Verve

Stepping into the ring, Pumpkin floated steadily around her. The cheers and cries of the crowd loud enough to rouse even the darkest of spirits, energy thrumming under the tent. Her banners fell, showing off her in a mighty pose - kicking at the air in martial expertise.

“This is foolish…” Tempest said, looking towards the pillars that dotted around the arena. Her targets, perhaps? On them rested several orbs that gleamed and fluttered with a soft, golden light. No, those weren’t it… they seemed to be some form of magical foci, feeding off the crowd’s excitement. But for what reason?

“Into the ring marches the striking form of a Commander; the imposing might of a warrior refined by years of practice! Her strength shines brightly even in the dark, and her beauty leaves even a mare like I b-breath… breathless!”

Indeed, Pumpkin was breathless. Dripping with sweat, she didn’t look well at all. Her broom fluttered and hovered weakly, unable to sustain her coordination. Flying for so long like this, burning her Ember’s magic to stay afloat - it was taking its toll.

A clatter from a heavy cage rocked the southernmost flaps, thick iron bars with slats of heavy oaken wood to keep the beast within from stirring.

Pumpkin, unsure what the performance could be, called out to the crowd regardless. “But alas! Will our mighty mare challenge the beast lurking inside its prison! Whatever could it be?”

A clown, with a much too wide grin - tossed open the heavy iron gates of the cell with a click of the lock. A long, slender leg crashing into the bars. Not just one - two, then three. Thin and spindly, the teeth of a giant spider took in its prey with hundreds of eyes.

Tempest froze on the spot, absolute terror overwhelming her. Eyes like pinpricks, she stumbled backwards and tripped - making to run for the stands.

“Nuh uh uh, my little money maker! Let’s not forget the time, shall we?” The Ticketmaster reappeared from behind a pillar, thwacking the armored mare’s Winter Irons with his sturdy cane. Panting and whimpering, she was quickly forced back to the farthest ring from the beast. “Unless you want to stay here, performing forever to stave off the darkness of the lurking Entity?”

Reeling on her hooves and forced towards the slowly approaching arachnid, she was left with no other option but to face it.

“A-A riveting battle! The great Tempest Shadow, facing off w-with… With a giant spider, n-no less!” Pumpkin heaved, much to the delight of the ponies all around. A few foals hid close to their parent’s side, but watched on with a morbid curiosity.

Tempest bounced on her hooves in fright, eyes locked to the creepy crawly facing her. It was nearly the size of a large carriage, its long, thin legs propping its massive abdomen from the floor. Its two front appendages raised free from the sand, showing its gleaming, deadly fangs to the world. A vile green toxin drooled to the white dirt below, sizzling it with hungry drips of digestive juices.

“I-It looks like a jumping spider!” Pumpkin warned the horror-struck mare from above, as the massive, hairy, pistons of legs tensed and made to leap. Seeing this, her battle sense took over - and she roughly dived out of the way as the clattering of creepy legs landed where she just stood.

Galloping at full force around the Arena’s edge, the spider fell into hot pursuit of its prey. It’s eyes twitched and scanned its surroundings - noticing all too well that it was surrounded with equally applicable food for the feasting.

But before it could lunge into the stands, two shining beams of light crashed into its many eyes - blinding it. The light’s ponies warding off the attempt before things went south.

“T-Tempest, you can… do this!” Pumpkin breathed from her broom, struggling to keep up with the mare. “I-I faced… my fears… you can do it, too!”

Struggling to stay aloft, Pumpkin’s hooves pulled at the broom to lift up a dozen feet in the air. To give her space to fulfil her magic intensive show, and to breathe stifling air in deep drags.

In the center of the Arena now, the Unicorn was forced to turn. She had nowhere she could go; she was trapped. Running would solve nothing. She would have to fight.

But the terror coursing through her had other plans - and when her legs didn’t gallop at the floor, her body froze in place instead. The spider’s legs stomped with intense speed towards the horror-shocked Commander.

Tired of this game, the Spider hefted its thick abdomen from the floor, a flash of its spinneret shooting webbing towards its prey. In a last ditch effort to snap Tempest out of it, Pumpkin’s hoof darted forward - knocking the shocked mare to the floor with a snap of magic. The webbing crashed into the dirt in a blitz, wrapping across the far pole inches from the arena’s edge.

Panting, Pumpkin’s body sunk across the broom she rested on. Arin noticed this, and made to flap his wings to catch her - but that all too familiar cane thwacked his left wing roughly, with enough strength to nearly floor him. Vee was shaking in Celestia’s caring hooves, unable to act - and the Princess found the stick now pointed at her.

