

“It means my genetic makeup is identical to his – at least it should be – which would result in the propagation of the same biological creature.”

Sarah blinked.  “’Genetic makeup’?”  She inquired.  Jean’s eyes squinted as he tried to come up with a better explanation.  At this moment, Viktor saw fit to interject from ahead of them.

“It basically means he’s a copy of myself.  Everything about him is supposed to be exactly the same as I, except for age of course.”  Viktor glanced backwards towards Sarah.  “Don’t worry Sarah, we’ll get you caught up in terms of scientific education.”

“But if he’s your clone,” Sarah asked, “why is everything about him a different color?”

Viktor choked.  “So I made a few errors in my process alright?  Let’s just move past it.”

Jean whispered covertly to Sarah.  “He’s just a little upset because for once he wasn’t as smart as he thinks he is.”

Sarah nodded slowly, looking between Viktor and Jean.  She leaned in close to the young colt and spoke softly.

“So why does Viktor seem to hate you so much?”

Jean was just about to gripe over Viktor’s obvious overreaction to the fact that his one true talent is to serve the Sun Goddess that Viktor seems to hate.  He then realized that Sarah, whose species was apparently wiped out by said goddess, would probably not appreciate it any more than Viktor did.  Thus, Jean Splice sputtered for a few moments in an attempt to come up with some logical explanation that wouldn’t upset Sarah.  Viktor however, who overheard the question despite Sarah’s discreetness, decided to fill in for Jean.

“Just look at his flank Sarah.”  She leaned in close and noticed Celestia plastered on Jean’s ass.  Her countenance darkened.

“Why is she on your flank?” Sarah hissed.  Jean gulped and avoided her piercing gaze as he sought an explanation.  Again, Viktor intervened.

“It’s because he’s a worthless mistake of a lab assistant.  Drog here seems to think Celestia is some sort of goddess, and that it’s his duty to serve and support her in all her wrong-doings.”

Jean wanted to respond, but he was cut off by Sarah.  “YOU SUPPORT HER?!”  She roared.  Her pupils reverted into slits, and her lips spiked into sharp spears once again.  The young colt cowered under her gaze as black ooze dripped from her mouth – pissing off a succubus was scary business.  Fortunately, her anger was short-lived, and Sarah reverted to her normal state and took a deep breath to calm herself.  Once again she posed her question to Jean, but this time did so more delicately.

“Sorry Jean, I forget my manners.”  Her voice sounded strained.  “What I meant to ask was, why in the bloody hell would you support that…”

“Bitch.”  Viktor finished.

Sarah nodded.  “Yes, bitch.”

Jean threw up his forehooves in defense.  “Look, I can understand why you’re upset, but what you need to understand is that I think Celestia has everyone’s best interests at heart!”

“Oh yeah, she sure seemed to have my people’s interests at the forefront of her list.”

“Sarah…”  Jean chose his words carefully.  “Have you ever considered that maybe Celestia did what she thought was for the greater good?”

The succubus leered at Jean.  How easy it would be for her to just kill the ignorant fool right then and there.

“How is mass-genocide of my family for the greater good?”

“Your species feeds on others!  It’s unnatural!”

“Unnatural??”  Her face ripped open to reveal its demonic visage once again.  “You think this,” she pointed towards her face, “is unnatural?  It’s anything but unnatural.  Plenty of animals feed on the life-force of others Jean.  This is the way we are.  The way I am.”  She slowly resumed her normal shape and leaned in close, making sure she was at eye level with the young colt.  “We have just as much right to exist as your species does.”

Jean, now shaking, still held his ground.  “That may be, but when someone attacks the people you love, the ponies you care for, and they refuse to listen to reason, what other choice do you have but to retaliate?”

Sarah smiled.  “Well at least we agree on one thing.  Now you see why Viktor and I are out for blood.”  She stood to her full height and continued to follow Viktor, who up till now had watched the scene unfold curiously.  Sarah made one last remark towards Jean.

“You seem like a nice young lad Jean, and I think you and I can get along swimmingly.  Just leave me to do as I please and I’ll do the same for you.  Deal?”

Jean nodded.  “Deal.”

“Don’t worry,” Viktor said as the other two caught up with him, “he’ll soon see what we see in that tyrant…”

After walking in silence for some time, Sarah readdressed Viktor.

“Alright Dr. Mysterious.  I didn’t push the whole ‘I-somehow-know-shadow-magic’ thing or question how exactly you managed to create a clone of yourself, but I’ve told you a lot about me tonight.  I think it’s time you tell me what it is you’re doing out here.”

Jean voiced his agreement.  “Yeah Viktor, I’d like to know why we’re searching for a Phoenix anyway.”

Sarah cocked her head.  “A Phoenix?”

