Chapters Prologue: Same Life, New Beginnings.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
-Psalms 27:4
Throughout all his years alive, if there was one thing that was a fact in Psalms life, undeniably, it was his rightful hatred for the month of December, ironic, considering it held the most sacred day. The freezing cold that threatened to bite you numb and snow that blanketed the land as far as the eye could see which, just like sand, was coarse and irritating and it just got everywhere! Add that on top of the fact that as far as the orphanage's records go, Psalms had been delivered as an infant by an anonymous couple in December, whose only recorded interaction with the orphanage keepers was a statement of absolute refusal to care for their child. That was all Psalms would come to know of his birth parents, that they had forsaken him so much to not even leave any papers of identification for the young soul. As far as anyone who cared about Psalms knew, December was his birth month.
As much as this was a rough start, things would only grow worse from here on out. Right away, the caretakers could tell that Psalms was a sickly young babe, barely ever fiddling around or crying not nearly enough for his age. He hardly ate if ever, and the times he did cry, well they just would never end. It was a miracle unto itself that Psalms managed to live beyond his infancy, considering he had the added misfortune of being placed within one of the poorest districts within New Mexico, Taos. Visits with the doctors were few and far between.
Psalms' adolescence years were no easier. His health had yet to improve one bit, leaving Psalms as a sickly, pale, haggard young lad. His appearance alone would make one think he had inherited brittle bone disease.
Psalms had no luck with making any friends during all his time in the orphanage, as all the children would avoid him like the plague, leading him to earn names such as 'Icky' or 'Boogers'. If he could not find friends, then it was all too easy for enemies to come to find him. Their bullying started with taunts but far too soon it escalated to physical attacks. Even then the beatings were only occasional, but as the years passed by, the frequency only ever increased. With so many children to take care of, the keepers could do little to assist Psalms and his bully troubles.
His sickly appearance along with the numerous bruises and scrapes that adorned his features did little to help paint a picture of an ideal child for any family to take in, which ultimately culminated with each family skipping out on the chance of adopting Psalms.
And so, days turned into weeks which grew into months that expanded beyond years. Potential adoptions numbered from one which soon turned into two and spiraled into six and Psalms stopped counting after the twentieth meeting. What a shock it was for Psalms when it was declared that he had reached his eighteenth birthday, but by then, he had all but given up hope for any family to adopt him, not that he needed one. No, by then he had long since met the only people he needed to begin a fulfilling life.
The only good thing that Psalms had to cherish in his life, was his meeting with Pastor Ian, and his loving wife, Macy. The only people to offer any care and love for Psalms, they took any chance they could to help Psalms grow and learn as education funds within the orphanage were lacking. They tutored and cared for Psalms within their local church and it was there that Psalms would be taught the word of God; his teachings, his lessons, his laws, everything, and anything that could help brighten and spiritually heal Psalm's troubled life. For the first time in his life, Psalms could say he was happy, and so when he was eventually baptized, he discarded his old names and was reborn anew as Psalms Gettenburg, which he officialized under a court of law once he had turned eighteen.
It was after he baptized that Pastor Ian would gift Psalms his one and only treasured item, a medallion of Mary cradling her infant son, Jesus. A symbol that meant far more than Psalms' faith in Christ, for it was also a promise from the pastor and his wife that Psalms would forever be welcomed into their lives, giving Psalms the one thing he had yearned for, a family.
Not too long after that, Psalms found employment as a caretaker within the very orphanage that had hosted him. Psalms knew of the pain these children would endure here, and so he pledged himself to the commitment of brightening their lives however he could, for only heaven knows these children desperately need it.
And so, for the first time in a while, Psalms had a bright outlook for the future. He finally had a loving family, a paying job that although very taxing, brought tremendous fulfillment, and all the time on Earth to make a difference not only for these poor children but perhaps even for unfortunate people across the whole world. An ambition Psalms was all too eager to see through... well, that is until life decided otherwise.
It had happened on a day no more unusual than the last. He had been sweeping the garden when it had hit him, a wave of fatigue, far stronger than anytime before. Psalms was used to such sensations before, no doubt a by-product of his sickly upbringing, and thought nothing more as he powered on through his work. Not long after, a creeping numbness afflicted his body and limbs which lead to him stumbling onto a bench nearby. Psalms tried calling out for help but only gibberish spewed from his lips like a drunken fool on a late night. Gibberish was equally heard coming from those who came to his aid, and before Psalms could comprehend anymore, his mind shut down and collapsed into what he now knew was a coma.
Three weeks later, he awoke to find himself under hospital care. As the doctors and nurses did their rounds and check-ups, they futilely probed Psalms for answers. Not even his family could bring the answers out of him, for his brain had yet to leave a mushy haze that clouded his mind, but one word, out of all the words uttered out of the doctor's mouths registered within Psalms' mind, the only word that mattered. Terminal. On the 14th of December, He had been diagnosed with a terminal case of Heart valve disease. It was caught far too late for any treatment to prevent the inevitable. Psalms was issued with only weeks left to live.
Out of all the times that a rare disease was going to come for anyone in the world right now, did it have to be him? I guess it just must be part of God's plan like the pastor always says, Psalms thought as he sighed away while laying in his hospital bed, looking out the window, watching the snowflakes trickle down from the sky.
December was without a doubt the worst month of the year in all his life, but... rather depressingly, he was thankful that this would be his last one to live through… he just wished it was under better circumstances. Just when he thought things were finally turning around, just when he was figuring his life out, a rare terminal disease had to rear its ugly head.
With another depressed sigh, he reached from under his shirt and pulled the brass medallion of Mother Mary holding her baby close, cooing it. He closed his hand around the medallion and nursed it to his chest.
Then there was a knock on the door. Must be Dr. Terrance, he thought to himself as he placed his medallion back under his shirt. "Come in." He calls from the other side of the room. When the door opened, in walked the aforementioned doctor along with Pastor Ian and Macy.
"Hey, Psalms," Ian greeted lightly, trying to sound positive. He and Macy maneuver themselves to be by Psalms' side. Ian takes a knee as he brings himself close to Psalms' face. "How are you feeling?"
The young man only sighs as his eyes linger on his new family. The news of his condition had taken a heavy toll on Ian and Macy as tear stains could be still seen on Macy's cheeks along with Ian's heavyset eyes. "I will not lie, Father... I feel terrible… knowing that you're going to die is even worse." Indeed, Psalms felt terrible for ever since the stroke, his condition had only gradually worsened. Paralysis has taken hold of his left arm and leg, multiple times already has he vomited to near unconsciousness, sleep continues to evade him, and severe chest pains continuously afflict him with ever-increasing waves and intensity leaving him a sobbing mess. No matter how many painkillers the hospital administers, the relief effects grew shorter and shorter. Psalms has reached the point that any further increases in medicine risk an overdose, and that was over three days ago.
Ian nods in agreement about the assessment with a frown. "I'm very sorry Psalms," he said, placing his hand on the boy's head, stroking it about. "Had I seen this coming earlier, we could've helped you get this treated. We could have prevented it. We could have done so much more." Remorse coated his every word as fresh tears dripped from Macy once more.
The boy just smiled in return, happy to have them present in his final hour. "It's okay. People would've just thought it was nothing anyway." He laid his head on the pillow and made himself comfortable for the coming moment. "I'm glad that God made me a part of your life and both of you for mine. But... I can't help but feel that I've been cheated, Father."
"I know, son. And I cannot help but hold the same sentiment within my heart as well. But, God does everything for a reason. Your time has come, you've done your part here on Earth. It may have been short, but it was no less impactful for all the young souls that you worked hard to bring any comfort and peace in that orphanage." Ian declares with a solid tone. Macy brings herself onto her knees as well, grasping her husband's hand as his eyes waver not from Psalms face for even a moment. "God calls for you now, the gates of Heaven await and its light beckons for you. When you see it, go forth not with fear, but with triumph and ease of mind and heart. Go forth, and take your rightful seat by his side." Pastor Ian finishes as his tears, too, flow down his cheeks, but an ever-widening smile graces his face, not faltering as the moment passes by.
Psalms can't help but hiccup a few times before sitting up from his bed and giving the both of them one last hug. No more words need to be said.
Dr. Terrance, who had settled himself to the side, carried the prepared barbiturate pill bottle in his hand. His mind was in turmoil as he continued to be present throughout all of their heartfelt interactions and could only sigh in resignation. The job of being a doctor never gets any easier… especially if it's dealing with someone so young as him. Walking to the hospital bed with a pained look on his face, Dr. Terrence forces himself to spit out his next words. "Alright, Father, it's time."
The trio holds their hug for a few moments longer before they force themselves to part, allowing Dr. Terrance to disconnect the IV drip. He looked at the young man, taking in his every feature before asking him the question no one is ever prepared for. "Are you ready?"
Psalms took a few moments of consideration but eventually held his hand out for the pill to which the doctor complied. Popping the cap off, Dr. Terrence poured the single white pill into the palm of Psalms' functional hand where the young man took several minutes to stare longingly at it. One tiny pill and it'd be all over. "So... how does this work again?"
"There won't be any pain if that is your concern. The effects usually take around fifteen to thirty minutes to fully kick in, but by then you would already be out. You'll first feel your eyes grow heavy, followed by shallow breaths and a dimming vision before finally succumbing to an unconscious state. Within the hour... you will have passed. No different than entering an anesthetic state or sleeping... are you ready?"
Nodding in confirmation, Psalms lingers back to the pill once more. The weight of his choice finally decides to bear down on him as his hand trembles terribly. It is soon stabilized by the added hands of Ian and Macy, both of which share tears and a crumbling positive facade, Macy more so than Ian. Their eyes burned with support and encouragement, whether it was for Psalms to rethink his decision or for him to go through with it, Psalms didn't know. Taking their much-needed strength, he resolves himself to his decision as he places the pill into his mouth, grabs the nearby water bottle, and downs it all in one gulp.
With the deed done, Psalms settles himself once more onto the bed, his hand still held by his family. For the next few minutes, only the occasional hiccups from Macy interrupted the silence that had settled.
Psalms could not help but reflect on the events that lead up to this moment and feel a strong sense of sadness. There was so much to do in the world, so much he could have done, so much good he could have accomplished. Not all of it was feasible but it was possible, and that alone was enough for him to have held hope for the future. A future that would not come now... but he'd be damned if he'd let the sadness linger within his final moments any longer.
Tightening his hand's grip on his family, resolute to bring peace to his soul, he settles himself to recite a prayer, one he deemed fitting for his final waking breaths.
"Now I lay me down to sleep.
Just as the Doctor depicted, Pslams eyes drooped low, but he fought to witness his family for as long as possible.
"If I should live for other days,
Psalms fought to recite the stanza without complication, but he could feel his tongue grow cold and his mouth falter. His next words would not be flawless, but he was confident in completing the verse.
"Bless my family, the whole world bless;
His vision shrunk, replaced by a growing darkness, but still, he continued.
"...Keep me forever... in...in thy sight;"
And then, it was there. He sees it. A growing light.
"So... to all ...I.... say..."
It beckons forth. He hears his ancient name. Any fear and doubt he held before vanishes. With one final breath, he finishes the prayer.
"...Good...night..."
The blinding light beckoned him forth. Its heavenly voice and visage were far too stunning for Psalms' mind to comprehend, but drawn to it, he was, like a moth to a flame, but there was no underlying danger to be wary of. In fact, Psalms could not feel anything other than peace and tranquility. No pain, no fear, no worry, and so he continued forth. He did not know where he was or how much time had passed as he pressed forward, for such concepts did not apply within this heavenly realm.
Soon enough, the radiance of light dimmed ever so slightly as Psalms drew closer to its origin. A moment later, the outline of an object... no, a person... a woman made itself ever clearer. "Be not afraid." A voice, unlike any Psalms had ever heard, reverberated across the white void. No words could describe its majesty accurately and nothing could possibly compare, for no human ever before in the living world could have been given the opportunity to record its grace and elegance. But, Psalms was blessed to experience this moment in person.
Eventually, her blinding radiance receded fully, and Psalms was left observing an angel amongst all of man, a beauty beyond words, an elegance of which was rivaled by none. With a long silk dress of ivory and platinum, fluorescent golden holy wings, and a light halo as bright as the sun, her very image radiated nothing but divine will and power. "Dismas. Old friend. It's good to see you again. It has been so long." She articulated to Psalms, her fine voice sleek like silk and soft as fuzz.
It took a few moments for her words to register within Psalms' mind before he could find his tongue. "I...uh... no, my name is... Psalms."
A light and brief tittering chuckle escaped from her before she reigned her eyes back on Psalms once more. "Of course, Little Light. I bid thee welcome."
Psalms struggled to find the words for his questions but settled on the one foremost in his mind. "...Are you an... Angel?"
"Very. An Angel among Angels, the holiest of servants for His will, messengers and warriors for His cause. I am Archangel Sophia, and I call upon you, Little Light, to join me." She declared with the softest of smiles.
Psalms was taken aback by her last statement as confusion flooded his mind. "...I... I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Wh-where am I? Is this Heaven?"
"Forgive me for my forwardness, Little Light, for the hour draws near. You stand in the fields that lie beyond the walls of Paradise." Sophia's radiant glow dims, ever so slightly as she relays her next statement. "Heaven's gates shall remain closed unto you, but fear not, for I bring remedy."
Psalms' mind could not help but tremble with dread upon hearing her statement. Barred. I've been barred from entry into Heaven. From God's graces. How? Why? ...My last sin... suicide. Oh, what a fool I am! "My hubris... within my final moments... it damned me so?"
A solemn nod was given by Sophia. "I'm sorry, Psalms, but it has been decreed. Linger not on your sin, Little Light, for the Lord is forgiving above all else. The Kingdom of Heaven is in dire need of services, and you have been chosen to heed its call."
"Its call? Call for what?"
Instead of answering right away, Sophia raises her arms towards the ethereal sky and calls upon her powers. Within a flash, the ground shakes and quakes into fractured cracks and divots as living shadows as dark as the pits of Hell rupture forth from below. Thunder and lightning cascade above as the sky runs watery with sickening shades of red. Quavering sirens ring out from everywhere and nowhere at once as Sophia sets her sights upon Psalms once more, her booming voice only adding to the chaos. "The trumpet's horns echo across all lands. Hell's armies amass together as one. The Second Coming draws near, Psalms, and our fallen brother is not content with taking the Earth alone. Worlds across all of God's Kingdom brace themselves for the coming battle, but Heaven's warriors are finite. "
Within a quick flash, the chaotic space resumes its tranquil state from before, leaving a frazzled Psalms to scurry in all directions, before looking upon Sophia once more as she ever so gently lands before him. "That is where you come in, Little Light. I have found an isolated world, deep within God's realm, that is well-tailored to your preference and knowledge, a world that shall be soon acquainted with one of Lucifer's demons. I wish to bestow upon you God's blessing of divine duty and justice to protect this land from this demon and whatever evil that threatens this world and all of its inhabitants. I offer you a second chance at life. A second chance for greater fulfillment than the last."
The young man looked back at the Angel in shock. A second chance ? Archangels can do that ? "I-I can have a second chance?" He asked her, to which she nods. "A-a second chance at life? But, why me? I'm no one special. I've been beaten and abused all of my life. I don't have some kind of magical powers or anything. I-I'm just… me."
Once again, a brief tittering escapes from her. "Indeed, you are you, Dismas, and it is more than I could ask for. As for why you? Well, as your fellow humans would have said, 'the Lord works in mysterious ways.' Suffice it to say that He had quite the hunch that you were perfect for this venture."
So many more questions burned within Psalms' mind. What of his family? What of Ian and Macy? Of course, it was then that he realized that all of God's children would ascend when the Rapture began. Further questions plagued him still, but as Sophia had stated earlier, time was of the essence. God himself was calling for Psalms’ service, and who was he to keep the Big Man waiting? "...Where am I going?"
With a wave of her hand, a shimmering mirror of gold morphed into existence. "A world you are well versed in. Fear not Psalms, it's virtues and people you know well. As a newly christened Crusader of Christ, go forth and maintain the peace, immerse yourself in its magic, ensure that Harmony reigns, and live the life that you dreamed of."
"...And you'll always be with me wherever I end up, right?" He asked the Archangel.
Sophia nods, "God shall never abandon his children. Wherever you go, I will always be near."
Psalms drew close to the portal but hesitated for only a brief moment. Surveyed his surroundings one final time, and plunged himself into the shimmering vortex, leaving the Archangel and the white void behind.
Sophia smiles as the portal collapses unto itself. Lowering her head in thought, she smiles once more. He has made a perfect choice. His will always be done.
"...So. My Little Light has finally returned to us, and you send him off before I could say hello or goodbye. Quite rude of you, Sophia." A male voice calls unto her in good jest.
Sophia continues to keep her eyes upon the spot where Psalms had exited from. "Worry not, old friend, you shall be acquainted again, in due time."
"...He has grown. Strong and well. In spirit and mind if not soma. It is far greater than in my time dwelling on Earth. I assume the Lord's blessing shall grant him a frame fit for his charge?"
"Spirit, mind, and body shall be made whole, in their image. It may take some time for him to properly adjust, but the blessed ones of his new home shall no doubt assist him in his endeavors." With that said, she turns to her friend and flashes him a warm smile.
"...You truly believe Psalms to be ready and worthy of this task?"
"I have faith that all shall go well. He may commit sins far greater than any during his time on Earth, but so long as he keeps the Lord in his heart, he hath nothing to fear." Sophia turns to leave as her friend calls out once more.
"And what of this demon?"
"Nothing more than his greatest trial. How Psalms will prevail, we shall see."
Pslams regretted jumping through the portal without a second thought as the moment he exited, he lost all sensations with himself and his surroundings. Stumbling and tumbling this way and that, Psalms soon enough found himself face-planting into the earth. He decided on laying in his spot for a minute or two as his head continued to spin uncontrollably, bringing him to nearly spew his guts on multiple occasions.
When his mind finally calmed from its insistent spinning, he sluggishly propped his face out of the dirt and grass and tried to focus his eyes and ears on his new environment. His vision was dark and swam wildly, leaving him to struggle to make out any nearby features. He had more luck with his ears, as the chirping of birds, running water, and the creaking sway of trees and leaves painted a picture of tranquility.
Any attempts to rub away at his eyes resulted only in pain as he could swear his hands had the texture of boney rocks, and that wasn't even mentioning how he had lost all feeling with his hands and feet. As Pslams manages to rub his eyes one last time, he is presented with an image of two, smokey black, horse hooves. Perplexing thoughts flooded through his mind as he exchanged glances from one hoof to the next, back and forth, multiple times, each time giving them an extensive examination. In the end, he eventually concluded that his mind was still foggy and his vision was, clearly, still faulty. Rubbing his eyes with his hooves once more, his vision finally cleared up, leaving him to sigh in victory.
...Wait… his hooves? He looked down at himself and once again, he couldn't believe what he sees. He was in pure shock as he looked upon his hooves once more; black hooves, connected to a black body and black legs. Several minutes afterward, Psalms' shock soon vanished, instead it was replaced by pure joy before that too was replaced with caution. No way, is all of this a dream?
Resolute on taking a more extensive look, Psalms decided on heading towards the clear pond adjacent to his position. This soon proves to be a challenge as all attempts to reach said pond left him flipping and flopping on and off the grass like a fish out of water. Once Psalms had exhaustedly reached the water's surface, the first detail he notices is his cloudy blue eyes reflecting back at him. Just above them, a mess of red and yellow curly hair lay fixated to his skull, its features bearing a resemblance to licking flames of fire. The final piece of the puzzle was next revealed as Pslams eyes adjusted to the long, spiraling horn that extended above everything else.
Casting his eyes back down, Psalms continued to examine the rest of his body. Flexing his torso from side to side, it wasn't long before he noticed something that left him startled, which in turn caused his discovery to involuntarily flare up. Bearing the colors of a rising phoenix, Pslams feathery wings flexed themselves toward the sky. They soon enough relaxed back to Psalms side, which said person slumped into a sitting position on his haunches as he processed everything.
He could feel it all, his elastic wings, his beefy legs, his rippling hide, the blood that flew through his veins, the magic that circulated within his horn, and the raw strength... he has never felt so powerful before! All his life, he was a crippled haggard sickly young man, but now? It was like night and day. And all of it was real. He couldn't believe it. He's alive again, and the best part is that he became an alicorn! This means... the very land I'm standing on, the world I've been charged to guard against all evil...I'm in Equestria... I'm in MLP!
The laughter of joy escapes from his mouth leaving him to flounder onto his back where he continued to lay, giggling hysterically and thanking God that this wasn't a dream after all! This is real!
As Psalms' antics came to a close, he found himself closing his eyes and taking a deep inhale of the forest's aromas, noting the variety of scents that smelled familiar, yet so new. He relished in Celestia's sunshine that bathed him in warmth and adored all the tranquil sounds of mother nature... until it was interrupted by echoing groans and moans which originated beyond one giant boulder that blocked the line of sight. These were not the instinctual calls and wails of sentient animals, but the whimpering tones of irritation from a sapient individual.
Psalms figured he would meet a native soul of Equestria soon enough on his own terms, but he concluded that now was a good enough time to confirm if he truly was in Equestria. His belief was fact-checked to be true as he rounded the boulder to find a dark crimson-coated, bat-pony pegasus hybrid lying on his back with his belly facing against Psalms within a smoking ditch, all four legs hitched into the air, twitching occasionally. By the looks of it, it would appear that this pony had fallen straight from the sky and only managed to slightly correct its angle, but was obviously too late to make a difference.
This must have happened just before I arrived because I didn't hear or feel the impact, granted all my senses were nulled so it also could have happened afterward and I just didn't notice, but still ... unless my arrival caused them to crash in the first place.
Whatever the case, Psalms ventured forth to prod the individual for answers. Tapping on the hind leg of the pony produced only more groans and moans. Pslams still had yet to identify whether they were male or female. "Uh... sir? Madam? ...I know this may be a stupid question... but are you alright?" The groans and moans were repeated with increased volume. Psalms *Tap-Tap-Tapped* the ponies leg again and repeated his inquiry. "Hey... you alr-"
Psalms was interrupted by the hysterical scream of the now-identified male pony as he lifted his head from off the ground, facing Psalms with delirious drooping eyes. "I ain't dead! I-I-I ain't dead you damned vultures! Stop pecking me with your spoooooonsssaaaa!" The pony scrambled off the ground and stood facing Psalms' direction, his body and legs struggled to keep him standing which resulted in him swaying uncontrollably from side to side, as if he was in the midst of an improv tap dance routine on ice. "You-you-you ain't scoo-oop-oop-ing me innards out so buzz on back to y-y-y-your beehive!"
The pony then staggard toward Pslams direction in which Psalms stood frozen in his spot, bewildered for more than one reason. The pony eventually bumped into Psalms whereupon he took great offense to his own action. "Heeeeeeeya! Back off bubba!" The pony exclaimed as he weakly slammed his side against Psalms, "I ain't got no change to my n-n-n-name! Damn Uncle Sam and his glowies took ev-ev-ev-... they took my things!"
He staggered off to the side, his legs bound to give out any moment. "Damn them...damn 'em all!" The mysterious pony's head lolls to the side before his whole body collapses back to the ground. The sound of snores soon fills the air.
Psalms continued to stare at the sleeping pony, having not moved an inch, until now. One more look, one more confirmation that what he saw was true and not a case of shared delirium with the loco in the coco pony. Rounding to the face of the pony, he saw it once more. Nestled within the black forward-facing spiked hair, A crimson horn protruded. Another Alicorn. A male Alicorn. Just like him. This pony was more than just a native equine. Uncle Sam. He said Uncle Sam. He's an American. He's human! Just like me. But, who is he? and why is he here? I thought I was guarding this world alone. Sophia did not mention another Crusader being here. Another lost soul sent by a different Angel, maybe? Back up just in case I needed it? Hitch-hiking spirit? ... Who is this stranger?
Chapter 1: Stranger Danger.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.
-Ecclesiastes 10:13
Jeez! How heavy can an alicorn get?! Psalms thought to himself as he pulled the still-snoozing crimson alicorn by the tail over to the nearby pond's edge. Without any hands to grab or lift with, Psalms was left with only his mouth to bite down on the poor alicorn's tail, leaving him to be dragged through the dirt and muck. If Rarity was here, boy, would she be having a field day.
He pulled on the tail with all of his might and continued to find himself surprised by the immense strength he has gained compared to when he was human. A stark difference he was all too eager to explore and capitalize on, and this wasn't even mentioning his untapped abilities of flight and magic. Overall, his new body was a huge change to process and get used to, especially with how he has to get reacquainted with sitting, laying, eating, sleeping, etc, as a pony now. At least he has his walking down.
With a couple of haggard steps and a few more wheezing breaths, Psalms finishes his arduous little task with a solid *Plop* of the crimson alicorn's tail and tush right on the edge of the pond and allows himself a small moment of respite to catch his breath and reflect upon his newfound acquaintance. Even though it had been roughly half an hour since initially meeting him, said acquaintance continued to remain an enigma for Psalms, despite all attempts to deduce his reason for being here. In all honesty, the crimson pony's presence could be for a variety of reasons, none of which could be confirmed so long as he remained within his obnoxious slumber.
"Now look here...uh... Crimson? Is it ok if I call you that? Anyway, I don't know if you can hear me or not, but nap time is officially over. Rise and shine," Psalms applied a few light kicks into the stranger's stomach, "Up and at 'em."
Newly dubbed 'Crimson' offered only a gargled irritated huff in response before shifting his body away from Psalms' direction.
"C'mon, Crimson," Psalms huffed back as he used his forehoof to peel 'Crimson's' barrel back to face him, "Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. Wake up now."
"Huuuughhmamamimmoouuuuuh..." 'Crimson' mindlessly filtered out, finishing with a loose tongue lolling out his maw. The following mighty bellow of snores escaping his lungs was more coherent than whatever his mind attempted to convey at that moment.
Psalms decided on a more direct approach as he kneeled beside 'Crimson's' head and peeled back the lids of his right eye. Said eye swooned in all directions without aim or focus, the tell-tale sign of deep sleep. "Nobody likes a cold shower in the morning, Crimson. If you don't look at me right now, or give a wink, or anything, you'll soon be awake and wet, but not because of any dream."
In response to the intrusion, Psalm's muzzle was roughly kissed by 'Crimson's' left hoof, flinging the black alicorn away. "I swear to God, Cain," 'Crimson' hoarsely mumbled out, not even bothering to register the world around him as he attempted to get comfortable once more. His threat was interrupted as his jaw stretched itself to its limits as the father of all yawns escapes the depths of his throat. He smacks his lips before settling himself comfortably, resuming his warning as though nothing had interjected. "Touch me again and I'll hike my boot so far up your ass you'll be tasting shit stained leather." Snoring filled the air once more.
Popping his jaw, Psalms settled himself back onto his hooves and shook his head in disappointment. Guess there's no helping it now, no more mister nice guy. Sorry, Crimson.
Closing in on the edge of the pond once more, Psalms couldn't help but take a moment to look upon his visage once more: Horn, wings, muzzle, floppy ears, fluffy chest, curly mane, his colors like a newborn phoenix covered in its own black soot; yep, it was all really real. He couldn't help but have his ears flickering and flopping to the sounds around him, feel the wind gently breezing through his black pelt, and caress the soft grass under his hooves. He just couldn't help but smile at it all. I wonder if this is what it's like to be Pinkie Pie, he contemplates to himself. Being so happy all the time, is that what it's like to be in her shoes?
Looking at his backside, he was surprised and quite perplexed that he had no cutie-mark, but he wasn't too disappointed for long. After all, he's gotten a second chance at life; he was positive that not many people could count themselves so lucky. The fact he was an Alicorn of all things was the icing on the cake.
Returning to the matter of waking up the bat-alicorn, Psalms wonders if he could conjure any magic to assist his task. Now is good enough of a time to give it a try. Closing his eyes and focusing on the water in the pond, he imagines an orb of water floating out of it.
Strange sensations flooded up his spine, past his skull, and settled within his horn which a moment later fizzled and sizzled slowly but surely into a golden glow. Magical sparks began to pop off his horn, something Psalms figured wasn't meant to happen, but summoned forth additional power regardless.
He couldn't tell what he was feeling, if anything at all, but he could tell that his horn was dispersing the magic outwards to the water, if the chaotic sounds of crashing waves and splashes were any indication. The popping sparks increased tenfold and a creeping burning sensation soon started to crawl throughout his mind as he poured more energy into the water, but like before, he still couldn't tell if anything was happening.
Eventually, fighting through the burning pain became too much and Psalms forced open his eyes, whereupon he was met with a clear view of the other side of the pond with nothing to show for his efforts.
His disappointment was soon dispersed as he realized that the entire pond which was full of water before, had turned into a large pit of mud and flopping fish. A second later, a single droplet landed on Psalms' muzzle, ceasing his investigation on the bare basin below and reflecting his eyes to the sky above. The entire bright sky, sun and clouds all, shimmered and wavered in rippling waves.
Psalms could only tremble down a gulp before shakingly turning his head back to the sleeping alicorn, rattling teeth and a nervous sweat working its way onto his face. "L-Last chance to look at me, Crimson." Psalms relayed with a wavering manic smile full of regret. Regardless of whether the bat-alicorn would follow through with his request or not, the events that had been set in motion would conclude decisively.
The burning within his mind reached a climax, followed by a sudden rush of magic that coursed through his body, catching Psalms by surprise which snapped his eyes shut with a gasp. All at once, his magic expelled out in great force and spectacle before finally simmering down, all magic ceased. Another water droplet landed on Psalms' muzzle causing him to turn his eyes upwards once more. He could only wince and flinch in fear at the plummeting torrent. A single thought crossed his mind as the flood crashed back to the earth. ...Oh poop.
The huge body of water impacted the ground with enough force to leave a sizable crater as mud and fish and rushing tides cascaded up and out of the basin. The towering waves tumbled through and tore apart the bushes and trees and drifted all the surrounding flora and fauna in every direction without struggle. Psalms was swept away like a leaf in the wind but was lucky enough to find purchase among the many sturdy trees. His lower body was left to fight against the writhing current, mercilessly flapping and flinging this way and that, like a flag in the wind. The number of creatures he saw being swept away within the current would make for a great children's story. Underwater counting with Doctor Seuss. Five rabbits, Four fish, Three turtles, Two little ducklings, and One angry momma.
As quickly as it occurred, the tide rapidly receded away down deeper into the forest or settled back to its original resting place. Hacking out what little water that invaded his trachea, Psalms was left a shivering muddy mess. ...Well... at least all is tranquil once more...
The tranquility would not last as a crescendoing scream reverberated from above with increasing volume. Psalms only caught a small glimpse of a crimson blob before it disappeared into the pond with a heavy splash of water, its size no doubt putting all cannonball records to shame. Silence settled for the nth time within the area.
Slackening his grip around his wooden savior, Psalms stumbled through the thick mud and displaced rocks until he stood upon the receded pond's edge. Fishing his eyes this and way and that, visual on 'Crimson' remained elusive, until said pony finally breached the water's surface in a spectacle of floundering hooves and panicked spluttering. Luckily he was right next to the pond's shore which he proceeded to pathetically doggy paddle on over to and promptly collapsed with racking coarse coughs clogging his airway.
"*COUGH!*, *COUGH!, *COUGH!*.... GUUUUAAAHHH! GAAAAH! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! WHAT THE HELL?!" The alicorn screamed out as his lungs gulped ferociously for more air. 'Crimson' continued to make more angry horse noises as he struggled to find purchase with his feet on the damp muddy ground only to slip and slide in all directions. The crimson stallion eventually stabilized his hooves and took frenzied surveys of his surroundings, his mind still muddy from the whole ordeal as he had yet to realize his new equine nature. It wasn't too long before he began to rage into the open air. "You're dead! You hear me!? Whoever you are, whoever did this to me, you're dead! You think you can fuck with a cornered animal and get away with it!? I'm already at rock bottom, pal! What's one more round in the clink, huh!?" It was when he heard Psalms' wet plops of footsteps that 'Crimson' finally turned his fierce scowl to face him, teeth and fangs bared from pure malice.
Whatever fiery rage that burned within him had cooled down into befuddled bewilderment as his gaze scrutinized every angle of Psalms' visage. "...What the... a... a unicorn?" His eyes reflected only further questions but his ever-slackening jaw refused to convey them. A very awkward silence filled the air as the both of them continued to stare at each other.
Psalms decided that greetings were in order. "U-um... hello there?" A sheepish smile followed.
With a flinch, 'Crimson's' eyes visibly widened to a comical degree and his breath hitched, but nothing further occurred for a solid minute. Eventually, he recovered from his stupor and rapidly shook his skull in an attempt to clear his mind. "Must be losing it. Talking unicorns... what did I do last night?" 'Crimson' brought his left hoof to his eye and began rubbing. "I keep telling them not to smoke that crap near me, but do they ever li-, OW! ...Damn, did I forget to cut my nai-..." His words ceased upon witnessing the hoof hanging in front of his face. 'Crimson' soon again wore a mask of puzzlement as he slowly came to the realization that the hoof before him was his very own. Piqued curiosity overcame all precautions as he flung his hoof up and slammed it back down before shaking it wildly all around. Once he had fiddled enough with his hoof, he would trace his eyes up along his arm to his chest, and before Psalms knew it, he was a flurry of motion, probing this and that, inadvertently mirroring Psalms from earlier. When he finished exploring his body, he reoriented himself back to Psalms, a hint of worry perched on the edge of his voice and creeping into his eyes.
"What kind of fury wet dream did I land in? Why am I a horse? Why am I even dreaming of this!? Why, just... why?" He asked no one, but Psalms opted to oblige his inquiry.
"Hey, um, I know this may be a bit of a shock, but I think I can provide some answers for you."
'Crimson' was quick to flash into a scowl as he laid his eyes on Psalms. "Of course, talking unicorn has all the magical answers, how cliché. Alright, magical flying horsey, lay it to me straight, who or what are you, and what the hell is the deal with this dream, huh?"
"Well, for starters, this is not a dream, first and foremost, and my name is Psalms. Psalms Gettenburg. And like you, I am... I'm sorry, I was human before, well, before I died. I was summoned by Archangel Sophia and was chosen to be the Guardian Crusader of this world. Thing is, she didn't mention another crusader joining me, so, I'm not exactly sure where you came from or why you're here." Psalms takes a moment to scratch the back of his head before proceeding on. "Did another angel send you here? Or did your soul, uh, hitch-hike along with mine?"
'Crimson's' face was the perfect picture of pure bafflement all throughout Psalms dialogue and continued to remain so well after. Neither dared to start up another conversation, so the two stood across each other in thick silence, awkwardly regarding each other. "...Yeah. Yeah, no. Nope. I'm done. I'm too tired to deal with... whatever the hell all of this is." The bat-alicorn then proceeded to startle Psalms by biting hard on his left forearm. Liquid crimson dribbled from the wound as the red alicorn released a bark of pain. The hoof was brought before his view, blood trickling to the muddy ground.
A few minutes of gazing later, 'Crimson's' eyes gained a whole new level of delirium as his breath began to frenzy out of control, followed by a cold chill that crawled down his back. "...That hurt... that really hurt...i-i-it's not supposed to hurt...w-why does it hurt? ...I'm not a horse, I'm not supposed to be a horse because I'm human, and humans don't turn into horses...and yet... that really fucking hurt..." 'Crimson's' wild eyes reflected on his self-inflicted wound once more before turning back onto his surroundings. The hair all across his new body stood on end as an all-new sense of dread pervaded his mind. "...W-w-what is happening... what is... who... w-where am I...h-how is this..." His words trailed off as his eyes met Psalms once more.
...Third time's the charm? "Hey, hey, hey, easy, Crimson." Psalms tried to coo to the visibly distressed pony, taking far too many steps that inched him close to 'Crimson'. "Clearly, you don't understand what you're caught up in, but that's ok. I'm here, I can help."
'Crimson's' eyes flickered from his wound, back to Psalms, before surveying the nature around him, head shaking all the while in absolute denial. "No. ...No, no, no. This... this doesn't make... no, horses don't talk, unicorns don't exist, I'm not a horse... I'm not a horse! B-Bad dream, just a bad-bad dream. Wake up, *Crack!*" 'Crimson' bashed his hoof against his forehead forcefully, eliciting another cry of shock as the pain registered, driving him to repeat the action over and over again. "*Crack-Crack-Crack!* Wake up, wake up, wake up!"
"Stop! Stop, Crimson, stop it! What are you doing!?" Psalms pleaded.
"Shut up." 'Crimson' seethed through clenched teeth as he nursed his forehead, "Shut up, shut up! You're not real! The pain is not real! It can't be! I'm no horse, I'm human!"
"Why are you saying that? Don't you understand what happened to you? Don't you know why you're here?"
"I don't know!" 'Crimson' yelled before his legs finally gave out, forcing him onto his haunches. "I don't... I don't know... I don't understand, none of this makes sense. How? How is this possible?" 'Crimson' turned his eyes to Psalms, a pleading glimmer shining within. "This... this is really real?"
Despite the current circumstances, Psalms couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing the statement, eliciting a frown from his acquaintance which he was quick to mend. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to offend. Trust me, Crimson, I was having the exact same thoughts when I first arrived here." A light breeze that blew through the meadow stung like a winter storm, as Psalms finally regarded his damp coat and muddy hooves. "Maybe we should dry ourselves off before talking more. The last thing we want is to catch the sniffles."
'Crimson' couldn't help but reflect on his and the strange talking horses' appearance before releasing a snarky huff. "What exactly do you suggest we do? In case you couldn't tell, we're horses; building shelter ain't exactly feasible with these hooves, and no way am I huddling with you."
A smirk made itself home on Psalms' face. "Don't worry, I know of a small little town that'll welcome us with open arms."
"I should have asked for the catch, because there's always a catch, and now I know that catch. You have no idea where this little town of yours is, do you?" 'Crimson' asked with a dead-pan look as he followed after Psalms.
A sheepish smile had replaced Psalms' earlier smirk as he answered back. "I ...will admit, I may have been a little too hasty to be on our way before I knew where we even were, but regardless, I doubt we would have made it there anytime today, especially with me having to teach you how to walk again."
'Crimson' could only scoff at his remark. "Well, excuse me, but it isn't every day that you find yourself a human one moment and a giant mutant magical horse the very next." A huff escaped from his lips as they pressed further through the wooded forest. "You still haven't explained to me how any of this is real or possible or why we're even here."
"I mean, I already kinda did back at the pond, but I understand if you don't remember. You weren't exactly in the best state of mind. What's the last thing you remember, back when you were human."
Psalms' companion would remain quiet for some time as he pondered on his previous life. "I can't seem to remember. Only bits and pieces are coming back, really. I was... I was walking. Walking home, I think. I was angry... sad... stressed. If you knew anything about my life then that wasn't exactly a surprise, but I was fuming from something that had recently happened, something to do with my job...and then... and then I..." Had Psalms turned at that moment, he would've seen 'Crimson's' hide visibly ripple across his whole frame as his eyes remained lost in his thoughts.
"...And then what?"
Psalms' question ripped 'Crimson' away from his stupor. "Huh? What? Oh! Uh, ...nothing. Nothing happened. I don't remember. I-I don't want to talk about it anymore. How about you start explaining some of this shit to me already."
"Right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... sorry." Psalms released a heavy sigh before continuing. "Well, as I said earlier, I was also human, like you. I... didn't have the best life, to say the least-"
"Welcome to the club, pal." Crimson interrupted.
"-... but I made the most of it. I just wish that I had more time. I was only nineteen when I died of a rare heart disease. In fact, I died only two, maybe three, hours ago by assisted suicide. My greatest mistake that followed me into the afterlife."
'Crimson' had to pause for a moment as he processed Psalms' statement. "The afterlife? Y-You mean... what you said before, about an angel, Sonya or something, you were telling the truth? And by angel, you mean like, an 'Angel' Angel? Like, biblical Angel?"
"Her name is Sophia, and yes, She is an Archangel. She was the one who called for me as I passed on from Earth. She is the reason I am here. She selected me."
Curiosity raged within Crimson's mind as Psalms relayed his tail. "Selected you for what?"
"...I'm not sure I can disclose that information to you, or at least not yet. I didn't exactly drop with a divine guidebook, ya know? Suffice it to say, that I am the Guardian of this world and all its inhabitants. A Crusader."
Silence settled once more as the pair traveled through the tall grass and brush. 'Crimson' could only mutter under his breath the words Psalms used to describe himself. "Guardian. Crusader. Chosen. What about me?"
"Hm? Didn't quite catch that." Psalms called back.
"What about me? Why am I here? You have a reason for being here, you're on a mission, from God himself. But, what about me?"
"That, is the million-bit question. Are you sure you don't remember meeting any Angels?"
"You think I wouldn't remember meeting divine beings!?" 'Crimson' snapped back. He took a few moments to recollect himself before talking once more. "...I'm sorry. I don't know why I snapped. This is all just too much. I-I need a break, please, my feet are killing me."
Psalms acquiesced as they both stopped by a large boulder. A running stream layed nearby, for which Psalms opted to quench his thirst while he could. A huff of amusement escaped from 'Crimson' when Psalms leaned his long neck down to gulp the cool water down. "Really playing into the whole horse thing, ain'tcha?"
Well, when in Rome. "Hey now, you gotta do what you gotta do, especially with what you have at hand, er, I mean hoof. And FYI, we're ponies, not horses. Alicorns to be specific."
"Pfft, ponies? You for real? Look, kid, it doesn't take a horse rancher to tell ya that our size isn't proportionate to any pony species that I know of. I mean look at us! We're huge! Huge winged unicorn horses."
"Again, we're called Alicorns. A rare breed of ponies that have all three qualities of the three pony tribes." Hmm, maybe he already knows this? let's test him out. "Answer me this, Crimson; does the name Ponyville ring a bell with you? Or Canterlot? Or the term, 'Mane Six'?"
'Crimson' cuffed a hoof to his chin in thought but came up only with a shrug after some time passed. "Nope. No bells rung. Got a feeling you'll tell me anyhow."
And tell him he would as they resumed their travel, of the many people and places and things that called this world home. Of the extravagant adventures a group of young mares would brave against time and again, of the wonderous magic and knowledge that held secrets to raw power, of the terrible dangers that wandered throughout the land, and the wonderous princesses which governed all the Kingdom of Equestria. Most of all, he gushed on and on about one lavender alicorn and all the amazing feats she had accomplished since fatefully entering that small little town they were now trying to make way to.
Psalms strung his passion with all the elegance and flair he could muster for his single audience member, but once he had finished, he was not met with any praise or applause, only the poorly concealed mirth of 'Crimson' that popped the metaphorical balloon not a second later. "Pfft-hahahahaha!" Uncontrollable laughter filtered out 'Crimson's' lungs as he crumpled into a pile of flailing hooves and whooping cackles. Psalms was forced to stop his trek as he turned back to see 'Crimson' flopping all over the muddy floor like a fresh fish from the sea.
"Oh-oh, God! Ow...ow my sides! Hahahaha, Jesus Christ, did you hear the fucking shit you've been saying!?" 'Crimson' struggled to regain his footing, but upon doing so, Psalms could swear twinkling stars shined within 'Crimson's' eyes and his eyelashes had seemingly gained a certain degree of feminine texture. When he next spoke, his sentences were a tone of voice that radiated exaggerated flamboyancy. "~Twilight Sparkle vanquished Rudolph the Red-nosed Centaur with the magic of pretty sparkles and fwenship!~. ~Twilight Sparkle solved the mystery of the missing strawberry short-cake with the power of forensic science, and fwenship!~. ~Twilight Sparkle altered the space-time continuum which resulted in several botched and doomed alternate timelines each with its own unique disastrous catastrophes, one of which included a post-apocalyptic event, that she was able to rectify in the end by consoling a psychotic communist dictator because she simply lost touch with her childhood friend, with the power of fwenship!~"
His faux feminine mask disappeared within a blink of an eye as he took a moment to catch his breath, hiking his hoof over his eyes as whooping laughter infected him once more. He crumpled back to the ground and pounded the muddy floor with swift strikes before seizing his breath and ridiculing further. "Fucking...hahaha... fucking A, man, if that isn't the most retarded gay shit I've ever heard in my life. I swear, I straight on bet, this shit sounds like it's from a kiddies cartoon, ahahaha!"
"...You'd win." Psalms simply replied, but those two words alone were enough to completely shut 'Crimson' up. Psalms took this as the cue to speak further. "I cannot lie, the way you describe it, it does sound ridiculous. But, My Little Pony isn't that bad of a show honestly. I didn't have many options for entertainment where I grew up, with MLP being the sole exception. I wouldn't have traded it for anything though, beggars can't be choosers, ya know?"
"...What? What are you...you're... you're serious? Hold on. Wait just a minute. You're telling me that right now, we are living in a literal cartoon world about ponies and magic and friendship and..." Crimson nursed a hoof to his head as he struggled to make sense of this new revelation. "...I'm too tired to keep track of all this shit. What the hell is going on, Psalms?"
"I don't understand. I've already told yo-"
"Again! ...tell it to me again...all of it this time. My brain is having a migraine trying to...to..." 'Crimson' interrupted himself as he applied a hoof to the base of his skull at the root of his flaring pain. He was startled to find his namesake staining his froggy base. "Uh-oh. This isn't good."
Coming up his side, Psalms was alarmed to see blood dripping from a large scratch at the base of Crimson's skull. Oh, crud. That must've been from earlier when he cratered the soil. I should have checked for any injuries. "Crap, I'm sorry, Crimson. This looks like a scratch you caught when you crashed into the dirt earlier."
"What?" 'Crimson' lethargically asked, "What dirt? I didn't hit anything solid in the water."
"No, not from that. I found you earlier in a crater, you had fallen from the sky when you first entered this world."
"The sky? What are you talking bout? I didn't fly fro-"
"Forget it," Psalms pleaded to 'Crimson' as he seized one of his forelegs, forcefully dragging him to a nearby inclined boulder, "You need to sit down. With your coat color, it's no wonder we didn't catch this sooner." 'Crimson' didn't object as he was settled down. "I'll see if I can find some clean leaves, just wait here, ok?" Psalms turned his back before 'Crimson' could physically nod in understanding, wandering over to a nearby group of shrubs.
"...So..." 'Crimson' called out, "...I've had this scratch for well over an hour, according to you...right?"
"I haven't really kept track of time since first entering this world, nor since I found you, so yeah, I guess that's correct."
"...And it was deep enough to have been bleeding the whole time from then till now?"
"Sure looks like it." Psalms replied as his little corner of brush failed to yield any finds.
"...And you said you found me in a ditch?"
Psalms being preoccupied with finding any clean leaves, he couldn't tell if he had moved further away or if 'Crimson' had started yelling, but he could almost swear that the bat-alicorn sounded much closer than before. "No. I said I found you in a crater...which is pretty much a circular ditch... so yes, I guess I did."
"...And... there's been nobody around... except you..." 'Crimson's' latest declaration sounded more like a statement of fact than a question.
Psalms couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Once again, you are correct. You have a point you're trying to make, asking all these questions?"
"...Remind me again..."
"...About?" Psalms questionably asked.
"...All of this...everything... tell it to me again."
This again? "Alright, let's take it from the top, one more time. I died about two hours ago. I was on my way to Heaven but was denied entry because I had killed myself just before dying an agonizing death. Kinda ridiculous in my opinion, but divine rules are divine rules."
Psalms continued to forage through the shrubs.
"There I met Archangel Sophia. She had summoned me to be the Guardian of this world, to protect it from all evil that threatened it. A world she specifically picked for me because I knew the ins and outs of it. The reason being that it is a literal cartoon I was...ok, am, obsessed with."
The ruckus Psalms made while foraging masked the muddy hoof steps that tip-toed ever closer.
"Sophia told me that Hell was preparing to unleash Armageddon not only on Earth, but across all the worlds that God's Light touched, this of course including Equestria. A demon is somewhere here in The Kingdom or elsewhere on the planet, and it's my duty to stop it. That is pretty much everything summed up."
The hoof steps clip-clopped their way closer to Psalms. Psalms remained oblivious, that is until he finally registered them directly behind him, but it was too late to act by then. Without any warning, he bore the brunt of a full-on body tackle by the only other sapient individual around, leading them both to crash into the shrubs. Said shrubs had been perfectly concealing the edge of a cliff, one that Psalms had failed to see before.
Both individuals were lucky that the drop was not too steep as both tumbled down the forest canopy, breaking through bushes and branches alike. The duo eventually came to a stop before a riverbank upon a grassy dirt patch, each groaning under their inflicted pain.
Psalms was surprised to find 'Crimson' in good enough condition to begin cackling hysterically, despite his blood loss and fall damage. "Are you...argh... are you insane!? Why did you do that!?" 'Crimson' didn't reply as he only continued to laugh.
Psalms fought through the pain as he rose from his position and limped over to 'Crimson's' prone form. "Ok...ok, you're clearly not thinking straight with all the blood loss, Crimson. Just stay here and I'll- arragh!" Just as Psalms was about to resume his search for more leaves, the red alicorn ceased his cackling and promptly latched his jaw around Psalms' foreleg, rupturing skin and spilling blood. Psalms had to forcefully tear 'Crimson' off his leg and punt him a few feet away before nursing his injured leg against his chest, a mixture of pain and shock plastered on his face.
'Crimson's' laughing resumed once more as he propped himself back onto his wobbly feat with his head held low: Pin-pricked eyes, a crazed smile, a drop of Psalms blood dripping down his lip, and the flip-flopping of his horsey ears adorned his facial features as he stalked close to Psalms who cowered back in response. "Hahahaha...Oh man, I can't believe you pulled a fast one on me. I cannot believe I almost actually fell for all of your bullshit! I mean, you were selling me cheap beach-side property, and I almost handed you the card! Hahahaha!"
Psalms continued to take more steps back as he struggled to make sense of Crimson's rambling. "H-Hey now, y-you've lost a lot of blood by now, y-you're not thinking straight. J-Just take it easy, Crimso-"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT! WHY DO YOU KEEP CALLING ME THAT!? THAT'S NOT MY NAME, IT WAS NEVER MY NAME!" The bat-alicorn raged to Psalm's cringing face.
"What has gotten into you!? Why are you doing this!?"
"Why? Because my eyes are finally open. I'm done drinking your kool-aid. I mean have you even heard a fraction of the shit spewing from your mouth?" The mad alicorn took creeping steps as he rambled off with each proceeding word. "God. Angels. Demons. Armageddon. Alternate worlds? Cartoons? Ponies!? Magic!? ...All of it, real? Hahaha, don't make me laugh. If God had truly existed, then where was he when I prayed for his help!? Where was he, when she stripped my life to nothing!? Where was he, when I needed him most!? ...Nowhere... because he like so many other things in the world.. isn't real."
The bat-alicorn took another couple of steps forward. "You want to know what is real? ME! I'm real, I'm human, not a magical flying pretty horsey." The mad alicorn hoists his hoof into the air, gesturing to his surroundings. "And all of this? A figment of my imagination, the hallucinations and delusions of a cracked and bleeding mind. I should have known the moment I regained consciousness that all of this was fake. Nowhere in Nebraska is as beautiful as it is here."
"And then there's you. Oh, you. Sure had me fooled for a minute. I didn't recognize you in your little animal get-up, but I know who you are now." The red alicorn huffed in suppressed pain before bellowing a fierce cry out. "When will you learn to get out of my head!? Time and again we've had our little battles and you've failed them all: you didn't get me on that bridge, you didn't get me on the rooftop, you didn't get me with the rope nor the gun or the knife, and you won't get me now!"
His declaration was followed with a quick charge into Psalms. Several hits were scored with the red alicorn's forearms as he carelessly flung his hooves into Psalms' side and face. Psalms' wasn't new to a beating, and had learned a simple trick to negate the brunt of the attacks. Stationing both forelegs to cover his face, Psalms weathered the storm.
"What was it this time?" The mad alicorn asked as he continued to lay a barrage of stomping hooves onto Psalms, "Did I go for a late night drive in the open countryside when you struck? Made me pedal the metal over a cliff's edge? Ramming speed into an enticing tree trunk, seatbelt be damned? Whatever the case, it seems you've gotten me good this time, huh?"
Psalms managed to hook both rear legs on the underside of his attacker's belly and heaved for all he was worth, flinging him off to allow some breathing room and space to make a getaway. Just before he could begin his dash, the manic alicorn once again chomped down onto one of Psalms' legs. The pain was excruciating and Psalms was forced to buck his attacker's face for all he was worth. His leg was eventually released, but before he even knew it, Psalms was pounced on once more, only this time, both of his forelimbs were restrained by the red alicorn's own.
"I can already piece it together." His attacker commented, with crazed eyes. Psalms figured by now that any sense of sanity or reasoning within the alicorn's mind was completely overridden by the hemorrhaging. "My body's lying in a ditch, deep ass cut bleeding me dry, and there's a couple of ranch horses just sniffing me right now, Right? Is that the reason you've gone with the horse gimmick this time?"
"I have no idea what the hell you've been talking about! Please, Stop!" Psalms pleaded, struggling to summon any magic or to free his pinned limbs, but both were to no avail.
"Sh-sh-sh, it's ok. I'll beat you just like always. I'll live to fight another day." The bat-alicorn lowered his head till the tip of his horn laid adjacent to Psalms' neck, its crimson ivory glistening in the afternoon sun, ready to run itself slick with its namesake. "And I'll make sure not to forget my meds ever again!"
"What's with all this here hootin 'n hollerin?" An aged but chiseled voice rang out from beyond a few bushes to their left, causing the both of them to swivel their heads toward its direction. Out from the brush came a hulking mountain of a pony, whose white chops covered the entirety of his beige sculpted face. A horn running from his forehead marked him as part of the unicorn tribe, quite a surprise to say the least.
The stallion only took a scant few looks at their dirty, bleeding, and bruised bodies along with their antagonizing posture before tsking away with a few shakes of his head in apt disappointment. With a flick of his horn, The bat-alicorn was seized in his magic and hauled before his face as he closed the distance to Psalms whereupon he flipped him onto his stomach and quite literally bit Psalms on the nape of his neck before trudging off back to where he had emerged from, carrying Psalms like a baby kitten. Apparently, the duo were too thoroughly stumped by the stallion's actions to express any reaction or objections.
Once breaching through the bush canopy, the duo was presented with a well-traveled dirt road with a family-sized wagon having been parked off to the side. Coincidently, a family of ponies was settled on the family-sized wagon, with each member giving off their own unique vibe. Seated up front was a slightly aged mare of green hue and sunny shades, her appearance bearing that of a well-worked and rewarded housewife. Off to her left was a young mare of age whose dark tones and dead eyes gave off a more gothic tone. Bouncing without restraint on a pile of wooden barrels in the exterior of the carriage was a thoroughly excited little sky-blue colt, whose mouth was stretched from cheek to cheek in a blindingly glaring smile with added twinkles in his eyes.
"Woo-hoo! What a catch dad, what a catch! Two for one! Done deal if I ever saw one! I call dibs on Red!" His little wings buzzed like a million agitated bees.
"Simmer on down, Rocket, lest you be blasting off to the moon before you know it." The Mare interjected before returning her sights to her hubby. "I can't help but agree with our little one though, What have you caught for us, Steely?"
The hulking pony ever so gently released Psalms out of his mouth and onto the dirt road upon reaching the head of the carriage. "Two young dirty fools who don't know when to call truce. A typical brotherly fight if I ever saw one. Just look at 'em, they be spillin' their life juice over what? Girls no doubt. Take this as a lesson, you two, ain't nothin' worth fighting over enough to spill ya kin's own blood, especially no girls."
"Ugh! For the last time, I don't swing that way, dad." The gothic mare responded.
"An it better stay that way." He was quick to add.
"Enough, both of you. Can't you see we have guests?" The mare chastized the two before fixing Psalms with a warm smile. "Now then, what's your name, young stallion?"
Psalms' mind had to reboot a few times to comprehend the moments that had transpired to respond. "...uh...I, uh... um..."
"Look mama, look! Cats got his tongue, cats got his tongue!" The little pegasus blasted off.
Peaking over her mother's shoulder, the young mare regarded the two humans with a raised brow before voicing her thoughts. "What's with the alicorn get-up? And seriously? Red and black? Ugh, that is so last decade's fad."
"Ink, Rocket, behave yourself, both of you, or else no pie tonight."
"But, mom!" Both replied.
"No buts." The mare turned back to Psalms. "So sorry about that. These two can be quite the hoofful. Oh! Where are my manners?" The mare proceeded to gesture at herself and her family as she named them off one by one. "I'm Honey Buns. That Hulking hunk over there is my sweet stallion, Steel Ingot. This young mare with her little black eyeliner phase is Ink Rose, and let me tell you, she is quite the prickly character, especially because we won't be at the festival till tomorrow. And that little blue bundle of energy is our Rocket Rush."
Said blue bundle zipped over to Psalms as soon as his mother finished. "Hello! Hi! How are you!? Wow, you have big-big-big wings! Oh, wow! You have a horn too! How come you have both? I want one too! Gimme! *Chomp*." Rocket gave no second thoughts to jumping up and taking a good chomp on Psalms horn. There he would hang like a living horn ornament as the black alicorn only continued to grow more perplexed by the second.
"Rocket, no. We don't bite other ponies' horns... well not till at least later... but that's something for you to know when you're older. Let go. I said let go."
Rocket gave a defeated huff as Honey Buns peeled him off the young alicorn's horn. Psalms couldn't help but chuckle at the family's antics. The chuckle then devolved into a full-blown gut-wrenching session of bellowing laughter as the son and mother soon join in. "I'm sorry, excuse me... It's just... one minute I was fighting for my... and the next I'm meeting a nice family. Whew, it is very nice to meet all of you. My name is Psalms, but you can call me... uh... never mind. ...And that red fellow over there is...is..." It was only now that Psalms realized that his crazed acquaintance had remained quiet ever since first being spotted by Ingot. Turning to look over at him, Psalms only sees the red alicorn hanging limply within Ingot's magic. Said stallion had apparently been oblivious until now.
The stallion's worried eyes examined the red alicorn top to bottom before gaining a new level of concern upon looking at the base of his skull. He applied a hoof at the base and was startled to find copious blood staining it. "Honey, get me my pack. Now. Ink, get back on the map. You-" He pointed to Psalms, "-clear space in the back. We have a long way before reaching home."
Chapter 2: Something Lost, Now Regained.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
-Romans 11:17
The rumbling and tumbling vibrations that rattled throughout the cart were the first sensations that registered within the dazed mind of 'Red'. His groggy eyes were crusted and his mouth was as dry as a desert as he continued to experience the notion of movement. A buzzing drone was all that registered within his ears and the glare of the sky along with the built-up gook in his eye prevented any attempts to visually ascertain his whereabouts. And so, he was left with no choice but to drift aimlessly within his foggy mind as his senses ever so slowly regained their normal functions.
...W-What happened... Ugh... my head... my back... w-where am I...there was...horse? "W-Wha?" 'Red' audibly voiced to himself as he felt his tongue lose its numb texture.
It would seem that his little croak was heard by someone as the rapid onset of footstep vibrations was felt to his left. Whoever it was next to him was seemingly ecstatic to hear his voice, if their palpable energy was anything to go by.
Soon enough, another set of footsteps soon vibrated to his right which was more heavyset than the last. It seems that the new person was trying to speak to him as his ears picked up sporadic lapses of verbal speech, but it wasn't enough to stitch together any coherent statements yet. 'Red' decided to remedy the issue by speaking himself, conveying the one thing he wanted at the moment. "...Water... w-water..."
His request would be answered as something hooked under his chin and brought his mouth upon a cold metallic texture. Tilted ever so slightly up, the cool quenching water was greedily gulped down by 'Red' who wouldn't relent until he was satisfied. He finished with haggard breaths as the last drops were administered.
"...There now. Feeling much better?" The voice of a woman was heard off to his right.
"...Very much so... thank you, ma'am." He earnestly replied back. The buzzing in his ears rapidly faded away as he finished quenching his thirst. 'Red' proceeded to try to clear the gook around his eyes to finally see the world around him, but upon doing so, was left only with a blurry image of varying colors and shapes.
Struggling to rise from his position, a pair of gentle but stony hands settled onto his back and ever so gently urged him back to his resting place. "Woah now, easy there young one. You suffered a mighty big scratch onto your lil' noggin there. Lost a quite bit of blood you did. I don't recommend you start going up an' at it all around now." The woman lifted 'Red's head up and placed quite the comfortable pillow for him as he was laid back down. "You and your brother were quite lucky we found ya when we did. You two were going at each other like cats an' dogs."
'Red' could only sputter a cough upon hearing the woman's words. "...*Cough* B-Brother? You say brother? I have no brothers."
"Really now?" The woman replied, a small tone of skepticism on the very tip of her tongue. "Well, could've fooled me. It's not every day a pony comes across a pair of alicorns unless you're in Canterlot. And even then, you would only meet the Royal Sisters. Never heard of no Royal Brothers though... so now that I think about it, I suppose you're right."
...What? Alicorn? Royalty? The hell she talking about? "Don't mean to be rude, but where am I? What happened?"
The splattering of freshly squeezed water sounded off as a cold and wet texture was gently dabbed to the base of his skull as the woman responded. "You're in the back of our family wagon, almost there to our farmstead. We had spent the past week vacationing with extended family in Rockville when we discovered you two duking it out on our way back." The woman encroached onto his wound a little too close as 'Red' flinched upon her next touch. "Oh! Sorry, dear, please try not to move too much. Darn hooves, some days I reckon being a unicorn is much better for certain tasks than being an earth pony. ...Your friend, Psalms, says you had a flying accident hence your nasty scratch. Was me and mostly my hubby who stitched you up all dandy-like, though I reckon your alicorny magic did most of the work."
...What? Magic? Unicorns? Ponies? Is she smoking dope or... and then it hits him; a recollection from before, brief flashes of horses and horns and wings sprung within his mind along with something about a cartoon ringing in his brain. A quick turn of his head and a clear image were all he needed to confirm his suspicions. "...I'm sorry, what did you say your name was, miss..."
Turning his head, his memories are confirmed as his vision finally clears and he's presented before a green middle-aged little horse, with a weathered smile and droopy tired eyes reflected unto him. "Mrs. Honey Buns." She simply replied before a frenzied blue face pops from above her head, a face-splitting smile adorning the little one. The lady horse snatches the blue kid horse into her arms, smothering him in snuggles. "And this one is Rocket Rush. Don't be rude, Rush, say hello."
"HI-HI-HI-HI!" Rush rocketed away with a bobbing of his head with every word muttered. "Mama and Papa saved you! Said you might've kicked the bucket weren't for them! But that's dumb because we don't have any buckets to kick. And kicking buckets isn't as fun as kicking a ball. You should kick balls instead! Momma, do we have a ball to kick?" The colt asked as he looked above to his mother.
"At home we do, but kicking a ball won't do him any good. He needs rest more than anything." The horse squeezed her blue bundle of fluff and wings and gave him a kiss on the cheek as she settled him to the floor. "Now go back to playing with your toys, enjoy your free time while you can, because you're going back to school this coming week young colt." The colt only provided a half-hearted groan before resuming his play session off to the side.
"Anywho, Steel Ingot, my hubby, is the one pulling the wagon, and your friend and my daughter, Ink Rose, are right there-" She proceeds to point with her hoof to the two figures at the top seats of the wagon, "-navigating the map. I say it has been about two hours since we found y'all, and we should be nearing home any moment now."
'Red' reflected on her words as he took a minute to look upon himself, scrutinizing his equine figure with growing contempt. ...Why? Why am I still in froopy-doopy land? Dammit, my brain is still fucking with me. How do I make this end?
'Red's thoughts are interrupted as Honey courteously coughs to regain his attention. "*Ahem*, If you don't mind me asking, what is your name? Psalms, strange a name as it is, claims he doesn't recall it either. The two of you leave all of us with many questions, but so far, Psalms has been the one asking them. So, what is your name again?"
'Red' quickly adorned a hard stony-faced mask as the seconds passed without any responses. He was quick to turn away from Honey as a scowl soon formed. ...What the fuck is the point of any of this? Why is this happening? ...Forget it. Forget the stupid horse, forget everything. Just focus on finding a way out. 'Red' chose to lay his head back down on the pillow and rest, ignoring Honey's inquiry.
'Red's' disregard was misinterpreted as reluctance by Honey due to his inflicted wounds. "Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so forward so soon after you've just recovered. Psalms did mention you were having memory troubles among other things. Just lay and rest. We're almost home." With it settled, Honey opted to return back to the front leaving Rush and 'Red' behind.
'Red' popped one eye open to observe Rush before closing it shut with a heavy snort.
"...-ust to clarify once again, you said the Crystal Empire reappeared in the world about four years ago, right? And what did you say about the Pony of Shadows again?" Psalms inquired to his two companions, wishing he had a notebook to record their answers the whole time.
"Uh, eh... Crystal Empire was like, two to four years ago, or something. We don't exactly get out very often, dude." Ink nonchalantly replied.
"Pony of Shadows is a tale about the castle nestled in the Everfree Forest, far as I can remember." Ingot answered as he trudged along the dirt road with nary a struggle. "May have read something about it recently in one of them newspapers, but it was a fleeting read. Can't say much else."
"Hmm, alright, but are you both sure that neither of you knows anything about a school of friendship in Ponyville? Or anything about a Storm King?" Psalms fished.
"School for unicorns in Canterlot. Only school I know. Heard of King Sombra, not the other guy." Ingot informed.
With everything settled, Psalms reflected on his current situation. Alright, so it's a no on friendship school, king, and maybe on the shadow pony. Yes applies to the Crystal Empire, Princess Twilight, and her castle. Flurry Heart exists, but I can't remember which season she's from so... either we are in between season five and season seven, or we're dealing with an alternate timeline situation. Hmm.
Psalms is brought out of his inner thinking as Ink pipes up. "Speaking of Canterlot, Dad, are we gonna make it tomorrow? You promised we'd be there yesterday."
"The journey can be fickle, Ink, and you never know what may hold you up. Take these two as examples. But, I did promise, and we will be there tomorrow."
"Hmm? What's happening in Canterlot?"
Ink was quick to reply, a shine within her eye and enthusiasm lacing her words. "Some stupid festival or whatever, but Songbird Serenade is gonna be there! Songbird feathering Serenade! I cannot afford to miss this!"
"Language." Ingot duly warned.
Ink opted to roll her eyes as she continued. "I missed her concerts in Las Pegasus, Fillydelphia, and Manehattan, but not this time! There are no tickets, no reservations, no lines, no fees, nothing! It's as good as it could ever get."
"We may be gone tomorrow, Ink, but that doesn't mean you get to slack off on your chores for today."
"Aw!" Ink groaned, "C'mon, Dad! We just got back from Rockville, the sun's almost set, and we'll be back on the road again tomorrow. Can't we relax for the rest of today as well?"
Ingot sent a soft glare back toward the two before refocusing on the road. "A whole week of vacation wasn't good enough for ya?"
"Pfft. Seriously, Dad? You're telling me that you managed to relax while gulping down rock soup, rock stew, rock casserole, and rocky road rock ice cream for a whole week straight?"
Ingot chose to remain silent. A moment later he snorted in resignation. "You have me there, Daughter. Very well, we shall take it easy today, but know this, you have reminded me of the terrible provisions our dear southern family provided, and my core rumbles for true sustenance. Ergo, you shall assist Mother with cooking."
Ink's face bore a sheepish smile as she turned to Psalms. "Right, n-no problems there. I-It's not like my cooking can be any worse than literal rocks."
"I still have not forgotten the burnt breakfast of '07, Ink. Charcoal hay bacon isn't very distinct from literal rocks in quality, taste, or texture. Mother will keep a wary eye out for you." Ingot's next words were barely heard filtering out from under his breath. "Celestia above, how does one burn freshly squeezed orange juice?"
"So," Psalms interjected, "are you sure it's ok that me and... uh, 'Red' stay the night with you, Mr. Ingot?"
"But of course. You and your friend will need to repay me only with a little manual labor. Nothing physical, your horns should be enough to get some lifting done."
"Oh," Psalms reluctantly responded, eyeing the visible black ivory above. "...Well, Mr. Ingot, I'm afraid that may be a tad difficult to undergo seeing as how both of us, uh, aren't exactly well versed in... well, the basics of magic."
Ingot couldn't help but physically pause for a brief moment in stunned silence. He turned to cast a hard scrutinizing glare back at Psalms before continuing his treading further. "...You're telling me you two, two young alicorns, from who knows where don't know a lick of magic? If I hadn't personally cleaned you up myself, I might've thought you two to be a couple of 'special' changeling spies. Keyword being special."
"Y-Yeah," Psalms nervously replied as he scratched the back of his head, "you could say we are very 'special' but for a far greater reason than that."
"Well, why is that, huh?" Ink inquisitively poked, a case of curiosity infecting her. "You're the one who's been asking all the questions; I figure it's time we ask some of our own. Just who exactly are you two? Seems like more alicorns are just popping up left and right in the past half-decade than in all of Equestria's history. Even then I don't think I've ever heard of male ones at that."
"Well, that's because as far as I can tell, there have never been male alicorns in Equestria's history before. You and your family seem to be taking this fact in stride though."
"Eh," Ink shrugged her shoulders, "All of us have pretty much met most of the Princesses in person or in a dream in Princess Luna's case. The novelty tends to wear off. Twilight was some shut-in librarian nerd before being magicked into a princess, so it isn't hard to think that a couple of nosy colts ended up the same. It is weird that there have never been male ones before, but with all the crazy stuff that has happened these recent years, you two are just a drop in the bucket in comparison."
A drop for now, but a flood may be on the horizon. Hopefully, we can make a difference here. Psalms looked over his shoulder at the other three members not present, particularly at one red individual. I don't know about him though, why he's here or who sent him in that condition. He lost a lot of blood, he was delirious, and he wasn't himself... Psalms applied a hoof to his throat as he contemplated further. ...But he almost killed me. If it wasn't for their timely intervention, I'd've been skewered. Thank you, Lord Almighty, for the save.
"Anyway," Ink interjected, having fished out a nail filer and going to work with it. "You still haven't answered our questions. Just who are you? What kind of name is Psalms, and what-" Ink points toward Psalms' medallion, "-is that?"
Psalms was left in shock upon finally noticing the medallion around his neck. He had been completely oblivious and negligent as to its whereabouts upon entering the world, having forgotten it completely. He was glad that it had remained upon his neck the whole time through. "Oh, this?" He cusped the pendant within his hoof, bringing the image of Mary and Jesus before him, "...it's a gift, a promise, and... a family memento."
Ink peered closer at the pendant, taking an interest in the characters portrayed. "What are they? Never seen the likes of them before."
"They're humans, like the ones who raised me, in a land far far away. Psalms is a human name, a name I chose, but I'll have an Equestrian name soon enough. The reason I'm here is that, well for a lack of better terms, I'm a Crusader."
Ink inclines her head toward Psalms posterior. "I would say you are a little too old to be a cutie-mark crusader, but at this point, I think you're gonna need all the help you can get."
"Ha! No, no, no, not that crusader; I'm a Crusader of Christ. I was sent here to protect this land from an ancient evil."
"Ancient evil, huh?" Ingot inquires after remaining quiet for some time. "A little late to be dealing with Nightmare Moon, that raging centaur, and the Spirit of Chaos you are."
"That I am, but evil is always around the corner, and I am here to lend a helping ha- er, I mean helping hoof when the time calls for it."
"And him?" Ingot inclined his head towards the rear of the wagon.
Psalms could only shake his head in return. "I'm in the same boat as you in regards to him. I don't know his name, or why he's here. All I know is he's from the same land that I came from. It is not a coincidence, trust me. We only just met an hour or so prior to you guys."
"Hmm... then what had you two so riled up to draw blood?"
"...He was scared. We both were, I guess. I was teleported here to help, but I didn't know exactly where I was initially. He, on the other hand, may have been sent here by force. The scratch messed with his head and he wasn't thinking straight. His instincts got the better of him and that's how you found us."
A heavy snort escaped from Ingot. "Violence ain't exactly in our nature, young one. If that is his base instincts, then it doesn't bode well with me."
...Yeah, me neither old-timer. Psalms opted to remain silent following Ingot's comment.
"Well, we have good news and maybe bad news." Honey Buns declared as she reach the top of the wagon's seats, opting to settle herself onto a wooden crate behind Psalms and Ink. "Your friend is up and appears to be well, if not a little dehydrated, but I don't think he'll be croaking on us any time soon. His scratch looks like it's healing well, no infections far as I can tell. Looks like all he needed was some stitches."
Ingot released a relieved sigh upon hearing his wife's words. "Thank Celestia. I feared my late initiative had only prolonged the inevitable. These aging hooves ain't what they used to be."
"I never doubted your skills for a moment, Steely. You're no degree-wielding surgeon, but experience trumps anything a flimsy paper or lecture can teach." The inquisitive mask pasted on Psalms' face urged Honey to elaborate. "Steely here was a farm labor contractor, strange occupation for a unicorn, I know. Was in charge of all sorts of ponies and places and doohickeys. Machinery accidents were a blue-moon occurrence, but he figured learning a thing or two about trauma treatment wouldn't hurt in the long run."
"And it paid off ten-fold." Ink chimed in. "Dad was contracted by Grandpa to help out on the family orchard when they first met. He could not stop glancing at mom like a flustered school filly, sweating bullets and wimping out at any chance to break the ice with her. Fate itself eventually had enough as Mom managed to cut herself on a scythe and before even a drop of blood was spilled, Dad was careening straight on through to her. Next thing anypony knew, they saw a unicorn the size of a barn coddling and fussing over Mom in his arms like a little kitten." Ink finished with an impish chuckle at Ingot's expense.
"As much as I like to reminisce about that time, there is the issue of the bad news to discuss." Ingot redirected, quick to change subjects.
It took a few moments longer to get the ball rolling as Honey too was reliving the moment in her head when she was snapped back to reality. "Huh? Oh, right, the bad news. Well, 'Red' is awake and is cognitively sound for the most part, but I believe his blood loss is messing with his memories. I asked for his name and... either he struggled to remember, is hesitant to give it, or outright refused to tell me. Honestly, I think he's still tired from the whole ordeal so let's not pressure him about it."
"Well, he better un-tire right quick, 'cause we're home."
