Chapter 1View OnlineBore Of InsanityChapter 1In a Battlefield far away from the town of Ponyville Solar templars fought and died on multiple theaters of war and this one was no different. “FORWARD POINT! IF I SEE ONE PONY COWER THEN THEY SHALL BE THE FIRST TO DIEEEEE!” The Commissar Sloughed shouted, half of his muzzle having been burned and charred from their eternal enemies. Tarbuck ripped open a small packet that contained a purple jelly chew downing it as quickly as possible to get past the awful consistency pass, His magic reserves kicked back up to below half. He grimaced and glanced out to the hell gate. In a Trench that was a mere one hundred meters (300 Ft) away the Demonic wound that birthed new madness for the realm to endure, a glow containing the shining Shuffling faces of the dead and the living. Tarbuck looked over it and almost froze, the faces were melding. “BREACH!!” he yelled into his troop bugle, and his hooves began trembling with magic might. The rest of his platoon snapped into similar stances, a rainbow of colors lining the magic firing line. “IT SEEMS THE HELL FOALS HAVE FOUND THEIR STONES AGAIN, SEND THEM HOME BACK TA THEIR MAMMAS” Commander Red Rock Bellowed from his command post. It was only 20 seconds after they formed up that the gates of hell opened. Sixty Heliborne stamped onto the battlefield, the gate was at the bottom of a valley and should have hindered the blazing beings, yet they sped up to the encampment and would have been on them in seconds. Yet Red Rock Proved his namesake, a red ethereal boulder the size of apartment building hurtled down at the incoming group the Boulder just hanging over the front’s heads for a moment before slamming into the head of the hell pack scattering the herd into more manageable groups. The other magic lines finally became organized and started charging their shots as well, but Tarbuck’s line was the first ready. Commissar Sloughed of course had been timing them and as always looked displeased, yet he raised his hoof and began his count. “STEADY” The Line of Brave ponies lowered their heads the Charged spell Spiraling into existence above their heads. “AIM” Heliborne were still Madly scrambling up and were about to reach His line. They were on Average taller than a large earth pony, so they need the higher ground to turn… “FIRE!” The ground Red. They were in speaking range, the sulfurous eyes burning with hatred when the rain of Sundering Charged Pierce spells started knocking them down and Tarbuck vaulted over the Line as they could not waste the magical energy on stragglers. Blue Biscuit was leading up to his right and the two of them went to the first survivor of the SCP rain. It was a midsized Heliborne. Its Ram-like horns were cracking and leaking lava scorching the rock causing it to flow down. Half of its chest was gone and the magma core that made it live was about to crack. Tarbuck lined up and the beast tried to rip his tendons snapping its already broken limbs that could not support its hatred. He bucked and trusted Blue Biscuit to do her job. The core was tugged out with a blue glow at just the right moment and the foe’s body burnt up into ash the lava flowing back down to the Hell Portal. His fellow troops were not idle as you were not on the front line long without some efficiency lest you lose your life. A single minute was all the time you had before the second wave came. “RETREAT” Came the Bellowing Cry of the Commissar and the group galloped back to the lines, That cursed portal was already winding up to vomit up more troops, the eternally burning faces laughing and screaming. Another Sixty Heliborne popped out and began the madden charge all over again. The same dance was repeated with the only difference being that the SCP came from the next highest of the trenches. One of the many reasons the front got crappy Magic jam Rations is that they could reach the stragglers the fastest, so they did not need to have as much magical oomph, and of course the good stuff went to the vain glorious nobles first. It was on the seventh turn when first of them started dying, it was one of the newcomers a miss Butter Damp she lingered just a second too long and the next wave was on her in a moment. Tarbuck refused to look away as the White-hot hooves seared through her and didn’t even slow them down her organs bubbling and cooking in seconds. Her tear struck purple eyes, found his grey eyes and she was gone. Gin Tallow on the Ninth Turn Tried to stay in the line and was beheaded by the commissar. He had not seen it Tarbuck just came back, and the orange stallion was simply dead blood pumping out of him, and the White Dressed Commissar was putting away his sword. He must have called out the Retreat and killed him in the same breath. The brown earth pony sister and brother Of Lock Log and Mud Log Died on the Eleventh Turn Lock not having half as much stamina as her brother collapsing and her brother Tried to save her. The SCP killed them both right as they were going to make it their bodies tumbling right in front of the Line. And on the Thirteenth Turn did the burning faces separate some weeping in deep sorrow for what they did, and Victorious yells came from the happy