Black Rose🌹

The Rain continued to fall on the Roofes of the City´s it had been for almost an entire Week and it sure didn´t look like it would stopp anytime soon.Rayen held the Letters close to his Chest to protect them as he flew through the heavy Rain alongside the Roofes the Gears that where hanging on the House walls and chimney´s continued to slowly turn even in the bad weather the little drops of rain slowly running down over the Metal,the Steam that usually came out of all kind of different
Chimney´s was now barely visible due to the Rain.
Rayen carefully flew above the Roof Tops as the rain began to get stronger forcing him to quickly take out his own personal Designed Flying Glasses, he looked around in the rain a few Giant Palora Sky Ships passing him overhead bringing a small Smile to the Griffons beak before he slowly started to descent, even in Heavy Rain the City´s and Towns where still going ,aybe a bit slower than usual but still on the Move.

With a last strong flap of his Wings he finally landed on the Balcony of the Apartment opening the Heavy Copper Door with the big Window in the Middle of it he was greeted with the smell of someting delicious cooking the sound coming from the Kitchen confirmed it.Shaking the Water of himself he finally entered the good old familiar Apartment with its beautiful Oak Wooden Floores,the Walls that where a light creamy coloured Wallpaper along with wooden beams worked into them as the small wall clock ticket away.Rayen put the Letters on the small oak Coffe Table as he suddenly felt a towel that was placed over his Head looking over to the Kitchen he saw Aveney smiling at him before continuing to Cook with the help of his Magic.

"Well that sure is a warm welcome heh thanks for the Towel..say what are you cooking Aveney it sure smells amazing.."
Rayen sat himself at the Wooden Table as he ruped his wet Head Feathers with the towel after a few minutes of drying himself with the towel he saw Aveney walking into the Room with two plates floating behind him in his Magic as he placed them on the table .
"To answer your question Rayen i tried to made a simple cooked Hay Carrot dish you actually got mead instead of Hay i know you don´t like Hay being a Griffon and all heh."

Rayen looked at his dish before smiling as the two enjoyed a nice meal on a mostly calm rainy day.
"Ohh we also got quite a few new reports from our dear Royal Guards and a letter from the small author about new Infromation for his new Book of the Adventures from the Royal Guards and us..."
"Yeah i saw you brought them...do you know what the reports are about?"
"As much as Information i got they are about another view sightings of that Flower...it appeared into the Town of Shores and apparently planted itself on multiple Sky Ships doing damage to them...."

Aveney stopped mid bite as he looked up to Rayen raising an Eyebrow.
"You mean the Black Rose that is the name of the Flower....how much damage did they do....what happent to...."
"Ohh apparently not much thankfully at least something that can be fixed again...the towns Ponies did manage to get rid of it and well it is now in the Palora Lab for further examination...."
"That is good to know.....so did the Guards request our presence for another case?"

"No actually heh we are free to be for the day lucky us.....but one question Aveney....the Black Rose what kind of a Flower is it even..i mean it clearly isn´t a normal Flower....how did it came to be?"
Aveney brought his Front Hoove up to his Chin thinking deeply before responding.
"Well as much as i know about it, it came from the old Labatory from the now abandoned Town Basalt.....it was a experiment to combine Magic with Plants to see how they react...usually Plant based Magic is natural knowledge to Earth Ponies and some Zebras but with that experiment they tried to get Plants to react to different kind of Magic like from a Unicorn and Pegasi......but something went wrong isn´t that typical.....the Flower began to spread itself quickly almost like its sentient....but that is all i know of it..."
"And now it is used for Drugs great......seeing how that Griffon reacted to getting shot multiple times while under the influence it really shows how dangerous that Flower can be..."
"Sure does Rayen taking to much of the Flower Pedals they make your pain tolerance turn off almost completly so you pretty much don´t feel pain thats why the Griffon who attacked Miss Allera and Mister Jackson did almost feel no Pain as he got shot and was still able to stand even though he was bleeding severly..."
"Mhm something makes we feel like we haven´t seen the last of this Flower.

