Incarnate: Book Two of the Nexus

Even beneath a festive covering of snow, the ghost town of Dodge Junction was a pitiful shell. The traveling merchants and produce carts had come and gone. Late autumn was becoming early winter. The one street that composed the town was empty aside from a lone draft pony who cleared the snow away with a plow.

Skyblazer and Cobalt walked together towards this town from the rolling, vast sea of white which was the empty desert. Dodge Junction was a dismal place, but a settlement of any kind in such a wilderness was pleasant to see.

The pair trotted down the quiet street, leaving strange prints as they went: hoof marks, a few scratches from talons, and paw prints. A pegasus and a griffon.

Scrap wood and rusty nails held the buildings together against the weight of snow. Many windows were broken, and several structures had collapsed and been left to rot. One row of buildings stood strong against the wear of time.

An inviting tavern was first in the row. It was named 'The Watering Hole', and from it issued warmth and the sounds of conversation and clinking plates. Sky and Cobalt passed it by.

They walked into the second building and shook off the snow. This was the general store. Cobwebs lined the rafters and several windows had been boarded over.

Sky and Cobalt browsed the goods. They bought a sturdy tent, a bundle of firestarters and bags of beans and rice.

While both creatures were rather hardy to the cold, a tent would be nice in the snow and freezing wind.

They left Dodge Junction now, not bothering to even look back at the skeletal imitation of a town. A campsite was ahead, where tents and wagons circled a firepit. It was unoccupied.

Cobalt almost took several items from it, but Sky scolded her and she left well enough alone. They kept on going towards the canyons.

Along a treacherous and slick trail they hiked, following a canyon wall. At length they reached the mines. They found the cabin belonging to Hayseed here, and he let them in with a hug for Sky.

Hayseed spoke, his breath steaming from the cold air, “Hey, how's it going? Good of ya to stop by before leaving.”

Skyblazer responded, “For sure Hayseed, it's been moons. Of course I'm gonna stop by.”

The three settled in cozy chairs by the fireplace. Hayseed chucked another log into the blazing fire. He used a poker to put it in place and close an iron screen.

Cobalt looked around the cabin while Sky talked with his brother. It was a very small home, but well appointed. It was also spotless. Hayseed clearly took good care of his things.

Hayseed said something that Cobalt didn't catch. She said, “Sorry, what was that?”

“You seem a bit distracted,” said Hayseed, “What's on your mind?”

“Oh, you know. Life, things are crazy,” answered Cobalt.

“Tell me about it,” remarked Hayseed, “Been trying to get new mine tunnels dug, it's tough going. Found some iron ore deposits, could be a good direction for us.”

Sky asked, “Do you need any help with things? We aren't in any real hurry, and I'm sure we could do a lot of repairs in town.”

Hayseed shook his head no, “Still saving back my bits. Need to focus on the mines for now, need to improve that income flow. Reckon we'll start on the town in spring. How bout you two, where next?”

Cobalt answered this, “Hmm, we could take care of the situation in Appleloosa.”

She discussed the possible cockatrice in the mine there, and the hostile ponies of the town.

Hayseed walked over to the fire and managed to get a pipe lit. He returned to his seat and said, “Like I said before, they don't trust outsiders. But if y'all could take care of the monster for them, it might help.”

Skyblazer and Cobalt got up from their chairs and helped each other unequip their saddle bags and armor for the night. Sky then went through his packs and withdrew a ragged book.

He placed it on the dining table, and the other two walked over in curiosity.

Sky asked Hayseed, “Did you know our mom was a monster hunter when she was young?”

“No,” said Hayseed, “She never told me about her time before the Wonderbolts.”

“Well, this is her old journal. She gave it to me when I left, and it has come in handy. Now let's see... monster notes are in the front, from a to z.”

“Yep, that's mum's journal sure enough.”

Sky spoke, “It even has a table of contents,” and he plipped through pages with a soft flutter of one wing. He nudged a few more pages with his nose, and got to the entry they needed.

He read, “Let's see, the cockatrice. Also called a basilisk, although the two are actually different creatures which share the same magic self-defense ability.”

Cobalt spoke up, “Turning critters to stone.”

Sky continued, “Huh, apparently they don't always do that. Only if they feel seriously threatened and can't run away. Basically a chicken, eats insects and plant matter, habitat is forests, a class one monster.”

Hayseed asked, “A what monster?”

Cobalt explained, “Ooh, Zecora told me this. It goes from one to four. A class one monster is pretty much just a normal predator, or even prey. Just with some special ability.”

“Do I wanna know what a class four is?” asked Hayseed.