Viktor continued walking, half-paying attention to what the two of them were saying.  He just bobbed along the road with a stupid smile plastered on his face and an upbeat song in his heart.  Sarah grew tired of this smug expression fairly quickly and stepped in front of the doctor.

“Viktor,” she said slowly, “what do you need a Phoenix for?”

His eyes gazed off into the distance, half-lidded and wistful-like.  A self-approving smile remained plastered on his face.  Slowly, deliberately, Viktor dragged his eyes over to face Sarah.  She watched him confusedly as he spoke.

“What is death?”  He asked.  The sudden change of pace caught Sarah and Jean off guard.  They looked at each other, puzzled, then turned their attention back to Viktor.  Neither of them said a word.

“Death,” Viktor continued, “is the strangest sort of occurrence there is.  Contrary to popular belief, it is not a condition that we all eventually reach.  It is a transition – the alteration from one state of being to the next.  And what, we must ask ourselves, is the nature of being after this transition?”  He looked back at the two of them, waiting for an answer.

They stared at him, mouths open and eyebrows raised.  Viktor stared at Jean.  “Come on Drog, I know you have an opinion on this.  Do you believe there is an afterlife?”

The young colt kept his eyes squarely on Viktor.  He looked to his creator warily, as though answering this question were a trap he couldn’t escape from.  Jean nodded his head carefully.  Viktor turned his attention to Sarah.  “Do you Sarah?”

She remained motionless, looking through Splice rather than at him.  Viktor walked towards Sarah and took one of her forehooves in his.  He lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Do you believe in life after death Sarah?”

Her lips mouthed words silently.  Her breath wavered as it was sucked inward, and her eyes watered as it blew outward.  She shook her head slightly.  “I… I don’t know…”

“Neither do I.”  Viktor smiled reassuringly.  He released her hoof and began to walk off again, leaving her to stand in solemn contemplation.  It took Jean’s small hoof on hers to snap her out of her reverie.  Viktor continued his speech.

“The Phoenix knows this transitional state better than we do.  It constantly burns in the heat of its own death, only to rise from the ashes and live once again.  As a scientist, I feel it is my duty to observe this phenomenon that is so readily presented to us.  What better way to learn about our own existence than to study that of the creature which transcends the bounds of life?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa hold on!”  Jean shouted.  “Knowledge of the afterlife is not something that should be toyed with Viktor!”  Viktor could be heard groaning loudly, but Jean continued anyway.  “I know you don’t believe in Celestia.  I know you don’t think she should be regarded as anything other than a nuisance.  I know you have the most pessimistic outlook on life that I could ever possibly conceive of.  But enough is enough Viktor.  This is something I can’t agree with, and I won’t let you do it.”

Jean Splice firmly stood his ground, as though refusing to move would persuade Viktor to throw himself on the floor and beg for the young colt’s forgiveness.  As though his own silent protest would force Viktor Splice to reconsider this path of self-destruction he’d began walking.  Instead, Viktor laughed.

“You done Drog?”  Jean glared at Viktor.  “Because I have work to do.  Sarah.”  The succubus jumped at hearing her name.  “Would you be so kind as to help me capture a Phoenix?  I need it to be in ash-form so I can effectively analyze it, and I take it you know these woods better than I do.”

Sarah blinked.  “Viktor, Phoenixes only rise from their ashes once every 500 years.”

“What??”  Splice pulled out his pocket-guide on Phoenixes and began flipping through the pages rapidly.  “This stupid book didn’t say anything about that!  When was the last rejuvenation of the ones in this forest??”

“About 200 years ago according to the records my people used to keep.”

“Yes!”  Jean hoof-pumped and began doing a little jig while Viktor pounded his hooves on the floor in anguish.  “See Viktor, you can’t fight fate!”  Jean taunted.

Sarah coughed into her forearm.  “But the Shadow Beings have figured out that the Phoenix has a very special defense mechanism when faced with a succubus in its true form.  They catch on fire and convert themselves entirely to ash in attempt to escape from our life-sucking capabilities.”

Viktor jumped up excitedly.  “Really??”  He danced on his hind-legs and thrust his forehooves into a now appalled Jean Splice’s face.  “Hahahaha you little twerp!  I win again!  FUCK FATE!”

Splice leaped forward and grabbed Sarah in a large bear-hug, throwing her off guard.  He held her at arm’s length and grinned widely as he looked into her eyes.  “Where’s the closest Phoenix nest?”  He asked.

She blinked again.  This doctor’s eccentric personality kept throwing her for a loop, and they’d only just met.  “It’s around the other side of this mountain.  A fifteen minute walk at best.”