faces sneering smiles resting on their faces as they had stolen a few more lives of the living. The gates of hell did close, and thus the miserable part began. “Tarbuck, Blue Biscuit!” Sloughed shouted pointing at himself and a trembling Blue Biscuit. “Clean up this filthy traitor’s body and get your PONIES MOVING! I want this field ready for the next Breach that pollutes our Goddess’ beautiful world.” Having said this, he left for the Commanders tent to give an account of their losses, not even stopping to grieve for the dead. “Heartless Ass” Blue muttered and tried to stop her trembling and with practiced ease it started to wane. Tarbuck did not need to wait as he Called out to his remaining ponies. “Alright Those who do not have horns please raise your hoof so that we can organize some rain clouds to cool the lava.” He said clearly and to his well-hidden dismay it was only two. A small looking Pegasus mare named Celery Stick that was the color of Onions and a skinny green bean pole of a teen Named Grow Vile that could not be older than sixteen, the minimum enlistment age. Still, he sent the Pegasi off to gather some clouds and turned into many grim-faced unicorns that had slumped against the dirt walls of the line. Only Blue Biscuit still stood and that was more due to her inherent arrogance than anything else. “Alright mares and stallions we have the unfortunate job of cleaning up the mess that these nobles left behind so let's get to it” He started, and Tarbuck was interrupted by Fur Log a much furrier unicorn stallion that was the brother to those two that died in the SCP rain. “Sir can, can I go get their bodies.” Fur Log’s Hazel eyes were filled with tears and his teeth were gritted keeping whimpers out. Tarbuck softened his heart and said in a quiet clear tone” you have my permission.” The stallion went away quietly bemoaning his two siblings lost lives. Having shown a moment of mercy Tarbuck hardened his heart again. “As for the rest of us sorry sacks of shit we've got business to address” He snapped. “Maverick Tone you and your hooligans are going to be on water producing duty.” “Fuck ya Dastard go iss on it ya daft WANKER” He Sneered out of tired green lips and his few Hench ponies tried to laugh in agreement. “If this is not done in time for the commissar’s return, he will spill our blood to cool off that lava, did you want to explain to him that you were too tired, or shall I have him slit your throat?” He said coldly and the returning silence showed him their answer. “Blue Biscuit you're with me we'll be filling in the holes those demons left behind now everyone I want this done in 10 minutes!” There were muttered curses and swearing under their breath but they all one by one stumbled out of the line and went to do their duties. He would give them more like 30 minutes as the commissar is more likely to hobnob up in the commander’s post. Tarbuck held back and counted the number of earth ponies he had left an idea niggling at the back of his head but he didn't want his troops to know and when finishes he counts only himself and those two Pegasi as the non-unicorns in the front trench, he climbed out of the line and took Blue Biscuits waiting hoof and into the lava-stricken battlefield as he had done so for the past two years. Once life grew here but the stone had been so infused with sulfurous tainted air that nothing could grow on it now. The heat of those infernal beings showed the cracks in their patch work efforts, their hooves causing deep grooves that he had to shift back. His hooves started glowing a grey coal color and Blue Biscuit focused on gathering a much excess dirt for him to form. He focused on his hooves and with his earth affinity he started pulling on the ground beneath making the hell pit deeper starting the smoothing process. Dirt turns into a slurry that he guides into cracking hooves holes. The two of them worked amongst the crackling popping of the lava in companionable silence when Blue Biscuits started her theory crafting again. “Maybe you're the Raja’s illegitimate son It would explain all the Earth powers” Blue Biscuit mused. He gave her a bemused smile. “And why would I be in this hell pit serving the frontline for an endless war if I was some foreign Prince” he humored her his hooves still pawing at the ground as they began filling the 300-meter Dash. “You probably went into hiding because some griffin assassins were after you or something” she pointed out triumphantly. “I'm sure there's some lovely cavern that has a villa below the desert sands that I can go and be with all the pretty ladies I'd like” Tarbuck said. “And the various delicacies of the desert that could delight your tongue.” She continued. “All the water you could ever drink” he said absentmindedly noting their work progress. 