“Nope, you don't,” Cobalt answered.

Sky resumed reading, “So, the petrifying magic is not understood. Rumored to be ancient magic, all that's known is it requires visible, direct eye contact. Hunters deal with em by using a mirror or going by night. You could even just close your eyes in a pinch and fight blind.”

Cobalt had plenty of personal experience with these creatures. She gave her own anecdote, “During my six years living in Everfree, cockatrice was a regular part of my diet. Better get out a quill, Sky.”

Sky did so. He placed a bottle of ink on the table and used one of his own feathers as a quill. His telekinesis was still shaky, and the feather dripped a few drops of ink on the table.

He breathed deeply, and thought of calm things. The quiet snowfall outside. Not even the sound of cicadas. Time in the company of friends in a warm cabin.

When he opened his eyes, the feather was staying quite still and steady. He tried writing with it; he managed, but the writing was awful. With a sigh, Skyblazer took the feather in his mouth and wrote much neater lines from years of practice.

Cobalt, who wore a rather amused grin, spoke now, “Nice try, Sky. Okay, so normally if one of those birds sees ya, they run off. Now if you're near their nest or they can't get away, they turn around and stare at you. Long as you avoid eye contact you're fine.”

Sky wrote all of this down. Cobalt waited til he was done, and resumed speaking, “They move really fast so trying to just look away is reckless. The magic still works if they're dead, but not if you cut the head off.”

After a pause to write this in the journal margins and consider it, Sky dropped the feather and spoke, “So it should be no trouble in a dark mine, right?”

Hayseed answered this, “Sure, long as y'all don't mind fighting it blind in a twisty maze full of rocks and sudden drops.”

Sky spoke with a grimace, “Cobalt, how about we leave this one alone? They didn't want our help, we're taking a break, and you're badly hurt.”

Cobalt gave an arrogant chuckle, “It's just a damn magic chicken. What, I'm supposed to be afraid of a snack? Check this out,”

Her ring glowed and dark blue energy streaked out from it. It began to pool into a circle. The magic shimmered, and suddenly Cobalt's face could be seen in the circle. She spoke,

“A magic mirror. Well, it's a regular mirror, but made of magic. Won't shatter and I can manage two at once.”

“Not much use in the dark,” observed Sky.

“Detect magic spells can warn you if there's a monster nearby.”

“Now that could be useful. How about the lighting, how much is too much?”

“It has to be pretty bright. A few torches isn't enough for the stone magic to work, but full moonlight can be.”

Hayseed was curious about something, and he asked, “Now, what's a basilisk? Ain't that the same thing?”

Sky turned to the right page using telekinesis. He smiled as he spoke, “Ponies often consider it the same thing, but there is a myth. Some kind of giant lizard, like a salamander, but it can turn threats to stone.”

Hayseed asked, “How in the name of Tartarus does it eat a critter once petrified?”

Sky scanned the page and answered, “Hmm, it doesn't use that ability on its prey. Just on things that can actually pose a threat to it, like fellow monsters or ponies that go after it with magic. Makes it a class three monster. Yikes.”

Cobalt spoke, “Might be dangerous, but they have a place. Class threes hunt and kill other monsters and rarely go after regular animals. Without them, the class one and two monsters might wipe out all the normal prey and predator animals. It's like this natural balance thing.”

Hayseed whistled and said, “Okay, damn.”

Cobalt and Sky planned out their hunt in the mines. After a moment in silence, Hayseed spoke, “Gettin' late now. I reckon you two would want your own cabin for the night.”

Sky objected, “Now what's that supposed to mean?”

“Ah, nothing,” said Hayseed.

“Just for that, I'll sleep on the couch.”

Cobalt added, “Um, yeah, I'll take the spare bedroom. Don't wanna sleep near you damn ponies.”

“Eyup, let's go with that,” said Hayseed.

Sky and Cobalt stared him down with a glare as fierce as any cockatrice. It didn't turn Hayseed to stone, but it did make him apologize.

Cobalt closed the door to the spare bedroom and said, “Goodnight, don't let the parasprites bite.”

Canterlot, the next morning. Within the royal castle, the air began to shimmer and shake. A large portal suddenly appeared and a group walked out from it.

At the lead were princesses Celestia, Luna and Twilight Sparkle. All were worn out and still in low spirits from the changelings draining their joy through magic.

However, a mood of celebration and victory was fast overcoming this state of despair. A number of other ponies came from the portal, with Discord trailing them.

Discord stepped out with a big smile on his face. He spoke, “How's that, we actually did it! I mean, not that I ever doubted you two.”

He was accompanied by Starlight and Trixie, both of whom were exhausted and injured.