Cresting over a flowery hill, the site of a well-maintained farmstead is presented before Psalms. Picket fences align on either side of the dirt driveway as great scattered oak trees dot the adjacent fields. Straight ahead lies the main house of the family while off the left stood a typical red barn along with an easy-going windmill. To the right was a small creek that intertwined through a couple of animal pens, cows and pigs in particular.
A herd of cattle was grazing to Psalms' right which Honey called out to just as they cleared the front gate. "Hello, Mooella. We're finally back. How's the farm been without us?"
"Oh, just moooaaarrvellous, Honey sweetie. Plenty of space for the kids to frolic, freshly watered grass each morning courtesy of those weather lads 'n ladies, and Cindy even found a patch of honeydew the other day that has been just a delight."
"Glad to hear it. I know we've been on vacation for a whole week, but we'll also be gone tomorrow, there's a festival in Canterlot and Ink has been anxiously patient to attend it. You can go one more day without a fresh bale of hay, right?"
Moella furrowed her brows as she walked adjacent to the cart. "Don't think that's a good idea, Honey sweetie. Daisy's been raising a whole ruckus about some black shape in the sky spewing black smoke or some such earlier today. Claims she saw more than one, hidin' far up in the sky all sneaky-like. Us cows ain't the brightest in the shed but I think they went-" Moella extended her hoof towards the farmhouse, "Thataway, towards... whatcha call it? Cinderblock?"
"Canterlot?" Psalms corrected to which Moella nodded her head. Shifting his gaze in that direction, sure enough, Psalms could see the mountain along with the faint outline of the castle itself. Across the horizon laid not a single speck of cloud or smoke.
"Migrating adult dragons." Ingot asserted. "See 'em all the time. Travel in packs, spewing ash and smoke along the way. Ponyville had to deal with a hibernating one a few years back. Smoke blotted the sky for miles an' miles. They're long gone by now, nothing to worry about."
"If you say so." Moella relented before turning back to her herd.
A scampering of frantic energetic hooves announced Rush's oncoming approach as he unfurled his wings and buzzed onto Ingot's spine with said stallion not so much as even flinching from his little one's pounce. "Home-home-home! We're home! Yahoo! Can I go play Dad!? Can I-can I-can I!?"
"Of course, Rocket. Dinner will be served soon." Rocket didn't hesitate to rush down the dirt path before flinging himself past the barn and into the back of the farmhouse. Not a second later a loud crash resounded from where Rocket had last been spotted, eliciting a small chuckle from all the family members.
"I haven't spent much time with him yet, but it seems like he's never out of energy." Psalms commented.
"Liveliest little foal I've ever met. We adopted him nearly two years ago, and I have yet to see him stay still in one spot for longer than six seconds. He was never tested, but the orphanage he's from believes he may be on the spectrum."
"Ah. I understand. I was an orphan myself you know. Grew up helping around with pe-ponies on the spectrum. I understand to a degree."
Honey and Ink's faces were that of mild shock as Psalms informed them of his origin. "You...you were an orphan? Were you given away?" Psalms nodded his head, eliciting another round of shocked expressions from the duo. "But... but... but you're an alicorn! The rarest of rare, a one-of-a-kind, and a stallion to boot! What kind of pony gives away an alicorn!?"
Psalms offers only a shrug. "Guess nobo-nopony understood the significance of my race back where I'm from. I did find a family eventually, so it wasn't always doom and gloom." Psalms reflected back to the pedant as he cusped it within his hoof once more.
"...But now you've lost them?" Ink asked as she also eyed the medallion, a downcast tone lacing her question.
Psalms nodded as he wiped a single tear away. "...And they lost me. But, I know that wherever they are, they're in good hands."
Silence reigned over the wagon as it drew closer to the front of the farmhouse. It was finally broken when Honey spoke up. "Psalms? How old did you say you were?"
"I'm nineteen. My birthday was just a little over a week ago actually." Psalms answered as he turned his back to them to inspect the barn off his left. Honey and Ink traded silent glances and wordless exchanges with each other, before catching the eye of Ingot who looked back upon them, wordlessly entering himself into their affair while Psalms remained oblivious. All three nodded in resolution a moment later.
Eventually, the wagon crawled to a stop as they finally reach the front steps of the house. Honey and Ink were quick to disembark while Ingot used his magic to nudge Psalms back onto the cart before turning to his wife and magicked over a couple of wicker baskets onto her haunches. "I believe a feast may be in order upon today's conclusion, and Ink has graciously offered her services unto you. Please ensure she doesn't try to imitate our southern families' recipes this time around." Ingot closed his sentence with a tender kiss that Honey all too eagerly returned.
"Alright, you two. Time is short and so too will be our work for today. Up an at 'em 'Red'." Ingot ordered as the wagon was situated within the barn. 'Red' was reluctant to interact with the magical talking horses, but soon enough obliged before he could earn a hard glare from Ingot. Before Ingot stood the two young alicorn stallions, who eyed each other with equal contempt and caution. The glare 'Red' gave to Psalms gave hint to the bubbling turmoil that brewed within him, but luckily for Psalms, he chose to remain passive.
"I'm glad to see that my hoofwork prevailed once more. How do you feel, young one?" Ingot addressed to 'Red'.
'Red' had enough sense to lose the scowl as he turned to face the burly stallion, yet remained reluctant to speak out. "...I'm... fine. Thank you, for stitching me up. Not sure I would've made it if it weren't for you." Just what is he supposed to be? A paramedic? Farmer Brown who found my body and is nursing me to health? Can't trust anything I see.
"Good. Very good. It appears you're in good enough health to do a bit of work, so we shall do just that. Nothing physical mind you, just some simple magical manipulation and tidying up. Now, Psalms told me some alarming news, and I need to verify if it's true with you as well. Do you know how to manipulate your mana?"
'Red' reflected his gaze between Psalms and Ingot before looking upon his own horn. "...No. No, can't say that I do."
Ingot nodded his head as he rubbed away at his eyes. "As I feared. Very well, we shall do some chores and I will teach you the very basics of magic manipulation. Mind you, I am no teacher whatsoever so I will keep this very simple which in itself is a good thing as this should be quick for you to learn and do. Now, follow my stance." Ingot finished as he adjusted his posture to a more upright posture. Chest heaved out, legs locked and together, and head held high.
Psalms and 'Red' followed in step, mimicking Ingot's every move. "Good. Now, breathe in...and out... breathe in... and out. Feel the air as it fills your lungs. Feel the blood within your veins. Feel the heart pumping in your chest. Feel the wind against your hide. Feel it all, inside and out and all around. Magic is everywhere, in us, and everything. In our hearts. In our minds. In our words. In our core. Feel your core, feel the magic all around. Like electricity, feel its charge, and follow it."
Psalms wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel at first, but it wasn't long before he felt a tingling ripple that pervaded all around, barely noticeable unless one harnessed their senses to it. As he breathed, he felt the energy invade his lungs and flow throughout his body, spreading to all corners of his being. A small gasp escaped from 'Red', all but confirming that he felt it too.
"Good. You have harvested the natural ambient magic into your core. Now, to properly utilize it, you must guide it to your magical projector, your horns. Young foals need only to do this once or twice before the need to summon magic becomes involuntary. You must guide the magic to your horn. Slow and steady. Too fast or too much and you risk blowing your mana fuse. Breathe in... and out. In... and out. Now, summon it forth."
"How do we know if we're blowing our fuse?" 'Red' asked to Psalms' surprise as well as his own.
"It varies from pony to pony, and I cannot begin to imagine how it works with an alicorn, but usually you will feel a burning sensation followed by ever-increasing pain. Magic will begin to pop and spark off your horn regardless of whether you summoned it forth or not and you will eventually expel your mana until you are at low levels."
Not too keen to turn into a magic bomb, both alicorns continued to guide their magic with an increased level of caution, with Psalms heading the warning more so than 'Red' seeing as how he didn't want to go through it a second time. Psalms could feel the mana flowing through his body consolidate slowly into his horn as he urged the magic forth. Like before, his horn began to glow with a golden hue, except this time it held a more refined and brighter shine. 'Red' wasn't far behind as his horn too began to glow; unsurprisingly taking a dark shade of red, like crimson.
Ingot looked upon both stallions as they followed his steps to the letter; a small proud smile adorning his face. "Good. Very good, you have successfully harnessed the surrounding ambient magic and have converted it into your own unique signature. That magical shine coating your horn is now an extension of your will and power." Ingot steps to the side, indicating his hoof to two wooden crates he had fished out of the wagon from earlier. "Command it to do your bidding. Seize these crates and store them in the rafters above. Feel yourself as you extend your magical reach and pace yourself. One must walk before they can run. Add too much force and you risk bashing the crate apart. Finesse is key. Slow and steady now."
Breathing in and out, Psalms was careful to tread lightly as he envisioned his magic extending forward slowly like a slithering snake. His magic did just so, taking the shape of a golden serpent that slithered forth to engulf the wooden crate. 'Red' went with the more logical choice of a rough image of a human hand that also successfully engulfed his own crate, but not before inputting a tad too much force into his magic, evoking a slight bang against the wood.
Focusing back on his own crate, Psalms could feel the texture of fine wood. He could sense the dimensions that made up the box as if he was personally measuring them himself, but most of all, he was physically and mentally bearing the brunt of the crate's weight.
"Now that you hold the objects in your magical grip, you can feel the weight as if you were physically hauling it yourself. It takes time and repetition to increase your mana's strength on physical items. Levitation is one of the most basic concepts foals are taught upon reaching age." Ingot glances around as he eyes the dirty and cluttered barn, a growing twinkle lighting up in his eyes. Psalms and 'Red' could only share a nervous glance before focusing on Ingot again. "Luckily for you two, we will make up that time with our work for today. I've been meaning to clean this barn out for some time, but you boys wouldn't mind lending aid to an aging stallion, now would ya?"
The last rays of dusk disappear over the twilight horizon as Psalms and 'Red' haggardly finished the last of the barn refurbishing. Two hours had passed since their magic lesson and within that time, their levitation had strengthened nearly twice over. Still low for a unicorn their age, but progress takes time.
Honey and Ink had apparently made well with Ingot's request for a feast as the lavish scents that could be whiffed within the barn had sent all of the stallions into a slight frenzy in order to complete their job sooner, their empty stomachs rumbling their discontent the whole time through.
Ingot being the elder and owner of the ranch, excused himself to help set the final table preparations, trusting in Psalms and 'Red' to finish the barn on their own without supervision.
Psalms had mastered his magic control to a greater degree than 'Red' as he finished his side of the barn in a timely and more coordinated manner while 'Red' on the other ha-hoof, struggled to catch up. The whole time they spent cleaning the barn together, not a single word was muttered between the two.
"...Hey... 'Red'." Psalms called out, halting 'Red' in his tracks who opted to keep facing away from Psalms. "...What happened... back at the river... we haven't had the chance to talk about it yet."
"...There's nothing to talk about." 'Red' replied, resuming his heavy lifting with a puff of breath.
"...I just... I just wanted to say... that I forgi-" Psalms was cut off as 'Red's' burden slipped from his magical grip as sparks and pops crept up his crimson horn. In a flurry of panic, 'Red' hastily repeated the breathing steps, successfully draining his magic to a non-critical level.
"...Shut. Up. Just, shut up. ...You're not real... none of this is real... your words mean nothing."
"You've gone through an awful lot of trouble learning magic and cleaning this barn up for the past two hours even though it's not real, according to you." The sound of the dinner bell ringing could be heard emanating outside. "Look. I know that all of this being real is a lot for one to take in, and you'd be crazy not to go crazy to a degree after experiencing all of this, but like it or not, it is real. I'm real. That family is real. This world is real. When you're ready to face it head-on, you can count on me being there to help." Psalms turns to leave the barn, "If you're able, can you fetch Rush for dinner? Ingot says he likes to play in the quarry behind the house." With that said, Psalms takes his leave.
'Red' could only stand within the barn and fume at Psalms' words, anger and indignation boiling over. Just what the hell had he been doing for the past two hours? Cleaning a barn that wasn't real? Using magic that wasn't real? Because some old prune who wasn't real ordered him to do so? Why the fuck was any of this even happening!? His body is no doubt lying and dying in a ditch somewhere and here he was playing housemaid with a bunch of donkeys conceived from the inner machinations of his bleeding brain. If he didn't find a way to wake himself up at this very moment, his very next breath may be his last.
Foregoing his remaining chores, 'Red' stormed out of the barn, wandering around aimlessly as he wrapped his mind around possible solutions to render himself conscious: He already bit himself, and he already fainted which is the equivalent of sleep. He's experienced pain and has drawn blood and he did most of the chores in the damn barn in the vain attempt that would wake him up for whatever reason; and yet, all of it was a failure. There has to be something else...
It was only then that 'Red' realized that he had wandered behind the house, up to a cliff edge that overlooked a small quarry full of big rocks and jutting gemstones. Nestled right at the very center was little blue Rocket Rush, hopping and galloping and frolicking with a set of toy diamond dogs in a fierce battle against a turtle wizard.
'Red' was directly above Rush, not even fifteen feet away. How either one had remained oblivious to the other eluded 'Red's mind. What didn't elude him, however, was the chunky-looking boulder at least four times bigger than the crates he had been lifting earlier just off to his right. The boulder had been carved and excavated from the earth and was free of any anchors tethering it to the ground. With will and power, 'Red' was easily able to lift the boulder within his magical grip before setting his sights on the colt.
Inch by inch, the boulder levitated away from the cliff's edge, centering itself on the oblivious colt below. The boulder's immense size and crushing weight left little wonder as to how effective the results would be.
...He's right there... he's not real... he's right there... it'll be quick... painless... he's not real... there would be no pain at all.
The boulder hung in the air with a slight sway from the wind, as if tethered to the sky by a fine thin line of rope. One snip of that rope was all 'Red' wanted. All he needed.
...He's not real... none of this is real... this is my ticket out... I can feel it...freedom... it's...it's screaming at me...begging me... to drop it.
'Red's' magic began to falter, dimming and dulling with each passing second. The colt continued his fun with not a single other soul there to bear witness as to what came next.
...It wants freedom... it demands its virtues...liberation...from my flesh... from its meaty cage... I can help it...I can help the boy... I can set them both free... and what is death... but ultimate freedom...
The forewarned sense of creeping pain crawled up 'Red's' horn as he struggled to steel himself. The screeching voice not of his own reached its crescendo within his mind.Let go... just let go... he's not real... he's a trick... a lie... a facade... just like she was...take revenge..take action.. take freedom! Let go! Drop it! Release it! Sweat release! Death's embrace! Kill him! He's not real! Let go! DEATH! KILL! MURDER! KILL HIM! DROP IT! LET GO!!!!!!!!
"Carrot cauliflower casserole, sautéed spinach and eggplant with mashed potatoes, glazed onion rings, steamed broccoli dumplings, and a good ol' fashioned apple pie for dessert? Mm-mm-mmm, you truly know a way into a stallion's heart, Honey." Ingot drooled as he examined every dish with an ever-increasing desire to dig in right then and there. Psalms' stomach rumbled in agreement as he finished clearing away the dishes under Ink's supervision. Nothing beats home-cooked food from a loving family.
"Keep that drool to yourself, Mr. We did not prepare all this food just to have you slobber all over it before we even had a chance to sample some. I mean, I wouldn't mind it, but I can't say the same for the kids." Honey finished with a light chuckle as Ink emoted faux gagging.
"Ew! Yuck! Get a room you two."
"Oh please, as if you haven't been sucking face with that Copper colt these past few months." Honey retorted.
"That's what couples do, Mom. But you're my parents and it's icky when you two do it."
"Oh, hush. And I thought Rocket was the foal of this family." Contemplation etched its way onto Honey's features. "Speaking of Rush, where is the lad? He always comes crashing in when the bell is ru-" A resounding crash echoed from the quarry's direction, cutting Honey off. A slight tremor rocked the kitchen and its occupants for a second before peace resumed.
Not a moment later, 'Red' came bursting through the back door, wheezing out puffs of breath. His face was that of concealed dread as he gazed upon one member after the other. "... I uh... w-wheres your bathroom?"
'Red' was quick to scramble away as directions were relayed to him, leaving the rest of the kitchen in the dark. "...Must've been holding it in the whole time," Honey commented.
"What was that bang just now?" Psalms asked as worry flooded his veins upon seeing 'Red' so agitated. He was supposed to bring Rush inside...surely he wouldn't try to do something to him... Oh, fuck! What have I do-
"Mom...Dad... it happened again." The little colt's voice rang out as the back door opened and closed once more. Rush soon enough hopped into his seat, a forlorn look upon his face like that of a scolded puppy.
"Out playing in the quarry, right?" Ingot interrogated, earning a nod from Rush. "Were you messing with the stone pillars again?"
"... I don't know..."
A groan escaped from both parents. "This is the third time these past two months. That's it. You're grounded from playing in the quarry, young stallion."
"But, Mom! It's the perfect place for the final battle of my epic adventure saga to conclude!" Rush exclaimed, wings buzzing in irritation.
"You'll just have to find somewhere else to play in the meantime then. Now all of you settle down and let me fix you up some plates."
As everyone finished their tasks and settled down before the table, in walked back 'Red' having cleaned his face up as water still dripped from his face. His tired drained eyes reflected across the room. "Good to see you freshened yourself up, unlike a certain other two stallions. Grab yourself a seat and let me serve you," Honey instructed.
'Red' did just so, as he seated himself within the corner farthest from all the others. "...Thank you... Mrs. Bu-... Mrs. Honey... and thank you... Ms. Ink... for the food..." 'Red' finished, a thin layer of anxiety coating his comments and physical features.
"Ink is just fine... are you ok? I know we haven't really talked or been formally introduced to each other, but you seem to be on edge. Something happen in the barn?"
'Red' was slow to respond, hesitant more so than sluggish. "...No...I-I mean yes... I... uh... there was a...um... never mind, was just fine." 'Red' mumbled the last part.
Ingot was quick to be alarmed. "Fire? Did something combust in the barn?"
"Fire? Fire!? Where!?" 'Red' jumped within his seat, stark horror plastered on his face. Ingot's words finally registered within his brain and he was quick to shake his head clear to alleviate the mix-up. "No, no, no, sorry I didn't mean fire, I meant 'spider'. Yeah, I...uh saw a spider and it, uh... ya know..." 'Red' resumed his silence once more.
Ingot wasn't ready to let it go just yet, "So you're saying there's no f-"
"Nope-no-nothing... just a spider.... nothing to worry about...sorry for scaring you..."
Ingot reflected on 'Red's' words before finally relenting as he heaved a tired sigh. "I understand. Them creepy crawlies always manage to send shivers down my spine, despite being the big burly old stallion that I am."
With the tension bleeding away, the family and two alicorns had their plates fixed and began to dig in, some more so than others. Conversation, little jabs and jokes, and questions along with answers hung thick in the air as the hour passed. Even 'Red' participated to a degree as the dining drew to a close.
"So," Ingot inquired to his two guests. "What's the plan for tomorrow? I'm assuming you wish to meet with the princesses in Canterlot, what with your whole being here to fight evil and all that."
Psalms swallowed the last of his food before wiping himself and responding. "It's plan B. Our first step is to head on to Ponyville, and see if we can meet with Princess Twilight. She's the one who does all the fighting lately."
"Hmm, well, the railway to Canterlot does pass through Ponyville. I don't mind covering the cost of the train, so you two are more than welcome to tag along. But it does beg to question," Ingot turns his sights to 'Red', "What is it you want to do, hmm? Psalms tells me that he was sent here to fight the good fight, but what about you?"
"...I want to go home... I don't know why I'm here... I don't know why this happened to me... but this Twilight person or one of the princesses or the king or whoever runs this show may be the only ones who can help me. I guess I'm stuck with him... for now."
'Red's' confession surprised Psalms as he continued to speak. It almost sounds like he... actually believes he's in Equestria! That he has accepted the world around him to be true!
"So," Honey piped up, eyeing Ink and Ingot both in silent unity as they wordlessly reaffirmed what they had convened earlier at the wagon. "Sounds to me like the both of you are two young souls a long way from home with no family around. Does this sum things up?"
Psalms and 'Red' exchanged glances and shrugs between each other, before nodding in agreement. Honey along with Ink and Ingot seemingly brightened up at the duos' answer. With a light clap of her hooves, Ingot and Ink rose from their seats and joined Honey's side as they faced the two. Rush was quick to buzz himself onto Ingot's back, a confused but excited twinkle in his eye.
"Now, I know we only just met around five-ish hours ago, and first impressions may have been a bit...messy to say the least, but regardless, it has been a delight hosting you along our wagon and within our homestead." Honey began.
"Our family isn't a typical one. As you could see, our house is a little too big for a family of four. We used to host all sorts of extended family here, but things changed. They moved on, and we are all that is left." Ink added.
"The farm always needs tending no matter what time of year. I used to handle it perfectly fine on my own, but I ain't getting any younger, lads. My joints ache, my magic's getting more wonky, and there just isn't enough hooves around to get things done in a timely matter anymore. Ink ain't exactly keen on taking up the farming mantle, and Rush is a long way from pulling his own weight." Ingot continued.
"Why pull when I can fly!?" Rush chimed.
"What we're trying to tell you, is that if you want, we'd be happy to take you both in, seeing as how you've been left stranded here like lost babes in the woods. We have the space and enough bits to not worry about financial expenses. It's a bit upfront and a rush, I understand, but you two seem like good souls who need a helping hoof, and we'd be happy to extend ours," Honey did just so. She along with the others extended their hooves forward, inviting the two to join their communion.
Psalms' eyes bugged out of his skull while 'Red' reflected his eyes down to the floor, shame and guilt mistaken for apprehension.
"I... I'm touched by your offer... " Psalms began, "...But, are you sure this is something you want to invite us into? I... the last thing I want to be is a burden unto you."
Ink blew a raspberry in response to Psalms' comment. "Uh, duh? Of course we're sure. Otherwise, we wouldn't be offering to begin with." Ingot and Honey nodded in agreement, assuring Psalms of their action.
Psalms couldn't help but shed a tear as he witnessed this family open themselves to strangers. The magic of love and friendship was in overdrive at the moment. If Psalms had any doubts whatsoever that he wasn't in Equestria, they were obliterated once he touched his hoof to theirs. "Thank you. Thank you all. I accept." He finished to the combined cheers of his new household. He cupped the pendant into his hoof and reflected on his previous life. "I honestly can't believe I lost my family and gained a new one in the span of a single day." Thank you, Lord, above. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you, Sophia.
As the cheering settled, all eyes reflected on the bat-alicorn. 'Red' continued to keep his head down and away from prying eyes. "...I don't deserve it...you don't want me here..."
"Lad," Ingot began, "In my long life, there are, and there were, many things I needed and wanted, but they are not always the same things. Maybe you don't deserve it. Maybe you don't want it. Maybe you don't need it. Regardless, we see fit for our offer to continue to stand; no matter what."
"That's dad's way of saying we already consider you family, so put 'er there, 'brother'."
'Red' had not the energy to make any more objections or counterarguments. ...Stupid... this is stupid... what kind of naive family just opens their home to strangers? ...The magical pony kind I guess. What have I to lose? Either I go home at the end... or I'm stuck here...I'm a danger... a good thing we'll be gone by tomorrow then. With a sigh, 'Red' hefts his hoof into the bunch, eliciting yet another round of whooping cheers. Ingot closed the gap between each member by wrapping his arms and magic around all of them, bringing everypony into a crushing hug.
And there, nestled deep within one huge group hug, was Psalms, embracing his new family with ever-growing glee. Barely any time spent in this world and yet he already had so much to fight for, to protect, to guard, to shepherd. Deep in his core, he prayed to Sophia, to God, and to all the good people in the world, that he would never relent, never stop, and never rest in his Crusade against evil. A promise he would see through with all his might. His one true purpose within this new life.
A small round of gasps escaped from Honey and Ink as Psalms was released by his hug only to be blinded by a bright light shining around his tush. Joy cascaded throughout his being as a symbol of a grey shield wielding a red cross found itself onto either side of his rear end, cementing him among pony kind. Yet another round of cheers from all but one was exclaimed throughout the night.
Cheers that would drown out the distant thunder.
Interlude: Reconciliation
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
-Ephesians 4:31-32
The celebrations were short-lived. The time for bed had been surpassed by all members and though they wished to further enjoy their new family members' company, the call of sleep was too alluring. Psalms and 'Red' were shown to their shared dorm and a good night of sleep was wished upon all. That had been well over an hour ago, and sleep had proved to be elusive for 'Red'.
There was no tossing or turning or nightmares to come. In fact, 'Red' had dismissed sleep entirely. He chose to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, reminiscing on all the time he had so far spent within this equine world. In particular, his mind rarely strayed from his moment above the quarry, the moment a boulder was held directly above a blue little boy.
Next to that was the time he had pinned Psalms to the ground, his horn aimed straight for his jugular, ready to wet the ground with watery iron.
And finally, there was the disrespectful treatment he gave to Honey Buns on the wagon along with the dismissal of Ingot's magical lecture. Nearly the whole time he's been in ponyland, he's been nothing but one complete asshole. He nearly killed an innocent guy who's done nothing but try to help him, and he almost murdered a child. A fucking child. Real or not, he'd be damned to ever consider such a thing again. ...Things cannot continue like this...
Intent on remedying his nature, it was lucky for 'Red' that Psalms had yet to slumber away, opting instead to re-examine his medallion this way and that, a small smile ever present on his face. "...Psalms..." Psalms stopped in his track, giving 'Red' his undivided attention. "...I'm sorry. I'm s-so sorry... about earlier... back at the river...I... I would never want to hurt someone... but I couldn't stop...I couldn't control myself...I would've killed you if they hadn't intervened...I can't stay here... I'm a danger to everyone and everything... I need to go home, Psalms. I'm a crazy bloodthirsty lunatic, and I need to be put away before I truly do something to regret."
"Don't say that. You aren't a lunatic, you aren't crazy, and you deserve to be happy, not locked up."
'Red' shook his head fervently. "No, Psalms you're wrong. I'm a threat, a danger! I....I... I almost did something unforgivable. Unthinkable. Something beyond redemption. All for what? Just so I can convince myself that if do this horrible thing I won't need to slog through a pretty girly pony world just so I can be secure about my manhood? This whole thing is just fucked up!" Silence reigned as 'Red' regained his breath.
"...You finally believe that everything around you is real?"
"...I don't know man... I don't really know what to believe anymore...real or not, I won't do anything that I would forever regret. All of this could be some fucked up imaginary shit... or it could be real. I don't know about you, but I don't like fifty-fifty chances. Better safe than sorry... better safe than sorry."
"Red, look at me and listen. You understand what happened in the dining room, right? Do you know what their words meant and what my symbol means? Having joined hooves with them, we are now family. Brothers. I've never had a brother, and I lost my old family coming into this world, but now I have you and we have them. Short-lived as this has been, I am not ready to lose either. This symbol? My cutie-mark? Is a promise. A promise to you, them, and everyone. A promise that I will be there for you, that I'll look out for you, through thick and thin. Whatever demons you're facing, I want to help you defeat them. Being in magical ponyland, anything is possible."
"...Something is horribly wrong with me, Psalms. I've never been so violent before in life, not even when someone rightfully deserved it. It's like I'm not even me anymore..."
"There's a princess in Canterlot, Princess Luna, who's undergone the exact same thing you're going through right now. She was possessed by her rage and sorrow, enough so to morph her into an entirely new being. If there's anyone in this world who can help, it'd be her."
"...Maybe...maybe...but I don't want to take any chances, Psalms. If there's a possibility that I can go home, I'll take it before anything else."
"Are you sure you really want to go back to Earth, Red? I'm fairly confident that we can fix you up here with all this magic at hand. Returning to Earth may not solve anything at all, assuming this is more than just a case of temporary delirium due to blood loss."
"C'mon man, use your head. You more than anyone should know all the powerful magic that exists in this world. Time travel, mind control, portals to other worlds? If I learn how to do any of this stuff and I go crazy again, there may be genocide on a scale that'll make the nazis and commies blush. If what you said about alicorns being immortal is true, It'd be a matter of when and not if. I can't live with that possibility. I need to go home."
"Living in constant fear is no way to live, 'Red'. Celestia could yeet the sun at the planet at any given moment, but nobody is worried that that's a possibility. I'm sure there are plenty of precautions we can take to prevent you from going coo-coo or doing too much damage. You just have to have faith in us, faith in yourself, and faith in God wouldn't hurt too... you do believe in God now, right? I don't mean to be preaching or anything, but, He's kinda the reason I'm here, so He is most definitely real, so..."
"One thing at a time, ok Psalms? Even now, I'm still struggling to wrap my mind around the fact that I am a magical horse. And yes, I guess my faith hath been renewed for the Big Man in the sky...boy do I have a lot to talk about with Him."
"I forgive you, Red, for what you did earlier, and like Sophia said before I was dismissed, 'The Lord is forgiving above all else.' One of these days, I'll teach you a prayer to recite before you sleep if you want. For now, though, we better get some shut-eye. Today is a big day, I can feel it. Goodnight, Red."
...
"...Thomas..."
Psalms cracked one eye open at the crimson alicorn. "...My name... is Thomas. Thomas Vinditti."
Psalms couldn't help but smile once more as he rolled onto his side. "It's nice to finally meet you, Thomas."
"A pleasure to meet me as well, ha-ha. ...Goodnight, 'brother'... that's gonna take some time to get used to."
"Heh, night, bro."
View Online
Chapter 3: An Adventure Already?! (Part 1: The Not-So-Calm Before The Storm.)
The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind, lightnings lit up the world; the earth was troubled and it quaked.
-Psalms 77:18
The day did not start as one would hope as the dawn climbed further into the sky. Dark smokey storm clouds blotted the heavens above as rumbling thunder rippled this way and that. Rushing wind cascaded throughout the farmland, upturning leaves and scattering trash across the grazed land. The cattle and pigs were in a panicked frenzy as they stampeded through the driveway as Ingot and Psalms struggled to corral them into the already overpacked barn for shelter. Meanwhile, Ink, Thomas, and Honey packed the cellar with emergency goods and bed stuff as a precaution in the vain hope that the weather team doesn't allow a tornado to form on top of their heads.
As the last of the animals entered the barn, Ingot and Psalms slammed the barn door shut before booking it into the kitchen, gathering their breath upon entering said room. "Ain't natural. Ain't natural at all. Never seen this before. What in tarnation has gotten into them weather ponies!?"
While Ingot struggled to understand their circumstances, Psalms had a sinking feeling he knew all too well what had transpired, but he needed to move fast if he was to make sure his belief was true. It would mean that Twilight needed help. "Ain't natural, I agree. You need to get your family into the basement and you need to stay there. Me and Thomas will head on over to Ponyville and find out what's happening. Princess Twilight may need our help."
"Ponyville? You ain't traveling to Ponyville on hoof, not in this weather, and there's no guarantee that the train's even running with these conditions."
Psalms shrugged his shoulders. "We gotta head to Ponyville or Canterlot, one way or another. We'll check the train station. If they're out of service... well, we'll figure it out along the way."
"Why not just use your wings? Those things are more than just ornamental chick magnets, right?" Ink called out as she and the rest of the family convened unto their spot. Rush could be seen digging himself into his mother's mane, terrified of the whipping wind outside.
Again, Psalms simply shrugs. "Like our horns, we weren't taught how to use them. I doubt Rush can give us any pointers; can you, squirt?”
A clap of thunder cracked above, its roar causing Rush to squeal his answer. "FAST FLAPPY AND FLY!" He retreated deeper into Honey's nape.
"I wouldn't want either of you to even think of flying with this storm out if you could. In fact, I should have half the mind to forbid you from even leaving our sanctity. Celestia knows what's causing this, but I can guarantee it's nothing good!" Honey exclaimed within mother mode.
Psalms took one of her hoofs into his own, his reassuring face doing little to calm the mare's nerves. "It's precisely why it isn't good that we need to go. I know you want only the best for us, but this is something we need to do."
"Er, why exactly?" Thomas inquired as he reached the two, giving Psalms a curious eye. "Why do I have to go? Being the guardian or protector of this world is your job, and I'd love to help out, but I'm not exactly cut out for some action, not in this body. We'd just be getting ourselves killed more than anything."
"I understand your concern, but I need to confirm this threat before time runs out, and yes, time is of the essence. And I told you that I'd look out for you, Thomas, and I will, but I will do so with you under my wing. Like you said earlier, you're stuck with me."
A short snort escapes from Thomas as he reflects on Psalms' words, before relenting with a nod.
Another clap of thunder echoes through the sky, its roar slightly shuddering the windows. "Come one, we need to get to the train station before it gets worse out there. Mr. Ingot... uh, Dad, do have the bits to cover the tickets?"
Ingot retreated into his bedroom to retrieve the money as Ink fished out two rain cloaks which both stallions accepted heartily. "I've been meaning to ask if you guys had any spare clothes lying around. Going all-natural just isn't my thing." Thomas remarked as he fastened the cloak tight against his back, leaving him covered for the most part.
"With magical modesty being a thing here, it's no wonder that ponies don't wear clothes all the time." Psalms commented just as Ingot returned, a small satchel of bits within his jaws.
"Should be more than enough to get you by for at least a week, wherever you go." Ingot said, before fastening the satchel around Psalms' neck. Wielding his magic, he fetched out a single saddle bag kit from a nearby closet which he hoisted upon Thomas's back. Two pairs of bottled water and an assortment of snacks were jammed into the bag's pockets. "I am hoping there is nothing to this weather phenomenon, but should there be any trouble, you head back here if'n you can and we'll help you out. Understood?" Ingot brought both stallions into a tight hug. They were joined by the others soon enough. "You two be safe out there. You're family now. I'd hate to lose either of you so soon."
"Don't worry, I have faith that all will go well, although we may be gone for some time." Psalms and Thomas broke the hug apart as they ventured out the front door, their family calling out to them along the way.
"Please be safe! And make sure to keep hydrated! And steer clear of trees when taking shelter from lightning, they are not adequate cover!" Honey anxiously advised, her hoofs dancing with worry.
"If you're going on some epic adventure then make sure to bring back souvenirs!" Ink requested with a cocky smile etched on her face. Not a hint of worry adorned her character.
Rush was abuzz with energy and excitement, his fear quelled from seeing his new brothers braving the storm. "Kick-kick-kick their butts! All their butts! Butts, balls, and buckets! Kick them all!"
Psalms and Thomas waived away as they walked past the front gate and crested the top of the hill, taking a moment to look back upon their new home and family. "We will be fine, right Psalms?"
"I won't lie, anything can happen to us, Thomas. But have faith, because sometimes, that's all you need."
The walk towards the train station was an anxious one as the rolling waves of clapping thunder assaulted the duo's ears. Both stallions had yet to see any actual lightning or flashes in the sky, but they nonetheless opted to pick up the pace lest they tempted fate. Ingot's isolated farm was situated to the South-Southwest of Ponyville which consisted of a commute of nearly two hours on hoof and less than half of that on a train.
Traffic along the dirt road was practically non-existent when the family was traveling on the wagon back home, granted neither Psalms nor Thomas paid any attention to that aspect of the travel at the time, but it was virtually a dead zone all around as the pair traveled further down the route. Not a speck of hide or feather from any creature could be spotted around for miles. Even the insects could sense the figurative dread hanging in the air and wisely chose to remain silent, leaving an eerie silence occasionally broken by claps of thunder.
"Uh, Psalms, this shit be getting a bit spooky for a cartoon for little girls. Are we going up against Cthulhu or something?" Thomas couldn't help but reflect his eyes this way or that, a creeping feeling of an imminent ambush frazzling his nerves.
"No, nothing like that...at least I don't think so. Like I said earlier, I need to confirm our foe to ascertain where we are in the timeline, assuming we are in the canon timeline and not some alternate one. If everything checks out, we'll be facing some abominable yeti-man wannabe and his gorilla henchmen."
"And you're absolutely sure you know how everything plays out, right?"
"Oh, yeah, totally. More so than the cartoon, because this event happened in Mlp's first featured movie. The story was meh, but the animation rocks."
"Oh... well... that's good, I guess." Thomas's next question left him even more anxious as to its answer. "...Say, now that I think about it, you said we planned on helping Twilight out, right? Which I'm assuming means interjecting ourselves into the movie's script, thus potentially changing its outcome. Aren't we kinda shooting ourselves in the foot by changing the story up? Or even the show's canon events for that matter?"
Psalms had to take a minute to reflect on the possible outcomes of their interference. "...It's always a possibility, I suppose, but there's no helping it now. Psalms and Thomas don't exist within MLP, so our presence already is a divergence from the main canon. We can only hope that it is the only divergence at this point. As for changing the movie's script? ...I honestly don't know. Yeah, it isn't the wisest of choices, and everything resolves itself in the end so we could just stay at home and do nothing and we'd be fine."
Psalms paused again as he reflected beyond the movie. "...If this was the Equestria that I know all too well, I wouldn't have to do a single thing to keep it safe, because it already is destined for good to always prosper. The girls would always pull through in the end, and all I would have to do is sit back, stay out of the way, and do nothing."
"But that can never be allowed to happen. I cannot afford to slack off, not now, not ever. This isn't the cartoon world I grew up watching as a kid. It looks like it, it feels like it, and it may mimic it in every way possible to a T, but it has one significant difference. Evil is here. Pure unfiltered, uncompromising, unrelenting, true evil has set foot within this world, a Demon; and it may strike anytime, anywhere, and at anyone."
"So yes, we may be screwing up the story for the worse by doing this, but... I can't sit back and do nothing, Thomas. I'd be betraying my duty to God above. He sent me here for a reason, and that was to protect and help these ponies from any and all evil. We have no choice but to go through with this." Psalms resumed the trek forward.
"Besides," Psalms added further, "the show's canon is mostly episodic in nature with sporadic big baddies sprinkled here or there. We'll only interject ourselves whenever necessary. Should alleviate any damage our presence may do, but still, no guarantee on anything."
"Whatever you say, man. I'm just glad you're competent enough to have thought this through." Thomas finishes as the duo takes notice of abandoned luggage and carts adorning the sides of the dirt road. "Anyway, I think I see the station up ahead."
True to his word, the wooden figure of the train station could be seen adjacent to its iron railway tracks with a single train docked. The first signs of life since leaving the farm were witnessed as a large group of hectic ponies scrambled this way or that, sat frustrated to the side, or joined together to yell at what appeared to be the train conductor. Said conductor tried in vain to pacify the crowd, but was met with increasing failure.
The ruckus the crowd made hampered any attempt to ascertain why they were upset to begin with, leaving the alicorns to make way for the ticket kiosk booth to ask why. Just as they are about to voice themselves out, the kiosk mare takes one bored look at them before grabbing a roughly handled paper and began to drone out the script with a dreadfully dull tone. "All ticket sales to Appleloosa, Dodge City, and Las Pegasus have been suspended by court order five-seven-seven. In accordance, with official Ponyville court orders, all ticket prices for remaining operational railways may vary and fluctuate. The only remaining operational route is through Ponyville via the Friendship Express. Train departs in...-" The mare turns to face the clock behind her before returning to the duo. "-sixteen minutes. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, please file them through the proper respective channels of the Equestrian Railway Public Transport Service Branch. Thank you and have a nice day."
The alicorn brothers shared glances with each other, both surprised to find the mare so calm amid the currently present panicking ponies. "Uh, hi." Psalms venture forth, "We just came from, uh, one of the local farmsteads, and we were wondering what exactly is ha-"
"If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, please file them through the proper respective channels of the Equestrian Railway Public Transport Service Branch." The mare repeated back, popping a potato chip into her mouth, eyes forever fixated on her fashion designer magazine as she addressed Psalms.
"Oh, no, I'm not asking about the tra-"
"All ticket sales to Appleloosa, Dodge City, and Las Pegasus have been suspended by court order five-seven-seven. The only remaining operational route is through Ponyville via the Friendship Express." The mare yet again interrupts Psalms.
"Again, ma'am, we aren't asking about th-"
And once again. "This kiosk and its occupant are reserved only for the physical transaction of available train tickets and provision of corporate-sponsored brochure flyers for Equestria's top premier hot spots. Solicitation is prohibited on all Equestrian Railway Public Transport Service Branch-owned property and fines may be issued upwards of five hundred bits should repeated offenses be made. Thank you and have a nice day."
The mare had seemingly struck a nerve with Thomas as he finally found his voice to chime in. "Listen hear you puke-flavored cupcake, we're on important busi-"
Thomas's poor choice of words had equally struck a nerve with the mare as she adorned a faux-friendly smile before reaching for the shutter nob, seconds away from slamming her kiosk closed. "Thank you and have a nice da-"
"Wait!" Psalms screamed as his wings involuntarily extended to jam the shutter open. The mare was left flabbergasted as she made note of a male with both wings and a horn. Equally as surprised, Psalms ever so slowly willed his wings to pry the shutter back up into its cavity, his understanding of how his wings functioned being revealed by the second. The mare offered no resistance. "Uh, sorry. Look, what my brother said is true. We're on important business, and we need to know what is happening out there... oh, and we'd like two tickets to Ponyville, please."
The mare continued to remain stunned for a few more moments before finally shaking herself free. One big stink eye landed on the two as she fished out two train tickets as requested. "Ponyville. Of course. That'll be twenty-eight bits."
Psalms placed the bits onto the kiosk and the transaction was completed upon receiving the tickets. "Thank you, ma'am. I hate to be of more trouble, but we could use a little more insight as to what's happening. Perhaps you can shed some light?"
"Same shindig, different day. Ponies being ponies." The mare ' elaborated'.
Psalms failed to grasp her meaning. "...What? I don't understand what that means."
The mare rolled her eyes before responding. "Ponyville. Nuff said."
"Enough with the riddles lady, we aren't natives. Just spill the beans already." Thomas was quick to cut in.
The mare heaved a heavy sigh before setting her exhausted eyes on the duo. "Ponyville issued another five-seven-seven court order and ponies all around are rightfully peeved. With all the trains clogged, there's nowhere to go except to Ponyville itself." The mare set her sights on the sky above. "And nopony is keen on following the storm trails. So they stay here, and they whine and complain, and I am not paid enough for this."
"You seem awfully calm compared to all the others," Thomas noted.
"As I said, it's Ponyville. I've been working at this kiosk for well over a decade and up until the day that Twilight girl went over there, everything around was peaceful. Nowadays though, they be hoofing out five-seven-sevens like candy, clogging up the tracks for 'evacuation', even though not a single pony from Ponyville has ever used it."
"The court orders are for an emergency evacuation of Ponyville? Huh. One would think a small town wouldn't have so much trouble to warrant something like that." Psalms commented back.
"When is it not in trouble? From bugbears to centaurs to evil alicorns, Spirit of Chaos, star bears, you name it, Ponyville has dealt with it. Trouble just keeps finding itself there, so much so that the mayor has become trigger-happy. It's gotten to the point that if one of her precious ponies so much thinks that they smelled the fart of a diamond dog, the whole town panics, and in come the court orders, clogging up the rail system and leaving many ponies like these stranded. Sometimes for days. This latest order came in about twenty minutes ago."
"So, what's today's special then?" Thomas asked.
The mare offered a limp shrug. "I don't know, something about airships spewing black smoke and big monkeys. It'll be resolved by the end of the day, just you wait."
"'Fraid we can't do that, ma'am. Duty calls. If you can ship the train out now, we'd be grateful."
The mare remains at her spot for a moment before relenting to Psalms' request. "I'll see what I can do... your highnesses." The mare departs before Psalms could interject.
"...Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that we're pretty much royalty." Thomas asserted as he watched the mare retreat to the back.
"Yeah, technically we are. Please don't let it get your head though. The last thing I need is you flaunting it around and making more trouble than necessary."
Thomas snorted before sending a glare Psalms' way, indignation radiating off his words. "I know all too well how shit like that goes down. Don't preach to the choir, kid." Thomas said his piece before roughly turning towards the train. Anypony who got in his way was rudely shoved past without so much as a word being muttered.
Yikes. Think I hit a nerve there. Blowing out a soft sigh, Psalms maneuvered himself over to the train conductor and his many hecklers. Said conductor had given up trying to pacify the crowd and anxiously eyed his pocket watch and the nearby hanging clock, no doubt counting down to the second he could officially make way to Ponyville. There was no sign of the mare yet, so Psalms opted to hang around and eavesdrop on the others around him.
"-elling you, it's that dragon from years back. It's back and it wants to roost agai-"
"-aw it with my own eyes! Big hairy beasts jumping down from great wooden coconu-"
"-ou don't think it's an invasion, do you? I heard one of them weather ponies say that from Manehatten all the way to Las Pegasus, storms and airships dotted the sky."
"Whatever it is, I'm sure Princess Twilight and her friends are on the case by now."
"Eh, I don't think so. They're up in Canterlot still setting up the festival, remember? The one we were taking the train to get there early for?"
"So? There's no way that nopony up on that mountain can't see all the smoke blotting the sky."
"I don't know about that. I heard one of the pegasi say they saw one of the ships engulfed in regular clouds before turning all smokey and thundery, like camouflage. Not to mention that with this Friendship Festival being the biggest event of the year, all weather ponies have been called across the kingdom to keep the skies clear. They probably think that these are just far away mild and wild thunderstorms, not an invasion. Canterlot is gonna be in for one rude surprise."
At last, the mare from the kiosk entered the picture as she briskly made way for the conductor. She catches sight of Psalms to her side and gives him a nod before handing the conductor a note and whispers into his ear. Relief flooded through him as the mare retreated before he fished out his whistle and gave a hearty blow, silencing all. "Last call for Ponyville! Departing immediately! AAALLLL Aboard!"
Immediately following his call, A clap of thunder sounded overhead, causing all heads to turn. Up above among the clouds, a dark smokey trail slithered its way over the train station. A faint blue glow emanated within the dark storm, its shape like piercing jagged eyes. By Psalms guess, it was trudging along toward Canterlot, followed by a dozen or more smokey trails. His suspicions were all but confirmed, yet it made no difference in his plans.
The conductor scrambled into the train in a panic as the rest of the gathered ponies entered into a frenzied hysteria as a couple of the smoke trails veered away and descended toward the train station. Psalms felt a tugging sensation as Thomas's magic grip pulled him toward the train's passenger car. "Psalms! Get in! The trains already departing!"
Psalms turned his eyes back to the ponies as they ran around like headless chickens as the now visible airships dropped anchor upon the station. Big furry bipedal creatures could be seen hopping over the ship's rails and immediately gave chase to those around.
They'll be fine. Those things are relatively harmless and they'll just cage them up. They'll be free by the end of the day today or tomorrow... unless I'm in some alternate M-rated dimensi-
"Psalms!? Move!" Thomas cried out, his shout attracting the attention of several creatures who dashed for the train.
Quick on his heel, Psalms galloped and plunged himself into the open car door, painfully sliding himself down the aisle. Thomas attempted to shut the door but was foiled as the storm creatures pounced and forced entry into the car. Thomas was quick to deliver a magical punch that jostled one of the creatures off and onto the tracks, but it was soon replaced by two more.
Psalms levitated one of the food carts present and hurled it into one of the creatures, elicitating a groan and stunning it as the other one closed the gap to Thomas, its claws outstretched and ready to grapple him. The creature brought its arms down on both sides of Thomas, but he was able to duck before getting caught within its grip and followed up with another magic punch into the gut with little effect as the creature's hide and armor absorbed the impact, leaving Thomas open to a swiping counter-attack that sent him flying into the car's wall.
The creature was upon him in an instant and tried as he might, Thomas couldn't bring his flailing hooves to deliver any effective hits upon his assailant. The thing wrapped its claws around his waist and hoisted him into the air before making its way toward the car's door, aiming to bail with Thomas in tow. This only increased the alicorn's futile struggle.
The other stunned creature recovered and attempt to enter the fight, but a barrage of trash, food, and other random objects from Psalms halted its advance. With one arm shielding its face, the other dug into a small satchel. Within its claw, Psalms was alarmed to see a familiar black marble-looking object with a glowing green center. The creature primed its arm back and pitched the grenade at Psalms, but not before he magically seized the arm of the other creature who had successfully seized Thomas into its clutches, bringing it forefront to the grenade's trajectory.
The grenade detonated upon its ally's back, petrifying it on the spot as Psalms successfully plucked Thomas away in the nick of time. With Thomas secure, Psalms hefted the stony creature and rammed it straight into the other, ejecting both from the train. Slamming the door shut, the brief five-minute fight concluded.
Psalms struggled to calm his breath as adrenaline ran rampant through his veins. Sweat also drenched his coat, but he was otherwise unharmed. Holy crap! I was not expecting to fight this fricken soon!
A small groan escaped from Thomas as he rubbed the back of his head. "Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, that hurts...shit was already sore... now it's gonna be ten times worse."
"You good?" Psalms called out.
Thomas offered an affirming grunt as he got back to his feet. "There aren't any more of those things on the train, are there? This body isn't cut out for physical stuff like that."
"I don't know, but stay here. I'll check it out."
Psalms finished his sweep five minutes later, having found only terrified and some awed passengers who bore witness to the fight, and the sky outside was clear of any tailing airships. The train was in the clear.
Psalms re-entered the first passenger car, finding Thomas situated in one of the seats, a half-full bottle of water by his side. Upon seeing Psalms, he hefted the bottle into his magic grip as an offering.
Psalms took his seat across and nodded his thanks before chugalugging away. "I'm assuming we're safe for now?" Thomas asked to which Psalms nodded again. "Good. Good. I talked to the conductor. He says we should arrive in Ponyville in half an hour." Thomas shifted his gaze to a local hanging clock before turning back to Psalms. "Did you know it's only 9:15? Can you believe that? It has only been an hour since we left the farm and already we are fighting evil henchmen. That is what those things are, right? The gorilla henchmen you mentioned earlier?"
The last of the water disappeared down Psalms' throat before he responded. "Yes. Storm creatures that serve the Storm King. And that airship with the blue glowing mark we saw back at the train yard? No doubt that was Tempest on her way to crash the party in Canterlot. Her ship is slow so we still have some time before the movie's script start's ramping up." Psalms saw the question on Thomas's mind and opted to explain further. "Tempest Shadow is a unicorn who works for the Storm King. She is the one who hunts Twilight and the others throughout the movie. Basically the driving force."
"Alright. So, how does this movie go down? And please tell me there won't be any singing."
"'Fraid there is. Quite a bit actually. Anyway, to sum it up, the movie begins with Twilight and her friends in Canterlot. Tempest and her minions come busting in and subdue all the Princesses save Twilight. She is told to go to the land of the hippogriffs where she must ask for their magical aid. So she and the gang travel to some desert town and meet a feline friend who sells them out and they are forced onto a pirate ship and they... it's a lot harder than I thought trying to summarize all this."
"Yeah, your summary isn't short enough for my liking."
"Alright look, right now we're barely in the prologue of the movie. When we meet up and begin our travel with the girls, just follow along and let them do their thing for the most part. The movie's beats will play out and we'll be done before you know it."
"If you say so." Thomas relented before turning to look out the window, silence descending onto the two.
Psalms however wasn't finished with Thomas just yet. "You said it was thirty minutes till we get there, right?" Thomas nodded. "Good. Gives me time to finally get some questions I've had about you off my chest if you don't mind me asking."
Thomas reflected on Psalms' words before finding himself surprised. "Oh, wow. Aside from my name, I haven't told you a lick about me, have I?"
"Nope. I figured since we had some time, now is better than later. I said something back at the station that riled you up, right? I don't want to make that mistake again, so, maybe you can tell me a bit about yourself?"
"Hmm. I suppose that's fair enough reasoning." Thomas took a moment to reflect on his human life before answering. "Well, my name is Thomas Vinditti. I'm twenty-two years old, and life lately has been... rough for me to say the least. I had it good growing up though, well, better off than most anyway; although when your mom is a trophy wife and your dad is a career politician, things can go to shit pretty fast."
Thomas made himself more comfortable before continuing. "Yeah, dad is a real piece of shit. The definition of a career politician. He cheats, he lies, he fools, and he wins. Flaunts his power and ego everywhere and to everyone and fools see fit to elect him year after year. One election year, his opponent finally had enough and did whatever they could to bring some dirt onto Dad's shine. Long story short, they conned me. Hard. And I had to pay the price just for being his son. Son of a bitch had the gall to blame me for losing the election, and before I knew it, I was disowned and relocated to some back-water nowhere town in the bumb fuck middle of Nebraska where there's nothing but boredom and prairies."
Thomas's teeth clenched tight as a snarl presented itself before Psalms. "Never should've trusted her. Deep down I knew she was too good to be true. Now I have nothing left, all because of her."
Before Psalms could ask, Thomas shook his head clear of the boiling rage. "Sorry. I didn't mean for you to hear that. Please don't ask about it...at least not so soon." Psalms obliged Thomas's request as he set that question on the back burner. "So, yeah. Earth Politics sucks fucking ass and it ruined me. My bright future full of potential has been reduced to me having a permanent mark on my record and working at the deli of a local grocery store for minimum wage with no outlook of any better-paying jobs."
"The last moments of my human life that I remember was me coerced into working a late shift for no overtime. When I finally finished, I stormed out of the damned place and couldn't afford to rent a cab, so I opted to walk home and...and then..." Thomas's hide visibly rippled as he struggled to find his next words... but they never came. Instead, he shook his head in refusal to reminisce any further and reflected his eyes to the outside once more.
The train came to a gradual halt as Ponyville drew itself closer. Thunder rumbled across the town as airships hovered overhead belching out smoke and storm clouds. Thomas and Psalms were too late. Ponyville had fallen. This fact did not deter the two as they exited the train car and set their sights on the little village. "Remind me again why we came here if the movie begins in Canterlot?" Thomas inquired.
"We may be alicorns, but we know jack-shit about magic or how to fight. We got lucky back on the train, but that little battle proved to me that my internal mana storage is very small and because of that, we may be more of a hindrance than help to the girls when we tag along. So, to remedy that, I'm calling in the calvary. Fair warning, what I plan on doing is most likely gonna flip the script on its head. Now come on, we need to get to Twilight's castle over there."
Following Psalms' pointing, Thomas can't help but cringe. "That is an eyesore of a castle if I ever saw one. How are we gonna get to it?"
Creeping up along the train station's edge, Psalms is witness to the storm creatures herding chained ponies toward the town center. "Just as I figured. They're taking the prisoners into the center of town. Twilight's castle lies on the very edge of Ponyville's borders, so we can very easily flank the outskirts of town and reach it without catching their attention. Follow my lead."
True to Psalms' word, The duo reached the castle without incident as they ducked and bobbed and weaved under bushes and around houses and through the trees. Sliding along the castle's walls, the duo reach the front entrance, found the doors unlocked, and dashed inside with the enemy none the wiser... or so they believed at the time.
"Alright, we made it. What now, ninja?"
"Now, we need to find the library. There's a machine that holds a portal to another world. A human world."
Thomas couldn't hold back a choke upon hearing Psalms' words. "And you decide to tell me this now!? I was getting worked up for nothing!?"
"Let me finish. It's a human world, yes, but it is not Earth. It's a reflection of Equestria where every person is a human. It's not a way home, Thomas. And don't think you can stay there either should there be no way of going back to Earth. That world is familiar with equestrian magic and it won't stop you from morphing into a demon or whatever should you let your emotions run rampant."
"...Dammit. Knew things wouldn't be that easy. Alright, fine. Why do we need this thing?"
"Not the machine itself, but the people it was built for." Psalms scanned the crystal hallway for clues as to the library's whereabouts, but it proved to be futile. "How does anybody get around in here? None of these doors are marked at all."
Thomas took a minute to observe the hallway as well before making his suggestion. "Looks like we'll have to Scooby-Doo through this problem.”
Psalms turned and raised a brow back at Thomas, prompting him to elaborate. "What? You know about Scooby-Doo, right? That little gag they do where they go through one door and pop out another? Ringing any bells? ...No? Oh, whatever let's just get this over with."
And so they did. Painstainkenly checking one room after another throughout the maze-like castle. Eventually, luck was struck as Thomas called out for Psalms. The library was just like Psalms remembered from the show, except far more grand in person. Situated near the center, was a purple horseshoe mirror encased around an elaborate steam-punk-looking magical machine. Just off to the side was a pedestal holding a closed magical journal. Yes! everything is here.
"Good job, Thomas. Alright, looks like everything is here. Give me a minute." Walking up towards the journal, Psalms plucks the feather quill, applies ink to its head, flips the journal to its latest entry, and began writing. Hope this works. My penmanship hasn't been tested with magic yet.
(Sunset Shimmer? Are you there?) Psalms set the quill to the side and was forced to play the waiting game.
Nearly a minute passed before the journal began to glow with a spectrum of colors as words magically appeared before him. (Twilight? Back already? How did the Friendship Festival go?)
Psalms was quick to pick the quill back up but hesitated just before applying ink. Should I pretend to be Twilight and urge her over... no. No, there's no reason to deceive. (This isn't Twilight Sparkle. My name is-) Psalms quickly skimmed for an equestrian name that he felt comfortable in, and before long he had it and resumed writing. (Fire Quill.)
A few seconds passed before Sunset responded back. (And you are?)
(A friend of Princess Twilight. Listen to me, Equestria is in the midst of an invasion from a foreign force and I need you and your friend's help to aid Twilight in her quest.)
A flurry of words magicked before him in quick succession. (Invasion!? By who!?)
(Somebody called 'The Storm King'. You've never heard of him but his minions have taken over Ponyville and other cities across Equestria. Ponies everywhere are under lock and key and his forces are almost at Canterlot. Twilight and everybody else over there are completely unaware of the danger coming. I need your help. I don't know how to turn this machine on so you need to come in through your side.)
This time around, Sunset took longer to respond than Psalms was comfortable with. The book eventually came to magical life again. (I know next to nothing about you and you come to me warning of an invasion across Equestria, urging me to open the mirror portal on my side to 'help' you. Why exactly should I trust your word?)
A resounding crash echoed from the front of the castle. The sounds of grunts and soft roars reverberated into the library. The brothers were caught flat-footed as several storm creatures spotted the pair through the open library door. Thomas was quick to shut the door and barricade it with whatever laid nearby, including himself. The impact of several bodies against the door was barely repelled as Thomas used all his strength to keep them out. "Whatever you're doing, get it done! Times up!"
(There's nothing I can write that'll convince you! Storm creatures are here and at the library door! Brother can't hold, our magic too weak! Help! Help! Please! Ple-) Psalms was interrupted as a heavy blast rocked the library. The doors were slammed open with extreme force, knocking the makeshift barricade apart and ejecting Thomas over by Psalms feet.
In walked six storm creatures. claws primed and ready to snatch up more prisoners. Thomas was quick to climb back to his feet, eyeing the room for any weapons before settings his sights on a nearby wooden table. Hoisting it with his magic, he equips it as a makeshift battering ram/shield and charges into the right-most flank of the group. He slams himself into one of the creatures knocking it off its feet before bringing the shield up as the other creature latched onto it, locking the two into a tug of war.
Psalms was quick to flank the group's left and started hefting the biggest books he could find and hurled them into the remaining creatures, hoping to keep them distracted and off Thomas's back while he struggled with his two opponents. The creatures proved to be more competent than Psalms gave them credit as one of them ordered another to split from the other three and reinforced the already overwhelmed Thomas, who could do nothing as he became surrounded on all fronts.
Psalms' book barrage did little to slow the last three as they too swarmed him from all three sides. Just before either group could pounce on their respective targets, a flurry of magic swirled and lit up the room as the mirror and machine sparkled to life. A torrent of power flooded through the mirror and within a flash, a yellow screaming figure came hurtling through.
Sunset found herself sprawled on the floor in a daze. "Another happy landing." Sunset voiced out in a loopy voice before shaking her head clear and shifting her focus around the room. She was quick to find herself in the spotlight as every head had turned to witness her floundering body fly threw the air.
"...Help us!" Thomas called out, snapping the storm creatures out of it, leaving two of them to turn towards their new foe.
It took Sunset a moment to remember she possesses magic before she summoned it forth with great force. The two creatures who had closed in on her were hoisted into the air and flung hard into one another, clocking them out for good.
Witnessing a far greater threat, one more creature from Psalms and Thomas's groups broke off and formed a new pair targeting Sunset, more caution applied than the last two. Sunset was quick to summon magical blasts that pummeled her two assailants, who bore the attacks and shielded themselves however they could.
Having gained much-needed relief, Thomas continued to physically struggle with his shield as his storm creature tried to pry it away. Meanwhile, Pslams did not relent in hurling books wherever he could at his own foe and the others.
As Thomas continued his struggle, he spotted a wooden stool directly behind the creature. Thinking fast, he ceased his magical grip on the table and instead applied it to the stool, accelerating it into the back of the creature's leg, bringing it crashing to its knees. Thomas hooked the stool above its head and slammed down hard. For extra measure, Thomas topped it with a double stomping strike of his front hooves directly into the creature's face, knocking it out of the fight for good. Thomas then shot the stool over to Psalms' side, scoring a hit on the back of the creature's head.
Psalms was quick to follow up with books striking the left, right, lower and upper sides of the creature's face, before finishing it off by sandwiching the creature's head between the heaviest tomes at hand, leaving it to crumble into an unconscious heap.
Both brothers were soon witnesses to one of the creatures soaring through the air and landing hard into the shelves, burying it under Twilight's personal catalog. The last creature struggled to retreat but was soon snatched into the air by Sunset who twirled it with great speed before letting it smack into the floor. Dazed beyond anything, the creature attempted to slowly clamber back onto its feet but was finally defeated when Thomas slammed the wooden table on top of it, officially ending the fight.
Both Psalms and Thomas were left drenched and haggard while Sunset seemed to not even break a sweat. "Nicely done boys. I didn't know what to expect coming through the mirror, but you two handled yourselves nicely." She took a minute to survey the two. "Which one of you is Fire Quill?"
Thomas's breath hitched within his throat, leaving him to gag and choke on the air for a bit before clearing his lungs. Upon his face, a newfound mad delirium adorned his face. "Fire!? FIRE!? Where!? Where!? get it away from me!" He screamed out as he buried himself into one of the room's corners. His little outburst startled Sunset and Psalms considerably.
Psalms was quick to reach his side as Sunset continued to stare in perplexion and mild caution. "Woah, Woah, hey! Thomas! Calm down, man. Calm down, there is no fire. She just said my name, that's all. Look around you, we won. We're ok. Here-" Pslams plucked a water bottle from Thomas's bag and swiftly handed it over to his brother who greedily began to gulp it down. As the seconds passed by, Thomas's breathing reached calmer levels and his crazy face fully disappeared upon finishing the last of the water.
"...Uh, is there anything I can do?" Sunset hesitantly asked.
"No. No, he's good now. We both are thanks to you. If you hadn't jumped in, we'd be in chains by now. Thank you."
Thomas wordlessly offered his thanks as well, having regained his senses.
"Well, I'm glad I did. I almost dismissed you as saboteurs or invaders trying to lure me to open the portal. I'm assuming you're Fire Quill?"
"The hell he is." Thomas croaked out before Psalms could confirm. His use of harsh language earned a wince from Sunset. "His name is Psalms," Thomas spoke to Sunset before shifting over to his brother. "Your name is Psalms. What the fuck is with this 'Fire Quill' shit?" He demanded.
Psalms was hesitant to answer. "...It's my name...my pony name...that I came up with just now..." Psalms trailed off as Sunset's puzzled face wavered not.
"Look I'll explain later, we don't have time to be idle. Sunset, meet Thomas. Thomas, meet Sunset. We all on the same page? Good. Now-" Psalms turned his attention back to the mirror, a faint glow circulating throughout it and the machine, indicating its powered state, "-with the machine on, we need to get your friends. Their magic and geodes will come in handy in Canterlot."
Mild shock found its way onto Sunset's face. "How do you know about the...forget it. You're going to explain yourself later." Turning towards the mirror, Sunset begins her trek back to the human world. "It may take me a few minutes to gather the girls, so wait here and-"
"Watch out!" Thomas cried out as he slammed himself into Sunset's side, knocking them both out of the way as one of the petrification grenades was hurled by. Unbeknownst to the group, the storm creature who had been buried under the book rubble was not yet out of the fight. While the ponies had been preoccupied talking among themselves, the creature ever so slowly reached into its satchel and snatched up a grenade, cautious as to not make any sudden moves. As it primed its arm for the throw, one of the books slid off its hide and slammed into the ground, alerting Thomas to its intent, but he was too late and too exhausted to intercept the projectile, opting to instead clear Sunset from the danger. The mirror was petrified on the spot in exchange.
"Oh no! The mirror!" Sunset and Psalms exclaimed in unison. Meanwhile, Thomas was quick to gallop over to the pinned creature and applied two hoof bucks into its skull, rendering it cold.
Sunset and Psalms frantically surveyed the mirror, hoping beyond hope that it was still operational and usable. Alas, the portal was shut off, and the machine powered down not a moment later. Oh fuck. Oh crap. Dammit! ...Shit, there goes my plan... at least we have sunset though...ok we can salvage this. Sunset will have to do.
Sunset was in a frenzy trying to reactivate the portal. She applied her magic in various ways in the hope of removing the obsidian. "No, no, no, no! Nothings working! My magic is being repelled by this dark matter! Hngg! ...Gaaah!" Sunset screamed in frustration as she kicked at the dark substance in a last-ditch attempt to remedy the situation. She hangs her head against the dark stone, a small teardrop forming in the corner of her eye. "What if it never comes off? What if I can never go home again?"
"Sunset...I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. But I don't think you need to worry about the machine. Far as I can tell it just turns stuff into obsidian, kinda like a cockatrice. If there is a way to do it, then it can be undone."
After a moment, Sunset nods her head in agreement as she wipes the tear away. "Right. You're right. I'm getting ahead of myself. And besides, who's to say that there isn't another way home, right?"
"Guys!" Thomas's shouts ring out from within the hall; he had left the library without Psalms or Sunset noticing. A second later he sprints back into the room before barricading the door once more. "More of those things are coming! The whole town invasion force is converging on us, and this time they have magic-repelling shields! We need to leave! Now!"
"Sunset." Psalms was quick to turn to her. "Can you teleport us as close to Canterlot as you can?"
"I...I don't know. It's been a while since I wielded unicorn magic again. I don't know how far my teleport will get for all three of us."
Resounding bangs along with roars and grunts sounded off behind the library doors. "Anywhere is better than here! Just do it!" Thomas demanded.
Powerful magic radiated off of Sunset's horn as she focused all her mana on herself and the brothers. The air became electrified and the smell of ozone filled their lungs. Within a flash and a pop, All three were gone.
Somewhere below the Canterlot Castle itself, a pop of magic was heard, soon followed by the grunts and groans of three ponies who suffered a mild drop from where they first appeared.
"Oh...I don't feel so good..." Commented Thomas as he held a hoof to his stomach. The color green coated his cheeks.
"Yeah...yeah, you get used to that feeling...eventually." Sunset dryly commented before sitting herself up. Smoke rose from the tip of her horn.
"...We're too late..." Psalms noted to the others as they set their sights above.
Sure enough, pillars of storm clouds and smoke blotted the sky above with airships hovering overhead, seemingly in search of something.
"...Alright. I think it's time for some answers. Just who is the Storm King? Why is he here? And how do you know about him when Canterlot is... was oblivious to his campaign? Furthermore, how do you know about the human world along with our geodes and powers? The only ones who know anything about that here are Twilight and the princesses, and I can't imagine her telling somepony I've never met all about us. And to top all of this, Psalms and Thomas aren't pony names." Sunset shifted her accusing eye between the two stallions, but only Thomas paid her any mind as Psalms struggled to come up with their next course of action.
Sunset saw that Psalms was lost in his mind and instead focused her attention solely on Thomas. "...Well?"
Thomas reflected his eyes left and right in apprehension. "Well...I don't know... The storm king is a...-" Thomas's hoof swirled circles in the air, his mind trying to come up with an answer, "-...like an abominable...yeti-thing? According to Psalms anyway."
"And how did you come to find out about him?" Sunset pressed on.
"I didn't. Psalms the one who informed me on everything storm king related."
"Then why is he here? Why is he doing all of this?"
"Girl, I don't know. Why do you keep asking me the questions when clearly Psalms is the one with all the answers? I'm here trying not to barf up breakfast in front of you but yo-"
The rest of their argument goes ignored by Psalms as he looks upon his reflection within the river they had teleported by. His mind was asunder with indecision as he struggled to remember how the movie progressed. What do I do? What do I do? We just missed the attack on Canterlot and I can't remember what followed after that...they head off to the desert, to that weird town, but I have no idea how long it takes them from getting from here to there...If only I knew where they are right now... I sure could use some help. Sophia, Lord above, please give me a sign...
As he continued to view his reflection, a very familiar stetson hat floats directly by, catching his eyes as he watches it float lazily downstream, not a care in the world for it. At first, Psalms was perplexed by the seemingly random event, but before long his eyes brighten significantly and his resolve strengthens once more. Thank you, Lord Almighty! Thank you, Sophia!
Psalms turns back to relay the good news to his companions but finds himself all but forgotten as the two ponies were at each other's throats. Heads bumping against one another and nostrils flaring.
"You take that back!" Sunset snarled out.
"I will not! All of your pony cities and towns are beyond ridiculous! They're stupid! Las Pegasus? Manehatten? Fillydelphia with an F? What a joke. I may have been screwed over by my country's political trash, but I will forever remain a patriot in heart and your city's ridiculous play on names taken directly from my home offend me greatly!
"Guys, guys! What's gotten into you two?"
A huff of indignation escapes from Sunset before turning to Psalms. "I may have moved into a new world, but I will not let this stallion slander my Kingdom's names and pride, especially with these bogus claims of plagiarism."
...Are they for real right now? "... Is this really the most important thing going through your minds right now, you two?"
"Of course it is!" Sunset asserted. Her face soon fell from that of rage into bewilderment as she ran her words and Psalms in her mind again. "...Wait...no it isn't... I don't even care about the names...why was I..." She turned over to Thomas with a small sheepish smile. "I'm sorry...I think my brain is a bit fried from that teleport."
Thomas cupped a hoof to the back of his head equally ashamed at his bout of stupidity. "Y-yeah... I think my head may be bleeding again. What the hell were we fighting over again? Ya know what let's just forget this ever happened and never speak of it again. Shake on it?"
Sunset was happy to exchange hooves. Psalms could only shake his head in exasperation before quickly remembering why he sought the two, to begin with. Darting his eyes down the river he could see the stetson hat float further away.
"I'm happy for you both but we need to move, now! C'mon, follow me!" Pslams called over his shoulder as he galloped ahead, leaving the other two behind.
"Woah, hey! Psalms slow down! We need a minute to rest!" Thomas's receding voice called out to him, but his request fell upon deaf ears.
Wheezing breaths afflicted Psalms' lungs as he hid within a bush, having followed the stetson for a bit before it was inevitably returned to its rightful owner. Said owner gripped her beloved hat into her mouth before plopping it in its rightful place. Applejack then turned her back to Psalms as she addressed the others who took shelter under a fallen tree, her words beyond Psalm's hearing range. His eyes lingered not on them though, instead, they found themselves upon the one and only Princess Twilight Sparkle, unknowingly mimicking Psalms earlier as she stared upon her reflection within the water's surface.
There she was. Finally, he found her. The memories of this scene playing out flooded his mind and he found himself hatching a plan to properly introduce himself to them, an introduction he needed to time perfectly for the maximum gain. You cannot redo first introductions after all, and Psalms was aiming at getting this one down perfectly.
His companions, however, posed a serious threat of revealing themselves before Psalms could do so himself as he heard their hoof steps off to his left.
"Yeah, the Queen!" Pinkies words rang out loudly enough for them to hear.
"...Pinkie?" Sunset called out before emerging from the brush, her sight immediately set upon the Mane Six. "...Twilight?" Sunset said in mild disbelief.
"Sh!" Pslams was quick to shush her.
"...Excuse m-"
"Sh! Stay low and follow my lead...please... let me do this," Psalms begged before the two. Sunset could only stare at Psalms with growing perplexion before shifting her gaze over to Thomas. He offered only a half hearted shrug, too tired to give damn. Sunset looked back to Psalms pleading eyes before silently relenting to his request. The two followed suit as they dropped to the floor.
Time was of the essence and so Psalms along with his companions were quick to crawl over to the edge of the riverbank, the ponies and the dragon on the other side oblivious to their presence.
"Hungry?" Spike's worried voice repeated after Pinkie.
"Hippos?" Applejack inquired.
Being this close to the edge, the group's voices were no longer imperceptible. Psalms moment was coming up fast, but what to say? Something simple? Extravagant? Cheesy? Why was he overthinking this? Why was he wasting time doing something as stupid as this? ...Because it's Twilight, that's why... oh shit, now's the moment, what do I say...Just going with my gut.
Psalms turned to his companions and nodded to them before Rising from his spot, they along with him.
The girls and Spike were still oblivious to them as Twilight tried to ease their fears. "I understand you're scared. And nopony else has to go." A small surge of courage welled up within Twilight. "But I have to find this Queen. ...She might be our only hope..."
"Mind if we lend a hand?"
Psalms' voice caused all heads to turn toward them. Applejack, Pinkie, and the other three element bearers had little to no reaction upon seeing the trio, save of course Twilight and Spike. The former was in stunned silence upon seeing her otherworldy friend and the latter in mild surprise.
Silence reigned supreme over the river.
"...Uh, hand?" Rainbow Dash questioned of all things. This word alone garnered the attention of both Sunset and Twilight who shifted their gaze upon Psalms who began to sweat bullets.
"*Ahem* Hoof! ...I mean can we lend a hoof...to you...to help...yeah." ...Fuck...
"Real smooth." Thomas chided.
View Online
Chapter 4: An Adventure Already?! (Part 2: Rest, Regroup, Remobalize.)
“Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them."
-Ezekiel 38:7
It was easy. Far too easy. The greatest nation on this side of the world, full of powerful arcane tools and weapons, mighty sorcerers, and four immortal deities that controlled the sun and stars themselves, and they had folded in less than an hour. Their nation subjugated in less than a day. The battle had been won before it even started. Far too easy indeed.
It was pathetic and sad even for Tempest to acknowledge their defeat. She didn't expect much, Equestria has always been a peaceful nation, and with an all-powerful, all-mighty leader like Celestia in charge, who wouldn't laugh at the idea of a successful invasion? That bug queen years back sure made them eat their words. You'd think after that they would boost security, strengthen the army, and do anything to make themselves more safe and secure.