*************

Allera sat at her Desk writing down on the Reports that laid before her,it had been a week now that she and Jackson where let go of the Hospital after the big almost deadly attack at the Flower Store,her Wounds have healed almost "completly still leaving three big Scars along her Throad that where still bandaged up but not as strong as before.
She continued to do her Paperwork as a knock on her Door brought her out of her thoughts,calling out for the Pony to come in the door opend as the familiarly giant Unicorn Guard walked into her Office.
"Good morning Ma´am i brought the new bandages....if you don´t mind i am tasked to change them.."
"Thank you Dawn but please make it quick i have a lot of paper Work to do.."
Dawn gave a nod a he lit his Horn its Magic carefully wrapping itself aroud the Bandages taking them of the Scars, he walked over to the Desk as he unwrapped the new bandages with his Magic slwoly floating them towards Allera´s neck as she began to tremble slightly before out jerking away out of reflex,a small "Dammit" was the only sound that escaped her muzzle as she brought a Hoove down on the Table.
Dawn stood silently still holding the Bandages in his Magic as he looked before putting the bandages on the Table,Allera watched him with one Eye as he looked back up to her she quickly turned her head away.
"Ma´am..."Was all Dawn managed to say as he continued to look at the leader of the Royal Guard.
"I apologize Dawn......"
"What are you apologizing for Ma´am...."
Allera didn´t immediatly awnser as she walked across the Room looking out of the big Window in her Office down into the streets of Palora.
"That i recoiled like that just now.....i hate it.....i know that you won´t do anything and still as soon something gets close to my neck i have this really strong Fear.."
Allera clenched her Teeth as she punched one of her Hind Hooves into the Side Wall cracking it under her strike a little bit as small tears began to stung her eyes,she quickly wiped them away as she looked back to her giant Colleague.
"Ma´am it is no crime that you flinched at that moment....Ptsd is one hell of a thing....to be honest i would be much more worried and surprised if you didn´t carry any of that trauma with you,especially after what happend in that store....
"I am sadly very aware of it....even if i really don´t want to admit it...we Guards are sadly known for having Ptsd with all the things we see and have to deal with every day......to think i almost died......dead...it still feels so real like i am still laying on that Ground in my own blood....."

Allera slummped her head onto the table as Dawn walked up to her side.
Look Ma´am like i said there is nothing wrong with your Fear and it is really strong of you to admit about the knowlege of your Trauma.....believe me we all can in a way relate to Ptsd....remember how lets say anxious i was after i got those scar´s on my left Eye....i still am cautious around Diamond dogs..."

Allera looked up to Dawn before letting of a small shuckle.
"Yeah i remember....ughhh its good to know that i'm not alone....Dawn please leave the bandages i will put them on myself..."
"Of course Ma'am but i will wait and help out if needed.."
Allera wrapped the Bandages around her neck as Dawn carefully tightend the ends of the Bandages with his Magic before giving her a small smile,the short Silence between the two was interrupted as the Doors of the Office opend up to reveal Spark standing in the Doorway Wings spread open as he balanced quite a stack of Reports on his back as he managed to give the two a slightly akward shaky Salute.
"Ehehe Ma´am,Dawn we might have a few calls we need to adress immediatly....."

*******

The Royal Guard Team arrived at the Old Palorian Church the building was made up of old paving Stone while the Windows where made up of clear glass ,old Wooden Beams where built into the structure.
At the Front of the Church in the giant Doorway stood a Unicorn Priest his grey Fur was neatly brushed under his long roabe and his long Blonde Mane
was hanging elegantly to his left Side,his Cutie Mark was a Cross with leafs and Flowers aroun it.

He quickly greeted the Guards before bringin them into the Church.
"Soo what excactly is the Problem that you called us here Priest?"Allera asked as she looked up to the Windows while Dawn and Spark walked to each side of her as they looked over to the Unicorn Priest.

"Well you see.......there has been a small problem with a so called "Gang" around they liked to cause small Problems for the Creatures around here but nothing to big to get Royal Guards involved......"

The Guard

s looked at eachother before returning there gazes to the Priest as he continued to talk.
"Anyway....that "Gang" disappeard about three days ago at first it dind't really look like something happend but after what i found today i'm sure they did something......that most likely didn't end well.