Starlight spoke, “Their queen is still going to be a problem...”

Trixie leaned against Starlight and said, “Huh. So friendship saves the day... again. Who would've thought.”

Discord stepped back into the portal. Through it could be seen a desert scene, where a large gathering of ponies sat in the sand. In their midst were strange, colorful creatures which appeared to be part pony and part bug.

The castle portal closed as Discord went about using his ridiculous magic to transport everypony else back to their homes and families.

Most of the ponies in the great hall were haggard and weary, slowly recovering from having their happiness siphoned away. Fluttershy was crying from the stress of it all, and Rainbow Dash consoled her.

The three princesses stepped off to the side, into the dining lounge, and plunked down at a table.

Princess Luna was sweating and breathing hard. She spoke in gasps, “One... more threat... resolved.”

Twilight was staring out the window with a distraught look on her face. She spoke under her breath, “They were actually reasonable, and I almost ended them... I'm so sorry, Celestia.”

Celestia took a seat next to Twilight and placed a wing over her.

Luna had caught her breath now. She lie on her side, taking up the whole bench across from them. She spoke, “Let us not dwell on the could have beens. This is a joyous occasion. My sister and I have longed for the day we could resolve conflict with the changelings.”

“In all that time,” began Twilight weakly, “You never could have peace?”

Luna answered, “Peace, yes, but never could ponies and changelings find common ground. Always have we kept our distance, neither race trusting one another.”

Celestia lowered her head until her horn crossed Twilight's. A few sparks of magic flew, and memories from Celestia's long life were transferred to Twilight.

Twilight smiled, and said, “All along, they could have fed on friendship and they never knew.”

Luna said, “Or the ones in charge kept it from them.”

Celestia scolded her, “Let us not bathe in cynicism. We must embrace the reformed changelings and find a means for them to fit within our land.”

Luna added, “Further, let us not forget to address the sundry minor issues which remain. Never shall I abandon my sworn promise to Equestria.”

Celestia nodded firmly, “Yes, dear sister. Not four thousand years prior, and not in the present. Everypony else, you may return to Ponyville and comfort the citizens there.”

Twilight said, “I'd like to stay put and help. I have to make this up to you.”

Celestia nodded slowly, and said, “Do you remember the role I discussed with you, that which made you worthy of being an alicorn?”

“Oh, yes, friendship...” said Twilight, “I suppose Equestria does need their ambassador of the peace about now.”

“It would be the best way to redeem our land having missed one,” said Celestia.

Twilight ran across the hall, leapt through a wide window, and took flight towards Ponyville. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy soon followed after finishing their talks with their friends.

Later that afternoon, in Dodge Junction, Cobalt and Skyblazer waved a fond goodbye to Hayseed Haycart and hiked off for the train station.

Sky took this time to fly and stretch his wings before the long ride. Cobalt was still in too much pain to consider flying to the station. She met up with Sky there, and the train arrived shortly.

The ride to Appleloosa took until evening. Sky and Cobalt disembarked and approached the tavern with caution, after their previous experience.

Goldwater, the dusty old mining pony, was here again as he was every evening. He had drunk several beers before a few rounds of poker, just like every evening.

This evening, however, he was joined by a crowd of other disgruntled miners. The tavern was packed and boisterous, but not with an atmosphere of good cheer.

Sky and Cobalt warily pushed through the swinging doors into the smoky, chaotic bar. The armored and rugged griffon and pegasus received plenty of distrusting stares as they walked with calm confidence towards Goldwater.

Skyblazer addressed him, “Evening, sir. I know y'all don't want the help, but we were hoping to take care of your monster problem.”

He had a seat on a sturdy wooden stool at the table. Cobalt roosted on a barrel of rum near the roaring fire, sitting with three legs while holding a frosty beer mug in her talons.

The bar patrons glanced at her in an askew way. She seemed to absorb this negative energy, and she gave a fierce grin with her carnivorous teeth.

Sky had a couple shots of rum to look plenty tough, and nearly choked on the third shot. He cleared his throat, and thought of what to say to convince them.

It proved they needed no convincing.

A unicorn at the table across from Sky set his cards face-down on the table. This unicorn of lime green fur had a black mane and a bushy beard. He wore a hard hat and a canvas harness which held a pickaxe, shovel and canteen against his back.

He spoke in a gravely, deep voice, “Ain't just one cockatrice no more. We been seeing at least a half dozen of the birds. Worse yet, ah reckon they seen a few of us.”

A burgundy female pegasus with grayed feathers and muzzle spoke up now, “They got ol' Ironside, can you believe it? The mines ain't gonna run right without him.”