And yet here she was, standing upon the royal balcony of the royal castle, having petrified the mighty sun princess with little effort. The other two fell just as easily. Not even a speck of royal guards anywhere on the site. Celestia must be getting rusty, first the bug queen and now her, a broken unicorn. Not so powerful, is she?
A cluster of colorful balloons passed her view as she gazed upon the festival below. A snort escapes her. "All this 'power', wasted on parties." After witnessing the events earlier, Tempest wasn't sure there was anything greater the princess's power could be used for. Another snort escaped her as she turned back into the throne room. Passing by the sun princess she can't help but level a glare at her, horn sputtering with damaged mana. "When there are far greater uses."
Before her two of the storm beasts approached, bearing a magical hail from the King himself. Uncorking the potion into the cauldron, and with a little magical trouble later, the scrying spell summoned a vortex, bearing the Storm King’s image.
"Oh. There you are." The King stated as impatient eyes reflected on her. "Here's the deal. I'm in the middle of a big re-brand here. 'The Storm King' is tracking well as intensely intimidating, but you know what? I need to back it up. You know what I need to back it up with?" If Tempest had any care to respond, the King beat her to it, his image expanding as his anger flared. "A storm! That would be great! You promised me magic that could control the elements, and right now, I'm holding a what? A branch. A twig. Bleh!"
Exhaustion flooded Tempest's mind as she once again informed the Storm King as to the purpose and power of said branch. It's ability to siphon the alicorn magic and harness the power for himself. "You'll soon have the power of a hundred armies."
The Storm King's tone shifts to that of a mixture of arrogance and belittling when he next speaks. "So that would be a yes on your locking down the four Pegacornicuseses, or whatever you call them?"
"Give me three days. I'll have everything ready for your arrival."
The King's eyes narrowed. "You didn't answer my question. Do you have all four little ponies?"
Tempest shifted her gaze towards the little groveling Grubber. The useless little creature opted to whistle away, eyes pointedly not looking in her direction. Index fingers pointed together before mustering what little courage he had and shook his head no before cringing away from her gaze.
Tempest's teeth grounded away before she heaved a small sigh and faced the King once more. "...No. One got away...but my forces will find her."
"One?" The Storm King questioned, sarcasm dripping from his words. "Are you sure it's only just 'one'?"
Mild Confusion settled onto Tempest's features. "...Yes, your Highness. There are only four alicorn rulers in total within this and the neighboring nation."
"Huh, that's really interesting. Help me with a little math problem why don't ya, ey Tempest? There were four pegacorns over there where you are. Three down, one just now got away, right? So why am I getting a report from over an hour ago of two more being spotted in a train station south of a...really? This is real? A town called... Ponyville? Seriously?"
A report from an hour ago? Two more alicorns? "...That's not possible, your grace. All currently existing alicorns ar- were present. The records clearly state tha-"
"Well, clearly you didn't do your homework good enough. And here I thought I finally found a competent commander." Indignation rolled through Tempest. "If you can't properly count your princess ponies, then how can I trust this isn't just some regular stick, huh!?" Rage rippled across the King as he gripped the staff tightly, heaving it above his head. Cracks began to form along its rod body. "A lot of wasted time for this useless branch. Guess it's back to square one!"
"No!" Tempest screamed out, halting all before her. She was quick to calm her panicked expression upon noticing she had the King's attention. "No, your grace. The staff and its power are real, I can vouch for that. To destroy it would be to set us back by years. I have been away from Equestria for decades, perhaps there are more alicorns running around but we only need four total. I will deliver them to you, I swear."
"You better have once I get there, Tempest, for you and your horn's sake. After all, I've got an image to run here. What good is conquering the whole world if there isn't any flair or pizzazz to go along with it, huh? You're on the clock, best get trotting along now. Toodle-loo." The Storm King topped the call off with quickly fading laughter until silence descended upon the room.
Cold hard eyes settled unto pathetic little Grubber, who could only muster a hard swallow. "A report. An hour ago. More alicorns?"
Grubber swallowed hard once more. "Ah, well, see, uh you were hyping yourself up with the whole capturing the princesses and stuff and you may have cried a little when you mentioned your horn to no one when I was eavesdropping... not that I do that a lot or to you but you were brooding in the corner and I had received the messaged you're asking about right now and back then didn't seem like the best time to interrupt so...but yeah. They were spotted at a train station and in a castle in a town called...Ponyville."
"Then we have our leads."
"Twilight! Spike!"
"Sunset!"
The trio greeted each other heartedly as they embraced upon the river bank. The others gathered around were content to let the three have their moment.
"I didn't know you were coming today! You said you wouldn't be able to make it. What changed?" Twilight probed.
"I was telling the truth back then Twilight, I am, well, was too busy to be able to join, but then these two-" Sunset flinged her head in the human's direction, "-knuckleheads begged me to come save their hides. There was a fight and everything, but now I'm stuck here. One of those beasts petrified the mirror. These two explained to me the situation, albeit very vaguely."
"And what exactly is going on? Canterlot has just been ravaged by mangy hulking brutes, the princesses are all stone, and they're after Twilight for her magic; Do any of you three know why they're doing this?" Rarity questioned.
"They've captured the princesses!?" Sunset exclaimed.
"Because of a traitor!" Dash was quick to enter the conversation. "It was a unicorn of all things! Came down in a giant airship and started demanding our surrender. If I had known then, I would've popped that gas bag in ten seconds flat!"
"How did you know to come to help us, Sunset?" Spike inquired.
"If it wasn't for those two, I wouldn't have known any of this would be happening at all. I've never heard of this Storm King before so they're the ones with the answers about all that." Sunset sent the two humans a hard glare before looking back at Twilight. "But, their story is full of holes so I need you to confirm something. The yellow and black one there is...'Fire Quill' and he knows a lot about me and the human world and claims to be your friend. Is he?"
Twilight fixated upon us and suspicion settled upon her features followed by Sunset and the others upon hearing her next words. "No. I don't recognize either at all. I've never met them before."
"That's really funny because he sure knows about you and me. He even knew about the portal but not enough without asking me to open it. Even mentioned the invasion and the Storm King and how you were seemingly unaware of the coming danger."
"We had no idea until twenty minutes ago. The ship came down, then that unicorn... she attacked us and now the princesses are captured."
Rainbow Dash was quick to circle the duo. "That unicorn was a traitor to Equestria. Who's to say these two aren't spies as well?"
"Normally, I'd be quick to dismiss Rainbow Dash's rash claims, but recent events have shown that she may have merit, I'm afraid." Rarity piped in with a nasty stink-eye leveled their way.
Fluttershy, Spike, and Pinkie opted to remain silent while Applejack prepped her lasso. She along with Twilight, Sunset, and Dash slowly encroached upon the two.
"Now would be a good time to explain yourselves." Sunset asserted.
Thomas and Psalms were quickly cornered upon the bank, leaving no room to further retreat. "All right, enough with the drama, they're just ponies for crying out loud." Thomas declared before a swift kick in the rear was delivered to Psalms, knocking him forward. "Just tell them everything already."
An indignant huff escaped from Psalms as he reared off the ground. "Not everything. I already botched first impressions, I'd at least like to keep an air of mystery."
"Only if you wish to keep our trust away for good because right now, you're off to a bad start. You tried to lie about your name, you lied about being Twilight's friend, you know a lot more about this Storm King than you're letting on, and you know things you shouldn't about me and my home." Sunset closed the distance, a stony glare aimed directly at Psalms.
"Start flapping 'em gums if'n ya don't wanna be tied down now." Applejack declared as she gripped her lasso and began twirling it in the air, ready to hook either one.
Tension overflowing, it was Twilight who acted first to calm everyone down, having ushered herself between the former humans and her friends. "Everypony, please calm down. Let's not get too hasty." Turning to the humans, she greets them with a brief small smile before it drops back to its previous gloomy state. "We've been through so much in such little time, and I'm still struggling with what happened back up there, we are being hunted as I speak so we can't afford to delay our mission. We could use all the help we can get, but we need to be able to trust you. Please, tell us what you know."
"Yes, yes, of course. Sorry, it's just... never mind. Ok, uh, well for starters, you can say we aren't from around here, Equestria I mean. We... we come from a faraway land-" The look Thomas sent Psalms way did not go unnoticed. "-a land too far to reach, so to speak. Anyways, We know about the Storm King because for years he has been conquering faraway nations, leading an army of beasts, and subjugating all in his way. He seeks all manners of powerful magic and has obtained an ancient relic, a staff, that will allow him to harness said magic from even the greatest of sorcerers, even alicorns. I had to lie about being Twilight's friend because otherwise, you wouldn't have come to our rescue. I'm sorry, by the way."
"You come from far away, hmm? From what nation do you hail? I may be well versed in all manners of fashion and high society, but one must know of all geological places and nations of greatest importance to stay relevant within the world of fashion."
"I... er...um... United States of...Amareca?" The look Rarity sent was of suspicion and disbelief. Thomas could be seen silently mouthing the word 'Amareca' to himself, disgust flashing across his eyes for a brief second. Thomas had never heard of such bullshit before.
"Another lie?" Rarity nodded to Sunset's questions. "Thin ice, 'Fire Quill', and it is melting by the second. How could you possibly know about me and the human world? And again, what kind of names are Thomas and Psalms?"
"Look, girls, I... I'm sorry but right now just isn't the best time to discuss this, I know I haven't given you anything for you to trust with, but we are on the same side, I give you my word."
"Just tell them the truth," Thomas whispered into Psalms' ear. "Quit with the lying. Why are you even doing it in the first place?"
Psalms continued to keep his eyes upon the natives as he spoke to his side. "They already think we are spies what with me knowing things I shouldn't like Sunset and her home; if I tell them we're humans from another world who just so happen to run into them in the midst of an invasion commanded by a traitor unicorn, you think they'll believe us? Suspicious timing to them. I thought I could bluff my way through."
"Enough talk. Get them!" Dash cried out, as she streaked straight toward Thomas's side.
Following those words, Applejack was quick to fling her lasso around Psalms' neck, but as Psalms struggled to free himself, the lasso soon caught onto the nape of Psalms' coat, and with a heave, Applejack pried the coat straight off the stallion's back, leaving all eight natives to gasp.
Flared into motion, Psalms' phoenix-colored wings extended and retracted with irritation before settling back to its owner's side, bits and pieces of feathers ruffled and riled.
Silence descended as each creature took a moment to examine the newly uncovered male alicorn before them. "You're... you're an alicorn?" Twilight was the first to find her voice, a cocktail of perplexion and intrigue flashing across her features.
"...Yes, my brother and I, we are alicorns. My name is Psalms, but you can call me Fire Quill, and this is my brother Thomas, but you can call him... Thomas. Thomas, meet the six heroes of Equestria and their little scaly friend." Psalms was quick to introduce each native respectively. "We have come a long way from home."
"Male alicorns... the notion of such an existence has never been considered possible before. In all of Equestria's history, not once has there been a mention or record of male alicorns at all."
"That's the thing, isn't it? Not in Equestria's history, but maybe there is in some other faraway land we know not of. Just as we have never heard of the Storm King before, so too would we not know the existence of male alicorns on the other side of the world. That's how you know about the Storm King before we did. He's been hunting you two down for your magic all across the world, hasn't he? Long enough to forgo you two and initiate a surprise attack on Canterlot and take all four unprepared princesses at the first chance." Sunset concluded to herself and the others with neither human willing to correct her assumption just yet.
All mouths were soon shut as a clap of thunder rumbled across the sky. Up above, everyone could see the entire invasion fleet begin scattering into several groups bearing course in all directions. One group of half a dozen airships soon began the descent that would plop them far too close to the group's comfort.
"We need to move. Twilight, you said this queen hippo is in the south, right?" Psalms of course knew but feigned ignorance regardless. A quick nod from Twilight prompted him further. "Good to know, c'mon, follow me."
"Woah wait, where are you going? South is that way." Spike thumbed at the mud path past the fallen tree.
Psalms didn't stop his trudge along the river bank as he called back, "You know there's a desert towards the south, right? I don't know about you, but walking into a desert without a mode of quick transportation or supplies is a sure quick way to get yourself killed. I'm taking you to our new home and family, we'll rest for the night and stock up before heading out in the morning, now cmon! Those ships are getting too close. We'll use the trees as cover."
One last glance above was enough to send the others to scatter forth. Twilight and Sunset shared a glance before Sunset offered only a shrug as she and Twilight followed suit.
"Again. Please! Last time, I promise! I just need to see them one last tim-"
"Alright, alright! I don't mind you looking, just... no more pointy things, please. And no flashy magic or spells or whatever that was a second ago." Heaving a sigh, Thomas once more took his coat into his mouth and slung it off his back, exposing his vampire batwings to an all too-crowding group of girls and a male lizard who have already seen them five times now. Honestly, they're just wings; creepy, ugly, evil-looking ones too in his opinion, nothing like the angelic aesthetic adorning Psalms and Twilight or the other two pegasi. The others however seemingly didn't judge their appearance, opting to instead examine them in curiosity.
"Remarkable. We know so little about alicorn physiology what with there being only five, well previously presumed five, alicorns in existence. Wing genotype has always been the default pegasi form, with the exception to Nightmare Moon's distinct appearance but that was still an avian subtype. But, yours bears a striking resemblance to that of the Thestrals, even to that of Fluttershy during her bat phase." Twilight finished her examination of Thomas's wings before moving to the rest of his physical features. "Aside from your wings and the fangs in your mouth, nopony would think you other than a regular pony. Are you by any chance an alicorn thestral hybrid? Who are your parents?"
Twilight had been poking and prodding Thomas all the while as she asked her questions. Thomas gently pushed Twilight away as she tried to pry open his mouth once more. "Uh... yeah I have no clue what I am. My best guess is half pony half goblin/gremlin/demon or pterodactyl. Whatever the case, your best guess is as good as mine."
"Why even guess at all, Dontcha know your own parents?" Pinkie Pie relayed to his side, bouncing all the while.
"In this world? I don't even know if I have them to begin with."
The mood soured at his comment what with Pinkie ceasing her bounce and Applejack hanging her head slightly. A small sob escaped Fluttershy. "Oh you poor thing, you were orphaned?" She asked through growing tears.
Thomas threw a dumbfounded look their way before responding. "Uh...no. I don't think this body has parents to begin with, or at least I hope it doesn't." The last thing I need is to find out I'm from some incestuous royal bloodline. "Pretty sure it was conjured up by divine powers or magic or whatever."
The girls took a few seconds to glance between themselves before Rarity piped up. "I believe I speak for everypony when I say, I don't understand what you mean." Added nods from the others confirmed her words.
Thomas heaved a heavy sigh before responding, "For the love of... just go talk to Psalms if you want to know more, alright? Sunset here can tell you how little I know of anything right now. Bottom line is, one moment I was human, the next I'm a walking, talking, pretty horsey, ya get me?"
The word 'human' struck a chord with both Sunset and Twilight. The two shared a look as Sunset mouthed the word human to herself, understanding dawning on her. "That would certainly explain they're weird names, they're not from this world at all."
"Both of them are from the mirror world?" Spike asked as he centered himself between the two. A puzzled look soon found itself on his face, "But I thought we just established that they're from the other side of the world, being chased around by the Storm King for a long time, long enough to force him to come here."
"Well, from what I can recall, neither of the princesses knows when the mirror was created or by who, it was just simply there for who knows how long. With both of them being alicorns, they could be ancient for all we know."
"But there's another problem," Sunset interjected, "I've been in the mirror world for quite a while, and far as I can tell, it's just another version of Equestria. Same ponies but different species. Names like Psalms and Thomas still stand out to me, whether or not they're human names. The dots aren't clicking."
"I'll talk to Psalms," Twilight asserted as she trotted ahead, "I'm sure we can sort all of this without getting a headache."
"Jumping Jiminy crickets! You have no cutie-mark!" The shout from Pinkie turned Spike and Sunset's heads as they along with the others conveyed themselves around Thomas's posterior, much to his chagrin. Sure enough, The Crimson Princes' flank was entirely blank.
"How the hay did we miss that?" Applejack questioned.
"I think we were all looking at his wings at the time," Fluttershy replied.
Thomas was quick to reassert his cloak onto his withers. "Yeah, yeah I have no mark, so what?"
"So what? SO WHAT!? How could anypony not care or want to know what their special talent is!?"
"Maybe because I'm not a pony, to begin with? Because I'm a human? Something I just told all of you like less than five minutes ago?"
Rainbow Dash flapped herself over Thomas. "How old did you say you are?"
"Twenty-two?" Thomas replied, brow quirked up.
"And how long have you been in our world?" Spike asked after having saddled himself onto Sunset's back.
"At least a day," Thomas answered. He took a moment to examine his limbs and his surroundings before releasing a soft snort. "I'm still trying to comprehend how I'm a horse in a fairytale land of magic and prancing ponies. And now I'm seemingly on a quest to save the kingdom right off the bat; Go figure."
"Well, then it's no wonder why you don't have a cutie mark yet. Don't worry darling, I'm sure with enough time, you'll have it in a flash." Rarity assured.
...Yeah, not too sure I want something called a 'cutie-mark' on my ass thank you very much. Thomas offered only a grunt in response.
"Oh-Oh-Oh! How about we play a game!? Each of us come up with an idea for Thomas's cutie-mark! We'll compare and contrast and the best one wins! I'll start! Ok, you look like a pony whos good at-"
"Woah, woah, wait minute. What exactly is a... ugh, cutie-mark? Stupid name, by the way."
"Well, simply put, it's a unique symbol that denotes an aspect, passion, characteristic, or skill that you behold among other things. Each and every pony, zebra, and thestral has one and it is usually earned at a young age. The reason we were shocked to find you don't have one is that the notion of an adult without a cutie-mark is unheard of really."
"Huh..." Thomas was quick to examine each other's symbols before turning up at Rainbow Dash. "Your symbol means?"
"Heh, I'm not known so much for my symbol as I am my speed. Just watch, I'll clear that cloud over there and be back in ten seconds fla-" Applejack was quick to grab hold of Dash's tail before flinging her down to the ground. "Hey! What gives?"
"Have ya forgotten the sky is riddled with airships looking for us?"
"Pfft, I knew that... I was just going to give it a quick buck..." Dash folded her arms and began to lazily drift away.
"What ya need to understand, sugarcube, is that cutie-marks can be as complex or vague as Dash's or as simple as mine. Apples, Applejack, I live and work on an apple farm, it speaks for itself."
"So what do you think yours will be, huh-huh-huh?" Pinkie questioned, each 'huh' propelling her face further into Thomas's personal space.
Thomas redirected his gaze back to the trail, noting how Twilight and Psalms were considerably ahead. A frown adorned his face as his mind ran rampant with ideas, but struggled to latch onto any. "You're asking me to simplify my entire existence into that of a little symbol that could mean thousands of things. Nothing is coming to mind."
"Really? Nothing at all?"
"...Can one have a cutie-mark about something they hate? ...Something they...fear?"
The group of natives looked upon themselves, unsure what the answer was. "Well... I suppose if you have strong enough emotions about it, it could possibly manifest. Why? Is this thing you hate or fear the only thing you can think of?"
Thomas opted to remain silent. His wing talons pinched and painfully dug themselves into his hide and his mind ran rampant with raging turmoil as it fixated upon the only thing it could not move away from. Fire.
Psalms let out a little squeak as Twilight saddled herself to his side. "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
Oh man, oh man, oh man, she's right there! Psalms made a quick gulp before responding, "No, no, you're alright. Just been looking out for more of those ships. I should be paying attention on the ground as well. Ambushs can come from anywhere."
A forlong look adorned Twilight's features. "Ambushes shouldn't be a thing a pony has to look out for in Equestria to begin with. Why would anypony ever think of invading our peaceful kingdom? It just doesn't make sense."
"Evil doesn't have to make sense, Princess. So long as it has a goal, any goal, and enough will and power, it'll move mountains to achieve it."
"I suppose you are right. And please, you can call me Twilight." She offered a small smile.
Psalms gazed upon her and reflected his own smile, stopping for a brief moment to offer his hoof which she was happy to take. The duo continued their trot soon after.
"So, you and your brother are humans," Twilight stated.
Psalms hesitated for a split second before nodding away, "Thomas spilling the beans back there?"
"In a sense. Doesn't seem like he cares about keeping secrets. I have a feeling you two aren't from the mirror world, are you?"
"Nah, we aren't. Me and Thomas come from another human world, not much different from Sunset's excluding all the vastly colored people. Like hers, ours has no magic...well maybe? Who knows at this point." Psalms offered a limp shrug.
"Speaking of Sunset's world, how do you know about that and her? Far as I know, only Spike and I along with the princesses have any extensive knowledge about that world. I find it hard to believe Celestia or Luna would disclose the nature of the mirror to anypony without informing me or Sunset first."
"I'd find it hard to believe they'd do that as well. No, I know all this because... well, because I was specifically chosen to reincarnate in this world. Yes, before you say anything, I died when I was still a human. Instead of retiring to the Great Beyond, I was chosen by my God to join his army in the coming Holy War. Your world is but one of countless many in God's domain that has come under the assault of one of hell's demons. They chose me because I already have extensive knowledge of this world and its people and magic. In a way, you could say I even have knowledge of your world's future, premonitions if you would, although I know not how useful they may be."
It took Twilight several seconds to wrap her mind around the new information before she finally responded. "Our world's future?"
"To a very limited extent. The catch is that I know the future of an Equestria that doesn't have me or Thomas in it, so again, I know not how useful my 'premonitions' are if they are at all."
Again, it took Twilight more time to comprehend his answers. "When you say 'God' you mean a divine being of immense power? And you're telling me that our world is at threat from a divine war that we know nothing about? An ancient evil from beyond our realm is on Equis and you're here to stop it?"
"More or less. It's the nutshell version but let's save this conversation for after we deal with the Storm King and his invasion, then I can tell all of you princesses everything and not have to repeat myself. Is that fair?"
"Yes. Yes, I suppose we can put this off for now, The Storm King takes priority."
"Right. Once we rest and get everything we need, we'll head for the train station and see if we can find a ride down south. Airships are obviously a no go and teleporting across towns will bring us to the forefront of any invaders. Trains are speedy and use isolated tracks for the most part; so long as we keep it chugging, we should make out of Equestria before they even realize it. If they find us and give chase, the train's speed should excel that of the airships, leaving them in our dust trail."
"Good enough a plan as any. The only problem is that I don't know where these hippo lands are other than south. I would suggest we head to my castle library but Ponyville is already under siege and we can't risk getting caught. Perhaps we can make a detour stop at Apple Loosa and I can asse-"
"Gonna hafta stop you there, Twilight," Psalms shot her down, "The Storm King and his forces invaded from the south. Every town in Equestria aside from the far north is already under his reign. We'll be passing by Apple Loosa on our way out, but we'll no doubt attract their attention. We can't afford to slow down then or we risk being captured. I'm sure we'll find someplace safe enough to research way down in the south, but let's focus on getting there safely first, alright?"
"I suppose it will have to do. I'm assuming your parent's farm doesn't have anything that'll help?" Psalms was quick to shake his head. "Figures."
"Adopted parents, and I'm nineteen. The funny thing is I died as a human yesterday, reincarnated as an alicorn in the middle of the woods, found my brother within the span of an hour, and we stumbled upon this nice group of ponies that were all too happy to take us in once they knew most of our story. I lost and gained a family within a single day, talk about a rollercoaster of emotions."
"Wow, I can't imagine what that was like for either of you." Twilight hummed to herself a bit before replying further. "I have to say, you and Thomas look nothing alike save your alicorn physiology."
"That's because he's my adopted brother. We became a family under the same group of ponies. Honestly, there's not much I can tell you about him other than he's human like me. I stumbled upon him not ten minutes after arriving in this world. Coincidence? Certainly not, but the reason for it I still don't know. I'm sure he'll open up given enough time, but time may not be on our side in this matter."
"Why not?" Twilight inquired.
"Because Thomas doesn't want to be here in this world. He wants to go back to Earth, our original home. He was hoping to ask you princesses to help him, but I'm not sure how well things will work out for him. He may not be able to go back at all if he reincarnated as I did, again I don't know enough."
"Why would he want to leave?"
Psalms hesitated to answer. "I'm not sure it's my place to tell you, sorry. All I'll say is, I believe Princess Luna is the one who can help him the most. What he's going through may ring some bells with her."
"We'll all provide whatever help he may need," Twilight applied a hoof to her chest, "You have my word."
"HELP!" Thomas's cry could be heard from behind. Turning back, the duo was witness to a flurry of colors and shapes mixed together in a growing cloud of dust and dirt. "THESE CRAZY CHICKS ARE TRYING TO INK ME!"
"Fangs! He'd look good with a fang cutie-mark!"
"Too brutish darling! Personally, I believe a nice chiseled sapphire or ruby would do wonders to match his coat, they would certainly compliment his crimson eyes."
"Oh-oh-oh! How about a cape to complete his vampony look! Watch out everypony, Count Thomas has come to suck our blood! Blegh-blegh-blegh! Tee-hee-hee!"
"Consarnit y'all, we need to keep quiet."
"GET THAT QUILL AWAY FROM ME! PSALMS, TWILIGHT, HELP!"
"...Your brother doesn't have a cutie-mark?"
"Heh, he will in a second."
"Oh, my boys! My wonderful new baby boys! Welcome back!" Honey Buns was quick to envelop both young stallions upon entering the farmhouse. Her earth pony strength was at full display as she crushed the wind out of both sons. "Thank Celestia above! You two are safe and sound!" She topped her display with several kisses to both stallions, eliciting many rounds of giggles from the group of girls and dragon behind.
"M-mom, not in front of our guests." Thomas half-heartedly tried to protest, not nearly as embarrassed as Psalms was at the affectionate display.
"And what guests indeed. VIP for that matter." Ingot proclaimed as he washed his hoofs of the dirt and muck he garnered outside. "You two have returned far early than I anticipated. What went wrong?"
"Everything," Thomas commented, "The whole kingdom is under invasion. Three princesses were captured, and the capital has fallen. That group is the only one to escape."
Ingot inspected the group once more, a small smile soon adorned his face. "I know you lot. Elements of Harmony. Always saving the day. Glad to see you girls are all safe and accounted for. I'm assuming you already have a plan in motion; what brings you here to our homestead?"
Honey finally allowed the brothers freedom from her smothering. Psalms took a moment to catch his breath before responding. "We need to head on south, find the land of the hippos. Nothing but desert over there so we'll need to rest and gather resources before trekking that way."
Honey was quick to instantly deflate upon hearing his words. "'We'? You're going with them? But you just got back here!"
"It's ok, Mom. We're staying the night, and resume our journey in the morning. I know we just got back but they need all the help they can get. You know my mission, my reason for being here. I can't not help."
Tears threatened to cascade down her face, but she was quick to smother them away, a look of resolve adorning her. "You’re right. You’re right sweety, I'm sorry. A mother can't help but worry for her little doves. *Sniff*-*Sniff*."
Sniffling could be heard from the girls, mainly Fluttershy and a little from Rarity.
"Thank you both for being such gracious hosts," Twilight declared upon the two with a hearty smile, "We'll do everything in our power to keep your sons safe along our travels."
"You better," Honey warned to the surprise of all, Ingot being the most affected as his jaw slackened. "Princess or not, if a scratch is laid upon their heads you won't be able to escape the wrath of La Chancla!"
"Alright Honey, it's nap time. Go on now, back to bed. I'll be sure to serve you in bed when you wake up, go on now." Ingot cooed to his wife and carefully lead her away back to their bedroom.
"You'll have to forgive Mom; she tends to get cranky when family is in potential danger." Ink relayed as she fished through the refrigerator, not a care for the mane six in the world. "Anyway, we still have plenty of leftover food from the night before so help yourselves to whatever. Me and Dad will prepare bedding in the basement for all of you. Oh, one last thing, try to keep noise to a minimum. We just got Rocket to sleep and he'll explode if awakened. Got all that? Great, thanks, bye." And just like that, she was gone as well, still no care in the world.
"Charming family, darling." Rarity asserted. Nobody could tell whether her comment was sarcastic or not.
"Are those three actually related? Their daughter looks nothing like either." Sunset commented.
"Alright everypony, better get some chow down an' hit the hay. Long day tomorrow." Her piece said, Applejack and the others were quick to scavenge the fridge clean of contents.
Psalms managed to pluck two apples from the group and surveyed around to find Thomas, only managing to catch a glimpse of him trudging upstairs to their room no doubt. Sure enough, upon entering their shared domain, Thomas was laid flat out on his bed. Dreary, dark, miserable eyes reflected upon his brother before he released a sigh and flopped his head back to the bed. Covering every inch of his body, crude, amateur, pathetic attempts at cutie-marks were on display. The shapes and symbols varied wildly.
"Looks like you had some fun."
"I've never been manhandled by horses before. Their stupid boney hooves hurt, man. I'm aching everywhere."
"A nice hot shower should do just the trick. I'll let you have first dibs. Don't take too long though, your apple will get warm." Psalms magicked the apple over to Thomas's nightstand.
"They're children. Worse than children...well, not all of them. Rarity is all hoity-toity, but she is nice enough. Dash has an ego as high as the moon. Applejack is running the show for the most part. Pinkie Pie is a literal child that is certainly getting on my nerves. Fluttershy...too quiet...too-too quiet. I don't trust her." Psalms quirked a brow at that. "And Twilight? A little too touchy. All of them a little too upbeat for my tastes but whatever. Oh...oh God... you mention that there was singing earlier... oh this is going to be a pain."
"Hey now, don't get all doom and gloom on me just yet. These girls are one of a kind. Give 'em a chance, you'll be surprised at what they're capable of."
"At least we have the lizard." Thomas heaved a sigh. "That little dude is all right, no complaints here... well except one thing."
"Which is?"
"Little dude has a huge crush on Rarity, a full-grown woman." Thomas's hide visibly rippled. "I can't be the only one uncomfortable at the thought, right?"
"Don't worry, it's just puppy love. Nothing will come of it."
"Sure hope not. Ok, I'm taking that shower now. Back in a sec." Psalms soon found himself alone in his room, he took a moment to reflect on the journey from the river all the way back home.
First impressions were botched, but things are looking on the up and up now. Hopefully, our journey will be a breeze.
A distant clap of thunder that quaked the house hampered Psalms' hope.
The morning was just as dreary and chaotic as the last, more so even. Strong winds buffeted the barn and farmhouse and the animals were once again driven into a frenzy. Luckily, with the combined efforts of Applejack's herding skills and Fluttershy's soothing whispers, The stampede was halted and steered back into their pens with little effort. Rainbow Dash was slick but careful in popping the overhead storm clouds that threatened to form a tornado. Thomas and Ingot fished through the barn for bits and pieces that could help tidy up the rickety wagon, while all the others were inside the house, abuzz with activity as they collected and organized their travel supplies.
Laid upon the dining table, was a series of items and tools, the very basics of what constitutes a desert survival kit. Psalms raddled off to each item as Sunset and Twilight along with Rocket observed and noted each object. "Alright, we have enough food and water to last a week at the most, two fire starter kits, a first aid box, enough sleeping bags, and three heavy framed pitching tents. Goggles and glasses for sandstorms, a portable cooler, a compass, and a basic map of Equestria should we need to find an alternate route. I doubt we'll be spending more than a day in the desert, but it never hurts to come prepared."
"Fire? In the desert? That's like... twice the hot!" Rocket exclaimed in complete bafflement.
"It's for the nighttime, little squirt. Deserts can be scorchingly hot, but at night, it can become really cold, really fast."
"That's dumb." Rocket simply replied. A second later, a tremendous thunderclap rattled the very earth, sending little Rocket careening to his mother.
"Sounds like troubles coming," Sunset commented as she summoned her magic and took hold of several items, “C'mon, let's get all these over to the door."
A minute or two later, The front door burst open as Rainbow Dash settled herself inside. "Airships are everywhere in the sky, that thunder is coming from them scouring the forest. None are too close or heading this way so we need to start hoofing it."
Applejack entered a second later, "Wagons ready, y'all. Weather ain't getting any better, best hop to it."
Hop to it they did as they loaded each item within the wagon. Enough space was allocated to allow all ten occupants room aboard. Ingot trotted out of the barn, a bundle of rope and slings within his magical grasp. "Managed to find some reins for two. Which among you is the strongest?"
At a glance, one could easily pick out Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but it was instead Thomas with his slightly bulky physic that was chosen to lead alongside Applejack. "I'm better at keeping to the skies. Watch our six and all that. Don't worry, egghead, I'll be extra careful." Dash said as she flung herself into a spiral above.
"AAALLL ABOARD!" Pinkie helpfully called out. She dug into her main and pulled out a whistle and blew with a mighty gust of breath, eliciting uncontrollable laughter from Rocket as he laid upon Honey's nape. The rest of the family had maneuvered themselves to the front of the house like the day before, bidding goodbye and well wishes.
"You better not forget about my souvenir!" Ink reminded.
"Please be safe! Take care of each other, all of you now ya hear?" Honey pleaded, dancing on her hooves once again.
A steel hoof wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her tight against Ingot's side. He calmed her racing heart with a soft smooch before flashing the wagon a smile and waving farewell.
The group said their farewells, shouted in Pinkie's case, passed the front gate which they closed once fully exited, and began their trek to the train station, repeating the same journey the brothers took the other day.
"All right everyone," Thomas called out from the front as he and Applejack paused for a brief moment, capturing all present attention, "as you all may or may not know, Equestria is under lockdown and any ponies seen by the enemy will be immediately detained and handed off to the nearest imprisonment camp, or I assume at least. Anyway, they get their claws on us and it's game over, they spot us before we reach the trainyard, and it's game over, which is why I need all hands on deck. Eyes and ears open, mouths shut... or at least very quiet, and weapons at the ready. Shouldn't be too long till we reach the trainyard."
"Weapons? Does Applejack's lasso count as one? Because other than that, we don't exactly go around parading arms in our adventures." Twilight informed as the others nodded in agreement.
"Raritys always whipping that couch out of nowhere whenever she gets into one of her moods, does that count?" Dash snickered as said fashionista rolled her eyes.
Thomas fixed them a questioning glare, "So wait, you six go on these epic adventures and fight big baddies and none of you have any weapons for self-defense at the very least?" ...*Crack!*, the sound of a hoof facepalm could be heard from Thomas, followed by a grunt of pain. "Hooves... no hands... clear as day. Say, Rainbow Dash?" It took a second for her to slide to his side. "You pegasi can physically manipulate clouds, right?"
"Yep! Any shape or size. Wild or not."
"Hmm... Think you can wrangle up a decent-sized one and have it positioned over us as we travel? Use it like a camouflage so that any eyes up above see just a traveling cloud?"
Dash took a second to ponder. "I can gather up a decent cloud, but it won't follow us."
"Sunset and I can use our magic and keep it tethered to the wagon." Twilight offered.
"So long as it works, use whatever means. Dash can use the cloud as a crow's nest of a sort, keep an eye out with the added benefit of cover."
"Aye, aye, captain!" Dash mock saluted before rocketing away.
"Fluttershy." Thomas called out, eliciting a small 'eep' from said pony. Thomas heaved a sigh, "Fluttershy...need you for a sec." It took more than a minute for the pony to fully emerge from the back. "...I hear you have a way with animals, you can... request them to do things to an extent, right?"
Fluttershy opted to retreat within her mane, eyes facing the ground. "...Erm, yes, they usually do what I ask."
"Can you ask several critters to be our scouts for up ahead?"
Fluttershy tilted her head slightly at the request. "Scouts?"
"Yeah, scouts. Ya know, have them do some recon for us? Move ahead of the wagon and warn us of any trouble, can you do that?"
Fluttershy swept her gaze along the forest canopy before returning to Thomas. "There's not a lot of critters running around. Most of them are scared to their wits... but I'll try." She received a nod from Thomas.
"Rarity... I don't suppose you can magic up a needle and fabric and begin weaving up some actual camo for the wagon, can you?"
"Well, whatever for, darling? I was under the impression we'd be ditching the wagon once we find a train."
"That's the plan, but there's no guarantee we'll find a train over there to begin with. I mean there was only one when we first arrived so the chances of finding another docked there are low. And that's not taking into consideration the possibility that the trains may need repairs, or there's an enemy force and we need to look for an alternate train yard, or-"
"Alright, darling, I get the picture. Regardless, my hooves are tied. My magic can't reach all the way to my shop and I can't just magic things from nothing."
Thomas simply shrugged his shoulders. "Eh, worth a shot... hey, think you can camo up my cloak instead?"
Rarity hummed to herself as she seized the cloak within her magic grip, a scrutinizing eye scanning every thread and stitch. "Hmm... I'll first see to its restoration before considering the application of any concealment." Rarity continued to talk to herself as she turned away to the back of the wagon.
"Jeez, Thomas. Were you a military tactician back on Earth or what?" Psalms commented.
"It's called basic common sense. I've never been on a dangerous mission adventure before, but one would think of some measure of precautions before venturing out."
"Oh-oh-oh! What can I do!? What can I do!?" Pinkie asked as she bounced upon her tail.
"Pinkie, you can... you can...hmm." Silence descended for a solid second. "...You can take stock of food and water, make sure they're nice and secure. The last thing we need is to be smack dab in the middle of the desert and find our provisions missing or forgotten."
"Oki-doki-loki!" She disappeared in a flash.
"Psalms you... what can you do?"
Psalms' eyes reflected left and right before offering a shrug. "I was a glorified janitor back at the orphanage so...emotional support?"
"...Just be extra lookout."
"I'll be extra lookout."
Thomas offered a nod before reflecting on himself and Applejack. "Guess we'll be the heavy haulers for the moment."
"Ain't too bad at the whole leader thing, so you can fall back on that."
"Nah, ain't leadership... advisor, I guess? I dunno, let's just get this show on the road."
"Giddy-up now, heeyawh!" The crack of the reins along their spine elicited a startled cry from both ponies, they were quick to turn a glare at the offender.
"...What?" Spike questioned. "Everypony else got a job, so I declare myself the driver. Not my fault you forgot me."
The duo's glare soon dropped as they both released a sigh. With another, softer, crack of the reins, the wagon and its crew began the journey toward the train station.
View Online
Chapter 5: An Adventure Already?! (Part 3: Runaway Train Troubles.)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
-Hebrews 12:1
Smoke choked the azure as its spread left little of the blue sky. Thunder clapped and rumbled across the heavens above, and only the bravest of animals skittered across the earth. Thanks to Fluttershy's efforts, multiple woodland critters of the land and air dutifully performed recon on the terrain ahead as Dash remained within her cloud nest, eyes vigilant on the storms around. They widened at the sight of an airship and she called a warning down below.
With quick urgency, Thomas and Applejack dove to the side of the road, allowing the tree top and their personal cloud to provide cover as the airship lazily floated by. Not a single word was spoken as all held their breath. Once the ship had fully passed, Dash signaled the all-clear.
"That's the fifth one in the last hour, and all came from the direction of the train yard ahead. We should double back and find an alternate station." Sunset warned, heaving a sigh and wiping a trail of sweat away.
Psalms turned his head towards the receding airship, its figure shrinking by the second. "We're almost there, we can at least check it out before writing it off. Doubling back now is an unnecessary risk."
"I see the piled-up luggage and abandoned carts up ahead, Psalms," Thomas called from the front. "I'm parking this wagon to the side, let Fluttershy's friends finish their work."
"Roger." Psalms turned to the shy pegasus, who opted to hide amidst her mane, "How much longer till they come back, Shy?"
"Uh, erm," Fluttershy adopted a nervous mask. She looked this way and that, watching for any of her furry friends. She spotted movement along the bark of a tree and was happy to be pounced upon by a chipmunk. It crawled to her ear and whispered its report through its chittery tongue. "Uh-huh...uh-huh...*Gaps!* Oh no! There are ponies over by the station, but the beasts have them in chains! There's one airship docked, and they are almost done loading the prisoners!"
"Is it safe to approach along the road?" Applejack inquired.
The chipmunk chittered some more before hopping off the pony and rushing back into the woods. "It's safe to move, just be careful."
They didn't need to be told twice. Applejack and Thomas resumed the trek. As they closed the distance, they could see the billowing of smoke from an airship that was obscured by the station itself. The duo settled for a forest alcove to hide the wagon.
Thomas was quick to unhitch himself. "Pslams with me. The rest of you stay here." Nopony offered any objections and the two humans were quick to reach the exterior of the ticket booths. Rounding the corner, they framed themselves against the wall as the enemy airship and its prisoners came within view.
Chained together and ushered in single file lines, multiple rows of ponies and a few other species were being led into the bowels of the gasbag. It would appear that the airships they had seen earlier had been ferrying prisoners as well, as the remaining prisoner columns held very few souls. Off to the duo's side was a docked train, one that wasn't there yesterday. Thomas found himself pleasantly surprised. "Looks like we got lucky. I honestly didn't think we'd find another train over here."
Psalms reflected his gaze back to the prisoners. "Lucky for us. Not for them, unfortunately."
"They brought this train to us, that's all that matters. Hmm, looks like we're extra lucky, they're almost done loading 'em up."
It took an additional five minutes before the last of the prisoners were finally loaded. The storm beasts meandered for a bit before they too started boarding the ship, but not before throwing a mild wrench into the ponies' plan.
"Ah, crap," Thomas cursed, "looks like they're leaving a garrison." Sure enough, the airship began to ascend, leaving a small retinue of twelve storm beasts. An elite unit by the looks of it, with each wielding a spear and magic-resistant shield. For whatever reason, they remained within the outer area with little care to move to the station. Yet. "Twelve. Armed, but lackluster. Not great, not terrible. If they stay right there, we could easily get the train moving before they know what hit them."
"...But?" Psalms asked, sensing a 'but' coming.
Sure enough, it did. "But, I doubt they're gonna stick around in the heat. Those things look built for winter conditions, they'll be moving into the shade any moment. If we're taking the train, we have to take them down. Can't risk them notifying the whole invasion fleet either." Psalms was in agreement and the two retreated back to the others.
"Good news and bad news. Which do you guys want first?" Psalms called out to them as they reached the wagon.
"Good news? Good news!? I like good news! oh goodie-goodie-goodie! What is it!?" Pinkie vibrantly requested.
"Good news is that there is a train docked within one of the ports. We can easily steer the wagon to its side and begin unloading the cargo, which is exactly what I need you, Fluttershy, and Spike to do in a moment. The rest of you will be helping deal with the bad news." Psalms informed.
"Which is?" Sunset asked.
"Twelve elite storm beasts. Each with an anti-magic shield and spears. Right now they're out in the open and in a perfect position for Dash to deliver a surprise attack." Thomas explained.
"A surprise attack? Now we're talking, what's the plan?" Dash asked, anticipation filling her eyes and itching her wings.
Thomas motioned for all participating members to gather around as he grabbed a stick with his magic and began making figures on the dirt floor. Pinkie and Fluttershy latched themselves to the wagon and strode towards the train, Spike in tow. "I need you to gather together a sizable storm cloud. Psalms saw fit to explain more of your abilities to me earlier so you'll be our shock and awe. Hover directly over their gathering and deliver as many lightning kicks as you can onto the group. If we're lucky, the lightning should knock them out and we'll be done in ten seconds flat. Your specialty, or so I have been told." Dash winked his direction.
"If not," Thomas resumed, "then we'll go for the tried and true approach. Overwhelm them with arcane and brute force. I've already seen Sunset in action but I'm not too sure about you two." Thomas indicated to Twilight and Rarity.
"I admit, combat is not my forte, but I still have a magic spell or two that will assist in the heat of the moment. If push comes to shove, I am not averse to getting my hooves dirty. And you need not worry about Twilight, darling. She is the Element of Magic after all, she can handle these brutes for sure."
"An' I can wrangle up some nasty varmints no trouble," Applejack reassured.
Psalms and Thomas shared a look before nodding together, both satisfied with their team's qualifications. "Alright then. Applejack, Rarity, and I," Thomas called out as he drew their figures into the dirt, "we three will remain on the station's outer property, and hide along the exterior edge of the ticket booths; once the battle commences, our job is to ensure that none of the beasts retreat in our direction for cover." The two natives nodded in understanding. Thomas then drew a thin trail that circled around the beasts drawing, "Sunset, Twilight, and Psalms will flank through the trees and establish a semi-circle formation, cutting off any potential retreat into the forest and peppering them however they can. If all of this works out, we'll have them completely surrounded. Dash, the moment they break apart, you're free to engage whoever. Everyone know their stations? Any questions?"
"How tough are these varmints?" Applejack prompted.
Thomas reflected in his mind all the moments he had dealing with the creatures, compiling and sorting the information into brief notes. "They have exterior armor plating along the shoulders and chest and their mask or face or whatever is tough as nails. Their shields are anti-magic so watch your magic beams. They can take a beating too. Oh and watch out for ones hauling satchels, they carry those petrification grenades."
"What if they're too tough to defeat?" Twilight asked, a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Then we buy Pinkie and the other two enough time to get the supplies onboard. You're the smartest among our group, supposedly, so you'll have to figure out how to get the train running."
"Maybe we should load the cargo and get the train prepped before going through with this attack?" Sunset suggested.
"No time," Thomas relayed with an added shake of his head, "they're in prime positioning for Dash's attack and the longer we wait the sooner they got off their as-er I mean flanks, and make for a greater defensible position. We strike fast and hard or not at all. Enough questions, get to your places, break!" With that, each pony was quick to maneuver to their designated areas.
Thomas, Applejack, and Rarity were the first in position, gaining confirmation that the group of beasts had yet to move and that the plan was still a go. It took a couple of minutes for the other three to reach their spots as the edge of the forest was farther away from the beasts than the station, but it worked out all the same as Dash finished her storm collecting just as they reached their designated areas.
Dash gave them an additional minute before making her move. Quick as her namesake, The storm cloud was positioned directly over the storm beasts who were slow to realize the coming danger. With a flap of her wings and a jolt of thrust, Dash came crashing down onto the cloud, all hooves pivoted against its electric surface.
The flash of lightning struck true as several of the beasts lit up like Christmas trees. The booming thunder was an added bonus, leaving various beasts to cusp their ears and drop their tools, something that each magic user capitalized on as they seized the shields and spears amidst the beginning chaos. Another strike of lightning landed amidst them, eliciting more grunts and roars of pain.
Before the third lightning strike commenced, the beasts grew wise and dispersed before the attack could be made. It came as an additional surprise when the few remaining beasts with spears aimed directly at the cloud and unleashed magic lasers of their own. Dash was quick to vacate as the storm cloud was punched full of holes.
And thus the ambush phase was completed. Seven of the beasts had been relieved of their tools, the other five fully armed, and all twelve dazed and bruised. From the forest, all three magic users emerged, closing the gap and unleashing all manners of magical might.
Witnessing an opportunity in the making, Thomas was quick to prevent Rarity or Applejack from emerging and joining the fight, at least not so soon. With all prominent magic users assaulting the beasts from one direction, they were quick to leave themselves exposed from the rear, all eyes fixated upon the forest. That was when the time to strike came. Applejack was the first to emerge, lasso flailing away, she hooked the rearmost beast around its neck and began to drag it away into the forest, its cohorts none the wise.
Hoisting one of their shields within his magical grasp, Thomas began his charge against another isolated member. With all his strength, Thomas flung the shield like Captain America against the beast's feet, toppling it to the ground where he immediately began pounding both front hooves repeatedly against its skull, not letting up until it was down for good. Only then did the creatures realize the true extent of their situation.
They were quick to reorganize against their assailants, prioritizing three of their armed forces to maintain a ranged conflict against the magic users as the rest focused on the weaker pony group. Sunset and Twilight were able to maintain their magical assault while withstanding the enemy's returned fire, but Psalms wasn't so well-versed in magical combat. Fatigue soon found itself within him and he was forced to retreat for cover from enemy fire. Twilight and Sunset tried to compensate for him, but with having to dodge incoming lasers and focus on their own targets, they could do nothing as the third armed beast advanced toward Psalms' position. It was then that Dash rejoined the fight, swooping and diving and distracting the beast however she could.
On the other side, Rarity was providing Thomas and herself with magic cover as the enemy bombarded their position with lasers. With both suppressed, The remaining unarmed beasts flanked the duo, arms stretched out and ready to capture additional prisoners... well that was the plan until they made contact with the enemy.
Bursting from the forest, Applejack remade her entrance as she hooked another beast around the feet and began dragging with all her strength. Her surprise attack startled her victim, who promptly latched onto another beast, leaving both to be dragged around through the dirt and muck. Applejack wasn't the only thing to burst from the forest as a large swarm of squirrels and chipmunks bum-rushed directly onto one of the beasts, leaving it flailing and screaming in a panic. Their initial plan shattered, the remaining two unarmed beasts began a hasty retreat but Thomas was having none of it.
"Rarity!" Catching her attention, he gestured his head towards the two beasts maintaining fire on them, "Keep those two occupied! These are mine." Hoisting another shield, he charged into the fray. One brave beast stepped up to the plate and met Thomas head-on. It latched onto the shield which Thomas relinquished upon contact, before turning towards the other one. Using his magic, he scooped up a handful of dirt and threw it straight into the beast's eyes. The thing let out a roar of pain and began to furiously rub at its face, delaying its intervention in the fight.
Turning back to his first foe, Thomas wasn't surprised to find himself on the back foot as the beast re-equipped the shield, using it to bash at him from every angle. The one drawback for the beast was the size of the shield that effectively left it blind whenever it commenced its bash attack, something Thomas was hoping to take advantage of. Ducking and dodging, bobbing and weaving, the beast went with another bash, but upon recovering, it was perplexed to find its opponent unaccounted for. Flanking to its right, Thomas delivered a swift kick to its knee joint, bringing the creature down. He was quick to pin himself against the beast and with all his magic might, yanked upon the arm holding the shield. Roars of pain filled the air and the creature relented soon enough. Heaving the shield into the air, Thomas brought it down with all remaining arcane strength, successfully conking it out.
Thomas was left in a lethargic state but had enough juice for one mighty kick to the groin upon the other assailant who had yet to recover from his dirty trick. With a shrill cry, it too fell for good. A cry from Rarity alerted Thomas to her failing state as her magic shield beheld many cracks, doomed to fall at any moment. With one last gust of energy, Thomas propelled himself before her, shield in tow, and began weathering the barrage as the last of her magic collapsed.
The two beasts rangled by Applejack had had enough as they fished within their pouches for grenades. One 'nade found purchase upon her lasso, that petrified it on the spot, ceasing her little round-up. The two beasts stumbled back onto their feet and soon enough began a barrage against Applejack as she struggled to evade their projectiles.
Rainbow Dash was a flurry of motion, delivering taunts and attacks equally as her foe was too slow to retaliate. As much endurance and speed as she had, she was lacking in strength and power as her moves did little against tough hide and armor. But that mattered little as her goal was to buy Psalms time to recover and finish the fight. It took Psalms a minute or two to fully capture his breath, but once he was ready, he primed his horn with all the magic he could muster into one mega-magic beam. He allowed his mana to reach critical levels, settled himself into the perfect firing position, and waited for Dash to give him his shot.
Dash swirled one last time around the creature before stopping directly in front of its face, blew a raspberry, then high-tailed away as Psalms took aim and fired. It tried in vain to raise its shield in time, but the magic struck before it could, leaving it flailing through the air and down onto the railroad tracks. Psalms slumped against a tree, all energy drained, and had only enough to barely remain conscious. His fight was over.
The remaining beasts began to waiver amidst their falling numbers and clever foes. Fear and desperation began to take hold as they struggled to maintain cohesion. As if things weren't bad enough for them, the magic spears from the two facing Twilight and Sunset ceased firing their laser, battery having been drained much to their panic. Driven to desperation, the remaining six combat-effective beasts regrouped into a tight circle formation, hoping to cover each other's flanks and weather the assault.
A distant boom echoed from the direction of the train station and a large shadow began to morph around the beast's last stand which grew darker by the second. Within a flash, a cake the size of a boulder landed a direct bullseye, ending the battle with a sugary finish.
"Thanks, Pinkie Pie!" Several called out, eliciting shouts and cheers from said pony, her signature party cannon smoking beside her.
The last remaining beast, the one who had remained completely covered in woodland critters the entire time, continued to flail and scream like a girl before he slammed himself cold upon the bark of a tree. No critters were harmed in the process.
"Whew-nelly! That was a tough one! Everypony ok?" Applejack called out.
Aside from fatigue and a few scrapes, the group had come out none the worse. "Tired, but ok," Sunset reassured. Her eyes surveyed the battlefield. "Is that all of them? Did we get them all?" She turned back to Applejack. "What happened to the first one?"
"Hogtied in the forest yonder. I'll get 'em in a moment." Applejack informed.
"I saw another one flying onto the tracks. I'll make sure it's down for good." Thomas called out, leaving the others as he ventured away.
Turns out he didn't have to stray too far as the beast barely managed to get back on its feet by the time he rounded the corner. Its senses were dulled and broken as it swayed from side to side drunkenly on its limp, wandering around aimlessly. It saw Thomas and lethargically equipped a blue potion within its claws, raised it as if to strike him down, then promptly collapsed onto its back, the blue potion broken and its contents spilled, blinking away before its luminescence darkened completely. Careful to avoid the unknown potion, Thomas sidestepped till he was by the creature's head and delivered one kick to the noggin, just to be sure. "Well...that's that."
Ponyville was a bust. Whether the reports were true or not, all three targets had managed to escape despite no exfiltration from the castle which suggested teleportation. Tempest couldn't help but *tsk* at her time being wasted. She spared one last glance at the petrified mirror before taking her leave.
There were no clues as to wherever they could have possibly gone and the magic needed to whip up a breadcrumb trail from the lingering teleport energy was beyond her skills or power. The journal on the pedestal was equally useless. From what she could gather, a pony or two tried to enlist the help of one of the princess's friends, the mirror before her being a portal of a sort. It's how they escaped no doubt, rigged one of the grenades to detonate once they crossed over denying further access. Equestria officially had guerilla fighters running amuck, and if they manage to reach the Princess and her group, well that was an additional headache she didn't need at the moment.
Teleporting back onto the deck of her command ship, another headache presented itself as Grubber waddled before her. "You find anything down there?"
Tempest treaded past him without sparing a glance. "Get the ship moving, we've wasted enough time."
"So, I take it that's a no?" Tempest was quick to flash her anger, sparks flying from her horn. Arms flying up, Grubber cowered before her might. "BecauseIjustrecievednewspleasedon'thurtme!"
Tempest's snarl lingered at the lowly creature for a moment more before her features visibly calmed as she released a heavy sigh, "Report!"
Grubber visibly gulped before responding back. "W-we just got a call from one of our forward groups but there was no connection established. We tried calling back, but we've received no response."
"Where?" Tempest demanded. With any hope, the call would originate from-
"The train station mentioned in the alicorn report. News is we just finished rounding up pony prisoners before leaving a contingent behind. No word from them since."
Tempest cast her gaze along the south. Airships dotted the sky and more were turning up by the second. "How long until we arrive?"
Grubber took a minute to count on his appendages. "...An hour, forty-ish minutes if we set engines to maximum overdri-"
"Do it," Tempest ordered.
"Ah- right, of course." Grubber turned to relay her orders but hesitated for a moment, then turned back to Tempest, "I-uh took the liberty of issuing the order for all nearby ships to condense onto their location."
"Oh, really now? Done stuffing yourself like a pig and finally flexing some command now, hmm? There may be hope for you yet." Tempest stated as she pushed past Grubber's flabbergasted expression and descended down the bowels of the airship.
"...R-really?" He asked, genuine hope lacing his words.
The heavy cackles of the commander reverberated from beyond the dark entrance and her echoing words frazzled Grubber's nerves. "In your dreams. Know your place, rodent."
The hogtied beast, the first to go down, was thrown into the closet with the other eleven before the door slammed shut and was magically locked. "That's the last one. Gotta say, I'm impressed with your tactical skills. Were you part of the human army or what?" Sunset fished around as she and Thomas exited the interior of the train station building. The battle had finished roughly half an hour ago, and in that time all the cargo was successfully loaded, enemy tools confiscated, and final preparations for departure were underway.
"Heh, nah... I wish, but it takes a lot of... time and patience to get a job like that, and I'm also not cut out for that kind of stress. I play a lot of video games; military games, strategy games, and mil-sim games, enough that you could consider me an armchair general. I guess all that 'wasted time' is finally paying off, suck it, Dad." Thomas finished with a small grin.
"Well, I believe I speak for everypony when I say your experience is most appreciated." She flashed him a smile, one that he reciprocated a moment later.
The duo made their way toward a small gathering that lingered just outside the train's driver cabin. Thomas steered himself toward Applejack, "You guys manage to uncouple the excess cars?"
"Eyup," She confirmed, "Even managed to reattach the caboose onto the end. Train now consists of the driver's cabin, a single car, an' the caboose. Cargo's nice an' secure in the middle."
"Great. How soon till we leave?" Sunset asked.
"Eh," Spike shook his claw in the air, "depends upon Twilight. She's got the controls sorted out for the most part, just need to figure how to get it started and we’ll be outta here."
Thomas set his sights along the train's exterior, "This is a steam train, right? Don't they use coal as fuel?"
"Yeah, we got that figured out." Spike thumbed behind him at the boiler compartment. "Pinkie volunteered as the shoveler. We're just having trouble with the start-up procedures, once she knows, we'll-" Interrupting his moment, several clangs and clicks echoed from the engine compartment which was followed by a slow build-up of train chugs. "-...be on our way."
The harsh cry of the train whistle filled the air as Pinkie stuck her head out the cabin window, "AAALLL ABOARD! NEXT STOP, APPLE LOOOOOSA!"
"Pinkie!" Applejack exclaimed, ready to give the party pony some words but was interrupted as several claps of thunder drowned out all sound, even the chugs from the train. Several members gasped as the sky cleared away to reveal several enemy airships at varying distances but each steadily making their way. Careening out of control from above, Rainbow made a crash landing against the train tracks. "Rainbow Dash!" Applejack exclaimed as she and the others rushed to her spot and helped the pegasus up off the ground.
Said pegasus hacked out a coughing fit before responding. "So many ships, they came outta nowhere! I tried to warn you guys but they shot me down before I could."
"Everypony on the train, now!" Sunset called from the main car. All the others were too eager to comply. Once everybody had successfully boarded, Sunset sealed the cabin doors shut and locked. "Everyponies accounted for!" She shouted towards the front, "Full steam ahead! ...Hah, I've always wanted to say that... Pinkie! Shovel duty, double-time!"
"Oki-doki-loki! Wee-hee! Just keep Shoveling, just keep shoveling..." The blasts of several more thunderclaps rocked the train's car.
"Those lightning guns are causing quite the racket! We are safe here in this car, right?" Rarity worried.
"I say let's not stick around and find out." Spike wisely interjected.
Stick around, they did not as the train picked up gradual speed, leaving the trainyard and their pursuers farther and farther behind, but they weren't out of the woods yet. Airships all across the southern area of Equestria had been ordered to their coordinates, but upon spotting the train and its smoke trail, each and every one of them diverted to intercept, most beyond reach, some perfectly positioned.
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* The airships thundered away as the train passed them by. Their tesla cannons proved more than useless against the train's metal frame which absorbed the shocks. Seeing their failure, others tried using remote explosives, but that required them to position directly over the train and time their drops, something beyond the capabilities of the storms beasts as they time and again dropped their load too early or too late.
Nevertheless, the explosives posed a major threat to the train and its crew. One lucky hit and their train would be disabled for good. "We have to take those airships down! We can't risk having the engine damaged!" Thomas bellowed over the exploding chaos.
"How!?" Sunset cried out, "Dash is in no condition to go flying around! Why don't you go!? You got wings!"
Thomas took a moment to reflect upon his leathery wings before turning back to Sunset, frustration radiating from his face. "I can't! I don't know how to fly!"
Sunset blinked once, then twice, then her face exploded in a myriad of emotions. "What!? What do you mean you can't fly!? Are you kidding me right now!?"
"Can't you just shoot some lasers and pop them!?" Thomas tapped his hoof to Sunset's horn several times for added emphasis.
She was quick to swat his arm away, annoyance at clear display. "I already tried! Their fabric is tough as scales!"
Thomas's eyes brightened as an idea came forth. "What about overcharging your shots!? Like Psalms did back at the trainyard!"
Sunset made to argue but paused at the last second, leaned out a window, and primed her horn with an overcharging shot. She aimed for the one ship causing the most noise and fired away. Her overcharged magic was slightly slower than her regular shots, but its increased power made a world of difference as her target popped and began a hard descent off to the side.
Sunset turned back to Thomas with a wide smile but it was quickly replaced with worry. "Overcharging works, but I'll burn myself out with another shot or two, maybe three. You're free to give it a go with your own horn."
"Eh, not viable. I'm more a 'might' than 'magic' kind of guy... hey, what about the spears, think we can overcharge them?" Thomas asked as he and Sunset trotted over to the stockpile of enemy equipment. Hoisting one within his magic, Thomas surveyed every inch until spotting an internal spring switch along the interior of the rod body. Winding the spring until fully compressed, sparks started to emit from the head of the spear. Sharing a devilish look and grin with Sunset, he leaned out the car window and aimed ahead at the nearest airship. With a squeeze of the switch, the spear shot forth a fat laser rippling with arcane power that tore straight threw the airship's gasbag, leaving it to crash adjacent to the train tracks. Whoops and cheers sounded off within the car.
Tempest's flagship busted through the cloud cover obscuring the train station below. Already, several ships were docked with their troops out and about roaming every inch below. From so far up above, they looked like swarming ants, but Tempest had her sights focused elsewhere. Chugging away toward the south, the Princess was quick to make a speedy exit within her locomotive. Run, run, run, little princess. You'll trip on your dress soon enough.
*Crunch* *Munch* *Munch* *Munch* Grubber ruined the moment as he gorged himself upon a bag of chips. If it weren't for the fact the little weasel was the only one who could understand the storm beasts, Tempest would've ejected him off her ship years ago. Maneuvering to intercept, allied airships began bombarding the train with their tesla cannons. "Oh! We got them on the ropes now! Ha-ha-ha!" He took another fistful of chips and jammed them into his face-hole, eliciting an eye-roll from Tempest.
As the minutes passed, the effectiveness of the cannons proved inefficient. "Stupid beasts. Can't they see they're dealing no damage!? Switch to black powder barrels. Knock that train off its treads."
Grubber was quick to fish out the scrying spell and through a series of roars and grunts issued the new order. "Don't you think that's a little excessive?"
"If this princess wants to actually put up a fight, then I'm game. How long until they reach the next settlement?"
Grubber consulted with a nearby beast before answering back. "The thing is they're moving fast, too fast, so maybe... eight minutes?"
"Perfect. Get in contact with the next settlement's forces. We're going to rig them a surprise." Tempest finished with a growing grin.
Up in the driver's cabin, Twilight was hard at work eyeing each system and ensuring the engine ran in one piece all the while applying magic shields over the cabin whenever bombs strayed too close for comfort. Psalms was busy reading the map and pinpointing their exact location and estimating the time until they reached Apple Loosa. Spike stood upon the train's dashboard, keeping an eye for any airships ahead and providing calls outs whenever necessary. A bright flash lit up the entire cabin, and a moment later, one of the airships popped like a balloon, crashing into the earth and trees. Shouts and whoops echoed from the train car.
"Alright, we're making good time, great time actually. If my calculations are correct, we'll pass Apple Loosa, speed in between the Macintosh Hills, roll right along Rolling Rock Ridge, and reach the edge of the Badlands within fifteen minutes at the most. This train must be more advanced or efficient than the last because Apple Loosa is already directly ahead and we just barely left the station."
"That, or Pinkie is a really great shoveller," Spike thumbed at the posterior chamber.
Twilight examined the engine's readings, whispering to herself all the while before finally turning to the two. "We need to slow down, we're putting on too much steam. The boilers are reaching critical levels and if we push too far, we risk a complete shutdown or bypass all safety measures and leave the train speeding until it explodes."
"How long until it's too late?" Spike asked.
"At the rate we're burning, five minutes. We have to hemorrhage steam now." Twilight reached one of the emergency valves and began twisting until she was interrupted by the cabin door exploding open.
"Twilight! Twilight!" Fluttershy cried out as she skitted to a halt before said alicorn, a falcon remain perched upon her mane. "You have to slow the train down! Up ahead in Apple Loosa, they've rigged the tracks to-" *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* Went the railroad in bright fiery mushroom clouds, "-...explode," Fluttershy squeaked.
Silence descended upon the cabin as each member slowly registered how dire the situation became. They...they blew up the train tracks? Disbelief flashed across Psalms' face, disbelief and growing dread. They blew the tracks... they blew the... how are we going to get past? How are we going to make it to the desert now...did I fuck us completely?
"Hey! What happened, what were those explosions?" Thomas asked as he and the rest of the ponies crowded into the cabin. The silence hung thick as their expected answer never came. Thomas flicked his eyes between Psalms and Twilight in increasing irritation. "...Well!?"
"...They blew the tracks... in Apple Loosa," Psalms all but whispered.
"Blew the tracks?" Thomas parroted. He scanned around the cabin until he found a pair of binoculars and ascended to the roof hatch. Popping it open, it took him a minute to focus the lens onto the town ahead. Sure enough, jagged metal and burning wood were all that was left of the tracks rapidly approaching. Having his fill, he descended back down to the cabin, was at a loss for words, and opted to fling the binocs against the floor, startling the others. Sweat began to drip down his face and his breath began to run wild as internal emotions warred against his calm facade. He reigned them all back as he turned to the only two who could provide answers. "Well... shit...now what?"
All eyes turned to Psalms and Twilight, both of which held their silence. "The train was my only plan. Unless we can all be teleported far enough away, we'll never escape on foot."
"A mass teleport of this large of a group is very much ill-advised. Unless you want to split us up and risk an easier capture, but that would require us to slow the train to a stop..." Sunset adorned a forlorn mask. "...but at this point, we don't have a choice, do we? Any other ideas?"
"We could...no.... oh-oh! We could....no...oh-oh! We could.... ah never mind." Pinkie tried in vain to brainstorm but eventually, her resolve fell along with her mane and tail, both drooping limply.
Nopony else was forthcoming with answers... that is until, "...Why don't we just...lift the train over the damaged tracks?"
All eyes turned toward Thomas. "I mean, we can lift shit with these things, right? We have three alicorns present and sure we don't have a lot of practice with magic, but me and Psalms have a good enough handle on telekinesis. With our combined magic and the train at top speed, we would only need to float the train for a few seconds at the most. ...It's not great and it's incredibly stupid, but it is a feasible plan... right? ...Guys?"
Scattered mutterings littered the cabin, draining Thomas's enthusiasm, but they were drowned out by the sputtering of steam from one of the valves. Twilight was quick to rectify the breach. She checked the gauges and sputtered a small yelp before redirecting her gaze to the blown tracks ahead, panic running rampant in her eyes. "There's no more time to plan! We'll just have to make it work!" She shifted her gaze between each pony as she called them out. "Thomas, Rarity, you two oversee the caboose! Sunset will take the main car and Psalms and I will handle the cabin! On my mark, we apply all magic to the train, don't hold back for a second, now go! Everypony else, hang on tight!"
Each member was quick to scramble to their places, panic having taken hold of everyone's minds... well except for Pinkie, who was having the time of her life shoveling more coal into the furnace... somebody probably should've told her to stop... ah well.
Sweat dripped down the face of Psalms as the first of Apple Loosa's buildings passed them by, broken tracks closing in by the mile. "You know, Twilight, I didn't think things would get this out of control."
"You're telling me, I never planned on being a Princess in all my life, but here I am!" Without warning, thunder and explosive barrels assaulted each side of the train as it reached ever close to imminent doom. The attack was sudden and without cohesion which crescendoed in a near instant, all the while their accuracy was literally all over the place.
Psalms couldn't hold in his laugh as the barrage reached its zenith. "Their attack screams desperation! They must've thought we'd be cowed to their bluff!"
A barrel that came way too close for comfort exploded just outside the front of the cabin, rocking the room and its occupants down to the floor. "I'm happy to prove them wrong!" Twilight blurted out, a near-manic smile on her face.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* Went the railroad in bright fiery mushroom clouds. Checkmate, Princess. Good game, better than the other three, but that isn't saying much. "All forces in that town are to converge onto the track and establish a perimeter immediately upon its stop. I want all airships on overwatch and have the Grenadiers prepped and ready for boarding action. The alicorns are mine, petrify all the rest."
Grubber was quick to issue her orders. "Huh, so that's it then, nowhere to go. Game over."
"Indeed." Tempest agreed for once.
...
...
...
"...Uh... they aren't stopping."
Tempest released a snort. "Even a blind you could see the writing on the wall, and they know this. They will slow down."
...
...
...
"...Still haven't slowed down."
Tempest's eye twitched as her teeth slipped into a snarl and rage threatened to boil to the surface before it was simmered cool within an instant. She heaved a heavy breath and blew it very slowly, calming her singed nerves. "There is nowhere for them to go. Nowhere for them to run. They have no plan. They are completely surrounded and outnumbered. It. Is. Over. ....Any second now."
...
...
...
...
...
"...It's been a minut-"
"RRRAAUUUGGGGHHH!" Tempest roared into the open air, broken horn flaring and sputtering, her inner rage manifested in uncontrolled mana strikes upon her deck. "FIRE EVERYTHING AT THEM! EVERYTHING! TOPPLE THAT TRAIN DOWN! THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE!"
Their window of time was drawing to a close. "Everypony Ready!?" Twilight screamed out amid the chaos. "Thomas, Rarity!?"
The caboose was distant and the raging exterior cacophony hampered their voices but the duo had heard them loud and clear and shouted their answer with all their might. "Ready!"
"Sunset!?" Twilight fixed her gaze to the interior of the car.
"Ready!" She responded, a small smirk of confidence at her mouth's edge. It did little to hide her inner nervousness.
Twilight turned to her side and offered a small smile and a hoof "Psalms?"
Psalms was wide-eyed for a moment before he took her hoof and offered his own smile. "Ready."
"Alright, everypony!" Twilight reflected on the broken tracks ahead, her mind racing with running calculations and following formulas that would ensure their survival. "...Three!"
"Fire everything! Yes, everything! ...No! No, not the cake!" Grubber yelled into his scrying spell.
Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash reinforced themselves into the corner of the main car using several boxes and crates as a makeshift barricade. Spike locked himself into the furnace and Pinkie...Pinkie was living in the moment.
"...Two!"
Under Tempest's direct orders, All of Apple Loosa's garrison was stationed on the tracks, waiting to surround the train that was reportedly slowing down. The bullet train before them didn't look the least bit slow, a fact the beasts were, for their sake, quick to pick up on. Chaos descended among the ranks and each beast was left to fend for itself as they trampled over one another.
"In case we somehow mess this all up, I wish to express my thanks, for being my gallant knight from the battle before. Thank you." Rarity cuffed a hoof to Thomas's cheek and brought him close to deliver a kiss upon it.
Upon being released, Thomas remained still for only a moment before stammering and sputtering his words, earning a giggle from Rarity. "...Uh...uh, yeah, yeah, no problem. A-any time...wait, this doesn't mean you're gonna give me some cutesy name, are you?"
"...One!"
"...What are you doing?" Tempest whispered to herself. Disbelief overpowered all rage within Tempest as she tried to comprehend the very scene playing before her eyes.
Twilight and Psalsm shared one last look and a squeeze between their hoofs. "...NOW!"
*SSSSCCCCCCRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHH*
"AAAAAAGGGHHHHH!"
"HHHHHHHAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
"GGGGGUUUUUUUUUAAAARRRRAAAAHHHHHHH!"
The screams of all magic users filled the air as they struggled to lift the thousand-ton hunks of iron and steel. Gravity punished them for every waking moment. Eyes bulged and veins were nearly popping, but continue the struggle, all did.
*CCCCCCCCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHKKKKKKK*
The sound of screeching metal verberated from the caboose, its angle at a noticeable incline, leaving it dragging across the earth.
"Thomas!" Rarity screeched, sweat dripping from every pore and mascara running down her face along with a fresh stream of tears, even a little dribble of blood leaked from her nostrils. Thomas fared no better. "We...can't...slack! ...Lift...harder!"
Never before had Thomas felt such strain on his body, mind, or soul. The weight was crushing, bone-breaking, soul-rending... but push harder he did, enough to pop a blood vessel or several, leaving his eyes to gain a whole new level of crimson. With another cry of pain and effort, The caboose shifted its position just enough to fix the crooked angle.
Back in the front cabin, Twilight stifled her cries and cleared away the tears from her face, allowing her a clear view of undamaged tracks ahead. She held her breath, counting down the seconds until the caboose would clear the last of the damage...then their moment finally came. Her voice was gone at that point so she simply released her hold of the train. With her support lost, the others lasted not a millisecond longer.
*CCCCRRRRRKKKKKKKKKSSSHHHHHT*
A slight screech from the wheels reconnecting and... blissful silence, train chugs aside.
Twilight was gulping breaths down like no tomorrow and her horn was literally ablaze. A few flaps of her wings and the fire was put out. Beside her, Psalms was sprawled across the floor, limp as a fish and... completely unmoving. Worry flooded her fiery veins as his chest failed to contract. She waited for a moment, then another, then panic overtook her as she rushed to his side. Sure enough, he wasn't breathing, and terror threatened to overtake her senses but she reigned it back in and recounted all her medical knowledge.
Following the basic procedure, she applied both hooves to his sternum and rigorously began pumping, calling his name out each time, hoping his eyes would fly open at the pain. Thirty chest compression, calling his name in whispers each time as her throat had nothing more to offer. She did not hesitate upon moving to the secondary motion. Leaning all the way down, she cupped his lips to hers, delivered two breaths, and waited a moment for a response. Nothing. Rinse and repeat.
Psalms was standing in an endless plain, spanning beyond the eye's view, a virtual endless field of wheat. It felt safe, it felt familiar, the Angel before him certainly was familiar. "Dismas. I must say, I didn't expect you so soon." An impish smile lay smothered across Sophia's features.
It took Psalms a moment for his brain to catch up with current events. "...I...I died? Again?"
"You are what they call 'clinically dead' but truthfully? No. Fear not, your flame is hard at work bringing you back."
Flame? "...Twilight..."