25% Far too slow. He took a deep breath in and began to sing. And his squad returned. Nothing motivates these ponies like a song, Maverick Tone still looked pissed but one of his grunts a muddy white color stallion by the name Ruined Sheet started flaring his horn and more water seeped out of it, flowing into the streams of water that ran towards the fiery door steam rising and clouding view of it. He continued feeling his own work progress speed up the holes starting to fill in a three-foot area around him. They started producing rivers of water the lava’s sizzling all but gone, they left the water works behind and started mimicking him. The two Pegasi who just now started bringing back defunct clouds abandoned them to join the song. He as the leader of the song would bear the weight of exhaustion, but it was a price easily paid to save even one more life. Pay it he would for each step of confidence they took a hammer blow of exhaustion slammed into his back, every filled hole a spike of nausea through his lungs. Seventy-five percent was a much better percentage to be at, so Tarbuck started to wind them down. He hooked andThey finished and Tarbuck held onto half of their exhaustion and sent back the rest. His ponies slumped and went about finishing the rest of the work. Blue Biscuit was giving him a smug grin that he dutifully ignored, and half limped half strode past the confident bitch to finish the work. “Good job princey when’s your father gonna come and pick you up” she said now trailing behind him far more confidently. He was too tired to even speak but he could feel Blue Biscuits’ yellow eyes narrow at him and without warning he tumbled to the ground. The lava hardened ground bit his chin rattling his head causing him to bleed. Tarbuck’s lips were silent as he slowly, sloppily got to his hooves Blue Biscuits letting him sit in pile of consequences he built, walking past him the glow fading from her horn. “You need to let them bear some of the weight too else you're gonna end up dead buried under a pile of rocks like Fur log’s siblings” She nodded her head towards their new burial sites. Poor Fur Log didn't have much to bury of his brother and sister as they were punctured through with holes some the size of grapefruit others the size of cannonballs His brother having thrown himself over his sister doing little to stop the puncturing spells. Still Fur Log dutifully gathered as much of his siblings as he could and had gotten to work taking chunks of rocks to bury them away from the 300-meter dash. The two of them watched him walk into the artificial valley that was linked to the hell pit the Valley of Burnt Bones where multiple piles of rocks stood mourning the dead Tarbuck himself had helped bury plenty of people a mare with red fur and brown fetlocks came to mind. “Many don't get the courtesy that those two got and I tell you this if you act so foolish and get yourself killed that way, I'm not burying you” She finished and left him there to guide the now finished ponies back to Line. It was an old argument between the two of them ever since he first came to the pit Blue Biscuits had been in charge at the front line. He had been far more optimistic, far more willing to believe in the power of cooperation that they could overcome this. Each day since the pit had stolen a little bit more than hope and at night when the gates of hell would rest, he would stare up at the cold stars above and wonder where all the magic went. This is what he willingly cast upon pony kind. He wanted to bring war. On his trembling hoofs he returned to the line Stumbling down into the trench he wobbled his away to his lookout point past Maverick and his goons even further beyond Blue Biscuits and her tutoring the newest recruits that the commissar had just brought back. Pass Commissar Sloughed and his half-burnt scowl up to the far left of the trench wall to a little nook he had carved out that let him stick his head just above the line and watch the Gate. He looked amongst the faces of the dead that shined in the hell gates lava and even knowing what he would find he still looked. Butter Damp’s purple eyes watched him still Tarbuck reached behind him into the nook and took out a book pulling out the pen and started Writing down the new additions to the list. Butter Damp cause of death Heliborne Stampede on turn 7 time lasted two weeks out of two years. Gin Tallow cause of death commissar’s blade on turn 9 time lasted three months out of two years. Lock Log cause of death SCP rain on turn 11 time lasted 1 1/2 years out of two years. Mud Log cause of death SCP rain on turn 11 time lasted 1 1/2 years out of two years. Author's Note Hey, Thanks for reading Chapter one. Also sorry there was suppose to be song lyrics but I wasn't sure if they were copyrighted or not.
Chapter 2View OnlineBore Of InsanityChapter 2Song for Chapter When the week go marching in There was only one more breach in the day, a far shorter five wave breach then with the shifting of Queen Daybreaker’s sun the evening twilight put to rest the dead eyes first It would only be with the setting of the sun that the living faces would go to sleep as well but as far as Tarbuck cared his work was over. He was about to call out to the troops to dismiss them, but someone beat him to the punch. “All right ladies go powder yourself up and get yourself some grub and get plenty of rest for tomorrow’s rehearsal” Blue Biscuits mocked them. “Please wait Blue we still need the commissar's permission” her flat look told him what She thought of that. The commissar was still there but seemed content as always to shuffle