The unicorn nodded, downed his beer, and said, “It's a damn shame. Got poor old Goldwater here all out of sorts. Old guy has worked here longer than some of the greenhorns been alive.”

While the unicorn drank more beer by wrapping a hoof around the mug, the pegasus gave a hard look at Cobalt. She asked Sky, “The hell you doing with a griffon? Don't mean to soil the mood here, but I reckon folks can't trust a critter like that.”

Sky felt his anger rising. He fought it down before speaking, “Cobalt has been a good friend of mine for over a year now. We hunt monsters together. All she wants is a new life in Equestria, if that ain't asking too much.”

“Alrighty then, she seems harmless enough. Just have you know, out here near the desert and Everfree our town is hassled by plenty o monsters and bandits.”

“What I hear is, your town can offer plenty of work.”

“Aha ha, I like yer attitude young pegasus. Ain't an easy chore, these birds. I'm sure y'all know how dangerous a single cockatrice can be.”

“Aye. Where did the other ones come from? Thought it was just one.”

“We ain't got a clue. I reckon a pack of em stumbled in from the woods.”

Old Goldwater joined in the conversation now, his crackly, wheezy voice cutting through the noise, “Y'all be careful down there, I saw one of em basilisk fiends.”

The pegasus rolled her eyes. She said, “Goldwater, they be the same thing. Just different names is all.”

“Nah, not a bird,” said Goldwater, “One of em lizard critters, I swear I seen it. All scaly and slithering, big as a foal. Saw it slipping off into the deeper tunnels.”

“Yer out your gourd, Goldwater. Them things are only a myth.”

Sky carefully added, “Whatever's down there, we'll be careful. Gonna have to plan out fighting in the dark. Hey Goldwater, would you go with us? You know the mine layout.”

“What y'all offering fer a job like that?” asked Goldwater.

Sky dug into his packs, and set forty bits worth of coins on the table.

The lime unicorn's horn began to glow and quietly encompass the coins. Suddenly, the unicorn heard a fierce growl behind him. He looked around and right into the eyes of the griffon.

“Right, sorry,” he said, as he got up from the table and quickly stepped out of the tavern.

An earth pony, who had been quietly considering his draw of cards and sipping a beer, suddenly jumped from his chair. He yelled, “Hey you bastard! Game ain't done yet, get back here!” and ran out the door after the unicorn.

Cobalt took a vacant seat. Her ring glowed a dark blue, magic enveloped her beer mug over on the mantel, and it was brought over to her with magic. The other ponies gave her a look of absolute terror and confusion.

Goldwater was nonplussed. He quietly scooped the coins into a bag, shook Sky's hoof, and said, “Y'all got a deal. But I stay in the back, got it? You two stay on ahead and I'll navigate.”

This was fine by them. They proceeded towards the mines after a few more drinks to steady their nerves and some time in conversation with other locals.

It was nearly dark, but it didn't matter much. The unlit mines would be just as dark by daylight. Goldwater brought a bundle of torches and, surprisingly, a few sticks of dynamite.

Sky exclaimed, “What in the burning Tartarus are those for?”

Goldwater calmly responded while smoking his pipe, “Ah told y'all, there be a basilisk down there. A real, live lizard what turn you to stone if it don't tear you to pieces first. Why fight it? Just collapse the deep tunnels ah reckon.”

“Wait a moment,” observed Cobalt, “I heard some ponies were already turned to stone.”

“Yeah?” answered Goldwater, confused, “We all have our time, you know. Dangerous world, I reckon. Give em a proper burial down in that old worthless pit.”

Cobalt objected, “No, not so fast. I know alchemy. There's potions that can undo petrifying, long as the ponies aren't damaged too much.”

“Is that so, huh? What kind of crazy critter are ya? Griffon what knows magic and potion brews. Reckon y'all might be more dangerous than most monsters.”

“Well duh. We hunt them for a living, you know.”

“Point taken there, griffon. Welp, this be the mine entrance. Pardon the mess, bit of a panic. Ain't no good reason a pony can't take a minute to clean up the tools and such.”

They all stopped walking now, and stared with trepidation at the dark, yawning chasm ahead. Goldwater went off to a tin-sided shack to collect gear for them all.

Sky placed a comforting wing over Cobalt and asked, “You gonna be okay for this hunt? I mean, we don't have to do this. How's the ribs holding up?”

Cobalt flexed and grimaced. She gasped, and said, “Yep, yep that still hurts like hell. I'll be fine, I've handled worse. Besides, we're together on this.”

