Darkness Rises when Silence Dies

“Tunnels lead down to a sewer outlet, apparently they used it to dispose of their victims” Khazir explained

“Found someone down there?” Scorch asked

“Two Zebrican redguards and what I’m guessing was a rushed pony sacrifice” khazir replied

“Guess Strauss didn’t want any baggage” Thunder reasoned

“Least we’re free to kill Strauss when we find him” Scorch said

“Scorch!” Thunder said

“What you know that fucker has it coming” Scorch replies

“Yeah and you enjoy killin’ more than he does!" Thunder explained

"So what doesn't matter if they have it coming" Scorch replied

"Like you care if they deserve it" Thunder said

"Y'know you're right who am I to decide if they deserve it's not like I'm an E'tada" Scorch retorted

"That's not what we're meant for!" Thunder replied

"As if! Mother's never been that hands on! except with Craikirk" Scorch argued back

"And how do you know that?" Thunder asked rhetorically

"I've met her" Scorch replied calmly

Wild steps between Scorch and Thunder

"Ok ok that's enough for now mates let's go ahead and have the princess and the local coppers put out an APB while we look for a Dwemerologist with some very politically incorrect cultural views" Wild said

"You got that Princess" Thunder said

"Uh sure" Twilight replied

The mane six begin to leave the castle

"It feels kinda weird not being on our own on this one" Applejack said

"Yeah these guys are like the exact opposite of Celestia and Luna" Rainbow added

"This bad guy their after must be PRETTY bad" Pinkie exclaimed

"Well it is supposed to be Jack the Ripper" Applejack replied

"Yeah, the more I think about the less I buy that story" Rainbow explained

"And they look pretty scary too" Fluttershy chimed in

"Clearly their more interested in intimidation than style" Rarity explained

"Come to think of it I have been wonder why Celestia never told me she had any brothers" Twilight explained

"I bet they made it all up to distract us so they'd have an excuse to invade Equestria" Rainbow exclaimed

"Now hold on Dash theirs still a chance their being honest" Twilight replied

"But what if they aren't?" Rainbow asked

"That's what we need to find out meet me at the castle tonight and we'll go over everything we have on Equestrian Royalty

Later that evening

"Command we have a situation the ritual failed, our hideout is compromised" Strauss said quietly into a pay phone

"Yes…. I understand… I'm on my way" he says before boarding a train with the Lexicon on him

"Fuck!!!" Blizzard moans

"What is it?" Thunder asked

" we've been searching for hours and we haven't found a damn thing"

" Maybe that's because Zoozling evil racist dwarf scientist and Fazi porn aren't the best keywords" Deus Ex replied

"Go to Coldharbour" Blizzard

"Well if we're telling people to go places, how about yah grab a few of our lads and get some grub" Scorch said

"Ugh. Fine what do you all want"

"Burger, Pizza, rib sandwich, fried chicken, roast beef sandwich" the others all say in unison

"Why do I have to have five brothers he turns around to all of the Frumentarii from them"

*sigh "who wants what?" Blizzard asks

In Twilight's castle

"Welp that's another dead end" Twilight said tossing away a book

"you'd think there would more stuff on a guy with a flying island" Rainbow exclaimed

"Yet all we've found is some vague references a handful of short stories"

"There doesn't seem to be much on him but their sure is a lot about his country" Rarity explained

"What did you find?" Twilight asked

"Well apparently it's centered far off continent with a strange culture called Tamriel, They do a loose alliance with the Hooviet Union and Huoshan, Foenum" Rarity explained

"Welp at least he got that part right" Applejack said

"Does it say anything about an Arch Hortate?" Twilight asked

"Yes, but it doesn't give any name" Rarity explained

"Mine does!" Spike exclaimed

"Really Spike! what book are you reading?" Twilight asked

"Internet" Spike replied

*sighs "Spike the internet isn't a credible sou… hey!" Twilight says

The rest of the mane six crowd around Spike

"Does it have a picture of the Arch Hortate?" Rarity asked

"No, it says whenever he's in public he covers his face with a magic mask and crown because of facial deformities" Spike explained

"Doesn't the big scary one have a scar"

"But he used magic to change his look" Rainbow pointed out

*knocking

"Anybody home?" Blizzard asks

"One minute, hide everything" Twilight says

*slight crashes

"The fuck are they doing?" Blizzard asks

"Probably some friendship sex ritual" Xera suggests

"Hmm weirdos" Blizzard replied

*Twilight opens the door

"Oh Hello, lizard was it?" Twilight asked nervously

"Blizzard, anyways are their any like fast food places around here like Burger Queen, Harbies, Pizza shack, or razin' Azrhukhaul" Bliz replied

"Oh well there aren't many places like here in ponyville but over in Horseton it's about ten minutes away from here" Twilight explained

"Thanks, Frumentarii les be off" Blizzard said

*Blizzard and the Frumentarii leave and goes back inside

"What did he want Twi?" Applejack asked

"He was looking for restaurants all that serve meat" Twilight

Fluttershy *gasps

"lots of ponies eat meat it's normal" Applejack explained

"Maybe, Spike look up Frumentarii"

*Castle Brimstone

*eerie whispering

"What?" Scorch asks

*the others look around

"I didn't hear anything" Thunder says

"Mah pills mus' jus' be wearing off" Scorch replies

"Maybe take some more?" Thunder says

"It's 20 o'clock you what them things do to me when I sleep" Scorch replied

"But still" Thunder started

"Knock it off Thunder I don't like my pills either" Mist signed

"Fine" Thunder replies

"If my pills bother you two so much why do you take them?" Deus Ex asked

"Because we don't like being starred by mortals" Scorch explained

"For our health" Mist corrected

"Yet you two still won't let me optimize you" Ex replied

"Till we recover mah heart after that then you put whatever gizmos and gadgets in us as you want" Scorch says

"Alright the 12 down 12 to go" Ex replies

"By the Anu, Zenithar what is with you and puttin' machinery in people" Thunder exclaimed

"I am not Zenithar I am Deus Ex Machina, and I have vested interest in giving them their fullest potential" Ex proclaimed

"Some days I wonder if Scorch and Mist really are the mad ones" Thunder replies