lower work on lower ranked ponies. He was still obsessed with his white stopwatch, his horn lit up with a silver glow as he noted down their timing that they had during the day on a notepad that he had tugged out of one of his vest pockets. It also had a stark white cover matching his beloved goddess to Tarbuck’s amusement. He didn't seem to have noticed them. “Commissar, do we have your permission to go up and gather food for our dinner” Tarbuck Repeated the amusement brutally murdered in its cradle. The commissar’s pale eye that could see nothing still flicked up in his direction His sense of hearing clearly unbothered by his burnt ear. He did not give a verbal response but slowly nodded his head. “You heard the grumpy pants recesses started!” Blue Biscuits Pointed forward and the front line disbanded up the spiral that led to the surface. Sometimes Tarbuck couldn't believe her bravado, what was more shocking to him that the commissar even put up with it. Still, he took off his white cap as all the other frontliners had and hooked it on the belt they had and made his way out of the pit of hell. He set himself at a steady cadence up the rugged path that hugged the valley wall’s left side and began observing the lines above theirs. They were separated into three easily divisible sections the convicts who chose to go to the pit instead of choosing death, The poor families who couldn't pay their state taxes mostly fathers and then mothers and then their children who turned into the crooks, finally those dishonored nobles who he knew was Blue Biscuits group. This made up the front line, the second line, and the third line. The qualitative leap in equipment from the first section to the second was astounding as they had actual SCP mana barrels aim down at the hell gate, this is where the merchants go to get some battle experience or earn their entry into Equestria if they're from out of state. It also is not out of character to see a politician here trying to get into the noble houses. Speaking of which, this is also where the lowest nobles go, not having enough favors for the closer spots to the main houses. This made up the fourth line, Fifth line, and Sixth line. Ragged frontliners with their burnt marshmallow white caps in comparison to the third sections were comparing paupers to princesses. Tabards of white and various colors stood proudly in the downward gust that came from the Valley's entrance giving a majestic feeling to the six main houses that laid claim to the hell pit. Someone jabbed his side, and turning from the nobles’ mini kingdom the hill green eyes of Maverick Tone met his. The Trottinghamer snuck on him amongst the sea of hunger liners. “u Jobber Where whast ya Promise me and me boys, We wer goo liit fukwats for ya ta enti wek?” His lips snarled but his eyes glinted with greed. Tarbuck’s Pitch eyes hardened, and he reached into his personalized cap and pulled out three suspiciously wrapped packages. They were Noble Grade MJRs (Magic Jam Rations) highly illegal for criminals like them, Maverick gleefully took them, and the coal stallion coolly watched the other stallion stash them in his cap. “leasure doing bisness wit ya Lafer” The smuggler made his way back to Ruined Sheet, and … A purple mare he didn’t know the name of huh. His compulsion needs to know the name he was about call the crude stallion back and interrogate, I mean ask the name of that mare. When a familiar voice spoke up from his left his eyes instinctively turned saw it was Blue Biscuit and was about to shush her when he realized that in that brief few seconds the purple mare was gone along with her boss. He deflated and turned his head half-heartedly down to the blue bitch. “Cock Blocked ya huh?” She sniggered her cap jostling on her head. “Look you know I just wanted to know her name… you wouldn't happen to know it would you?” His black eyes weren’t good for begging, but he gave it a shot. “Fraid not Casanova, I'm more interested in how our fellow enjoyed the bread” He grumbled to himself but gave the proper response. “With bombast aplomb Biscuits” Tarbuck said in the flattest tone he could find. She raised her nose up into the air and the two of them were lagging behind the herd about to reach the valley’s entrance. “Tell him that the Baker needs more dough for the cookies” she retorted They were running out of ingredients, well this put a wrinkle in his nice relaxing night. The stallion sighed. “Can he check the pot for more flour” Tarbuck is really hoping that she was just being overly cautious near the guards at the front gate. The lower ranked sergeants only had white and gold armor and the Gate Guardian sitting on top of the gate had red and white armor, a Royal Templar. Noctis Rush had a resting bitchface that couldn't be hidden by her centurion like helmet and the flare of her bat wings kind of gave that away. Of course, the blades that lay parallel to her wings that could detach and be launched like Spears would also suggest that. Her eyes scanned the crowd of convicts and poor peasants and her slit eyes locked on to the one pony still wearing their cap. She waved one of her greave hooves to one of her subordinates and he started cranking the gate