The Priest brought the Guards to the far back room where a old apparently rusted shut trapdoor was build into the ground,a closer look revealed that the trapdoor had a small gap with a small thorn vine coming out of it.
"Well this is it......that is as much as i got to know the last place where the "Gang" was seen.....i don´t know what they tried or wanted to do down there the Underground Chamber had been closed of for years......"

"Well whatever they wanted down there.....by the state of this Vine it most likely went horrible wrong......"Spark said as he carefully gazed over the vine.
Out of the small gab in the hatch came a small air flow that Spark notices as brought his gaze back up to his colleagues.

"I´m really not sure why they would go down there...i mean down there are just the old cellars who used to host Barrels and all the Storage for the Items and treasures of the Church but all of it accpet for the Barrels was moved up into the Bell Tower..."

The Guards trio waited as the called backup arrived at the Church of Palora before returning to the old Floor Trap Door.With the permission from the Priest the Guard pry open the Trap Door revealing the old now dark cellars of the Church along side with a cold wind coming out of it.
Allera lit the oil lamp before taking the handle into her mouth the Unicorns also lit there Horns before the Group of Guards descended into the dark of the cellars.

*********

The Sound of Hooves echoed around the cellars as the Guards slowly continued to walk down the old wooden stairs who creaked under every step,the light of the Oil Lantern and magic from the Unicorn Horns illuminated the giant main room of the cellars.

"Well the Rooms truly are....empty there really is nothing here...only dust and....more dust.."Spark said as he shock himself swirling up more dust as they continued to walk through the empty hallways.
Turning another corner there was suddenly a light shining out of one of the large store rooms,defusing there weapons the Guards carefully rounded the Corner and came face to face with a horrible gruesome sight.
The Light came from the flowing Magic of a broken Unicorns Horn,the body lay in a pool of his own blood mangled almost beyond recognition as more vines seemingly growed out of his body.

The Guards stod there in shock as the entiredy of the gruesome picture revealed itself as they looked around the cellar room more mangled bodies lay in there own blood with vines spreading out of them.
Two Guards stayed back at the entrance as Allera,Spark and Dawn continued to walk into the room they kept there lights on the ground as they carefully tiptoed around the bodies.

"What happend here this..this is a massacre how could anyone....."
"The Black Rose......"
"W..what?"
Spark looked over to Dawn with a questioning glance the giant only starred back at him as he carfeully lifted one of the Vines that spread out of the corpses with his Magic.
"This....is the doing of the Black Rose a Flower that was suppose to be a creation of Nature and Magic....now its used as a Drug and when consumed to much it turns into all this you see here it was never meant to be consumed.....right Ma´am?"
"Indeed i don´t know why it came to all of this but whatever happend here it had to do with it....."

Allera walked up to the Barrels that stood on the Far Wall,standing in front of one she turned around before taking aim as she kicked out with her hind Leg smashing the lid right off as many more black Flower Pedals came falling out of them.
"Drug Gang...."
"It appears so....they used the Cellars to hide......and took to much for their own good......"
"Probably began to hallucinate and as it got worse they ripped each other apart due to the numbing of the Pain thanks to the Flower they didn´t stop until no one could take another Step..."

Allera opend her saddlebag as she carefully put a few pedals into a small evidence bag,Dawn stood next to her as his gaze wanderd around the Room as in the corner of his Vision he saw one of the Bodies.....twitch.
His gaze turned back to Allera as his Horn lit his Magic wrapping around his Weapons, judging by the look on Alleras Face who also brought her Weapon close to her Muzzle she saw it two.
"Glitter Claw,Strike Hoove get you´re Weapons out......Spark get behind us now....."
"W...wha but Dawn why would I.....
Dawn starred down to Spark with his stern Gaze.
"NOW"
Spark quickly trotted behind them as the entire Room fell quiet.

The Minutes went by as the Guards stood in the Room between the Corpses and the Exit the silence continued to stretch as they kept there waepons close to them ready to shoot at anything that moved.
The Silence was broken by a vine that had just lain on the floor began to move without a second to spare a shot sounded through the chamber as it hit the vine directly on the body it craweld out from the Gun in Allera´s Muzzle smoking as she and the others staret at it with wide eyes.