"She has a most beautiful soul. Compassion... kindness... friendship... and so many more virtues. A being truly worthy of her gift."
"Sometimes...sometimes I wonder if I won't be good enough for her."
Sophia gently cupped her hand to Psalms' cheek, bringing his eyes to bear upon hers. "Let doubt fester within your soul and fear will compel you away for good. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
A wave of air blasted through Psalms' corporeal form, then another, driving a breath into his lungs, leaving him gasping for more. "A little spark, conjoined between two hearts, may yet burn together for all eternity."
Psalms collapsed to the floor as more air flooded his lungs, His eyes grew dark and his mind turned foggy. "I wish you farewell and good luck, Little Light. Your journey has only just begun."
Twilight delivered a breath and as she cupped her lips to his once more his eyes flew open and he choked upon the air she delivered, racking a coughing fit as his lungs burned. Tears flowed freely from her face as she and Psalms embraced each other, neither having the voice to utter words.
There they sat for a minute as each gathered their strength and breath equally. With one last gulp, Psalms finally steadied his lungs. Nodded his appreciation to Twilight and both slowly pulled themselves off the ground, Hooves untangling as each braced themselves fully to the floor. Passing by the boiler compartment, Pinkie was back to shoveling away at the coal. She offered a mock nod and salute before giggling to herself and resumed her work.
Limping into the main car, The floor was a mess. Their supplies lay littered across the floor and a few boxes had broken open, scattering their contents to all corners. Applejack nursed a nasty bruise on her forehead while going around with Spike and tried in vain to clean the car. In one corner laid Rainbow Dash, and another with Sunset who sat drenched head to hoof in sweat and a little bile of which Fluttershy was hard at work cleaning her right up. The triumphant smile on her face was all they needed to know about her status. With each face they met, they could only offer a tilted head or quirked brows and in return received a variety of 'I'm good' body gestures.
The cabooses door was wide open, providing the two a clear view of Rarity, napkin in hoof and Thomas in her lap. She went to work smearing away the dirt and grime and other less savory stains as he drifted away into a deep slumber.
Twilight and Psalms shared a look before racking coughs afflicted the two. Coughs that soon turned into roaring laughter, that was joined in by the others one by one, until the train's own chugs were drowned out by their cackling. Whoops and cheers joined in, and the world soon was nothing but the sounds of celebration... until it wasn't.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* The impact of the tesla cannons drove away the good cheer and once again, it was action stations. "Aaahh! C'mon!" Dash cried out, much to the agreement of every other soul.
Twilight limped with all her might to the front cabin, taking a quick note at the ridge to their left. The Rolling Rocky Ridge, notoriously known for its rocky avalanches. Any disturbance was bound to bring down a boulder or two, and today would be no exception. She took note of the steam gauge and immediately blew out her spittle before rounding herself toward the boiler compartment. "Pinkie, stop! Stop! No more coal!"
"Oki-doki-loki!" She offered her usual response.
Trudging back to the engine, she was quick to turn the emergency valves and bled the steam away. It was a miracle it hadn't shut down or blown up yet. As if there weren't enough problems, a great impact rattled the cabin which was followed by several blaring sirens. She and Psalms were quick to reach the dashboard, surveying the blinking lights and reading the warnings.
"Something damaged the interior of the engine." He scanned through the manual, quick to identify each flashing symbol and connect the dots, "A pipe's been ruptured... we're bleeding too much steam, if we don't fix this now we'll be dead on the tracks." Psalms relayed.
"Fix? Fix how!?" Twilight said in a panic as she checked, re-checked, and re-re-checked the engine and its steam gauges, indecision leaving her mind a muddy mess. "I barely understood the engine's manual, I'm not a mechanic!"
Psalms took a second to ponder his next move. Opening the interior engine crawl space, he was almost met with a blast of direct steam. Peering through, he could see the air visibly ripple and feel the scorching heat no doubt due to them overloading the system for so long. "...Spike! ...Spike!"
A moment later, Spike came clattering through the cabin, tripping himself over the many tools and items spilled from their brief flight. "I'm here! I'- oof... I'm here!"
Psalms motioned him over in quick succession, "You any good fixing things with a wrench and pipe?"
"Uh, erm, not really?" A shrug followed suit from the little forlorn lizard, but he was quick to brighten up, "Oh, actually yeah! I fixed a leak in a water main once! Even retrofitted a pipe! ...Well, actually I watched the repair pony retrofit the pipe, all I did was twist the screw tight. But other than that, I've never done maintenance."
"Well, what little experience you have is enough for me, and I have faith you're good at working and learning on the fly!" Psalms dug through the spare parts compartment and compared the pieces to those within the manual. Finding the one that looked ideal, he hefted the pipe and wrench into Spike's claws. "There's a ruptured pipe in the interior engine and it's leaking steam. You have to fix it or else we're doomed. No pressure." Psalms fixed him a weak smile.
Worry plagued Spike's face. "W-what? Why me!?"
*BOOM* *CRASH* "Because you're the only one who can stand the heat and a direct blast of steam! Because you're small enough to crawl through and install the part. Because you're our only hope now!" Psalms placed his hoof over the dragon's chest, giving him his biggest smile yet. "Because I believe in you. Everybody does, Ain't that right, Girls!?"
"I believe in you, Spike!" Twilight added her support, sharing a quick glance and smile despite her frazzled face and horrendous condition screaming otherwise. Voices from the main car and even as far as the caboose spilled their praises and cheers for the little guy.
"I believe in you, little dude!"
"You got this, Spike!"
"Nothing stops Spike the Brave and Glorious!"
"Be fearless, my Spikey-Wikey!"
Hearing the others add their support was enough to drive determination within his eyes. With a flick of his tail and a quick nod, Spike steeled himself and made a b-line for the interior engine hatch and soon disappeared behind a cloud of steam.
Taking a glance at the gauge, Psalms noted the quickly depleting power, even as the steam meter warned of its critical levels still. Not good, we need more power. Turning on his heel, Psalms made a dash for Pinkie, rounding himself to the boiler room, "Pinkie! We need more coal, start shoveling!"
In a flash, she straightened herself and offered a mock salute, an ever-increasing gesture the longer they spent on the train. "Oki-doki-loki!"
"No! Are you crazy!? Any more fuel and we risk blowing the engine! Pinkie, no more coal!" Twilight called from the cabin, too busy to leave her station.
Just as she was about to shove more fuel, Pinkie paused mid-haul and instead did a 180* and flung the coal back into the pile. "Ooki-doki-loki!"
Frustration boiled within Psalms, he applied a hoof to his face and began massaging it for a brief moment before calling out. "If we lose any more power we'll be sitting ducks!" Psalms redirected his gaze to his pink friend, "Pinkie, coal!"
Pinkie's mouth opened and closed several times, no doubt wishing to ask for clarification, before she shook her head away and plucked another shovel full of coal, "Oooki-dok-"
"Too much steam pressure and the engine emergency shutdown will kick in and we'll be guaranteed sitting ducks!" Twilight peaked her head into the cabin, sparing a moment to glare at the party pony. "No, Pinkie!" Her piece said, she ducked back out.
Irritation began to sprout on Pinkie as she once again dumped the load of coal onto the floor "Ok?"
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
"We don't have a choice!" Psalms climbed into the already cramped compartment and began heaving small clumps of coal into the furnace, desperation plastered upon his face as he turned to Pinkie. "Pinkie, please."
Pinkie turned her eyes to the entrance, then onto Psalms, then back again... before finally relenting. "Alrighty then!"
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
*Sprtz* *Sprtz* The discharge from the spears left a small cloud of smoke that left Applejack a coughing wreck. Heaving a gulp of air, she readjusted her aim and fired her overcharged spear once more. *Sprtz* Pop, pop, pop, went the airships as the ponies retaliated, sowing chaos among the sky and thinning their foe's numbers one by one.
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*
But each time the tesla cannons opened fire upon the ridge, the threat of falling debris presented itself as chunks of stone pelted against the car's side, leaving dents and small holes. Glass lay spilled across the floor as multiple windows caved in.
"Dagnabbit!" Applejack cried out as she tripped upon a boulder fresh from the outside. "Varmint's gonna bring the whole dang ridge down on us. Keep firing everypony!" *Sprtz* *Sprtz*
"I'm out!" Thomas's cry echoed from the caboose, a second later he came rushing through, eyeing every edge of the car for more weapons. *Sprtz* *Sprtz* Desperately digging around in one corner, he failed to find nothing more than trash and debris. "Where're the spare spears!?" He roared over the laser shots.
"Ask Fluttershy! She's reorganizing our supplies!" Sunset called out as she rushed from one window to the next.
Smack dab in the middle of the car, Fluttershy struggled to single handily compile and secure the group's tools and resources. With the car bouncing and skipping this way and that from the explosions and rocks, the crates kept falling from their bundles, and the damaged ones spilled their contents once more.
*BOOM* *BOOM* Thomas nearly tripped his way over to the pile, scanning every angle trying to find another spear. No dice. "Fluttershy, do we have any spare spears!?"
*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* The battle raging outside crescendoed, nearly deafening all on the train. "What!?" Fluttershy screamed out, but Thomas didn't hear a single word, opting to instead read her lips.
"Spears! Spears!" Thomas hefted his dead spear and began rigorously shaking it before the mare. "Spear-" *CRASH* *CRKT!*
Turning to his left, the crash of several rocks against the car wall, reverberated across the room, but it was what was coming yet that left Thomas scrambling over to Fluttershy, tackling her and driving out her breath as they skirted to one side of the car. All other ponies were warned of the coming danger and they too scrambled for the edge.
Not a moment later, A giant jagged boulder impacted through the already weakened car wall, tearing through glass and steel and, unfortunately, right through the group's gathered supplies before bursting through the other side of the car, leaving two gaping holes behind. The car became littered with broken wood, steel chunks, glass, and the remnants of their much-needed resources.
Rage overtook Rainbow Dash and she set her sights upon the one airship that had been tailing them the longest, one that had withstood all their overcharges while all the others fell with ease, one that had a magical shield that kept intercepting their attack. The one that had two jagged piercing blue eyes.
Without a moment of hesitation, Dash gripped her spear tightly and flung herself out the gaping hole, much to the panic and shouts of the others inside.
Ever since she was shot down back at the train station, she had been laid up recovering, practically useless throughout the train ride. Sure she nailed a ship or two, but anypony could do that with their eyes closed. Those gasbags were big, slow, and easy targets. No more, even if her wings and back were on fire, she was the only one who could strike a critical blow and get back in one piece, she had to, otherwise, it was game over.
Using the clouds and smoke as cover for above, She stuck close to the ground, allowing thermal soaring to do most of her flying work, and weaved through the trees to decrease the risk of exposure. Sporadically littered across the land for miles were the wrecks of multiple airships. The damage they took was practically nonexistent as shooting the gasbags usually entailed them slowly descending to the ground and wracking up scrapes against the hull from digging into the earth. Some were a bit on fire but for the most part, they had received little damage structurally.
As Dash settled onto a branch to regain her breath, the flagship floated by above, its cannons firing relentlessly. It was the same ship from before, the same one from Canterlot, carrying that traitor unicorn. Tempest. Oh, Dash had a bone to pick with her. Loyalty was her Element, and this mare was the physical manifestation of the exact opposite. That just won't do, time for them to get a taste of their own medicine.
With a mighty thrust, Dash launched herself high above, rocketing herself till she was directly behind the ship. The traitor had grown wise to their way of attacks and had magically reinforced their balloon. Dash was keen to find out if they considered the vulnerable engines as well. Time to find out. Revving up the magic, Dash unleashed all remaining power.
*Sprtz* *Sprtz* *Sprtz* *BOOM* Her aim struck true as fire crackled from the open wound. Several combustions sprang from the engine exhaust hole and smoke soon replaced the burning fuze from before, but after a minute or two, nothing else of note took place. Dash was disappointed at the lack of a fireworks display, expecting all engines to explode into a gushing fiery blaze, but alas, her work proved only to hamper the speed of the ship. Hearing the grunts and roars of several beasts, Dash dove back to the ground at break-neck speeds. She hoped to maintain her momentum as her train had yet to decrease its speed at all. From her position, she could see the end of the ridge and the great sand dunes beyond. Right as the ridge ended and the Badlands began, lay a high angled cliff of which the tracks took a sharp turn to the right, sharp for a train at their speed. They were beyond the event horizon.
Blaring sirens and ringing alarms plagued the driver's cabin as steam levels reached beyond critical. Twilight tried with all her knowledge to alleviate the levels, but they were past the point of no return. Spike appeared to be successful in his mission, too successful as the steam pressure proved too much. Pipes began to burst, and nuts and bolts were ejected at lethal speeds, bouncing all over the cabin, forcing her to shield herself. With one final spurt of steam, the engine's readings shorted and combusted into flames, followed by the dashboard and the steam gauge. The cabin was nothing more but fire and smoke, forcing Twilight from it for good.
Shutting the cabin door, Twilight was left gulping for air. Her wheezing alerted Psalms and he was quick to exit the boiler room and sat by her side. "Twilight, you alright? What happened?"
It took her a few more breaths before responding. "The engine is completely destroyed, we've overloaded the system. The emergency shutdown didn't kick in, we're on an ever-accelerating ticking bomb."
Psalms reflected onto the driver's cabin, then turned towards the rear two train cars. "... It's just the driver's cabin that's going to explode, right? We can move everyone to the caboose and brace for it. Summon a magic shield and hold." Twilight relented with a nod and Psalms made to inform the others but was stopped by one of Twilight's wings.
"Wait," She requested before turning back to the cabin, "We have to get Spike."
"Don't worry about him," Psalms reassured as he pulled Twilight along with him. "I've had time to go through most of the manual. Right now he's deep in the bowels of the steam pump which is virtually a steel bunker." Doubt still lingered on her face, which he was quick to remedy. "He's in a safer position than we are. Trust me." Twilight lingered on the cabin door a moment more before relenting with a nod.
Twilight headed into the main car while Psalms paused by the boiler room. "You are relieved of duty, Pinkie. The Equestrian Railway Public Transport Service Branch thanks you for your generous labor."
Pinkie flung the last of the fuel before planting the shovel deep into the coal mound. "They're gonna be hearing from my lawyer! I mean have you seen these working conditions?" Pinkie giggled away as she bounced into the next room followed by Psalms who was left slack-jawed upon seeing its condition.
An explosion rang out from the driver's cabin. The door's window imploded and fire cascaded out. Smoke began to leak from the breach. "Psalms! Over here! Hurry!" Twilight waved from the caboose, all other ponies looking over her shoulder.
Sparing a glance back, Psalms retreated toward the group, "What about the car!? Our supplies!? We have to secure them!"
"There's practically nothing left, darling! Not to mention there's no space left in here! Take a look ahead outside!" Rarity motioned Psalms to the open window. The whipping wind made it difficult for his eyes to focus, but growing closer by the second was a sharp curve along the tracks that were before a cliff that presented a grand view of the Badlands in all its sandy glory. There was no way they were escaping the coming flight. Psalms had seen enough as he ducked back into the caboose, window sealed shut. "We'll have to survive that first before worrying about our supplies." Rarity finished.
"We just can't catch a break, can we?" Thomas asked aloud, earning various forms of agreement from all present.
Another explosion rocked the front cabin and a fresh cloud of smoke surged forth toward the caboose. The door was sealed shut just as the smoke reached the entrance edge, successfully blotting the window's view. More explosions rocked the train caboose and a screech of grinding steel filled the air.
"We need to get off this fireball! Can one of you magic us all away!?" Thomas pleaded.
"Are you kidding!?" Sunset shot him a bewildering look. "After lifting a thousand-ton train!? I'm shocked we can even summon any magic at all!"
"Teleportation, Portals!?" Thomas desperately listed out.
Sunset gestured wildly at every individual present. "Too many ponies!"
Twilight's horn flared as she settled herself in the direct center, A half bubble having morphed around her. "There's no time to brainstorm! Everypony in!"
Everyone was quick to cluster together leading to the bubble to completely sealing shut. All other magic users flared their horns and added what little reinforcement they could. The outside world flashed by at the speed of light and it wasn't long before a sinking feeling entered everyone's stomach. Gravity had reversed itself and they were left flailing around as the windows provided a view of the heavens on one side, and the rushing ground on the other.
Straight out of an action flick, the train barrelled past the curve, landed off the tracks, skidded through the rocky dirt, and hurled itself off the cliff and into the sky at full throttle and then some. It actually gained elevation for a brief moment before gravity asserted itself as the dominant power at play. And just like that, the train disappeared from view and Tempest was left holding her breath with anticipation. Actually, fearing the worst.
Nothing else happened. No great explosion, no fireball, no magically flying train again, just dead silence on the deck. There was a brief streak of a rainbow that had been following the train. It too disappeared, following the locomotive.
"...Wow... that... was a once-in-a-lifetime thing to see." *CRUNCH* *MUNCH* *MUNCH*
Tempest found herself agreeing with Grubber's assessment once again, a thing she hoped wouldn't be reoccurring anymore. "Engine status?"
Grubber conversed with one of the beasts before relaying it to Tempest. "A lot of internal damage. Several broken fuses and we're hemorrhaging fuel. All in all not too bad. Easily fixable...."
Tempest could smell the hesitation and was having none of it. "But?"
"...But, your ship isn't carrying enough spare parts." Grubber hitched himself onto the rail and scanned the many smoke trails dotting the land. "We can salvage from one of the airships, but they're all behind us. Repairs will take some time too."
Tempest flared her nostrils and turned back towards the Badlands. At her nod, Grubber went scurrying, issuing the order to turn back. So, the little princess has some drive in her. Let's just see how far she can get.
View Online
Chapter 6: An Adventure Already?! (Part 4: Desert Dilemmas.)
Who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water,
-Deuteronomy 8:15a
As soon as the magic bubble morphed completely around everyone, silence descended within their cramped space save for wheezing breaths and an occasional whimper or two. Everyone was sharing looks at one another, fear and worry prevalent the most. The raging wind and fiery explosions were nothing more than dulled vibrations. The window to their right provided a perfect view of their ever-accelerating state as the curve in the tracks they saw before flashed by within a blink of an eye, followed by a horrible screech of grinding metal. Tremors afflicted the caboose as the train successfully landed beyond the tracks and dug through the stony earth. Before they could comprehend anything further, the tremors ceased, the earth disappeared and the Sun and sky became forefront to the window's view.
It was tranquil for the briefest of moments before the tell-tale sinking feeling of free fall afflicted all. One by one, every other magic user applied what little mana they could to the bubble as gravity was inverted and the caboose slowly began to tilt towards its side. From their port side of the caboose, the sandy dunes and scorching desert grew in size and detail as the seconds passed while the starboard presented the blinding sun along with its everlasting shine and a clear blue sky.
No words were muttered still and any cries from earlier were muted as everyone braced themselves for the coming crash. Bodies were pressed together and hooves interlocked amongst one another. Nearly all eyes were shut as each pony reinforced their heads against one another. Psalms shared one last look with Twilight, who remained ramrod as she beheld the bubble. Her eyes reflected dread but deep down a sparkle shined within as she watched him mouth to her the only word that brimmed in his mind. Faith.
Twilight's resolve strengthened ever so slightly and she nodded to him just as he was shutting his eyes closed and ducked for cover. As haggard and drained of magic as Twilight was, hope and faith still prevailed even in this most dire situation, and If she could behold such natures at the very moment, then what reason had he to be worried? With her confidence at the display, he shouldn't, but that's easier said than done. Anticipation flooded his veins as the seconds ticked by and Psalms did not dare open his eyes lest his heart beat its last, for the third time.
Then the crash came, and nopony within that bubble would ever be able to recall exactly what happened as one second all were held within a magic bubble, and the next, Psalms found himself flailing through the dry heat as buffeting winds assaulted his ears. In his panic, his wings had unfurled themselves, and tried as he might to land safely, his expertise with the feathery appendages still equaled zilch. It was a good thing he kept his eyes closed the whole way through as he soon found himself impacting through the head of a dune. The crash softened his momentum but he found himself within the air once more but at a heavy decline in elevation. He impacted the dune once more and was rumbling and tumbling down the slope. It must've been a small dune as he soon found himself splayed out on his stomach against a coarse rocky ground.
At first, he couldn't feel a thing, his mind was a swirl as if having been through a night out on the town. Opening his eyes was a mistake as grains saw their chance and assaulted his delicate optics. His scream filled the air as he scrambled along the floor, his body flailing around like a fresh fish out of water. Eventually, he settled himself onto his knees and allowed his tears to slowly build up and flow freely, taking his assailants along with them. His relief was short-lived as his senses returned in full, and the first sensation that filled his mind was the blistering heat adorning his back and searing his knees and wherever his naked body made contact with the ground. He was quick to jump onto his hooves which too began to burn, his froggy bottoms practically melting by the heat's touch.
And then there was the stinging. Piercing, aching stings littering almost every corner of his being. Sand covered every nook and cranny on him and the aching burning pain he felt was due to finding splotches of friction burns across his hide. Shaking himself free of most of the sand, Psalms was quick to survey his surroundings, hooves dancing as he tried to keep the ever-increasing burning sensations at bay. He was situated at the bottom of a sand pit but he was able to spot a smoke trail just beyond the hill's peak. Quick on his feet, Psalms scurried along the dune's edge, his wings abuzz in the hopes he could fly his way back. No dice.
Cresting the top, he was presented with the train and its three main components a fair distance away. He could barely hear the shouts of one of the ponies, but at his distance, he was unsure as to who. Staring long enough, he spotted movement, and with the lack of enemy airships around, he was confident it was one of his friends. Feet burning, he hesitated no more and began a mad dash towards the reck.
Amid the yellow sprawling dunes, and the grey outcroppings of boulders, the smoking remains of the train and its colorful cohorts were a welcome sight for Psalms. It was Pinkie who had perched herself atop the wreckage of the caboose, train whistle blowing as a call for all missing members to regroup at. She stopped upon spottings Psalms, eliciting a cheer from her as she bounced atop the train's carcass full of glee, hooting and hollering at the others all the while.
The wreckage before Psalms provided ample areas of shade and he was quick to sprint for the nearest open spot, noting the colorful coats of his friends within his peripheral vision along the way. Two yellows, orange, pink, white, purple, crimson...no sign of blue or green. The burning within his frogs was too much as he skidded along the sand and rolled himself into the cool shade. His breaths were heavy and labored as the burning in his feet and across his hide throbbed with every pulse of his heart.
"Psalms!" Twilight cried out as she flapped her way toward him before landing by his side. "Oh, thank Celestia, you're ok! I-I-I don't know what happened, one moment we were together and the next-"
"Flying through the air," Psalsm interrupted through labored breaths, "Yeah... I know... is...is everyone ok?"
Twilight was quick to nod away. "A bruise here and a scrape there, but everypony is fine; tired and drained of magic, but fine... well, except for Sunset, I believe her leg is broken. Fluttershy and I were tending to her and the others when Pinkie started announcing your presence..." It was then that Twilight eyed the various burns adorning his physic. "Oh no, you're hurt too! Just wait right here, I'll go fetch some cream." Twilight made to get the medicine but was stopped by one of Psalms' hooves.
"Cream? I don't remember us hauling cream on the wagon." He had personally overseen all their resources and there was no cream... unless-
"They came pre-packaged within the first aid kit," Twilight reported with a gleeful smile and a little dance on her hooves. "It is nothing short of a miracle we managed to find it; relatively undamaged too!"
Thank you, God, Thank you, Sophia. Psalms completed his thanks with a kiss to his pendant before stopping Twilight once more, "I'm fine, at least for the moment. See to Sunset and the others first, Thomas and I will wait last."
Worry flashed across Twilight's face as she switched her gaze to Thomas off to their left. "...If you're sure.... besides, I don't think we have medicine that could fix that anyway..." Twilight flicked her gaze to Psalms and nodded Thomas's way before turning back for the others.
Turning to his left, Psalms was witness to Thomas cradled in a fetal position against the body of the train, rocking back and forth and muttering words he couldn't hear. It appeared he had entered another state of madness, something that was increasingly worrying Psalms. He strode up by his side and tried all manners of gaining his brother's attention but his mind was gone. Pinpricked eyes, blood, sweat, and tears stained across his body, and his hide rippled and shivered with increasing frequency.
"...Hot...hot...hot...too hot...burning up...burning...burning, burning, burning... forever in a lake of fire... surrounded by a sea of glass," Thomas's eyes reflected onto Psalsm's, blazing rage bubbled in an instant, "...because of you!" He screeched as he shuffled onto his feet.
The girls all turned, eyeing the two with worry, and began to converge on them, but Psalsm was quick to shoo them away as he flicked his hoof at them, "We're ok, we're fine! Don't worry about us, we just need some time alone." Psalms flashed them a strained smile, convincing the girls to reluctantly turn back to their own affairs as they tried to ignore the shouting that followed.
Thomas was quick to seize Psalms by the shoulders and slam his frame against the exterior roof hatch of the driver's cabin, "What the hell was all that? Just what the hell was all that crazy shit, Psalms!? Outrunning an entire armada, lightning guns trying to zap us, explosive barrels raining from the sky, tracks blowing up!? We could have died back there, we almost died back there, I could have died!" Thomas emphasized his panicked rage with a heavy stomp into the sand, "I thought you said we were in some little kiddies cartoon, what the actual fuck!?"
"I know, I know, alright!? Just keep your voice down!" Psalms peeked to his right and continued upon seeing all the others preoccupied, a hoof cupped between the two, "Things... things had gotten out of control, I admit that, but so far it isn't anything that didn't or couldn't have happened in the movie...at least I think so."
Thomas's jaw slackened. "W-wha...what!? What do you mean you think so!? You said you knew what the fuck was going to happen ahead of time! Explain!"
A heavy breath escaped Psalms as he scanned the others before continuing. "Look, like I said earlier our presence is already a divergence from the cartoon's canon. I have no doubt what we went through most likely didn't happen in the movie, but I can't be sure because it was never shown how they got to the desert. One scene they were by the river where we first met, the next they're crawling through the desert dying of thirst."
"W-what!? We're going to die and you knew it ahead of time!?"
"Oh for the love of God, get your head screwed on straight already!" Psalms did not hesitate to apply a forceful slap against Thomas's face. "No, we aren't going to die, dumbass! Like I or the directors would let that happen, then there wouldn't be a movie at all." Psalms couldn't help but apply a hoof to his face as he blew out a frustrated string of air, "Look, I know exactly where we are in the story, we'll be following the girls into a dingy town and while I might have some plans in the works, we'll let the girls do their things for the most part and we'll play along. I'll give you a heads-up if or when I'm going to make some changes to the story, capeesh?"
Thomas lightly slammed Psalms into the train once more, hooves still affixed to his shoulders, nostrils flaring and eyes glaring. Thomas's lips parted but no words were uttered as he struggled with his inner turmoil. With one last flare of his nose, his hooves loosened and the burning in his eyes simmered. "Fine... if you say everything turns out just peachy then how can I possibly oppose your word? Just see to it we all make it out in one piece because it's your damn head if anything happens to any of us." Thomas cornered Psalms against the train as he pressed himself against his brother, heads clashing, "Capeesh?" He warned.
Hard eyes reflected Thomas's visage before it disappeared as Psalms shifted his gaze to the cuffed medallion in his hoof, gave it a small kiss, and returned back to Thomas, a firm nod offered, satisfying his brother.
*BANG* *BANG* Hard thumps crashed against the train's hatch as it buckled against an unknown force behind the two. Panic filled Thomas's veins as blazing heat escaped from the hatch's crevices.
*BANG* *BANG* Psalms summoned what little magic he had left and lifted a small pile of sand within his magical grasp, ready to repeat Thomas's action from earlier.
*BANG*
*BANG*
The latch blasted straight off its hinges and blazing fire along with choking smoke surged forth, eliciting a panicked scream from the red alicorn as he dove and flailed away back into the blistering sunshine. The scorched earth evoked more manic screams as the alicorn dashed back into the shade at the train's rear, earning the eyes and ears of all the other ponies. Their eyes soon fell upon Psalms and the smoking hatch.
From within the belching smoke and crackling fire emerged a singular claw that gripped the edge of the opening. With a huff and a puff, Spike struggled, then stumbled, and finished with a tumble onto the ground. Rising to his feet, he spat the wrench that he had fastened between his teeth into one claw and picked up a broken pipe he had dropped with the other, bringing both objects into view for the others to consider. "Job finished!" He stated with a cheery proud smile.
"Hahaha!" Psalms couldn't contain his mirth, "Nice job, Spike. You did good." He finished with a razed hoof that was bumped a second later. "See, Twilight? I told you he'd be sa-oof!" Psalms was interrupted as Twilighted dashed by, her flared wings catching his side as she passed.
"Spike!" Twilight cried as she hoisted the little lizard into her limbs, bringing the duo into an embrace. The other ponies were quick to follow through with their own greetings, well most did.
At the wreckage of the caboose, Sunset laid within its shade while Thomas had retreated into the darkest corner, his hide rippling as his figure shivered. Bandages were adorned across Sunset's front left limb. Her cheeks bulged with a heavy breath as she clambered onto her hooves. Applying a minuscule amount of weight, her injured limb began to twitch and spasm. With a hiss, she finally relented back to the floor.
Remorse flooded Psalms' mind as he watched the mare squirm on the floor in pain. "Hey," he called out as he reached the two, "You alright?"
Sunset lifted her injured limb before her, earning yet another hiss before dropping it with a sigh. "Well, I would say I've had worse, but I don't want to attract Applejack's ire. Where is she and the others anyway? What's happening over yonder?"
"She and the others are coddling Spike who's safe and sound, as I told Twilight earlier." Psalms settled himself on his haunches upon reaching the shade. "If it weren't for the little guy, I think we'd be buried under a new mountain by now."
"No kidding?" Sunset asked as she reclined on a small dune, "That kid's going places. Sharp mind and a strong heart, he's got a bright future."
Psalms nodded in agreement. One I intend to keep. "...I'm sorry."
"Hmm?" Sunset offered a quirked brow.
"About your leg," Psalms pointed as added emphasis, "About the train, about the mirror, about everything! I brought you along on this crazy adventure and you got hurt because of me. All of you got hurt, and the possibility for worse was never too far... isn't far even now..."
A flick on his shoulder from Sunset's magic stirred Psalms' mind from his muse. "Hey now, don't be thinking like that. It isn't your fault that all of Equestria is invaded and we're being chased around by a bunch of hulking monkeys. Twilight and the others have been through worse than this on more than one occasion. The mirror can be fixed or replaced, and this?" Sunset hefted her injured limb before them once more, "This ain't nothing. Everything is fine, and we'll all be laughing this whole adventure off in Sugar Cube Corner by this week's end, you'll see."
Psalms made to counter her point but hesitated and relented at the last second. His eyes reflected on his brother whose state had yet to change, shook his head in resignation, and closed his eyes as fatigue crawled along the edges of his mind. He was content with letting the girls sort themselves and their situation for the moment.
His rest was short-lived however as the flapping of wings disturbed their brief tranquility. Before he could peak from under the caboose, Rainbow Dash settled herself before them in a hard landing. Her breaths were nothing but wheezes and sweat dripped like a waterfall from head to tail. Her wings hung limply to her side as she settled her tush upon the metal perch that was the caboose's wheel.
"Rainbow! There ya are!" Applejack called out as she and all the others relocated to their position. "Consarnit filly, what went through yer mind to do something so foolhardy as jumping off a moving train in yer condition?"
It took a moment more for Rainbow to respond, "Take it easy, AJ. I saved all your flanks with the stunt I pulled." She puffed herself up and scrubbed her hoof against her chest before replying further, "You're welcome, by the way."
Sunset looked anything but impressed if her deadpan expression was anything to go by. "Uh-huh, and what exactly did you do to save us? Because I'm assuming you aren't talking about the train." Sunset deduced.
Dash took a couple of flaps to settle herself onto the ground. "I bought us time. Did a loop back over the cliff and Tempest isn't following us anymore. In fact, there isn't a single ship in sight anywhere except for the hundreds of smoking wrecks for miles around, that's how much butt we kicked!" Rainbow topped off her exaggerated report with a couple of karate kicks into the air. Several of the girls couldn't help but roll their eyes at her display.
A small, almost imperceptible shift in the sand to Psalms left caught his eye for the briefest moment but gazing into the scorching wilderness provided no answers after a moment of surveying. Another moment later and he was back to listening to the others.
"So, the gangs all here, now what?" Spike was the first to inquire about their next course of action.
"Isn't it obvious?" Thomas filtered out as his wits returned and he shifted closer to the group. "We leave this godforsaken searing wasteland. I can't stand these boiling conditions a moment more!"
"What was the direction the Princess said again, Twilight? South, was it?" Rarity inquired as she reflected her gaze on the sun above.
"I don't think any of us are in any condition to make a trek down south in this heat." Psalms reflected his eyes on the main car, to the splintered remains of their supplies littering the dunes. "Certainly not without any supplies; did anything survive?"
Twilight turned to the corner and her magic flared as a crumbled mess of objects clattered to the ground before the group. "Barely anything. All of our food and water are gone; sleeping bags, headgear, fire starter kits... well with nopony to move the sun those would've been useless anyway... we did manage to find a partial tent kit, and thank Celestia the first aid was intact, but other than that there isn't anything else."
"Woah wait, back up a sec, whaddya mean there's nobody to move the sun?" Thomas was quick to question.
All the others shared a look before turning back to Thomas. "...Nopony told you?" Fluttershy softly probed.
Thomas could only offer a blank face in return. "Wouldn't be asking if I knew, now would I?"
"Right, yes, sorry my fault, I may have neglected to tell him a thing or two about Celestia and Luna to him." Psalms turned to his brother, "Right, I'll make it short, Princess Celestia literally controls the sun and its position in the sky, and Princess Luna does the same as well for the moon. Both are petrified so no one is controlling the time of day."
Thomas's eyes bugged out upon hearing Psalms words. "...Are you serious? That's even more reason we need to get the heck outta this damn desert! The temperature's gonna keep rising and we have no water as is!" Thomas fished into his saddle bag's pockets and dumped the four bottles from when their adventure first began. "This is literally all we have, and any water out there is gonna boil away in this heat. We need to leave, now!"
Another shift in the sand within Psalms' peripheral earned his attention. He noted not one but multiple shifts across the dunes, but they settled a second later. None of the others took notice. Then something slithered out, slithered into the air, flickering with some kind of bulbous end. Quick as a flash, it retreated back into the sand, leaving a quickly filling hole. No further movement across the desert.
"-ight, Psalms?" Thomas's words registered late.
"Huh, wuh?" Psalms blurted out as all fixated upon him.
"You came barreling from across the dune when the train crashed, right?" Thomas lifted his hoof before Psalms, earning a wince from his brother as he noted the many swelling lumps on his froggy bottom. "Your feet were blistering on the burning sand too?"
Psalms shifted upon his own hooves, the tingling stinging pain from his frogs having lingered from his trek. "Yeah, the desert was frying my hooves the whole way here."
Thomas pointed between himself and his brother, "Our feet were on fire, how come you guys have no trouble walking around?"
"Uh, horseshoes?" Twilight prompted upon inspecting her own.
Thomas was quick to bring both front feet before his eyes and took note of the scabbing adorned upon them. He shifted himself to Twilight side's and the two compared between themselves, noting the steel horseshoe Twilight adorned. "No wonder. Dammit, we need to get out of here but our feet will melt off within an hour."
"You could just fly, you have wings ya know?" Dash pointed with a flair of her wings before they slumped back to the ground.
A heavy groan was growled out by Thomas, but he was beaten by Sunset before he could so much as utter a word. "He can't. He doesn't know how. He's only been an alicorn for about a day at the most, remember?" Various members muttered in agreement as the talk they had yesterday was refreshed in their minds. Sunset sent a questioning look Psalms's way and he too shook his head, confirming his inability to fly as well.
"So," Thomas piped up, "back to square one, me and Psalms can't go galloping off into the sunset without our legs catching fire."
"Leave that problem to me, darling." Rarity called out as she trotted upon the ruined tent canvas. Within her magic, she hefted eight broken wooden planks and tore off small portions of the tent's fabric. "Twilight, if you would be so kind?" Rarity asked as she nodded to the two humans. Getting her gist, Twilight struggled to magic the two into the air for a brief moment as Rarity went about jury-rigging the planks and cloth strips into makeshift crude sandals before forcefully applying them to each individual hoof. With a nod, Twilight released the two. "Certainly not my greatest work, but hopefully they shall do for the time being."
A quick test from the two proved the tight apparel functional if not comfortable. "Alright, with that out of the way, we can leave."
"Can we though?" Pinkie of all ponies questioned Thomas, her hoof cuffed to her chin as she entered analyzing mode. "Because I'm party pooped, and if I'm pooped, then everypony else is super-duper-ultra-double-triple-pooped."
It hadn't occurred to Thomas yet, but as he surveyed each pony and lizard one by one, well it's a tale already told. Everyone was filthy, sweaty, haggard, and all other manners of dead tired, especially the magic users. As Thomas took their appearances in, his adrenaline decided then and there to high-tail it and his muscles nearly gave way as numbing darkness threatened to overtake his mind. He vigorously shook the darkness away, "We have no choice, stick around and we'll waste our water. Time is of the essence, and that's not even mentioning how airships could peak over that cliff any moment without warning. We need to leave before they find us."
"We need rest more than anything else. Can we spare ten minutes?" Fluttershy requested.
"No," Twilight asserted, "Thomas is right, we can't stay and wait to be caught or needlessly lose any more water."
"Thank you, Twilight." Thomas spared a moment to look from one pony to the next before fixating upon Sunset. "Who's gonna carry Sunset? I-I don't have the strength anymore."
The sand shifted and this time, Psalms wasn't alone to spot it. Rainbow Dash redirected her gaze toward the movement, her wings flared and tension flooded her figure, a sentiment shared with Psalms as the bulbous figures slithered from the sand once more, much closer than before. "Hey! Eyes up!" Dash helpfully called out as more of the figures emerged. Rarity screamed as one of the things emerged to her right and Applejack was quick to haul Sunset onto her back as the group back peddled against the train's corpse.
There were dozens, maybe even a hundred of the things that emerged from the sand, their bulbous figures pulsating in the air sporadically. They were stalks of three spherical bud-looking sacks with the appearance like that of a thistle weed, the tips even adorned with red colorful petals. They shifted ever so slowly toward their position, the group's shouts or screams drawing them in with renewed vigor. twenty-five meters, then twenty, fifteen, ten, five... then they halted. The stalks ceased their advance and their motions stilled, then one by one they retreated back into the sand. The last disappeared into the dune and silence descended amongst all.
*SPFFTH* Ruptering forth from the dunes, a great many oily-black slithering bodies took to the air and descended upon the train in quick succession.
*SPFFTH* *SPFFTH* *SPFFTH* The waves were endless as they converged upon the train and began to tear away chunks of steel and iron as others secreted a foul-smelling ooze that melted through the exterior hull. "Everypony run!" Twilight ordered as the others scrambled away.
"What in Equestria are these horrid things!?" Rarity squealed as she and the others ducked and dodged as more of the snake-like things flung themselves onto the train.
"Slag Worms, a whole colony by the looks of it!" Fluttershy answered, screamed, answereamed.
The things just kept springing up from everywhere as the group bobbed and weaved with the only silver lining being that the worms were fixated on the train alone, but that didn't stop everyone from doing everything they could to avoid catching one in the face.
Wheezing and coughing, eventually they crested over the largest of the sand dunes and took a moment to catch their breath as more and more of the worms swarmed the train's frame. From their view, the train quickly became nothing more but a rippling black mass of mucus and tendrils.
"Wha-" Spike took another gulp, "-What are they doing to the train?"
"They're using their corrosive stomach acid to melt it down into a soupy sludge," Fluttershy explained further. The worms had fully converged on the train as the last of their kind trickled from the sand. "They break down the complex metals and materials for egg production, creating an impenetrable egg sack for their young."
"So, they eat metal?" Dash asked.
"Oh no, they absorb and store the melted metal in pouches across their skin. When the time comes for egg laying, they secrete the metal into a soft fiber that they weave like silk, it hardens as the mucus dries up."
The last of the train disappeared within the black mass and soon enough, the bulbous stalks emerged from their maws that flooded the air with pulses once more.
"...Well... least no ships will find the train now." Applejack pointed out.
"So, if they didn't eat the train... then what do they eat?" Spike asked with a heavy gulp. His words seemingly earned the worm's attention as every stalk shifted toward their direction once he spoke.
"What any other carnivorous creature eats." Fluttershy relayed with a smile, happy to inform her friends of such an amazing and unique creature as the Slag Worm. Nature is so fascinating.
The stalks pulsated one more time and in quick succession, they retreated back into the sand, their movement kicked up sand into the air as they closed the distance to the group.
"Can we never catch a break!?' Thomas screamed into the air as he and the others made a mad dash away from the coming death tide.
*Gulp* *Gulp* *Gulp* "Guh! ...Gah!... *cough* *cough* ...Oh, thank you, Lord above." Psalms finished his thanks with a quick kiss upon his medallion before hefting his water bottle to one of the other parched throats.
Hours. They had run for seemingly hours as it was impossible to tell what time of day it was without having the sun move from its fixed position. Whatever the case, they pushed themselves to the limits as they escaped further and further into the never-ending sea of dunes. The whole time through being chased by the worms which rarely relented for a moment of rest. The things would split up and forced the group in all manners of directions other than south, leaving them to waste more energy and time. Multiple times the group became lost in the desert as scattered clouds blocked the sun's position in the sky.
Eventually, a large sandstorm peaked over the horizon and the group was left with no choice but to brave the storm in a desperate attempt to rid themselves of their slippery foes. More hours passed within the blazing desert and the group had dropped dead of energy just as they passed through the sandstorm's threshold. Sand stinging their eyes and filling every nook and cranny, the group swiftly pitched their tent and a wave of relief filled them as they settled themselves within. The human's feet were pulsing with pain as their makeshift shoes caused even more blisters to flair in their rugged journey.
They feverishly dug through Thomas's saddlebags and tore through what little food snacks were available while their limited water was rationed as much as possible between each member. They had survived the worm's onslaught, but being down to a single bottle, their prospects were anything but good.
"Hey! Give that back! I'm dying here!" Dash demanded as the last water bottle was fished into Twilight's magic.
"Dash, calm down," Twilight asked as she secured the water back within the saddlebag. "All of us are thirsty but we need to conserve what little we have left for tomorrow."
"Maybe if ya stop flapping 'em wings ya wouldn't be so thirsty." Applejack pointed out, earning a groan from her feathered friend.
"There's no space for me on the floor as is, AJ. Besides, I can't make them stop, they've been numb for a couple of minutes now." Applejack responded by hooking her lasso onto Dash and yanked the pegasus down to the ground earning, an 'oof' which was followed by a quiet 'thanks'.
"I must say," Rarity began as she attempted to comb the sand out of her filthy mane, "out of all of the adventures we've gone through so far, none have been so hazardous and left us so ragged quite like this current one has."
Sunset shifted from her spot as she tested her leg on the floor. The medicine Twilight had delivered earlier along with what little magic she could supply left her limb sore but healed enough to allow her mobility once more. "Yeah, I was going to say, If this is what you and the gals do on a daily basis, then I'm extra glad I didn't somehow become an element bearer."
"Ain't so bad a gig, Sunset. Saving the world is somethin' we all can be proud of." Applejack said from somewhere amid the crammed bodies.
Murmurs of agreement filled the air before a companionable silence settled within their tight quarters, raging sandstorm blasting against the tent aside. Eyes drooped and yawns were shared as one by one the ponies settled themselves as comfortably as they could before dozing away.
Twilight settled herself between the two brothers, "I've set a magical alarm for five hours from now. The storm should be gone by then. I wish we had a chance to stop in Apple Loosa; aside from moving south, we're completely lost. With only one bottle of water left, I fear we won't make it far in our travel."
"We'll just have to make do," Thomas stated as he settled his cloak upon the floor and promptly plopped himself down on it. "No matter what, we keep moving or else we're done for. Get some sleep, you two." With his magic, he seized his saddlebags and used them as a makeshift pillow. His snores soon joined the others.
"Don't worry, Twilight," Psalms reassured as he too settle onto the floor, "I have faith that we'll make it outta here in one piece."
Twilight fixed him a raised brow. "Are you sure it's just faith alone? Not because, oh I don't know, future knowledge?"
Psalms couldn't hide his sheepish features. "I may or may not have foreseen us reaching relative safety, but nothing is set in stone, not anymore anyhow. As my brother said, we just need to keep moving." Psalms reclined on his side as the last of his energy receded.
Being so close to one another, it was only then that Twilight took note of the many inflamed spots dotting all across Psalms' hide. "Why didn't you tell me you had friction burns?"
Having been reminded of their annoying existence, the stinging reared its ugly head upon Psalms, earning a small wince from him. "Well, frankly I completely forget I even had them. I suppose being chased by a bunch of pony-eating worms tends to make you forget a couple of things in the heat of the moment. And I guess you forget you saw them earlier when I first arrived, remember? You wanted to give me some cream for 'em?"
Twilight's adorned a mask of perplexion before she emoted an 'Oh' which was followed by a sheepish smile, "Oh, right, my bad. Hah, being chased by pony-eating worms does make one forget a thing or two. Well, how about I take care of this while we have time to spare." Summoning her magic, she fished out the relatively pristine first aid container out of a corner. She eyed the goods for a moment and tsked at the lack of options before picking out an antibacterial spray and a couple of extra-large bandaid patches. "Sorry, Psalms, but this is all I have at the moment. Half a spray left and the last of the big bandaids. You weren't the only one with burns." Spray in hoof, she went to work dispersing it to the most severe spots before applying the bandaids.
Psalms hissed as the wounds stung with increased fervor. "Argh! ...Damn, that stuff hurts! Honestly, Twilight, I'm good... should save that stuff for the others."
Within Twilight's magical grasp, the now empty first aid box lingered before his face. She rattled it for added emphasis before flinging it through the tent's entrance. Psalms relented with a nod and allowed her to do her work in companionable silence. Bandaids applied, Twilight sprayed the last of the canister's contents before it too took a trip to the outside. "And that's that. Let's hope we can get out of this desert in one piece."
Psalms took a second to look upon his tended wounds. "You didn't have to do this, I could have gotten someone else for it, you of all ponies need the rest after what we went through earlier."
"It was no trouble, Psalms. Alwa-" A yawn interrupted her words, "-ays happy to help a friend, no matter what. And besides, I'm the Element of Magic, I figure I have more mana in the tank to spare."
Psalms couldn't help but flash her a smile before he too yawned into his hoof. Eyes drooping ever so slowly, he reclined once more. "Goodnight, Twilight."
"Goodnight, you two." Twilight yawned as she curled herself up between the brothers. Her gaze shifted upon the little holes and tears on one side of the tent canvas that allowed the tiniest rays of sunshine and sand to filter through. She was amazed at how everypony could sleep so peacefully after everything they went through not even a day ago, her nerves were still fried from their time on the train earlier, but it wasn't enough to stow away the ravenous fatigue that coursed through her frame. It finally reached her brain and all grace was lost as she hit the ground snoring up a storm, drool pooling out her mouth.
Far as her eye could see, the land below was little more than a desolate wasteland, there was little chance the princess had survived this far on hoof. Tempest and her fleet had been scouring the wastes for over ten hours and not a single sign of the ponies or even their train for that matter existed anywhere. If she didn't already know the Badlands and the many creatures that dwelled within, she would have been baffled by their lack of progress. No, the most likely outcome of the princess's little flight was their doom by Slag Worms, of which proof of the creatures was found at the predicted crash sight of the train.
One would assume all were lost to the creatures, but evidence suggested they made a break for it as the worms left many trails, all in one direction, deeper into the desert. Their search was discontinued as a giant sandstorm ravaged the land below, delaying the fleet further. Tempest wasn't worried, there was still time before the Storm King arrived, and if her research was true, alicorn numbers aside, then these ponies have been through worse than carnivorous worms. Irritatingly, this sentiment wasn't shared by all onboard.
Specifically, by one little pudgy weasel who droned on and on endlessly as he leaned upon one arm, surveying the wastes down below with a weary mask. "Sand...sand...sand...more sand... oh! Oh, wait, that's a rock. Yeah... I don't think we're gonna find them out here, can we leave this place yet?"
"And go back to the Storm King empty hoof after we promised him limitless power?" Tempest let out a shrill whistle, "Color me impressed, you actually had me fooled that you had any semblance of a brain all along."
"Momma always did say I had traded my brain for a second stomach." Grubber fished within his pocket and presented a slice of pie before Tempest. "Fair trade if you ask me!" He exclaimed before digging in.
Just then, a storm beast emerged from the ship's bowels, a scrying spell in claw, and began grunting and growling at Grubber. The two exchanged grunts until the creature retreated back into the interior while Tempest impatiently waited for her little pig to flush his food down. "*BURP* Oof, 'scuze me... ok, uh, our scout ship has spotted Klugetown ahead. We've reached about as far south as we can go. Want me to turn them around?"
"All but three are to turn back and resume the search in the desert. Set course for this Klugetown." Tempest ordered.
"Aye aye, commander. Still, if you ask me, I think them ponies bit the sand already."
Tempest eyed grubber from the side. "It's a good thing then that I didn't ask, now get us going." Grubber shrugged his shoulders in resignation and made way for the cockpit. For both our sakes, we better find the princess alive.
*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BE-KONK* "Ow!" Twilight yelped as hoof thwacked her noggin, leading her to nurse her forehead as she glared at her colorful assailant.
"Five more minu..." Dash's coarse throat ceased its words and instead filtered out heavy snores once more, but Applejack was quick to get the bird up with a few kicks in the shin. "Ow, ow! Ok, ok, I get it, I'm up. Ow! I said I'm up!"
"Just makin' sure, sugarcube. Long day ahead, an' the early bird get's the worm." Applejack stated as she strode back to her sleeping spot, snatched her signature hat back into place, and blew a sharp whistle. "All y'all best be getting up now, ya hear?"
None of the others were as quick as Applejack hoped to stir awake. Dry crusty eyes, haggard manes and tails, and parched lips adorned every single soul present.
A yawn tore through Thomas's face hole as he fished within his saddlebags and found his target, the last of the water. With a flick, he tossed the bottle into Applejack's hoof. "That's all that's left so I don't want to hear any complaining. Anyway, I gotta... do my business outside so nobody leaves the tent just yet."
"Thomas! Wait," Psalms slid up to his side and cuffed a hoof between the two before whispering away, "number one, right?" Thomas slowly nodded as he fixed him with a raised brow, "Aren't we supposed to...I mean wouldn't it be smart to... collect some into a bottle? Isn't that something they do in those desert survival documentaries?"
Thomas couldn't help but revolt a little at his suggestion, disgust barely adorning his face. "One, that's disgusting. Two, even if I'm somehow convinced to go through with it, no way in hell am I willing to share that with the others. And three, that would do more harm than good in the long run. I know we're desperate, but not that desperate. Didn't you say we would be hitting a town soon?"
"Like I've said time and again, nothing is set in stone, not with either of us existing presently. Ok, I see your point, and yeah, I wouldn't want the others to go through what I'm suggesting."
"Hey," Thomas settled a hoof onto Psalms' shoulder, "At least you're thinking of some way to remedy our water problem. My plan is to just run like hell till we're out and that's it. Your idea has merit, but... we'll keep it on the back burner for now alright?" Psalms nodded at his suggestion. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me." Thomas turned back towards the tent's entrance and flung the covers away before a hoarse scream filled his lungs as he fell upon his back at the sight of three bulbous stalks just beyond the opening.
The stalks were pulsating with ever-increasing frequency as they homed in on the prone alicorn before they quickly descended back into the sand. Panic filled Thomas's veins as he knew what was to occur next. Luckily for him, he had an ace up in his saddlebag. With much haste, he feverously dug threw the pockets of his bag until he found and promptly hurled out a small satchel. Digging in with his magic, he snatched up three grenades within the nick of time.
*SPFFTH* *SPFFTH* *SPFFTH* Three worms soared into the air and straight for Thomas, their razor-sharp maws locked open and ready to tear him asunder.
Too panicked to analyze the coming threats, Thomas hoped for the best and tossed the grenades their way before booking it into a corner. His aim struck true as the worms petrified instantly upon breaching the entrance, but not before eliciting screams from various ponies. The screams eventually subsided as the creatures remained fixed in their position, but the group did not hesitate to book it out of the tent in a panic, tearing it apart as they resumed their mad dash for sanctuary.
View Online
Chapter 7: An Adventure Already?! (Part 5: Explosive Introductions.)
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
--Acts 3:19
They ran and ran, and ran. Hour after hour, they crested over endless dunes, trudged through shallow quick-sand, choked on the dusty winds, and above all else, soiled the scorched earth with their salty sweat. Mouths dry as bones, legs aching from nonstop exertion, and wings numb for those who utilized them, the group hopelessly continued their advance. Some time ago they had finally managed to give the worms the slip, but by then the damage had been well and truly inflicted. What little water they had consumed upon waking up was never going to be enough, but by then they had believed the worms to be lost to the sandstorm. With this having not been the case, however, everypony was left barely conscious and on the brink of delirium. Even Spike, the heat-resistant dragon, was suffering from severe dehydration.
Of course, Thomas and Psalms fared no better than the others, what with Thomas having seemingly entered auto-pilot as his dead eyes reacted to nothing as his tongue hung freely with every gasp of breath. If it weren't for his hooves still being in motion, one would assume him a standing corpse. Psalms, meanwhile, internally cursed at his dark shaded coat and was almost tempted to curse the heavens as well, but instead opted to curse at the sand that filled one's vision in every direction. Never-ending, endless, infinite sand. As one Jedi Knight so elegantly put it, it was coarse and rough and irritating, and it just. Got. Everywhere! Snow would forever hold a deep hatred within his heart, but its grainy earthy cousin had easily made its way to the top of Psalms' shit list, and he didn't even know he had a shit list to begin with! That's how bad sand is... did he also mention how sand just gets everywhere?
"...There's... sand in my... everything..." Rarity panted out. The first words uttered in how many hours and they only affirmed Psalms' feelings further.
"Heh... saving... Equestria..." Pinkie began before delving into short, mad, cackles before noticing and reaching for a bleached skull of the avian distinction. "Maybe this guy knows where to go!" Delerium manifested into a strained smile as a creepy crawly crawled right across Pinkie's parched eyes, eliciting no reaction whatsoever. "What's that, friend? We're lost?" Mad cackling infected her once more before racking coughs overtook her lungs, and just like a popped balloon, her physical form visibly deflated upon her collapse into the blistering earth.
She was right, they were hopelessly lost. What with the sun never rising or setting, being chased in every direction by those damn worms, having barely any rest and energy, and their minds and bodies screaming for nothing but water, it was incredibly difficult for Psalms to remain focused on just simply continuing south or even determining which direction was south to begin with. If he didn't already know what was yet to come, he would legitimately believe the end was nigh, and it would have been all his fault.
Luckily for him, the scene was playing out just as he remembers as Spike collapses onto his knees as Rainbow Dash and Rarity passed him by. Then he picks up the rock and shows off the cactus on his toosh, and then he fully collapses onto the eroded cobble road, garnering Twilight's attention to it.
"Where there's a road, there's a..." Cresting over the dune ahead, her words are halted by a gasp as the dingey, shabby, desolate, murky beacon of hope for the little ponies known as Klugetown is presented before them. One pony after another can't help but exclaim in one way or another upon sharing Twilight's view.
The town itself isn't much to look at from their distance, but the sight was enough to seemingly invigorate a second wind into everyone, even in Thomas as he licked his dry lips and shook away his dazed state upon joining the others, but none more so than Pinkie as she reflated back into a pristine shape as if never having suffered the ravages of the Badlands at all. "Oooh! A city! We are doing it, you guys!"
"About time something goes our way. I've had enough sun and sand for a lifetime." Sunset added with a shake of her mane, depositing a small hill of sand off to the side.
Thomas was less than impressed at the sight, downright repulsed if his face was anything to go by. "So, we made it to some polluted looking ramshackle of a city, big whoop. Now what? We go scouring every inch of it till we find this Hippo Queen? And how the F does this town even function? It's stationed right on the very edge of a plateau and is bordered not by an ocean, but by a huge misty gorge."
Thomas's latter inquiry goes unanswered. "There has to be a library or maybe a vendor selling a map somewhere in there. Once I can confirm the location of the hippo's homelands, we can depart." Twilight asserted as she and the others began their trek toward the rundown town.
"And while you are doing that, I will be on the prowl for a spa. Even a simple shower would be sublime right now." Rarity gushed at the thought of fixing her mane up.
"Sorry, Rarity. No time for that," Psalms informed, to Rarity's detriment, as they reached the gates of the town. An odd assortment of nasty and unsightly creatures from all walks of the animal kingdom traveled in every direction upon entering the entrance. The pony group stood out like a magical thumb among the crowd. They relocated off to the side as they formulated a plan. "Alright so, a map is priority one, and priority two is resources. Thomas and I will head this way and stock up on food and water, you eight focus on finding that map."
"Uh, why the split up?" Dash inquired, a sentiment shared among the others as they nodded away. "We can find all that stuff together no problem."
"I'm sure we would, but we'll cover more ground doing this, not only for our supplies, but to also keep an eye out for storm beasts. Thomas and I can take care of ourselves, it'd be safer for all of you to stick together." Psalms' eyes reflected this way and that on the various creatures around. "I don't think I need to state the obvious, but we aren't exactly in Equestria anymore. These...'people' don't exactly look like the friendly type, so be careful, alright?"
Various forms of acknowledgment were shared around, leaving Psalms satisfied for the moment. "Good. Once everyone's done, we'll meet up at the docks. See if we can get ourselves a ride. Good luck!" He called out with an added wave along with Thomas before the two headed off in one direction, the girls and Spike in the other.
A poke upon his ribs halted Psalms as Thomas caught his side. "Seriously, why are we splitting up? That was a good excuse what with the beasts and supplies, but you said we'd let the girls do their thing and follow along."
"One, those aren't excuses, we do need supplies, and storm beasts could be around. Two, we are letting the girls do their thing. Sure, Sunset wasn't with them originally but so far things have turned out just like the movie, so I don't think she'll change anything for the time being. And Three..." Psalms took a moment to reflect on the stalls around, wary to notice a certain feline's outline. Upon conclusion, he cuffed a hoof to Thomas and whispered away. "There was gonna be a song and dance."
Thomas recoiled upon his words. "...No kidding? I can practically feel the soot and ash and other nasties in the air afflicting my lungs as we speak, and someone or a group of someones wanna go yodeling away?" A snort escapes. "Stupid cartoons. Always needing their stupid songs and dances and cutesy little critters to market away with. Whatever, thanks for sparing me from that."
"Don't thank me yet, the songs ain't over after this one." A grin squirms onto Psalms' face as an exasperated sigh leaves his brother. "But that won't be for a bit, let's just focus on getting the stuff."
The two continued deeper into the town and deeper into the cesspit. Vendors all around advertised their trinkets or their prized possessions or one of the numerous bizarre creatures fastened within a cage or... other things that shall go unnamed. It was safe to say that the two humans, on multiple occasions, almost found the need to empty their stomachs with what they encountered being sold on the market. The conditions, not only of the people and items being sold, but of the very air and town itself continued to worsen the farther they traveled, and without any traces of water or edible food in sight, the duo eventually relented and opted to turn back, their pockets still empty for the moment.
"This place is disgusting and dingy in more ways than one. How the hell does anything even survive here? As I said earlier, it's not even bordered by a body of water, and history has taught me that every city in human history has been adjacent to water out of basic necessity. This place should be a ghost town."
"It may not have water, but it does have the capacity for commerce that's for sure. This would definitely be the shady place you'd sell your kidney at." Psalms blanched a little upon uttering those words. "You see how many docks they have along its exterior sides? Trade may be the only thing keeping this place alive."
"Speaking of trade," Thomas fished out Ingot's coin pouch and tossed it into the air before catching it within his magic. "What's the currency exchange rate in this town? It ain't Equestria so I doubt they take bits... hey wait, what country is this town even a part of?"
Psalms could only shrug his shoulders following with a muffled 'idunno'. "Storm King's Empire? Who knows, who cares. Anyway, they have things called storm bucks for money here." Finally, the two spotted a vendor potentially selling water, if the sign is anything to go by. "So first, let's just see what one bit can get us with."
The two pushed past many creatures before settling at the 'water' vendor. The creature manning the kiosk could only be described as a mix of octopus, shark, and sea lion. make with that, what you will.
Before the vendor could open its mouth, Thomas was quick to cuff a hoof to Psalms ear. "I don't trust this vendor at all. That could be salt water or piss for all we know. We should look elsewhere."
Psalms shared a pained look, "I ain't exactly thrilled to sample the merchandise either, but we've been to the deepest reaches and back and this is the first vendor selling anything that could remotely be water." Psalms reflected upon the containers of possible water, but it was impossible to examine the contents through the metal lids. "I'll take one for the team. You go find some food, give me time to process this down."
Thomas flashed his brother a facade of sadness. "Your sacrifice shall not be in vain." He turned and left within a flash, not sparing another second around. He could hear his brother yell 'Remember me!' as he descended a flight of stairs and was back on another road flanked by more vendors. Thomas had to admit, some of the many items on display were interesting in one way or another, but they didn't have the time or the coin to waste. Still, maybe one day he could come back and snag that T-Rex-looking tooth away. Now, where oh where are the food vendors? Hmm.
Without warning, the air filled with the sound of music, and a voice rang out that drowned all the noise, "-cunning, that can help you take the leap!"
"Huh?" *CRASH* The sudden shift in the atmosphere left Thomas confused but it was soon replaced with a heart attack as a large metal mine cart crashed right before his path. Had he not hesitated at that very moment, he would've been minced meat. Thomas stood frozen in place for a minute as he stared down at his would-be inanimate assassin before he found his footing and eventually his breath. "Holy shit!" he simply exclaimed. He had no idea what had transpired at that very moment but he wasn't gonna stick around to find out.
Turning into a dark alley adjacent to his original position, the sound of music and singing once again bore down on him. "-o protect you wherever you go!"
Proceeding forward, a familiar yellow and pink figure gradually came into view along with some tall fellow that Thomas couldn't make out. "Fluttershy? Who the hell is- aaahhh!" Screams filled his lungs as a swarm of dark bats filled the air ahead, darting straight for him. Their speed was greater than his reaction as they crashed into his frame and face a moment later, eliciting more shouts and screams as the gnarly fanged winged rats filled every inch of his vision. He tried to run, tried to swat them away, tried to duck, but the damn things just kept hurling themselves upon him, smacking his face silly. Eventually the last of the damn things flew by and Thomas was left ruffled and dirty with scratch marks and a bite or two. Oh shit, does rabies exist in this world? ...Fuck it, doesn't matter, magic can fix anything...yeah...
Preoccupied with dusting himself off, Thomas slowly makes his way toward the light ahead at the end of the alley but stops himself a moment before emerging as it was only then that Thomas noted the eye-catching red carpet that was unfurled upon the dirt road.
"~'Cause I'm the friend, that you need-~"
Not a second later, the sound of music and singing hit his auditory senses like a truck as from one side of the alley opening to the other, a lengthy anthropomorphic tanned dapper cat in front of him passed by in a hop-shuffle dance, followed directly by all of his pony partners as they sashayed along to the lyrics.
"-~When you're lost and don't know what to do, I'm your pal, your amigo, lookin' out for friends like you!~" As the talking cat's figure passed by and disappeared off to the right side, the exuberant atmosphere muted significantly, all but confirming the magical song and dance was tailored specifically to him. One by one, the Element Bearers passed by his little alley entrance, too enamored with their choreography to notice his presence, save three.
While Thomas was shooting all who passed a completely scrunched-up baffled look, hanging jaw and all due to the seemingly rejuvenated figures of all present before him as if never endearing the hardships over the last day, Spike offered only a small wave before jumping along to the music. Sunset meanwhile had an amused smirk stitched onto her face and could only shrug away at Thomas's questioning look while her head, hips, and hooves tapped away to the beat. Bringing up the rear, Twilight reluctantly followed along; her head was held low and she had a dreary face bordering on gloom and doom. She could only heave a sigh and offered a shake of her head as her tired eyes reflected onto Thomas as she continued to follow the others.
Peaking from the side, Thomas could see the carpet stretching all the way to some windmill-looking building further down the road; the song and dance had yet to let up. "Uh-uh, nope," Thomas did a one-eighty, "not singing, not dancing, I'm out."
Ten minutes later, Thomas's bags bulged with food and water as he and Psalms exited the market and made their way to the floating docks off the city's side, with Psalms clutching at his sides all the while with green cheeks. A wet burb escaped him every now and then along the walk.
Another burp escaped and Thomas couldn't help the flinch that followed. "Jeez man. I warned you to move on from that 'water' vendor."
"S'not that," Psalms huffed out, "...tried one of 'em... ooaaf... purple gloob glob thingies... just a little bite..." Psalms' cheeks puffed up and a look of panic settled within his eyes. Spotting an open barrel nearby, he settles his hooves on the rim and his cheeks bulged once more. "...Wouldn't recommeeuuuuaarrghh!" And his stomach finally decided to vacate his innards.
"That's what you get for eating dank dingy food from a decrepit town like this." Thomas opened his saddle bag and began fishing for water. With both brothers preoccupied, neither took immediate note of a descending shadow until it was directly on top of them. "Honestly Psalms, I thought you'd be smarter-" Then Thomas finally noticed, "-then... that... ah hell."
With the last of his mistake out of his system, Psalms lethargically lifted his head and took instant notice of the airship parked directly in front of the two, one with distinct blue jagged marks.
"More beasts? These damn things just don't let u- whoah!" Thomas was interrupted as he, within Psalms' magical grasp, and his brother dove behind a stack of crates, concealing them just as their foes departed from the ship. There were two unique-looking storm beasts, both flanking the sides of a short, fat, little hedgehog-looking thingy munching down on a caramel apple and a... a pony?
"Tempest." Psalms whispered out, earning a questioning look from his brother. "Tempest, the unicorn that staged the attack in Canterlot. The one who's in charge of the army and has been tracking us since the train station. The main antagonist."
"You never mentioned any ponies on the enemy side."
"My bad, now shh." Psalms hushed him up before electing to creep ever closer as Tempest observed her surroundings while the others continued disembarking.
She finished her glances around and the group proceeded to enter the market sector. Thomas and Psalms silently crawled to the entrance and peeked over the wall just as she began issuing orders. "Get the ship back into the air. Establish overwatch within a fifty-meter radius centered on me and I want it ready for a snatch-and-grab operation on my command." She stopped for a brief moment and reflected her gaze upon her personal guard, "Start searching. I want every stall overturned, every barrel cracked open, every corner scoured. Lock down all entry and exits and ground all flights. Now."
Having received new orders via Grubber's grunts and roars, the beast was quick to fish out a scrying potion and began relaying them to four other beasts visible within the blue magical screen. A second later the potion dissipated and, without hesitation, the beast spun on its heel and gripped the lower base of the nearest trader stall, and heaved it away in an impressive show of strength, eliciting startled shouts and curses from the diverse natives before it. It scanned this way and that for any traces of ponies, and upon coming up empty-handed repeated its savage search deeper into the commercial district, trailing after Tempest and her escort.
With a deep rumbling groan emanating from behind the brothers, they were witness to Tempest's flagship departing its docking station and beginning a lazy spiral into the air above, smoke belching from its rear as it took to its overwatch station. As it fully pulled out from the docking area, the vacant space left behind allowed the visage of three other Storm Skiffs who slowly docked into Klugetown's empty bays. There they immediately began offloading scores of beasts that rushed into the dingy town, ransacking all the while.
A frown settled on Psalms' face. Those ships are bad news. With that much surveillance across the city, there's no way the girls will escape without being seen. We have to take them out of the picture. Psalms' eyes fixated upon a small group of beasts that were making way for a familiar cargo ship stationed on the next pier. Crap. "Thomas, we need to stop that group now before they secure that ship. It's our only ticket out of here."
"Yeah? How exactly?" Thomas pointed his hoof toward the sizable group of beasts that were still being offloaded. "Case you didn't notice, there's a whole damn army right there!"
Eyeing one ship after another, the beginning of a plan formed within his mind. "Ok, listen, I know you're still tired from the whole desert ordeal, but I need you to lead all those beasts away into the city, buy me time to take out all the ships." Psalms lifted a hoof just as Thomas began to object, "I'm not asking you to run all across town for an hour, just lose them and return here as soon as possible, I should have the ships dealt with by then. Leave your saddlebags here, we'll fetch 'em upon departure."
Thomas wanted to object, wanted to say he had done enough running and fighting for a whole week, but he didn't have the luxury of choice, not when others were depending upon him. This didn't stop him from resenting his mission. "Dammit, Psalms-" Thomas cursed as he shrugged off and promptly shoved his saddlebags into Psalms' arms, "-when is this shit gonna be over with? Haven't had a true moment of rest in over twenty-four hours."
"Afraid I can't say just yet. Good luck."
Thomas waived him off before getting a small stretch in before cantering toward the group of beasts. He paused by one of the many entrances leading deeper into the city before he flicked off the hood of his camo coat and bucked the side of the wall hard enough to elicit a sharp crack, grabbing the attention of all around, beasts included. "Hey! Looking for me, ya wampa wannabes? Come on then, catch the pretty pony!" He didn't waste a moment before booking it away, successfully drawing the army of storm beasts away from the skiffs. Psalms' turn now.
Stowing Thomas's saddlebags near Celaeno's ship, Psalms quickly fished through them, brushing aside food and water rations until his prize surfaced before him. With a yank, the grenade pouch was freed from the bag's depths and was secured around his neck.
*CERCHUNK*
The sound of snapping metal brought Psalm's head glancing toward its origin point among the skiffs. Before him, the metal chains that anchored the ships to their dock snapped apart as the remaining skeleton crew worked away with the bolt cutters. The farthest ship away had already freed itself as it began to slowly depart the pier.
"No, no, no!" Psalms exclaimed as he charged in between the two still-docked ships, plucked out several petri-nades, and began targeting all the remaining chains yet cut. His aim wasn't nearly as on target as he hoped but the results were acceptable as both ships remained fastened despite the urgent struggles of their crew as they broke bolt cutter after bolt cutter on the magic obsidian. Psalms dashed after the third ship but it would clear away before he could even attempt to board, thus requiring desperate measures.
"Ok, Psalms, you got this, it's just levitation, you've done it dozens of times back in the barn, plenty of practice, just up, up, and away." He steadied his breath and recalled the words of Ingot when first summoning his magic. He felt the blood flowing in his veins, felt the mana circulating all across his body, through his spine, up into his horn. He let it collect, let it settle, build up. "Just, up, up, and away." Opening his eyes, he fixed his gaze upon the deck of the escaping ship, summoned his magic, and had it fastened around all four of his legs. "Up, up, and away." With a quick surge, he projected his magic forward and immediately regretted his decision. "Up, up, and aaaahhhhh!!!"
Psalms failed to take gravity into account in his little levitation trick and upon thrusting himself off the pier, found the world inverted before him with the ground above and sky below. Projecting his magic as thrust upon his levitated legs, the alicorn was happy to find he had enough juice to actually 'fly' through the air with success, relatively speaking. It was a sight to behold honestly; with the grace of a fly, Psalms erratically soared through the air, performing numerous twists and turns and loopty loops all the while maintaining an inverted ramrod posture while screaming the whole way through.
Through sheer luck or divine intervention, Psalms had successfully directed himself upon the ship's main deck, sliding on his back as he landed. Disorientation was his world as his eyes spun within his sockets, forcing him to lie for half a minute before overcoming the effects. Slowly standing up, Psalms shook away the last of his dizziness just as a claw came hurtling right for his face, causing him to shout and leap away just before being snatched.
Having successfully evaded the attack, Psalms was presented with four beasts before him, far too many for his liking as fear and adrenaline coursed through his veins. Scrambling in a retreat, he hoofed up the stairs that lead towards the quarterdeck, whereupon he could see one beast manning the helm above, fixated on navigating than the pony. Turning around, his horn was quick to grab whatever liftable object it could and barraged his pursuers, throwing chairs, barrels, and crates down the flight of stairs, with little success as the beasts weathered the assault and continued the hunt. They were closing in fast and Psalms was running out of options until he took notice of a large crate to his left. It was far too heavy to lift and too big to come crashing down the stairs, but if he guessed correctly...
He used his magic to jam the crate in between the rails and fished out one of the last remaining grenades in the pouch. It found purchase upon the crate and petrified it and the immediate surroundings, creating a makeshift obsidian barricade blocking entry that way.
Before he could fully appreciate his work, a claw found its way into his hair and yanked with the strength of an ox, earning a shriek of pain as the former human was twirled in the air by his mane before being ejected across the quarterdeck. Upon slamming against the guardrail, Psalms found himself struggling to regain his breath as the beast from the helm trudged upon him. To his left was another set of stairs of which the four other beasts prior were quickly ascending towards him.
Refocusing on the beast before him, Its tight claws found their painful grip upon his shoulders, hefting him in the air as he struggled within its grasp. A raspy noise filled the air, the sound of laughter Psalms figured, coming from his direct foe. With both limbs pinned to his side, the alicorn summoned his magic and pointed his horn at the creature's eye before firing away. The blast wasn't powerful, but it was enough to earn a sharp squeal and forced the beast to release him as it furiously rubbed away. After a second, its red watery eyes fixed its glare upon him and a snarl escaped its throat as it readied itself to pounce upon Psalms' prone form, but it was too late. Fishing out one last grenade, he thrust it directly into the creature's face and only a small squeak was uttered as the beast petrified fully.
The series of events was quick as a flash as the four beasts prior had yet to fully climb the quarterdeck, something Psalms was quick to capitalize on. Turning to the petrified beast's side, he applied all his available mana upon the creature and tipped it towards the stairs and the beasts below. "Timber!" Psalms exclaimed as the poor creatures scrambled to evade their stony brother, but they were too clustered to escape. With a mighty crash, all foes were left splayed across the main deck, a perfect strike in bowling terms. Wiping a drop of sweat away, Psalms made way for the helm.
Finally reaching his intended target, Psalms struggled for a bit to acclimatize himself to the skiff's steering, but the wheel was easy enough to figure out. Adjusting course back towards the docks, it came as a surprise to still see the chains uncut from the two other ships, leaving the alicorn pleased they hadn't managed an escape yet. Within his peripheral, the most peculiar thing was taking place as giant wooden windmill blades were wreaking havoc across the city a little distance away. Time wasn't on his side.