open the iron bars raised smoothly and silently letting the dead out of Tartarus. Tarbuck was surprised that they made it past the gates so easil-. “If the one pony that is still wearing their cap could please stay behind.” Noctis’ scratchy voice started and immediately put to rest his hopes that this was gonna be quick. The herd of ponies who had their hats on their hooks at their side immediately started rushing through the gate leaving both Tarbuck and Blue Biscuit to stand in front of an array of guards. New recruits for the front lines are a common sight to come to the gate. New recruits for the gate on the other hand only happened every few years so this surprised no one. With a soft thump the bat pony descends the armor barely made more than a clack as Noctis walked up to both. “Tarbuck please leave” Blue Biscuits said simply Her stance loose an easy smile on her lips. “Not a chance bitch” was his quiet rebuke. The Royal Templar made her way forward and with long practice immediately socked Blue Biscuits in the face. A bruise formed on her face. The caps were cheap things for dead ponies, so it flew from her head. Burn marks on the front aren't exactly an odd thing simply being near the lava dehydrated them. The word traitor burnt into her skull with a brand was anything but an accident. “Seems like you're still the same bitch as you were yesterday had to check to make sure you weren't a changeling. What a shame.” Noctis said starting to circle Blue Biscuits laid out form. “Though it does make sense considering that Garrote -HAH- trusted you” The blue mare on the ground was about to get back up when Noctis bucked her side, and the sound of gasping filled the air as the mare was launched near the valley walls. “Why would they want to copy an incompetent piece of shit.” She started walking over to the downed pony. Tarbuck shifted and in a blink a lance of cold iron hung in front of his right eye. One of the slots where the blades rested was vacant. Noctis turned her head over her left shoulder and stared curiously at him. “Still here Hun, you mind waiting like usual?” She turned back to Blue the blade hanging mere millimeters from his eye, His heart should have been beating out of control, Mind frazzled beyond rational thought. Yet like the monster that he was Tarbuck felt nothing. The commissar could kill him and there be no consequences for the commissar, a noble could kill him and there be no consequences for the noble. The Royal Templar could kill him in front of Daybreaker herself and she would at minimum be amused. “sah Ths wy muther left fathtter” Blue Biscuits muttered through bloody lips. Tarbuck had heard a lot of insults leave the blue mare’s mouth in his life, but this is the one that would kill her. The Royal Templar’s Blades flashed out all except the one in front of his eye and her slit pupils were so wide with rage that her eyes turned black. The seven blades hung as executioner swords, each positioned over one of her vital spots. Blue Biscuits was to anyone’s eye impossibly calm as she gently shut her eyes To Tarbuck her back hoof was trembling. He had to act. So, when he strode forward the Blade of Cold Iron pierced into his eye, blood started blending into his black fur casting the ichor down his throat, the blade puncturing through his eye and with startling speed jilted out of his now ruined eye. He grabbed it, the Icy metal biting into His hoof causing it to bleed. No noise escaped him. “Wha- “Noctis Snapped her head around so fast that the armor shook and behind her stood a monster. The unicorn is the average pony kind standing about 3ft tall, the earth pony Is the largest at a staggering 4ft tall on average, and finally Pegasus are the smallest at about 2.5 ft on average. The Earth pony known as Tarbuck was at base 6ft standing on all four of his hooves. It was standing behind her the black shape that played at being a pony and her a Royal Templar were all that existed at that moment. “Stop.” Was all It said the blade dropped from Its hoof? And he resumed a normal position, and she could breathe again. Noctis Rush, Royal Templar of Daybreaker sat hollowed eyed as Tarbuck picked up his injured friend, walked past the horrified guards and through the iron gate to get his damn dinner. He was going to get his eye cleaned out, he wondered if they could find any underground doctors that could do that. The maniac turned his head around to the mare that was sitting on the width of his back. “I don't suppose you know to clean out an eye now would you” Her face was beaten black and bluer she muttered something, but it was intelligible through the blood. “You know I could really use a witty one liner right about now” He rubbed his chin and while he was trotting along, they finally caught up with other front liners. It seems like most of them had finished eating and were stuffing grass into their hats for dinner. The Purple mare whose name he still doesn’t know was the first to turn her head their way He smiled at her the blood from his eye leaking into his mouth painting his teeth red, she gasps, twirled, and faints on the spot. “Huh you must be a newcomer then?” Tarbuck stared awkwardly down at the purple mare and then up