Sky stared into the night sky. The moon was obscured by partial cloud. Spirals of stars bejeweled the black canvas, slightly obscured by all the light from Appleloosa.

Even this late the town was still busy. They had too much goods and crops to transport for the place to ever really quiet down. The late night train would arrive soon on the Southern tracks, full of boxcars and bums. Hay and crates and barrels would be loaded. Stragglers would board.

All this calm, boring routine and nopony realized that three were planning to put their lives at risk to keep a major industry of the town still running. Place wouldn't be the same without the mines going. Plenty of gold and coal veins.

In fact, Sky remembered reading that the gold rush had first founded Appleloosa. It thrived afterwords thanks to the railroad.

Now, Goldwater returned with supplies. He wore a canvas harness loaded down with tools and a vicious axe which looked to be made more for battle than firewood.

Sky asked Cobalt, “Do you think you can figure out light magic? We could really use it. Try to imagine a glaringly bright day at the beach.”

Cobalt's ring glowed. It flickered and sparked a few times. Suddenly, the blue energy coalesced and a weak beam of light penetrated the darkness. It quavered a few times, but held steady.

“Yeah, I got this,” said Cobalt.

Goldwater carried a long torch in his mouth. It was about the size of a broomstick. He struck the top of it against some stones. It sparked into fierce flame, and settled down to a steady burn.

Several more of these torches were among his equipment. He wore a hardhat with a light crystal as well, which sent a pale blue ray of light into the cavern.

Lastly, Sky unclasped his magic bracelet and held it in his mouth. He illuminated it, and sent a steady beam of light into the mines like a flashlight.

Together, they cautiously clambered down the steep stone surface of the mine tunnels into the abyss. Sky and Cobalt walked right next to each other and discussed their plan.

The cockatrices had only been seen around the lower levels of the mines. Why they went all the way down, nopony knew. Perhaps they were looking for bugs to eat and water in the depths, where the mines had opened into a natural cave.

These labyrinthine upper tunnels were not hazardous, not beyond all the normal myriad hazards of a mine. The bright magic lights cast shadows off of rock outcrops, rusty iron carts on tracks, and square support beams as they descended deeper with echoing steps.

All were quiet now, and focused. Cobalt had extinguished her light spell, greatly reducing their visibility but allowing more time for their vision to adjust to the pitch dark.

She was the more adept with magic, and she kept up a spell of detect magic. Sky kept an arcane shield around the three of them. All present were keeping a keen ear out for any distant sounds.

They splashed through ice-cold water which dripped from above. It formed a burbling rivulet where the tunnel descended sharply and banked around a corner.

At the base of this steep ramp, tally marks could be seen on the wall with faded red paint. The count was five. Goldwater asked them to pause here in an alcove where a side bend of mine track held a few carts full of ore and rock.

He asked Sky to put out his light now, and then dipped his torch in water and whacked his helmet to turn off the light crystal. They were surrounded by a darkness and silence more absolute and damning than they had experienced in their lives. Not even the slightest point of light could be seen and the darkness went on forever.

Sky and Cobalt jumped as the gravely voice of Goldwater could be heard saying, “The darkness of the mine is like nothing else. Ya never really do get used to it. Ain't a thing more terrifying.”

After several minutes, Goldwater ignited another, tiny torch, with which he lit a lantern. He set this lantern on a train engine and twisted a knob until the wick was low and the light was dim.

It only offered the light of a few candles now, and what little glow it offered was swallowed by the dark black stone and coal dust which entombed them.

All present were dead silent. Skyblazer and Goldwater began to sweat from the increasing heat of the depths and sheer terror. Cobalt could be heard panting softly.

Two other minuscule light sources pierced the utter black: Cobalt's ring and Sky's necklace. With their eyes now adjusted to the black, the deep blue glow and foggy gray ripples allowed them to see the vague silhouette of their own limbs.

The air down here was stifling. They wandered on blindly, with whispered directions from Goldwater. At one point the old pony took the lead, poking at the empty space ahead with a long torch. It clanged off of metal. Cobalt let out a shrill squeak noise, but caught her breath.

Goldwater spoke softly after a swig from a flask, “Lift is in place. Good to check, might've been broken in all the craziness. Let me find the gate for the railing.”

There was a noise of scuffling and hoof on metal. A latch was undone with the noise of sliding metal, and a creaky hinge pierced the silence. All three stepped onto a platform which began to swing in the dark. Sky nearly took flight off of instinct, but stopped himself.

Goldwater hung the lantern on a hook and raised the wick just enough to see the lift. They were on an iron and wood platform in a metal cage on a chain, five stories underground. A vertical shaft below them descended into further blackness, into the unknown below.