Foregoing all precautions, Psalms aligned himself on a crash course with the two ships and pushed for full throttle ahead. His plan worked better than expected as the bow of his ship cleaved right through the skiff's envelopes like butter, utterly obliterating the first one and gouging the second. Something must've caught his ship however as he entered a steep incline forcing a trajectory into the side of the cliff.
His job finished, Psalms climbed up to the poop deck and once again refocused his internal mana around his legs and neck this time around and ejected off, making way for the cargo ship. His flight this time around was far better, but the added strain of keeping himself right side up left him breathless upon landing on the ship's rear deck.
"Holy shit, Psalms what the hell was that!?" His brother incredulously exclaimed from below. "You rammed all three ships down!?"
"Good... good to see you made it." Psalms took a second to gulp more air down.
"Wasn't easy giving them the slip I tell ya what." Thomas took a second to scan the area, "How am I supposed to get up there?"
Before Psalms could respond, a familiar voice echoed from afar, "Hurry!" which was soon followed by the figures of the rest of their merry band, with Dash taking the lead.
Spotting a loose roll of rope, Psalms fastened a secure end on the deck before chucking the rest overboard. "Here!" he exclaimed, garnering Rainbow's attention.
Catching the other end of the rope within her maw, Rainbow extended its max length and pinned the rope beneath the hooves of the others and used their weight to fashion a makeshift tightrope, allowing the others a route to board.
Thomas took a glance at his saddlebags, "No way that's gonna support my weight and load; Psalms, a little help here!"
Summoning all his remaining magic, Psalms gritted his teeth in pain as he strained to lift Thomas up and through the air. "Argh... Thomas... use your magic and help, dammit!"
Some pressure was relieved as the brothers used their combined magical might to propel Thomas before the group and release him with a pop and a small thump, earning a groan a second later.
Psalms flopped onto the deck's floor, gasping for breath as all strength drained away. We did it...we did it... all safe and sound aboard the ship, just like in the movie... Psalms reflected his eyes this way and that for a brief moment. Well...almost all safe and sound... they should be on board right about...now.
True to his depiction, Twilight came flapping into view from the mist and dumped her pink cargo onto the deck with a grunt before plopping herself down as well. "Best. Escape. Plan. Evaaa!!!" Yelled the living cargo.
"...What!?" Twilight exclaimed before she and Pinkie both became wrangled up by Applejack's lasso, bringing both into the group's midst within the cramped cargo space. Before anyone could mutter a word, Spike shushed all as two shadowy figures entered into view.
"Did you hear somethin'?" a gruff voice asked its shaded partner. Instead of a proper reply, only strange garbled squawks sounded off. "Eh," the same gruff voice continued, "probably just the rats. If we find 'em, we'll eat 'em." With that said the two figures retreated away leaving the group space to breathe.
"Rats?" Rarity Squeaked out, a grimace plastered across her face.
A huff escaped Thomas as a frown etched its way on. "Oh, great, now we're stowaways on a ship with a hostile crew." Another huff escaped him as he settled himself onto the floor, unlatched his saddlebags, and shoved them into the center with a kick. "Help yourselves." He settled onto his side and pulled his hood over his eyes as he rested. "Can we ever catch a break?"
The others were quick to tear into the supplies and refreshen themselves, uttering thanks to the two brothers.
"So," Psalms started, "Did we miss anything?"
"Oh, it was just simply dreadful darling, simply dreadful! Nothing but dirt and muck and icky stuff we shall not speak of! And the people fared no better... even the best amongst them." Rarity finished, a scornful yet equally remorseful look adorning her features.
"Yeah, I wouldn't expect to find any class or grace in a town like that," Thomas commented from the floor.
"Well, we did." Rarity answered back, "Or at least I thought we did. I thought we found a true diamond in the rough...."
"Thought we found the needle in the biggest haystack," Applejack stated, "Darn near thought we struck gold."
"Fools gold more like," Pinkie added with a bit of deflation for emphasis.
"What truly matters," Twilight interjected, "is that we finally know our true destination. Celestia wasn't talking about hippos." Twilight splayed the map for all to see. "She was talking about the hippogriffs. They live on Mount Aris."
"Great!" Psalms clapped his hooves together, "So, where is that?"
"The map says it's about southeast of Klugetown, but it doesn't say how far. And with us being stuck on this ship, who knows where it's going." Twilight adjusted her sights to the forepart of the ship. "If I could just get my hooves on a compass, and the ship's manifest, I should be able to calculate our rough location and plot a course to follow."
"Maybe later, right now we have the opportunity to eat, drink and rest, if for just a moment. You above everyone else should take it, Twilight."
"But...but the manifest..." Twilight protested.
"Isn't going anywhere, Twilight," Sunset assured as she settled along a crate, food and water in tow. "An hour's break is all we ask for you. Besides, there isn't a lot of room to sneak by on this ship what with those birds shuffling all around, we'd just get ourselves caught sooner. Better have it done when we have some amount of strength in us."
"But... I... the..." Her objections faded away. "...Fine, yes, you're right. We all need rest... but as soon as the hour is up, we have to get back to it immediately."
"Gonna take a rain check on this one, Twilight. Running all over town with an army of monkeys on your back while you're starving and dehydrated really takes a lot outta one." Thomas settled himself further into a dark corner. "I'm sure you guys can take on a couple of birds without me."
"You should take one too, Psalms, we can handle ourselves." Sunset offered, "After what you did, you deserve it."
Psalms could only offer a quirked brow, "What do you mean?"
"Don't think we didn't see what you did back at the docks, dude. How could anypony miss that awesome ram you pulled on those two ships!? Sliced right through those gasbags and turned all three into confetti!" Rainbow Dash emphasized his actions with mock explosions of styrofoam peanuts in the air from a nearby open crate. "So cool!"
"Rainbow Dashes's exaggerations aside, what you and Thomas accomplished warrants extra recovery time, and we are all too happy to oblige, darling." Rarity applied a hoof to Psalms' shoulder, "Go and rest, you have earned it."
Psalms could only offer a warm smile. "Thanks. We appreciate it."
"Anytime, Sugarcube. Now, 'nough talk, less we ruffle up some feathers."
"How did this happen!? Who did this!?" Tempest demanded as she bared witness to the wreckages of the three skiffs that were ferrying her garrison forces during the desert hunt. She turned her glare to the gaggle of beasts that opted to shuffle on their legs and fiddle their thumbs, a few even whistled away, all avoided her eyes. "...Well!?" she directed her question to Grubber who spang to action emitting grunts and roars and receiving them in turn.
"Apparently, there were two ponies, two unicorns. One gave our forces the run through the city and the other boarded one of our ships and..." Grubber gazed below, "...well you know the rest."
Two unicorns, giving her newly arrived troops the slip immediately upon landing and destroyed her ships. It was impossible, both unicorns, former unicorn in the princess's case, had been accounted for back at the cat's residence. All of her group had been, save one. The red and golden-haired one. She had no matches in the network, no results for the elements of harmony, no records, nothing. Forever an enigma, if Tempest didn't know where to recollect in her memories. One glimpse at her cutie-mark and Tempest had it all figured out. She was Sunset, the one 'Fire Quill' contacted. The one from the mirror, her mark perfectly matched that of the journal.
The princess had successfully regrouped with the guerilla force, bolstering her group's size and strength, as if they weren't enough trouble already. Tempest figured they had already met by now, what with the lack of resistance activity in their subjugated lands. "These unicorns, describe them."
Another series of roars and grunts followed. "Ok, so the one that was leading our troops on a goose chase has dark red fur, black hair or mane or whatever, and was wearing a camo coat and hoodie. The other... let me double check." Yet another series of roars and grunts and Grubber turned to Tempest... before hesitating and turning back. More grunts and roars and a couple of growls and Grubber finally turned back with a small frown. "Ok, so, mistranslation for the latter pony. Wasn't a unicorn, was an alicorn. Black coat, red and yellow mane, colorful fiery wings, definitely not our princess."
The other alicorns. Tempest had already written them off as misidentified reports. With there being no accounts of such individuals across all of Equestria's record halls, Canterlot included, the notion of two unknown alicorns coincidentally appearing and aiding the princess on the eve of the invasion was preposterous to Tempest. She may have written them off too soon it would seem. "Are you sure?" She growled out.
"Don't just take my words alone, feast your eyes on these." With a grunt, one of the beasts surged forth and presented two objects of interest before the Commander. A lock of red and yellow mane ripped from the beast's offender back on the ship. It wasn't much, could've easily come from Sunset as the two hair colors and textures were nearly identical. The other object, however, casted nearly all doubt away as a vibrant, fiery pegasus feather adorning colors just like the mane lay flat against the beast's palm. Such vibrant colors would stand out amidst any normal pegasus as all wings across pony kind wore monotone colors alone, save this single unique feather. There are no ponies in Klugetown, her storm beasts made sure of that; no hippogriffs, nor griffons, and it certainly wasn't from any other walking feathery creature.
It was very convincing evidence for Tempest, But she held a 'seeing is believing' policy. She would just have to meet this feather's owner in pony to truly determine the legitimacy of this rampant alicorn rumor. And to do so, she needed to know where they are. "Bring the feline before me, we do not have time to waste."
"Whatdaya think, Twilight?" Applejack inquired as she and Rainbow Dash inspected the area before them. It bustled with the activity of the crew as they organized their cargo across all decks. From their position, reaching the manifest meant certain detection from the captain as she had yet to meander away from the helm or the captain's quarters. "Should we just... ask 'em to take us?"
Upon hearing her words, Twilighted reflected away from the map and fixed them a worried look, "Last time we trusted somepony, he tried to sell us!"
"...Well, yes... but it worked the time before, didn't it? With Psalms and Thomas? We trusted them, didn't we?" Fluttershy meekly interjected.
"That's because they're a unique case! They're alicorns for crying out loud. We can't trust these parrots, just look at them! They're wearing Storm King uniforms!"
"Well, they are ferrying merchandise cargo; kinda figured it was a mandatory uniforms situation at play in their job regulations," Sunset added off to the side. "Believe me, I know their pain all too well."
"Why don't we just put it to a vote? That way everypony can participate! I'll go get the sleepy-heads!"
"Pinkie! No! Wrong way!" But Twilight was too late as the pink pony uttered an 'oof' upon impacting on a feathery talon. She slowly lifted her head to look above and visibly gulped before backpedaling back into her group.
"Hey, guys!" Squawked the gruff bird as he hefted the crate the ponies used for cover away. "Come check this out!"
*FWOOOOOOO*
"All right! That's lunch!"
The shout startled Psalms awake from his slumber, leaving him to blink away the crust in his eyes as he surveyed his surroundings, finding nothing but crates, merchandise, and Thomas curled up like a cat in the corner, he appeared unbothered by the noise that just occurred, lucky guy. Psalms knew taking the extra hour nap would only make him feel worse, but boy was that the best nap he had ever had. Now, though? He felt more tired than before, but he knew he couldn't go back to sleep, lest they both risk missing the coming boarding from Tempest. Still had to wait out the song and dance routine, but at least that would be entertaining to see in person. Thomas was for sure gonna owe him one for letting him sleep through it, though. Trotting over to the nearest rail, Psalms leaned on it and his hoof as he observed the storm clouds below.
...Thomas... now there was a thought he hadn't really explored much yet. Granted, the whole invasion ordeal got in the way of everything, but still, for being his adopted brother, he knew practically zero of the former human. Yeah, sure they had a talk on the train and got introductions out of the way, but the biggest question still hung in the air since he first laid eyes on him; why was he here? Recollecting all his moments from the afterlife, he could find no mention of Thomas. It is absolutely not a coincidence the two landed next to each at the same time with both being former humans now turned alicorns...could he possibly be...
Dammit, he should've asked Sophia when he had the chance back on the train, could've shed a lot of light on his crimson companion. Considering the circumstances it took to encounter her both times, arranging yet another meeting with her wasn't exactly a viable option for the moment. Maybe he could pray? Ask her or God for answers? "...Nah, I'm sure he's got his hands full at the moment...oh, who am I kidding, this is God we're talking about."
His statement does beg the question though, If God is truly all-powerful... then why is there even a Holy War to begin with? Can't he just... snap his figurative fingers and boom, Satan and his minions turn to ash? That would be very convenient, wouldn't it? Diving deeper into these disturbing thoughts, if God is truly all-powerful, then why not rid all evil across all worlds? What's stopping him? Does he choose not to? Why does evil exist within this world? Was there a pony Adam and Eve and they did their own version of biting of the forbidden fruit?
...How the hell did I get from thinking about Thomas to questioning God's extent of power and the first ponies? Psalms heaved a sigh. These questions and others just as similar had always plagued him during his time growing in both body and spirit. There have been many answers from many people and just as many lacked the insight to provide one. Even Pastor Ian couldn't give a concrete answer, something that had left the boy rattled for many years after. If someone so heavily rooted in the Christian faith as Ian couldn't give an explicit answer... then maybe these weren't questions worth asking. Maybe they weren't meant to be asked, or maybe humans couldn't handle the answer.
Whatever the case, Psalms wouldn't consider asking another human these questions ever again given the chance. Not only because he was sure to get direct answers from the Big Guy himself one day, but because some of the answers from some of his 'fellow Christians' were more than unsatisfactory on multiple occasions. A frown etched itself across Psalms' face as he recollected bad memories from a life before. Crazy fanatics and their crazy-ass way of thinking, putting nothing but dirt on Christianities's name. I've always considered myself a devout Christian, but you won't catch me stooping to those crazies levels. Using the Lord's name as a cover for all manners of blasphemous and heathenous actions and agendas...
Psalms relaxed his muscles and blew away the breath he had been holding in. None of that matters anymore, those are human problems for his human brethren to worry about. He was here, in Equestria where he assumed nobody even knew that God existed. Psalms knew what his objective was on this planet, but he idly wondered if perhaps God or Sophia wanted him to begin spreading the word of the Gospel, to start slowly converting the natives...
Psalms rigorously shook that thought away. No, he knew his duty, he remembered Sophia's words 'go forth and maintain the peace, immerse yourself in its magic, ensure that Harmony reigns, and live the life that you dreamed of.' Not everyone is receptive to the Lord's words, and these ponies have done well for themselves so far, best not to do anything that could ruin it, at least for now. Perhaps in the far future, but before anything, Psalms would need to learn the history of the alicorns. Perhaps there he will find the beginning traces of God's presence within this world.
Pslams' post-nap musings were interrupted as a shockwave rocked the floorboards and cargo which startled Thomas into a dazed frenzy. "Huh!? Wuzzah!? Weez under attack!?" He scrambled off the floor as his adrenaline infused addled mind left scanning all directions for danger.
Psalms saddled over and placed a calming hoof on his brother's shoulder. "No, but we're about to be. Get your things and meet me outside." Psalms turned to exit the poop deck's rear cargo hold and join the others below the helm, with Thomas joining his side a moment later as they both were witness to Rainbow Dash circling the airship while weaving trails of literal rainbows in her wake.
"Wow," Thomas voiced out to himself, "...Am I still dreaming?"
A small smile found itself perched on Psalms' face upon hearing his brother's words. Rainbow's 'little' stunt, despite being terribly foolish, did brighten up all the others so he couldn't give her too much flak. Brightened everyone but one panicking princess.
"Twilight?" Psalms called out, "You alright?"
Rainbow finished her maneuvers and landed on the deck below. She was soon joined by several others as they offered praise and sport while their energy was high, leaving the two alicorns alone.
"No! I'm not alright! Why did Rainbow do that!? What was she thinking!? She'll lead her straight here!"
"Looks to me like she was caught up in the heat of the moment." The soft clangs of two swords echoed from the deck below. "But, I agree, not the smartest move, but then again, she isn't well known for her smarts, now is she?" Psalms lightly joked, hoping to give some slight solace in Twilight.
Her frazzled mind, however, did not take kindly to his jest. "Now isn't the time for jokes! We need to formulate an escape plan! Dash's rainboom has no doubt already alerted-"
The *Ding* *Ding* *Ding* followed by the alarmed squawking of the ship's 'special' crewmate interrupted Twilight and drew all eyes to the starboard side as Tempest's flagship came burling in their direction at max speed.
"Storm guards!" Captain Celaeno stated, "Looks like they found you!"
"-Tempest!" Twilight finally managed to finish her sentence.
Celaeno was quick to command as she issued orders to her crew while all of the ponies and Spike were ushered into the ship's bowels. Upon the hatch closing, the captain's commands became muffled and the startled breaths of those around filled the air. Rainbow Dash could only cringe as the consequences of her actions slowly became realized. "...Ya think she saw my sonic rainboom?" A sheepish smile followed.
"Are you kidding me!?" Twilight righteously inquired.
Any further dialog was hindered as all were thrown harshly against the ship's port side as a harpoon found purchase deeper within their compartment.
Shaking his head clear, Psalms spotted the offending object that had been buried into the hull and opted to inspect it closer. The hook was securely fastened within the wood and Psalms had no doubt his magic wouldn't make a dent in the metal. It took not even half a minute for Tempest's ship to secure itself off the starboard side, and soon several thunks reverberated overhead. Instead of muffled sounds, the voices that followed were relatively clear what with there being a gaping hole right next to him.
"Where is the Pony Princess?" Tempest went straight to the point, no doubt tired of this game of cat and mouse.
"Princess?" Celaeno questioned. Psalms was ninety-nine percent sure she was just playing the fool for their sake, but he truly did wonder if she actually knew Twilight was a princess or not. He didn't expect a swashbuckling treasure hunter to be privy about pony royalty so he safely assumed not, but then again, she was a pirate, so maybe. "Prin-cess, Prin-cess..." Celaeno continued, "...Nope. All we're hauling is Storm King merchandise."
"Psalms, what're we doing? Why are we hiding down here? We can easily take these guys out." Thomas inquired as he positioned himself by his brother's side. Said brother proceeded to hush him before returning to the interrogation above.
"You do realize that if you were to shelter fugitives, the Storm King would be quite... explosive." The soft crackling of magic barely filtered into the interior before ceasing a second later.
With a lull in the interrogation having overtaken above, Psalms spared a brief glance at Twilight where the formulation of an escape plan had quickly taken root in her noggin. Psalms then redirected his gaze above, no doubt standing directly underneath the cargo ship's crew. They'll be fine. Sure their ship gets destroyed and they become stranded, but fine nonetheless. I know the future, I know what's to come... so why does it feel so wrong to simply leave them to their fate? Psalms turned his head towards the harpoon and the ship that it originated from. ...What guarantee do I have that everything will turn out fine? I've interjected myself and changed so much and yet so little has been affected. Maybe all of my interference had slowly culminated into here and now and thus the fates of the cat and the crew are worse off than before... maybe I'm just overthinking and worrying about nothing...
"Psalms, Thomas, quickly, I need your help to-"
"Make a makeshift hot air balloon using a crate, rope, and that fabric, I know, but we can't help you, there isn't enough time. You need to go now. Assemble it on the way down, I know you can do it." Taking a second to search their confined space, Psalms magicked up the map Twilight had been using to plot a course and hoofed it over to Twilight. "Don't want to be forgetting this now." Spotting the still-hanging fabric, Psalms yanked it down and thrust it into the arm of Dash.
"What are you doing?" She inquired as all the others gathered around her, coincidentally standing directly on the exterior hatch.
"Buying you time." Psalms simply said before magicking a grip on the lever and pulled, eliciting multiple startled cries as all free fell down below, all save one.
"You aren't getting rid of me that easily." Sunset sounded off as she appeared to their left. "I saw that look in your eye, you got a plan and the will to strike. I'm getting sick of constantly running, and you've already had your little action moment before, it's time I get mine. Besides, you could use the help."
Psalms fixed her a smile. "Glad to have you onboard."
"Woah, woah, woah, are we just gonna ignore how you casually sent all those girls and Spike plummeting to their deaths? What the hell was that!?" Thomas asked with an ever increasingly perplexed face.
"Don't worry, they're perfectly fine. Now, we can take this ship and its crew on, but I'm going to need your guy's help. Tempest is not one to be underestimated, so me and Sunset will focus on her, hopefully with our combined magical might, we can go toe to toe. Thomas, you work best dealing with the beasts. With the added help of the pirate crew, I think we stand a good chance." Several thuds reverberated across the ship's bowels. "Sounds like the last of her troops have boarded. Sunset, think you can magic us onto her ship?"
Sunset cracked her neck eliciting several satisfying crunches. "Just us three? No problem."
"Hold on now just a moment, I didn't agree to do this with you. There's no way you're getting me up there and fighting a bunch of yetis while balancing off the side of the ship." Thomas protested.
Psalms quirked a brow. "Weren't you just complaining about us hiding instead of fighting? What's the problem now?"
"The problem is there's only three of us left. With all ten of us, we'd be wiping the floor with them within a minute, but now you want me to put my trust into two cripples, a cyclops, an old hag, and a literal bird-brain, all the while balancing a thousand feet in the air?" Thomas stomped his hoof. "Absolutely not. I've had it up to here with all these near-death encounters, what with the train ride and the whole desert and that damn town, enough is enough!"
"...Well, I suppose the choice is yours but uh, I don't think you have a lot of options at the moment." Psalms motioned to the open hatch just yonder.
Thomas took a moment to reflect upon the hatch, then directed his gaze to his side, lifted his coat, and examined his wings. A heavy hiss escaped him a moment later. "Fucking dammit... I have got to get these wings working. Alright, fine, you win, but don't think I'll just forget what you did, Psalms. I could've been with Twilight and the others, but you forced me into this position. Everything better turn out just peachy."
"Search the ship! Every nook and cranny. Nothing goes unturned." Tempest shifted her gaze to the pirates, eyes narrowing into slits. "Bring the cat here. I have an example to make and I don't do repeats." The order issued, beasts began tearing the ship apart while one of them hopped back on the skiff to retrieve the prisoner below. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, lying to a commander of the King's Regiment, aiding rebels,-" Tempest took a cursory glance at the pirate's attire, "-and least of all, dereliction of duty. You know, I've been having a bad few days, It'll be nice to release some... pent-up steam."
If Tempest had anything more to say, she would've been interrupted as the beast sent for Capper found itself splayed out amongst numerous broken Storm King merchandise and crates. Low groans were emitted by the creature and it tried to sit up off its back but the strain was too much and it was forced down for good.
Broken horn flared, Tempest turned to the offenders, finding all three perched upon her bow. One camo crimson unicorn to the right, newly identified Sunset Shimmer to the left, and centered right in the middle...
Tempest was at a loss for words as the alicorn stood before her. Red and yellow mane, fiery phoenix-coated wings, black coat, blue eyes, and undeniably a stallion. A stallion.... a stallion... huh, now she's seen everything. "You." Tempest declared with a heavy snort. "Fire Quill, is it? You and your royal girlfriend have been nothing but a thorn in my side. From Canterlot to Klugetown, you just don't know when to give it up, do you?"
"Can't say anyone has ever called me stubborn before, but coming from you, it's a real honor."
Tempest ignored his remark. "No matter. I only need one more alicorn for the staff to work, since you're so keen to offer yourself up, I'll make your capture quick." Her horn was quick to flare up and she blasted away at the trio but her mark was denied as a shield formed around them which dissipated a moment later. Without any words, The crimson unicorn launched himself off the bow and oriented himself against Tempest's personal guard. Sensing the newfound opportunity, the pirates raised their swords, gave a mighty 'HAR!' and dashed off for their own targets as the beasts ravaging their ship condescend back onto the main deck.
Tempest didn't relent as she fired away. Blast after blast impacting the duo's shield. The strain was great, but with their combined magical might, they were able to weather her barrage.
With growing frustration, Tempest ceased her magical assault and teleported herself between the two, a surprise move that left both open to her quick strikes. Fast as a snake, Tempest delivered a sweeping maneuver that left Psalms tripping on his hooves. Before he could hit the ground, she delivered a two-prong kick that knocked the wind out of him once more as he was catapulted through an open hole leading into the deepest depths of her flagship. Before she could give chase, a bolt of magic impacted her shoulder, hindering her for a brief moment. Turning her glare to the offender, Sunset prepped another mana strike, but before she could successfully discharge it, a purple sphere was assembled directly upon the tip of Sunset's horn.
The resulting blast sent Sunset flying across the deck, where her form lay still. She was only spared a glance as Tempest surged forward to her true target.
Psalms hacked out a few coughs as he regained his breath and it took a moment for him to discern his surroundings. He found himself splayed out on a metal grated floor, where a dark red mist lingered below. Very little light illuminated his vicinity, which left him to fumble for a bit as his eyes ever slowly readjusted. Up above a single heavy cage swayed in the air, ready to snatch him up within its confines, Psalms was quick to move out of its operatable range.
*Clank* *Clank* The sound of impacting hooves sounded off from his six, and sure enough Tempest came into view as he turned to face her.
"Like what I've done with the place?" Tempest began as she leisurely began to pace around Psalms, "I think the mist might be a tad much, what do you think?"
Psalms steadied his breath as he regarded her with calm eyes. "I don't know, I'm not one to fuss over interior decorations."
"Well, I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with it when we make way for Canterlot. Luckily for you, a good host always has a room ready for her guests. Even prepared a nice, cozy bed, just for you." She inclined her head above. "Care to take a closer look?" She finished as her horn flared with rippling wild mana.
"That's alright, I've rested enough already." Psalms horn flared as well.
"Please," Tempest began as a snarl replaced her faux smile, "I insist!" A bolt of magic arced through the air, coiling to strike Psalms down but with a quick leap to the side, the bolt detonated upon the metal flooring which creaked and groaned in protest.
Sliding to her left flank, Psalms jumped back onto his hooves and summoned his magic to fasten around his legs, and projected forward with all his mana, once more using his levitation to attempt a body slam into Tempest.
She refocused her sights on him and unleashed a sweeping arc of magic that sliced through the air at breakneck speeds in his direction.
Psalms ceased his magic, curled his legs under himself, and slid under the magical arc, barely singing his air as it flowed overhead before levitating himself once more, still within his tucked-in form, and surged to meet Tempest's side. He successfully connected and the blow threw Tempest against the wall to his right. Her armor dampened the blow significantly and his shoulder was for sure gonna sport a nasty bruise in the morning, but with her out of the way for the briefest moment, Psalms turned towards the stairway and desperately began a hasty retreat.
He did not have the magical prowess of Sunset or Twilight to engage in a prolonged magical duel, nor did he have the raw strength like Thomas to physically subdue her. He knew Tempest was a foe not to be trifled with and he had hoped with the added support of Sunset, the two could keep her preoccupied and weather her attacks until all other beasts were dealt with and all could converge and overwhelm her at once. Yet, it took not even a minute for her to send him flying down here and presumably render Sunset out of action before fixating solely on his capture. He needed to resurface if he wanted to stand any chance against her. Taking into consideration Tempest's proficiency at CQC meant the confined space he shared with her was only to her benefit.
Ascending the flight of stairs, Psalms reached for the hatch's handle but a hard tug at his tail pulled him away at the last moment. Yanked forcefully down the stairs, Psalms was subject to having his head impact each stairstep along the way, cracking his jaw all the while. Another tug and he was thrown off the side of the stairs, impacted the ground with the grace of a piano, and subsequentially lost all breath once more.
Tempest ceased her magic and trotted up to Psalms until he was directly beneath her. She applied a heavy hoof onto his sternum and pinned him before her. "Now, where do you think you're going?"
Psalms gasped for breath as she pressed her hoof further. "...Oh... you know...thought I could use some....fresh air." Psalms hissed as she pressed even further. He opened his eyes and oriented his face to meet hers. "You're making a mistake, Tempest... the Storm King won't uphold his end of the deal... he won't fix your horn-" Tempest's eyes grew wide, "-he's just using you. I know you know this, you have to."
Tempest's face continued to remain shocked. "...How... how do you know about-"
"I'm an alicorn, let's just say I know many things I shouldn't, but I don't need to be an omniscient being to know that you are nothing but his pawn." Psalms pointed to the dark metal cage above. "Is this who you really are, Fizzlepop?" Tempest's breath hitched as she took a step back. "A conquerer? An invader?" Psalms clambered back onto his feet, "...A traitor?"
A bolt of magic struck him back down and Tempest was quick to bear her snarling face against his. "You don't know what I've been through! You know nothing about me! You don't know what it's like to have your very own friends, your very own family, turn their backs on you! To be an outsider to your very own home!"
Psalms took a moment to wipe away a drip of blood from his mouth. "...No, maybe I don't, but I do know what it's like to be ostracized by those around you." Tempest snarled once more but Psalms continued before she could interrupt. "I wasn't always an alicorn you know, and I wasn't as lucky to have a family in the beginning as you did, nor did I even have friends. I was born into the world utterly alone, Tempest. A sickly little child barely living in an orphanage. I spent many years there, and in all that time nobody wanted me, nobody, not until the very end." A bitter laugh escaped his lungs. "Not even the universe tolerated my existence because just as soon as I came to accept my place in the world, I came down with a terminal disease."
A conflicting mask adorned Tempest's features and she backed away from Psalms as he struggled to clamber back onto his feet. "But, no matter how much shit the world threw at me, I never lost hope and faith, not in myself or others. Sure, they've waivered from time to time, but they have never been broken. I know there's good in you, Tempest, It's not too late to stop and fight back against the Storm King. It's not too late to turn things around."
"...I can't... the damage is already done... most of Equestria and its citizens are under our subjugation... I'm beyond the point of redemption."
A small smile found its way onto Psalms features. "You severely underestimate the lengths these ponies will take to befriend just about anyone. Believe me, they'll forgive you in a heartbeat."
"But can they help me?" Tempest bit back with a glare, inching her way toward Psalms with each case she listed off. "I've read the reports, I've seen firsthoof just how truly powerful you alicorns are. Your sun princess couldn't stop one starving little bug queen from incapacitating her to a wall. She couldn't or wouldn't stop Discord's rise without the element bearers, only to then have him be released on good behavior which almost led to the complete loss of all magic from that raging centaur! Couldn't break free from some measly magical plants, didn't even bother helping with the Pony of Shadows, sent her own niece to fight off an ancient foe instead of herself?"
Tempest's encroachment pressed Psalms against the wall. "Luna can't control her emotions or darker side, Cadence needed the help of a baby dragon to save the day, and you can't even protect yourself from a broken unicorn! ...How can I have hope that you mighty magical beings will be able to mend my horn when you can't even save yourselves!?" Her horn flared once more, "...The Storm King promised to restore my horn... and with the power of four alicorns, he very well could."
"...But do you honestly believe he will?"
The desperate look that morphed on her face for a single second was all the answer he needed. It was quickly replaced with a hard glare as her horn flared for a strike, but the insistent rattling of the cage's chain above drew the attention of both as a dark figure slid down and disembarked with a jump straight into Tempest's side. The force of the figure's weight drove Tempest against the wall with a harsh impact that echoed throughout the chamber.
"You alright?" The voice of Thomas was a flood of relief for Psalms. He offered a simple nod. "Get topside, I'll buy you time." Tempest had recovered by then and her horn sparked with enraged magic but Thomas was quick to lock her within his grip and the two began a rough tussle as Psalms booked for the exit.
Closing the hatch behind him, Psalms was surprised to find fire had broken out within the ship's bowels. Smoke choked the path ahead, forcing Psalms to take an alternate route. It wasn't long before hacking coughs from another individual entered his ears as he came across a series of empty cages, save for one. There Capper was, one paw cupped to his mouth and the other fiddling with his cage's lock with one of his claws. His teary eyes soon noticed Psalms within his peripheral. "*Cough*, *Cough*, *Cough*... Not too keen to lose one of my lives here, friend. Care to lend a helping hoof?"
"Promise you won't try to sell my friends again?"
The look of shame that flashed across the cat's face was reassuring. "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Capper finished with the added motions.
A quick zap from Psalms horn and the lock shattered. "You know Pinkie's Promise already?"
Capper kicked the cage open and stretched his limbs upon exiting. "That mare's running on a twenty-four seven sugar-rush. Darn near told me her whole life's story in one breath."
Muffled explosions from the rear rocked the ship and the two around. "C'mon, that promise is a start, but you still need to grovel on the floor and beg for their forgiveness after what you tried to pull." With Capper in tow, the two rushed for the exterior hatch, passing by more out-of-control fires along the way. Breaching through the hatch, The two are presented with the last Storm beast falling at the hands of Captain Celaeno as she and the beast tangoed with their spear and sword respectively. She parried the beast's strikes expertly and once it tried to lash out with a ranged attack, she finished playing around committed to a one-two strike and slice that tore the spear into three halves. The spear rumbled uncontrollably with chaotic energy and the beast narrowly defied injury as it chucked the spear bits away which exploded a second later. It turned back to the Captain in which she delivered an elbow to its face, toppling the beast down for good. The battle won, she sheaved her sword and let out a triumphant cry which was followed by the others. Lying around, the unconscious bodies of multiple beasts littered the deck.
Another explosion rang out and the Captain was quick to issue an 'abandon ship' order as she and her crew collected the beasts, and a surrendered Grubber, onto her deck. Capper let out a startled yowl and pounced away to safety as another explosion racked Tempest's ship.
"Psalms! Over here!" Sunset called out as she exited Tempest's quarters with multiple scrolls and books within her magical hold. "I'm sorry I couldn't come to help, her bubble shield cause me to burn my horn out, lost control of my mana until a few moments ago, but I managed to snag all of these, might be useful inf-"
Sunset was interrupted as the hatch leading into the bowel blasted open, propelling Thomas's form across the deck's floor. His coat was torn and smoke lingered from the shot that had successfully landed on him. He lay still for a moment, but soon enough a groan was heard as he slowly settled back on his feet. Sunset was quick to throw her load onto the cargo ship before she and Psalms were by Thomas's side and all swiveled their head as the creaking stairs announced Tempest's emergence.
Bruises adorned her face and legs and scratch marks covered every side of her armor, but other than that, she looked no worse for wear. She did not hesitate to unleash her inner rage onto the trio who shielded themselves with their combined magic as they retreated towards the ship's bow. Celaeno and her crew drew swords once more and rushed to assist, but with a quick flick of her magic, Tempest sent all hurdling to the far end of the cargo ship. Capper attempted to help by throwing what he could at her, but she simply ignored him and continued to pummel at the ponies' shield.
Strike after strike, Tempest was unrelenting. She did not bother with words or quips or threats, she wanted Psalms and she was desperate to throw everything to get him. Blast after Blast after blast, and just as the shield began to waiver, Tempest paused for the briefest of moments, but only to allow her horn to build up with her strongest magical strike yet. The air visibly rippled with heat as Tempest's horn pulsed with overcharged power. The trio scoured all angles with panicked eyes, trying in vain to spot anything that could be their last-minute salvation, but nothing came forth, nor was there time as Tempest leveled her horn, primed her magic, and fired awa-
*CRA-BOOM!*
Without warning, the deck splintered into rupturing flames and smoke as it imploded from its inner bowels, sending shrapnel and ponies flying. Psalms found himself slamming against yet another guardrail and was grateful he didn't have the momentum or force to be pitched overboard. Dazed didn't even begin to describe his state of mind as he struggled to shake his head clear of the vertigo plaguing him. After a brief inspection of himself, he was surprised to find little damage.
The same couldn't be said for Thomas as he arose from a cluster of broken crates. He sported a hoof to his head upon fully emerging as a dribble of blood leaked from the wound at the base of his skull. He stumbled for a bit but soon enough found his footing as he and Psalms surveyed the surrounding damage. Once the notion of proximate flames registered within his mind, Thomas's eyes grew wild with fear and he began a hasty retreat towards Sunset.
Said mare managed to land on the very edge of the ship's bow; with her feet curled under her, she hissed and winced with every breath, but looked to be in one piece.
Turning back to the ship's rear, Psalms finally laid eyes on Tempest as she surged back onto her hooves, nursing her forelimb as she braced against a nearby crate. Another explosion rocked the ship resulting in the destruction of the engines as they belched smoldering fire from their exhaust openings, resulting in the skiff pitching forward to a sharp degree as it began to lose altitude. Before Psalms could shout an alarm, a crate struck Tempest's side, sending her flying over the guardrail and down below to the misty sea.
The screech of grinding metal filled the air as the skiff gouged the side of the cargo ship. With its harpoon still in place, Tempest's flagship threatened to bring both ships down to Davy Jone's locker. Scrambling to regroup with the other two, all three ponies laid eyes on the metal chain hooking the two ships. "We need to-"
"For Celestia's sake, we have eyes too, Psalms!" Sunset snapped as her horn blared and her magic wrapped around the chain. "Shut up and start pulling!"
With a glance being shared between the brothers, their magic soon joined in the desperate tugging. The grapple remained firmly fixed within Celaeno's hull, refusing to budge an inch no matter how much they struggled. Sunset and Psalms soon started blasting holes around the opening, hoping to tear off enough wood and metal that kept the hook secure. As they slowly worked away at the hull, Tempest's ship continued to pitch forward, dragging the pirate's ship into a growing incline leading to crates and barrels and scores of merchandise rolling off the ship's side while the crew struggled to secure themselves along the deck.
Finally, with a heavy pop, the harpoon grapple relented with a massive jerk that lead to the ponies tumbling onto the floor. With the tether severed, Celaeno was quick to slowly readjust her ship's elevation and restore its leveled state. The crew and Capper were in a frenzy to lower all ladder rungs along the starboard, but only the one at the skiff's rear was of viable reach.
A desperate sprint to the poop deck was made as each pony scrambled over broken debris, belching fires, and each other. Just as Sunset breached the top of the stairwell, one final hurdle by fate was launched their way in the form of several barrels that were previously secured but became loose amidst all the chaos and rolled directly their way, leaving no time to react. Sunset was flattened by the first few while Psalms launched himself to the side and out of the way while the rest came barreling directly into Thomas.
Psalms could only stare in horror as his brother topple down the stairs once the barrels impacted. "Thomas!"
Within his peripheral, the ladder rung was quickly losing length as the ships continued to drift further apart. Without a second thought, Psalms caught the last of the rung before it escaped and jammed it within Sunset's hooves. Before she could even comprehend his actions, she was forcefully yanked off the ship's side. Her retreating figure soon came into view and Psalms was able to confirm her safety as she hanged for dear life.
"Thomas! Psalms!" Her cries echoed from above.
With Sunset safe, he focused all his attention to saving Thomas. Turns out he didn't need to go too far as he was able to spot his brother fastened in between the helms guardrail and a secured crate. Psalms allowed himself to slide down until he impacted the ship's steering wheel, earning Thomas's attention.
"We're going to die!" Thomas screamed out, "We're going to die, and it's all your fucking fault! Fuck, why me, why!?"
Thomas may have been panicking out of his mind, but that didn't mean his words were any less true. They most certainly were going to die and it was his fault. Everything would've turned out just fine for everyone... so why did he have to go and risk it all?
...Because he just couldn't sit and leave the birds and cat to their fate, even if there was no danger of death. He was ready and willing to follow Twilight's escape plan, but the moment he decided to turn his back... he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He felt it when he left those ponies to fend for themselves back when they first reached the train station when their adventure started, and he felt it again when he let those prisoners get loaded up once they returned to the trainyard. The chill tore at his heart, telling him that he had made a mistake... maybe it was emotions getting the better of him, or maybe it was a sign from the Lord, he didn't know, but he swore from then on that he'd make sure that chill would never run through him again if he could help it.
That's why he decided to help the pirates, to risk it all for something nonsensical, because it was his duty. He has a divine mission to maintain and by God, he was going to uphold it come rain or shine. Involving Thomas however was his mistake. His brother's life wasn't his to throw away or manipulate... and yet he had done exactly that, and now the both of them were likely doomed to an early grave... and it would all be his fault…
Psalms was torn away from his thoughts as the last of the storm clouds cleared and the visage of Mount Aris was presented before him. Seeing the mountain within close proximity, hope surged within his soul, and with a successful test of the wheel and the rudder controls, it blossomed fully into faith. Faith that they'll pull through yet again. "Thomas! If you can hear me, brace for impact!"
View Online
Chapter 8: An Adventure Already?! (Part 6: Revelations.)
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
—Hebrews 13:16
Tempest breached the water's surface and fixed herself to a nearby crate as she struggled to clear the water from her orifices. Hacking out salt water from her lungs and throat left burning sores that dotted her inner esophagus. As the last of the water left her, she wheezed with painful, hoarse groans as she struggled to ascertain her whereabouts. The ocean surrounding her hung heavy with mist, blocking her view of the two airships above, yet the explosions that rang out clearly indicated the state of her airship. The booms soon became muted as her flagship no doubt began to drift to a watery grave.
She had harpooned her ship to the pirate's own vessel, if they didn't manage to cut the line in time, then she doubted there would be any survivors.
Tempest cast her gaze across the horizon, hoping to spot land or anything of note, but the mist obscured all.
She had lost it all. Her ship, her troops, her chase. There was no possible way she could cover the vast distance of sea in the desperate hope of finding her alicorn prizes, and with the princess abandoning ship before she could get a hint as to her next destination, Tempest was at a roadblock. The Storm King would arrive later that very day, and if he were to find out she was still without a fourth alicorn, after 'generously' allowing three extra days, well, her horn wouldn't be the only thing that was broken.
Luckily, Tempest had an ace, a chance to save her skin, Plan B, one final lead. To say she was reluctant to follow through with the plan was an understatement for multiple reasons, but what choice did she have? If either alicorn had simply decided to come quietly, none of this would have been necessary. The blame was on them... but what was to come would surely be on her hooves... and she couldn't deny that.
Tempest's horn stump flared with all her magic and within a flash, she teleported away, reluctant to follow Plan B, but desperate enough to forgo her concerns with it.
They made it. They had actually, finally made it. Twilight almost couldn't believe it. After everything they have endured, from Canterlot's invasion to the daring escape within the train, from their treacherous trek across the desert to their desperate flee from the city, followed by their miraculous survival free falling a thousand meters in the air, they were finally before the gates of the hippogriff's home. After almost three days of nearly nonstop danger and peril, their journey's end was right before them. They all made it... well, most of them anyway.
Casting her eyes to the skies above, the rumbling seas of storm clouds blotted the heavens along with the ship they had ejected from, leaving Psalms, Thomas, and Sunset behind. Many questions lingered on her mind regarding the fiery alicorn. Why did they stay behind? What was happening up there? Were they ok? ...Was he ok? ...Why was she worried about him the most?
These questions were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to everything else that was leaving Twilight a barely functioning wreck. Why was Tempest doing all this? Why was she invading now? What did they want with her magic? Why had they never heard of this Storm King before? Were the princesses ok!? How was she going to free them!? Why didn't she think to get the Elements!? How was she supposed to stop an entire army!? What if the hippogriffs couldn't help!? How were they going to get back home!? What was she going to do!?
"TWILIGHT!" The shout elicited a startled whinny from the Princess as she turned to see a rainbow blur careen straight into her side. Before she knew it, Twilight was dangling from Rainbow's front limbs as the Wonderbolt pitched themselves into the air just as a flaming ball of fire hurtled straight into Mount Aris, narrowly avoiding the Hippogriff statues. A shockwave resounded as the airship impacted the stone, scraping against the mountain's side, spilling debris and flames all around. The screech of metal echoed and ever so slowly, the ship crawled to a full stop. Its airbag slowly began to deflate, covering the pillaring smoke that ascended.
There the remains of Tempest's ship were settled to rest, its last voyage ending with a bang.
"Twilight! Oh Celestia, Twilight, are you both alright!?" Rarity exclaimed as she and the others left the edge of the stairs where they had taken shelter.
Rainbow released Twilight as they touched down. "If it wasn't for me, you'd be a princess pancake right now. What gives?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you until the last second." Her statement earned the worried looks of her friends.
"Twi, we were hollering yer name for a good minute before Dash had to physically move ya." Applejack fixed her with a concerned frown. "What's going on?"
Twilight reflected her eyes across the others before releasing a heavy sigh. "It's...it's nothing girls. The stress of it all, the lack of sleep, it's just getting to me. I'll be fine, I promise."
The others made to express their concerns further, but all attention shifted to the burning wreck as a magical blast resounded from the interior.
A beam of crimson exploded out of the side of the ship and the screams of a familiar stallion echoed from within. A few more beams tore at the wooden hull before it exploded outward as Thomas's figure crashed right through with licking flames flaring upon the sleeves of his raincoat. On his back, the dazed form of Psalms was harshly ejected as they cleared away from the burning wreck. Thomas, screaming all the while, stopped dropped, and rolled, smothering the fire, but he didn't stop there as he grabbed a mouthful of his apparel and began tearing it piece by piece, grinding the burnt bits and fragments into the dirt with ever-increasing vigor.
Psalms, having recovered, continued to lie on the ground as he and the others remained fixated on Thomas's erratic behavior. Soon enough, Thomas switched targets from his torn coat to the burning wreck as he unleashed mega beam after mega beam into the ship, propelling melted slag and splinters in every direction while he roared away. "NO MORE! NO MORE! NO MORE!"
One more beam and silence descended upon the area. All were stunned as choked sobs and fresh tears spilled down Thomas's shivering frame. His eyes were glazed over as he reflected upon them "...No more flames... please... no more fire... I-I can't go back... don't... DON'T TAKE ME BACK!" To the horror of the others, save Spike what with Rarity covering his eyes, Thomas's sharp wing talons flexed inward and gouged themselves deep into his shoulders before pulling down and out, spilling a small stream of blood from each wound. "Take it! It's all I have to offer, just take it! Don't send me back!" He finally collapsed as more choking sobs left him hyperventilating.
What have I done? The thought ran rampant throughout Psalms' mind. What have I done?
Before anyone could move a muscle, a yellow and pink blur was upon him in a flash, cradling the broken alicorn within her lap as she whispered sweet reassurances before quietly switching to a harmonic hum, soothing the former human into a quiet babble. Extending her wings, she wrapped the both of them into a feathery cocoon, providing much-needed privacy.
The rest of the group remained stunned for a bit before Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "...What.... what just happened?"
"Somethin' we weren't meant to see." Applejack began, "I think by now we all knew somethin' was wrong with Thomas, if not then a hunch. Seems to me he's reached a breaking point." She seized her hat and reflected upon it with sorrowful eyes. "I reached a breaking point once myself many years back. Can't say I came anywhere close to what he just done, but it wasn't pretty neither."
"But... but why would he do that to himself?" Pinkie quietly voiced out, her jovial appearance having deflated significantly as well as her colors having become muted.
"Trauma affects ponies in many different ways, Pinkie. I...I can't begin to imagine what he's gone through to elicit that kind of reaction, but it's not our place to know. Not unless he wishes to share. For now, we can only give him and Fluttershy space." Rarity turned to Twilight, fixing her a small smile, "Well, at the very least we have finally arrived at our destination. I believe some quality respite is what we all need at the moment. Rainbow dear, can you perhaps notify the local ushers of our needs?" She shifted her gaze to the burning wreck. "Why they haven't seen to our needs yet, I haven't the faintest clue. Nopony could've missed that at their doorstep."
"I'll go take a look, be back in a sec." Rainbow settles herself into a take-off stance before sparing a glance at the crimson alicorn. With her unable to help him in any way, she dashes through the air and into the Hippogriff's home, her figure becoming obscured by the foggy mist within moments.
The clop of hooves resounded behind Psalms' prone figure as the voice of Twilight reached him. "I'm glad you both are ok. ...Mostly ok." Psalms remained quiet. "...That's Tempest ship, right? What happened up there? Where is Sunset?"
"...She's safe. We decided to help Celaeno's crew and we rescued the cat, Capper. We thought we could hold against Tempest, but she proved to be the superior foe. Collateral damage ensued... she went overboard. Managed to whisk Sunset to safety but..." his gaze shifted over to Fluttershy and Thomas, "...we had to endure the fall... I forced Thomas to endure everything. He never would have agreed to the plan but I forced him into it without his consideration... he's almost died multiple times now.... and it's all my fault..."
"Psalms! Twilight! Up here!" The voice that registered above caused all to reflect upon the sky as the Celaeno's colorful ship slowly descended. Off the port side, Sunset's head along with the crew and feline passenger were sticking out as they hollered. Clearing away to make space, the ship drifted to a halt along the stony steps. A ramp soon extended out and Sunset was quick to slam herself into Psalms' side as a few tears escaped her eyes.
The hug lasted only a few moments before she slugged his shoulder, albeit not as hard as Psalms would've expected. "I know you had a very good reason, but don't you ever pull a stunt like that again on me! I could've helped you both!"
Psalms fixed her a small smile. "I didn't want you in ha-"
"In harm's way, blah blah blah, you care about me, blah blah blah, you had no choice, blah blah blah! You oaf, I can take care of myself you know." Her anger simmered before a bashful smile reflected his way. "...But, thank you."
Sunset didn't hesitate on turning to Twilight and also hug her. "Glad to see everyone is ok... wait where's Thomas?" Both alicorns indicated Fluttershy's way.
The unicorn had to squint to make out the scene and as she turned to inquire, Psalms beat her to it. "He couldn't take the pressure of the last couple of days, and I don't blame him for it. I dragged him into all this, it's my fault his condition's gotten progressively worse."
Sunset reflected upon the first time she had met the two. "Yeah, he hasn't been all... there. Been like that since I first met you two. He has an extreme reaction to fire, enough so that even the name 'Fire Quill' agitated him..."
"It's not our place to dwell on such a topic, and I'm very sorry to say, but we don't have the time either." Twilight reflected upon the gates of the mountain. "At least we made it. With the Hippogriff's help, we can repulse this invasion. Things are looking up for once."
A hiss from Sunset earned the two's attention as she winced upon hearing Twilight's words. "Um, yeah about the Hippogriffs... I don't think we have the time to enlist their help."
Twilight blinked at her words, "What do you mean?"
"Back on Tempest's ship, she managed to knock me out of the fight. When I came to, I wasn't going to be of any help for Psalms or Thomas, so I decided to snoop around while everypony was distracted, and I extracted as much information as I could from Tempest's quarters." Sunset magicked over a pile of notes, scrolls, books, and one onyx journal. "It took a while, but I compiled and looked at everything and... I know the reason why. I know why she's invaded Equestria, why the Storm King is invested, why they need you so much."
"They have an artifact,-" from the pile, she fished out a scroll with a depiction of said artifact outlined from charcoal, "-the staff of Sacanas. Its power can siphon all magic from the most powerful of objects or beings, and harness it for itself and its user. Tempest has spent a lot of time theorizing if her notes are anything to go by, but she ultimately believes that with the harnessing of four alicorns, you princesses specifically, the power held within would restore her horn, the reason she's doing all this, to be made whole."
"That's why she's been chasing you all across the continent. You're the final piece for her Plan A. I've looked through all of her journal entries and it appears she was growing desperate when you fled Klugetown. She had no idea we were headed for Mount Aris as she was fooled by the cat to head East. If it weren't for the rainboom, she never would've found us." Sunset's face settles into a frown as she rubs a hoof against her face while heaving a sigh. "We tried looking for Tempest in the ocean, but she had teleported away before we got sight of her... I'm afraid she has no choice but to head back to Canterlot and with the Storm King coming soon... I fear she will be forced to follow through with Plan B."
"Which means..." The tone Sunset had left Twilight fearing the worse and her fears were confirmed a moment later.
"Tempest only needs one more alicorn, Twilight... there's only one left unaccounted for..."
Disbelief struck Psalms like a truck as the implication was made clear a second later. No... there's no way she'd consider... oh my God... I fucked up... I really, truly, royally, fucked up...
Fear struck deep within Twilight's heart, leaving her legs a shaking mess as her breaths became rapid and ever-increasing. "NO!" she screamed, "No she can't! She won't! I can't let her!" Her desperate pleading eyes reflected upon her shocked friends and the others around, "We need to go! We need to go now! She can't touch Flurry Heart! We have to stop her now!"
"No." Thomas's grave voice boomed out. He gently set Fluttershy aside as he clambered back to his feet. His eyes were bloodshot and the stains of tears were still present across his face. His face was drained of all emotion as he fixed Twilight, then Psalms, with a dead glare. "...I'm done. I'm not doing this anymore." He turned for the ramp, but not before Twilight cried out.
"No! Thomas, please! I need your he-"
"I said I'm done!" Thomas growled out, turning his head to face behind, a snarl fixed on his lips, leaving most ponies, Twilight included, taking a step back. His eyes shifted to Psalsm and he released a snort. "Ever since we left the farm we've been on the run from monsters and airships and evil crippled unicorns, leaving me a hairs width away from death all the while...you promised you'd look after me... instead you forced me into yet another life or death situation! You said everything would turn out just fine without your intervention, yet you still saw fit to interject yourself at every chance you could, and what a surprise it was for me when it inevitably left us burning up in goddamn flames!"
Shivers cascaded through his figure and just as Fluttershy attempted to brace herself by his side once more, he motioned her still with a wave of his hoof as he recovered with choking hiccups. "I can't go back... I refuse to go back... I won't be subject to such torture... not again. I will not let myself get killed because of this stupid adventure. I'm done." He turned once more onto the ramp, leaving Twilight a blubbering mess.
"N-no! Please, Thomas, stop!" Her legs failed to support her as she crashed into the ground as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I-I-I don't understand!? I need you! Flurry needs you! Please! Why are you doing this!?"
"Because if I die, I'm not going up there!" Thomas roared out.
Silence descended, leaving Psalms to finally scramble off the dirt as he took careful steps toward his brother. "...What do you mean?"
"..."
Psalms scrambled to be before Thomas, bringing the brothers face to face. Nothing but unbridled pain and fear was reflected in Thomas's features. "Thomas, talk to me, what do you mean!?"
Sobs threatened to run amock within Thomas. "...Psalms... I died... back on Earth. We both did... and... and I remember everything. I didn't ascend before a singing angel choir, I didn't rise to the pearly gates, I didn't see a bright shining light..." The look of pure unfiltered horror upon his brother's face would forever haunt Psalms. "...I was dragged into the ground... I swam only in darkness... I was greeted with the screeches of the eternally suffering... and mine joined them." His eyes glazed over. "...Fire...fire... forever burning in a lake of fire... choking on the stench of my own charred flesh... surrounded by the shrieking damned...all of us begging... begging... for a single drop of water..."
A few moments of peace passed before Thomas rigorously shook his head clear of the terrible memories, his demeanor calming as he turned to fix Twilight with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sorry Twilight... I-I really am... but I can't do this anymore... not for you, not for Flurry Heart, not for anyone. I-I need to head home." He once more turned his back to the mare.
"...Please..." Twilight dejectedly croaked out, "...She's just a child..."
Thomas's form paused immediately upon hearing her words. A small glimmer of hope swelled within Twilight.
"...Wha-... what did you say?" Thomas whispered as he turned to her, his expression of shock and disbelief.
"She's my niece, she's just a child. Her mother was turned to stone in Canterlot. She and her father, my brother Shining Armor, are both back in the Crystal Empire." Twilight heaves a shaky sigh before continuing. "All three were supposed to visit for the festival, but Flurry came down with the flu at the last moment, and Shining elected to stay behind." Twilight fixated on Thomas with pleading eyes, "Please, Shining won't know of the coming invasion until it's too late. They can't be allowed to get her."
Thomas's shocked expression remained plastered a moment more before he set his eyes to the side as a frown replaced his previous features. His teeth visibly began to ground against one another and his tail began whipping furiously around. Frustration coursed through every vein before he fixed Twilight with another snarl. "Listen and listen very closely. When you say 'child' you do mean the 'goo-goo gaga, I just shat my diaper' kind, and not the thirty-year-old living in mom's basement dwelling man-child kind, right?" Thomas seethed out, earning the confused faces of all save one.
"She's a child, Thomas." Psalms informs. "She's not even three." A subtle nod from Twilight affirms his information.
"Then you should have said that from the start instead of leaving us idling with our thumbs up our ass. There's no time to waste, we need to go now."
Thomas's three-sixty attitude flip left Twilight momentarily paused. "Yes, thank you, Thomas, thank you! We need to leave now, everypony else, please speak to the Hippogriffs and send help for Canterlot as soon as possible." Twilight was quick to usher herself onboard the ship, but was halted as Psalms hoof blocked her path.
"I'm sorry Twilight, but you have to stay here." He lifted his hoof as Twilight made to object. "I know, it's your niece, I understand, but certain events need to unfold if we are to ensure complete victory, and that means you need to stick with your friends. Thomas and I will go. It's my fault Flurry Heart is in danger, and I swear to my very core and to everything I cherish and value, that I will do everything in my power to keep her safe." Twilight's eyes beheld uncertainty, something Psalms aimed to amend. "Please, Twilight. You must stay with your friends. We cannot risk your capture with the Storm King."
"But if you both go, then it doesn't matter if he captures me or not, he only needs one of you!"
"Which is why we'll have to be extra careful, and besides, aside from looking the part, we don't exactly have any of the other qualities that you true alicorns have. I mean I can barely squeeze out a few shots outta this old ivory thing before I'm left breathless. I'm not sure there's any magic he can suck out of us to begin with." Psalms lifted his hoof before her. "Do you trust me?"
The two remained fixated on each other's gaze as doubt and fear ate away at Twilight's mind. For the longest time, the two remained in place, before a shaky breath was heaved by Twilight as the last of her tears fell away. She wiped her face with her hoof before joining hers to his as the smallest of smiles adorned her face. "...Yes... yes, I... I trust you, Psalms. I trust you both. Please, please protect her, and wait for us."
"You're not coming with me."
The two were left stunned by Thomas's words as they both oriented his way.
"What?" Psalms simply inquired.
"You. Are not. Coming. With me." Thomas articulated, "It's your fault that all of this transpired in the first place, and right now, I can't stand to see your hide a second more. So you're going to give me my space and that's final."
"Thomas," Psalms hesitantly prodded, "I understand and completely agree, this is my fault, but please think this through. You're going to go up against the invasion force alone, you barely have any magical prowess, you can't fly, and you don't even know where the Crystal Empire is or how to even get there. You have every right to hate my guts right now, but Flurry is in danger. We need to do this together."
"You've caused enough damage as is, Psalms and I'm sure I can ask for directions if I somehow can't figure out how to read a map. You sure as shit can't fly either and you have the prowess of a wet noodle so I don't know what the hell you're spouting out."
"Thomas, please, now isn't the time-"
"I'm the one who has been calling the shots in combat situations! Stay in your lane."
"Brute force and mega beams aren't going to be enough against an entire army, Thomas!"
"Of course not, what do you take me for, a shit-for-brains brawny brute? But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"
"Please, you two, stop fighting! We can figure this ou-"
"ENOUGH!" The boom of Sunset's shout silenced all. Sunset took a moment to gather her breath and composure. "I will go. I still have yet to have my heroic moment after all, and we're burning daylight squabbling over who's it or not. The Storm King arrives today, which means Tempest is pressed for time." Her gaze settled upon the pirates ship. "We won't make it to Canterlot in time to stop Tempest, not in that ship."
A snort leaves Thomas. "So, we won't make it to Canterlot to stop the invasion in time, which would mean we have even less of a chance of getting to this Crystal Empire and protecting Flurry." A heavy stomp onto the stony floor perfectly reflects Thomas's simmering frustration. "We just can't catch a fucking break!"
"...Actually, this time we can." A glimmer of hope enters Thomas's eyes. "But you aren't going to like it one bit." It was promptly snuffed out.
"Well, it's not like we got a lot of options at the moment, so despite how I may feel about it, lay it on me."
Sunset fixed him a sharp nod toward their lizardy companion. "Spike."
...
"...Spike?"
"Spike."
Thomas looked over Sunset's shoulder as the little dude surveyed around for who called his name. "...Spike?"
Sunset nodded. "Spike."
"Me?" the dragon asked, fixing a digit to himself.
"Yep. You."
"Buh?" Twilight intellectually inputted.
Psalms' eyes slit up with the realization. "Dragon Breath!"
Twilight's eyes were quick to be alarmed. "That will never work!" She declared, catching their attention, "There are magical fail-safes in place that ensure the accidental transportation of organic beings cannot occur. Teleportation for living beings via Dragon breath has not been thoroughly tested and the risks far outweigh the benefits."
"Maybe so, but it is the only option that can provide instantaneous transport straight to Canterlot in less than ten seconds, buying us all the time in the world to delay Tempest's attack before you can come in and finish the job. It's the only way Twilight." Sunset set her pleading eyes on her alicorn friend.
"You don't understand, even if I intended to go through with this, I would need to carefully deconstruct the heavily enchanted spell core piece by piece so as not to damage the spell's matrix as well as comb every angle to find the established nodes that prevent organic matter from being utilized by the spells core functions. Then I would have to establish strict parameters and ensure everything was synced together properly to prevent a catastrophic spell defusion. And that's not even mentioning the equipment and time it will take to make the spell compatible for instant travel." Twilight heaved a breath. "Simply put, it's impossible to send you two through." A thought wormed its way into Twilight's head, and from it, blossomed a plan, a very risky plan. "... At least... at least not as you are now... maybe there is still a way I can send you through, but..." Her face bore a worried frown.
"No buts, Twilight." Sunset was quick to dash the caution away. "If there's a way, then we need to use it. We don't have any other options."
"I know, I know, but... it's been so long since I did it, nearly two decades to be exact, and when it happened it wasn't exactly... voluntary...for anypony...a-and there is no guarantee that if I repeat the process, the results will turn out exactly like last time. The statistical probability is one in a-"
A pair of hooves settled upon her shoulders, one from Thomas and Sunset alike. Their reassuring smiles did wonders to calm her nerves.
"It's ok, Twilight," Sunset voiced out. "We have faith in you. That's enough for us."
Twilight shared a look between the two before hooking her hooves with theirs and bringing the two into a tight hug. "Thank you; from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I can never repay this debt. Please, be safe. I don't know what they'll do if they get their claws on you."
"It's alright, Twilight," Thomas reassured, "we can handle ourselves. And don't worry about my potential capture. If it means me over Flurry, then I'll take the fall anytime. No child deserves to have any harm done unto them. I promise to protect her."
Released from the hug, the two volunteers settled at the base of the ramp. All other souls gathered around as Twilight primed her magic, wishing luck and safe farewells.
"Ready when you are, Twilight," Sunset called out.
"Just... give me a moment, I've only turned ponies into inanimate objects once before, not of my volition mind you."
"Wait, she's turning us into objects?"
"Uh, yeah? Didn't you hear her say living things can't travel through dragon breath? What did you think she was going to do to us?"
"Pfft, how should I know? I'm an alien from another world for crying out loud! Give me some slack...so wait, dragons breath only works on inanimate objects?"
"Yep."
"So, we turn into objects, and then Spikes gonna, what, cough on us, or something? Burp out a bubble or something and poof, off we go?" A horrified look adorned Thomas's face. "He's not gonna eat us and throw us back up, is he!?"
"What? Ew, no, no, no, nothing disgusting or weird like that." Reassurance flooded through Thomas's figure.
Twilight's horn rippled with barely contained energy. "Ok, here goes nothing!"
"Spike's just going to use his fire breath to turn us into magical ash and reform us before Princess Celestia."
A toothy snarl was reflected Sunset's way. The smirk on her lips never relented as Thomas began to chew her out. "Oh, you conniving little horse bi-"
*Zap*
"Wow." Twilight reflected upon the two with surprise. "Exactly like Mom and Dad... Spike, quick, before the spell expires!"
With a heave of his breath, Spike summoned forth his inner rumbling depths, before spewing out green flames that engulfed the two former ponies. The magic worked as intended as their new forms collapsed into ash that was whisked away to a Celestial Princess in a capital far, far away. "Not exactly flowers, but I don't think the Princess will mind."
Psalms heaved a sigh as his brother's ashes disappeared in the wind. What a clusterfuck. way to go, me.
Hell. Thomas came from hell... the implications were... harrowing. Psalms shook his head. There's a time and place for everything, focus on the here and now.
"-ouldn't find anypony! The entire place is a ghost town." Rainbow vocalized aloud as she came for a landing before her group with Psalms catching the last of her statement.
Just as Psalms was about to immerse himself into the conversation, a talon found his shoulder at the last second. Turning he found Captain Celaeno and her crew crowding around his figure, varying displays of appreciation adorning their beaks. "Hey, you're that pony fella that risked yourself to save us from Tempest's wrath, right?"
Psalms nodded away, "Me, my brother Thomas, and a friend, Sunset. I'm Psalms, nice to meet you, Captain."
Celaeno accepted his hoof and the two shook with mutual respect. "Because of you three, my crew is safe, the ship is... relatively intact,-"
"And our booty be nice and secure, Yargh!" One of her mates called out, earning more 'yarghs' around.
Celaeno couldn't help but chuckle away, "Yes, our booty is secure because of you three... you ponies truly are something else, you know that? First, you help us get our mojo back, then you risk life and limb to save us, and last but not least, successfully defeated Tempest, all for a bunch of strangers." Celaeno fixed Psalms with an intrigued look. "Maybe there is something to this magic of friendship after all."
"Oh, you better believe it, sister," Capper announced as he jumped down from a boulder he had been using to relax upon. "In all my years within Klugetown, I have done many... eh, 'rambunctious' activities and jobs and other assorted opportunities to better finesse myself to a higher quality of life, so to speak, but..." His features withered ever so slightly as he continued. "...but, I cannot say in any uncertain terms that I have considered or gone through with the attempted sale of sapient goods before, at least not until now. ... I don't know why I ever considered doing such a... well, let's not sugar coat it, a horrible, irredeemable thing..."
His features brightened once more. "But, after groveling in the dirt, begging and pleading with the ones I wronged, doing exactly what Psalms said I should with all of my heart and soul, those ponies that I oh so wronged in the worst possible way..." A tear or two slid down his face, which he was quick to wipe away with his sleeve, leaving his eyes to linger on the button Rarity sewed previously. "They still saw good in me, even after what I did... these ponies, I tell you what, are no ordinary ponies or even ordinary creatures at that, but I am truly humbled and forever grateful, to call them my friends."
"Psalms!" Pinkie shouted out from beyond the gates. The figures of the others disappeared into the mist as they advanced. "Dashie heard singing in a spooky dark cave! We're going to investigate, you coming!?"
"You gals go on ahead, I'll be right behind you."
Pinkie nodded away before bouncing and giggling into the mist.
"Well," Psalms began, "I'm glad all of you are ok."
"Ok? We're better than okay. We're ready and willing to join your fight against the Storm King." Celaeno and her crew joined arms together as they hefted their scabbards and other assorted weapons into the air. Even Capper linked arms with the pirates. "It's the least we can do for all you've done. You have our word."
"Glad to have you and your crew aboard, Captain. You too Capper." Psalms shifted his view unto the cargo ship, eyeing the damage inflicted upon its hull. "Real glad to have your ship too. Should make travel to Canterlot that much faster and easier, but I think it needs some repairs."
"We're on it, you go join your friends, we'll have the ship ready for departure before you know it," Celaeno reassured.
"Thanks, best of luck to you!" Psalms shouted as he galloped after the rest of his group.
"And to you too!" He received in return.
Sprinting for Skystar's little hangout, Psalms ignored the dilapidated and overgrown ruins that adorned every direction. Spotting the open entrance, the sounds of the girl's voices echoed within. Reaching the opening, Psalms tucked himself into a ball and slid through the tight opening. As he crawled onward, the voices soon turned into screams as the sound of rushing water reverberated throughout the cavern halls. The cramped space finally opened into an ornate and extensively flooded atrium, where a vortex of water was being flushed down. Seeing the water quickly disappear, Psalms took one large gulp of air and plunged himself down the spout.
Many miles away, centered within the throne room of Canterlot, the petrified figure of Celestia along with her sister Luna and niece Cadence, were arranged within the pictogram etched into the marble flooring, its size and shape perfectly suited for the rune Tempest procured along with the staff for the successful transfer of power. The throneroom was quiet, empty, barring the three trapped souls.
*Pop*
Correction, barring the five trapped souls.
Plopped right before Celestia's stony hooves, two familiar potted plants magicked into existence via Spike's Dragon Breath. Celestia's frozen pose provided the perfect view to examine the plants in detail. One tall prickly cactus with a cute little flower adorning its head, and a common household dracaena, exactly as she remembered all those years ago. There the two plants were deposited and peace reigned for but a few seconds before Twilight's magic expired, plunging the room in a bright flare.
Celestia mildly expected to see the familiar forms of Velvet and Night Light, for whatever reason, but instead, to her surprise, she was greeted with the familiar face of her reconciled former student, Sunset Shimmer, and a crimson unicorn, no wait, a crimson pegas-, no, neither yet both... a stallion... alicorn? Her thoughts were short-lived as said stallion erupted into speech upon immediately transforming, his booming voice having drowned out her inner thoughts.
"-tch! You fucking swindling yellow-bellied rainbow shitter! You knew fire was involved, didn't you!?"
"Of course I did," Sunset nonchalantly replied as she dusted herself off. "And if anypony had told you about it then you wouldn't have volunteered to come, now would you?"
Thomas lifted his hoof to protest further, but her words struck true and he relented with a huff. "...No, no I would have gone insane again. You better believe I'm pissed as all hell, but I understand completely." Thomas clambered back onto his feet. "I'll get over it, in time." Thomas swiveled his head around, taking in the immense expanse of the throne room. "So, this is the Canterlot throneroom, I presume?"
His question goes ignored as Sunset straddles up to his side, her eyes fixed solely on Celestia alone. Thomas examines her before orienting himself before the Sun Princess, leaving all three ponies a moment to reflect upon one another.
"It's good to see you again, Celestia... I just wish it was under better circumstances." A sentiment Celestia deeply agreed with.
Thomas shifted his gaze between the two multiple times before coughing into his hoof. "I, uh, don't mean to ki- er, crash the mood... but um, these petra-nades... they don't, uh, kill their targets, right?" A question we all should've been asking much earlier.
Sunset shook her head. "They work similarly to a cockatrice's stare. The victim remains within suspended animation until released."
"And uh, how exactly do we break them out?"
A soft sigh exited her lungs. "...I don't know. Tempest didn't mention anything in her notes."
As Sunset answered his questions, Thomas took the liberty to survey the other two alicorns present. They may be fixed within their stony prisons, but Thomas couldn't help but feel their eyes crawling all over his form, leaving a shiver that wriggled down his spine, leaving his wings to involuntarily fluster themselves against his side. The chill rebounded down his spine once more.
Looping back around to Sunset's side, he rejoined the examination of Celestia. "...So, this is Celestia. She's the one that controls the Sun." Thomas reflected over his shoulder, back to the others. "And I'm assuming the one with the moon on her bu-, her flank, is Luna?" At Sunset's confirmation, he repositioned himself before Cadence. "Which leaves you...Cadence... Flurry's mother."
The faintest touch of something deep within Thomas's soul was felt, a tug at the heart one could say when he mentioned Flurry's name. Thomas cuffed a hoof at the spot of contact before gazing deep into Cadence's eyes, his expression hard and sturdy. "...Don't worry, I promised Twilight I'd protect her from harm, and I promise you as well. Nothing will befall your daughter, or your husband, nor your kingdom and subjects. You have my word." He felt another tug before it was washed away in soothing warmth.
"Underneath all that gruff macho bravado, you're just a giant teddy bear, aren'tcha?"
Thomas simply shrugged his shoulders. "I got a heart just like everyone else, Sunset, and nothing tugs at it more than the thought of innocent children or animals facing harm from the evils of the world." Thoughts of a child within a quarry with a boulder looming overhead cascaded through his mind. "...There's nothing I could do for them back in my world, but here? Now? We're all that stands between the two, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Me neither." Sunset steps to his side, fixing him with a proud smile. "So, what's the plan, oh great general, or was charging blindly into the heart of the enemy it?"
"Right, the plan. Normally I wouldn't charge head-first into a suicidal mission without at least considering the options, but who knows when Tempest will reach here if she hasn't already." Thomas trotted to the stained glass, getting a view of the storm-covered city. "First and foremost, we need to stop Tempest from gathering her forces and heading straight for the Crystal Empire. The problem is, we have no idea if she somehow beat us to the punch or not. I highly, highly, doubt she has, but regardless, we need to keep them here in Canterlot. They're looking for an alicorn, so we'll just have to shine the spotlights on one."
"But," Sunest began as she joined his side "that's assuming Tempest is already here, right?"
"Right. If she hasn't arrived yet, then there's no need to blow our cover. If I remember my history correctly, the element of surprise was almost always the key deciding factor in ancient human battles. The first priority is recon. We need to scope out the local forces, get a rough estimate of their strength and size, find the head of Canterlot's security, and keep an eye out for Tempest."
Sunset frowned as she eyed the sheer size of the city before her. "That's a lot of ground to cover with just the two of us. There's no way we're going to find Tempest through all that."
"We'll know when she gets here. She'll be in a mad scramble to scrounge up whatever she can and head straight for the Empire without delay. It'll be a madhouse of activity when that happens."
A light bulb lit within Sunset's mind. "Then we'll let her do just that." Seeing the puzzled look on Thomas, Sunset explained further, "Canterlot is huge, so it's safe to say it took a really big army to conquer it. There's no possible way we can tackle them all by ourselves and buy the others time to get back; but, if we are correct about Tempest's desperation, then she won't hesitate to cram everything into her fleet and leave a token force behind!"
Thomas nodded along as she finished and was quick to offer his own thoughts. "And hopefully by then, we will have conducted enough recon to locate the imprisoned Canterlot guards, free them and the others, and we'll have a fighting force on our hands, but, how are we going to get Tempest's attention when she races off for the Empire?"
"We'll have to find one of the beasts in charge. They carry with them a blue scrying potion that allows communication with its superiors, I.E Tempest. Plaster your face through the call, and that should be enough to turn her boats around."
Thomas hooked a leg around Sunset's shoulders as a devilish smirk adorned his lips. "Ha-ha, look at us, two guerrilla commanders scheming our enemy's downfall right at the heart of their invasion. They won't know what'll hit 'em."
Thomas's leg retracted as he climbed the staircase to the royal balcony. "You know, the way you're acting right now is a complete far cry from back at Mount Aris," Sunset stated.
"What can I say? I am so over all this bullshit, and if planning a little guerilla op is what it takes to finally end this, then who says I can't have a little fun while doing so?"
Interlude: Birds of a Feather Fall Together
Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions,
--Deuteronomy 32:11
"Walk the plank!"
