Soul's Poison: Into the Dark World

Several days have passed since the day, when new guards arrived to Ponyville. The time slowly closing to the sending a new report to princess Celestia.

Ardent Shield and Misty Thoughts were going to their post at Fluttershy's place.

"Hey Ard, how do you think, where Fluttershy's hiding her lab?" Misty asked his companion.

"I dunno. We've been looking for it like... Uh, Three days and find nothing," He replied. "And Fluttershy is all like smiling and don't giving a fuck. You're like: please, Fluttershy, can you tell us where is a lab? What lab? I don't know, what you're talking about. And then, I'm like: show us where you hiding a place, where you doing potions and stuff? Which potions?"

"Yeah," Misty said. They got closer to Fluttershy's house. It was really early in the morning, so Fluttershy was sleeping now. Her pets and animals were not. I wonder, how Fluttershy is dealing with all those creatures. Charred Paw from my battalion have two dogs and she says that it's such a big headache. Standing in front of the door, she, instead of knocking, asked his companion about Fluttershy's pets, "Hey, Ard, do you know how Fluttershy's dealing with those creature around."

Instead of an answer, she heard a thud. When she turned around, she saw that Ardent was trying to stop blood, that flows from an open wound on his throat. She squeaked and run toward her companion. When she was in front of him, someone put his hand over her mouth. She tried to struggle, but the pain in the neck interrupted her. She tried to suck on the air, but not much of it can go through a palm, and none of it would reach the lungs anyway.

An energy was leaving Misty's body quite fast, and after a seconds in the hands of the intruder was a limp body. After that, another figure appeared out of the thin air. They put the body so they were forming grotesque object of art. Ardent's body was on the ground, while Misty's body was laying on top. One of the figures pinned a piece of paper between the Misty's breasts with an arrow. The other one knocked on the door. After that, both figures disappeared.

After fifteen minutes, a shy and sleepy pegasus opened the door. At first, nothing catch her eye due to her sleepiness, but then she saw her guards. When a shocked mare got closer to the corpses, she saw the picture on the pinned piece of paper.

Three green circles.

Instead of standing there in shock, or run in panic, Fluttershy removed an arrow and take the piece of paper. Arrow had a note, circled around the shaft. The note and a sign of the 'Three circles' goes into Fluttershy's pocket. An arrow placed in the place where it was. The bodies were dragged into the house.

When the bodies were placed in the kitchen, with the bandaged necks so the blood would not cover every piece of furniture and her pets, she locked the home with key and run to Twilight.

At Twilight's place, she found not only Twilight and Spike, but also the guards. It was impossible to persuade guards to leave Twilight without escort, but to decrease the amount of guard was a possible task.

At her house, she was examining the note, while Twilight was examining the bodies. The guards, Bright Mind and Blazing Spear, were at the exit. Though, Fluttershy saw the Bright Mind's head in the window.

"Missssstresssss, thossssse corpsssssesssss ssssstarted to rot," the voice in Twilight's head said.

"Hmm, I see. Well, let's stop these processes. It's good that necromancers have such a spell," Twilight replied and started to cast the spell.

"Necromancers? You know necromancer's spells?" Fluttershy asked, as she watched how Twilight shoot the black orbs from her horn.

"I know how to open the portal to the Tartarus. To change the energy to the necromantic one and then channel it into your spell, it's not something too complicated," Twilight replied.

"Does that mean, that you can resurrect them," Fluttershy said.

"Only, if you want them to be brainless zombies. The proper resurrection needs their souls to be in their bodies. The soul flies away from the body after like a minute, or so. I may do a soul-seeking ritual, but that would take some time, because my inner pool of magic is not enough, so to perform the ritual, I need the mana-keeping stones. And that if not talking that I need to perform the soul binding ritual. So what the note says?" Twilight said.

"Huh? Oh, it's just... My old friends want to talk a bit with me," She said.

"To talk?" Twilight said, why looking at the corpses. "I believe, that it would be better for us to be in there, in case of something happens. Also, I believe it would be impossible to hide the bodies, we'd better tell the Captain about them."

After those words, she looked in the window and saw Bright's head. She pointed at her with a finger, and then she make a sign for her to enter. She heard the door opening and then she heard a gasp from the kitchen's entrance.