“Perfect!”  Viktor exclaimed.  He ran up to Jean and lifted the angry colt up off the floor.  “You hear that Drog?  We’re gonna get a Phoenix!”

Jean rolled his eyes.  “Wonderful…”

The Phoenix sat perched in its nest.  It retained a wild sense of regality; it was primal and sophisticated all at once.  Viktor could appreciate this stark contrast that the Phoenix seemed to master, but he’d always believed the Shadow Beings did it better.  Sarah Pheromone was living proof of that.

“Alright Sarah,” Viktor whispered, “if you pull this off, I’ll forever be in your debt.”

“You already are,” she smiled seductively sideways at him, “because I didn’t kill you, remember?”

He grinned back at her.  “I think you owe me for not killing you.”

Jean groaned, and Viktor hushed him lest he scare away the Phoenix.  The three of them sat in the bushes a few yards away from the tree and watched the Phoenix as it slept.  Viktor held the magical containment unit in his forehooves in preparation for the moment when he would jump out and catch the Phoenix’s ashes.  Sarah was ready to go, but she needed Viktor to give the signal.

“Alright Sarah, just do your thing and I’ll be waiting to get this Phoenix.”  She jerked a nod.  “Drog,” Viktor looked at his clone, who was lying on his back staring up into the leaves of the bush dejectedly.  “You just uh… you stay right there.  Alright let’s do this!”

Sarah bolted out from the bush, shadows trailing behind her.  Her wings flipped open and she glided inches above the floor, not making so much as a whistling noise as the air rushed past her frame.  She reached the base of the tree and snaked her way up it.  Long trails of black shadow magic emanated from her body and wrapped around the tree behind her as she moved upward.  Once she reached the top, Sarah found the branch upon which the Phoenix slept and crept towards it.  She planted her elbows on the branch and rested her head on her forehooves as though waiting for a bartender to pass her a drink.  Sarah cleared her throat.

“Hey.”

The Phoenix practically jumped out of its feathers as it whipped its head around wildly.  It caught sight of Sarah and screeched, preparing to enter fight-or-flight mode.  Pheromone however, didn’t give it the chance to respond.  Her face ripped open into its beast form once again and she shrieked into the night.  The Phoenix looked like it was having a heart attack.  Its face contorted into an expression of pure fear and within seconds its entire body caught on fire.  It fell backwards out of the tree, flames tearing its body apart and converting it into ashes.  At the last second, Viktor jumped out from behind the tree and popped open the magical containment unit.  The ashes fell neatly into the tube, and once Viktor shut it the machine whirred to life.  An orange glow emanated from within the tube, magic that kept the ashes floating in the empty space of the tube without letting it touch the glass sides.  The Phoenix would be kept in a perpetual state of stasis, stuck in the transitional state between life and after-death, until Viktor decided otherwise.

“Alright!”  Viktor exclaimed.  He jumped onto his hind legs and thrust the tube into the air above his head.  “We got ourselves a Phoenix!”

“So I did good eh?”  Viktor looked to Sarah, who was now smiling down at him from the Phoenix’s nest.

Viktor was just about to tell Sarah that she’d done better than good, that she was the most perfect succubus he’d ever had the misfortune to meet.  Instead, a shrill shriek ripped open into the night.  It cut across the landscape, violating their eardrums and making the hairs on their neck stand on end.  Several other screams rang up in unison with it, a choir of sirens crying out from the depths of the Everfree Forest.  For several minutes the sound continued.  Then, all at once, it stopped.  Viktor released his hooves from his ears and looked around warily.  Jean crept out from behind the bush, visibly shaken and fearful of his surroundings.

Before either of them could say a word the sound of a thousand wings beating against the air could be heard soaring upward.  The moonlight was momentarily blocked out as hundreds upon hundreds of Phoenixes soared into the sky.  They clustered into a large mass, flapping fervently to escape the confines of the branches and the leaves.  Viktor and Jean watched this exodus in amazement as Sarah leapt off the branch and landed gracefully besides them.

“That’s the thing about Phoenixes,” she said, “True death is such a rare occurrence for them, they flee when it happens.  I know that if you released that Phoenix right now it would spring to life, and I know you know this as well.  But the Phoenixes, they don’t know that.  One of them must have seen this Phoenix burn up.  And when it failed to rise from the ashes, they sounded the alarm to warn the rest of the colony that the Everfree Forest was no longer safe for them.”  She watched as the last of the Phoenixes flew from their line of sight.  “The Phoenixes have fled.”

“Wow…”  Viktor shook his head in wonder.  “Now there’s something this stupid pocket-guide doesn’t tell you…”  He took the text titled Mythozoology from his pocket and stared at it blankly.  “Oh well,” he shrugged and chucked the book into the bushes, “I only needed one Phoenix anyway.  Come on Sarah, let’s go home.”