All Hell broke lose as the Bodies began to stand up vines spreading out of them with sharp thorns on them as they came slashing down like whips trying to hit the Guards around them as they dragged the Bodies along,one vine cmae crashing down on the Trio inside the Room as Dawn just barely managed to bring his Magic Shiel up in time as it smached against it with full force leaving crackes on the Shield.
"W...what in the bloody Hoove is that!!?"
"That is the full Power of this cursed Flower!
A drop of sweat rolled down Dawns neck as he continued to hold up the Shield with his Magical Power while Allera and Spark continued to shot at the raging Vines and reanimated Corpses.

The Unicorn Corpse with its still sligrhtly glowing Horn began to rise with sickening snapping on broken Legs as it let out a bloody scream as another round of Vines burst out hitting the Diamond Dog Guard Glitter Claw who had stood in the Doorway shooting away at the Vines right into the Head,the only sound that came out of her was a gurgled sound as she collapsed to the Ground adding to the Pool of Blood on the Ground as the Room once again seemd to stopp in shock.

Allera clenched her Teeth around her still smoking Pistol as she raced towards there fallen Comrade as she managed to shoot one of the Corpses right into the flower that had grown out of the Side,the Corpse let of a scream as it collapsed once again the Vines retracting before completly dissapearing rendering the Corpse finally Dead.

With a leap over another Corpse Allera managed to get to the Side of the fallen Glitter Claw as a shout rang through the Room with Spark slamming himself right into Alleras side bringing them both to the Ground as another Vine came crashing down right at the point where Allera just stood.
"Buck.....thanks Spark......"
"Huff..huff no Problem Ma´am...."
The two quickly got themself off the Ground as the Rose Walker Coprse continued to approach them but was quickly laid to rest with a shot from Spark right into the Eye Socked where the Flower had grown out off the Eye still dangling on the nerve as it exploded into a faul slimy substance.
"Aghhh ew ew ewwwwww.......god bucking dammit you stupid peaces of Fauna you killed our Comrade!!!"
"Ahhh everypony get out of this Room make sure none of those Walkers get out....Spark help me carry the body of Glitter Claw!!!"
"YES MA`AM" shouted the three as they gallop towards the Doorway the Rose Walkers following them as one managed to jump on the back of Strike Hoove who began to shake himself trying to get the Creature off his back,as it brought down another of those awful Vines striking him near the neck but thankfully not killing him.
Dawn rushed up to him and jumped on top of the Creature flipping it rightof the back from Strike Hoove who was close to falling unconscious,the Rose Walker screamed and tried to bite into Dawn´s face but he kept the mouth shut with his Magic as he himself clenched his Teeth as the Vine came striking down right on his back actually tearing of a big pice of the Armor on the back leaving a slash Wound that began to bleed heavy.

With a aimed shot Allera managed to kill the Walker as Dawn and Strikin Hoove came running out of the Room before all of them raced up the Stairs up to the Trap Door where the Priest had waited close by,he heard the shouting and immediatly raced to the open Trap Door closing it immediatly as the Guard came falling out of the Door.
The Priest Unicorn saw the stade the Guards where in as a loud thud against the closed Trap Door made him jump followed by a loud Scream as one of the Vines managed to break through the Door but didn´t get far as the Priest used his Magic to seal the Door for good.

"Oh.......my.....are you all alright.......that......thats a stupid question I know i´m sorry.........I didn´t know about...oh my.......and youre Comrade........oh noooo......"
Allera stood up as she looked at the Priest her Eyes where wet as she turned to look at her Comrades.
"Its alright......like yu said you didn´t know and it wasn´t your fault....we will return with a special Squad to lay the Creatures to rest....now we know what happend to the "Gang" and what we are facing......"