"What the!.. Ardent? Misty?" Twilight's heard the stallion's voice. She turned around and saw shocked Bright Mind and Blazing Spear that's slowly begins to become angry.

"Well, as you can see, your friends here are dead. We need to tell your Captain about it, so he can ask for new guards," Twilight said.

"But... H-how? Why a-are they d-dead in the first place?" Bright stuttered.

"The answer is simple. They killed them," Spear barked and showed at them.

"Not us. It's 'Three Circles'" Fluttershy showed them the sign.

"Huh?" Spear huffed and took the piece of paper. Then, he looked closer on the Misty's body and removed an arrow. "Oh, that's... That's definitely 'Three Circles'. At least, that arrow is something they would make."

"Oh... Um, Spear? Where d-do you kn-know that this arrow was made by someone from 'Three Circles'?" Bright asked.

"I... I've been in the fourth 'green platoon'," He answered.

"Oh... That's the one, t-that..." She stuttered, but was interrupted.

"That was sent in the middle of the Whitetail forest. One day, when we woke up, we found that there is only five of us. The platoon had twenty five. The other twenty had an arrows, where the heart must be... And, those damned pieces of paper!" He shouted and threw away the sign.

"Oh, interesting story, but we need tell Captain about it," Twilight said and exited the kitchen. The other followed her, and soon they were in the library. "Captain! We have troubles."

"Troubles? Which troubles?" Captain asked her.

"Not now. We'd better call everyone under command, captain," Twilight replied.

"Um... Fine. Broadsword! Grim Glance!" Captain roared. When his subordinates, stood before him, he said, "Your task for now. Find your companions, and got them here. The mares should follow them..."

"And don't try to get Ardent Shield and Misty Thoughts... Just don't," Twilight said.

"Huh, why not, Twilight Sparkle," Captain said and watched as his subordinates exited library.

"That's the problem, captain. I'll tell more, but only when my friends and your guys would be here," Twilight replied.

After fifteen minutes, everyone except Applejack, Mighty Kick and Water Splash was at Twilight's place. They've made it to Twilight's library a minute after. Or rather, the guards brought AJ in to the library, since she was sleeping. "Now, Twilight Sparkle. Everyone is in here, so tell me what the problem is," captain asked.

"Well... There is some bad news, captain Solar Lance. Ardent Shield and Misty Thoughts, that were under your command... Were killed," Twilight announced.

"W-what?! But... B-but how?" Captain stuttered.

"You may send someone to the Fluttershy's cottage. The corpses are there," Twilight replied.

"Argh... There is four pegasi in here. Go get the bodies," Lance barked and four pegasi under his command exited the library and took off into the distance. "Now, can you tell me, miss Twilight Sparkle. Why my people are dead?"

"Oh, just some of Fluttershy's old friends, that wanted to talk a bit with her, but didn't know how to draw her attention. Your people just were close, so they decided to leave a message in such a grotesque way," Twilight replied.

"What? And who is those old friends?" He continued.

"'Three Circles'," she replied.

Captain immediately turned pale, but started to speak nevertheless, "to speak... Well, I believe that what we will do," he said.

"Wouldn't that be like really dangerous?" Spear said.

"That would be so, you moron! And, because you ask such stupid question, you will come with those mares," captain shouted at him.

"What? No! I'm not going to go in there and kill myself," he screamed.

"You will. And, because you're objecting, you'll be punished... Or rather, someone else going to be punished. Bright Mind, you're going with Spear," he said.

"... Roger that. Bright, let's go," He replied.

"Oh, no. Please, I-I don't want to d-die... Please," she muttered, but the captain's glance made her to exit.

"Well, I understand only one thing. Fluttershy is in danger and she need our help. Let's go," Rainbow said. The everypony's screech and an Applejack's snoring was an answer, than they followed the guards.

***

"How long we're supposed to go?" Spear asked Fluttershy. They entered the forest like five minutes ago.

"If we continue to walk with such pace, than we will be walking... Fifteen minutes," She replied. "They say to meet them on the Everfree clearing. That's in the east of the forest."