"Walk the plank!"
"You're insane! You're certifiably insane!" Psalms screamed out as he along with Applejack, Spike, and Rarity teetered on the edge of a wooden plank, being slowly pushed off inch by inch by two burly storm beasts as the shouts and calls of various creatures resounded all around, hooting and hollering for their plunge. Psalms shifted his panicked gaze over to one guffawing rainbow alicorn. "What the hell happened to baby steps!?"
Rainbow's chortles died down as she picked herself off the floor and wiped away the last of the saliva adorning her cheek. "What? We are doing baby steps." She snickered once more. "Baby bird steps that is." More laughter echoed across the deck.
"So this is your master plan!? Throw us off the ship and hope for the best!?" Rarity Screeched.
"What can I say? As one great saying I know goes, 'Everypony knows the best way to learn quickly is under intense, life-threatening pressure.'"
"That's a fucking Spiderman quote!"
Rainbow ignores Psalms shout. "Momma birds gotta force her chicks outta the nest, and this seemed the best way to replicate that."
"We're not birds!" Spike boomed out, his hulking figure was the only obstacle that was heavy enough to keep the beasts struggling.
"Eh, potato tomato, quit stalling and follow after Pinkie's lead for once."
"She jumped off the ship before you even explained what we were doing!"
"Exactly! Look how well that worked out for her." Rainbow extended a hoof into the air at a pink blur that swooped elegantly around the ship's gasbag while gleeful cheers reverberated across the air.
"The exception is not the rule, Darling! What works for Pinkie Pie doesn't necessarily apply to the rest of us, you know this!"
"Oh shut your trap, Rarity. You already have some experience flying, what's the big deal now?"
"I was not being forced off the edge of a ship against my will a thousand meters in the air by a couple of mangy brutes last time!" Spike's planted feet gave for a split second before anchoring once more, but it was enough for Rarity to scream and shout out. "For Celestia's sake, Rainbow! End this shenanigans at once!"
"You can end it by walking the plank! Yargh!" Boyle drew his cutlass and began to toy with the dragon with fainting slashes, which earned flinches from Spike.
"Walk the plank!"
"Walk the plank!"
"Alright, alright, that's enough we had our fun," Rainbow announced, halting the storm beasts in their track much to the dismay of the other onlookers.
"Aw," Boyle disappointedly began, "but they're right there, and we have never managed to get anyone to walk the plank before, tis a real mark of shame for pirates to go this long without having someone thrown overboard."
"Well, when you put it that way..." The storm beasts resumed the push a second later.
"RAINBOW!" Her victims called out.
"Ok, ok, you win, we're done for real. You guys can come back-"
*SNAP*
"-...aboard?"
Everycreature standing upon the rickety wooden board took a glance at their feet before slowly turning to collectively give Rainbow a glare, storm beasts included.
"Oops?"
*SNAP*
Another snap and screams from her 'students' briefly filled the air before they disappeared into the misty sea of clouds.
"...Ah ponyfeathers."
View Online
Chapter 10: An Adventure Already?! (Part 8: Capitulated Resistance.)
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
--Psalm 82:3-4
Several shadows passed by in quick succession, but one lingered as the rest pressed on. It extended its head to the air and a few snorts and sniffs followed, forcing Thomas to hold his breath and hope the damned thing followed after the others real soon.
No luck, the beast had caught the scent of something that demanded its immediate attention, and soon enough, the shadow morphed into a pitch-black figure that contrasted sharply against the illuminated alley opening. It lingered from side to side, getting a whiff of stale mold, trash, and rotting wood, but it was undeterred as Thomas's scent prevailed. Its legs bumped against his cardboard box and just as it reached to pluck his cover away, a roar reverberated from the street beyond. The beast before him yelped, and beat a hasty retreat back into formation.
After waiting a moment more, Thomas jerked his box away as he gulped down a breath and slowly calmed his nerves. Fuck, that was close.
Canterlot was a stir, what had been a relatively calm occupation moments before had descended into blundering chaos as troops flooded the streets and skiffs swarmed the air. There was no doubt lingering, Tempest had arrived. Where? Impossible to determine under these circumstances, it was already difficult enough to scout around Canterlot as one of the only equines in the entire capital not imprisoned, so forget about lurking in the shadows when there was a beast around every corner.
No, there's no chance he's finding Tempest anywhere on the streets, the only hope of confirmation was where he first arrived, and that would mean...
Thomas reflected his eyes on the royal palace high above, wincing in pain as he nursed his throbbing left leg against his chest, staining his already crimson coat with his life juice as memories of his little escapade only an hour ago flooded through his mind.
Perched upon the balcony edge, Thomas reflected his gaze across the kingdom below, careful to only peek through the open railing for maximum concealment. Littered across the streets were the imprisoned citizens of Equestria strewn all about, hauling cargo, tending to the beast's whims, or simply rotting in their metal cells. Gloom and doom were plastered across every face, except for a scant few who were making quite the ruckus.
Centered within one of the lower plazas, an immense cage housing a couple dozen ponies was the source of the only voiced opposition within the entirety of the occupation, the source of the only equine noise in the city, aside from one melodic voice singing out.
The shouts, curses, taunts, and threats these ponies spewed at their captors, were not those of scared civilians, far from it. It only took Sunset a scant few seconds of listening before she was able to confirm Thomas's suspicion. The Royal Guards, at least a few contingents of them.
"That's them all right. Spent enough time growing up in the castle to know their verbiage. And I also know that during events like these, the Princess becomes very lax regarding security. I'm confident all of them were off duty when Tempest struck." Sunset shifted her gaze to the castle. "This means the armory should be fully stocked with their gear. If we can successfully escort them back here, we can retake the castle, establish a hoofhold in the city, and if we have enough forces, maybe we can even take back the Canterlot Archives; maybe I can find a way to free the Princesses there."
"Solid enough plan," Thomas nodded away, "but wouldn't the beasts have plundered the armory by now?"
Sunset offered only a shrug. "Maybe, maybe not. The castle's a maze to the unacquainted, especially since there are no interior directions. We'll just have to hope it remains untouched." Sunset returned her view to the caged guards. "Anyway, it's a safe bet the Captain of the Guard isn't with that rowdy bunch. The title alone is enough to enforce strict discipline amongst all guards without exception. We'll have to search further to find them."
"You know the castle's layout better than me; see if they're being held in the dungeon and make sure that armory is stocked. I'm going down and getting a better look around."
"Down there? By yourself? You can't stand against an army, they'll capture you in minutes."
"So be it. Better me than Flurry Heart."
"What about maintaining the element of surprise? Aren't we doing all this to stall Tempest? Not much stalling if you hoof yourself over immediately."
Thomas released a sigh as he combed his hair back with a hoof, "Ok look if you want me to be brutally honest here, I don't think we have a snowball's chance in hell of pulling much of anything off; not against an army big enough to take a city like this, because let me tell you, it looked a lot smaller way down by the river."
"But ultimately," Thomas continued, "if you may remember, my capture doesn't matter, so long as it means they stay away from the Crystal Empire. Now, we don't have much spare time, get going with the castle, I'll scour the streets."
Sunset's conflicted features promised further rebuking, but ultimately she abdicated with a shake of her head.
"Oh, hey wait, before you go, can yo-"
With a sparkle of her horn, she flashed away, no doubt deeper within the confines of the castle.
"-u teach me... how to... teleport...crap." Thomas shifted his gaze to the streets below, mouth running dry as he considered his options. Hesitantly settling on one, Thomas ever so slowly clambered onto the castle's rail, hooves a-rattling away upon perching. A nervous shiver cascaded down his spine as he reflected upon his bristled wings. "Oh man, oh man, oh man. This is stupid. Unbelievably stupid. Never even used the damn things." The crimson alicorn stole a look into the castle's interior before reflecting down below. "Yeah, no. That'll take forever. No time to waste."
Taking a few quick breaths, Thomas attempted to settle his nerves, but just as his pulse began to level out, a guttural growl reverberated from a rooftop nearby. Not a second later, a spear of sizzling magic streaked overhead, missing his skull by the skin of his teeth. Heart thrumming out of his chest once more, Thomas was left flailing off and over the edge, plunging wildly into the city's depths. For all its worth, the desperate flapping of his wings did little to stem the fall. It was only by the grace of God that Thomas did not ultimately end up a crimson smear on the cobblestone street as he soon found himself tangled in several clotheslines, swinging within a long arc narrowly avoiding street signs and balconies before finally being deposited through a glass window within a highrise building. A moment of respite was not allowed as more grunts and growls echoed beyond the broken frame.
Lacerated, bleeding, and panicked, Thomas retreated towards the stairs, hoping beyond hope that he could somehow evade the coming horde.
And evade, Thomas did. For well over an hour, he ducked between dirty alleys, saddled himself against the darkest corners, and squeezed through the tightest crevices to ensure his freedom, all the while keeping an eye out for friend and foe alike. All that time being hunted, and yet it was only now that the city stirred like an agitated bee hive. Yes, Tempest had most certainly stepped foot within the city and rounded up all forces as predicted. The trouble for Thomas now was the constant troop movement across his dead-end alley, with the occasional straggler catching a whiff of his wounds. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, it was only a matter of time before he'd be caught.
Judging by the growl from the dark shroud ahead, that time was now. Within a flash, a leathery claw snatched Thomas by the neck, eliciting strained gurgles from the pony. It brought the two face-to-face, huffing a puff of breath at Thomas as he feebly pounded at the thing's grasp. Alas, his one good leg wasn't enough.
The double-pronged air kick from the side that followed sure did the trick though as the beast released Thomas and sailed perfectly into the nearby dumpster. Rising its dazed head from the trash, the beast only had time to squeak out a whimper as its assailant dive-bombed. Adorned on the pegasus's front hooves were small tuffs of cloud rippling with vibrant lightning. Upon contact, the beast began spasming erratically; arms flailing wildly, fur puffing up, and voice squeaking out. The scene ended as the trash can's lid was forcefully slammed shut.
Turning to Thomas, the pegasus adorned in guard armor regarded him with a salute of his wing. "Prince Thomas, Private Swift Stream... I gotta say, when that sun mare mentioned a stallion alicorn, I didn't believe it, but you standing before me..." The Private rigorously shook his head clear of the distraction. "No doubt the other things heard our commotion, so we need to move, now." Swift Stream turned to a trash-covered corner and peeled away the debris, revealing a manhole. Swift motioned to the opening, "Inside, hurry. The sewers are too small for them to follow. Word of advice, hold your breath."
Shuffling to the hole, Thomas reared his head from the smell and hesitated for the briefest of moments before hooking his hooves on the ladder rungs and began the descent.
Roars rang out from the street, prompting Swift to collect various trash and cover the exposed hole, but not before Thomas stuck his head back through. "Hey, wait, what about you?"
"Don't worry, I'll find an alternate entrance, they're littered everywhere. Take a left and follow the hanging lights, keep going until you find somepo-" More growls echoed closer, "Time's up, down you go!" Swift shoved the rest of the garbage onto Thomas's head before booking it up and over the alley walls, disappearing in one swift move.
Not hoping to push his luck, Thomas descended fully and had to struggle to hold his stomach in as the all-encompassing stench of sewer assaulted his nostrils. Careful to avoid serious infection, he kept his injured leg securely nursed to his side and began the arduous hobble deeper into the murky depths.
Filth covered every wall as rats and roaches scurried across the damp dirty floor. Mucus and fowl fluids dripped from every crevice and the stench? The stench flooded Thomas's lungs with every labored breath, evoking his stomach to flip with every step he took.
To think, a city as beautiful as Canterlot could hold such a decrepit underbelly... politicians and nobles weren't the only nasty things in the city it would appear. Thankfully, the darkness did well to hide the nastier visages present, but this respite was soon discarded as luminance flooded into view.
The hanging lights adorning the tunnels provided ample illumination during Thomas's trek, and it wasn't long before the voices of others were heard just beyond one corner. Peeking around the corner, five individuals are revealed within a larger chamber, two of which were armored and overlooking what appeared to be a map, while the other three toiled away barricading a door up.
"Hey!" Thomas shouted out, earning all eyes on him within an instant. The strained faces visibly relaxed upon seeing Thomas's equine form, and it didn't take long for confusion and shock to follow suit upon observing his figure further. "Please tell me you guys have somewhere that doesn't smell like a sewer for me to clean my wound."
Their surprised looks lasted a second longer before the assumed officer began barking orders. "It's the Alicorn Prince. Corporal, resume fortifications, I shall return shortly."
"Yes, Ma'am!" The guard saluted as the officer ushered herself forward.
Like before, The officer stood at attention upon reaching Thomas and delivered a crisp salute. "Your Highness, First Seargent Cinder Spark. We were informed of your potential presence in the AO; the Captain of the Guard, Rampart, wishes to speak with you. I shall teleport us to the FOB if you are ready, your Majesty." A simple nod was offered and with a glow of Cinder's horn, the two were whisked away.
Thomas was left disorientated upon flashing into existence, and it only took a few seconds of gathering his senses before the sounds of voices, infant cries, shouts, and various other audio assaulted his popped ears. More shouts and some gasps echoed out before complete silence dominated. Thomas's eyes finally readjusted, presenting to him what appeared to be a rotund rundown mineshaft, with rusting mine carts shoved into one corner and various piles of scrap metal in another. Layered across all rock walls were various crystals jutting about. Dozens upon dozens of eyes from mare to stallion to foal, all were fixated upon his form. Many were teary-eyed, wearing bags or had little light in them, but, the mere sight of one such as Thomas, revitalized their inner spark. Many droopy ears flopped back to life as they no doubt noticed the wing-horn combination. Soon whispers and shouts equally filled the dead air.
"Is that the Princess!?"
"Thomas!"
A voice rang out, one Thomas was able to recognize amidst the present crowd. Craning his head over the ensemble of ponies, The waving hoof of Sunset catches his eye at the very rear.
"Stand aside, stand aside! Make room for His Highness!" plowing through, a contingent of armored guards speared the crowd in half with the foremost figure beckoning Thomas forward. Cinder took to covering Thomas's rear as he became enveloped in the living guard bubble. The group traversed through the herd with ease, concerns and shouts from the civilians aside, and Thomas soon found himself deposited before Sunset Shimmer along with who he could only assume was Captain Rampart; what with the chiseled features, toned muscles, and untarnished immaculate silver armor all the while adorning a stone-faced mask that screamed of impatience to nonsense.
One glance at Thomas's injured leg and Rampart was quick to call out, "Corpsquine!"
"Thomas, you're hurt! What happened?" Sunset asked upon viewing Thomas's state.
"Got cut on some glass earlier... stings like a mother... you guys have any anti-bacterial anything? Was in a nasty sewer a moment ago." A shuffle of footsteps to Thomas's side signaled the arrival of the medic whose horn began flaring up.
"Stand still and steady your breath, this should only take a minute." The medic relayed.
"Full sweeping scan, Private, we're not taking any chances." Finally, Rampart's eyes met Thomas's, both fully taking each other's appearance in. Like the others, Rampart couldn't help but focus on the wings and horn almost exclusively.
Thomas should have seen it coming as a crisp salute was delivered yet again unto him. "Captain of the Guard and supervising Regent of Her Majesty's Royal Kingdom of Equestria, Captain Rampart." Rampart released his salute before dipping low and bowing before the crimson alicorn, "At your service, your Highness." The Captain's action hushed the crowd and soon all other equines, aside from Sunset, joined in.
Thomas was left stunned and did little else other than pivot his head this way and that before finally offering an awkward cough. "...Uh, you... you may rise, please rise, enough." Rampart and the others did just so upon his command.
"Gotta say, today's been full of surprises so far." Rampart reflected over to Sunset, "Didn't expect to run into you now of all times." His eyes returned to Thomas, "Didn't know we'd be getting new additions to the royal family, and now I hear liberation will be delivered in a few short hours?"
"If all goes according to plan. Speaking of which," Thomas turned to Sunset. "I didn't think we'd be finding the Underground Railroad so soon. Where'd you find these guys? I thought all of Canterlot was subjugated."
"We were caught with our pants down, I admit that-" Rampart answered in her stead, "-and amid the ensuing chaos the majority of my forces were swept up within the panicking crowd. What remained retreated to the castle, but the enemy force had already secured the front gates. Contingency plan Beta was enacted and we ushered as many as we could to the sewers below, where the beasts couldn't follow.
"For the past few days, we've been held up down here, scavenging around for food and medical supplies for the citizens, locking down all entrances big enough for those things, and scouting the crystal mines for an exit at the base of the mountain. With so few of my forces to spare, progress has been exceptionally lagging, and with most without any gear, we've been vulnerable to most prodding assaults. We've lost quite a few to capture in the days since our capitulation. Then out of nowhere, Miss Shimmer here decides now of all times for a little reunion while we are all quite literally down in the dumps."
"You know me, RP, can't leave an old friend hanging." She delivered a soft punch to the Captain's shoulder, which elicited the faintest of smiles from the stallion.
Another armored figure stepped in between the two and asserted himself into the conversation. "Things had been going relatively steady for the last few hours, but now those things are a jumbled mess topside. Our recon team reports enemy forces are scrambling across the city in a hurry. At first, we thought they finally found a secure way down here, but so far they've been amassing troops, supplies, and ships along the docks. Sunset was in the midst of explaining when you arrived, so if you may resume, Miss Shimmer?"
"Of course, Lieutenant. As I was saying before, the Storm King has seized a magical staff capable of draining the Princesses of their magic and harnessing it for himself. The ritual for the staff requires four magical contact points, i.e. the four princesses themselves or four of any beings equal in power. The King fetched his commander, Tempest, onto Princess Twilight for an easy target, but so far we've managed to escape her grasp, enough so that Tempest has become desperate, desperate enough to go after another easy mark, the only mark left; Flurry Heart."
The Lieutenant couldn't help but flinch at the implication and Rampart's eyes grew a shade darker.
"Vile wretch! The audacity!" Yet another voice joins the fold as an armored pegasus adorned in iron armor with a Roman-styled pith helmet lands amidst the group. "Hail unto thee, Prince and Savior! Worry not for we shall endeavor to keep treacherous hooves away from young Princess Heart! Just point out this Tempest and I shall quell her!"
The Captain held up a hoof before further remarks could be made. "That's enough, Drill Seargent Magnus. So, she plans to stage an assault upon the Crystal Empire to seize the only other alicorn as far as she knows." His gaze turned scrutinizing upon Thomas. "And I assume your presence here isn't a coincidence."
"He's the irresistible bait. With the Storm King coming today, Tempest has little time to make up for her failure, she has one chance to fix it, so she's going all out for it. The plan is to let her leave with her army and leave a token force behind. We use this chance to free as many prisoners as possible, arm ourselves up, fortify the castle, or whatever makes the best defensible position, nab a scrying potion, and ring the dinner bell. Hopefully, she'll bite and come crawling back to us. After that, well," Sunset shrugs her shoulders, "it'd be only a matter of time holding out for Twilight and the others to get here and end this."
"However, no plan survives contact with the enemy," Thomas continued, "We can hope all we want, but we must be prepared and ready in case help doesn't come at all; so while we hold out for as long as we can, Sunset, you will be focused on escorting the Princesses out of the castle."
"That's assuming we can retake the Canterlot Archi-"
"Forget the archives," Thomas interrupted, "It'll take too long to research a cure. We'll just move the statues themselves, hide 'em away, deny the yeti his prizes."
"We've already tried," The Lieutenant piped up, "we managed to sneak into the castle's throne room the night of the first day. Magic, might, didn't matter, they're sealed in place with a rune, there's no moving them."
"Maybe so, but you had a look at Tempest's notes, Sunset. Any way you can think of removing the rune?"
Sunset placed a hoof to her chin as her eyes scanned the ceiling above, "...Mmh... I can think of a few spells at my disposal that may hinder the rune's magic, the keyword being 'may'. If I had her notes with me now, I'd know for certain. Whatever the case, the spells will take time to work their magic so you'll have to buy me as much time as possible."
The horn from the medic finally dimmed. "Well, aside from some bruising, we're looking at a clean bill of health."
This statement earned a confused look from Thomas. "Uh, what? You sure your horn is working right? I was leaking droplets all across the streets; and with nothing to cover the wound, I for sure caught some nasty shit while in the sewer."
The medic took to Thomas's side and grabbed hold of the injured leg before foisting it into Thomas's face. Sure enough, the many lacerations previously adorned were all but replaced with intact crimson fur and skin. No signs of trauma lingered. "Alicorn healing factor is my guess. Never seen the Princesses injured, nor have there ever been reports of any injuries, not that I know of at least. Like I said, aside from some bruising, clean health. Captain?"
"You are relieved, Private." The Private saluted before returning to his post.
Thomas wasn't quick to test his leg out, but after a moment of hesitation, he applied pressure and found himself able to be supported without any difficulty. No putting me down this time, Farmer Brown. "*Sigh*... Alright, so we have a basic outline of a plan; free the prisoners, fortify the castle, wait for reinforcements, now we need to flesh it out. Deployment of forces, fallback positions, escape rou-"
"No need." Rampart interjects, "Canterlot forces are well drilled in all Canterlot Castle security contingencies. Once we secure it, leave the defensive layout to me. The interior design of the castle should be perplexing enough to maintain a stalwart fortification."
"Right, of course... I suppose I should leave command to the trained expert."
"It's for the best, my Prince." The Lieutenant finishes.
"You do know I'm not...ugh, whatever... well, what about them?" Thomas reflects his gaze on the gathered crowd of civilians. Multiple pairs of eyes are reflected back, each in varying states of despair, fear, and surprisingly, hope.
"We have a few teams surveying the crystal caves below for an exit. Without any maps or directions, it's been slow going. We have yet to encounter any of the beasts but with so few guards to spare, we can't afford to take any risks of ambush, and so slow and steady remains paramount." Rampart hefts a hoof to his chin, "Hmm, there was a mare down here that had been permitted to examine the mines and its geological properties by order of the Princess. ...Maud Pie I believe her name is. I don't know how, but in the short time she has spent down here, she managed to open up twenty-two new tunnels. It's a long shot, but if she was captured, she could help speed up our progress substantially. I'll mark her down as a VIP target in the coming operation."
"Captain," Flash Magnus began, "again I plead, let me scope the caves out; with my speed, I'll find an exit before the turn of an hour!"
Rampart fixed him with a glare and a shake of his head. "Negative, Drill Seargent, we need a full team to properly traverse and mark the tunnels. With your speed, all it takes is one wrong move, one wrong turn and you will sever the only connection back to the FOB and before you know it, you will be hopelessly lost amidst the numerous mined-out veins.
"And that's not to mention how cramped and cluttered the caves are. For all your agility and speed, it won't matter in a close-quarters ambush. So again, I say negative. You are one of the only few with true combat experience, we cannot afford to waste it. Right now I need your eyes and ears topside with the rest of the lookout."
Magnus heaves a sigh before saluting. "Aye, Captain." With a flap, Magnus soars into the air before looping through an open doorway, shutting it close as he zooms past it.
"Exactly how many are under your command, RP?" Sunset inquires.
At the mention of his guards, Rampart heaves a heavy sigh before settling himself upon a nearby stool. "Everything happened so fast in the beginning, we never managed to get a proper headcount. Lost many personnel since then, remaining active members have us numbered thirty-seven strong as of yesterday."
"Thirty-seven?" Thomas spouts. "Christ, that ain't gonna make a dent against an army of hundreds. If we want to stand any chance, we'll have to liberate all guards in the city, no question about it, it's top priority."
"Agreed. My flyers have been diligent in maintaining overwatch on the prisoners." Gesturing to a map detailing Canterlot's layout, Rampart pinpoints a courtyard just off the center of the central city plaza. "Luckily for us, the beasts have chosen to collect most prisoners within this enclosure with a scant few sprinkled throughout the branching streets. Security has been relatively lax, what with the arrogant beasts so sure of victory. With a quick and precise strike, all of Canterlot could be liberated in one move.
"We'll have to utilize all available forces, we cannot afford to hold anything back. It will take time to free every individual and we will need to split a third of our forces to escort all civilians to the caverns below, which means we cannot use these mineshafts as a fall-back point. Those airships utilize explosive barrels, I'm not sure if the beasts are monster enough to use them in the city, but I can tell you the sewers and caves will not withstand their volatile force. Once we enter the castle, there is no turning back."
"Didn't plan on doing so, Captain. What defensive armaments do we have against the airships?"
Captain Rampart shifts his hoof over to the castle. "We have several ballista stations positioned across the castle's exterior, one in each corner fortification, one on each side of the middle layer's balconies, and two stationed right here near the front gate. Ten total, concealed with invisibility runes. We do have a few javelin tubes, but they are terribly obsolete in terms of aerial combat."
"You can also overcharge your mana strikes and pop the balloons with relative ease." Sunset offered.
"And leave our few unicorn reserves drained amid the battle?" The Lieutenant questioned, to which Sunset offered only a shrug. "Sounds like a last-ditch measure to me, Captain."
"Agreed. To further complement our combat efficiency, we have an elite squadron of Wonderbolts under lock and key. We could arm them with the javelin tubes, providing us with another counter."
"The airships are armed with tesla cannons. They'll need to perform diving maneuvers to strike efficiently." Thomas added.
"What about the grenadiers?" Sunset adds. "Those petranades will tear our forces apart real quick."
"Our unicorns will have to be acting support for the frontline. None of us are Shining Armor powerful, but our magic shields should be enough to negate-"
"Captain!" A voice cried out from above and Magnus made his appearance once more. "Sir! The enemy has mobilized, bearing north-northwest, fielding well over ninety percent of the occupational force! Recon reports minimal enemy combatants remaining!"
"Looks like we're on the clock now, Sir."
"Agreed, Lieutenant. Gather our forces and make way for marker five-C and await further orders." Rampart turned to the gathered crowd, cleared his throat, and stomped the ground with a sharp clap. "Attention all civilians, favorable circumstances have been brought to light before us and we are earnestly acting upon them. This military operation requires all available hooves, this is non-negotiable. Due to his stellar assistance in this trying time, I see fit to enact a temporary charge onto the individual known as Fancy Pants. Sir, I entrust to you the safety of every individual present, I expect you to uphold this responsibility with the utmost care. Your orders are to retreat to the crystal caverns. Do not, I say again, do not stray any further than what is marked along the path. Upon reaching the end, hold position, the Lieutenant will arrive shortly with the freed prisoners as well as a small force and a survey team, whereupon pathfinding operations shall resume. Understood?"
"Fret not, honorable Captain, I shall see to it everypony follows your instructions to the letter." Fancy Pants assures. "Good luck to you lads and ladies."
Rampart fixes the stallion with a nod. "And to you as well."
As Fancy Pants begins directing the civilians to the mines below, Rampart orients himself to an adjacent doorway and beckons Thomas and Sunset to follow. "When Canterlot fell, it was chaos. Panic in the streets and disarray plagued our military command. Come nightfall, however, an eerie peace settled upon the city, and we took our chance to strike back.
"Alas, as you know, our mission to secure the Princesses proved futile, and by dawn, we had lost well over half of our combat force. It was a complete disaster." Stopping before a padded door, Rampart fished out a set of keys before finding the correct one and with a 'click', the door was ushered open. The small chamber was empty save for one wooden chest which Rampart set about unlocking it. "But," Rampart continued as he dug through the chest's contents, and soon enough presented an object to the duo. "at least we didn't come out of it empty hooved."
"What is it?" Sunset questions as she takes the trinket in her hooves. Its triangular-shaped base bared a single crimson gem that radiated power. Adorning the top was a depiction of a dark alicorn with red-tinted eyes.
"It's called the Alicorn Amulet. Its power enhances the wearer for an untold duration and only the user can remove it, but be warned, it is said to corrupt the user the more power is used with it." Rampart ushers the two out and locks the door once more. "Once I noticed the Princesses had been singled out, I personally retrieved it during our failed operation. I wanted as few alicorn-related objects in their filthy claws as possible. Ever since that night it has remained hidden here, from all eyes but my own, until now.
"As much as it pains me to say it, I cannot fully trust my forces with this item's existence. Canterlot was subjugated under a traitorous unicorn, this whole invasion has been culminating for months no doubt, plenty of time for infiltration into the royal guard. Which is the reason why I'm hoofing it to you two now. We'll need every advantage for the coming struggle, and if we use this amulet sparingly and carefully, we stand a much better chance of holding out."
Taking the amulet into his hooves, Thomas could feel the amulet's primal energy rippling throughout his very being, slipping its dark tendrils into every crevice, probing deep into his core. With a shout of surprise, something deep in Thomas probed back, sending a rush of energy throughout Thomas's spine and forelimbs before cascading into the amulet itself. The amulet flashed crimson before falling dead in his hooves. The series of events unfolded within a split second, leaving only the bristling of Thomas's fur along his spine and the shout as the only evidence in the aftermath.
"Thomas? You alright?" Sunset inquired as she and Rampart crowded upon him.
Thomas took one last look at the amulet before applying it around the base of his neck. "Something really weird just happened. Something magical. It's gone now, but still, it was really weird."
"Like I said, be careful. We have no records of its origin, but I assume it's dark seeing as how it corrupts its users." Rampart's horn begins to emit a green glow. "All right, we've spent enough time here, let's get this operation moving." With a flash, the trio teleports away.
"Just you wait you fuzzballs, you've made a terrible mistake coming here, and once the Princesses are free, I'll be smiling as you lot grovel in the dirt for mercy!"
"They've left you behind! Open these cages now and I promise only to blacken one of your eyes."
"Hey, you, big guy! Why don't you do yourself a favor and stick your staff straight up your flank! It'll be better than the coming tail whooping I assure you!"
Three days. For three days the caged guards had been slinging insults and curses at their captors without relenting no matter how many beasts growled and roared in their faces. For three days, they had been a tireless nuisance out of pure spite, enough so that most of the leftover beasts had nothing but the alpha to quell their growing frustration. One beast, in particular, had seemingly reached its peak if the bulging veins, tightening grip, and twitching eye were anything to go for.
"Psst! Hey buddy!" The beast knew it should ignore the irritating equines, but at this point, it was looking for an out, and if that meant going ballistic on the ponies, so be it. It turned to its heckler before being bonked in the head by a small rock. "Is that your twin? Cause you both certainly share the same intelligence! And boy howdy it's like staring in a mirror! Ha!" That did it; with a single twitch, a guttural roar was emitted as the beast hurled its spear and shield into the air before barreling straight into the cage's bars, one claw fully extended hoping to nap any prisoners within.
Said prisoners huddled on the far side of the cage well out of the creature's reach. "Ladies and gentlestallions, we've got a bite."
The frothing creature continued to reach within but with no progress to be seen, it resorted to the set of keys on its hip. It fumbled for a bit before finally selecting the right one, and just as it began to turn the key, two other beasts closed in on its sides, hooked their arms against its own, and dragged the creature away.
A pegasus prisoner streaked for the key, found purchase with her wing and turned. A click rang out, and with a kick, the cage's door was opened for the first time since the city's fall. She and the other pegasi did not hesitate to take flight, but just as she exited the doorframe she was painfully plucked at the wings by a sentry. With a sharp twist, the mare was hurled straight into the others, sending all crashing back into the far side. The other guards attempted a rush, but all were repelled as the beast unleashed its spear upon them. With a snort, it slammed shut the door, locking all once more.
"Welp," one of the prisoners commented, "there goes three days of progress." The mare couldn't help but unleash a scream of frustration before wildly banging against the bars which elicited more curses and shouts from the others.
Several beasts gathered around the spectacle and the sentry couldn't help but snicker at the pony's pathetic display. The others joined in a moment later.
Then suddenly, without warning, a clap of thunder roared overhead and the sentry ceased laughing as it and the others were filled with hundreds of volts. It didn't stop there, one clap after another after another, until finally the beasts fell with smoke filling the air.
"Attack!" the command rang out which was immediately followed by several charging figures into the confused beasts' ranks. Mayhem erupted as ponies, most without armor, assaulted the beasts head-on, tangling their foe in CQC while several pegasi utilized small storm clouds as makeshift lightning artillery against rushing enemy reinforcements while the unicorns provided support, stripping the enemy of their arsenal or pummeling them with magic missiles.
Even with a successful surprise assault, the pony strike force was heavily outnumbered, barely holding the upper hand due to the disorganized ranks of the beasts.
Swooping in from the sky, Flash Magnus snatched the cage's key from the fallen sentry and released the prisoners with a buck against the door, flinging it open. "Company fall in! We're taking the fight to the enemy and retrieving the rest of the regiment; gather what equipment you can and let us liberate Canterlot, let us save the Princesses, let us brave the storm!"
The rush Thomas felt as he and the guards surged toward the fumbling beasts from every direction all at once was nothing short of exhilarating. With precision, the earth ponies targeted the back of the creature's legs, bringing the beasts to their knees just as their gear was swept away via unicorn magic. Deposited into friendly arms, the crackle of spear fire filled the air. The first few minutes of the surprise attack was a turkey shoot what with the ill-prepared storm sentries putting little resistance as they panicked.
The sight of the fleeing beasts spurred a few guards to overextend as they gave chase, hooping and hollering in glee as they fired upon the beast's flanks even as the Captain roared away with commands. The guards were not given a chance to ponder their mistake as petranades from nowhere pummeled the small detachment without mercy. Quick as a flash, their frantic faces were captured perfectly upon their obsidian confines as they were sealed indefinitely.
Silence descended as the ambush concluded, and as all were fixated upon the freshly petrified ponies, the severity of the situation was made painfully aware. Within every window, around every corner, across every street, atop every roof, and perched upon every balcony, dozens up dozens, perhaps even hundreds of beedy blue eyes reared themselves upon the evening's disturbance. Forefront to the pony liberators was a bell tower, of which a beast was straddled at the very tip. With a leap, it plunged straight into the street, cracking the foundation without issue as it rose back onto its feet. It was by far the biggest of any of the beasts Thomas had come to scuffle against; easily several feet taller, far bulkier, and adorned in gold etchings across armor and fur alike, the Alpha wasted no time as it heaved a mighty breath and bellowed out a screech, shattering glass across several blocks in the process. At once, the beasts poured into the streets and straight toward the ponies, coalescing into a horde of roars and grunts seemingly from all sides.
"Frontline form up!" Rampart ordered, directing the designated group to the opening of the main street. Flashing into existence were magical barriers providing cover as the guards saddled up against their sides. "Focus fire on the grunts! The Alpha is mine. Magnus, Cinder, you're with me!" Brushing by, Rampart hollers over his shoulder as he and Cinder round a corner, "Thomas, you and Sunset get to freeing the others!"
"You heard the Captain, better get to it, we'll be back in a flash! Here, catch!" Before zipping away, Magnus flung the keys through the air, straight for Thomas's open hooves, but was beaten to the punch; quite literally, as a beast's fist crashed against his cranium, flinging the alicorn away as it snatched the keys and stored them upon its hip.
Thomas barely managed to clear away his daze before diving to the side as his foe attempted to poke and prod him with its spear. Dodging to the left or rolling to the right, Thomas continued to evade as the beast proved unrelenting. Eventually enough, Thomas found himself backed into a corner. The beast, thinking Thomas an easy capture, forgoes the spear and opts instead to wrangle him with its own claws. A critical mistake it would find out a moment later.
Ducking underneath the beast's outstretched arms, Thomas slid between the creature's legs, nabbed the keys secured to its waste, and delivered a fierce buck against the beast's flank, sending it crashing through the walls of a damaged house.
Sensing rushing footsteps to his right, Thomas successfully ducked away from the latest creature's first strike but was too slow to dodge its uppercut aimed at his jaw. With a crack, Thomas was sent tumbling across the floor; the taste of metal adorned his tongue, and a chiseled tooth was soon spat out. His assailant primed another strike, but a series of magical beams rattled the creature, leaving it a smoking wreck as it collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"Thomas!" Sunset called out as she reached the downed alicorn. She primed and fired an overcharged beam at an incoming beast, sending it flying across the plaza, before she hooked her hoof to Thomas's and hefted him back onto his feet. "You alright?"
Another goblet of blood was spat out before Thomas fixed her with a nod. "I've got the keys, cover me will ya?"
"I've got your back," Sunset assured just as a swiping claw came bearing down on the duo. Jumping back in surprise, she responded with a magical right hook straight into its gut, knocking the air right out, before grabbing hold of a leg and sending the creature spiraling into a nearby brick wall. With a huff, Sunset wiped a bead of sweat away. "Hurry up, will you?"
Thomas did not need to be told twice as he set about releasing one prisoner after another with them fighting or fleeing alike afterward, the former half coming as a bit of a surprise as a cream-colored earth pony and her reluctant turquoise unicorn friend charged into the fray.
Inserting a key into yet another lock, a snort from the occupant caused Thomas to give them a quick glance, momentarily pausing at the sight before him. "Woah, you're a big one ain't you?" From behind, a trio of growls sounded off. Thomas took to quickly freeing the prisoner and upon seeing their posture and stance, he understood their intention.
Finishing his work, Thomas cleared away as the beast of a pony within bucked the cage door clear off its hinges, striking the middle beast head-on and knocking it cold outright. Stepping from out of the shadows, the enraged workhorse offered only one word in exchange. "Eeyup." The other storm creatures could only squeak in fright as the crimson duo set upon them in a quick fashion.
Once finished, Thomas turned to continue spreading freedom like a true American, but a red hoof on his shoulder caused him to pause. "Wait, thank you kindly for the rescue, but ah need your help. My sister and 'er friends are locked up over yonder." Following the stallion's hoof, Thomas is directed down a street flooded with enemy troops with no allies anywhere near. Squinting for a better view, Thomas could barely make out one cage holding a trio of little pony children, each shivering in fear and wailing at the sight and sounds of combat.
"Sunset!" Thomas calls over his shoulder. Upon receiving a nod from the mare, he continues, "Cover our flank, things are about to get cramped!" Turning back to Big Mac, he urges him forward with a flick of the head. "C'mon let's go!"
"Eeyup!" Big Mac bellows out before full out charging straight for the gathered group of beasts leaving Thomas to choke on his dust. The beasts are too slow and too cluttered to make space for the pain train and are thus plowed and trampled before Big Mac's might. The few unharmed are soon personally acquainted with the hardened soles of Big Mac's hooves as he delivers one quaking buck after another.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Thomas sets about freeing the Cutie Mark Crusaders, offering quiet hushes and assurances all the while. "Shh, shh, shh, it's ok guys, we're gonna get you outta here, just bear with me for a sec-"
"Big Mac!" One of the little kids cries out, reaching out her arms through the bars as fresh tears start filling her eyes. Thomas turns to face where she cries out to, only to witness the stallion being peppered from all directions as the beasts lay on him with their spears. The magic beams do little against his tough hide, but their concussive force leaves him disoriented, enough so that several beasts close in and deliver powerful strikes with their shields. The stallion is brought to his knees but the beasts do not relent as they continue to beat him thoroughly.
With only a gasp from one of the children as a warning, Thomas found himself suffocating in a headlock as the beast attempted to thrash him away from the cage, where Thomas held for dear life. With one powerful yank, Thomas and the beast were sent fumbling onto the floor as he lost his grip. The clang of the keys caused Thomas to jerk his head up just in time to witness them fall down a nearby storm drain. "No!" He cried out, earning the attention of more creatures. Before he knew it, Thomas was the epicenter of a dogpile as the beasts scrambled to secure each limb and chain him up and no doubt throw him into the nearest cell, but Thomas was having none of it.
With a pulse of magic, Thomas summoned the amulet's power, its rippling energy cascading out and engulfing those around him in his telekinetic grip, and with a surge, he mentally thrust outward, hurling everything in every direction at accelerating speed. Houses crumbled from impact, walls shattered, and beasts cried out in pain.
Now free from assailants, Thomas turned his attention to his big friend, and with a flick of his horn, a wave of energy swept up the remaining foes and sent them flinging across the street.
Powerful magic the amulet was, but very taxing as well as Thomas was left panting, leaving a lull in the battle for the briefest of moments. It was during this moment of respite that a melody was heard through the air.
"~I am here and I see your pain.~"
Adrenaline still flooded Thomas's veins and so it wasn't long before he recovered enough to get moving again. He strained to hear any more of the singing but the sounds of battle were too great. Shaking his head clear, he strode over to the big stallion. Big bruises and several cuts were afflicted along his burly coat and a nasty mark was found purchase upon his left eye, but the stallion was no worse for wear. "Still breathing, big guy?"
A few coughs afflicted Big Mac, but he offered a nod afterward.
Returning to the children, Thomas gave the door a once over before rising onto his rear legs and hooking his hooves around the bars. With a red flash, The amulet once more activated, its power coursing through Thomas's muscles as he strained against the cage's strength. The screech of metal filled the air as bit by bit the bars collapsed and were crushed under the alicorn's grip. With one final heave, the door was torn right off its hinges and was tossed aside. The child with the bowtie didn't hesitate to rush into the stallion's arms, spilling more tears all the while.
Once again, the singing voice filtered into Thomas's ears.
"~Through the storms, through the clouds, the rain.~"
Surveying around in the hopes of finding its origin, The view of enemy reinforcements is all that fills Thomas's vision... until... there!
Within one of the cages farther down the street, an individual, a pegasus with eye-covering bangs and a giant pink bow sang her heart out as a battle raged on before her.
"~I'm telling you you cannot escape.~"
The child in Mac's arms, whether looking for the sound of the singing or not, takes notice of the coming forces and lets loose a scream of fear.
Thomas shoves Big Mac back onto his hooves, snatches the children up in his telekinesis, and sets them upon his back. "Go! Get to safety!" The stallion offers a nod and quickly beats a retreat.
Grabbing one of the many spears lying on the floor, Thomas begins a barrage of fire, forcing the beasts into cover and retaliating with their own fire in return. They lay many strikes upon Thomas but the amulet absorbed the energy and reconfigured it into a makeshift magic shield encompassing the front of Thomas which flared with every shot.
As more beasts poured into the street, they soon reorganized themselves into a phalanx formation and steadily crept forward, maintaining fire and cover equally.
The consistent barrage against Thomas's shield proves too great as it collapses, leaving Thomas rattled until he manages to find cover. Frustrated at the turning events, Thomas poured as much magic as possible into the spear, going beyond an overcharge and straight into a meltdown. Satisfied, he hurled the spear with the last of his energy, right into the beast's ranks. They scrambled away but the following implosion and subsequent shockwave left all in a catatonic state.
Thomas's breath was little more than wheezes, but push forward he did in the vain hope that no more beasts would come his way. Reaching the cage, the pegasus was untouched by the scuffle, and once enough strength returned, the door was pried away as before.
"My hero, you have my thanks."
A rumble filled the air as a flash illuminated the sky. Above, one of the few airships left behind was ablaze. It rained beasts upon the city as they lept from the wreck which was in a steep decline, headed straight for the duo.
"Oh shit, run!" Fresh adrenaline pumped through Thomas as he and the pegasus made a mad scramble back to friendly lines. Songbird attempted flight, but three days spent in cramped quarters and with little food or water, left her wings sore and weak. Seeing her struggle, Thomas summoned his magic, took hold of the pegasus, and sent her gliding away just as the ship crashed into the street. Packed full of black powder barrels, the resulting explosion sucked all air out of Thomas's lungs, and the last thing he remembered as he twirled through the air was the scorching heat that engulfed his senses.
Tempest ignored the sounds of battle, ignored the ear-cracking boom of the explosion, ignored the looks the beasts under her command were sending her, she ignored it all. So what if some Canterlot stragglers decided now was the perfect time to rise from the depths and revolt? So what if they retake the city? So what if the Storm King arrives to that? Sure, he'll be fuming, but once he has the powers of the alicorns, Tempest doubted he'd waste time on the little details. No, he'd be focused on the results, and that's exactly what Tempest was aiming for, she still had the rest of the day to fulfill her promise, that is all that matters.
Scrying potion in claw, a beast presented it before its commander, but just like the others, she ignored it.
She didn't have the time to waste hunting down a few rogues and making everything all pretty and neat for his royal pain-in-the-flank. She needed to be resolute in her commitments, she needed to do what must be done, and she needed the little princess... but... could she really go through with it? It's not like the staff would harm her in any way, maybe leave her drained and fatigued but that's the worst-case scenario. She studied the artifact extensively, and read all the notes available before going through... but... what if... what if she didn't research enough...
Yet another beast brought a scrying spell before her, and with a snarl, she sent it scurrying away.
Going through with this, she'd be crossing a line, and if anything were to happen to the foal, no amount of begging, no amount of remorse would ever fix what she'd break. Faust, what is she doing? Not even the Storm King directly did anything with the children he conquered, and here she was ready to foalnap and siphon magic out of the little princess, all for this tyrant king. And once he has all the magic he could ever want... what use would he have for one such as Tempest? What reason would he have to waste time fixing up one dinky little unicorn horn...
...Why did she ever put any trust in his word?
Within the corner of her eye, the blue gleam of a scrying potion pierces her retina.
With a raging flair of magic, she slams beast and potion against the ship's deck, breaking both bone and bottle alike. Released from its confines, the spell transfigures into a scrying mirror, receiving the visual of the Alpha. Upon finally making contact with its commander, the beast releases a torrent of grunts and growls, all of which fall upon incomprehensible ears. "What are you... I don't speak your language, beast! Stop wasting my time and show me! Show me what you so insistently called me for!"
With a roar of frustration, the Alpha pivots to the side, allowing a view of the raging battle. Battered bodies littered the plaza, beast and pony alike, with at least one house set ablaze all the while rubble lay strewn about. Liberated civilians made a mad scramble through the action as several guards intercepted the beasts hot in their pursuit. All of that was ignored as the spell was fixated on one individual. Charging through the chaos, one familiar unicorn mare blasted away one beast after another as she neared the plaza's center.
"What!? How is she there!? How did she..." The words died in her throat as Sunset neared a crimson body and began tugging at it. Reaching for one of his limbs, she struggled to load her passenger onto her back. The alicorn's eyes twitched to life and racking coughs afflicted his lungs as his addled mind took a moment to survey the surroundings. His eyes eventually landed on Tempest's, eliciting a mutter out of him which seized Sunset's attention as she too turned her focus upon her. There the three stood, staring each other down until the spell flickered and collapsed.
Tempest's image ceased as the spell diffused into the wind. "Welp, if she didn't know before, she sure knows now."
Thomas grunted with each shift of her motion as she traversed the battlefield. "Argh... good... just as we planned... ugh... a little sooner than I'd like but... we'll make do." Thomas turned away from the fight and focused on his rescuer. "The pegasus... she make it out alright?"
"You flung her all the way down the street last I saw, I think it's safe to assume she got out unscathed."
Thomas heaved a small sigh of relief before more coughs afflicted his lungs. "Good... good...and... and you? You doing ok?"
Sunset lets out a snicker at his question. "Me? I should be the one asking about you. You just survived a point-blank explosion, how are you feeling?"
Thomas could only offer a shrug. "Pretty sure every bone in my body is broken... I mean it should be but... well with my healing factor, I supposed it doesn't matter much. Not like I'd feel anything with all my adrenaline, not for a while anyway. Again, how are you doing?"
Sunset took the moment to wipe sweat from her forehead. "Even after leaving a token force behind, there's still too many beasts. My magic reserves are all but drained, but a moment of rest should do us some go-"
*KABOOOM*
Blasted clear off her hooves Sunset and Thomas found themselves launched into the remains of a water fountain. Ears ringing from the cacophony and lungs empty of air once more, Thomas was left splayed on his back, whereupon he viewed the only remaining airship clearing past a smoke column, its front tesla cannon brimming with energy, ready to deliver another strike.
Sunset struggled to climb to her feet, but what energy she had left was drained, forcing her to flop back to the ground, breathless and dazed. Several beasts, Alpha among them, emerged from the dust shroud coating the air and crept forward upon the duo. Both of their horns flared to life only to sputter out in sparks; Sunset desperately dug at her neck, taking hold of a hidden pendant, and called upon its power but it was too late to respond. Above, the cannon rippled to life, energy cascading throughout its coil frame before settling into the duction tubes and with a shrill wail, the cannon let rip its charge. The bolt of electricity arced through the air faster than the brain could comprehend and struck true at its intended targets, but not before another duo had entered the frame.
Cealed in his doom, Thomas kept his eyes closed just before the cannon delivered its blow, but the sound of spell casting along with the muffled boom from the discharge of the cannon had left Thomas perplexed as to his continued existence. Upon opening his eyes, the turquoise dome of magic surrounding him was the first thing he took note of, followed by the equally flabbergasted look of Sunset, before finally laying eyes on their savior. The lilac unicorn held a hoof to her head as she winced in pain.
"Ok," She spoke out, "that hurt more than I thought it would." She turned to the two and offered a small smile. "At least you two are ok." Her relief is short-lived as another lance from the cannon left her screaming out in pain. The beasts that had been advancing halted from the dome and opted instead to pummel it with spear strikes and petranades.
"Trixie!" The mare called out to her companion, a mare adorned in a cape and wizard hat.
"I'm on it, Starlight! Feast your eyes on the great and powerful smoke screen!" From out of a satchel, several silver orbs ejected into the surrounding air and street. In unison, they each popped and dispersed a cloud of heavy smoke, disrupting further assault on their position.
Hoisting Sunset and Thomas within her magic, Trixie and Starlight joined with the rest of the chaos of the rushing crowd as the sound of a general retreat was issued from Rampart. The frontline fully collapsed as both sides turned tail and withdrew to safer positions.
The airship dared to continue the skirmish but the arrival of the now-freed Wonderbolt team deterred it from committing. It instead lingered within friendly air, providing overwatch as the beasts regrouped.
A stampede rampaged through the streets as everypony scrambled toward the castle. Up ahead a fork in the path lay, whereupon the Lieutenant from before was perched upon a makeshift barricade, his voice magically amplified for all to hear. "All combat-ready personnel are to make way for the castle immediately! Volunteers for Her Majesty's Army are urgently requested, otherwise, make way to the lower levels for evacuation, follow the markers!" Despite the Lieutenant's words, only a trickle of ponies made their way to the castle, among countless others vying for the lower levels. Starlight and Trixie did not hesitate to keep to the left following the call of duty.
Awaiting at the castle's front gate were Rampart and his contingent who were directing newcomers. "Report to the armory to be issued your gear then make way for the cafeteria, on the double! Food and aid will be provided, double rations for all liberated individuals!" Upon seeing the smoking bodies of Sunset and Thomas, his eyes bulged and he took off in a sprint towards them. "Corpsquine!"
Starlight came to a halt and gently lowered both ponies to the ground before backing up as the Captain and a few medics assessed the duo's state. After a quick checkup, a few more guards arrived and escorted the two mares into the castle.
"Water... please," Sunset begged before being hoofed Rampart's personal canteen. She proceeded to chug the water down, splashing her face in the process and leaving her mane drenched before forking it over to Thomas who did more or less.
No words were exchanged as they were allowed a moment of respite, not until the medic's horns finished their scans. "The mare has a torn fetlock adorning her left forelimb. She's suffering from exhaustion, mana fatigue, a mild concussion, and a ruptured eardrum."
The other medic continued his scans on Thomas before relenting with a frustrated sigh. "I...I don't know. Either something is interfering with my scan, or his healing factor is repairing his body at an accelerated rate that my magic can't account for."
Shifting his eyes to the amulet adorning the alicorn's neck, sure enough, Rampart is witness to it aglow with mana, leaving the faintest of red sheens covering his figure, perfectly camouflaged against the crimson coat. "Get them to the infirmary, let the Doctor do his work, then let them rest for a bit." Casting his eyes to the north, the silhouettes of the invasion fleet flood the horizon. "They're gonna need every second of it soon enough."
"No... no." Sunset protested as the medics attempted to move her onto the stretcher. "I'm ok...I'll be ok... I have to free... the Princesses."
"You're in no condition to help them, Sunset, and I will not waste valuable assets foalsitting you while you try."
"Trust me... RP." She fixed him with a determined look. "Trust me... I'll be fine, I promise." Knocked cold from exhaustion, Thomas's body was escorted away via stretcher, giving Sunset pause as she witnessed him and his escort disappear beyond the gates. Fishing out the pendant fastened to her neck, she gave it a gentle rub. "Thomas isn't the only one with a little ace up his sleeve. I have to free the Princesses, I have to try, time is of the essence." Sunset stumbled to her feet even as they screamed for rest. "Don't stop me." She brushed past Rampart, leaving him and the others just as a pegasus guard descended from the heavens.
"Private Swift Stream, how goes the scavenging run?"
"Bountiful, Sir. We won't be running out of shields or spears for some time. However, I regret to inform you that very few of the petranades were recovered. It appears the beasts snatched most of them up before withdrawing."
"Yes," Rampart nodded, "I figured as much would happen. And the herd?"
"There are still some stragglers lagging, but all of the elderly and foals have been relocated to the mines without issue. The Lieutenant reports VIP target, Maud Pie, has been exceptional in excavating an exit with her bare hooves alone, and by her own estimate, they expect to breach the exterior within the hour. He also wishes to inform you that due to this exceeding progress, he will be sending a small reserve of reinforcements upon completion."
"Negative. Canterlot will be swarmed once more when the fleet arrives. We can't risk exposing the civilians. Inform the Lieutenant to stick to the plan, no deviating. Report back once finished for some R&R."
With a salute, the Private took to the air, leaving Rampart alone as he gazed upon his city. Several smoke columns blotted Her Majesty's sun, varying damage adorned every structure in view, and a few infernos blazed unopposed through a few streets. Down in the center plaza where the battle took place, the petrified forms of numerous fellow guards were left behind, their stony faces full of fear and shock.
Regret filled Rampart's heart. Once again, the Equestrian Royal Guard failed to put in substantial resistance to an all-conquering enemy. Once again, the Princesses were subdued with little difficulty. Once again, the fate of all rested within the hooves of six heroines.
Rampart's gaze shifted into a stern glare. Thanks to Sunset and Thomas, Rampart was able to organize a successful revolt and provide a chance for redemption, a chance to bring honor and integrity back into the name of the Royal Guard. The prospect of successfully repelling the invasion force was none at best, but by Celestia were they going to go down fighting with their all. Once the Element Bearers saved the day, as they always do, a lengthy discussion about military reformation would need to be had with Princess Luna. It was time for ponies to stop being pushovers, or else all would fall to worse enemies yet to come.
View Online
Chapter 11: An Adventure Already?! (Part 9: The Siege. The Assault. The Death.)
“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you;"
—Deuteronomy 20:1a
Deafening silence filled the cold air as Thomas lay curled within the darkness; dreading... waiting. Dreams rarely came to him in his sleep, and the frequent nightmares that plagued his mind usually were filled with the screams of the damned as they all bathed in the Lake of Fire. So, one can imagine it was a surprise when he found himself alone, surrounded by a shadowy sea of haze, completely lucid.
It was a torture unlike any other. Escape was impossible, dream or not, and exploring the shroud promised only pain and suffering arriving sooner, or so he feared; therefore he curled up on the floor, covered his face, and did his damnedest to stifle his whimpers as he braced for the worst yet to come. Time lost all meaning as he dared not to move an inch. Perhaps only minutes had passed, maybe a few hours, several eternities could have come and gone, and yet, he still would not move from his spot. If the denizens of his hellish mindscape were content to leave him be, stewing in his swelling fear and anxiety, then it was a hell of a lot better than his usual alternative.
Bellum est increpit
Like a hot knife through butter, a voice echoed across the void, easily slicing through the silence and what little mental fortitude Thomas held. It spoke in an ancient and dead language, but Thomas understood it nonetheless.
The war is raging
Thomas's breath hitched as he peaked from under his limbs and surveyed the mist for a moment before noticing the blood-red glow that emanated beyond the fog. Every hair along Thomas's back stood on end as a new sense of dread and danger blared away, but he was left paralyzed as the voice continued.
Boni et mali iterum confligunt, et omnia regna sanguine lavabuntur
Good and Evil will clash again, and all kingdoms will be washed in blood
Within a blink, the shroud collapses upon itself, coalescing down into the shape of a smokey humanoid figure, leaving behind an all-blinding white emptiness stretching beyond infinity. The towering figure loomed before the cowering alicorn.
Mundus hic non parcetur, nam catalysta sumus
The world is not spared here, for we are catalysts
Upon the figure's head sprouted two soulless eyes and a gaping maw full of jagged teeth which split into a devilish smile. Jutted forth were two smokey arms that lingered above Thomas's figure which spewed lines of strings that slithered themselves around Thomas's limbs before burrowing beneath his skin, snaring bone and sinew alike. His veins and arteries clogged up the further they slinked within until his very heart was fully entangled. He felt his soul dilute as the entity asserted itself within him, and yet he also ignored the sense of familiarity that followed.
Usurped into a spectator of his very own flesh, Thomas found himself at the mercy of the entity as it played with its new toy, subjecting his body to all manners of strange and alien movements as if testing the range of its control.
Evil and inhumane thoughts flooded his mind as a rumbling roar spewed from his lungs before descending into maniacal laughter as the entity solidified its authority. Within a sudden jerk of motion, Thomas's vision shifts toward the huddled figures of three familiar little fillies, eyes wide and full of panic and tears as they cowered together in fear. Before his mind could fully register their sudden appearance, the usurper was upon them.
The orange one cried out in shock and pain as her throat was seized within the alicorn's maw before silencing her forever with a meaty crunch.
The entity spat the bloody remains of the filly's throat before setting sights upon the fleeing others. Dark powerful energy coalesced within the tip of his horn, a far cry to Thomas's own magical prowess, and lashed out upon the little unicorn. A shrill scream was all she could squeal out before being reduced to smoke and ash, leaving the last foal knocked away in a broken heap from the spell's blast.
Seizing one of her legs within its magical grip, the child was dangled before Thomas's view. A snap rang out as Thomas's jaw unhinged itself and extended his gaping muzzle beyond normal measures. The filly's eyes lingered not away from Thomas's own, silently pleading, begging for his help. He could offer only flowing tears.
A sharp inhale of air resounded from the gaping muzzle as its suctioning force siphoned away the very light from her eyes, leaving a thin trail of glittering luminance to be greedily slurped away, and when all was done, the husk that was the filly was tossed aside.
Nightmare or not, the way her soul squirmed deep within him left Thomas wanting to scream out, and yet despite having a mouth, he could not.
Before his mind could delve deeper into his insanity, another foal was presented before him, one he was all too familiar with. Entrapped within an all too steep quarry, little Rocket Rush, frozen in fear, beheld the giant boulder that loomed directly above.
"B-big brother? What are you doing?" He asked as his eyes shifted to Thomas's.
It's not me! I'm not in control! Thomas internally screamed, shutting his eyes as fresh tears swelled. He refused to see the inevitable.
Tu semper compos fuisti
You were always in control
"Lies!" Thomas shouted, shocking himself upon hearing his vocal cords under his reign once again. The strings were gone, his heart was free, and his mind was clear of any influence. Sure enough, his crimson magic was his own as it held the boulder lingering over Rush.
...He's right there... he's not real...
Thomas flinched as the words, his very own words from days ago, reverberated through his skull once more.
Memento qui fueris
Remember who you were
Thomas clutched his head as a torrent of thoughts swirled within.
He's not real! Let go! DEATH! MURDER! KILL HIM! DROP IT! LET GO!!!
"NO! NEVER!" He shouted, and with a flick of the horn, the boulder was flung into the ethereal void. Clutching his hooves to his head, Thomas hunched over as he whispered away. "Leave me alone. Go away. I don't know what you are or why you torment me but just go away. GO AWAY!"
Rocket's fear-stricken face distorts into a sneer before his whole being takes on a smokey quality that engulfs the quarry pit until the entity's towering form rears itself upon Thomas once more.
In aeternum dampnati sumus
We are eternally damned
Like before, it ensnared the alicorn, hooked all of the strings around Thomas's throat, pulled tight, and brought his choking figure face to face.
Nos unum sumus
We are one
With a tug, the pressure around his neck reached its peak, and there was a snap.
Numquam eris a me gratis
You will never be free from me
With a hoarse scream, Thomas bolted up from his cot as he clawed at his formerly constricted throat. His lungs continued to remain paralyzed a moment more before finally expanding as Thomas gulped the precious air down. His desperate heaves collapsed into racking coughs just as the presence of another made themselves known as they began to pat his back.
"Easy son, easy, We're here. Slow deep breaths now, get them lungs under control. Nurse Softheart, if you'll fetch me a-, oh, thank you... here, drink this."
Upon being hoofed a canteen, Thomas quickly chugged the water down much to the voice's protest. As the last droplets impacted his tongue, Thomas was left breathlessly quenched yet still haggard. The preceding nightmare, like all the others, blissfully retreated from the forefront of Thomas's mind, slinking away into his deepest depths, a small mercy granted by God above.
Taking a cursory glance around, a field of cots litter the expansive room, with many being filled with various injured figures. Many ponies sported bandages across their barrels and legs with even a few having gauze wrapped around their cranium. Off in the corner, a pile of petrified figures were bundled together. The room was filled with lanterns, bathing it in a low warm glow, sharply contrasting against the sporadic light show that filtered through the boarded windows. Several groans and whinnies filled the air, but they were mere whispers compared to the thunder booming outside.
Shuffling into his view, an aging unicorn sporting a doctor's coat and a young aqua-marine pegasus nurse take to each of his sides. "You alright, lad? Any pain? Numbness, aches, sensitivity, fatigue, anything abnormal or concerning?"
A great rumbling shook the foundations, leaving dust trails from the ceiling to linger in the air.
Thomas waited a moment for the calm to settle. "I'm...I'm fine, I think. A little sore, maybe?"
The doctor took a look at the clipboard to the side, humming to himself while doing so. "Hmm, with the beating that you took, I'd be skeptical. However, seeing as you're an alicorn, the first recorded male one at that, I'll have to take your word for it. There are practically no records of any of the Princesses sustaining injury in combat, and what little we do or don't have would be useless as a comparison for you, for the most part. Hmm, perhaps if we had some time, I'm sure a few tests would square some things away..."
The doctor coughed into his hoof, "Excuse me for going off on a side tangent, it's not every day one treats royalty, I only wish to provide the best care I can." The ground quakes once more. "Especially during such troubling times. Anywho, my name is Doctor Scope, Chief Physician of Canterlot Castle, and this is my CNO, Nur-"
"Doc!" A voice shouts out before the doors burst open with a buck. Within a unicorn's magical sphere, a slumped armored guard is held within followed by several limping figures. "We've got another one!"
"Nurse Softheart, please see to his Majesty's needs and inform him of Rampart's request!" The Doctor hastily departed as several other nurses gathered around the latest influx of patients.
Nurse Softheart seized Thomas by a foreleg and began escorting the alicorn to the nearest entrance. "I'm terribly sorry to do this, your Majesty, but you look healthy enough for a quick discharge, and we need all the room we can get for the injured. If you truly need it, I can go fetch some over-the-counter medicine for your soreness." As the duo reached the exit, pounding hooves banged away at the entry before them. Softheart reached out with her wing and swung the door open before Thomas, allowing another entourage of injured ponies through. "If not, then I must inform you that Captain Rampart requests your presence urgently!" Softheart shouted over as the last of the injured entered.
Thomas's response was delayed once more as the ground and foundation quaked following a booming cacophony. "No, that won't be necessary, I feel fine, for the most part." Another set of doors burst open as a hyperventilating pony is guided to one of the few vacant cots. "What is going on? Where am I? How long was I out?" Thomas questioned.
Softheart extracted herself to a patient's side as she answered, "You're in the castle's infirmary. Currently, we are under siege, and we've been so swamped tending to the sick and injured that I can't say how long it's been. An hour, maybe? More or less? I dunno." She administered a sedative before turning back to Thomas, "As you can see, it hasn't exactly been a cakewalk defending it."
She took a cursory glance at the alicorn. "Again, you look fine enough, so unless you say otherwise, consider yourself discharged. Rampart needs you urgently."
"Right, sorry, I'll leave this to you." Thomas shuffled toward the exit, but not before narrowly avoiding a face full of doors as yet another group of ponies burst through and scrambled for medical assistance.
One of the group's escorts, an armored guard, took notice of Thomas's approach and delivered a crisp salute. "Your Majesty, Captain Rampart wishes to speak to you. Please follow me."
With little choice, Thomas follows behind. The duo traversed through once lavishly decorated halls now adorned with crates of supplies, scattered weapons and armor, makeshift barricaded windows, and several ponies strewn about. Their sunken eyes and lathered coats painted a clear picture to Thomas of the overall state of the Royal Guard. With each clap of thunder, a few whimpers echoed through the hall.
The cacophony outside relented not, and the hurried rush of several guard groups to and fro did nothing to ease the tension sullying the air.
Suddenly, a doorway adjacent to the duo exploded open as a squad of guards retreated into the foyer, each frayed with varying levels of injury. "They've breached the eastern hall!" One lingering guard yelled out. "We need reinforcements, they're taking a beating in there!"
Exhausted as they may be, the haggard ponies hesitated not to dawn their gear and swallow fear as they scrambled onto their hooves. They along with one of the passing squads turned heel and double-timed through the crowded doorway. Beyond the masses, the echoing grunts and shouts of battle reverberated through the hall.
Thomas turned to follow suit but was snatched on the leg by his escort. "No, the Captain needs you ASAP! Let them handle it." With a tug, Thomas was reluctantly pulled away, his eyes spared one last glance back before relenting.
"You saw the way they are, they're barely holding it together, they need me," Thomas protested.
His escort was quick to turn on Thomas, "Captain Rampart needs you! We can't afford to waste time on them! They're royal guards, they've trained for this!"
With a halt, Thomas shifted his gaze to the sounds of battle as muffled cries and roars reverberated beyond, but after a minute, no more guards trickled through the doorway. Hesitantly, Thomas allowed his escort to prod him away.
"Just how FUBAR is the situation?" Thomas asked after a moment of silence, prompting his escort to release a weary sigh. "That bad, huh?"
"Airships choke the sky, circling the castle like vultures. They've been peppering us for the past half hour with their electric cannons, causing hole breaches in the shield. They've been sending small infiltration teams, but for some reason have been holding off from a full-on frontal assault with the main force. Hasn't stopped them from thinning our numbers little by little though. Our ballista stations have been popping them, but there are just so many that we've run out of ammo already."
A quaking explosion outside causes Thomas to slip upon the marbled flooring. "Ouch... and the Wonderbolts? Our aces in the air?"
The guard offers a hoof and Thomas accepts. "Grounded, for now, but very eager to get back out there and for good reason. You should have seen it, they were weaving around cannon fire and cleaving through the airships like nothing. 'float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.' that's what Captain Spitfire called it."
"What stopped them?" Thomas asked.
"Same problem as everything else, there's too many. They did excellently against the first few airship groups, but only because they had overextended themselves from the main force, making them easy and isolated targets. But once the rest of the fleet swarmed the castle, airspace became too tight."
From the exterior, a clap of thunder rumbled out shortly followed by the earth quaking. Upon finding his footing, Thomas cast a look through a window, catching the golden glow of a wide shimmering barrier barely covering the castle's perimeter. Before him lay the baily which hosted the remains of a crumbled stage along with several destroyed festival stands, trampled to pieces by the swarm of raging beasts as they filled every available space. The beasts forefront to the barrier thrashed the magic shield relentlessly as their rear comrades whooped and cheered and roared away, pounding fist to shield and causing as much ruckus as possible all the while becoming further fueled upon seeing the crumbling morale of the guard.
The staircase leading from the castle to the courtyard held makeshift fortifications where several pony guards hunkered behind, effectively creating a funnel that the enemy would have to filter through to reach the castle interiors, thus acting as a secondary defense point should the barrier fail.
Another crash of lightning thundered as a spear of electricity struck the shield wall, causing it to flicker and for a breach to briefly puncture. The shield was rectified soon enough, but not before dozens of beasts dashed through the opening.
Immediately, they formed into organized phalanx groups, allowing their shield carriers to steadily advance and provide cover as their spear bearers and grenadiers pummeled the pony line.
Under enemy suppression, the two sole unicorn defenders failed to intercept several attacks, ultimately leading to several guards falling from spear strikes and petri-nades alike, severely crippling the already strained defense force. A shrill short whistle sounded off, "Fallback!" an officer yelled as she ascended to the castle doors, "Regroup at the secondary defensive line, hold them there!"
The last of the remaining forces sprinted through the doorway just as the beasts reached the top of the stairs, allowing Thomas the barest glimpse of their quivering hide just as the doors slammed themselves shut. The entryway was further reinforced with two ornamental cabinets, but it did little to stem the tide. The barricade bulged as the beasts pounded away, but for the moment it held.
"More made it through than we could anticipate, these fortifications won't hold them for long. Private Shale-" said private was quick to salute at attention, "-double time to the central lobby and enlist every available mare and stallion. I don't care if they have a boo-boo on their snout or broken ribs, if we lose this sector our enemy will have a straight shot at the infirmary." A heavy blast rattled the barricade as several guards cried out.
"Yes, Ma'am!" the private shouted before sprinting past the alicorn and his escort, sparing only a small side glance as they passed each other by.
Several more discharges rang out as the spears tore the barricade to pieces. "Hold the line!" the officer shouted as she and several members braced against the doorway, but not before noticing several shadows flickering through the hall.
Scaling along the castle's exteriors, beasts affixed themselves and began prying and bashing at the reinforced window frames, puncturing the glass and ripping the shoddy boards apart with brute strength. With a swinging kick, one by one the beasts launched themselves through, kicking up glass and debris upon the velvet carpet, only to immediately be pummeled down by a hail of spear lasers and missiles.
A few managed to equip their shields and endured the pony's barrage as they closed the distance, eliciting the earth pony guards to charge them head-on. The clash of metal rang out as hooves met shield, but soon a scream filled the air as one of the beasts latched its claw onto the leg of an unfortunate guardsmare who was subsequently utilized as a makeshift living club. Battering her compatriots left and right, the beast continued its assault unopposed as the guards scrambled away, wary of injuring their friend worse than she already was.
At last, with a flair of a unicorn's horn, the beast's wrist was seized within the air, and with a twist, it released its hold on the mare, who crumbled into a bruised heap. Once she was cleared away, all of the royal guards dogpiled the beast, smothering the thing in stomps and kicks until it was little more than a twitching heap on the floor.
The other beasts fared no better, what with one of them being dropkicked out the window from which it entered and the last one suspended in an expression of panic as the petri-nade finished its work.
The gathered ponies released a collective sigh of relief, one that would not last.
With one final heavy discharge, the barricade splintered to pieces, dislodging the nearest guards into the adjacent walls and coating the rest in shrapnel and dust. A smokey haze obscured the doorway and beyond, allowing a brief moment of tranquility to fill the air. Barriers were quickly erected and fortified just in time for a scant few reserved forces to gallop into the fray. Without warning, however, two beasts somersaulted through the smoke and skidded to a halt before reaching into the bags fastened to their waist. Clutched within both claws by the dozen, petri-nades dotted the air in sweeping arcs, coating everything within the room with a layer of obsidian. Caught in the midst of sprinting for cover, three fresh recruits were too slow on the draw as they petrified on the spot, their faces of fear and shock causing the rest to entrench themselves against their defenses further.
With their diversion in motion, the smokey outline of the remaining beasts morphed into being as they charged the opening. Several guards rushed to plug the hole, but the discharge of spears halted them in place, forcing a withdrawal into cover. One unfortunate soul found himself yanked by the leg and tossed into the enemy's ranks where he was manhandled to the floor just as the last of the beasts emerged through the opening. The clashing of metal echoed through the hall as pony and beast tangled in CQC. Hooves pounded on flesh and fur as shields and spears bashed hide and armor, each side giving and taking a few inches as they each struggled for a breakthrough.
Fortunately, the beast's momentum stalled as the guards gave no quarter, and with the advent of reinforcements joining the fray, the tide of the battle fully shifted to the ponies as the beasts were gradually driven back to the breach. Even as the beasts peppered them with petri-nades, the unicorns were quick to snatch them up and away or better yet, returned to sender.
The battle soon devolved into a contest of sheer strength as the beasts erected a wall of shields pushing back against the rippling hooves of the guards as they teetered on the edge of the doorway. Heavy breaths and grunts filled the air as each side pushed and shoved with all their might but with a shout of surprise, the two most forward pony guards found themselves flailing onto the floor as their counterparts unexpectedly pulled away to the side, leaving a hole to the rear wide open. With precise aim, a wooden barrel was tossed through the opening, bypassing most of the guards before rolling to stop only a few feet away.
Thomas's eyes grew wide at the sight of the black powder keg, especially its lit fuse which quickly receded into the barrel a second later.
"Duck and cover!" Somepony shouted out, but they were too little too late. The keg exploded into a shower of splinters, sending the scrambling guards flying away in several directions at pummeling speeds. Windows shattered and barricades were shredded as ponies crashed into marble pillars and floors. Groans and a few screams rang out among the littered bodies as the few capable guards struggled to recover.
The painful ringing in Thomas's ears had yet to subside when he clambered back onto his hooves to help, but his escort thought otherwise as he was sharply pulled away, but not before witnessing yet another keg be launched from the beast's ranks. Many jaws slackened at the sight as it sailed and settled perfectly in the middle of the injured guard contingent. Many ponies were frozen in place and those few still able-bodied shielded their injured from what was to come with their own hide.
Thomas's escort tugged on him once more with a wing but it was forcefully dislodged with a shove before he slid down the railing and launched himself forward. Surging forth, his magic consumed the barrel in full, compressed until total encapsulation was achieved, and he attempted to shove the bomb right into the enemy's fold. Still, the fuze was quicker to burn away instead.
Encased by Thomas's magic, the following explosion induced negligible damage to his fellow ponies, a consolation Thomas couldn't appreciate as concussive forces consolidated through his mind, cracking his horn in the process. The power of the energy hit harder than a falling train, leaving only a small gasp to be emitted from Thomas as he collapsed to the floor, staining the marble with red as a fountain of blood gushed from his sinuses. His unhinged jaw and clouded eyes complimented the scene further. The rapid rise of his sides and his shallow wheezing breaths were the only indications of life.
Laying in a broken heap, a shadow descended onto his frail figure but was rebuffed as shields and spears and blue ghastly eyes surged forward like sprung snakes. A claw soon filled Thomas's bleary vision, aiming for his throat, but just as it was about to find purchase, a flicker of red flashed within their iris. Upon his neck, the Alicorn Amulet flared to life, its magic coursing along Thomas's figure and all throughout his insides, enhancing his natural healing factor and providing an adrenaline-boosting surge of energy as his eyes sharpened onto the beast before him. Rolling waves of rage rebounded through his freshly revived mind, thus eliciting
a snarl from his muzzle as a jet of steam was snorted out.
