Chapters The sea rises to the moon's glow as the lightning claps along its dance. The stars tried to get a glimpse, but the clouds would not allow, as it cried, filled with rage.
And at the heart of it all, a boat struggling to stay afloat from the water's captivating dance.
The captain shouts for commands, while the crew struggles to follow, as the sea's demands the impossible.
The cargo of the boat would shift and move, tumble and fall. But one stowaway pony stayed silent and still, damped, hungry, bruised, and dying.
The mare wore a hood to cover herself and camouflaged as if one of the parchments of the boat, but for today it was not necessary to hide herself, as everyone was busy above to keep the boat afloat.
She has found a corner in the boat that was sturdy and still, free of objects that could fall or squash her, as well as solitude from inquisitive eyes.
A piece of bread, wet from the incoming sea water from the cracks in the boat, was on her white, muddy hooves, slowly nibbling it away as she waited.
Eyes stared blankly through the distance as she slowly died from the inside; trauma slowly ate her away. She shivers from both the cold of the storm and the reality that was set upon her.
She has lost everything. Her home, her stuff, her friends and her loved ones.
No tears would fall through her eyes, as it was already red and dried out. It was heavy, like staring into the abyss.
No sobbing could be heard, as her body was already weak from fatigue; tired from everything.
Trapped in her trans, the sudden calm of the sea sent chills from her spine, as it reminded her of that time when all hell broke loose in her life. The dark blue unicorn with grey stormy mane, who calls the wind, Storm Bringer.
Slam!
The door leading outside was slammed open, and an earth pony was thrown inside.
Thud.
The old, white bearded, grey stallion limps slowly away as he is bruised and weak. But he would not go far, as he'd end up fainting.
Soon after, a stallion would walk slowly into the room.
~Clack, tap~, his shiny, black boots made as he continued to walk inside, while his dark red cape drags along his back.
Unlike the stowaway, this pony was wearing the fancyest clothes, showing air and royalty as he searched the room.
The mare, wide-eyed and afraid, concentrates on erasing her presence and is left alone.
As she cowered, she lowered her head and peaked through the crevices between the parchments and flooring. She sees the stallions boots getting closer and closer from where she is.
As the tap of his boots grew louder, her fear and anxiety rose.
Her blanked state of mind is now running a mock; now filled with fear and chaos, she did not notice that the boots she was wary of were already in front of her.
She looked up slowly until he met his gaze. " S-Sror-Storm." She shivered.
"Princess Mono Kesu," his reply.
Her memories flood with the horrible things that this stallion has done to her, and she began to respond in return—to flee away from the monster in front of her.
But before she could go far, her hooves were already cought by the stallion, and she could not refuse his grasp as she limped and struggled timidly.
The stallion just stares at the weak mare, disappointed and disgusted. He'd shove the mare to the floor and belittle her existence. "It seems we have no use for you." He threw a curved horn that was white of color, decorated with a very fashionable, white gold handle. "You may have your horn back."
As her horn slid through the floor, her last string of hope broke and her knees gave way, kissing the floor she stands, revealing her unkempt long black hair.
Seeing as the mare was already dead inside, he was satisfied and left her to rot.
As he got out of the room and into the deck, there were his soldiers pointing their blades at the crew of the ship. One would approach and salute the stallion, "General Storm Bringer, your orders."
"Sink the ship." His final words as he boarded back to his ship from the side of the wrecked boat.
His crew would follow suit while shoving back the others who were beging for salvation.
Their cries were heard by deaf ears as the general's ship sailed away and the storm began to appear.
The winds once more whistled, calling the storm to come, while the crew of the wrecked ship struggled to prepare for the oncoming chaos.
The captain, who was on the floor, slowly regained his consciousness, cracking his dislocated jaw. "Damn that heartless peace of sheit of a nobleman.makin me beg... I shouldave spat his clothes while I had the chance."
He quickly picked himself up and began limping back above the ship, grabbing his wide hat, signifying he was the captain of the ship.
Meanwhile, the mare remained lifeless, staring at her broken horn from the distance.
The captain was about to head back up to his crew, until the mare caught his attention.
"All this, for you, lasy?" He limps back and kicks her horn near her. No reaction.
He then left her to aid his crew above, desperately needing guidance.
" What're y'all doing disorganized!? This ain't what I thought, ya foals!"
Thunder crashes, as they continued to fight the bad weather.
The mare continued to gaze at her horn that's in hoofs reach. Was there any point in reaching her horn? It would be best if she just withered away and embraced eternal rest. Rest sounded good in her head; perhaps it was time for her to rest, she thought, but her hoof has already grasped her horn.
She wanted nothing to do with this world, and yet she grasps firmly. Why? She questioned herself. She was already tired of everything; why does she still clench her horn?
She herself was confused.
The storm has caught up and begun battering the already worn-down ship, while the captain struggles to fight their fate with the sea.