"Everfree clearing? There is like five clearing and they are not named," He said.

"That's the one which closer to Everfree. There is also Sunlight clearing, clearing of small circle, of middle circle and..."

A green arrow hit the ground before them. Then, a voice come from behind, "Hey! Who are you and what are you doing in our forest?" Everyone turned to see three figures, standing behind them. All of the figures pointing the weapons at them. "Well, you see us now, so please answer my question or... Hey, the tallest one! Why you didn't turn around?"

Blazing Spear really didn't turn around. "Quick Shot?" He said suddenly.

The mare in the middle shuddered and after some time lowered her crossbow. "Blaze? Is that you?" She said.

He didn't answer immediately, and Bright Mind use the moment. "W-wait... y-you know each other?" She asked.

"Huh? Yes, of course," Spear said. "She was with me in the 'green platoon'... But, they say, that Quick Shot didn't make it out of the forest."

"Yes. She didn't make out of the forest," Quick Shot replied. "You see, there was no way I could make it out of this damned forest. Back then, I ran right into the middle of it. When these ponies got me, I had no choice but to desert... So, now I'm with them."

"I... See," he said.

"So, Spear. Who are you with these lovely mares? As far as I remember, you were not the flirty one," she said.

"Oh... You see, it's not them, who walks with me, but rather me, who walks with them. They need to... Talk with your superiors," he replied.

"Superiors... I have only one superior," she said.

"What? What happened? Before I left, there was three leaders in the gang," Fluttershy said.

Quick Shot looked precisely at her. "Well, I'm a bit surprised... Huh, you said, you've been with us?" After receiving a confirming nod, she continued, "Hmm, you see... You know, I believe, it's better to get into our hiding spot. Who know, what the trees may hear."

After these words, the foresters got into the bushes. Fluttershy followed them and others followed her.

***

From the first glance, it may looked like they were lead into the nothingness or trap. The narrow pathways and excess greenery creates a delusion of numerous killers and murderers, hiding behind every tree and a bush. Especially for the guards, and if Spear was hiding the little fear he have, then Bright was literally shivering.

After sometime of walking, they entered into little clearing. At first, nothing catches their eye, but for Fluttershy a big tree stood out at the end of the clearing.

"Hey, that tree reminds me of the main building in the clearing of high circle," Fluttershy said.

"It reminds you of it, because this tree used for the same goal. Now, let me welcome you to our humble Domain of the Outcasts," Quick said. "Now, wait here. I'll call Oak Branch."

Oak Branch? Why she is here? And, why this place is called 'Domain of the Outcasts' Fluttershy thought.

After some time, since Quick Shot climbed the ladder and disappeared into the foliage of the tree, a green pegasus with peach colored mane jumped from the tree.

She landed before them. Her brown eyes were showing no emotions. The light mail was on her, and the plate have been attached to the mail. The plate have a picture of a skull and an oak tree behind the skull on it. The other parts of her set were made of a thick fabric and wasn't much memorable, except for the cloak with a sign of gang.

"So, Quick said, that... Wait! Fluttershy?!" she cried out, then she give her a hug. Her eyes lit up with a fire of joy. "Flutty!.. It was so long since we've been together the last time!"

"Oak... The air..." Fluttershy uttered. Oak pushed even stronger but for a second, and after that, she released Fluttershy from her bear hugs.

"So, Flutts. Why are you in here in the first place?" She asked.

"I... I've got a note from you, guys," she said, as she got the note from the bandits. She take a note and checked it very thoroughly.

"You know... It'd been better for you, to not answer it," she said, as she returned the note.

"Huh? Why?.. And what actually happened here?" Fluttershy said.

"A lot of things happened... A lot of things," she replied. "Hey, Flutter. You know, that I believe that you wouldn't mind to help us a bit?"

"Help? With what?" Fluttershy asked.

"With Bitten Leaf," Oak replied.

"Bitten Leaf? Why?" Fluttershy asked.

"You see, Fluttershy. Bitten Leaf just started to do things the wrong way. He said that all the towns, except Canterlot, from now and on belongs to the gang. Your Ponyville is included," Oak replied.

"Belongs to the gang? What that means?" Fluttershy asked.