“Now now, our customers paid for drama! You’ll keep those wings pretty, right Princess?” He laughed, turning to watch the show.

Pumpkin, nearly immobile - began to sink between Tempest, and the spider. And seeing an easy meal just hanging in front of It’s mouth like a treat, the arachnid shot another blast of sticky silk.

Instantly, Pumpkin was knocked to the floor in a thick wad of webbing - the Spider charging to catch and cocoon its meal.

“N-NO!” Tempest galloped in, breaking free of her stupor. Her horn flared with mighty sparks, a blast of untempered howling power crashing into the charging beast. Bolts of electrifying might shuddered and exploded in a barrage of fireworks, shooting up to the ceiling. A light pony above - caught unaware - jumped for a nearby safety net as a loose crack of thunder shattered the flame lamp’s focusing lens.

The spider, chittering and screeching in pulsing agony, twitched and stampeded back for the safety of Its cage. The same clown pony, sipping at a flask on his side - hefted the massive cage doors up with a hoof. Cursing as he spilled booze across his much-too-large shoes.

Immediately, Tempest jumped to Pumpkin’s side, ripping at the mess clinging to her White Tail leather armor. Knocking her hat off, Tempest stroked through the little mare’s mane, ocean green eyes gazing worriedly into Pumpkin’s pastel irises.

“Are you alright?” she eventually asked, hefting the little mare’s sweat drenched head from the floor. Pumpkin didn’t say anything, instead - she darted her muzzle up to meet Tempest’s with a soft, sweet kiss.

Soft ‘d’awws’ and shouts roared from the stands, hooves aplenty clattering and banging in a standing ovation. The initial shock wearing off, Tempest slid her eyes shut - fully returning the kiss. Their muzzles meeting in delicate passion.

“They’re a beautiful couple.” Celestia giggled, cupping Arin in her wing. He couldn’t help but smile, resting his aching pinions over her back.

“Like us?”

The Princess’s warm smile met his, magenta eyes gleaming in the light of the tent. “Like us.”

Another kiss soon followed, as Vee rocked back and forth beneath them. Muttering about bad dreams and bad feathers. While it may seem cruel to leave her be - she simply didn’t want help. Not with this.

Tempest rested her new lover across her back, breathing confidently as she stepped out of the ring. The Ticketmaster, as crazed as ever - made his final statement.

“Ah, the end of the show. And with the tick of the clock, it’s not too late to set things right. Maybe it’s time I give a little truth.” His eyes wandered over the tent of roaring fans, slipping his top hat off with a flick.

“Princess Celestia. You probably don’t know me, but I used to be your first court jester, back when you were naught but a foal. You and your sister running amok in that castle, in what’s now called the Everfree. But I had bigger and better things in mind, back before you helped orchestrate the creation of Equestria. I wanted to be a Ringleader, a Ticketmaster to the circus - to bring joy and happiness across the land.”

He nodded his head to the Princess, “I left and made my mark in the world, hosting a wonderful Carnival across the divided lands. My last great act was here - in Copse Vale. It was during a thick rain that my show swung into capacity, the clouds breaking over the intensity of the acts. You see, a stage light caught ablaze, and without proper safety and cages stuffing the entrances - nearly everypony died that night. The few who survived ran for their homes, and were caught in a flood from the shattered dam - killing them all. Thus, the Corpse Vale was born. And the new lake that formed swiftly had hundreds of bodies wash to its shores, or float to the surface.”

“A mass death like this turned out to be bad news for us, as the decay and terror trapped our souls here - in what you call the Shadowfell. It attracted the ire of some great… evil. A darkness that stirs closer to the edge. And now, we’re here.”

The crowd continued to cheer and cry, as the very same stagelight above - now missing its protective glass - set a small flame to the tent. None of the carnies had noticed yet, as they worked to free the trapped stallion from the net he tumbled from in the last performance.

“I’ve been performing for far, far too long. I’d like to rest my hat on the hook and sleep now. All of us would; the ponies, the clowns, the show… it must truly end. And there’s only one way to do that, Princess.”

His once chaotic, mad grin slowly settled into a sincere smile. Eyes lighting up with the passion for his craft.

“We could use a little sunlight, to bring us out of the dark. A final farewell. A flash of golden light to break our curse. When you step into the ring, draw the cheery laughs and sunny smiles gathered here to your Ember, and cleanse us. Save us from our fate. If the Lunar Magic seeps into this section of the Shadowfell, it will feed the Entity - dream eater, soul claimer, and it will break the mirage. All of these lost souls, my former patrons and the little foals gathered - they’ll be taken to the void, to feed this… thing, for the rest of eternity.”

