The Carnival of the Damned

Spinning into a diving descent high above the Everfree Forest, Lazorus was quick to dodge the sun's rays as the first light of dawn broke out over the horizon. The small bat frantically beat it's wings, scurrying over the tree tops and using the shadows left to better make his way to the just visible town of Ponyville.

"Hurry! Got to hurry!" His small wings continued fluttering at a fever pitch as he dived low onto the empty main street through town. "Rose! Rose lady! Where are you?!" He looked left and right, continuing the dizzying flight as he spiraled to weave in and out of shops as sleepy ponies were just opening their doors. His cries were mere squeaks to them as they shooed him away, the latter finally seeking refuge under a shop overhanging as the sun became too bright to venture further into. "Squeak! What do I do? What do I so?" The creature panicked as he perched upside-down to watch the early morning customers pass by. "Blood will kill me if I don't find her. Or worse! He'll take away my sugar!" The small creature sobbed, not seeing a small glowing pony hovering just behind him.

"Meep?"

"EEP!" The sounds startled him and he panicked, letting go of the overhanging and spinning in a swirling descent to the ground below.

"Oh! Sorry about that! I didn't mean to scare you!" The ghostly filly caught the surprised bat, carrying him into the cafe and setting him down upon the counter top with a smile. "Aww, what a cute little friend. I really am sorry if I scared you. Here, I'll make it up!" The furry bat watched wide-eyed as the apparition floated away, returning with a muffin. "Here you go! Friends?"

Within an instant the whole of the muffin had been consumed, only a few lingering crumbs remaining at the bat's feet. "Wow! You were hungry! Oh, my name is Okiku, by the way. What's yours?" She smiled down at the bat, who responded with a loud burp.

"Hee hee! That's a funny name. Well, it's good to meet you, Mister fuzzy bat." She floated away to prepare a cup of coffee and set another few muffins in front of the bat. "Here, have as much as you want. It's been lonely here since Mister Ryn-Ryn left. He's my friend, you know, and a very good delivery pegasus." The ghost nodded twice, hopping up to join the bat on the counter as she sipped her coffee. "Ah! Much better! Where was I? Oh, yes! Mister Ryn-Ryn went to find Rose. He said something had happened and she disappeared." The bat looked up with widened eyes, swallowing the bit of muffin he had been eating with an audible gulp. Taking this as a response, Okiku continued with a nod of her head.

"Yep! I don't think there's much to worry about, really. I mean, a few years ago she disappeared but she came back with a pretty new necklace. It's very shiny. She could have done the same again, right? I mean, not exactly to buy a necklace, but she could have gone on a shopping trip. I wish she would take me with her one day, that would be fun! After all, Ryn said something about a pony and a caravan, so it must have been a shopping trip. I can't think of any other reason, can you?" She looked to the bat who nodded slowly, it's face seeming a bit paler than it had been previously. "The only thing that puzzles me is that he said the pony in the caravan took Rose with him. I wonder where they went?" She giggled, finishing the coffee in the cup and floating to refill it. "Well, whoever that pony was needs to be a complete gentleman or else Ryn is sure to..." The ghost paused as she turned around, a small look of confusion forming on her face.

"M-Mister fuzzy bat?" The shop was empty once again, only a small pile of crumbs near the place where the bat had been moments earlier.

...

The swift blow aimed at Ryn's stomach struck true and he gave a sharp cry, doubling over in his restraints from the pain. Luferius followed this strike with a kick to the chin, stepping back as Ancient Blood held up a hoof to pause the captain.

"I'll ask you again. What is your true purpose here? Why have you come to my home?"

The pegasus coughed, looking up with a glare. "Didn't you hear me? ...Teleportation...spell... went wrong...are you deaf?" Blood let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head at Ryn's stubbornness. He waved in ascent for Luferius to continue, the captain doing so with glee as the lord watched from the opposite wall.

"You do realize that you are only making things worse for yourself, do you not? This could all be resolved rather easily if you would only cooperate. After all, what have you to lose by telling the truth?"

"Wh-what's it to you?" Ryn managed to choke out between strikes. "I-I'm only trying to save a friend! How is that a crime?"

"A friend? Here? Who then? None come into my home without invitation, and I highly doubt those here would associate with one of your...commoner standing." He stepped forward once more, Luferius pausing as Lord Blood moved to stand in front of the prisoner. "Give me a name, and perhaps I shall see fit to let you go."

Ryn stared sullenly, a trickle of blood streaming from his lip and onto the floor as he gave a defiant sneer to his captors.

"Rose."

This word caused Ancient Blood's eyes to widen for a brief moment until a scathing glare took it's place. He leaned over Ryn, his tone low and threatening. "Where is she? Tell me or I shall kill you." The pegasus only returned the glare in response, both silently warring wills against the other before a shrill screech pierced the night.

Through one of the circular windows high above tumbled a small bat, hitting the rafters as it spiraled an uncontrolled descent to the stone floor below. Blood gave one more glare to Ryn before trotting over to it, the bat shifting it's form to become a grey pony.

"Lazorus, report."

The pegasus huffed, exhausted from his hurried flight. He slowly got to his hooves, trembling in the effort. "Rose...lady...gone..." He wheezed. "Pony...caravan..." This was enough to confirm Blood's fears, the lord paling as he gave a meaningful glance to Luferius. The captain nodded, swiftly following Ancient Blood as he started back up the dungeon's stairs. The bat-like Lazorus shakily trailing after them as Ryn watched.

"H-hey! What about me?! Take me too! I swore I would bring her home!" Ryn struggled with the chains, doing all he could to break free from their confinement as he called after the retreating ponies. None gave him a second glance, the heavy door slamming behind them to leave the pegasus in darkness.

...

"Good work, Lazorus. Your task is completed. We shall storm the carnival at once!" The captain's voice bellowed through the castle's halls, eager for bloodshed as they walked, Lazorus collapsing onto a nearby chair. The lord however, paused to face the captain of his guards.

"No, Luferius. We cannot risk it if Rose is among them. We shall go to the carnival and attempt reason."

The captain frowned in confusion, sighing with reluctance. "With all do respect, My Lord. Why all this to spare one mortal. I have heard the legends, yet if her work is done and the land is as it should be, her life would be meaningless, would it not?" Ancient Blood spun to face the captain, his voice a low venomous hiss. "Mortal or not, I want her alive. One such as you would not understand. Once she is safe, then and only then may you do as you wish." The crimson stallion continued on his path, leaving the puzzled captain in his wake.

Luferius grinned. "With pleasure, my Lord."