The Priest Unicorn gave a sad but appreciated nod as he help the Royal Guards to the Door of the Church.
"Look Miss Allera if......if its alright with you all i could do the honor of giving your Comrade the ceremony of the sould parting..."
The Guards looked at each other with tired eyes gazing to there fallen comrade Glitter Claw who laid motionless over Allera´s back staining her Armor with blood.
Dawn let out a sigh as he walked up to the Priest Unicorn towering over him as the rain continued to fall down on them.
"That would be nice.....for her especially......thank you very much Priest..."
"S..sure no problem and thank you for your Help all of you and once again i´m sorry for your Comrade.."

*************

It had been a Week since the Ceremony for Glitter Claw the fallen Guard in the battle against the Rose Walkers in the Cellar of the old Palora Church.
Allera stood in front of the Grave the Rain continued to fall as it had since the begining of the Week as the Sound of Wings brought the Female Leader of the Guard out of her thoughts.
Spark landed next her as she continued to stare at the Grave as the rain trickeld down her Muzzle and Armor as she bowed to the grave.
"Ma´am...?"
"You know what I hate about this career Spark........the fact that we lose good Ponies......and Creatures to awful things as they tried to do good...."
"Yeah.......I get what you mean Ma´am......"
"If I had know.....if only I would have prepared us better......maybe then...well....."
"Ma´am its not your fault how could you have known......who knows what would have happend even if we where better prepared......"
"Mhm yeah you are right it still feels awful to lose a Comrade no matter how....."
"Yeah......Ma´am you are getting soaked we should return inside the others are already questioning where you are......"
Allera shock herself as she gave Spark a small smile as the two slowly turned away from the Grave outside the Garden of the Royal Guard Headquarters.

*************

The small desk clock clicked away while Allera and Detective Aveney where busy putting away old finished cases into the Shelfs of the archive Room of the Headquarters.
"Well those cases have been quite a bit ago....i still remember the goddam Chase of that Jewel Thief.....remember Aveney when you chased after him you and Rayen lead him right into the Hooves of Dawn."
"Yeah I remember that it was quite a fuss for him and for us I mean he wasn´t really sneaky about it either breaking a giant dispaly Window isn´t exactly sneaky or quiet and that in front of a busy Café leaving behind many witnesses heh...."

A knock on the Door to the Archive Room made Allera and Aveney stop in there Conversation as they turned to the Door where Dawn and Rayen greeted them at the Doorway.
"Ma´am we got some new Information about the case with the Rose Walkers..."
"Well better said the nice Priest with the help of other Church goers cleared out the Cellar Room and the Barrels with the Black Rose Pedals.....and in one Barrel they Found a Map and a Letter...."
"How did we miss this...we where in that Room....."
"Uh Ma´am we kinda where busy fighting for our Lives so......."
"Yes,yes you are right Dawn.....what exactly is this Map for have you taken a look at it yet?"
"From what we could tell it is an old Map apparently from "The Old City" so to speak but why we don´t know..and the letter has many adresses on it for probably "Customers"for the Drugs from the Black Rose so it seems..."
Allera looked at the Letter she had found out that one of the Adresses belonged to the Flower Shop where she almost had lost her Live that thought still sent shivers down her spine.

The Sound of a Key opening a Heavy Metal Door echoed around the surprisingly well lit Corridor of the Basement from the Royal Guard Headquarters.Its Walls where carved from old Stone with many beautiful Ivy Vines hanging down from hanging Flower Pots,futher down the Stairs laid the Prison Cells of the Headquarter but even those where kept clean and astonishingly comfortable for a cell they where still made of stone but on the Ground was a neatly knitted Straw Rug on the Righ Wall side stood a Bed and on the Left Side stood a Book Shelf next to it was a small extra Bathroom.

The Sound of Metal Horseshoes walking along the Ground made the few Prisoners look up from there Books,Sleep or Meals but as the Pony walked past there Cells they quickly returned to there activites,finally the Guard stopped in front of one of the far off Cells inside was a Unicorn Mare with a Sunflower Yellow Fur and a Bright White Mane,she stopped in her trott over to the Book Shelf as she looked out of the giant Doorway that was closed of with stanchions at the Mare Guard that looked at her.