The story clicked, the final peace setting into place. Celestia’s magenta eyes fanned the crowd, and though her ember lay empty - the magic orbs around gleamed with power.

Emotion could stir even the most potent of magics free, and she could feel it. Solar energy, thrumming and humming beneath the jeweled glass.

“Alright. I’ll do it.” She bowed her head, giving a farewell squeeze to her Lover. The Seraph traced her cheek with his palm, sharing a good-luck kiss.

“I believe in you, Tia.” Arin smiled, and the Princess gave an airy laugh.

“Have you ever doubted me to begin with?”

“Never.”

Their foreheads bumped in one last sign of affection, before Celestia took to the ring. With all eyes on her, and the magic of the tent fading as fire began to soar - she spread her wings at the applause.

“Thank you, all of you, for coming today. To this magnificent show, a spectacle that brings our hearts together. Feel the light in your soul, and hold onto it - your friends, your lovers, and never let that fade. May the friendships you made here hold ever true in your hearts. And remember, my little ponies… that friendship is magic.”

Her wings spread wide, horn gleaming dimly in the air. Faint tendrils of white and gold energy seeped through the massive foci around to meet her, swirling into her being with a powerful hum. The dim light of the clouds shined through the flame ring above, her horn glowing and thrumming with Solar power once more.

With practiced ease, and a strong heart - her wings gave a mighty billow, raising her elegant form into the air. The happy cries of foals pointing to the miraculous sight - a pony with wings and magic!

A blinding flash of light followed, the clouds above breaking in its splendor. The sun crashed through the thick cover in a wave of powerful radiance. The fairgrounds, now overrun with vines and black tendrils - shuddered and screeched. The sounds of the Shadowfell receding as a massive flare of the sun’s energy encompassed the world in warming beauty.

The cheers, all at once, stopped. When the group blinked away the dazzling energy, the very fairgrounds they stood in… had cleared. In its place lay a single stone slab in the grassy field, a tribute to those who died all those years ago.

The clouds and muck was now gone. The stench of decay had whipped away in the winds. The free weather that haunted the planes had vanished - and to the east, the lake that housed the ruins ran clear and pristine. Save for the moonlight coursing overhead, which seemed to drizzle snow across its now clear surface.

Celestia, her mane glowing red - flapped her wings steadily to the floor. Her armor, no - all of their gear - was now clean of the filth and dirt they had wallowed in. A parting gift, perhaps, from the generosity of the Ticketmaster.

Arin felt a lump in his bag, and checked it - withdrawing a single, caramel coated apple, sprinkled in nuts and sweet sugar. In fact, all of them had an assortment of classic Carnival treats on their persons - and Vee, thank the feathers, had a giant thermos of coffee. A parting goodbye from a town that kept hope burning in the face of darkness.

The slightly recovered Purple held her thermos to her chest, breathing in deep and slow. Within seconds, she unscrewed the lip - and drank deep, nearly emptying the entire piping hot brew in one long gulp. Pumpkin, her energy seeping back into her form - stirred from Tempest’s back, yawning.

Celestia held aloft a giant stick of cotton candy from her bag, in a sweet pink flavor. Perhaps a jab at her once pink mane, regardless - she took a heavy bite. Simply happy for a treat. Pumpkin had a small pumpkin pie in her bag - much to her delight - and Tempest had… a soda?

“Hmf.” She laughed softly, reading the label. ‘Fizzlepop’s Berry Twist’. Maybe that undead wasn’t half bad.

“Almost like a bad dream.” Arin said dumbly, nibbling at his caramel apple. Indeed, it was delicious, and a well deserved reward for a job well done.

The party, now beyond exhausted - had to make a little space behind them. The night still nipped at their heels, after all, and though they made progress before the Carnival - more would have to be made before they camped. Their legs stepped to the faint trail, and a new, happy joy seeped into their step - Arin and company headed towards the looming mountains of the unexplored west.

“I’ll have to write all of this down, gosh! Where to begin…” Pumpkin thought aloud, walking alongside her new marefriend. “There’s so much to cover! The scary lake, the big top, I-”

“Pumpkin?” Tempest smiled, bumping her gently with her flank.

“Huh? Yeah?”

“You’re not stuttering anymore,” the Unicorn said, the little mare stopping in her tracks.

“I’m… I’m not? Oh Gosh! I’m not! I’m talking clearly! And… oh my Celestia, this is great!” She bounced about happily, much to the amusement of a certain red-maned Princess.

“Yes, oh me, it’s splendid, my loyal subject.” The Princess winked - forcing a happy giggle from Pumpkin.

“Sorry! It’s a habit.” The small mare’s grin held for many hours more, even as the trail - still rough, but free of mud - moved ever upwards and onwards.