"That means that the towns now are the objects of racketeering. He doesn't care that Celly's gonna turn him into a pile of dust, if anything gonna left of him after her wrath," she replied.

Hmm, the Bitten Leaf was a bit harsh in the past, but he didn't do anything to me, Fluttershy thought. "Um... I believe, I'll help you. My friends probably too. Isn't that truth, girls?"

"Don't worry. We will be there for you, no matter what," Twilight assured her.

"So, since everyone's okay with your idea, then it's time to get a bit sense in the head of Bitten Leaf," she said. "Well, I agreed about the meeting, so only thing you need to do, is to put on the disguise."

The answer was... A Applejack's snoring. It take her aback a bit.

"Um... Why she's sleeping?" She asked.

"Oh. AJ here just overworked... And didn't sleep since yesterday," Rainbow answered.

"Overworked?.. And didn't sleep?.." She hesitated. "Well, I believe we have a resting place for her... Hey! Quick Shot! Get someone from there! We have a sleepyhead and no bed!"

"Uh... Ah'm... Ah'm not sleepin'... Ya hear..." She blurted and fall into sleep again.

"I see... Well, guys. Quick Shot is getting... Oh, here she is. Well, let's get you some proper clothes. Also, since your... Um, thrasher is out of game, we need a replacement, and I know just a good option."

As she talked, she was looking at Fluttershy, as if she was saying something to her.

"It just... It just..." Fluttershy squeaked. A green finger silenced her.

"Hey, pal! Did the young little Fluttershy woke up in you again?" The green earth pony mumbled.

Her appearance wasn't much catchy. The Fluttershy was in the same outfit. It's more about her facial expression. Those half-closed eyes and a calm glance. If her eyes were bloodshot, then it would be the face of a total junkie.

"So, are we ready to go?" Rainbow said. It was so offbeat to use a dual blades instead of her favorite duo of saber and a handgun. "We'd better do this early, cuz they may not accept us if we would be late."

"Yeah. Yours friend right. We'd better hurry," Fluttershy's friend said. After half a minute, Fluttershy nodded and they exited the shack, they were in.

"So... You're Fluttershy's friend, Yeah? Cool dreadlocks," Rainbow said.

"Oh, thank you, dude. I'm Treehugger," she said.

"Rainbow Dash," she said. When they got to their company, all of them were ready to go. Not all of them were actually going to participate in the conversation between the leaders of the gang. When Fluttershy, Treehugger and Rainbow Dash got to them, they without a word go to their destination.

"So, where are we going?" Twilight asked.

"Our main tree in the clearing of the high circle. It was used to be my home before Bitten Leaf got me out of there," Branch replied.

"Oh... And, who else we are going to meet there?" Twilight continued with question.

"Blood Tree, of course," she replied.

"Blood Tree?"

"Oh, didn't anyone tell? If so, then let me tell you. Blood Tree is the third leader of the gang," she said.

"Third leader?"

"Yeah. Don't you think that it would be a bit odd, if a 'Three Circles' gang would have only two leaders," she said. "If to speak about Blood Tree, then you must know one thing. She's a total freak."

"Total freak?"

"Total freak. No one knows the whole story behind it, but everypony say that she was raped by the guard, when she was little. That didn't change the fact, that she is an orator since she was born. When you listen to her, you can't shake off the feeling, that whatever she say is a truth."

After that, no question followed. When they were closing to their destination, they felt an eyes stare at them from the deep of the woods.

The clearing opened up before them as a barren area, with no trees and dusty ground beneath them. A big stump in the middle of it and a tree that is similar to the one they've seen in the Domain of the Outcasts. Oak Branch without a second thought ran to the stump, and soon she stood on it.

"Bitten Leaf! I've come to bargain!" She shouted.

The forest immediately come to life. Different thugs started to walk out of the woods, with weapons aimed at them. Near Branch a peach colored unicorn with a crazed glance materialized.

"So, our little traitor wants back into its place... Don't worry, little toy. I would always support you," she said, but Oak felt a cold edge of Blood Tree's blade on her neck. The point if Blood Tree's other blade was on Branch's stomach.

"The mail wouldn't let you harm my body, Blood," she said.