to the rest of the herd. That now was not there. He sighed. A hoof taps his back, and he puts down Blue Biscuits gently letting her down from his back. He sits down like a dog and waits for her opinion. It takes her a minute to spit out all the blood from her mouth and when she does her horn glows blue and the bruises on her cheek start to slowly mend. After around 10 minutes of sitting with his still alive friend she finally breaks the silence. “There's something wrong with you isn't there Tarbuck.” It wasn't stating the obvious, it was pointing out his bleeding eye hole. “Don't suppose you can use some of that healing magic on my eye, can you?” “What so you can go get it stabbed again.” He looked away and his hoof started fiddling with the thin grass below them. She was seriously considering just letting the idiot bleed out. But he still saved her life, the life that Garrote gave her. “It's only for bruises and such I don't have the affinity to heal something of that great damage” She finally said. “Well darn what am I gonna do now then huh.” Like he just got a paper cut or something. Unfucking believable Author's Note If Ya read this chapter past Chapter 1 Thanks.
Chapter 3View OnlineBore Of InsanityChapter 3Blue Biscuit didn’t have any way of healing him, but apparently, she knew someone who did, and it was at this moment Tarbuck realized that the former noble was quite upset. They were talking about it when they were coming back from collecting dinner when the matter of where he was going to get his right eye cleaned came up. They were in the back of the Frontliner’s herd about to be let back into the Hell pit. “You want to send me to Ezpurrelda?!” Tarbuck sputtered. The look of satisfaction that crossed Blue Biscuits’ muzzle truly told Him how much he fucked up. “No, I don’t need that big a favor yet, more like she knows a good Doc” Her yellow eyes flashed up to the gate and Tarbuck’s eyes followed. The Royal Templar normally found every reason to hold them back, and she was staring at them. Her slit eyes, however, had guided her face into something approaching neutral, a look that was tested when she saw that his eye was still weeping blood. His hollow eye met her slit ones, and she blinked first, and they passed under the gate with ease. They held their conversation until they were further away from the gate. The frontliners calmed down now that there weren't any guards breathing down their necks. There still formed a noticeable circle around the two of them leery of approaching the mad pony. “Plus, she gives me a noticeable discount whenever I send you, if you weren't such a big baby about it, we could make a lot more profit” The teasing lilt finally came back to her voice. Good. It wasn't that Ezpurrelda was a bad merchant. She couldn’t hold the location she had looking over the pit if she made no money. The bipedal feline just had an odd… fascination with him. “Look can't we just go to Mange he is a good enough doctor, isn't he?” He pleaded. “Yes, he is a good enough doctor but I'm going to him tonight I broke some bones remember?” Said the pony walking perfectly fine. “But- “he tried to say something else. “Look stop being a bitch about this and go see the horny cat lady” she said the sentence with the finality of a judge delivering a verdict. Tarbuck turned his head and started sulking his one eye finding the final section of the line the 7th line was for the middle-class novels the work horses of the solar empire accounting transportation that where these ponies landed. The 8th is where all independent nobles stop no matter how rich they are, they almost never get past this point. Their tents look more like houses with how long they've been there. The ninth line was where the powers that be like to rest their heads there were six different plazas for each main house the Blue Bloods Taking the Plaza closest to the commander's tent. Next are the Apples that took the farthest position away from their compound handling food and had a hoof in the magical jam business. House Hayseed, the main producer of the Magical Jam has their compound right next to the Apples. Those are the reasonable houses the ones that most ponies understand, the House of Enlightened Science on the other hand was strictly a cult as every single member of this group wears a mask that has the visage of Dawnbreaker sleeping peacefully and no one knows what they do and frankly Tarbuck hopes he never finds out. He's been dragging his hooves taking deliberately slow steps so that it would be longer till he went to his execution. He had reached the second section, so Tarbuck got off the path and into the bazaar that started up every night. Maple Dent, a yellow Hippogriff mare that cheerfully greets everyone who enters the market who didn't blink twice at his bleeding eye. “So which mare to piss off this time” she said “Blue Biscuits” He muttered and received a pitying look. “Yowch” “Tell me about it” “Well good luck with your girlfriend” she said to Tarbuck’s retreating form. Lines 4 through 6 were far more spacious as they had actual ground that wasn't made of trench Lines. Miss Ezpurrelda had her tent in the Fourth Line, the inequine line so it was always interesting