"Unbelievable, absolutelyunbelievable!" Eustace ground out, his face mixed exasperation and anger. "They saw us on our way out, it's not like they're a different shift!" He spat, stomping in the direction of the Upper Cathedral Ward's only entrance.

Where once the gate had been open and permitting entry to the Upper Cathedral Ward, now the gates were sealed tight and guarded by particularly mean looking Church Doctors. Their only communication had been to Eustace, repeating the same growls any time he'd tried to argue with them. So now the three sat in the small courtyard directly before the gate, some fuming and others worried.

They'd left Eileen behind at Oedon Chapel, under the care of a seemingly benign creature that called itself the Chapel Dweller. Though ugly, it had promised to take care of the injured hunter and despite its unsettling appearance, both Eustace and a barely conscious Eileen had vouched for it as a caring individual. The three remaining ponies had, themselves, taken another of Eustace's colorful shortcuts to reach the gateway within the hour.

"Madness, bloody madness!" Eustace said, more to himself than anything else. He gave the Doctors a loathing glare, before shaking his head. "Well, so much for getting in that way," he said with a sigh. "Either of you have a plan?"

Celestia shrugged her shoulders. "You know the city better than us, Eustace. If anypony can solve this, it's you." For whatever reason, the Doctors had locked everypony out of the Upper Cathedral Ward, including them. No reasoning had been given, and that worried her. What if something had happened up there? Another Cleric Beast?

"You're right, I do know the city," he said, sitting and shaking his head. "I know that there isn't a single other way into the Upper Ward short of flying, and I'm sure I've told you how wise that is during the hunt." He sighed again, cursing gods unknown beneath his breath.

"Um, hello?" Twilight interjected, giving them both an incredulous look. "Ever thought about asking for permission?" she stated, very matter-of-fact.

Celestia blinked. So did Eustace. "Any ideas now, Eustace?" prompted the alicorn, giving Twilight an appreciative smile and a wink. Truth told, she was slightly embarrassed that she hadn't thought of that.

Eustace sighed again, rubbing his head with a hoof. "Who's there to ask? The Clergy's a mess to the point nopony knows who does what anymore, Lady Astral is probably asleep, and the Choir's virtually gone. That leaves the Vic…"

Realization dawned on Eustace as he brightened, before he began chuckling. "The Vicar! Of course, why didn't I think of her?" he said, noticing both alicorn's questioning looks. "She's the Church's top official and tonight, quite unusually, she's to offer prayer in the Grand Cathedral. If anybody can get us into the Upper Ward, it's her." Eustace stood, and quickly went to return the way they came.

-#-#-

The return to the main level of the Cathedral Ward was uneventful, seeing that they'd cleared the way of anything the Doctors had missed on their way up. A few relatively short paths and streets of considerable quality later, and soon they stood once again in Oedon Chapel, with its opulent carvings and thick, scented air. The Dweller was nowhere to be seen, likely in the small library beneath the Chapel that he'd had them bring Eileen into.

Eustace had them wait while he went down to check on her, before returning with a rather grim face. "Good news and bad news, I'll start with the good," he said sitting down. "Eileen will recover, though this will likely be her last hunt. Gascoigne did a number to her side, and she's not the young hunter she used to be." He gave them both a squint-eyed look. "Bad news is I figure you should both stay here."

Celestia balked. "Stay?" she said incredulously, "and what gives you the idea we should stay?" Celestia stopped herself from outright denying staying behind, being more interested in finding out why and convincing him otherwise.

"Well…" Eustace began, rubbing the back of his head, "the Vicar isn't known to be, ah, welcoming of outsiders, especially when they want anything to do with either the Choir or the Upper Ward. Unless they're destined for the Research Hall, of course." He gave them both a sincere look. "It's nothing personal, it's just that she'll probably give us an easier time if you two stay here until she gives us access."

Twilight was looking at him cynically. "Yeah, but aren't we already working for Lady Astral? You know, a Choirpony?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

Eustace creased his brow. "Well, yes, but –"

"And haven't we already been through the better part of the hunt? Taken part in it, too?"

"That is, uh, true…"

"And didn't you already tell us what causes ponies to become beasts?" she said, topping off her argument with a 'hmm?' "Can't imagine that's common knowledge, is it?"

"I – um, no, it's not, but…" he stopped, took a deep breath, and stopped himself from arguing. "Well, you certainly guessed why she dislikes outsiders. You're right, that isn't common knowledge, or at least it isn't supposed to be. Seeing as how you already know, though," he said, looking at them both critically, "we might be able to persuade her. Emphasis on might, I've got no clue how she'll act."

Celestia nodded at Eustace and gave Twilight another wink. Looks like she did learn something from all those times she'd wound up arguing with some hard-headed pony.

"Still, I'd rather you stay here," Eustace said hesitantly. Upon seeing both of their reactions, however, he sighed. "Though, I don't suppose you'd let me go alone, would you?"

"Not a chance," they both replied in unison.

"Perhaps it's for the better, then. You never know what's lurking behind the nearest corner, do you?" Eustace said, chuckling as he waved them towards the entrance of Oedon Chapel, and the rest of the Cathedral Ward.

Author's Note

Bit of a shorter than usual chapter. Next one will follow (probably) within the week.