"That only if I would slice, but sometimes, Oak, those blades could prod bodies," she said. Then, after a brief glance in the main tree's direction, she put down her weapon, "Also, yours neck uncovered."

A green earth pony with a mane of a darker shades of green stood there. A massive axe was in his hands. "So? What do you wish, Oak Branch?" He said.

"I wish you to stop this madness. Celestia will crush us all, if you will do everything you said, you will do," She said.

"Huh... So, you didn't change your mind... Does that mean, that they were right about that that any amount of time would be not enough for you to muse things over?" He mocked.

"I'm not musing things over because there is no point in it. Everything's clear as day," Oak replied.

"Why? We can be swimming in gold and fame, making every noble and guard shiver in fear," he said, as he slowly got closer to her. "But you still keep saying, that we're not supposed to do what I say."

"We wouldn't be swimming in gold and fame, Bitten Leaf. We will, rather, be drown in our blood," Oak replied.

"And who will be drowning us? Celestia? She will rather share her bed with some of her guards, or maybe that new princess, everypony keeps talking about," Leaf said.

"That's only if things will be left the way they are. If we will come into action, the guards and Celestia will come into action too. They'll..." She was interrupted by Bitten Leaf's laughter. Actually laughing and snickering were heard from everywhere, even Pinkie was laughing his eyes out.

"Ha-hah... A good joke, Branch," Pinkie shouted and a new wave of laughter come over her.

"Your actions is a complete crime against the forest's laws," everyone stopped laughing except Pinkie, but she come to sense rather quickly.

"Forest's laws? What are those?" Twilight asked in the hushed voice.

"The laws of the forest keeper, the only leader of our gang. Five hundred years ago, he created our gang. He was mighty, clever and charismatic pony... But, he was probably the biggest mystery in the history of our gang. No one knows even his name," the member of the gang to her side tell her.

"Name? But, you are calling him a Forest Keeper. Isn't that his name?" She asked.

"No, it isn't. It's his title," he answered. After that, she returned to Oak.

"Oak... You know, that throwing such accusations without evidence is not something to throw so easily," he said.

"But everyone knows what you said. It's enough for me to accuse you in the crime!" she shouted.

"It's not about it! You can't blame me in violating the law that doesn't exist!" He barked, becoming nervous, but he don't show anything.

"Doesn't exist? You mean, that this doesn't exist," she said, as she take the book from her shoulder bag. Everyone was taken aback by the look of the book.

"His book of laws? You... You can't have it! He said that no one..." He screamed.

"Who said? Wooden Crust said? Why I must listen him? And why do I must listen to you?.. Huh, you know I understand now, why Wooden Crust didn't want you to be the leader of the high circle," she said, while Leaf scrubbed his teeth. "Night Woods and Iron Splinter were far more reasonable choice as a leaders, and yet when Wooden Crust was on the edge of dying, there was only you. Four other candidates were nowhere to be found."

He stayed silence. "Not only that but I can blame you also in several other cases," she said, as she opened the book. "The rule number one. The forest keeper is the highest point in 'Three Circles' hierarchy. No one is allowed to be higher than that. You, with all the things you've done, can be blamed by this clause. The rule number four. No one is allowed to have a business outside the forest, except for the deals of different natures. You've been sending the members of our gangs out to kill and rob on the roads..."

The blaming goes on and on. "The rule number seventy three. No one is allowed to hide the book of the laws from the gang. That was started by the Wooden Crust to receiving more authority. You continued his job, and so the blames from him are given to you," she ended. "So, this allows me to deliver a verdict..."

"This allows you nothing. Who are you to deliver verdicts?" He shouted, interrupting her.

"Oh, I was waiting for the question. You see, this book have, not only the rules to keep the gang in place, but also some of the forest keeper's insight on what is the purpose of the gang and what the gang should be. Here, when I've been reading, I've found what he said about the 'Three Circles' segregation. He said that the three different parts ease things for the newbies. Lemme quote. 'The high circle is hands, they perform fighting. The middle circle is the tongue, they perform the deals. The lesser circle is the brain, they perform tactics and judging, planning and preserving. When there is no forest keeper, the leader of the lesser circle is the judge of all the gang'. So, this here means that I as an authority of the gang is able to proclaim you, Bitten Leaf, a criminal and that in turn shall lead to a punishment..." She said and opened the eyes, she closed while she was explaining. The Bitten Leaf was charging at her with his axe. She wasn't able to even squeak as the earth pony's body was changed into a hedgehog's body, as dozens of arrows pierced him in different places. His body fall before her.

