The War of Ferus Island

Chapter 1

Premonition

"Spike, did you pack my copy of A Brief History of Illness? Twilight asked as she sorted through the tomes lying about her room in the Canterlot Palace. The Feast of Luna would be that night. Twilight had missed the Morning Ceremonies, since she had spent Nightmare Night in Ponyville and hadn't arrived in Canterlot until nearly midday.

"Yeah, it should be next to Deathly Diseases of Dire Dimensions." Spike was lounging on the large bed in the room, enjoying the luxurious pillows.

Twilight nodded as she found the book, opening it to the page she had left off at last night and resuming her study. Suddenly Spike yelled and there was a crash.

"Did I surprise you, Spike?" Pinkie's voice asked.

"Pinkie," Spike said, getting up and dusting himself off. "You're not even dressed like a cat this time! Why'd you pounce on me?"

She smiled. "It was just so much fun last time!"

Twilight smiled and closed the book. "Are you ready for the feast, Pinkie?"

"Duh! I'm always ready for a party!"

The door opened and a palace messenger pony handed a letter to Pinkie. "For you, miss." He closed the door and left as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Pinkie opened the letter and read it.

"Oh no!" she cried.

"What's wrong?"

"Blinkie is sick! It sounds like the plague you were talking about yesterday!"

"That's terrible!" Twilight said.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "Who's Blinkie?"

"My sister! Twilight, did you find anything out about the plague yet?"

Twilight shook her head. "There's nothing even remotely like it in the history books."

"I have to get home!" she started out the door.

"Pinkie, wait!” Twilight called after her. “Do you want me to go with you?"

"No no. You all enjoy the feast. I'll be back soon." She vanished out the doorway.

Twilight sighed and reopened the book.

Celestia walked toward her room. The Morning Ceremonies had gone well, and Luna indeed seemed to be feeling better. The plague was the only thing still pestering her mind. The symptoms were unlike anything she had seen in her thousand years of ruling Equestria. It didn't seem to be a magical disease, but it was nevertheless potentially devastating.

Entering her room, she closed the door and reached for a pen and ink with her horn to write to the local governments of the cities. Suddenly her horn backfired. That was the only way to describe it. The magic fluxed back into her, and her vision went white. Slowly, shapes took form. She saw armies marching on each other. She saw pony fighting pony in an endless war. She saw Luna leading an army clad in dark armor. She saw a massive battle raged on a small island, ending in a complete white-out of her sight. Everything went black, and she fell into a deep sleep.

* * * * * * *

The halls of the Canterlot Castle were confining. They penned one in. I should be out there in direct command, Shadow Light thought. Before long I shall be. Patience! The unicorn could feel the moment closing in on her. Somehow, they would prosper. Not yet...

Opening the door to Celestia's room, she saw the Princess lying on the floor. Her eyes were closed, and she was motionless. Shadow furrowed her brow. What could have caused this? Why now? Slowly, she approached the unconscious alicorn and decided to try to wake her.

"Princess Celestia!" she said loudly, shaking the princess and trying her best to sound alarmed. "Are you alright?"

The princess opened her eyes, shaking her head. "I... I am fine, Shadow Light. I thank you for your concern." Standing, Celestia was once again the picture of equine perfection.

Perfection is overrated. “What happened, Your Highness?”

“Nothing, Shadow Light. I was merely tired from the night’s festivities,” she said, her voice dripping with sickening regality. Shadow nodded in feigned belief. “Now, did you need something?”

“Yes, Your Highness. These letters have arrived.” The letters contained more information regarding the plague from places scattered across Equestria. There was also one from the Griffon King, which verified the plague had made the jump across the sea. The letters were all sealed, but it had been a simple task to open them unnoticed.

Taking the letters, Celestia said, “I’ll have some for you to send out in an hour or so. Meet me in the throne room then.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.” Shadow Light bowed out, trotting down the halls toward her personal quarters. Soon…

* * * * * * *

Luna walked up the steps toward her sister’s room. She had seemed very preoccupied by the plague. Luna herself was at a loss for how a crisis could be avoided. The plague was spreading fairly quickly. But illnesses often left as quickly as they came. Perhaps they would just have to wait it out.

Luna met Shadow Light in the hall. “Is my sister in?” Luna asked. She never quite trusted the unicorn, but she could never put her finger on why.

“Yes, Your Highness. She’s just awoken from… a nap.”

Frowning, Luna thanked her and continued toward Celestia’s room. Opening the door, she saw Celestia lying on the bed, going through a stack of letters. Celestia glanced at her before going back to the letters, not even bothering for a simple greeting.

“Any news on the plague, Sister?” Luna asked.

Celestia nodded. “Seems to be coming from all sides.” Looking up, she added, “Garran says it’s reached the griffons as well.”

Luna shook her head sadly.

“There must be a cure,” Celestia said.

“There isn’t always,” Luna told her. “We may just have to wait it out, Sister.” She was practiced at waiting.

“No. We can stop this, Sister, if we try. Waiting idly by while ponies are killed by this illness is not an option.”

“Then what do you suggest, Sister?” Luna questioned. “The plague seems to be very resilient against magical healing, from what our research has shown. It would take a unicorn stronger than you and I together to cure just one victim.” Celestia sighed and went back to the letters. Looking at the clock on the wall, Luna said, “I’ll see you at the feast this afternoon, Sister.” Turning, she left the room.

* * * * * * *

Pinkie had caught the first train to Ponyville, and was now trotting her way through Rambling Rock Ridge. It was fairly close to Ponyville, and Pinkie visited frequently. But with Blinkie sick, the journey wasn’t as filled with anticipation as it usually was.

Cresting a hill, the family rock farm came into view. It was large now, with a farm-hooves’ quarters, three large crystal storage sheds, and a barn full of work animals. The place had really boomed since Pinkie had started throwing parties for the workers all those years ago. Inkie and Blinkie had kept up the tradition since Pinkie had moved away.

Opening the front door, Pinkie called out, “I’m here!” No response came. “Hello?” Still nothing. “Where is everypony?” She walked through the house to Blinkie’s room. Blinkie was lying in her bed, her eyes closed. She looked thin, and was breathing weakly. Seeing her there like that brought tears to Pinkie’s eyes.

Blinkie’s eyes opened and she managed a weak smile. “How are you, Sis?” she asked.

“Never mind me,” Pinkie managed to get out. “How do you feel?”

“Not great.” She coughed.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You could bring me that glass of water,” Blinkie said, nodding toward a side table. Pinkie got it and handed it to her sister.

“Pinkamina, you’re here.” Her mother stood in the door of the room, with her father behind her, and a young farm-hoof behind him. “It’s good to see you.” Her voice was sober—more so than usual.

“Pinkamina, you look well,” her father said simply. “This is Stone Tumbler.”

The farm-hoof moved forward to shake Pinkies Hoof. “Call me stone. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pinkie. Blinkie has certainly told me a lot about you.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Stone.” Pinkie glanced at Blinkie for some direction.

“Stone is my very special somepony,” she explained. “We’re engaged.” She coughed.

“Oh wow!” Pinkie said. “Congratulations! Can I throw the reception?”

Blinkie and Stone laughed. “That’s what we’ve been hoping,” Stone said.

Pinkie looked back to Blinkie. She had gone into a slight fit of coughing. The smile vanished from Pinkies face, and she wondered about whether the reception would ever be thrown.