approaching her tent. Hestir the Minotaur gave a friendly wave from his Bread selling tent. Their lack of last names was something he was always curious about, but it wasn’t time for pleasantries. He saw Teeth-Clack the dragoness blacksmith And That was the sign that he was getting closer he started shuffling on his hooves the awkward air was already building and he hadn't even entered her tent. He slow walked for the last few minutes and before him stood the odd-looking tent. It had a ball shape and it looked like string was falling off the top of it, in short it looked like a knitting ball. A shorter feline was manning the front of the tent, his orange fur striped with white showed his erratic nature causing his sight to bounce from each potential customer. Before locking onto his very recognizable black fur, his orange eyes widening and to Tarbuck’s dread he called back to the tent. “Madam, coal mountain spotted” Mittens squealed out. A hiss came out from the tent and Tarbuck vaguely recognized it as their home language. Mittens hissed in reply and put as bright of a smile on as he possibly could. He beckoned with one of his paws at the coal stallion and Tarbuck was seriously considering just leaving but the lecture he would get from Blue Biscuits wouldn't be worth it. So, he swallowed his anxiousness and approached the smaller cat. His natural black fur had hidden how bad the damage was to his eye because Mittens let out a higher pitch hiss and the lower throatier hiss of his Madam struck out and the black cat in question stuck her head out of the tent flap, oil to make her fur shinier only a quarter applied. Deep despair ripped her normally pleasant expression open, and she rushed out and cupped his muzzle in her paws. “Who has done this!” She cried out her pink eyes starting to shed tears. This was the reason that his partner in crime had directed him here. The tears that cascaded down her face struck his heart more than any lecture from the noble could ever do. The fact that she genuinely loved him and was concerned for him made his guts twist in a way that nothing could replicate. This love was the main reason he never came up to do business with her. Better that she does not love a dead pony. Without his realizing she was already tugging around his neck and pulling him towards her tent, and he let her guide him inside. A few quilts hung on the tent wall showing a cat larger than a river diverting the very waters he is compared to. She directed him to sit on a cushion, and the black cat started flitting about her tent, sticking her head out the tent flap Ezpurrelda hissed something to her servant out front and Tarbuck could hear his feet scamper away. Better to pull out the blade than let it get infected. “I did this” The feline had gathered antiseptic into her paws and had her back turned to him. She continued as if she didn't hear him, her paws collecting a roll of bandages that was just lying about. Taking the things she had gathered she placed them on a metal platter that looked quite expensive. “Ezpurrelda… I did this to myself” Tarbuck Repeated and the Feline denied it with her heart again. “My Dear, the villain who did this will surely pay” She swore her paws shaking the plate as set it on a small table and sat on a cushion across from him. “Blue Biscuits would have died if I did nothing” he said. Her paws stopped trembling, and a cool look came across her face jaws losing their clench. “And maybe that would have been for the better” Her pink eyes narrowed at him. “W-what?” Came his stuttered voice. “Your two years have already passed, you can leave.” It was a statement that sent more ice into his hooves than anything he had heard. The roaring of a dragon Heliborne held no candle to those soft words. “The only reason you do not leave is because of your friendship with the Dishonored Noble” She spat the word noble as if vomit had been shoved down her throat. “I- “she slowly reached out one of her claws and it met nothing in his right eye the organ almost completely eviscerated. Then she lowered it to below his eye and wiped at the stream of blood that refused to stop. The Purple lamp that hung in the corner of the tent to give the place a mystical vibe caused the Ichor staining her claw to glisten. Tarbuck felt hollow. Ezpurrelda’s red rimmed eyes refused to be closed by her tears. “Would you engage in such a Dangerous game of smuggling illegal goods If your ‘good’ friend Blue Biscuits didn’t push you to it?” She pressed her face closer to his. “Would you have to watch your own be butchered like fish If it wasn’t for Blue Biscuits.” It wasn’t a question. He turned his head away and tried to stare at anything but the person who loved him giving genuine advice, A world of illusion would be better. This was the world that the Feline Tried to shatter. “I have my Vista for your land completed. Why not leave with me?” She spoke the words and turned his head towards her. Her pink eyes speak with nothing but Honesty and with it she could already see his choice. “I See” Ezpurrelda did see. She pulled away fur flush against her skin when she got to her feet with ease the red remained around her eyes, but no more tears fell. “The Offer