"Well... Um, the punishment was done... But who will be the new leader of the high circle? Did Bitten Leaf had inheritors?" She shouted in the crowd.

Three ponies come out of the crowd. One mare and a wwo stallions. If stallion and a mare, that both belonged to the earth pony tribe, were looking like Bitten Leaf, but with different hide and mane's colors. A brown unicorn with dark-grey mane with crimson strands and with yellow eyes.

He wasn't showing any malice. Like the earth ponies, he was calm, but deep in his eyes there were no ill will. "I believe that Bitten Leaf wasn't able to chose who will be his inheritor out of all of you," she said, and after a confirming nod, she continued. "If the predecessor didn't chose the inheritor, then the forest keeper will chose, and since there is no one with this title the leaders of other circles will chose. So, Blood Tree, what do you think about those?"

"Whoever you think is suitable," she said, as she get back to talking with the Blazing Spear.

"Huh? Okay, fine. So, you, what's your name?" she said, while pointing at the unicorn.

"Mine? Oh, my name's Snow Tree, ma'am," he said.

"Okay, Snow Tree. I believe that you'll be the suitable choice for being someone equal to me," she said. Then, she got closer and she whispered to his ear, "just tell me about the other two?"

"The other two? Wrecking Strike and Power Blow? They are like Bitten Leaf, so it's highly likely to expect a strike in the back," he whispered in the reply.

"And, what can make me to not expect a backstab from you?" she replied with question.

"Maybe, because of the fact that I become an inheritor, because the most of high circle's members wanted me to be leader, not because I've sucked up to Bitten Leaf," he said.

"Oh? A nice fact to know," she replied. Then, she turned to the crowd, "So, the honest and the dishonest members of the 'Three Circle'. The official matters are done. Now, me and my companions will return to our place, and then the lesser circle will return. The great revel will start after that!"

Meanwhile, Blood Tree and Blazing Spear have come to agreement. It's started with Blazing Spear asking the question, "So, who was that?"

She remained silent, but he still tried to get the information, he wanted, "Light Flicker? It's must be him, huh? There is no other options..."

As silent, as she was, but shivering nevertheless, "I'm going to Canterlot after all these... Things. I'll start the intrigues against him, and find..."

"You'd better kill him," she said silencing him with a finger on his lips. "In the most painful way, you could imagine."

"Kill? But that's illegal..." He said, while she pull out the flask.

"Here, you can put this into his drink or food, or whatever. Also, you could put this deep down his throat. He will die either way, but if I were you, I'd choose the latter," she said. Then the Oak shouted to her about the inheritors.

"So, I'll got this with me," he said. "I'll kill him with this. And that's all?"

"Bring me a souvenir, maybe?" She said. "I would be pleased to have his head, but you can't get it, so maybe something else?"

"Oh, fine. I'll look into it," he said.

After Oak declared that they are going back to the domain, everyone gather in one place. Without any words they walked off. When Twilight, friends and the guards were going back to Ponyville, Bright Mind neared the Blazing Spear.

"Blaze. H-hey, Blaze," she murmured to him. When, he looked at her, she continued, "When you will g-got b-back to Ponyville, what you'll do?"

"Me? I'll ask captain if I'm able to go back to Canterlot," he replied.

"Oh, c-can I-I go w-with you?" She asked.

"Yes, of course," he replied. "But why?"

"I-I j-just can't... T-this is our f-first task and... And, we were under s-such pressure," she sobbed.

"I wouldn't say so... Wait, you hadn't gone with us. You stayed with AJ... Did anyone..." he said.

"No! They didn't! But those two w-were eyeing me... I was thinking t-that they would r-rape me..." she whimpered.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll look into getting you into Canterlot safe and sound," he said.

What if Celestia discovers that I've been with 'Three Circles'? She thought. No. This operation must be a secret.