"Good Evening Miss Sunflowe Peach how are we feeling today?"
"Holy Buck......I......."
Sunflower Peach looked down to the Ground with a ashamed look her Hoove scratching the ground nervously before walking closer to the stanchions putting her Front Hooves between one of the side Bars.
"I..i´m alright whatever the Nurses in the Palorian Hospital did it worked.....I have no more withdrawal Symptoms from those cursed Pedals of that dammed Flower heh........wow......I can´t belive you are alive...my Griffons really fucked you up didn´t they...."
"Well for the fact that I got my throad cut open i´m mostly good and fine again thank you....."
Allera let the sentence out with a small hint of resentment as she brought her gaze away from the Unicorn Mare before returning it after a few seconds the Hoove of Sunflower Peach was suddenly really close to Allera´s scared throad.
Allera´s eyes widend as she looked down at the stretched Hoove that almost touched her Scars in a splitt monent Allera jumped back making Sunflower Peach take her Hoove back through the stanchions.
"I......they really.......huhhhhhh......you got ptsd from this huh......?"
Allera held her Hoove over her Throad as she starred at the Unicorn rage turning inside her stomach.
"Wha.......what makes you think you can just touch me like that......how come you care so much all of a sudden!!!!"
The Unicorn Mare starred with wide Eyes before bringing a Hoove up to her Chin why did she care she clearly didn´t back in Store.
"I guess I care suddenly because i´m able to see what I did now that i´m mostly clean......back then I was full of those cursed Pedals and....I just didn´t care mostly because of the deal......"

Allera raised her Eyebrow as she carefully walked back up to the bars keeping a safe distance to them as she starred down the Unicorn.
"What are you talking about...what kind of Deal?"
"Ah.....I....the Deal about stealing those Jewels.......it had been weird.....we where a normal typical Flower Shop buisness was normal and one day a few months ago these Two really rough looking Earth Pony Stallions came into the Store.....they said they had a deal for me and my two griffon Friends a better Buisness way.......we didn´t belive in it but they brought out a small container and in it was......."
"The Black Rose...."
"Y..yeah at first I thought that they meant to sell it they kinda did mean it but yeah......I wasn´t really fond of it and my two colleagues weren´d either then they attacked us and made us take this cursed Flower.....I don´t remember much after that probably duo to beng in a constant intoxication but we started to do all kinds of small Crimes we felt like we where unstoppable...then the Crimes got bigger to the Point I lost touch with reality and as I noticed that our Flowers where slowly dying..the Old Dog just came in at the Wrong time....."

Sunflower Peach looked up at Allera with a sad smile as she brought her Hooves back down from the side Bar.
"Well that sure.....explains a few many questions heh can I see it as a confession?"
"Mhmmm well yeah you can.......you did come down here for something didn´t you....what for?"
"I came down here because of a few questions....mostly about a Letter we found in the last investigation...and since you just told me all this Sunflower Peach I would like to assume that you could help me with these adresses of the Letter."
Allera brought the letter closer to the Bars as Sunflower Peach took a closer look at it.
"Mhm I can´t tell most of these adresses but one its a House....Place......in Dakea but where exactly I don´t know....."
"That´s quite alright......thank you Sunflower Peach....."
Opening her Saddlebag Allera put the Letter back in as she turned to walk away.
"W...wait Miss Allera....."Sunflower Peach screamed as Allera turned back around looking at the Unicorn Mare:"HAs anyone ever told you that....youa re a very beautiful and sexy Mare...."She said while winking at the now slightly stuned Female Guard.
"Oh and....could I get a few more Books about Gardening please i´m all out of them and they are really Interesting..."
Allera jsut starred at the Mare who still looked at her with that grin.
"I........sure Sunflower Peach sure....."

****************

Opening the Door to the downstairs Cells the still very bewildered Allera walked out into the Corridor shaking herself as she went deep into her thoughts before bumping against Silver Strike.
The Diamond Dog Guard looked down at his Leader with a slightly confused but friendly smile.
"Good evening Ma´am is everything all right?"
"Ughh yeah excuse me Silver Strike I was deep in thought......say is the R.G.F still in repair or is it ready to make a trip over to the small City of Dakea?"
"Mhm as much as I know it is still in repair but its not so bad so a Trip to DAkea and back should be in order....."