The Carnival of the Damned

Fayt wore a bemused smirk as his bandaged visage followed the sound of the departing horde through the pouring rain. It was only as the clatter of bones was near imperceptible that he straightened up and moved from his position, strings slackening only slightly as he crossed the area to stand beside Rose.

"Peculiar, is it not?" he mused. "Mortal beings, living or dead often keep only a single goal in mind. In some cases, the will of the individual is so strong as to manifest even long after death has laid it's claim." He gave a silent chuckle. "Ah, I remember a similar instance...but that is a story for a different time." The unseeing gaze fell on Ryn, and his grin widened.

"Hello, Kuromaru. It seems we meet once again. Have you recognized me at all?" No response as Ryn seethed with an all too evident fury. "...I guess so." Fayt made a small gesture as the strings vanished and the two prisoners dropped to the damp earth below.

Ryn was on his hooves in an instant, scrambling to charge in attack at the blind fortune teller who simply watched as a wall of red strings wove itself in a barrier between the two.

"Ah-ah...a little hasty, aren't we? You seem to be focusing on the wrong opponent." He nodded his head to Rose, trembling as she tried to hold the borrowed blade steady. Ancient Blood was at her side, cautious concern etched on his brow as he attempted to reason with her.

"Rose...Miss Rose, can you hear me?" Her dull eyes showed no sign of recognition as Fayt responded in her place.

"No, she cannot hear you. In fact, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if were were nothing but blurred shapes to her eyes."

Blood glared darkly at the speaker while Ryn gave an angry snarl. "What have you done?"

"Me?! You would attempt to pin this on me?" The tone was of mock hurt and indignation as the red wall dissipated to leave a few remaining threads strung in the air. The raindrops gathered upon these as though they were morning dew glistening on a spider's web. Fayt walked through this unhindered, pausing by the remaining shards of the empty potion vial. "I did nothing. If you wish to lay blame on anypony at all, blame the necromancer. The potion was his and none of mine. A fairly harmless one, actually."

"You call this harmless?!" The crimson unicorn hissed as he stood protectively over the mare.

Fayt moved in a blur of red to pass behind Blood. He sauntered over to where Rose stood, continuing his words as though uninterrupted.

"A simple elixir to clear the mind of all thought and leave the affected in a highly obedient state of mind. I've seen similar used before. She will listen only to the suggestions of the one who administered the draught. As for you, well you might as well attempt to talk to the tombstones nearby. It may do you more good." He waved a hoof before the mare's eyes to better demonstrate his point. She did not blink nor startle as the pale unicorn pushed a few loose strands of mane from her eyes. Ryn however, leaped between the two, glaring daggers at him.

"Don't you DARE touch her, Fayt." He bristled, snarling at the fortune teller as Blood took up a similar stance opposite to better block in Mortis' companion.

"I must agree with Kuromaru in this. You hindered our progress, and are clearly not an ally here." Ancient Blood lowered his horn blade-like toward Fayt, however the bandaged face showed no sign of remorse. Only the same bemused smirk of earlier as he regarded the two.

"Oh? You would waste time with me in this? The Kingdom Rosencroix is being brought under attack and yet here you both are, threatening a blind bystander. Why is this?" He gave a thoughtful glance between the two, a single raised eyebrow the only indication of such. Soon enough he let his line of sight fall to Rose and he grinned.

"Ah...that's right. Of course." His sarcasm grew with his words. "How silly of me to have forgotten so soon. The two of you; a solemn Lord who turned his back on his garden for a split second, only to find his most beloved blossom missing." He gave a mock bow before turning from Ancient Blood to Ryn. "...And you, a would-be protector whose countless failures haunt him even to this day. So very different you both are, yet the strings of your heart share a common passage." He motioned to the remaining strands hanging in the air, twisting and weaving about as they circled the scene. "You see them, do you not? The heartstrings. You would both wish to intertwine your string with hers. To share a fate, correct?" He scoffed. "Love. An emotion I never will understand. Such a horrid thing to watch as the heart is pulled to and fro. Why would anyone wish for such a ghastly feeling. You both love, and for what purpose? One heart and you both want it. Ah, but this will not be. I will not allow for it."

Ryn's front hoof stamped hard on the ground. "Enough of your talk, Fayt!"

"Oh, yes. I agree. The time for talk is at an end, and I must not keep Mortis waiting. However, there is one more thing that I must do..." Raising his hoof high, the blind stallion pointed to Rose. He made a few passes in the air, gesturing as a slight glow encompassed the area. The mare cringed, her eyes echoing the gleam as a bright red string emerged from the area of her heart. It twisted in accordance to Fayt's motions before knotting tightly and returning to it's proper place.

Satisfied with his work, Fayt turned to face the horrified expressions of Ryn and Blood with a smug grin.

"Fate cannot change from it's destined path. Especially when it is I who chooses it. For now, I leave you both with a choice. I know full well what is to happen yet the path is no fun without a few twists and turns. Kill or be killed. End the flower's life, or perish by her thorns."

He turned to Ryn, tossing a single card to land at the ground before him. A flicker of lightning illuminated the object, identifying it as the card 'The Tower', torn in the center. Ryn's eyes widened as he gazed upon it, instantly remembering the card and the dagger at the carnival.

"The Tower," Fayt intoned. "A card about war, a war between the structures of lies and the lightning flash of truth. All you believe is about to come tumbling down around you, Kuromaru, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.Ah, when the time comes, I shall truly enjoy cutting your string. "

A roaring thunder shook the earth as the storm above strengthened in it's intensity. Fayt gave a final bow, raising up his head once more to replace the hood of his faded cloak over his head as a bolt of lightning crashed down behind him. Ryn and Blood cringed at the harsh light, both shielding their eyes before charging forward in simultaneous attack.

The act was in vain. Fayt had vanished from the spot entirely, Rose standing in his place. Gone was the dazed expression from her eyes; hatred and blood lust left in it's wake.

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