will remain open to you” She stretched her arms wide out “Now and forever more.” Either with timing of an actor knowing a play was about to end or with respectful silence Mittens showed in an older male zebra. Tarbuck sat silently not even bothering to ask the name of this new person. His One remaining coal black eye watched as she quietly slipped away deeper into her tent whilst the zebra doctor worked on his eye. It was about an hour or so later when he had finally finished. The zebra said nothing to him, and he left into the night and Tarbuck was about to follow his lead when Mittens stopped him holding something in his paws. It was a piece of cloth with a string attached to both sides the image of a pink cat’s eye on the center of it. An eyepatch. “I uh, made it for you while uh...” Mittens stumbled over his words but seemed relieved when he took it from him. “I hope I see you later” He meekly waved at the Giant pony as he walked into the night. Tarbuck was a ghost, he went back into the market half of the world lost to him, was it wrong to have given it up so easily? Friendly calls entered one ear and exited the other and soon he passed by Maple Dent again the hippogriff having gone to town on a piece of corn. “Suppose it didn't go well” Her cheerful chirping was another nail in his ears. “No” Was the response “It's still pretty nice night though.” “No” the beak of the hybrid turned from her corn and for once shut up. She turned her yellow head and saw him crying from his one working eye. “No” “No” “No” This is what he muttered as he trudged down back to the front lines and to the hell of his own choosing. The first three lines didn't have much room so they had to improvise building connected rooms underground and only earth ponies would enjoy being underground. He went to the hole he dug that interconnected with the mess hall. Losing one of his eyes didn't bother him much down here in the dark, only the occasional lamp to guide ponies down to where they should sleep. He heard the main area far before he ever got there. “Can you believe the idiocy of that pony, who would willingly walk into a blade?” He recognized that voice, how could he not. No “Of course, he had to go try something and just made the whole situation worse!” Laughter followed this statement and the bellowing jeers of his fellow Liners. No No No No No No No No No. He turned the corner Blitzing around in the dark cold tunnels the voices only becoming clearer. “I mean really the Jackass thinks he can order us around what does he know about command?” It must be a changeling there isn’t any chance that… She would say those things. He saw the far distant light of the mess hall He picked up speed he’d kill the bastard, Tarbuck wouldn't let someone damage her image anymore. The Giant stallion roared into the mess hall like a wrecking ball knocking aside rickety tables and sent those sitting scattering against the dirt wall. The roof of the cavern was higher than one might expect and that allowed the few Pegasi to take to the air. Blue Biscuits sat calmly her cup of soldier’s tea flown to the wind as she turned in her seat as if a guest had just politely knocked at her door. “I See the Oaf of the hour has come at last” The fake said. He saw red his hoof slamming down and breaking her chair, The mare had formed blue circular platforms that she hopped onto. “Back From your Foreign Whore I see, tell me how the bitch was?” She tutted as if he was naughty schoolboy. His rage snapped and went cold. An empty feeling started creeping through the room telling everyone plainly the best way to end themselves. Maverick Tone Realized that if he slammed his horn just at a right angle it would crack, and his brain would be sent into shock. Grow Vile Realized that all he needed to do was stop flapping his wings and the angle would have his neck snap on impact. Blue Bis—Tarbuck focused harder trying to pierce the strong veil this changeling had. Blue Bisc Blue Blue Bl B ……. Blue Biscuits Realized she needed to stop him from understanding that it was her. Burned by the knowledge the destructive feeling retreated into him he shrunk back from the light and all the destruction he caused. Looking all around him he saw the angry hoard around him. “He’s Nothing but a Brute” “What can you expect from a masochist that Stayed on after their time was up” “If ya wnt ta tel meh how ta kill meself at least do it ike a Stallion” “WHY IS HE STILL HERE” “Are you done with your temper tantrum?” The Real Blue Biscuits said hovering down into the herd the ponies splitting for her. He ran and the Herd parted for him as he dashed back up the path to get anywhere but here. “Look at him can’t even stand his ground” “Maybe the Blade gave him a Lobotomy” “I Don’t know it seems like it gave him some wisdom” With all the attention focused on Tarbuck no one saw the single tear streak down Blue Biscuits’ face as Her Best Friend thundered away. His thudding hooves soon were the only noise he could hear and for a whole minute all he saw was the occasional Lamp, an odd wooden support till finally he found an exit point of the Cave system and burst out into the trench. His head drunk with despair Tarbuck fled into the Night.