Author's Note

So, this chapter was technically ready to be posted a while back, buuuut in typical me fashion, I wanted to polish and edit more before actually publishing it. It will likely be polished yet more in the future as well, but for now, this will be the state it remains in. For now.

Regardless, I hope you all enjoy it! Ciao!

4 - Intermission: Afore The Fight (Edited...Again)

Awaken, O' Beast of Yore.

Awaken, and lay low the Halves.

Awaken, O' Embittered One.

Awaken, and spread thine Gospel.

Awaken, ye who slumber within the Power.

Awaken, and show Them thy Light.

"Remind me again why we're trusting this guy?" Bon Bon queried, rubbing her forehead with her hand as she sat at her chair in nothing but an old Caribou gambeson.

"Did you not see how well he fought? I'd shudder to be on the end of that wrath when wrought," Zecora said, followed by an actual shudder as she looked to Horus. She wore what looked like a set of dancer's attire, replete with gold filigree.

"That's exactly why I want to know why we're trusting this guy," Bon Bon shot back. She gesticulated to the beast. "I mean, look at him! He looks like he came straight from buckin' Tartarus! I should know! I've had to fight the monsters and demons that escape from there!"

Lyra, wearing a similar dancer's outfit, placed a hand on her marefriend's shoulder. "Easy, Bon Bon, we're all worried ourselves."

"I'm with Bon Bon on this," Redheart began, arms crossed over her bosom, which was only covered by a very tight-fitting nurse outfit which barely kept her mammaries from bursting out of their confines. "We barely know anything about him. Only that he hates Caribou, likely more than even us."

"Speaking of which," Starlight interjected, looking to the male in question. "You said you were in stone before, right? How did that happen? Petrification spells are pretty hard to use if you aren't experienced in the field."

Horus frowned, gaze locked on the hollow, circular table before him. "It was a combination of casters. Their High Priest, their Master of Bloodlines, and their Hero-King, Asger." Horus spat to the side after saying the last name, as if it was toxic to his tongue. "Regardless," he looked up to them. "If I hate the Caribou, and do not wish to harm any of you, would that not be enough proof that I am an ally?"

"Allies normally explain themselves to a better degree than you have," Bon Bon retorted with a frown, crossing her arms over her chest.

"My past is of no concern to any of you. You have your proof of my intentions already, do you not?" Horus replied, tail flicking to the side.

"Just because you spared us doesn't mean you don't have ulterior motives. So, spill," Redheart shot back, eyes narrowing. "I've had my fair share of patients trying to lie about one thing or another, so don't think I won't notice any of your own lies."

Horus snorted. "I have nothing you need know. My intention is only the erasure of the Caribou and their regime from this planet."

Redheart frowned, narrowing her eyes at him. "You're not lying, but you're still leaving out something else."

"Something else being something you needn't know. Now kindly drop the subject," Horus hissed, tail slamming on the floor beneath them and easily cracking it, making Lyra and Zecora flinch.

"I believe for now we should work to win one another's trust, else we shall never stop the Caribou's lust," Zecora said hurriedly.

Horus rolled his eyes. "At least one of you understands that. Trust is earned, not given." He intoned as he stood up from his chair. "This conversation is pointless. If you'll excuse me, I have a a duty to fulfill." With that, he began walking out of the conference room.

"Hey! We're not finished yet, you-!" Bon Bon began, but the doors opened themselves, and out of them came a familiar, short, white and brown mottled young stallion carrying a roll of paper.

"N-News! Big news! The C-C-Caribou are-!" Pipsqueak stopped in his tracks before Horus, staring up at him in shock and surprise as well as horror. "-Uh, um, uh..."

Horus frowned. 'Even a child.' He shook his head, kneeling to the boy's height. "It is alright, young one. What news do you bring?"

Pipsqueak looked behind the canine to the current leaders of Ponyville. "U-Um, the uh..." He gulped, looking back to Horus. "Th-Th-Th-The Caribou are, um, sending someone from the Council here in t-t-t-two days..." He announced, ears drooping.

"What?!" Starlight and the others cried.

Horus' frown only deepened as the others panicked behind him. "Young one, would you mind giving me the letter? We need to see just what this is about." Pipsqueak gulped again, then slowly nodded and offered the scroll to Horus. Horus took it gently and smiled down at the young colt. "Good. You may leave us now. Go and find something to eat, as well, you look positively malnourished."

Pipsqueak blinked at this. "O-Oh, um, o-o-okay," he said, before scampering off, the doors closing behind him.

Horus unrolled the scroll, reading it over.

"...What does it say?" Starlight asked uneasily.

Horus lowered the scroll from his face. Then, he tossed it to the mare. "Apparently, Ingvar had a trade of some sort set up for two days from now." He walked back over to the table.

"What do we do?" Redheart asked uneasily, looking between the scroll in Starlight's hands and her fellow colleagues.

"We can't fight them conventionally, not in our state," Bon Bon noted, rubbing her forehead again.

"But you're a spy, aren't you, Bon Bon?" Lyra asked her marefriend, giving her pleading eyes.

Bon Bon sighed. "I was. It's been years since I held that distinction, and even with what I know, we wouldn't stand a chance against the Caribou in the numbers they'll send."

"We cannot just sit by idly, though, lest we fall again to our foe," Zecora urged.

Starlight's mane started to fray. "If I only had my magic, I could get us out of this no problem..." She ran her hands through said mane. "But with it gone, there's no way I can get rid of the platoon they'll be bringing in, much less the two in wait!"

"If more Caribou are coming here, then you must prepare," Horus told them, placing his hands on the table and leaning on it. He looked to Bon bon. "Bon Bon, correct? You must know how to make traps. Use that knowledge to turn the town into a weapon."

All of them looked to him in shock. "You're...going to help us?" Starlight asked, eyes wide.

"Why? Just why in the world do you care so much?" Bon Bon fervently questioned, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Because I am tired of seeing so many suffer at the hands of the Caribou. That is all," His gaze hardened. "Now, can you make these traps or not?"

All of them shared a look with Bon Bon. She looked to each of them in turn, before slumping and groaning. "Fine. Fine!" She shook her head, sending Horus a glare. "I know how to make the traps, and the materials needed we should have on hand, but after we get rid of these guys, I want some bucking answers."

Horus straightened up, removing his hands from the table. "Good. Now, let's discuss the specifics. Lady Zecora, correct?" At the Zebra mare's nod, he continued. "How many potions can you concoct in two days' time? Most of what we will need are poisons or adhesives."

Zecora blinked a few times. "I...do not know." She said, dropping her rhyming.

"What is your best estimate, then?" Horus pressed.

"A-About four or five cauldron's worth a day, perhaps?" she said, ears lowering.

Horus nodded. "That will work well enough." He looked towards Bon Bon. "How long will it take you to set up the traps and teach others to do the same?"

Bon Bon scowled, but responded nonetheless with, "With the force we're going up against, not enough. Most of the traps would have to be at key choke points. Even then, it'd take at least all of the time we have."

Horus only nodded, then looked at Redheart. "I'd suggest finding a way to hide those not prepared for battle." With that, he turned and began to walk out. "I also suggest you all prepare thoroughly and quickly. This is a war now, after all." With that, he left, the door closing behind him.