She watched Splice as he trotted merrily along in the direction of his laboratory.  “Home?”  She asked.

“Well, yes,” Viktor replied.  He stopped and faced Sarah directly.  “If you’re going to be my assistant it’s only right that you be provided with a place to stay.”  Splice laid a hoof on Sarah’s shoulder.  “You’re part of the family now.”

Sarah smiled sweetly.  “That sounds wonderful, Viktor.”

Satisfied, the doctor turned and began trotting off into the forest.  Sarah would have followed him right away, but at that moment, she had other matters to attend to.  Jean Splice sat with his back facing her, picking up the copy of Mythozoology that Viktor had so carelessly thrown away.  The young colt was visibly unhappy.  This night had been a gauntlet of unfortunate events for him.  And although she didn’t agree with everything he believed in, Sarah did feel sorry for the kid.  She walked up besides Jean and sat down with him.

“Hey Jean,” she said.  He barely made any motion other than a small movement of his head.  She continued.  “Look, I know we probably haven’t gotten off on the right hoof.  I’m a succubus, you’re a religious fanatic.  I helped your crazy creator capture a Phoenix, you… obviously didn’t like that.  And I know Viktor just welcomed me into his home without so much as consulting you.  I mean why would he right?  It’s his home.”  Jean didn’t respond.  “Like I said before Jean, I think you and I can get along swimmingly.  But first,” she laid a hoof on his shoulder, “I need you to be willing to try.”

Jean looked up at Sarah.  He wanted to retort.  He wanted to give her some snarky comment about how what Viktor was doing was wrong and how she shouldn’t help him.  But when he saw Sarah’s face, all of that changed.

At that moment, Sarah wasn’t a monster.  The moonlight hit her face in such a way that it softened her features.  Her eyes wavered in a way that seemed real.  None of that demonic bullshit that frightened him so much earlier.  It was real.  She was real.  And at that moment Sarah Pheromone looked happy.  She looked happy to have found someone that accepted her for who she was and welcomed her with open arms.  If she could be happy despite all that had happened to her and her species, why couldn’t he?

Jean sighed, and then smiled up at her.  “Alright Sarah.  I’ll try.  Welcome to the family.”

And with that, the three ponies walked through the Everfree towards Viktor Splice’s laboratory.

My Dearest Sister Twilight,

I know it’s been nearly a month since you wrote to me, and for that I apologize.  I’ve been busy.  Nothing critical really, just a lot of the day-to-day routine that makes up the life of a Captain of Celestia’s Royal Guard.  I’ll try to write more often, but try not to hold it against me if this job acts as a kind of barrier between us, ever-growing and impenetrable.

As for your fears that something evil and foreboding is apparently lying in wait, I wouldn’t worry too much about it.  It’s most likely nothing more than petty theft.  However, I will be sending over a contingent of guards to gather information and do some rounds.  Nothing extreme.  Just precautionary.

Believe me when I say there is nothing to be afraid of.  Nothing is rotten in the state of Equestria, of that I am certain.  Would I ever lie to you Twily?

Sorry to cut this letter so short, but duty calls.  Stay safe.

Lots of love,

Shining Armor

Shining Armor lay down his quill and sighed.  He turned around and looked solemnly at Celestia, who towered over his shoulder.  She frowned.

“Don’t look at me like that Shining.  What else would you have me do?”

“I don’t know,” he grumbled, “anything but lie to my sister.”

“It’s for her own protection.  Twilight is an inquisitive soul – if we open up the possibility that there is danger afoot, Twilight will certainly go out and search for it.  And I think you can agree with me that she’s much safer far out of the reach of Viktor Splice.”

Shining read the letter over once more.  “Do they know?”  He asked.

Celestia shook her head.  “Guardian Angel and her troop are still adjusting to all that’s happened.  Since the lab was destroyed they’ve lost their one assignment.  I need you to tell them of their new positions.”

Shining rolled up the letter.  “And what of the scientists that survived the heist?”

“I’ll be sending them over to Guardian’s contingent tomorrow, after you’ve given the guards the news.”

“Do you really think everybody will agree to this?  Dr. Polymer looked like he’d rather die than face Splice again.”

“I don’t really have a choice Shining.  Once Viktor singles someone out, they’re doomed to either fight back or accept their fate.  As it is, Guardian’s troops and Polymer’s researchers are the only ones who know of Viktor’s existence and actually have the skills necessary to fight back.”

Shining Armor watched Celestia as she made her way toward the door.  She opened it and stepped halfway out before looking back at Armor.  “Training begins tomorrow morning Captain.  I trust you’ll have the troops prepared.”

Princess Celestia shut the door to Shining’s room, leaving him to ponder all that happened.