The beast hesitated, taking a second to reconsider its actions, but a second was all Thomas needed. With rippling power coursing through his veins and a quick turn on his heel, he delivered a quaking buck into the beast before him, rocketing the poor creature straight outside the breach, cleaving right through the storm army like Moses and the Red Sea. With a stomp of his hoof, red tendrils leaked out, spewing forth and snaring the few brave beasts who dared to charge him. With a flick of his hoof, they were sent soaring above, cracking the ceiling and tearing the chandelier to pieces. With a quick swipe, the beasts were sent hurdling into their adjacent partners below, leaving the group a bundled mess of limbs and equipment.
Trotting up to the nearest beast, the same one that attempted to snatch him moments before, the creature cowered before Thomas's figure. His snarl was soon replaced with a fanged grin as his slitted eyes narrowed around the creature's neck. His horn flared to life, sputtered little wispy strings, seized the creature by the neck, and applied pressure. Hefted before his snout, whimpering gasps escaped the beast's throat as its eyes bugged out and its fur turned pale. Its claws feebly pried at the strings, but it did little to ease the constricting. As the seconds ticked past, only one word echoed through the alicorn's mind. Death. Death. Death.
So focused on his victim, Thomas failed to notice the beasts reconsolidating their forces and beginning a new offensive, this time aiming to sidestep the mad alicorn and prod at the injured forces situated only a few feet away, too injured to repel the attack.
Finally, out of the corner of his eye, Thomas takes note of the last powder keg being lit and thrown upon the retreating guards. Turning back to his prey, his insatiable blood lust nearly overpowers his senses once more, but as a scream of fear blurts from behind, he is jolted away from the dark thoughts, and with a grunt, shoves the gasping beast back to its comrades. With a quick lance of energy, the keg is shrouded in red mana and promptly ejected out one of the many broken windows. A boom was quick to follow.
"Enough!" Thomas yelled to all in the hall, catching many eyes and turning equally as many heads. With a surge of crimson mana, a transparent curved barrier sprouted out until the corridor was fully encompassed from wall to wall. Several spear shots impacted the shield, doing little more than fixing another snarl onto the alicorn. With a mighty stomp of his hooves, Thomas surged forward, sweeping everything adorning the passageway up against his glistening wall. The closer they got to the doorway, the more compact the shield reformatted until a condensed ball of beasts and various objects cascaded through the breach into a painful heap at the bottom of the staircase. Immediately, the beasts reconvened upon the entryway, once more bashing on the erected barrier, but much to their surprise, the shield relented and a large portion of their group collapsed to the ground in confusion, only for their pupils to shrink as they gazed inside.
Propped before his hooves, a handful of petri-nades twirled within Thomas's magical grip. He gave the enemy a stoney glare before hurling all 'nades upon them. A collective shriek was uttered as a green shroud of gas encapsulated the breach, only to silence in an instant. Once the cloud dissipated, the living pile and the entryway were fused as one. A few stragglers lingered beyond, but another glare sent them fleeing, disappearing as they rounded the exterior corner.
Thomas continued to glare their way, huffing and puffing all the while, but as the seconds passed, the adrenaline flooding his veins drained away, leaving his head faint and his legs quivering. The amulet ceased its magic, leaving Thomas tipping over, but not before his escort from before braced his side.
The guard fixed Thomas a look, opening and closing his jaw several times, on the verge of sputtering words before relenting with a shake of his head as the two hobbled away.
Ears pounding, heart racing, adrenaline spiking, wings aching, these went ignored as lightning arced overhead. The heat of the electricity singed the tips of his feathers and the quaking boom that followed caused his wings to twitch, forcing him to pivot to the right. The sudden jerking motion induced a rift of air to coarse harshly against his primary feathers at the wrong angle, causing an involuntary dive that was hastily rectified before dipping into the sea of clouds below. The panicked flapping subsided once he leveled out and for a brief moment, tranquility reigned supreme in the heavens, that is until another bout of lightning and thunder rippled from his pursuer. Cursing under his breath, another set of evasive actions was taken, a hard right bank in particular before swiveling into a dive. Sweat trailed down his figure as he soared on high, but it was for naught. The prickling of his hair all across his hide was the first and only warning given before the lightning struck true, leaving him a spasming wreck that collapsed mid-flight. Before his smoking form could recede into the ocean of mist, he was caught within the magenta aura of a fellow alicorn, who gently deposited his body onto the ship's deck.
"A minute, seventeen seconds. That's a new record, Psalms, and your wings didn't lock up this time. Way to go champ." Rainbow congratulated as Psalms groaned before her hooves. A wave of cheering across the ship resounded along with a few pirate 'aarrghs!'.
A cloud of smoke was wheezed out as he responded, "Happy to make you Coach, proud."
Trotting up to the two, Rarity delivered a soft slap of a wing on Rainbow's shoulder. "Darling, we've already told you not to push him too hard!" Kneeling before his figure, she conjured forth a rag and began wiping away the grime. "Honestly dear, I think he's had enough. You've been running him so ragged he's a fountain of sweat! One should be prim and proper for their debut at Canterlot."
"Ah think he can forgo the polished mane for this one Rares." Applejack aims a small glare Rainbow's way. "But she does have a point, Psalms needs a break. Ah reckon Twilight would like to focus on his magic for a spell or two."
"Hey, it's not my fault he's only just now getting the hang of it, compared to everypony else who's pretty much got it down." Rainbow relents with a moan. "Ugh! Fine, take him to the egghead. He'll probably be more useful staying on the ground anyway."
Psalms ever so slowly clambers back onto his hooves. "Does this mean I pass?"
Rainbow lifted a hoof to her chin, contemplation etched on her features. "Well, you're certainly no soon-to-be Wonderbolt recruit... but what the hay, you pass in my book, just not with any flying colors, save your own."
Suddenly, a shower of confetti coats the quartet from nowhere. "Yay!" Pinkie shouts out, "That officially makes you the very first flying male alicorn in Equestria's history ever!" With a gasp, she seizes Psalms by the shoulders and brings him face to face, "Do you know what this means!?" She didn't bother waiting for his response, "This means I have to plan the very first Flying-Male-Alicorn-in-Equestria's-History-Ever party! And that's on top of planning every birthday we missed with you and Thomas, and the New-Royal-Princes party, and the We're-Happy-You-Found-A-New-Family party, and the-"
At last, Rarity voiced her outrage, "Pinkie! I've told you before to please not shower me with your confetti! Celestia's sake, this will take hours to snuff all the flakes out, and I just finished preening my wings!"
"Oh! I know a spell that can help, Twilight taught it to me five minutes ago! Stand still!"
A horrified look adorned Rarity's features. "Pinkie! No!"
It was too late, with a blast of her magic, a tiny tornado was conjured into existence that swept across Rarity's face. The flakes were gone, and so too was Rarity's immaculate mane.
Pinkie plastered a sheepish grin. "Ah-hah-hah... oops?"
Rarity blinked once, then twice, before a growl clawed its way up her throat. Foregoing all words, she opted instead to pounce upon the pink menace, only for her to find bare wood as Pinkie took to the skies. "Get back here and fix my mane!" With that, she too took to the skies, forgoing all speed and urgency, and instead flew with grace and elegance, which predictably left her in Pinkie's dust trails.
With a flare of her wings, Applejack dislodges the last of the confetti. She takes a moment to reflect upon the action she committed, at her wings in particular. "Don't think Ah'll ever get used to this feelin'. Magic sure is scary sometimes." Her wings ruffled once more before settling down. "We better go after her, Rainbow, Ah could use the practice." Applejack indicates Twilight's direction with a flick of her hoof, "Twilight's over yonder that way, Psalms. Should be finishing up with Fluttershy."
With a nod of thanks, Psalms catches one last breath before trotting forth. Celaeno's ship was abuzz with activity, what with Princess Skystar's hippogriff guard contingent utilizing most of the deck as impromptu training grounds, running drills, and hosting sparring matches. Even a few of Grubber's beasts allowed themselves to be used in take-down demonstrations, pointing out areas of weakness for their kind to be taken advantage of.
Speaking of Grubber, he and the other friendly beasts were nestled off to the side, playing cards in hand as they shared stink eyes with one another. "Do you have a... six?" The creature to his left growled a response, "Dangit!" Grubber proceeded to draw four.
"Do you have... G52?" Pinkie asked as she shuffled her cards. The beast before her gave a questioning look before growling negative. "Ha!" Pinkie shouts as she displays her cards before the group, five aces of diamonds in hoof, "Bingo!"
Groans were uttered from all with one beast flinging its cards in frustration as Pinkie seized the pot, cackling like a mad mare. "Pinkie!" Rarity shouted from above as she ever so slowly caught up with the pink menace.
"Uh-oh!" Pinkie expressed before leaving a pink trail as she dashed overboard, flinging all the storm bucks into the air in the process.
"Ugh!" Grubber moaned, "I hate blackjack."
Moving on, Psalms climbed the stairs to the helm where Captain Celaeno watched Capper tinker with the harpoon gun.
"You sure you know how to operate this machine?" Celaeno inquired.
Capper finished readjusting the gun's sight before responding. "I'll have you know, I was the reigning dart-throwing champion for nine consecutive years in the Klugetown Klugefest."
Celaeno waited a moment for Capper to continue, but seeing as how the cat had no more to say, she took over. "...Ok? And that's relevant to this... how?"
With a flick of a switch, the gun roared to life as steam exited its exhaust tubes. Swiveling to the starboard, Capper surveyed the area before focusing on a single storm buck, far adrift, at least twenty meters away, flickering wildly in the roaring wind, and descending to the lands below. With a squeeze of the trigger, the harpoon was ejected and in an instant, impaled the bill. Gravity did its work and the two disappeared into the cloud layer. Capper rubbed his knuckles against the hem of his coat as he replied, "Just give me a target and clear line of sight, and I'll be popping balloons all day."
Passing the two by, waves were exchanged as Psalms trudged up to the quarter-deck, where Twilight and Fluttershy were found, huddled around a small controlled fire. Fluttershy eyed the fire behind her mane, brows furrowed with beads of sweat dripping down. In contrast, Twilight was steadfast as she guided her shy friend. "Remember, think cool, liquid thoughts, imagine in your head an ice cube melting, the water washing away, but instead you grab it, you hold it, and with it you..."
Fluttershy closed her eyes as her horn lit, sputtering magical sparks, until a flash of illumination filled the air as a splash of water doused the fire. "I did it." Fluttershy gasped.
"Great job, Fluttershy! While aqueous magic is a novice spell class to master, the fact that you managed to successfully cast it in such a short time speaks wonders to your innate magical prowess. That simple water spell, along with casting mend should be enough to keep this ship afloat when battle arrives. I wish I could teach you more, but for the time we have, it'll have to do."
"Hey girls," Psalms called out, "you should be more careful, Twilight, this is a wooden boat after all."
"It's alright; I had it under control," Twilight reassured. "Speaking of control, I was hoping to speak to you and Thomas both about your mana manipulation. Unfortunately, things just kept escalating, and I never had the time. But I do now, and if you're willing, I'd like to take a moment to analyze your inner aura matrix."
As Psalms settled himself, Fluttershy quietly took her leave, not without waving goodbye to the two. "What's this all about? Is something wrong with my magic?"
Twilight shook her head. "Not per se. It has more to do with how you are exerting your magic." From out of a corner, Twilight summons a heavy tome before depositing it between the two. Depicted on the front cover was a staff entwined by two serpents, the Caduceus. Lighting up her horn, the pages begin to flicker one after another as her eyes analyze each chapter with lightning speed.
Psalms brows pursed together. "Uh, where did the book come from?"
"I've established thaumatic connections across several tomes and illustrated academic papers from heavily credited institutions, which provides easy access to relevant information when I'm conducting research. This medical book is one of them, now take a look here. " At last, her magic ceases as the book settles upon Chapter 83, "The Manifestation of Magic"
"It's a well-established fact that magic permeates through most substances and beings in all corners of Equus. It is also understood that, thanks to multiple archaeological and paleontological studies, magic has existed longer than recorded history or even Equus caballus as a whole; which unless proven otherwise, insinuates that all matter, inorganic or not, has been saturated with magic since at least the formation of modern life on the planet itself."
Finished with reading from the book, Twilight turns her attention to Psalms. "Magic has been ingrained in our genetic makeup since the time of our ancestor's ancestors and perhaps even before; magic and ponies have coexisted together as one for all of our species' existence. The reason I'm telling you all this is because you and Thomas may be the first and only beings untouched by magic down to a cellular level."
"Wow," Psalms proclaimed before his face scrunched up, "No, wait, hold on, that can't be right, just look at me! I'm a male alicorn, my human body was transformed into this... well technically I didn't have a body since I had already died so I was a spirit... or a soul? Anyway, shouldn't my pony body be made of nothing but magic?"
"And there lies my conundrum. Psalms, I am the embodiment of the Element of Magic, so believe me when I say I was perplexed by the lack of magic I sensed within the two of you, at least the magic that I know of."
"That you know of?" Psalms parroted back.
Twilight nodded away. "There is no doubt the essence that makes you, you, is magical in nature, but it is a type I have never encountered before, and it is one beyond my current understanding. I have researched many different types of magic; dark, chaos, arcane, and transmogrification just to name a few, but compared to all I know, what you two embody... I can only describe it as... greater." She fixes Psalms a look, "I assume you will attribute this to your 'God' from before?"
Pslams cuffed a hoof to his medallion. "He's the only reason I'm here, made me in your image, so to speak, so yeah, I do."
Twilight takes a moment to study his figure before relenting with a small nod. "Well, getting back to the topic at hoof, it is this lack of magic that has me interested in scanning your matrix to determine your inefficiency in spell casting. When we ambushed those beasts back at the train yard, I noticed you were quick to tire out after only a few casts. With this scan, I may be able to identify your problem..." Without warning, Twilight releases a sharp gasp, "...and if I'm correct... not only will I be able to mend your power output, but this may even provide a solution to Dispareunia Magicae Neonatorum!"
Psalms's muzzle gaped, but as the seconds passed without Twilight's further input, he opted to take over. ".... I... uh... Dispara... wha?"
Taking Psalms's head between her hooves, Twilight brings the two face to face. "If I'm correct, because of your non-magic origins, you and Thomas may be the heralds of a cure to a genetic disorder that has plagued unicorn newborns for many generations!" Twilight releases Psalms as she sweeps her hoof over the horizon, "Every year, hundreds, sometimes thousands of foals across the kingdom are born with DMN; a neurological deficit of certain protein chains within our DNA that prevent the formation of leylines, most prominently within the horn structure. For centuries, we have had the means of furnishing the protein chains, allowing limited mana access for certain 'lucky' disabled unicorns, but without a clean, untarnished template of the leylines, restructuring a pony's matrix without afflicting further neurological damage was an impossibility... until now. With you two, we may finally have our solution!"
"No way," Psalms denies, "Are you sure? What about the mirror world? Sunset's home? That place and its people don't have magic, right?"
Twilight pauses for a moment, "...Not inherently... or initially."
"So why haven't you used them for a cure?"
"Because there's nothing that can be utilized from their group. Their world and ours are offshoots of one another, connected in more ways than the mirror alone. After Sunset told me of the mysterious cave where she and her friends found their geodes, I can only assume three things; magic has been leaking from Equestria for a long time, magic does naturally exist, or has come to naturally inhabit their world over time. Regardless of whether the inhabitants can manipulate magic or not, my counterpart and I were able to confirm that leylines, albeit dormant, were present as part of her and her friend's circulatory system."
"Leylines, you keep repeating that word, what is it?" Psalms questioned.
"Think of leylines along the lines of arteries or veins. Where they carry blood and plasma, leylines ferry mana throughout the body. The point I'm trying to make is that Sunset's world and people are already muddied with magical essence, even if very little, but you and Thomas have pure leylines never before tainted by magic use. And like a newborn who's never used its horn before, you use brute force to inefficiently channel magic."
"Well, we were only given a rough crash course by our father. He taught us how to feel the magic flowing through us and not much else."
Twilight nods knowingly, "Proprioception, the sixth sense, and the most relevant for magic users. Foals instinctively use this sense, oftentimes far too early and unrestrained, leading to involuntary magic surges, but for somepony like you, it is the quickest way to establish a connection to your matrix. Speaking of which, I'd like to take a scan of it now."
"Go ahead, if it helps, I'm all for it. Just one concern though, me and Thomas have been using magic for the past few days already; So our, uh, matrix is already tarnished with magic, right? Wouldn't that make the scan worthless?"
"I have a theory, but let me take a scan first, and then we'll find out." Twilight reaches a hoof out, cuffing it to Psalms' chin before directing him down low. With a tilt of her head, her horn comes in contact with the base of Psalms' own. "Stand still now and take deep breaths; you should feel a slight buzzing sensation, that's normal." She sucks in a deep breath before steadily exhaling it out. "Alright, medical breakthrough, here we come."
True to her word, a buzzing sensation cascaded through Psalms' frontal lobe, dissipating just as it reached his neck. This went on for a few seconds more before it relented, leaving behind an itch all across his affected areas.
"I have it..." Twilight whispered out, pausing Psalms mid-scratch. Twilight turned to him, a smile as bright as the sun at full display. "I have it!" She closed her eyes, internally analyzing the image in her mind. "...Just as I theorized. Your core leyline root is saturated with magic... but all other branching roots lie dormant... negligent... of any traces of magic! This is it! This is what we needed! What everypony needed!"
"So this is it?" Psalms questioned, a smile too blossoming on his muzzle as he became infected with Twilight's ecstatic mood. "With one little picture, we just cured DMN for good?"
Twilight's smile dropped down a single notch. "Well," she began, "we have a clean template that will allow neurosurgeons to reconfigure the secondary and tertiary leyline branches, which in turn will circumnavigate and overtake the function of the core leyline root. All leylines aside from the core act as a redundant system in the case of severe horn damage, thus allowing continued magic manipulation for somepony like Tempest, albeit with great strain and possible limitations." A forlorn look overtakes Twilight. "Having to lose a horn is a tragedy, but never being able to use one in the first place, being stripped of your birthright from the start, is soul-crushing." In a blink of an eye, her frown turned upside down. "But thanks to you, we have the means to forever remedy it!"
Twilight delves into cheers and laughter as she delivers a hug upon Psalms, who in turn embraces back. Another set of cheers and giggles enters the fray as a new body enters the hug session. "Yeah! Woo-hoo! Hurray! What are we celebrating!?" Pinkie inquires.
With a huff and a puff, the alicorn and his guard reached the top of the stairs where they opted to take a moment to catch their breath. Before them lay the ornately decorated doors leading to the throne room. "Rampart's through here," Thomas's escort gasped out, "I need to return to my post, good luck, your Majesty."
"Hey," Thomas calls out, halting the guard mid-step, "I never caught your name."
The guard about faces and brings a wing up in a salute, "Sir! Private Hard Buckle, Sir!"
"Well, Private Buckle, thank you for the escort. I know I didn't make things easy for you, and sorry about the shove earlier."
"No need to apologize, Sir. It is not my place to question the actions of standing royalty, in spite of the circumstances at hoof." With his piece said, the guard clacked his heels, turned, and descended.
Thomas spared Buckle one last glance before shouldering through the doorway. The petrified forms of the princesses are the first objects observed as Thomas walks on through, but his eyes soon shift to the lines of unicorns adorning both sides of the throne room. Their hides glistened with sweat as their horns shined with streams of energy that fed out the stained glass panes and into the surrounding shield. An arc of lightning lit the exterior as it struck the shield, eliciting one of the guards to collapse to their knees, grunting with strained breaths, but they were soon back on their hooves as their companions hefted them back up, supporting their weight against their side.
In one of the corners, a group of pegasus ponies adorned in blue jumpsuits lingered about as they gazed upon the skies beyond the window.
In another corner, off to the side, was a stockpile of books messily strewn about with Sunset, along with their two unicorn saviors an hour before, being forefront amongst it. Sunset and the pink-ish unicorn were animatedly discussing the contents of the heavy tome before them, while the blue wizard lazily flipped through another.
The sound of his entrance caught Sunset's ears, causing her and the other unicorn to turn to him. "Thomas, are you alright?"
Thomas closed the distance, causing Sunset to give him a brief embrace. "I'm fine, somehow. Had a little trouble along the way, but nothing I couldn't handle. You?"
Sunset released him, limping as she nursed a hoof to her chest, hissing in pain when retracting herself. "Well, not everypony has the luxury of an alicorn healing factor, but I'll live." She turned towards her fellow unicorn, gesturing a hoof to her. "This is Starlight, one of our saviors from before. She's Twilight's personal student and certainly has the prowess and potential to match her."
A slight blush adorned Starlight's cheeks, "I, uh, I wouldn't exactly say that; she is the Element of Magic, after all."
"And yet, you still gave her quite the struggle with that time fiasco." Sunset's hoof shifts to the wizard. "And she is Trixi-"
"The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
"-The Great and Powerful Trixie, mare of the mystics arts, and our other savior."
Within Thomas's peripheral, he could see the Captain urgently waving him forward. "Great to meet you both, Starlight, Trixie. We owe you one." Thomas flicks his head at the books, "Busy trying to free the Princesses? Any luck?"
Starlight and Sunset both heave a sigh. "None whatsoever. None of our arsenal of spells so much as left a crack."
"And we're finding no luck with any of these stupid books!" Trixie exclaimed as she tossed hers aside with a huff. A rumble from the outside added to her mess as a tower of books collapsed.
"Thomas!" Rampart echoed from further ahead.
"Alright, keep at it, I gotta take this."
With a dash, Thomas was by the Captain's side, before them an empty cauldron lay with a blue potion held above within the Captain's magical hold. It pulsed with intent and urgency. "Finally," The Captain began, "It's been ringing for the past half hour. She wants to speak to you."
"Any sign of Twilight or the King?"
A snort escapes Rampart. "Are you kidding? I'm surprised any sunlight is breaching through to us at all. Spotting either is a needle in a haystack situation, and we don't have enough eyes as is."
Thomas nodded in understanding. "How's the defense holding up?"
Thunder trembled through the air. "We may be in a castle, but it's no citadel. There's only so much of a beating it can take before giving. My mages have erected a shield that has been bearing the brunt of the tesla cannons, but once that goes down, I will be the last line of defense. While I'm no Shining Armor, my magic is nothing to scoff at, my name is Rampart after all." The potion pulsed once more. "She won't wait much longer, it was a courtesy from her that the Castle hasn't been completely stormed yet."
"Then let's not keep her waiting." With that said, Rampart poured the potion into the cauldron, and as the mist rose, the visage of Tempest materialized.
Rampart excused himself offscreen, leaving the two ponies to examine each other in silence, until...
"So, my eyes were not deceiving me. Yet another male alicorn...we fought, back on the airship." Her eyes reflected upon his exposed wings. "How I didn't notice your wings before will forever elude me."
"A cloak tends to hide things, shocking, I know." Thomas steeled his features. "This ain't a social gathering, what do you want."
"Straight to the chase, I can appreciate that." Tempest squared herself before him as a stern mask settled over her features. "I want... I need you, and only you. I'm done playing these games, and so, I am willing to make a deal. Lay down your weapons, surrender yourself to me, and I will allow all of your ponies to leave the city peacefully."
Thomas didn't hesitate. "Hell no."
Tempest took a moment to blink before responding, "I don't think you are in a position to bargain here. You are completely surrounded, hopelessly outmatched, and severely outnumbered. With just one order, I'll have your shield crumbled to dust and everypony back in chains within the hour." Tempest inched her face closer to the scrying screen, her stern gaze hardening evermore. "Do not squander this mercy."
"And again, I say no." Thomas pushed back, mirroring Tempest's face.
A growl escaped Tempest's throat, her veins visibly popped and red tints in the corner of her eyes. "You and your friends have been nothing but a thorn in my side this entire operation; thwarting my plans, escaping my forces, wasting my time with these wild goose chases!" Tempest reeled her face away, sucked in a lungful of air, and blew it out in a slow stream. When she turned back to Thomas, all traces of anger were gone. In its stead was a melancholy, almost forlorn look of resignation. "I'm so close to achieving my life's goal, I've come this far and committed too much to throw this away now. This is your last warning."
"And this is yours," Thomas spat. "Understand this, you are in the land of sunshine and fricken rainbows where as far as I can tell second chances are handed out like candy. Hell, these ponies base themselves and their society entirely around the concept of harmony and that... I can't believe I'm gonna say this... that friendship is..." Thomas applies a hoove to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose as he finishes, "...magic, ugh. So here's the deal, this whole invasion is your mess, clean it up, and if your heart's in the right place then maybe, just maybe, the elements won't petrify your ass. Poetic justice if they do."
Tempest ground her teeth. "I don't have a choice, it's too late!"
"Bull." The alicorn called back. "You always have a choice and no, it isn't too late. I'm not a very forgiving man, Tempest, so believe me when I say that if I, of all people, am willing to accept an olive branch after everything you threw at us, how do you think the literal Princess of Friendship would respond in my stead?"
Conflicted emotions flashed across Tempest's face, tugging upon every visible feature as they warred through her mind, but before she could respond, a thunderous horn trumpeted through the air, shrouding all of the city in silence. Creeping across rooftops and through the packed streets, a heavy shadow blanketed Canterlot Castle, dimming the already smoke-dense luminosity to midnight hues. All who turned their gaze saw not but a hazy blotch eclipsing the sun, that is until it breached the squall layer. Two piercing blue dagger-eyed marks heralded the approach of an armored zeppelin that, after a moment, opted to linger upon the mountain's peak.
Tempest released a breath. "He's here." She fixed her gaze back onto Thomas. "Times up. For both of us." Finally, the potion's mist collapsed, but not before uttering Tempest's fading apology.
"What was that?" Rampart questioned as he strode back to Thomas's side. "What did she say? What's happening?"
Before Thomas could respond, a flash of teal shimmered into the pony's eyes, catching their attention as they shifted view to Tempest's new flagship. There, a shower of sparks and blinding light accumulated upon Tempest's horn as she surged her power to ever-dangerous levels. Her entourage was quick to make distance as she was enveloped in a bubble of unstable magic. The eyes of many defenders were caught by her theatrics as they coalesced around the many windows layering the castle.
The city was bathed in various shades of teal as Tempest reached her zenith and with but one last flicker, shot forth her mana with lightning speed, impacting the mage's shield with an ear-piercing clap strong enough to shatter window panes all across the city.
Thomas clutched at his pounding ears as tears fogged his vision, but he could only share sympathy with his armored fellows who bore the brunt of the impact, with their minds no less. Each guard was clutching their smoking horns as they writhed on the floor; some screamed their lungs out, and only a 'lucky' few were stricken comatose, but Tempest's strike worked perfectly as all energy stabilizing the shield ceased.
With a muted flicker, the dome dissipated from the apex down. The moment the shield completely collapsed, the air was flooded with the victorious howls of hundreds as electricity bombarded the castle walls in unison. Trumpets blared their tune and with a resounding cry, the storm converged upon the castle. Bounding on all four, the beasts blitzed for the walls. With their sharp claws, they dug into the marble and stone, hefting themselves up and over the edge or through the windows, while most others breached through every pummeled doorway. Airships collected above, raining fire and beasts alike as they harpooned themselves against the spires.
"The shield has fallen," Rampart stated as he gazed upon the swarming army below. "Our timetable has just accelerated. Captain Spitfire," Rampart shouted out as he turned to the Wonderbolt's group, "I need you and your wingmates to round up all available units and reinforce the infirmary. We're abandoning our defensive positions; notify Seargent Fling that his pathfinder squad will maintain subterfuge orders."
"All units, Sir?"
"All," Rampart confirmed, "We have far too many injured than we anticipated. Civilian auxiliaries are a priority objective."
Spitfire saluted before she and her squad dashed through the exit.
"Subterfuge?" Thomas questioned.
"Seargent Fling has rigged most entryways with petri-nades, should stem the tide, but..." Rampart turned his gaze outside, to the zeppelin above, "I don't think we can hold out much longer."
Just as Rampart finished, the passing of shadows along the marbled flooring caught the duo's attention. Turning their gaze to the stained glasses, the silhouettes of numerous beasts presented themselves as they crawled along the courtroom's exterior. They traced their movements as the beasts made way for the balcony behind the thrones.
Joining their side, Sunset along with the rest of the unicorns, recovered guards included, regrouped with the duo, forming an all-around defense as beasts ever so slowly encircled their formation.
Psalms' hide shuddered as a slinking cool feeling slithered around within his horn as if liquid had pooled and sloshed around unconfined. Its touch was soft yet rough not unlike sandpaper, and its aftertouch left him itchy. The itch was most irritating, leaving Psalms twitching as his hooves stomped in tandem.
"You know, fidgeting around like a foal isn't going to speed this up." Twilight admonished.
"I can't help it!" Psalms exclaimed as he shook his head. "Feels like worms are wiggling around in my head. It's unnerving."
"Well, you're a big stallion, just bear with it for a moment, and stop moving." Twilight finished with a slight flick of her wing against his hooves.
"What are you doing again?" Psalms asked with a sigh as he rubbed at the tingle adorning his forehead.
"I told you, in order for me to maximize your mana output, I need a comprehensive probe of your matrix and synapse structure."
"But you already scanned my matrix?"
"Yes, I scanned your matrix; now I'm probing it, using a low-energy filter as my mana traverses your leylines."
A moment of silence lingered. "...And that does?"
Twilight releases a huff as her horn ceases its shimmering. "You do realize I can't concentrate with you asking all these questions, right?" She reconnects horns and her magic resumes.
"Well excuuuuse me, Princess," Psalms whispers under his breath.
Before Twilight could respond, the 'special' pirate crewmate began squawking up a storm as he rang the alarm, pointing his finger toward the ship's bow.
"Thar she blows! Land ahoy!"
A voice rang out amid the deck, eliciting a turn of Twilight's head as she set her sights on the far horizon. "Ow, ow, ow!" Much to Psalms' chagrin.
"Oops! Sorry!" Twilight sheepishly exclaimed as her magic dissipated.
Taking a moment to rub the pain away, Psalms and Twilight soon join the rest of the passengers and crew as they bunched up upon the main deck, all eyes focused on the view before them.
In the rapidly closing distance, just barely peeking out from the storm front, the visage of Canterlot is witnessed, illuminated with the hailfire of tesla canons and obscured by a swarm of skiffs and climbing smoke columns.
"Jesus Christ," Psalms exclaimed, "looks like the entire armada is there, and they're tearing into the castle."
"Wait, that's Canterlot? Famous city of the pony Princesses?" Capper questioned as he lifted his goggles for a better view. "Yeesh. Looks like it's seen better days."
"I'm counting at least fifty skiffs just off of visuals alone, and that's not taking into account all the ones obscured by the smoke." Captain Celaeno relayed as she collapsed her telescope. "And that's not all; I've identified the Storm King's flagship high at the mountaintop."
A few whimpers were uttered from the storm creatures and Grubber swallowed a large gulp. "T-t-t-the Storm King is...here?"
"He is," Celaeno confirmed. "But strangely enough, it doesn't look like his ship is participating in the siege."
"That's great! One less thing to worry about in our plan." Psalms exclaimed.
"Uh," Rairty scratched at the base of her neck, "now that I think about it, what is the plan exactly?"
"I'm sure egghead here had plenty of time to make one up." Rainbow proceeded to noogie said egghead. "Whatcha got for us, Twi."
Twilight released an indignant huff as she fixed her mane and turned her attention to all others, which, in turn, surrounded the princess. "It's simple in principle; we each play to our strengths. I believe Rarity and her shield magic, along with Fluttershy and her mending and water spell, would work well with providing magical support aboard Captain Celaeno's ship. They in turn are well-equipped to deal with the skiffs." She turned towards Rainbow Dash, "And with the fastest Wonderbolt by their side, I expect the skies clear in ten seconds."
"Flat." Dash hoof-bumped with Celaeno.
Giving them a nod, Twilight continues, "With the air taken care of, we can focus on the ground. Applejack, Pinkie, Psalms, and I will hoof it straight for the castle w-"
"Where my guards and I will provide a distraction! Oh, it'll feel good to finally give what's coming to them. Ain't that right, fellas!?" Skystar giggles to herself.
"Yes, your Highness!" Her guards echoed in unison.
"Oh, uh... I was kinda hoping you'd tag along with us, but-"
"Apologies, Princess Twilight," Lieutenant Reef began, "but even with our combined effort, I'm afraid a frontal charge directly into overwhelming enemy forces is... ill-advised to say the least." A shake of his head was added for extra measure, "No, we shall provide a distraction and funnel enemy troops away from the castle and through the city. If you still need extra muscle," He nodded toward the storm beasts, "I think they'll make do."
"If they can be trusted." A Hippogriff guard commented to the side, earning a few grunts of agreement.
Several eyes turned to Grubber, who was sweating up a storm. His eyes darted from figure to figure before choking out a cough and clearing his throat. "I, uh, well, uh, you see, uh, y-y-you can count on my friends here to be by your side... we... we did promise after all, right, guys?" He took a nervous glance back, his pleading eyes on the beasts before him who quickly shook themselves from their stupor and rigorously nodded away, with one even adding a thumbs up. "See? We totally got your back, it's just... um..."
"Just what?" Psalms asked with a raised brow.
"Just... well... if it's ok with you, I'd like to stay on the ship."
"Whatever for, darling?"
"If it was just Tempest, everything would be a-okay, but this is the Storm King we're talking about." He flicks his eyes nervously from side to side, "Let's just say I've bitten more than I could chew a few too many times with him. If he finds out I'm after his empire, you can bet he'll do me like a kebob on his big stick he keeps twirling around." Grubber scoots to the side and makes way for the ship's depths. "Besides, I'm no good in a fight, I'll just slow you down."
"But we need you," Psalms protested, much to Grubber's surprise, "you're the only one who can communicate with the beasts; the only one who can lead them. Didn't you want this? A chance to take charge for once? A chance to be seen as more than a food-face-stuffing goofball?"
Paused at the entrance to the ship's bowels, a moment of silence filled the air as Grubber took great consideration to Psalms words, eyes flickering from him to the beasts and the others, but soon enough, a heavy sigh left the little guy, "Sorry, but it just wouldn't work... I can tell these guys to follow and protect you... but that's about it... sorry." His piece said, Grubber reluctantly disappeared into the darkness.
A few of the beasts cried soft whimpers as their leader left, but they moved not an inch after him.
Capper shook his head. "Little guy's selling himself short."
"If only we could spare some pearl magic, we could make him biiiiiiig and strong! Like Spike!" Pinkie's outstretched hooves were directed at the drake.
"Yeah, speaking of which, what about me, Twilight?" The thunderous voice that was Spike asked, "I can help too... you'll let me... right?"
Any words Twilight had kept getting clogged within her throat, leading her to open and close her mouth numerous times like a gaping fish. In the end, Twilight reflected her gaze on the deck, unable to confront Spike eye to eye. Her mind ran rampant with objections and excuses, most commonly tied to the phrase, 'still a baby dragon'.
"...Spike I... well, you... just because the pearl..." Inhaling and exhaling, Twilight composed her mind and began again. "...Spike, with the pearl's magic, yo-"
Before Twilight could finish, Capper gave a soft slap against the drake's burly leg. "You, big boy, are our ace in the hole."
"What?" The siblings echoed out, one more pointedly than the other.
"Just think about it," Capper began, "You can fly, thanks to Rainbows here, you breathe magical fire, and your scales are as tough as diamonds. You are, by far, the most threatening-looking being we're bringing along, and you have the pearls prowess to back it up. If they take one look at you, you can bet they'll focus all their attention on taking you down, if they aren't pissing themselves delirious as they run away. Problem is, their skiffs are a joke, except for one which is..."
"...The flagship?" Spike inquired, which earned him two flinger clicks and a wink.
"That's right! Now, I can't say I'm well versed in the armaments of said flagship, but I'll bet you all the bits they have plenty of those stone-turning grenades on board and won't hesitate to use them on you. But, if they never find out about you, well then their guard is down, and when they inevitably see us kicking their army's flanks and join in the fight, they'll be so focused on what they've seen and know, they won't notice you lurking in the shadows and that's when you deliver the one-and-done strike."
"You can't be serious! He's a baby dragon! He shouldn't be out there fighting at all, and I fail to see why we can't let Rainbow Dash deal with the zeppelin."
"Because she can't damage it." Reef interjected, "None of us can, magic or not, except for him."
"Him? Explain." Twilight requested.
"Our kind have faced the zeppelin before, back when we were driven from Mount Aris. Its airbag is encased in a fine sheath of obsidian, exactly like their grenades. All attempts to penetrate the armor failed spectacularly. Taking everything and everyone we have here into account, nothing and no one is getting through." Reef turns to appraise Spike. "Except you! You're a bonafide dragon, your kind eat gems for crying out loud. I'd bet every sand dollar I have you could chew right through that armor like tissue paper. Here," Reef digs through the satchel on his waist and brings out a petri-nade where he proceeds to chuck it at a vacant folding chair. Once done, he hands the chair to Spike. "You don't believe me? Go ahead, take a bite."
Hesitating for a moment, Spike directs his gaze to Twilight, a questioning look adorning his facial features. Despite the objections flowing within, Twilight relents with a small nod. With the go-ahead in place, Spike takes a bite of a leg, *SPFFT*, and immediately spits it out.
"Spike!?" Twilight panics.
"Blegh! Yuck!" The drake exclaimed. "Argh! Black licorice?! No thanks!" Spike chucked the chair overboard.
Scooping the spat-out leg, Reef presents the piece for all to see. "Chewed it right off with no effort. You, my lad, are all that stands between total victory and complete defeat." He turns his attention to Twilight. "The cat fella may not know the dangers of that ship, but I do. How do you think the Storm King has subjugated so many nations so easily?" He directs a finger at the zeppelin. "Because of that thing; twelve overcharged arc emitters, twenty-four black powder thunder-rails, and six transluminal conductors, all of which can and have rendered entire armies dumb, deaf, and blind in one strike. And that's not mentioning the entire stockpile of bombs full of petrification gas in its bay, ready to rain down with a single lever pull. All of these armaments, encased in impenetrable obsidian, and now you have a clear picture of its unstoppable power.
But, we mustn't show our hand too early. The zeppelin has faced dragons before, it knows it is weak to their unique appetite and thus has special contingencies in place. It is able to switch its configuration between two modes, offense and defense. I've already described its offensive mode, its defense is what worries me. If it gets a whiff of Spike here, it won't hesitate to collapse its structure upon itself, covering the deck and all portholes, creating an interior vacuum. Once done, specialized gas charges all across its shell will detonate, plunging it into a bubble of stone-gas. It won't stop, won't relent until either Spike is petrified, or all of Canterlot is."
"Scorched earth." Psalms whispered to himself.
"You know an awful lot about this ship for an isolationist." Rainbow pointed out.
"I have spent a number of years traversing the world, seeking answers and opportunities to further our chances against the Storm King.
I also know there is a key component within the ship's bombing bay that should it be destroyed, would seal all gas valves throughout the ship, rendering its defensive mode useless and vulnerable. Then and only then, could Spike bring it down. We have one shot; once they realize our target, it's permanent turtle mode."
"One shot is all I need," Capper affirmed.
"So," Applejack began, directing her gaze to everycreature, "is that it? Y'all know the plan?"
"Yeah! Kick flanks and chew bubblegum! And I have plenty of gum!" Pinkie relayed as she stuffed her cheeks full of gum from who knows where.
"Alright, then, everyone back to their stations! We're almost there." Captain Celaeno ordered. The deck soon dispersed, leaving only Twilight and Psalms.
Psalms directed his view to the Castle, where a frown soon found itself on his face.
"Worried about Thomas and Sunset?" Twilight asked as she joined his side.
"Yeah... but not just them, I'm worried about... all of this... this plan... this zeppelin... our friends... none of this happened in the cartoo- um, I mean the premonitions." Psalms rested his head along the rail, "So much could go so wrong... so much has already changed, and whether we've made a difference for the better or not, I still can't help but think from time to time that we never should've gotten involved in the first place." Psalms released a sigh, "I just hope we haven't royally screwed anything up."
"Well, we won't know until after all this, but I'm glad you intervened. I was in a dark place when all of this started, and I'm afraid I would have made several mistakes if you hadn't been there to straighten me out. I'm glad to have met you both, Psalms. I'm happy to call you my friend." She flashed him a smile.
He flashed one in return. "Thanks, me too."
They stared at one another for a moment before Twilight hacked out a nervous cough. "Well, in any case, I think we should get back to your mana probing. Clocks ticking after all."
"Right, you said you could fix it; can you run the procedure by me again?"
"Of course. Essentially, I will snake small whisps of my magic through your unused leylines, tunneling throughout the system, creating new paths for mana to be channeled through, kinda like a construction worker digging ditches to lay new pipe. I almost finished when Canterlot was spotted, so as I said before, deep breaths, calm mind, and no movement."
Following Twilight's instructions to the letter, the itchy pervasive force from before begins anew, yet it was no match for the revitalized alicorn, who did not so much as flinch the deeper the probing descended.
Silence became the two's companion as the minutes passed, but eventually, the shimmering of Twilight's horn ceased as she released a sigh and dabbed away a trail of sweat along her cheek. "There...done."
Taking a moment to relieve the itch, Psalms ever so carefully directed mana into his horn matrix. Whereas force was needed to channel magic before, this time around it came as easy and naturally as flowing water. With mana coursing through his horn spiral, a new sense of power and control unlike any time before overcame his senses. Once the magic reached the apex of his horn, it bloomed outward in a blast of light and colors in a moment of involuntary control.
"Wow," Psalms breathed out, "it's like... it's like you popped my back. There was a pressure there I just couldn't overcome no matter how hard I tried and now... I can feel the magic coursing all throughout me, like a freshly stretched limb... it feels good, right, it feels..." Something caught Psalms' attention, a slight wavy movement just off the corner of his eye, but when he turned, it disappeared beyond his vision. "Twilight, what is..." and there it was, a strand of his mane, billowing in the wind with a touch of a shimmering aesthetic applied to it not unlike the two celestial princesses.
"I wasn't expecting that, but clearly my probing has worked." Off to the side, Twilight summoned a crate between the two. "Why don't we give your new mana levels a test; summon as many objects as you can from the box."
Following through with her request, Psalms sets his sights on the box, allows a small trickle of magic to leak from his horn, snakes it up and into the box, and gets a general 'sense' of the contents inside. Satisfied, he lets go of all inhibition and fully encapsulates the box with his mana. With an internal command, the objects are streamlined out from the container with a flair of elegance and control previously unseen by the alicorn. Once empty, the crate itself soon joined in the flow of movement as a figure-eight was formed in mid-air. A loop de loop was performed between the two alicorns as the objects came to settle within a makeshift pyramid figure back in the crate and with a *slam*, the opening was sealed shut with the wood panel.
"Woo!" Psalms cheered as he pumped a hoof into the air. "Did you see that!? All I did was picture everything in my mind and my magic followed it to the letter!? It was so easy, I'm not even winded!"
"In your own words, how would you describe the change in power?"
"It's like night and day, Princess. I'd compare it to...to like running. Before, I couldn't go one mile without collapsing exhausted, but now, I feel like I could run a marathon!"
Twilight let out a squeak as Psalms snatched her up in a hug. "Thank you, Twilight. I was worried I'd have to learn to do magic the hard way, or worse, that I would be stuck being that weak. I... all my life, my human life, I was always weak, in body if not mind. So again, thank you." Psalms released her with a smile, taking note of her small blush while doing so.
"I'm... I'm glad I could help." She smiled too.
A dash of wind tore through the two as Rainbow circled above. "Heads up, lovebirds, we're about to get into the thick of it!" She flicked her hoof to the side, towards the sound of thunder and battle.
Both alicorns were surprised to find themselves so near the siege without noticing until now, what with the booming claps of thunder that assaulted the air. "Any last-minute spells you can teach me!?" Psalms shouted to Twilight over the ruckus.
"Not with the time we have! Rainbow! Is everypony ready!?"
"As ready as they can be! The hippogriffs already left! Celaeno's dropping your group off now! Spike's gonna stay in the cargo bay until his debut!" She yet again flicked her hoof, this time indicating to Twilight's group which was gathering on the port side. "Better get moving!"
Twilight nodded before she and Psalms booked it on over. Joining the others by the rail, the edge of the city drew ever closer as the ship descended. From their distance, the devastation of the city was plain to see, but luckily, no beasts were in sight. Celaeno's ships ground to a halt as the hull plowed the earth, whereupon Grubber's green-painted beasts, dubbed Grubber's Green Knights or 'knights' to avoid confusion, were the first to hoist themselves overboard. Armed with repurposed shields and spears, they scanned the area for their loyalist brethren, and upon coming empty-handed, signaled the others to join them.
Applejack left a small crater as her heavy form impacted the cobblestone street. From under her hat, her eyes scanned the surrounding area, rope in her maw at the ready. With a giggling fit, Pinkie Pie pranced over to the knights, sparring not a glance around for danger, which earned her an eye-roll from the applecorn. Satisfied with her findings, Applejack stuffed the rope under her hat and joined the knights's side. With a flash of her horn, Twilight teleported before the group, leaving Psalms by his lonesome.
With a heave of a breath, Psalms unfurled his wings and kicked off the side, gliding away with the occasional pump of his wings. His little flight is concluded upon touching down, just short of the entrance into the building his group was using for cover. Upon reaching the doorway, Psalms sets his sight back on Celaeno's ship, which had quickly ascended and was beelining straight into the heart of the storm. Just as he turned to enter, movement was detected within his peripheral. Whatever it was, it was gray and wasn't any bigger than a dog, and it was gone by the time he took a greater look. Shrugging it off, he finally joined the group, right in the midst of an argument.
"An' Ah'm tellin' ya, Skystar said to wait at least twenty minutes before charging in," Applejack stated to Twilight, ears flickering at the insistent droning of thunder. Off in the distance by the castle, a hooting chant from hundreds of voices echoed through the streets.
"We don't have that time to spare." Twilight directed a hoof at the besieged castle, "They don't have that time either, we can't sit here and wait!"
"Magic or not, we can't fight an army with just us, sugarcube. Unless you can think of another plan, we have to sit and wait."
Twilight released a frustrated sigh, "I know..." She turned her gaze to the cracked windows, surveying the abandoned streets on the off chance of a solution. As lightning cascaded through the air, the shimmering light reflected off a pile of straps and chains. Twilight stared at the pile before directing her gaze unto the knights, then back at the pile. It wasn't long before a smile found itself on her face.
Five minutes later, the group finds itself traversing the empty streets towards the castle, with each pony being led by the knights while adorning chains. "Bold plan, Twilight. Let's hope it pays off." Psalms commented.
"Are ya sure putting us in chains and being led by Grubber's folks was the best idea, Twi?" Applejack eyed the knights with warry. "There ain't nothing stopping 'em from turncoating again."
"Every minute counts, Applejack. This isn't ideal, but it's all we got, and I...I trust the knights. I have faith."
"Uh-oh, party poopers at twelve o'clock," Pinkie announced as from out of the shadows, two squads of beasts emerged and flanked the group.
Stepping forward, the knight leading Twilight emitted several grunts and growls to the assumed leader of the beasts, motioning with its claws at the ponies in which it made several exaggerated gestures. Once the knight concluded its tirade, the lead beast's eyes shimmered only with suspicion. With a snort, it pointed its claw at Twilight. The knight's gaze reflected upon Twilight and the beast several times before relenting with an eye roll and a heavy sigh. With a tug of the chain, the knight ushered Twilight before the beast, which scrutinized her with glaring eyes. The knight released another sigh, whereupon it seized one of Twilight's wings and unfurled it before the beast. Unbeknownst to all, a trickle of nervous sweat dripped down the knight's forehead, a growing sentiment that was shared with the others as the beast's cold blue eyes remained fixated upon the wing. Eventually, the beast tore its eyes away from Twilight; instead setting it upon all the other alicorns. With a grunt, one wing from each alicorn was seized and presented before the beast. Their wings were released following another grunt, and once again the lead knight was under the narrowed eyes of the beast.
From out of the woodwork, more and more beasts crept from the shadows, bolstering the surrounding force which already was cramped to begin with. The knights shifted nervously; eyeing their loyalist counterparts with growing trepidation, their grips upon their equipment tensed with every passing moment. Several beasts, knights and loyalists alike, ever so slowly reached a claw into their grenadier satchels, their hides rippling with tension as they waited for someone, anyone, to make the first move, that is until one voice caught all attention.
"Wait, *huff* *puff*, w-wait just a sec, *huff* *puff*." trudging a line through the loyalists, Grubber breaks through to the front, only to collapse to his knees as he continued to gulp breaths down.
"Grubber? I thought you wer-"
Still clutching his knees, Grubber lifted his index finger, silencing Psalms. He heaved one more breath before straightening himself out, after which he plucked a cookie from one of his pockets and munched it down in one bite. "Wooh, oh that's much better." He spared a glance at Psalms, "Silence, pony! For you are my prisoner!" He flashed a wink. Turning to the beast holding them up, a series of grunts, growls, and howls were exchanged, ultimately ending with the beast and its cohorts reluctantly standing down. With a sharp exhale, the beast turned and beckoned the others to follow, at a distance of course. Psalms and his group proceeded unimpeded with Grubber proudly leading from the front.
Psalms checked over his shoulder, amazed at the lack of hostility directed their way. "Grubber, I thought you were staying on the ship, what changed?"
Grubber shrugged his shoulders. "Got hungry but there was nothing but bird slop. No thank you, I'd rather starve than eat that, and besides, friends don't leave each other hanging." Grubber flashed the group a smile. "Anyway, you're lucky I happened by; they were going to petrify all of you."
"What are they doing instead?" Pinkie asked.
"Taking us to Tempest," Grubber replied nonchalantly.
"What!?" Twilight exclaimed, gaining the attention of several beasts. Once they lost interest, Twilight leaned her head to Grubber's side. "That's the last thing we want." she sharply whispered.
"I know, but she's just outside the castle itself, and at this point, you won't be making any escape attempts without getting caught. Just stay close, and keep quiet."
The group did just so as they were escorted closer to the siege. The scars of battle were in an open display as they traversed the streets, along with several petrified figures, ponies mostly. The amount of damage the city accumulated within just a few days was staggering.
At last, the group found itself in the shadow of the castle, where hundreds of beasts lingered, watching wave after wave of their brethren storming the castle walls. The sounds of combat were almost as deafening as the chanting and shield beating, but not as much as the repetitive claps of lightning arcing overhead. Gathered within a corner of the courtyard, a line of chained ponies was dragged out. A few stubborn souls buckled their locks, but a few kicks into their side made them yield. Weaving through enemy forces, hundreds of blue eyes stared after them before continuing with their war cries.
A moment later, the group found themselves before a war tent where the lead beast entered before Grubber could instruct it otherwise.
"I told you beasts I wasn't to be disturbed!" The familiar voice of Tempest lashed out. A few growls from the beast were uttered. "For the love of... how many times must I say I don't understa-" The tent's flap was flipped open, "-nd you creatures!" She snarled at the beast, but soon her attention shifted to the opening before her where her jaw proceeded to slacken.
Taking the initiative, Grubber grabbed hold of the alicorn's chains and pulled them inside. "Thanks for the escort, you can go now." He stated to the lead beast upon passing it by. It was all too eager to dash out.
Tempest was a mess for lack of better words. Laid up on her side, her soot-covered armor reeked of burnt rubber, while her sunken baggy eyes begged for sweet dreams. Her fur was singed and charred, but most of all, her horn was lit, spewing out a fountain of sparks like a New Year's firecracker. The strained muscles and bulging veins visible on her forehead left little wonder as to the level of pain being afflicted.
"You!" Tempest seethed out as she directed her eyes Psalms' way. With Twilight by his side, he didn't know who she was addressing, both most likely. "...and you?" Tempest addressed uncertainly to Grubber, who offered only a wave in return. "How did you... when did you..." it was then that she took note of the other two alicorns present. "What!? Alicorns!? How!?" She turned back to Grubber, "How did this happen!? How did you of all creatures capture them!?"
"Oh, it was easy. I didn't."
Tempest was left flabbergasted by his remark if her face was anything to go by. "...What?" she simply asked, all energy having been drained.
Grubber sent Twilight a knowing look, who after exchanging looks with the others, stripped herself and her friends from their binds with a simple tug of magic.
Tempest only blinked at the display. "...What?" she repeated.
"Tempest, call off your armies, this doesn't have to end with a fight." Twilight pleaded.
"You think I have any control anymore!? None of this would have happened if you had just surrendered when I asked you from the start! Now your city burns, your castle crumbles beneath his might, and your citizens flee in terr-argh!" with clenching teeth, Tempest applies a hoof to the base of her horn, which flared with increased intensity. The pain is too much, and a scream escapes her lungs.
"What's happening to her?" Psalms questioned Twilight as the duo dashed to Tempest's side.
"She's undergoing mana burnout; she must've performed a taxing spell beyond her current level or capabilities. For the average unicorn, a moderate headache is to be expected, but for somepony like her, she could develop a brain aneurysm."
Tempest screamed out once more as both hooves clutched her temple.
"Well, can you help her? We can't leave her like this."
"I can certainly try." As Twilight leveled her horn to Tempest's, a hoof slapped it away.
"I don't need your help! This isn't my first rodeo!"
"Tempest, this burnout could kill you; please, I can help."
Tempest releases a derisive snort as she settles back into her cot. "As if. I've been to every doctor, every shaman, every priest, scientist, sorcerer, from Manehatten to Las Pegasus and beyond. They all said the same thing, 'Our bodies are delicate. Our mind is a mystery. Unicorn horns are both.'"
Psalms beckoned Twilight close with a hoof, and once face to face, raised a wing between them and Tempest before whispering away. "That scan you have of my leylines, can that be used to help Tempest?"
"Yes," Twilight nodded, "...in theory. Obviously, such an operation has never been done before, but with the use of prosthetic horns or keratin growth therapy, her matrix could be artificially reconstructed. But we certainly don't have time for something like that." She took a glance at the broken unicorn. "I can suppress her burnout, but that's all for now."
"Do it."
"If she'll let me." Psalms wing dropped, "Tempest, I can alleviate the burnout if you'll let me."
Tempest's brows scrunch together, "After everything I've done, why would you help me?"
"Because it's the right thing to do." Twilight simply replied. "Because it's not too late for you to fix all this, to end it here and now." She flicks her head at Grubber, "He and his beasts agreed to help defeat the Storm King; if he can change, so can you. Psalms said he saw good in you. I believe it."
"And because we can fix you." Tempest's attention swiftly shifts to Psalms, eyes rapt and ears at attention. "Despite what every doctor, wizard, or anybody else said, Twilight can fix your horn. That's the honest-to-God truth; isn't that right, Element of Honesty, Applejack?"
"Eeeyup!" Applejack hollered with an added nod of her head.
"I..." A slight spasm overtook Tempest before ceasing. "I don't believe you... it's too good to be true! After all the time I spent searching for help, you two are the ones with the solution!? Why didn't you say anything before, back on the ship!?"
"Because we didn't have a way to help you then, but I swear on my life, on my God, on everything good in the world, we can achieve your lifelong dream, we can give you your horn again!" Psalms takes her hoof into his, "Please, trust us. Trust me."
Tempest's gaze lingers on their hooves for a moment before it hardens as her hoof withdraws. "I've heard it all before. False promises and lies by swindlers and conmares. Your speech is a dime a dozen."
"Honestly, Tempest, I'd take the offer. Not like you have anything left to lose." Grubber commented, earning the ire of his former commander."
"Silence your tongue, traitor! AAArgh!" Another wave of pain hit Tempest like a train as she thrashed against her cot."
"Tempest, let me help you, please!" Twilight cried out.
"Aaargh! Fine! Help me! Aaargh... please!"
Twilight was already horn to horn as Tempest finished her pleading. Magenta intermixed with teal as her magic flooded the inner matrix, dousing the overcharged leylines and flushing the hole system one synapse at a time. It took a minute or two longer for Tempest's muscles to finally ease away and for the sparks to simmer to a halt.
Twilight's horn ceased, leaving Tempest to suck in a lungful of air as she stared at the ceiling. "...You can't imagine how long I have lived with the pain... I forgot what it felt like before..."
"I had to apply a mild sedative to keep the leylines relaxed, it should wear off in the next ten minutes."
Tempest reclined within her cot, eyes droopy but fixated on the group. "So... now what?"
"Now you eat," Grubber stated as he plopped an apple within the palm of her hoof. Tempest raised a brow. "Momma always said you got to replenish your fuel tank, especially if you overwork yourself to near collapse."
Tempest continued to stare at the apple for a moment before looking Grubber in the eye. "I understand them, but why are you being... nice to me? ...I never once showed you any favor..."
Grubber cupped a paw to his chin before offering only a shrug. "You never were nice to me... but then again nobody ever really was... you were someone I could talk to. Even if you ignored me most of the time, at least you acknowledged my existence by yelling at me, and let's be honest, you could have transferred me off ship anytime you wanted, you didn't need a translator to relay orders." Tempest stared at Grubber for a moment before turning back to the apple in her hoof.
Before anything else could transpire, A rumble shook the tent foundations and not a moment later, a pink ooze seeped through the tent flaps.
"What in tarnation?" Applejack questioned as she and Pinkie closed in on the substance.
Pinkie scooped up some of the ooze and before anyone could object, popped it right in her mouth. A pleased purr rumbled from her throat, "Mhm, strawberry!"
Just then, a storm beast barged right through the tent flaps, knocking Applejack and Pinkie away, and barrelled past the last two alicorns, ignoring them as it settled itself by Tempest's side, growling and grunting out a storm.
Grubber didn't need to be prompted. "It says they are taking artillery fire from the farside of the city center, and a rainbow ship is popping skiffs out of the sky. It's here to take you to a safer location by orders of the Alpha."
"Artillery? Ooh! They must've found Big Bertha!" Pinkie squealed out in giggles.
"Times up." Psalms stated as he and Twilight shared a look.
The beast shifted its gaze to the alicorns for a brief moment before turning back to Tempest... before finally releasing an alarmed shriek as its two brain cells connected the dots. Without warning it slammed a fist into Psalms' side before grabbing Tempest and hefting her onto its shoulder as it dashed out the tent flaps, howling in alarm while doing so.
"Ah horseapples, we've been made!" Applejack shouted as she and the others exited the tent, only to step into absolute chaos.
All around, pink splotches dotted the streets and buildings as beasts scrambled for cover, while the smoking remains of several airships littered the city. The distant boom of Big Bertha echoed through the alleys as confectionary cannon fire rained down. In the air, skiffs trailed smoke and flames as a rainbow blur blitzed through their condensed fleet, skewering gas bags or outright torpedoing herself right through them while remaining virtually unopposed.
Just outside the bubble, Celaeno's ship blasted away, tesla canons firing bolt after bolt of lightning that arced against the storm's edge, laying waste to all skiffs that dared to strike back, and those that successfully did were rendered mute by Rarity's shields, or Fluttershy's quick mending. If one took the time to look carefully, the harpoons of Capper could be barely seen impaling any balloons in sight.
Back on the ground, It's only a heartbeat later that the surrounding army takes note of the unchained ponies within their midst. Those most immediate close the gap. Shields are raised and spears are primed ready to lay waste to the ponies. Twilight erected a shield, covering all four of them, but with the combined might of dozens of spears aimed their way, there was doubt that it would hold. Just as the spears reached overcharged condition, all too suddenly the beasts found themselves enveloped within a familiar green gas, too little too late to do anything other than cry in alarm. Grubber's knights roared out a cheer as an entire semi-circle of petrified beasts lay at the pony's hooves. Their victory was short-lived as the air was soon clogged with spear fire from all directions.
"The castle, we need to get to the castle!" Twilight shouted out amid the battle. Grubber's knights were quick to utilize their petrified brethren as cover while dishing out spear fire of their own. It was then that Twilight realized one alicorn was among their numbers. "Pinkie!? What are you doing!?"
Deployed before her, Pinkie's party cannon was stuffed to the brim with all sorts of pastries, cakes, and other assorted sugary munitions. "Giving those meanies the greatest food fight the world has ever seen, Twilight! Big Bertha already has a head start so I cannot delay for a moment!" She turned to her side, "Is the cannon ready, assistant?"
"Locked, loaded, and ready to deliver the goods!" Grubber replied, licking his frost-coated fingers as he joined Pinkie's side.
"Fire!" Pinkie commanded. With the amount of food stuffed down the barrel, it fired out the equivalent of grapeshot into a charging column, taking down a platoon's worth of beasts in one shot.
"Pinkie's fine, Twi. We need to get moving." Applejack tugged on Twilight's shoulder, who reluctantly acquiesced.
The trio dashed through spear fire and smoke, foregoing all enemy encounters as they booked it for the nearest opening into the castle. The closer they inched themselves, the greater the fire concentrated upon their figures, enough so that upon reaching the exterior castle walls, Twilight's shield collapsed just as they dashed through a doorway.
"Consarnit, there's just too many of 'em." Applejack cursed out as a lance of spear fire narrowly avoided her cheek. "They're aiming to keep us bogged down. That just won't do. Twi, you and Psalms keep movin', I'll hold 'em here, cover y'all's rear." Applejack held a hoof up, silencing Twilight's protest. "Don't you worry none about me now, Sugarcube, they need y'all more 'an Ah do, now get going before they fish out them 'nades. Speaking of which, heads up!"
From atop one of the many balconies adorning the surrounding buildings, A beast had hurled a petri-nade with a trajectory straight for the alicorns below. Unfurling her rope from beneath her stetson hat, Applejack reconfigured its shape into that of a slingshot on the fly. Snatching the nade midair, Applejack proceeded to go all David and Goliath on the poor beast, whose petrified body lingered on the balcony after the nade was returned to sender. "Get going y'all, Ah'll deal with these varmints! Yeehaw!" Applejacked dashed back outside, whereupon her figure was lost behind a hazy smoke column. Twilight and Psalms shared one last look outside before closing the door shut, just in time too as a petri-nade impacted the doors, sealing the two within the castle for good.
"On your left!" Someone called amid the scuffle, but being too preoccupied bobbing and weaving with his opponent before him, Thomas relegates the warning to background noise, no different than the numerous grunts and clashes of beast and pony alike all around. A mistake he came to realize too late as a crushing force tackled his side.
The throne room was a mess of chaos, defeated beasts were scattered around as they adopted a divide-and-conquer tactic for the remaining pony holdouts, but this batch was proving far more stubborn and defiant than others.
Starlight and Sunset had teamed together to create the, quite literal, power couple; blasting away any who dared to take them on. With their combined might, nothing stood in their way; however, given the amount of time they and the others have spent fending off the beasts without respite, it isn't a surprise to see their power waning.
Sunset sure wasn't surprised when instead of shooting out a laser beam, her horn sputtered out sparks, which is when she called upon her geode's powers. She was fortunate to find the pendant in the same spot where she lost it, back when she teleported Thomas, Psalms, and herself by the river when everything first started. Magic, her magic, coursed through her leylines, refreshing the synapses and rejuvenating her fighting spirit. With a burst of golden light, she jumped back into the fight, taking on a whole squad by her lonesome.
Rampart, for his part, was in a three versus one ordeal, and yet could not wipe the smirk off his face. Surrounded on all sides, not a single bead of sweat dripped down his figure. "A three versus one, ey? Since you boys are at a disadvantage, I'll make things easy for you. No magic on my part." He beckoned them forth with a hoof.
It did the trick as with a growl a beast came charging, followed closely by the other two. Rampart simply side-stepped it while keeping a hoof out, tripping it as it passed by. The one that followed cuffed its fists together and swung down in a heavy pummeling move, but with a quick turn, Rampart used his moment to propel himself into the air and delivered a wide arcing roundhouse hoof kick across the beast's jaw, spewing several teeth and sending it twirling onto his previous foe, who had yet to clamber off the floor. Upon landing back on the floor, the last beast delivered a crisp punch into Rampart's cheek, but the Captain didn't so much as flinch upon being struck. Instead, he turned his eyes onto his assailant, appraising it with unimpressed eyes. "You call that a punch?"
The beast stood still for a moment, before hesitantly shrugging its shoulders. Rampart steeled his eyes as he stared it down. "Pathetic." Popping his shoulder and quick as a viper, the Captain delivered the mother of all uppercuts, sending the beast into the air. As it came down, he snatched its tail between his teeth and with all his strength, spun the creature until a full rotation was made whereupon he arced it overhead and slammed it down upon the other two. All three beasts wheezed out their breaths and did not stir afterward.
Meanwhile, sprawled on the ground, both of Thomas's opponents clawed at his hide and limbs, attempting to find purchase. For their efforts, one was gifted a primed buck to the face, where a harsh *crunch* echoed through the throneroom, and the other a poke in their eye courtesy of Thomas's crimson horn.
The eye-poked beast reared its head to the heavens with a cry as it furiously rubbed against its agitated peeper, while its companion collapsed onto its back with blood leaking from its nostrils. Flipping onto his stomach, Thomas hoisted himself off the ground and delivered a double-pronged buckshot into the beast's sternum, sending it careening straight into a marble column where it crumbled into slumber.
"AAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!" A voice screamed nearby and with a turn of his head, Thomas spotted the culprit. The blue wizard, Trixie if he recalled, appeared to be in the midst of fleeing but was snatched at the last moment by the scruff of her tail. Her legs furiously prodded forward but against the beast's grip, they did nothing more than scrape the floor. With a tug, the unicorn was pulled in off her hooves and was hoisted in the air, her face inches away from the beast's which snorted hot air out directly into her. "Ugh!" She clogged her nose with a hoof, "ever heard of a breath mint?" The beast's eye twitched before a roar erupted from its lungs, eliciting yet another scream from Trixie.
"Trixie!" Momentarily distracted, Starlight called out to her friend, only to earn a spear strike to her side, sending her rolling into Celestia's side with a grunt. Another shot was fired at her, but a unicorn guard with a pilfered shield intercepted and deflected the shot away before it could find its mark.
Rushing forward, Thomas latched his muzzle onto the arm hoisting Trixie, and applied all the pressure he could. The taste of iron was becoming too common for Thomas's liking. The beast, screeching in pain, dropped Trixie in an instant as it swung its arm frantically, a futile move as Thomas only clenched down harder. Proving to be inadequate, the beast ceased its flailing and instead started delivering crisp powerful strikes straight into Thomas's snout. That only proved to piss Thomas off more, and so he bit down harder. Then the beast targeted his eyes, which really pissed Thomas off, so he bit down even harder. Finally, it targeted his throat, latching its free claw around his esophagus, and squeezed as hard as Thomas was biting down.
The two stared each other down as both relented not, but with the urge for oxygen growing greater by the second, Thomas began to involuntarily gasp for air, thus allowing the beast to pluck him off its arm. It raised Thomas's gasping figure into the air and roared triumphantly, only to earn it a magic missile to the back.
"Take it down!" The voice of Rampart ordered just out of view. Turning to its newest foes, the beast charged into battle, flinging Thomas away while doing so.
While his vision was nearly blacked out, Thomas was able to make out the figure of the lunar sister closing in by the second, then the impact was made. What little breath he managed to gulp down was lost once again as he crashed into her shoulder, all momentum halted upon her immovable figure. Drooping down to the floor, Thomas cradled himself by her hooves as he called upon the amulet's magic to hasten his recovery, but the amulet was slow to respond. He knew he had been pushing the trinket to the limit as its power wained throughout the day, and he would gladly let it have time to recharge, but the constant wave after wave of unrelenting beasts was simply too much for it to keep up with.
Regardless, the amulet lit up once more, and although it was slower than he'd like, he could feel its power coursing through his veins and mending the many injuries he had accumulated. Not much more it can give without calling it quits... for the... day...
"...Thomas!"
Thomas jerked with the shout of his name. His bleary eyes soon adjusted and settled onto the figure of Rampart. "Had me worried for a second there, my Prince."
"...Wha... what happened?" Thomas rubbed at his crusty eyes.
"You lost consciousness for a moment there, Sir. Not to worry, the throneroom is secured, if only for the moment."
"That's what you said last time, and the time before that, and the time before that." Sunset droned on as she wiped a trail of sweat from her forehead. "I'm not sure we can last much longer like this."
"I'm surprised we've lasted this long at all," Starlight added as she limped into view, wincing every step of the way. "They just never stop coming, one group after another. Has anypony seen anything from Twilight's group? Any inkling that they made it back yet?"
Hoisting her front hooves onto the window sill, Trixie extended her head outside. "I can't make heads or tails of anything out there!"
Before anybody could respond, a rapid pounding upon the boarded doors of the throneroom reverberated out. Nobody moved a muscle as another series of pounding rang out, but as a third set of pounding began, a voice joined in, "Captain Rampart!? Are you there, sir!? It's Drill Sergeant Magnus! Open the gate, please! We have wounded!"
"Get that door open, double-time!" Captain Rampart ordered his retinue of unicorn guards, in which a chorus of 'Yes, Sir!' was received in turn.
Upon unlatching the deadbolt, the doorway burst open as a flood of ponies scrambled through. From nurses and wounded, to guards and volunteers, they stampeded from the hall in a crazed panic. From the rear, a handful of guards blocked the entryway with shields and spear strikes, but the multitude of enemy fire left them pinned in place, any who attempted to fall back were struck down.
"Seal it!" A command was given, from who was unknown but it was followed through without hesitation. Before the doors fully shut, the visage of the guards being overrun was presented before all. With a *Clank*, the lock was put in place, securing the room... for the moment.
"Drill Sergeant, Report! You are supposed to be defending the infirmary with the rest of the tertiary force."
"Aye, Sir, and I was, but a detachment of the nurse corp was ambushed mid-transit. First Sergeant Cinder and I took it upon ourselves to rescue them, but our path back was cut off, and we were forced to divert here."
Magnus cast his eyes to the floor, "We lost Cinder on the way, along with a good helping of our defense forces. The infirmary is not fairing any better." Magnus's eyes returned to Rampart, glistening with a hardened steel edge to them. "If we don't end this soon, they'll be overrun; it's guaranteed."
As the two royal guards conversed, Thomas was busy gathering strength as he chose to remain reclined at Luna's hooves. Many unfamiliar faces paced the throneroom, but one did catch his eye. "Well, I'll be." Clambering back onto his hooves he closes the distance. "Big Red? I didn't expect you to be here."
Big Mac turned to Thomas with mild surprise present before fading into indifference. "Eyup, same here, your Highness."
"C'mon man, none of that now, names Thomas." Thomas hefted a hoof for Mac. He would've preferred a handshake, but the times were strange.
Mac hoofbumped. "Big Mac. You might've already met my sister, Applejack, Element of Honesty, and you saved my little sister earlier, Apple Bloom. My family and I can never thank you enough."
"So long as they're safe, that's all that matters. Speaking of which, where are they?"
"Safe with my cousin, Apple Fritter."
"Yeah? Then what gives? What're you doing here instead of with her?"
"My duty as a brother is to protect her, and I could do that no better than by volunteering here, with ya'll."
"Huh... family means that much to ya."
"Family should for everypony. Whether by blood or bonds, through thick or thin, together always."
A resounding bang reverberated through the throneroom, earning the attention of all eyes and ears. Another bang rang out as the doorway bulged inwards with splintering cracks cascading throughout its frame.
"I think things are about to get thick in here all right."
"Static defenses on the double! Arrow formation! All non-combatants retreat behind the thrones! This may be our last stand!" Rampart barked, causing a slight panic among the volunteers with his last words.
"Captain, our flanks! They're scaling the walls!" One guard yelled out, pointing a hoof at the rear balcony entrances and along the broken windows where the outlines of beasts could be seen.
"We've got it covered, Rampart," Sunset announced as Starlight and Trixie joined her side, but the Captain shook his head.
"Negative, we need all heavy hitters on the line. To buy time, we are to funnel the enemy through the narrow opening and pepper them with ranged attacks while our unicorns provide overwatch. Casualties should be high on their side, but they have more than enough to spare so make your shots count. I'll hold the breaches, just focus on the front."
"Why don't we just stonify the doorway, or whatever; that'll hold them out, right?" Trixie questioned.
"Nothing short of petrifying every inch of this room will keep those things out. Make no mistake, Miss Lulamoon, one way or another, they will penetrate our sanctuary. I'd rather keep the door open than the roof collapsing on us, everything else I'll cover."
"You plan to hold all of them by yourself? You've barely had any time to rest!" Sunset protested.
"I have plenty of reserves to last us through-" The doorway bulged once more. "I can hold it, get into positions!" With his piece said, Rampart's horn lit up, establishing shield barriers along the windows and balcony entrances. It was not a moment too soon as beasts piled up along the barriers and began pounding away at them.
Situated near the front, the guards had assembled into a wedge defilade spanning from wall to wall, with storm shields providing cover, save the forward tip where Flash Magnus had propped up his own special shield. Between every gap was a spear primed and ready to unleash lasers.
"Alpha and Bravo teams, maintain posterior interception overwatch," Rampart ordered the two unicorn groups, which promptly receded from the frontlines and positioned themselves between the two rulers of Equestria. Their horns are primed and ready to intercept any petri-nades coming their way.
At last, the doorway is blown to bits, covering the breach in a shroud of dust, but not a second passes before it is dissipated by the sheer volume of beasts that come crashing through in a frenzy, enough so that a multitude of them are trampled by their own comrades.
No hesitation was seen nor was any quarter given as the defensive line laid waste to the first wave, tearing down beast after beast with a shot or two before focusing on the next one, and there was virtually no need to aim what with how condensed the mass of bodies before them was, like fish in a barrel. The lack of equipment present on the beasts did not escape notice, no doubt to prevent the ponies from procuring more supplies from the fallen. What limited weapons the ponies did have were stacked just behind each shield bearer, well within reach once a spear ran dry. And run dry they did; rather quickly, to no one's surprise, what with the endless tide of enemies pouring in.
On and on, they just kept coming; flooding the room with piles of unconscious bodies. The beasts were in a frenzy, giving no regard for themselves or each other, focused solely on breaking through the pony line. Eventually, the heavy hitters arrived, beasts wielding shields and spears coming in to turn the heat up.
And more poured in.
"Prioritize fire on the spear-bearers!" Magnus shouted over the chaos, "Line, prepare for combat!"
As the guard's fire shifted targets, the bare beasts charged the line unharassed. Claws met hoofs and shields as scuffles broke out across the room, but no one was in their element quite like Big Mac was. He didn't even bother to aim his quaking bucks and yet without fail, they'd find purchase upon the burly beasts.
And more poured in.
Situated on the throne dais itself, Trixie was running a special operation of her own. Attached with bags of glitter and sparkles, Trixie launched fireworks directly at the breach, encasing the onslaught of beasts in a shroud of eye-irritating particles. Perhaps not the most effective repellent, but they took whatever they could get. Where did the rockets and glitter come from? A magician never reveals her secrets.
And more poured in.
Positioned on either side of Thomas were Starlight and Sunset, the former of which sported a smoking horn and had opted to operate one of the spare spears lying around. Her marksmanship was second to none as she nailed spear-bearer after spear-bearer between friendly lines and through the mass of beast bodies, and when beasts wielding shields came within view, she fired overcharged shots, which proved more than adequate as their charge ground to a stumbling halt with each laser impact upon their shields.
And more poured in.
The latter of the two lit up like a star before opting for a 'best defense is a good offense' doctrine as she charged head-on into the storm, not without the protests of several others. Laying waste to the current wave of beasts, Sunset displayed her newfound magical prowess as she sent a wave of energy cascading through enemy lines, sending beasts flying away in all directions. She tore shields and spears from their owners and flung them back into friendly hooves, and the freshest wave of beasts didn't know what hit them as a barrier of magic pushed them straight on back from where they emerged. Just as it appeared that she would single-hoofedly turn the tide, a hail of petri-nades rained down upon her figure, and it was only due to a well-timed teleport that allowed her to escape a stoney fate.
And more poured in.
Having regained the initiative, the grenadiers barraged Sunset's every position. She along with every other unicorn worked overtime to intercept the 'nades; unfortunately, a scant few found marks other than their prioritized targets. Starlight's side bore the worst of it as several guards and volunteers were petrified on the spot, forcing Starlight to dive behind one of the few shield ponies left as what little allies remained dwindled before her eyes. "This is too much! We can't hold it!"
And more poured in.
"Left position is collapsing, Bravo team, move to reinforce!" Rampart ordered.
And more poured in.
Big Mac bucked with all his might. He bucked and bucked and bucked, but no matter how many he bucked, more kept coming, and so he bucked more and more until finally, his legs turned in their two-weeks notice, by which I mean the mother of all charlie horses hit him like a mule. A muffled cry barely escaped his tight lips as he was forced to retreat, leaving his position to reach its breaking in a heartbeat.
And more poured in.
With the last of her fireworks launched, Trixie threw at the beasts whatever she could pull out of her hat; a rabbit, a deck of cards, colorful handkerchiefs, smoke bombs... they achieved nothing.
And more poured in.
Shouting came from the rear as nurses attempted and failed to order their patients to stand down, but the injured, seeing the line crumble, forced themselves onto their hooves to assist, even if it meant buying a second at the most.
And more poured in.
Thomas was in the thick of it. Forefront, right next to Flash Magnus where the duo relented not, even as their flanks collapsed. He punched and kicked and munched and bucked and blasted away, and yet more poured in. More and more and more. His senses were overloaded; deaf from all the howling and blinded by an insistent rage, and yet more poured in.
And more...
And more...
And more...
Just as everything was collapsing, the line, the guards, the plan, that was when Rampart played one last hand. With a ripple of white energy, an all-encompassing force field washed away the beasts in a torrent. The foe Thomas was grappling with was pried from his hooves in a flash and dumped along with every other beast to the front where a shimmering barrier was all that was separating them from being overrun.
Left behind from the sweeping wave were the battered bodies of the defenders; many of which did not stir as the minutes ticked by. Those who did, deliberately lay where they were, gulping breaths down as their adrenaline crashed. What few spare nurses they had were quick to tend to their injuries. Sunset, for her part, was still standing, no surprise given her powered state. The same could not be said for anypony else.
"What happened? Are we stone yet?" Trixie asked from under her hat.
"Not If I can... can help it," Rampart replied with a wince. His immaculate figure wasn't much so anymore if the fountain of sweat dripping down was any indication. "I was really hoping we could hold out longer than that."
"What is this?" Sunset questioned, "Some kind of failsafe?"
"I just used the last of my reserves to conjure that... should buy you half an hour... after that, I'm depleted. You'll have to carry the slack from then on."
"Nopony will be able to carry anything in their current state, Captain." A nurse responded as she administered aid to one of the many fallen guards. "With all due respect, this battle is lost. If you can, I'd recommend contacting the enemy for a surrender."
"You can't be serious. Look at what they did to our Princesses," Sunset flicked a hoof to each one, "you want to negotiate with that?"
"We have to try!" The nurse's shout silences all. "Take a look around you; We are beyond lucky nopony has anything worse than a broken leg here. Any more attacks and we could be facing fatalities. As a nurse, that is something I cannot accept, especially when it's so needless." The nurse turned to Rampart, "You have fought valiantly, Captain, nopony will say otherwise, but please, for their sake, raise the white flag."
"I'd listen to her, you know." A male voice rang from the breach, one unheard by any before. Stepping through the opening, a lanky figure wielding a staff passed through the mass of beasts with reverence, not even a squeak or growl uttered as all bowed before him. "Because the eye of the storm is on you. Oh, that's good, I'll have to remember that one."
High in the heavens above, Rainbow Dash was having a blast. She tore through the air at Mach speed, leaving behind a rainbow trail wherever her figure blitzed to. Skiffs left and right and all around had no chance of landing a hit, so much so that any who foolishly attempted did more damage to friendlies than even Rainbow at times. At such speeds, every sharp turn was a guaranteed rainboom at will, which did a perfect job of dispersing and disorienting large swaths of skiffs in one go. Several sharp turns and rainbooms later, the swarm enshrouding the city had been swatted into disorganized makeshift fleets, perfect targets to be picked on by the pirates, and they did just so as all tesla cannons adorning their ship thundered away at easy pickings. Capper was a sharpshooter with the harpoon gun, nailing targets both close and far with pinpoint accuracy, and with enough ammunition for days, all he needed was a line of sight and to fire away.
Rarity's role aboard the ship was taxing but equally vital. Surrounded on all fronts by enemy fire, she opted to surround the vulnerable gas bag with maximum shield coverage as possible. There was no possible way she would have maintained such a feat in her unicorn form, but the boon that was the pearl magic allowed her to sidestep her limitations, if only for the day. A pity, oh how she'd love to flaunt her figure before every pony in Canterlot, maybe once all of this was done and over with, she could arrange a deal with Queen Novo for more magic.
Fluttershy shared a similar responsibility to Rarity and oh boy did she not enjoy it one bit. Everything happening around her was complete and utter chaos, and that's saying something considering her draconequus friend. Thunder and lightning intermixed in a cacophony of light and sound that left the poor mare blinded and deaf, that is until her alicorn healing factor kicked in and rendered the issue mute within seconds. Still, the stress she endured with every waking moment would put even a hydra out of commission. Regardless of how she felt or wanted, Fluttershy, the tough cookie that she was, put aside her fear and focused on her responsibilities entrusted to her, which consisted of mending any and all damage the ship sustained and extinguishing all fires, and let me tell you, there were a lot, much to her dismay.
Captain Celaeno, the fiery figure that she was, couldn't help but hold onto the feeling that she and her crew had bitten off more than they could chew. This sentiment was quickly squashed away once she recalled all that her pony friends had done for them; reclaiming their swashbuckling spirit back, fighting Tempest, and almost dying for them. If they did all that and asked for nothing in return, well this was the least she and her crew could do, and right now, to say things were hectic was a vast understatement; Celaeno and the Storm Empire had butted heads before, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd face off against the entire Storm Armada, and actually come out winning! Left and right, skiffs were set ablaze as her ship cleaved through their erratic formations, all thanks to their fellow prismatic pony. Smoke columns from dozens of wrecks across the city choked the air and left her eyes watering, but slowly, ever so slowly, the skiff's numbers dwindled to double-digit figures; a feat Celaeno had trouble wrapping her head around.
Coming about through a small covering of storm clouds, Celaeno was able to spot Dash tangoing with a group of five skiffs. Weaving through the bow of one, her horn tore an underside gash across the fragile envelope, leaking precious gas into the air as the skiff began an uncontrolled descent. Directly below it was another skiff that failed to yield divergent directions, causing a rupture of their own gasbag that imploded in a burst of fire. Panicking beasts aboard both ships jumped overboard as both wrecks crashed into the city below. Without strength in numbers, the airships easily fell from the sky. The three remaining skiffs bunched together into a combat formation but with the combined fire of Celaeno's tesla cannons and Rainbow's improvised cloud lightning, the electricity combined to create a greater arc that tore across all three vessels at once.
"That was awesome!" Dash exclaimed as she maneuvered to the starboard side. "Did you see the lightning jump from ship to ship!? It was so fast even I couldn't keep up with it!" She raised a hoof up, "Hoofbump me sis-"
*CRAK-BOOM*
From nowhere, a great strike of lightning impacted Rainbow Dash, sending her smoking body crashing next to Celaeno. "Rainbow!" She gasped out.
A groan escaped from the pegasus, "Ugh... where's the leak, ma'am?"
*CRAK-BOOM*
Another lance of lightning impacted Rarity's shield. Overwhelming pain flooded through her horn as she collapsed to the deck with a scream.
"Captain! Look!" Mullet called from the deck, finger pointed at the immense figure obscured by the city's smoke. The Storm Zeppelin lazily drifted down from the mountain peak, arc emitter cannons facing forward their way.
"Captain Celaeno!" Lieutenant Reef flapped himself aboard within the helm, "You need to pull your ship back!"
"Way ahead of you!" With the pull of a lever, the engines revved into action as fresh smoke belched from the engine ports, providing extra speed and doubling as a smoke screen, and none too soon as another arc emitter discharged away, missing their flank by a hair's width.
Sitting up on her haunches, Rainbow hacked out a few coughs, "*Cough*, *Cough*, ...What the hay? How did they hit me from that far away?"
"Their armament is efficient and their crew accurate. They will blow either of you out of the sky within moments of spotting you." Reef relayed.
"So, how do we fight back then?"
"As I said earlier, only Spike can truly defeat it. For now, we hide among the clouds and recuperate. Princess Skystar and the regiment will have to draw the zeppelin's attention long enough for it to prepare a bombing run. That is the moment we strike, for the component we must target is held within the belly of the beast."
"Wai-wai-wai-wait," Rainbow held her hooves out, "you want us, the baddest motherbuckers in the air, to sit this one out!?"
"For. Now. I doubt you're in any condition to go flying, and we need time for the right opportunity to present itself. We have one shot; we cannot afford to miss."
Stepping close to Rampart's barrier, the lanky figure tapped his gem-tipped spear against it. "You know, for a bunch of cutesy-wutesy itty-bitty little prancing ponies, you've put up more of a fight than the last five-, no, six nations I've conquered combined! Isn't that just sad?" He tapped the force field again. "Then again, they didn't have power like this, did they?"
"Storm King, I presume?" Rampart deduced.
"No, the name's Sabretoot-, of course I'm the Storm King! Haven't you seen my merch hitting the stores? Conquering the world is expensive, let me tell you." The Storm King released a frustrated huff.
"Speaking of which, you and your little buddies have been a thorn in my side; luckily for me, I have some 'delicate' help." He finished with two taps of his staff to the ground.
Before anyone could decipher his meaning, the roof caved in. Ponies scrambled away from the falling debris, but with Rampart being in the center of it all, he conjured a small barrier over him instead. A mistake he would realize as instead of rubble, clawed feet impacted next to him.
As the dust shroud dissipated, standing before them all, was a familiar bulky figure, clad in gold etchings adorned on both armor and hide alike. The Alpha took one look at Rampart before snatching his entire face in the palm of its claw. Raised into the air, Rampart bucked and punched with all his might, but the Alpha's grip was iron-clad.
Sunset primed an overcharged shot straight for its wrist, but the Alpha had a trick up its sleeve; it brought up its forearm of which a gauntlet of metal and crystal was fastened. Sunset's magic was absorbed into the gauntlet, channeled through the crystal, and dispersed into the Alpha's claw tips. Extending its claw forward, Sunset's shot rebounded to her chest, sending her flying into Cadence's figure where a sickening *Crunch!* echoed through the hall. Her figure collapsed to the ground unmoving. Trixie screamed in alarm as Starlight dashed over to her, but try as he might, Thomas's legs refused to stop shaking as he attempted to rise off the ground; calling upon the amulet proved futile as it was long overdue a recharge.
Turning its attention back to Rampart, the Alpha swung its arm straight down, slamming the Captain hard enough to crack the marble flooring. His shields flickered briefly, eliciting howling and war cries from all. Seeing this, the Alpha primed its free claw into a fist, aimed for the horn, raised it high, and launched it with all its strength; but it was for naught.
Just as the Alpha launched its fist, Sunset's geode flashed into a blinding light that illuminated the room in a brilliant radiance, causing the Alpha to strike the space next to its target instead. Rising in a golden orb of aura, Sunset was subject to a rejuvenation akin to that of a phoenix as her injuries and dirty appearance were burned away, leaving her figure immaculate and refreshed. To finish her 'pony up', her geode's magic coalesced across her back, collecting together and amassing into two transparent wings.
When her eyes opened, they glowed with blinding fury as they set their sights upon the Alpha, and with a flap of her new-found wings, she rammed straight into the beast, sending them both crashing into the force field, causing it to once again flicker. Restraining her target in place, Sunset unleashed a stream of magic directly into the beast's face. Even with her second wind, the Alpha proved a formidable foe as it ever so slowly brought its gauntlets forefront despite Sunset pouring all her strength into keeping them pinned down.
Upon intercepting Sunset's magic, the energy was transferred into the Alpha's claws, allowing it to unleash the hijacked assault back at Sunset, forcing her to retreat. With a little juice to spare, the Alpha unleashed another set of blasts at Sunset. Despite her best efforts to evade, the last shot clipped her transparent wings, sending her into a dive below.
Leveling herself at the last second, Sunset found herself skidding to a halt, but the Alpha was upon her in a flash as it bounded on all four. Dashing to her right, Sunset narrowly escaped the ground-pound aimed her way. Rolling with her momentum, she propelled herself back into the air, and upon seeing the Alpha struggle to pull its claw from the marble, she conjured a mana bracket and secured the Alpha's limbs down.
Pinned in place once again, Sunset unleashed a hail of mana bolts across its hide, but she was completely ignored as the gauntlets absorbed the bracket. Upon breaking free, the Alpha grabbed chunks of marble and hurled them at the pseudo-alicorn who deftly dodged them. Taking high into the air, Sunset snaked her magic onto every shield, spear, and sizeable piece of rubble where she proceeded to bash, stab, and pummel the Alpha from all directions. Taking cover behind the sun princess, the Alpha surveyed the area for a countermeasure, but a scream tore from its lungs when a lance of overcharged energy blasted its face. Spear igniting with another overcharged shot, Starlight retreated between the thrones upon noticing the Alpha focusing on her.
Upon chucking a piece of rubble, the Alpha dashed on all four, sidestepped Sunset's attacks, leaped onto the dais, and yanked the spear from Starlight's grip before backhanding her away. Just in time too as the spear reached its overcharged state. Instead of firing away, the spear was torn in two, destabilizing the battery into a meltdown. As the Alpha chucked one part of the spear at Sunset, it intentionally delayed the chucking of the other, observing Sunset's evasion in a spiral dive before throwing the other piece directly in her flight path.
The point-blank concussive force of the blast sent Sunset's smoking form cratering. She was slow to stir from the impact, but the outline of the Alpha approaching through the dusty haze spurred her into flight once more. Unfortunately, it was then that the Alpha unleashed the pent-up magic within the gauntlets, pinning Sunset into the wall with her mana bracket.
"Will you please quit toying with your pony and end this game already? I'm ready to get this storm started! Oh, hey that's pretty nice, I should trademark that." The Storm King tapped the floor, impatience written all over him, "Chop, chop!"
Stepping before the mare, the beast seized both claws upon Sunset's horn, siphoning away the geode's power and leaving the depowered mare collapsing to the floor for good this time. Turning its sights upon the Captain, the Alpha kneeled before his figure, channeled Sunset's magic into its fist, and struck Rampart's horn, fracturing it to pieces.
Unconstrained magic bled into the air, stripping away his shield barriers and force field from all entry points, allowing a flood of beasts to storm in.
Thomas had no energy to fend off the multitude of claws and shackles filling his vision, and once he was secured, they dragged his body and dumped him at the feet of the Storm King. Within the corner of his eye, a line of chained ponies was marched away, Starlight, Trixie, and Big Mac chief among them. Seized by the throat, Thomas was face to face with the one who started it all.
"You're still moving? Why are you still moving? Why is he still moving?" He directed the question to the Alpha as it joined his side. "Tempest!" She did not respond back, forcing a groan from the King. "If you wanna do something right, do it yourself. Here!" The king hefted Thomas into the Alpha's arms, "Put him in place, and let's get this over with."
Deposited within the empty corner of the pictogram, the Storm King aligned the base of the staff with the center and plunged it into the groove. The pictogram illuminated with a blue glow as it extended to cover the entire sketch. Once completely lit, the pull of a powerful force tugged upon Thomas's leylines, siphoning away every bit of magic held within as his horn lit up, dispelling his innate magic into the staff along with the magic of the petrified princesses. As the last of it slipped away, Thomas's vision grew hazy as something deep inside stirred, but the lull of slumber proved too great as his mind retreated into darkness.
Psalms felt it, everybody did. A static discharge in the air as magic was vacuumed into the staff, with the physical manifestation displayed as blue lines racing away to the throneroom, giving pause to all as they watched it slither away. The peace did not last as spear fire resumed pinning the two alicorns in place.
"What was that!?" Twilight yelled over the sounds of their battle.
"That was from the staff! The Storm King has the alicorn magic!" A lance of spear fire narrowly missed his head, forcing him to duck once more. "Let's deal with these beasts already, we have no time to waste!"
She sent a nod his way before peaking from her column cover. Blocking the way forward was a group of eight beasts, four of which had spears in claws, keeping them pinned as the other four steadily closed the distance. Spotting a Chandileer directly over the ranged beasts, she conjured a sharp arc of mana straight for the stem. Her move did not go unnoticed as two of the beasts followed her magic, witnessing her intention before diving away from the point of impact, leaving the other two squashed.
As the other four pushed forward, Psalms primed his horn for an attack, the first time doing so since his leylines were flushed anew. The rush of power was exhilarating, making him feel light as a feather. Once fully primed, he leaned over the side, aimed his horn, and let-a-ripped. His beam struck hard and true, faster and stronger than any other beam before as one single primed blast sent the beasts flying. Such a power move was still taxing, but Psalms knew he could spare more than a couple of shots without collapsing exhausted this time around. And he did just so as enemy reinforcements flanked their rear, blasting the beasts left and right without breaking a sweat. As one of the beasts chucked a petri-nade his way, a new overwhelming instinct to shield himself manifested a mana bubble, deflecting the nade upon impact.
For the last two beasts with spears, Twilight took to the air, overshadowing the duo before freezing them on the spot with her crystal infusion spell. "Come on, Psalms! The throneroom is just beyond this hall!" Bucking open the doors, Twilight was forced to pause. Perched against a broken window pain was a skiff, ramp extended with pony prisoners being loaded aboard.
"Twilight!" Starlight shouted from the corner where she along with Sunset and Rampart were caged together. The other two unicorns stirred not from their spots.
Gaining the attention of the beast retinue, they charged the princess. With a *Pop*, Twilight teleported herself and Psalms amidst the prisoners, freeing them with another *Pop* as the shackles disappeared. A little whimper escaped the beasts as they now found themselves outnumbered four to one.
As the guards dogpiled the enemy, Twilight and Psalms dashed over to Sunset, but she waved them off with a hoof. "Forget about us, get in there and stop the Storm King!"
"Bu-" Twilight didn't get farther than that as Starlight yelled once more.
"GO!"
The two alicorns burst through the throneroom doors. Before them is the tyrant that started it all, and within his grip, one familiar crimson alicorn. The tip of the spear crackled with electricity as it was digging into his stomach before suddenly-
*CRAK-BOOM*
"Woah mamma! Look at that glow!" Exclaimed the Storm King to the Alpha as he swirled the staff in the air, unknowingly producing a small tornado while doing so. "You gotta be kidding me, one little twirl and I can create a twister? Oh I have to see what else this baby-"
"Infelix bestia, audes a me deserere carnem meam? "
The words were croaked out from the sole animate pony remaining whose crimson eyes leveled a malevolent stare at the two. Joints cracked and popped as he shifted his lethargic self into a standing position, eyes never leaving that of the Storm King's.
"Fervebit sanguis tuus, et caro tua lanulat, ut damnatione aeterna te damnem. " the words were purred out, sending a shiver down Storm King's back
"Alright, now you're creeping me out, which is totally ruining my mojo right now." He seized the alicorn by the throat, yet it elicited no reaction. "I don't like your words, magic mare." The Alpha cupped a claw to Storm King's ear and whispered away. "This is a guy? How was I supposed to know that, you know I don't bother with anything cute."
Spit was ejected from the alicorn's fanged grin, coating the wannabe yeti's face and leaving him a sputtering mess. "Mundus te timet. Horror verus est adhuc futurum. "
"Alright, that does it!" The spear's tip is jammed into his stomach. "Let's see what this staff can really do." The gem flared with magic and lightning, and even as the doors burst open, their eyes remained fixated on one another, until-
*CRAK-BOOM*
The alicorn was ejected straight out of his paws and through the window, free-falling below.
"Thomas!" someone shouted as a dark blur crashed through the same window, falling after the other.
Turning to the origin of the shout, another free pegacornicuses was standing before him. "Another one? Just how many of you are there?"
"I'm all that matters right now, Storm King, and as the Princess of Friendship, I want to give you a chance to-" The Storm King dramatically groans out loud.
"Ugh! All you ponies do is yap, yap, yap!" He mimicked her with the flapping of his phalanges. "Haven't I made it abundantly clear what I aimed to achieve here?" He pointed a finger to the opening in the roof, particularly at the zeppelin lazily hovering by as it descended closer to the city, armaments firing away at Skystar's resistance. The flash of its firepower illuminated the decrepit room. "Does that scream peaceful diplomacy to you!? Get with the program already! I conquer, you surrender. Then we can all go on with our lives selling my merch for 14.99 a piece!"
Twilight's horn flared with power. "This isn't a joke, Storm King!"
The staff lit up with energy. "Neither is taxes!"
The throneroom was bathed in the light of their clashing magic.
A sudden jerk tore at Thomas's consciousness, ripping him away from La-La land. Before his eyes was the exterior of the castle with him slowly circling to the back. Below was a skirmish of beasts upon... beasts? And Applejack fought with them?
...Wait, how was he seeing all this from the sky?
...Oh right, he was falling.
Thomas's eyes grew three sizes at that moment and he couldn't help his flailing and kicking that followed, much to his savior's chagrin.
"Thomas! Thomas stop! It's me! You're gonna make us both fall if you don't stop kicking a fuss!"
Thomas ceased his panicked movements as his body went limp. "...Ps-Psalms? ...What took you so long?"
"Trust me, bro, we came as fast as we could."
"...This... this isn't anything like the movie... is it?"
Psalms couldn't help the laugh that left his lungs. "Not even close."
Touching down in the middle of the semi-circle of petrified beasts, Psalms released Thomas's lethargic figure. Around them were the figures of friend and foe duking it out, with Pinkie and Grubber manning her pink canon as Applejack plowed row upon row of beasts. Oh, and they both were alicorns now too. Neat. "Don't worry. Twilight and I, well, mainly Twilight, will fix this. We have to."
A burst of magic surged from the balcony above, its radiance bathing the city in showers of blue and magenta alike. "I gotta go, just stay here, you'll be safe!" With a surge of power filling his wings, Psalms dashed through the air and straight onto the balcony, disappearing beyond the rails.
A flicker of movement was caught within Thomas's peripheral, whereupon he caught the faintest glimpse of Tempest's hide entering the castle.
Sprinting through the balcony entrance, Psalms is witness to Twilight and the Storm King dueling with clashing mana beams with neither having given any ground. Just as he channeled magic to intervene, a swift hard-as-stone kick into his side sent him flying. Upon impacting a marble column, he lost all his breath as he slid to the floor.
The Alpha leaped from the dais, feet aimed at the alicorn who narrowly avoided being crushed when he rolled to the side. Horn overcharged, Psalms fired upon the beast, but it raised a gauntlet up, and before Psalms knew it, the Alpha shot a beam of its own straight from its hand, impacting his chest and sending him hurtling once more.
"What the...?" Psalms coughed out before clambering onto his hooves. He barely got his footing back when he noticed the beast darting to him on all fours, panicking the alicorn into an early retaliation. Opting for a 'quantity' rather than 'quality' approach, Psalms discharged three mana bolts at the charging beast. It in return dodged to the side with the first, brought up a gauntlet for the second, and leaped over the last as it lunged with a magic-powered ground-pounding fist. Psalms took to the air as the beast made impact, and could barely maintain course as the magic sent a shockwave of energy as it dispersed.
With all the energy he could muster, Psalms plucked one of the marble columns adorning the hall and hefted it within his telekinesis, albeit with some struggle. Raising its far end like a hammer, the Alpha made for one very enticing nail. The castle trembled with each impact the column made, but none struck true as Psalms' sluggish strikes were trivial for the Alpha to dodge. It in turn snatched a handful of rubble chunks and began pelting the alicorn where he flew. Changing tactics, Psalms swept the pillar across the floor, its surprising speed catching the Alpha on the side. To his shock, the Alpha braced itself and dug its clawed feet into the stone floor. The beast was barely nudged upon impact, enough so that the pillar was torn into two. Quick to act, Psalm pivoted his remaining pillar chunk back into the Alpha's other side, squishing the beast between the two where it let out a roar of pain. Pinned in place, Psalms focused his mana onto the gauntlets themselves, hoping to pry them away, but he was once again bewildered to find his strong telekinetic grip instantly slackening upon making contact with them.
Repurposed into raw power within its claws, the Alpha repulsed both pillar chunks away with Psalms expended magic. It let out a roar of fury upon being freed.
"The gauntlet absorbs magic, turning it against you!" Starlight shouted beyond Psalms' shoulder as she peeked through the breach. "It took all of Sunset's magic and she was supercharged!"
"Really?" A terrible idea entered Psalms' mind; beyond risky, but with his newfound magic reserves, it might be the only one. "... I wonder how much it can take...time to find out!"
Pouring everything he could into his horn, every iota of mana across his figure, from the tips of his hooves to the end of every strand of hair, it flared with a fury of a thousand meltdowns as it bubbled and sparked with the scarcely contained energy. Sweat dripped from every pore, as the temperature rose with every passing second. At last, all the pent-up energy was released in a dazzling display of colors as it raced away directly into the Alpha gauntlets. The efficiency of absorption from the trinkets was an impressive display of craftsmanship, too bad its internal storage capacity was rather limited, or else Psalms would've made a critical mistake, supercharging an enemy like the Alpha with alicorn magic.
Instead, a blaring buzzing siren rang from the devices as the last of Psalms magic entered them. It crescendoed as mana leaks burst from the outer casing, dispelling raw magic back to its owner. The Alpha began to panic as it tore at the devices, squealing in addition as smoke and flames sputtered into existence. Crackles of energy spazzed out wildly, zapping the Alpha into a soot-covered mesh, before finally, the gauntlets gave in and combusted in an implosion. Raw magic cascaded out in snaking trails as they slithered back to their master, rejuvenating him to a degree. As the smoke cleared away, all that remained of the Alpha's presence was a smoking hole to the outside.
Collapsing to his knees, Psalms was left breathless, but victorious. Casting his eyes on the other two duelers, he was witness to Twilight's beam completely overpowering that of the staff's, much to the detriment of the Storm King if his panicking face was anything to go by, at the cost of much strain to the mare herself. "Twilight, stop! You're overdoing it, just yank it away!"
"I... I can't stop! The staff... it's absorbing my magic!"
"It is?" The Storm King took a quick glance at the staff, finding no resistance or strain applied to it. "Haha! It is! Er, I mean, of course it is. It's mine and I know how it works after all."
Before Psalms could attempt it himself, Starlight leaped into the fray, dashing to the Storm King's flank as she applied her magical grip onto the staff, tugging for all her worth, but her magic soon joined Twilight's in being swept away.
Dashing forward himself, Psalms latched his jaws around the staff itself, pulling with all his might as he and the yeti battled it out in the world's most pivotal game of tug of war. With each tug this way and that, the two grunted and growled with increasing fervency as their muscles rippled with power, fighting for dominance.
Finally, the last of the mare's magic was siphoned away, leaving the staff to emit a small blinding flare of light that caught Psalms's eye, long enough not to see the kick coming his way. His jaw cracked upon impact, leaving spittle and blood to spurt out as the Storm King delivered a haymaker into his cheek, spinning the alicorn until he fell on his stomach with his eyes spinning wildly until finally settling, allowing him a view of the war-torn city and the zeppelin wreaking havoc outside.
"As I said before, you ponies have put up more of a fight than most other countries." His foot stomped onto Psalms' back, driving out what little breath he managed to regain. "And those few who did, well, I made examples of." The pressure increased, leaving Psalms gasping. The Storm King leaned down, whispering away into his ear. "And your country will be no exception." With that said, The Storm King raised his fingers to his mouth and blew out a long and piercing whistle that reverberated across the city.
Skystar's diversion had worked out well, too well in fact as she and her retinue of guards had become pinned within one of the many city centers of Canterlot. Surrounded on all sides, her forces had used every available means and tactic to draw the enemy zeppelin their way, and they were successful, seeing as how they bore the brunt of its wrath, but the cruelty of the Storm Army knows no bounds as instead of storming their position and taking prisoners, the beasts instead lingered on the very edge, whooping and hollering with glee and cheer as they allowed the warship to unleash the full might of its weaponry upon the helpless resistance.
Arc emitters discharged away, electrifying groups of hippogriffs too bunched up to prevent the current jumping from being to being. Black powder thunder-rails rained down concussive forces, rupturing eardrums and leaving them disoriented. Last were the transluminal conductors, sweeping blinding rays through her ranks, leaving them open to further attacks, repeating a never-ending cycle of combat.
That is until a sharp piercing whistle filled the air, ceasing the beast's insistent hollering and halting the zeppelin's attack. For the first time since they arrived, tranquility filled the air, but it wasn't meant to be as a thundering trumpet blared away, its origin pinpointed at the zeppelin. The zeppelin continued its lazy drift toward them, but its guns remained silent. Instead, with a burst of steam, the bomb bay doors popped open, filled to the brim with petri-bombs, at long last presenting what Skystar had been hoping to see all along, the Achilles heel.
"Hahahaha! Now look upon your city, and watch with despair, as I show you firsthand why I am feared all across the world! Once I render this place to stone, all shall forever know the might of the Storm Ki- is that seriously a rainbow balloon?"
Steaming in at full speed and more, Celaeno's ship came hurdling down from the clouds above. It zipped past swarms of skiffs with no resistance, and those few who gave chase were popped by a small rainbow blur. The airship swooped in low enough to clip the tops of several houses, and just as it neared the zeppelin's bow, it dropped anchor, pitching it into a steep angle directly facing the zeppelin's innards. Not a second later, the shape of a small harpoon was ejected into the opening, and a rupture of flames erupted out of the warship's bowels, clogging its pipes and shutting all but the reserve ventilation systems.
Then the winged demon was unleashed. Bursting from the pirate ship's cargo ramp, Spike, in all his fearsome glory, belched out a stream of green flames across the zeppelin deck, sending many figures scurrying away into its depths as a siren blared away. Within a minute, the zeppelin collapsed itself into its defensive mode, but with all exterior ventilation compromised, Spike was left unharassed as he sunk his razor-sharp teeth-filled maw into the petrified coating. Chunks of material were torn away with every bite, and it wasn't until Spike reached the vulnerable center that his maw sharpened into a razor-thin grin. Tearing a hole into the thin fabric, Spike huffed and puffed and blew out a jet of flames deep into the gasbag.
Instantaneously, the shell ruptured into a million pieces, leaving the main body to free fall into the city streets, luckily it was only a short distance to the ground. Landing on the zeppelin's corpse, Spike roared into the heavens, a cry of triumph that left all foes who witnessed quaking. Setting his fierce sites on the beasts lingering before him, Spike took to the air once more, shooting plumes of fire over the now fleeing beasts filling the streets.
This was it. Their spirit broken, their trump card destroyed, beasts all across the city began to retreat in all directions. Dropping spear and shield alike, those battling against Applejack and Grubber's knights turned tail and ran, whimpering every step of the way. Skiffs throughout the sky ceased the belching of smoke and storm clouds as they ascended above the cloud layer. The Storm King, for all his pizzaz and boasting, was left dumbstruck at the site of his army crumbling.
"It's... over." Psalms wheezed out from under him, picking his head slightly to stare him in the eyes. "You've lost."
The King stared at him with wide eyes, before a low guttural growl echoed from his depths as he picked Psalms up by the scruff of his hair, earning him a shout of pain in return. "Lost? I NEVER lose. I am the STORM KING!" Psalms was ejected towards Twilight and Starlight's lethargic figures. "You think this little setback means anything? Who needs an army when I have this!" He jammed the gem-tipped spear into Psalms' gut, siphoning away his magic in one fell swoop. As the last of the magic left him, Psalms collapsed back to the floor, exhausted beyond any lack of sleep. "The ability to harness any and all power in the world, with a mere touch! No runes, no etched engravings, no incantations needed. With yours and theirs-" Storm King swung his staff to both Celestia and Luna's still forms, in turn causing the sun and moon themselves to flicker across the sky, a detail he did not fail to miss. "-magic... I can control the sun and moon? Hahaha! Of course, I can! I can control the very world itself!"
"The sun and moon are a very delicate system. You can't just bend them to your whim without facing consequences for everypony across the world!" Twilight stated.
"Who cares what you think!" He zapped a bolt of energy at her, only for Psalms to jump in the way, tanking it in her stead with a grunt of pain. His limp figure was deposited into Twilight's hooves. "I have the power of a god! I can do anything!" His eyes set themselves on the three lowly figures before him as his staff crackled with energy. "And I don't care to converse with pathetic mortals like you any longer." His staff crackled with unparalleled power, reaching critical levels within seconds. He leveled the tip at the ponies, ready to unleash all on them.
"Think fast, chucklenuts!"
"Huh?" was all the Storm King could mutter before Rainbow dashed a knuckle sandwich into his cheek at Mach speed. His figure was spun in place several rotations before collapsing to his knees, but still, he remained conscious, a feat Rainbow Dash didn't consider possible with her move.
"Wow, this guy is no pushover, unlike his minions."
"You'll pay for that!" The Storm King roared.
"Catch me if you can!" Dash mocked as she spun circles around the King, who in turn spammed a storm of magic bolts through the air.
"Stand still!" He roared once more, but Dash cared not for his words. Little more than a rainbow blur, Dashed shoulder checked the King numerous times, delivering swift kicks and punches across his figure, but doing little more than ticking the tyrant off. "Enough!" He shouted as he pointed the spear to the sun, summoning a blinding ray of light that engulfed the room entirely. It did its job perfectly as Rainbow grunted in pain upon colliding with Celestia's stony figure. Ceasing the blinding light, the Storm King did not waste a second to fire an overcharged shot at Rainbow who could only stare with wide eyes, but it did not strike true as it was deflected by a diamond-shaped shield manifesting around Rainbow.
"Sorry for the wait, girls, but knowing me, you couldn't expect anything less than fashionably late, now could you?" Rarity quipped as she, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack joined the party.
"Enough of this! Yer beat!" Applejack exclaimed with a flair of her nostrils.
"Nothing's over till I'm done with the lot of you!" Thrusting the sun into the horizon, the moon crested the sky. Swinging his staff to them, a stream of shooting stars cascaded down. Fluttershy was quick to snatch Twilight's group to the side, safe and away from danger, while Rarity conjured a dome around herself and Applejack. Pinkie disappeared in a shower of confetti and Dash took to the skies once more. The shooting stars assaulted the alicorns with precision and numbers, leaving Rainbow barely untouched through her speed alone.
Raising the shield dome above their heads, Rarity provided Applejack ample coverage for her to buck chunks of debris at the King, forcing him to dodge which momentarily ceased the barrage of stars.
"He needs to concentrate to direct the stars!" Twilight relayed to the others, earning nods of acknowledgment in return.
"Hey, Kingy! Over here!" Pinkie shouted away as she flailed her limbs wildly in the air. Seeing nothing more than an easy target, Storm King directed a stream of stars her way, only for her to pop into a shroud of confetti. "No silly, I'm over here!" Spinning on his heel, Pinkie was found atop the throne dais, having moved from one side of the room to the other in a split second. A growl escaped his throat as he sent another wave of stars her way, only for her figure to become obscured by a cloud of confetti once again. A tap on his shoulder caused him to turn, whereupon he found the pink alicorn right in his face. "Surprise!" She shouted as confetti exploded point-blank. He didn't have time to register what happened as Dash decided just then to deliver an uppercut. It was a surprise indeed.
Howling in rage, the staff was twirled in the air, creating a great vortex that morphed into a storm cloud, filled to the brim with electric power. Lightning infused itself into the staff's gem, solidifying his control over the squall. Thumping the base of his staff to the floor, a wave of lightning struck all at once, forcing the girls to duck and cover under Rarity's dome. Adding their own magic to it, the barrier shimmered with varying colors as magic and lightning fought for dominance and destruction.
The last of the electric current subsided as the cloud's juice was depleted, leaving the girls be as they prevailed. "Now it's our turn!" Rainbow remarked as she zipped straight for the staff, hooking her limbs around it, and lifted with all power coursing into her wings as they furiously flapped themselves to the sky.
"No! You won't take my power away!" The Storm King screeched at her, mouth frothing with malice.
A whipcrack of Applejack's lasso was heard as it tangled itself upon the staff. "Just watch us!" She muttered through her rope-filled maw. Her muscles tensed with strength as she pulled with all her might.
Rarity did her part as she seized one of his claws into a bubble, yanking its grip off and away from the staff.
Pinkie simply lodged her teeth around the staff's body and started shaking herself silly, like that of a dog.
For all his strength, The Storm King could not maintain his hold as one finger was released, then another, leaving his thumb the only anchor remaining. This was unacceptable. All the power in the world, and it would be some little itty-bitty pretty ponies that would undo his life's work. His pupils shrunk as an anger unlike any before overtook his senses and filled his veins. With a wretched roar of fury, he seized his arm from Rarity, struck Pinkie right in the eye, shredded Applejack's lasso with his sharp claws, and yanked the rainbow alicorn to the ground where he finished by delivering a nasty kick to her side. Before he could continue further with his retaliation, the room trembled terribly as Spike's massive figure caved in the balcony walls. He huffed and puffed and like before, a stream of flames shot out.
Bringing the staff before him, a barrier materialized around the Storm King as the gem absorbed and dispersed the flames around. This moment lasted a full minute before Spike ceased his flames as he gulped air down. Within the smoking center, the Storm King still stood, having not sustained any damage from the attack.
"I shall conquer the world! Every bit of magic shall be mine, and no one will ever threaten my rule again!" He raised the staff high into the air above his head. "And it shall start with all of you!" Striking down once more into the divot, the rune glowed with rising power. Tendrils of energy leaked from the staff's gem before reaching out and snaring everyone in the vicinity still harboring magic. Alicorn and dragon alike were snatched up and into the air as their power was sucked away, leaving them to transmogrify back to their original selves, losing horn and wings alike and everything intimidating in Spike's case. Once the last of the magic was siphoned away, he swung the staff up and over, depositing everyone between Celestia's and Luna's figures.
"Hahaha!" The mad king cackled, "See, this is why I love being the villain!" The spear was aimed at the group of creatures, all of which were too drained to do anything more than flop helplessly on the floor. "I only have to win once!" The spear illuminated with blinding power, coalescing everything it had in store into the tip, and with a discharging blast, it was over.
...At least that was what everybody was telling themselves as they held each other tight, but the end never came, as a blast of magic impacted the Storm King's chest, sending him flying up and over onto the balcony. The staff was deposited within the center of the room without its master.
The clip-clop of hooves filled the air as a shadowy form materialized from the smoke shroud. Tempest. She spared the mane six a glance as she passed them by, santering up to the staff, wielding it within her magical grasp. "All the power in the world, in the palm of my hooves. All of it, mine, for the taking."
"Tempest... no." Twilight pleaded.
"TEMPEST!" The Storm King screeched, nostrils flaring as they stared each other down. "...I am willing to forgive this transgression... AND... restore your horn... but you must give me the staff, NOW!"
Tempest caressed the staff lovingly. "I think we both know you won't bother with small fry like me."
"The staff. Now, Tempest!" Storm King demanded, one claw extended out, the other pinned behind his back.
She turned her back to him. "Consider this my two weeks notice." Then, quick as a whiplash, she spun on her heels and caught the petri-nade thrown by the Storm King with the staff's magic. "It was never an honor, your Highness." Overcharging her shot, the petri-nade was shot back at the King at lightning speeds. He attempted to vault over the balcony rails, but the nade struck him square in the back. The last anyone saw of his figure was the petrification magic corrupting his very essence before disappearing as he fell.
Silence filled the air as Tempest turned her sights to the others. Trotting into the center of the rune, she fixed them a look as she glanced at the divot before finally settling her gaze on Psalms and Twilight in particular. Her mind ran rampant with all she had experienced the last few days, the chase, the battle, the words they shared with each other, and then it shifted to the hornless pony in the hall beyond, the Captain of the Guard, Rampart, bearing the same shame she had to endure most of her life. A consequence of her doing among countless others.
A heavy sigh escaped her throat. "...Ok... you win, Princess." Tempest flipped the staff until the gem faced the groove, "I trust you." She plunged down.
The throneroom filled with blinding light, a light that cascaded to engulf the entirety of the castle, and continued until all of the city bathed in its glow, and stretched itself far and wide until all that had been wronged was righted. All traces of petrification magic dissolved away, all the scars of battle repaired, all the shrouds of smoke and storms dissipating into the winds. Within mere moments, Canterlot was back to being the shining capital of Equestria, and of all Pony kind, as if nothing had occurred over the past few days.
The magic stolen from him snaked its way to Psalms' hide, coating his fur as it sunk itself back into his core. A rush of energy filled his veins as his horn and mane glowed with renewed vigor. A quick glance at the others presented findings similar to his own.
A gasp escaped the mares as the figures of the Princesses cracked and crumbled, releasing them from their stony cages. Each Princess sucked in a breath, equally shocked and ecstatic as they gazed upon their surroundings.
"Twilight!" Celestia exclaimed.
"Princesses!" Twilight responded as she and the other royal members collided together in a shared group hug.
"Never once did we lose faith in you, Twilight, nor in your friends either." Luna relayed as she and the others pulled away.
"Thank you, Luna, but for once, it wasn't just us six. We've made so many new friends in our travels."
"Awesome Pirates!" Rainbow chirped.
"A charming feline." Rarity chimed.
"Rowdy beasts." Applejack hollered.
"Undersea fishy friends!" Pinkie popped in.
"And two human alicorn brothers." Fluttershy softly interjected.
"Speaking of which, where are they? I desperately must offer them my sincerest gratitude for all they suffered through." Cadence asked as she surveyed around the room.
"Oh, Psalms and Thomas? Psalms is right ther-... wait where is he?" True to her words, the room lacked a certain male alicorn.
"I'm over here!" Psalms shouted as he supported the limping figure of Sunset toward the room's center. "Didn't want to leave anybody out that could make it."
"Sunset! Oh Celestia, are you alright!?" Twilight exclaimed as the injured mare was deposited before them.
"Are you kidding? We've won! We've saved the day! How could I not be ok?" She hissed as she settled herself onto her hooves. "I'll be aching for the next few days, but I'd go through it all again in a heartbeat if I must, for all of you."
Moved by her words, the girls all joined together in another group hug.
"Twilight," Celestia began, "Sunset, Spike, Psalms, all of you, what you've accomplished today deserves nothing less than our complete and total gratitude. Through hardships, perseverance, and friendship, your merry band of heroes braved the-"
Psalms held a hoof up, pausing Celestia as he started to swoon from side to side. "Sorry to interrupt, but my adrenaline rush is crashing and I think it's night-night time now." His body flopped to the side with snores filling his esophagus.
Nothing registered to the crimson alicorn as he sat in the very spot Psalms had deposited him on. Since the moment he left, Thomas did not stir once, despite the desperate fighting and battles raging around him. He did not move, he did not think, he did not blink, and he barely breathed as it was; he was little more than a sitting vegetable, and no outside stimuli were enough to spur him into motion.
*Crunch!*
That is until the Storm King crumbled into a million pieces. At the very moment of impact, Thomas's eyes and ears were upon his broken figure, drawn to it, like a shark to blood.
Ecce quattuor primi finiunt mundum
Behold, the first of four to end the world
Thomas's limbs moved on their own volition, clip-clopping him closer to the remains.
Sicut profluit tempus, sic et ceteri venient coram nobis
As time passes, so too will the others come before us
Standing before what was left of the Storm King, a pop rang out as Thomas's jaw unhinged itself, opening far wider than equinely possible. The Storm King's remains dissolved into a dark powdery essence as it was suctioned away into the alicorn's dark depths. As the last of the essence filled him, a fanged grin adorned his muzzle. It quickly disappeared as a burning sensation was afflicted along the side of his left flank, branding him with his first of four to bring about Armageddon.
An Equine skull, bleached white.
The pain was too much. His figure collapsed to the floor.
Sed nunc momentum amplectimur, nam mors petita est
But now we embrace the moment, for Death has been claimed
View Online
Chapter 9: An Adventure Already?! (Part 7: The Journey's End Draws Near.)
There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.
--Jeremiah 31:17
Darkness was Psalms' world. He had plunged himself down the water vortex with no hesitation and just as his lunch threatened to eject itself from his body, darkness shadowed everything and silence reigned supreme as the vortex stilled and he was left adrift within the pitch-black ocean. Vertigo assaulted his senses, muddying his internal balance and orientation, leaving him flailing around in the dark with no sense of direction. Pressure began to mount within Psalms' chest as the urge to empty his lungs was confounded by the second. C'mon Skystar, any day now would be nice!
Just as his lungs reached their breaking point, a flash within the dark illuminated for the briefest second which was followed by the life-saving air bubble that formed around his head, leaving Psalms' to gulp down the air greedily. The bubbles themselves provided only the faintest of glows, but compared to the present sea of black, they were bright shining beacons, allowing Psalms visage of the others who were grouped up below him.
"How do I know I can trust you?" A young inquisitive voice rang out from the dark depths. Psalms' assumed Skystar's voice was magically amplified as her voice was crisp and clear despite the present conditions that should leave her sounding muffled.
A problem quickly reared its ugly head at Psalms as his attempts to swim closer to the group painted a clear picture of his water acrobatic skills, which equaled zilch. Psalms never had the chance to do any swimming while on Earth, leaving this particular skill lacking, pony form notwithstanding. Kicking and floundering his feet in every direction did little to propel him forward, and panic began to settle at the thought of being left behind by the others.
Skystar's form soon flashed into existence as she and the others continued to converse. "The Storm King?! I'm so glad I saved you guys! I'm totally taking you to my mom," her voice reverberated through the water. She hooked her fin to Twilight's hoof while the others latched on as Skystar began towing them away. "Oho! She might have an idea," Skystar responded assumingly to one of Twilight's questions.
"Hey! I'm over here! Don't leave me hanging!" Psalms cried out, hoping that Skystar could hear him as the others couldn't.
"Oh! Whoops! My bad! Almost left one of you behind." Skystar nervously laughed. With a twist and a quick turn, she scooped Psalms with her other fin before resuming her escort to the Hippogriff's Queen.
Firmly anchored to Skystar's side, Psalms couldn't help the heavy exhale that exited his depths as his nerves calmed themselves. That was close.
"Psalms, you made it!" Twilight exclaimed as she turned her view to the alicorn adjacent. "Her mother might know the whereabouts of the Hippogriffs, we're on the right path!" Twilight couldn't help the smile that followed.
Coming up on a thin rocky opening, one by one the ponies and dragon released themselves from Skystar's escort as they independently followed close behind her, save Psalms. Tightening his grip further, Skystar turned her head and flashed him a friendly yet inquisitive look.
"Never swam before in my life. If it's ok with you, I'd like to hang on just a bit further."
"Sure! No problem, just uh, don't let Shelly or Sheldon find out. They get jealous real easy." Skystar whispered the last part out, snickering to herself as she tugged Psalms through the crevice. "We're almost there!" Breaching through, the mesmerizing view of the Hippogriff's home enamors Psalms like a bug to the light. The chasm of hexagonal pillars that made the foundation of Seaquestria left Psalms wondering if the formations were natural or not. Centered right in the middle, Queen Novo's throne room stalactited or stalagmited, depending upon the orientation of your view, directly into the center of the all-encompassing chamber. At the base of the tower, the illumination of numerous structures and sea life was visible.
Ushered forth, Psalms was given little time to truly take in the view before he and the others entered through a hole adorning the ceiling or floor, again it's hard to determine when one's sense of direction is heavily skewed. Entering the Queen's chamber, the group is surrounded by vast amounts of coral, sponges, clams, urchins, seaweeds, kelp, and all other assortments of undersea life and decorations. They even had stationary bioluminescent jellyfish acting as curtains to the exterior port holes. Adorning either side of his group as well as the Queen, were two armed guards with rigid spears of sharpened coral. Situated up on a purple throne, Queen Novo reclined in her seat, eyes closed to the world. Above her, the jellyfish-looking capsule containing the Pearl of Transformation loomed, its power barely visible through the transparent membrane.
"Mother!" Skystar exclaimed as she released Psalms hoof from her fin and dashed towards Novo, but she and the others go ignored by Psalms as he remained fixated upon the luminescence dotting every corner of the room, scouring everything in a fuzzy and shaded light that left Psalms wanting nothing more than to find a nice comfy spot and nap for the next millennia. He couldn't help but be reminded of the candlelight he had back in his old Earth room, how the flames bathed the night with a soothing and warm aroma, leaving him to feel safe and secure.
The spearhead that was shoved within an inch of his eye did little to replicate those feelings as a startled yelp escaped Psalms as he and the others were forced into each other's backs. The scene proceeded to play out just as he remembered as Skystar pleaded to her mother before promptly explaining away the history of the Hippogriffs and their retreat into what is now Seaquestria, much to Novo's chagrin. "We are... well, we were the Hippogriffs! Ta-da!" Skystar finished the history lesson that had enraptured all but one.
As the guards and the Queen were distracted, Psalms allowed himself to float to the floor before extracting himself to the nearest window and getting a better view of the sea kingdom and all its wondrous beauty. The hanging homes of the residents, the grassy sea floor writhing with all kinds of crustaceans, bottomfeeders, and other undersea life along with the occasional sea turtle, the many schools of fish from all walks of the aquatic kingdom, all of these things living together in harmony, it was a blissful sight. If he was able, he'd spend hours swimming and taking in the sights, but he was content with sitting on the edge and enjoying the view.
He should be with the others, pleading their case to enlist the hippogriff's help along with the pearls' powers, but after what he did back in the air above, he couldn't bring himself to interject, at least not yet. And if he was being completely honest with himself, he didn't know what he could possibly say to change Novo's mind right then and there, so he opted to play it safely and let things run their course for the moment, waiting until the right opportunity to play his hand.
And so he sat and watched as all myriads of aquatic life lazily swam by, going about their business throughout the kingdom. He sat and watched the twinkling lights that shone through the murky dark sea, the visage presented before him leaving him in awe of the striking similarity to Luna's night. This was perhaps the closest he was going to get to floating in space, to dance within the moonlight, suspended through the void with not a care in the world. The tranquility of it all enraptured Psalms, enough so that when the pearl's magic transformed him and the others, he hardly paid it any mind.
Eventually, the tranquility was disrupted as the voice of Novo was heard overhead. "Yes, a massage, too. Mama needs her deep tissue." Novo's eye glanced to the side, eyeing Psalms for a brief moment before she halted. "Jamal, be a dear and get everything set up for me, I'll be there in a moment." Novo oriented herself and lazily swam to Psalms' side with the two eyeing each other all the while. "And who might you be? You aren't like the others."
"Well, I am a male alicorn, so I guess there's bound to be some differences in appearances."
"Don't be slick with me, boy, you know well what I'm talking about. I know transformation magic when I see it, we have been under its influence for over a decade after all. You already had some on you before I used the pearl."
Intrigued flooded through Psalms mind. "Really? What makes you say that?"
"I saw traces in you. It's not exactly the same power as the pearls, but it is transformation energy nonetheless... and yet, something else entirely different." Novo's eyes roamed every inch of Psalms form. "You weren't originally a pony, not before, but whatever you are now, you are whole. You are one with the magic. Care to explain yourself?"
A sigh escapes Psalms' lungs as he shifted his view to the open ocean. "It's a long story. Complicated, puzzling, and long, but don't worry, we'll be out of your hair before long." Silence descended between the two. "...Your home is truly beautiful. What I wouldn't give to spend a few hours exploring every inch of it."
Novo nodded away. "A lot of sweat and tears and hungry nights followed us when we abandoned Mount Aris. We put everything we could spare to starting anew. There were many sacrifices to get to where we are now."
"...You can't hide forever, your Majesty." Novo fixed him with a glare but he continued. "The Storm King has not relented since the day you escaped his wrath. He has scoured across the globe seeking magical artifacts that can enhance his power, and he has found the greatest of them all. The Staff of Sacanas. With it, he can drain the rulers of Equestria of their magic, and the power over day and night will be his. I don't think I need to explain in depth how bad that'll be for everyone."
"The Storm King is many things; arrogant, prideful, ambitious, ...but he is no fool." Doubt laced her words, Psalms noted. "His lust for power knows no ends, but even he knows that to mess with the celestial powers could mean certain doom for all, and all that he has worked for will be for naught..." Concern and frustration warred within her features and before long, an exasperated huff escapes her. "See, this is exactly why I need that deep-tissue massage!" Novo turns her back to Psalms as she slowly descends her kingdom's depths. "I'm sorry, but we have sacrificed enough to build our new kingdom, and to risk the pearl's capture would mean to render it all for nothing."
"Please, Queen Novo," Psalms began, halting the Queen, "we've journeyed so far, braved many dangers, and escaped the Storm King's capture time and again, all to find you. The Princesses are stone, the citizens of Equestria are under lock and key, and they plan to invade the Crystal Empire next; if there's anything you can do, even one small thing, would make a world of difference for us."
Novo held his gaze over her shoulder before turning away, a sorrowful mask adorning her face. "I'm sorry, but there's just too much at stake. Skystar is still too young to take the throne, and she can't afford to lose another parent." Their conversation ended as she disappeared below.
Water flooded Psalms' gills as he heaved a sigh. I tried, but I'm not done yet. Pinkie, work your magic.
Speaking of the devil, the pink mare herself along with Skystar and the others rushed into the dark sea, a trail of tunes and notes faded away as they drew further back. And that's my cue. Heaving himself off the edge, Psalms was quick to test his fishy appendages and found that regardless of the magical change, his aquatic proficiency had yet to improve a bit, leaving him to sigh as he crawled once more back into the throne room.
Situated up above, Twilight paced just a foot away from the starry tendrils, whispering to herself while stealing nervous glances at the pearl every other second as she steeled herself to her decision. I have to do this, I have no choice; for Equestria, for the Princesses, for Flurry Heart. Novo will understand, she has to, in time. Twilight halted her pacing and oriented herself before the pearls capsule, her face that of brittle determination. Time... if only there was more time... I'm sorry girls, this is the only way... She reached out with a tentative hoof that became a blur the closer it inched toward the tendrils.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Twilight yanked her hoof away with a startled yelp. Of course, it couldn't be this easy. Twilight heaved a sigh; she didn't dare turn her back or else she'd lose her nerve completely. "What choice do we have left, Psalms? We can't afford to waste time, not with Tempest heading for the Crystal Empire, not with Flurry Heart in jeopardy. I don't want to do this, but we have no choice. I have no choice."
"There's always a choice, Twilight, but you don't need me to tell you that." Within the corner of his eye, Psalms briefly spotted the girls dashing in between the hanging homes of the hippogriffs. "You're not alone you know, what about your friends? Haven't you always turned to them when the times get rough? Why is now any different?"
"Because we are not enough! Equestria has already faced a danger like this before, we failed then and we failed again now! The only difference is last time we weren't given the courtesy to know we were in peril, before we even knew it we were cocooned by Chrysalis, all of us, every important pony across the continent. If it weren't for Starlight, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord, we'd still be cocooned and Equestria would have fallen from within." Remorseful eyes met Psalms as Twilight finally turned to him. "We can't hitch all our bets on one little song and dance being enough to change the Queen's mind. We've come too far and endured too much to turn tail now." Twilight returned before the tendrils and her hoof stretched out once more.
"I agree," Psalms stated to the surprise of Twilight. "After we're done here, our time to return to Equestria will be upon us, but Twilight, you must understand that the weight of Equestria's fate isn't on your shoulders alone, it never has been before. Not with Nightmare Moon, not with Tirek, not with Starlight, not with anyone or anything; sure there was the occasional hiccup, like the wedding, but nobody is perfect." The music and singing began to crescendo outside. "The stress of everything has clouded your mind, but I want you to recall all those moments and remember all those who were with you every step of the way. Time and again, you six have pulled through with the power and magic of your title's namesake, and if I can help it, today will be no different."
With great strain and a few grunts, Psalms slowly swam before Twilight's side and placed his hoof over Twilight's, slowly easing it away from the tendrils. "All I ask, and all your friends deserve, is at least a little bit of trust, and I don't mean to sound like a broken record here when I say a little bit of faith would be nice as well." It took no effort for Psalms to slowly lead Twilight toward the side opening, presenting a view of all participating members within the song and dance. "After all, having a little bit of one small thing can make a big difference."
Twilight turned her eyes back to the pearl's resting place before she heaved a heavy sigh. "You know best, don't you? I can't fight against your premonitions."
"Premonitions have nothing to do with the here and now, Twilight, all of this rests solely on you. We are treading new ground as we speak. I won't stop you if you wish to snatch the pearl, but all I ask is for you to look at yourself and everything you've experienced and learned until now, and ask yourself if what you're doing is the right thing."
Silence filled the immediate void around as Twilight mulled over Psalms words. As usual, a myriad of emotions reflected rapidly across her features as she continued to exchange her view between the pearl, Psalms, and the dancing others. Instead of exploding with overflowing emotions, Twilight sucked in a breath, and calmly blew it out, settling her nerves and straightening her posture as she reflected Psalms with a calm, yet small, smile. "You're right. You're right. The power of friendship has always been enough before, and whether we have the pearl or not... I believe it will be enough now. I let fear and desperation control me all the way here... but with friends like them, and with friends like Thomas and you, all of us together, will be enough."
Psalms flashed her a smile of his own. "I'm proud you overcame your inner turmoil. We may not get the help of the pearl or the hippogriffs, but we got Captain Celaeno, her crew and ship, Capper, and each other." Psalms turned his gaze upon the others. "Looks like the songs coming to a close. Would you be a dear and help escort this poor frail feeble man down? My fins just aren't as they used to be."
A light chuckle escaped Twilight as she hooked her hoof with Psalms and the two descended down to the party.
The song peaked and ended as just as they arrived with Queen Novo and her daughter striking a pose which was soon followed by laughter and cheers all around, Queen included. As the girls grouped up into a giggling bundle, Twilight hesitated for a brief moment before Pinkie forcefully pulled her right in, eliciting giggles from the Princess a second later while Psalms settled himself by Spike off to the side. The Queen's laughter petered out as she fixed the group with a gleam in her eye. "Well, I guess there is one small thing we can do."
Twilight couldn't help the gasp that escaped her as she maneuvered herself to be forefront to the Queen with a gleaming ray of hope twinkling in her eye. "You'll let us have the pearl!?"
An amused snort escapes the Queen. "Girl, did you not hear me say the word 'small'? No, the pearl stays here, that is final." Twilight's features visibly withered, but Novo held a fin up before she could continue with her dismayed performance, and with her other, the pearl was summoned from its capsule and drawn into her palm. "But, that doesn't mean its magic can't accompany you back home, however, there is a catch. The pearl's power is great, but it is not limitless. I can use it upon you all and transform you into great and powerful beings, but the magic will last no more than a day. I'm sorry, but it's all I can offer."
Twilight took the Queen's hoof into hers while sharing a look of deep gratitude. "Thank you. It's more than enough."
"You can thank me by taking the Storm King down for good. Once he's dealt with, I'll finally be able to breathe easier at night. Now, let's get all of you back to the surface and send you on your way home." Her statement earned more whoops and cheers among the ponies and they along with Queen soon began the trek back to the surface, that is until it was halted as the Queen took note of one accompanying individual. "And where exactly do you think you're going?" Novo questioned her daughter with a fixed glare, one that goes ignored by Skystar.
"What do you mean, Mother? I'm going with my friends, to take down the Storm King once and for all!"
"Are you insane!?" Novo screamed out. "Absolutely not!"
"But, Moth-" Skystar began, but she was swiftly shut down.
"No buts! How could you even consider such a thing!? One song and dance and you're ready to lay down your life for a bunch of strangers!?"
"But Mom, they're not strangers, they're my friends! They need all the help they can get, it's why they came here in the first place! With the power of the pearl, we have a fighting chance!"
"That's exactly what your father said and look what happened to him!" Novo shouted out. Silence descended throughout the Kingdom as her words registered within all present, herself most of all as her ire sizzled away and made way for sorrow to replace it. Novo's eyes shut themselves away from the world.
Some moments passed before the silence was broken. "...I'm Princess Skystar, heir to Seaquestria's throne... one day I'll have to lead our people, and they will have no choice but to put all their trust and faith into me. I will be the keeper of the pearl, the guiding light of our kingdom, and the ruler of our citizens." Skystar fixed her mother with a determined glare. "As royalty, our duty is to our subjects, to our kingdom, to our safety, but how can I call myself Princess let alone Queen one day if I stand aside here and now while our friends go out and risk their lives fighting the one who drove us from our home? The one who took Dad from us..." Both royals choked up a bit upon mentioning the former monarch.
Her daughter's words struck hard, but true. "...Please... Sky... I can't lose you too..."
...
"Then she won't go alone, your Highness."
Among the crowd of hippogriffs, one armored individual swam before the group. With a rigid posture and a rock-solid stony face, the guard cleared his throat as he continued. "If the Princess is willing to drop everything and fight for us and her newly affirmed friends, then we'd be doing the Crown and the late King a great disservice by not fighting by her side, for it is our duty as their subjects to preserve the kingdom no matter the cost." The guard turned his attention to the gathered crowd. "For too long our kind have dwelled within our shadow, for too long we have lingered within the depths of our own fear, for too long we have weathered this storm. This may be our only chance to rid ourselves of it once and for all. The King sacrificed himself for our safety many years ago, I say it's about time we pay our debts." The guard turned to the Queen once more. "With you're permission, my Queen, we'll see to your daughter's safety and the return of our original homeland, and bring an end to this nightmare, once and for all."
Novo fixed her eyes on the pearl, then onto Skystar, before settling on the guard and the gathered crowd, before pinching the bridge of her nose out of frustration. "Heavens above, Skystar, you are going to be the reason I start greying so soon. The moment you are finished with your little adventure in pony land, you get your keister straight back here, and don't think for a second you won't be grounded for an entire month, do you understand me?"
Novo's threat and snarling face goes ignored as Skystar squealed into her mother's side as they shared a longing hug.
"Lieutenant Reef," Novo called forth the outspoken guard as Skystar was released from her embrace. He fixed her a salute upon presenting himself. "I am putting all of my trust in you and your team to keep my daughter and our friends safe. See to it that the Storm King finally falls... and give him a kick or two courtesy of yours truly, call it a cultural exchange between rulers."
Reef thumped his chest as she finished her statement. "Your will is our command, my Queen."
"Now tighten it to the left."
"Squaw."
"No, no, no, not my left, your left."
"Squaw squaw."
"No, that's right!"
"Squaw? Squaw squaw!"
"No, you feather brain, not right as in correct, I mean right as in the direction, you have to tighten the bolt going left!"
"Squaw!?"
"I know it's confusing, but it's a left-threaded screw, so you need to turn it left to tighten it... that's it... that's it... one more turn and... done." Boyle wiped away the grime adorning his forehead and turned to give Celaeno a thumbs up. "Installation of the last piece complete, Captain. She's ready to go."
"And not a moment too soon," Mullet commented to Celaeno's side as the visage of numerous creatures warped into existence upon exiting the mist of the mountain's entrance.
Capper peeled his sweaty goggles away as he eyed the newest strangers with surprise. "Well, I'll be," He began as he closed the distance between the two, "You actually managed to find the hippogriffs? I thought they were gone gone. Everybody did, nobodies seen them for years."
"Well, they're back, and they're willing to help." Psalms' eyes wandered to the floating hunk of wood and steel. "What's the status of the ship?"
"She's badder and better than ever. Take a look at what we managed to scrounge from Tempest's ship." Celaeno indicated her claw towards the four freshly installed Tesla cannons adorning each corner of the ship with the greatest installment being the harpoon gun situated directly on the bow of the ship. "With these babies, we can go toe to toe with any skiffs that get in the way."
"So," Celaeno began, "We ready to set sail?"
Movement was caught within Psalms' peripheral and upon turning, he is presented with the huddled group of the captured storm beasts and one forlorn-looking Grubber. "What about them?"
"Oh... them... gonna be honest, I kinda forgot they were there. We had to move them out of the ship to get repairs underway." Celaeno turned her gaze upon the hippogriffs. "Guess the only thing we can do is leave them here under the hippogriff's supervision."
Grubber's watery eyes invoked something within Psalms. Upon confirming the contents of one of the food crates, he dumped said crate at the little guy's feet, earning the attention of all captured individuals. "You look like a guy who knows his snacks. What is it you're craving right now?"
"Anything! Anything!" Grubber pleaded as he latched his arms around Psalms' leg. "Never before have I gone this long without something to eat, I'm starving, I'll take anything!"
"And in return, you'll give me...?" If Grubber was as desperate to sate his hunger as Psalms believed... well, never let an opportunity slip by.
"I'll tell you everything I know about the Storm King! I'll draw you a map of all our forces across Equestria and beyond! I'll share with you my Nana's famous cockatrice casserole, anything you want!"
Psalms cuffed a hoof to his chin as he pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. "Hmm.... how about... a promise."
"Yes! A promise! Sure! Anything! Say the word and it's guaranteed!"
"Great! Then you and your beasts promise to aid us in the battle against the Storm King."
Grubber stopped his groveling and fixed Psalms a puzzled look. All the other beasts did so as well, along with a fair few of his own friends. "Say what now?" the little creature voiced out.
"You will help us command your beasts into battle against the Storm King and his forces in Canterlot."
Grubber fixed Psalms a wonderous look, twinkling eyes and open jaw and all. Soon enough, his eyes began to water and his lips quivered in a very dramatic manner.
"Uh... what's wrong?" Psalms tentatively inquired.
"N-n-nothing-" *Hicup* "-I-i-it's just-" *Hicup* *Sniff* "N-nobody has ever given me command over anything before... Bawhahahah!" Grubber's theatrics, which barely tugged at Psalms' heart, had a profound effect on the local beasts as one by one they fell victim to his little 'heart-wrenching' scene and they too burst into tears.
"Uh... well... help us defeat the Storm King... and you will be in charge of not only all of his beasts and fleets, but also his entire... empire... prior to his campaign of conquest, of course."
Grubber's jaw could not drop any lower. "...Me... my own... empire?" Fresh tears welled up once more. "Mama will be so proud!" Grubber then began to mash his lips against the bottom of Psalms hoof, much to his disturbance. "*Muah* Thank you! *Muah* Thank you! *Muah* Tha-"
"OK!" Psalms dislodged his hoof away from the strange little creature, shaking his leg afterward to rid it of the saliva. "Ok, ok, we get it, you can stop whatever you're doing... so, that is a yes...?"
Grubber clambered to his knees and fixed Psalms a sloppy salute. "We got your back, Pony! Right, fellas?" Turning to the beasts, they each nod away at Grubber's words. "They're in too. None of us really liked the Storm King anyway, and Tempest is just plain rude... and bossy... and scary."
Well, that was relatively easy. "Right, well, welcome aboard. See if you can find yourself some green paint and mark yourselves as allies." Psalms turned back to Celaeno and inclined his head at the beasts. "Captain Celaeno, would you be so kind as to have our new friends released from their binds?"
Celaeno's face was not without concern. "Are you sure about this, Psalms? You really think we can trust him?"
"You'd be a fool not to keep an eye on them along the way to Canterlot, but yes, I think we can trust him and his cohorts, for the most part. And besides, if they become more trouble than they're worth, there's only eleven of them and forty-one of us, we can handle them." With his piece said, Psalms turned towards Queen Novo and the girls, who had been patiently waiting to the side for his report. "Ship's armed, repaired, and ready to depart on our word. Let's get you gals juiced up and we'll make way."
The Queen nodded at Psalms' words before turning to face Twilight and the others. "Remember, the pearl's magic will only last one day, so don't waste it. You kids ready?" Upon hearing the group's various confirmations, Novo pitched the pearl forward to the group, and with a flick of her fin, the pearl's magic cascaded forward, shrouding them in a blinding flare.
As the searing light receded, a gasp left Psalms' lungs as where only one alicorn was previously present, now there was six total. Their forms shivered with visible rippling magical energy and each Element Bearer gained a few inches in height as well as having their manes and tails acquiring a certain magical aspect shared only by the royal sisters. Shouts of surprise, glee, and intrigue filtered out from each individual, but one last surprise was in store when a hulking figure's shadow loomed over the group.
"All-hah-hah-right! Now this is what I'm talking about!" Spike's deep voice drummed out as all turned to inspect his transformed figure which elicited more shouts and gasps. Whereas he was a puny little runt of a dragon before, Spike's now elongated, scaley, and spikey figure screamed apex predator. His Discord-esque-looking physic along with his impressive new wings left Psalms comparing him to the dragons of Europe's fables.
"Ok, now that is an upgrade." Psalms turned his eyes towards the rest of their companions. "Think you can spare a little more power for the others?" Psalms asked, despite knowing the obvious answer that followed.
"I'm sorry, but this took significantly more magic than I thought it would out of the pearl, it barely has enough power to get us back to Seaquestria. You will have to do with this for now."
Skystar embraced her mother's side once more. "It's enough. Thanks, Mom."
"Don't you thank me just yet, little Missy. When you come back, I'll be sure to have a little list of chores you can do the entire month through. It'll serve you right for leaving me worried sick." Novo's stern expression melts away into a serene smile as she gazed upon her daughter. "Your father would be very proud, I know this because I am. Good luck, my little Shining Star."
A shrill whistle pierced the air which was followed by a shout from Capper. "All aboard! Next stop, Canterlot! Repeat, last call for Canterlot! Let's get a move on people!"
The royal hippogriffs shared one final hug before Skystar booked it for the airship. As the others made their way to board, Twilight shared final words with the Queen. "Equestria cannot thank you en-"
"I don't care what Equestria, or you, have to say." Novo's heavy tone silenced Twilight's throat. "You have our magic, you have our guards, and you have my daughter." Darkness loomed deep within Novo's eyes as her gaze left Twilight paralyzed, something Novo capitalized on as her face closed in against the Princess's. "I expect all three to be returned by the day's end. If anything happens to one of them, I will personally see to it that the Storm King's reign of terror be little more than child's play compared to what I'll do." Novo was quick to turn on her heels, retreating into the mist but not before calling out one more time. "Best of luck, now get off my mountain."
"I'm an Alicorn... never in my life would I have thunk them words would leave my mouth... Big Mac would be all colors of jealous if'n he saw me now." Applejack marveled as she and the other freshly turned alicorns examined and re-examined and re-re-examined their new appendages as the ship made way for Canterlot.
Psalms couldn't help but chuckle at her words. "You're preaching to the choir, yer 'Highness.' At least you've always been a pony, talk to me when you struggle to do any basic functions while in an alien body."
A rainbow blur streaked past the group as Rainbow made a rough landing off to the side. "This magic is amazing! It's like my Pegasus powers have been dialed to eleven! I could pop every cloud this side of Equestria, no, this side of the entire planet in ten seconds flat!"
"I must concur with Rainbow Dash, these wings are truly divine!" Rarity did a little twirl to show off to the others. "My butterfly wings from years back absolutely do not hold a candle compared to these beauties!" Rarity's features visibly droop as she heaves a sorrowful sigh. "It is quite the shame they will last only for a single day. Oh well, at least I am a Princess like I always wished as a foal for the time being."
"Rarity's right, we only have this magic for one day, so we need to stop ogling and start working them." Rainbow turned her gaze to Psalms. "You most of all."
Psalms pointed his hoof to himself while fixing her a quizzical look. "Me? What're you talking about?"
"You've been hoofed an alicorn body, dude, and not once this entire trip have you or Thomas used your wings." Rainbow cast her eye among the various transformed members present. "And seeing as how we're heading back to liberate Canterlot, a bit of practice with your wings is exactly what you guys need right now, while we got time to spare. Luckily for you, you have the fastest Wonderbolt for a teacher and all the room in the world to work out the kinks."
"Er, Um, Rainbow Dash, what about our horns?" Fluttershy meekly asked.
She received a raspberry in return. "There's no time for foal's magic one-oh-one, and besides, we're going up against an army of magicless furballs, all you need is speed and a wham and a bam, and they're down."
Psalms mulled it over in his head before he relented with a shrug. "Well, I suppose it's about time I learned how these things work." A hint of dread settled within Psalms' core and he voiced his worry out. "Uh, Rainbow? I know speed is your whole shebang, and we admittedly don't have a lot of time to spare, but can we take these lessons all slow and steady like?"
"Don't worry, we'll be taking baby steps, I promise." The malicious grin that settled on Rainbow's face did nothing to ease Psalms' worries, and it wouldn't be long before those worries blossomed into full-blown panic.