"Fight the storm, mateys! Die fightin rather than die fer nothin!!!" Woosh! The waves continued to crash into the boat, drenching everyone.
The captain picked himself up as the boat swayed with the waves, continuously tripping him over. "I have sailed with you my whole life, respected and called you home... Never did I ever thought that you'd be a slave to a heartless bastard!" The captain shouted through the air. Perhaps he has lost it as he faced death.
But then, he'd see from the corner of his eye, the weak mare had stood up and pointed her horn to the sky. And with that, the dark sky vanished and was replaced by pure white that can blind anyone.
As the old stallion lost consciousness from the blast of light, the last thing he sees is the red eyed mareholding her horn and the final clash of the sea and thunder.
_______________________________
The ocean can be heard, calmly crashing through a cliff.
The blue clear skies that tasted of salt, would be ruined as the seagulls glided through the air, hunting for food to feed their younglings perched at the cliff side, where a lone light tower stood. A path would be seen leading far from the bottom of the cliffs, where a port town resides.
The village was calm and happy, oblivious to what happens outside their village.
The port was wide but docked by a few boats. Fish trades and a few passengers would come in and out of the port to either visit or pass through. It was quite a calm village.
But that soon would change as a very peculiar boat would come by that would be spotted by a guard from the port. The earth pony was curious, as this was the first time he saw that kind of ship that was closing in on their village.
The ship, if one could call that, was all damaged and torn. One can compare it to a ghost ship.
The guard could only gaze at it in awe and fear, which made the guard almost forget his duties. He began ringing the bell as to warn the other workers from the port of an emergency, as they were not scheduled to have this kind of ship to port in their village. As soon as they heard the bell and saw the approaching ship, everyone there took action.
A small boat would approach the ghastly ship to make first contact while the ones on the port prepare a place for the large ship to dock.
Even though the dock was wide and able to port multiple ships. The size of the ship was just that large; it must be a containership of some sort, the port master deduced as it saw the ship.
The old stallion's curiosity would go nowhere just by staring at it, so it would give a command to radio the ship approaching their port on a live channel. "This is Port Irwind, i repeat, Port Irwind. To the unknown ship heading to our port, state your business." The mare at the radio waits for a response, but only static could be heard.
She repeats it once more but gives no answer.
"Captain?" She looks at the port master.
The port master prepared for the worst and informed their small vessel approaching the ship to take extreme caution as the ship has not made contact, while he prepared his crew for the possibility of a raid.
As soon as the small boat was near, they saw the crew cheering, which took them aback. As they boarded the wrecked ship, they found out that this was the reported cargo ship from Shanghay that sank at the Prancific Ocean a month ago, which was the Port master's brother's ship.
A grand welcome was given to the survivors as what has happened to them was a miracle; even the Princess of Friendship, who was the ruler of Equestria, was given notice of this grand event and was to visit within a week to greet and honor the survivors.
"Brother! Welcome back to the living!" The Port master joyously jests with his brother.
" Ay! What makes ya think that the sea would take me? No one would dare touch this ugly son ofa gun!" The ship captain jests back.
"True!" And their banter continued as they celebrated at the local bar of the town.
The town seized their activities and celebrated in this joyous occasion, making the dull port into a busy and lively one.
"So brother, why make port here? Irwin is the last place you should've ported in. Why take this long journey? Surely it wasn't because ya missed me? Hahaha!"
"That's how much I love ya bro, hahaha! But kidding aside, this is the safest port I can land the damn thing," he replied to his brother.
This made a port master more curious and worried about what his brother had just said.
" Ya couldn't make port in Zebrambwe or Sadlearabia? Did you get into trouble again?"
"Aye, but not in the way ya think of brother, that I promise ya; this was not our fault."
"I see... you need to port in Equestria... then perhaps a more private occasion then, probably next week, when the princess would visit and greet you personally. Perhaps she should hear about this?"
"Absolutely, brother," he replied seriously.
"Hmm... Then I should return to my duties then. Don't fret, brother, you are safe here. I will protect you, so enjoy and have a proper rest; you deserve it! Let your brother handle everything."
"Oh, but before you leave, I would like to introduce to you my adopted daughter, Eraser." As soon as he mentioned her name, a mare cloaked with a dark hooded mantle, a dark see-through veil covering her snout downwards, a black tiara probably made from obsidian covering her forehead, and garments made for naval wear appeared at his back.
This creeped and alarmed the elder brother, who began to draw his weapon, a pistol.
But before he could fully draw it, a knife was stabbed in the middle of the table, which paused the port master from making any moves.
He'd stare to take a better look at her, but the more he did, the stare of the mare became more alarming.
He'd surrender and go back to his seat. "You've got quite a daughter there, brother. Are you sure she could be trusted?" he asked.
"I'd give my life fer her. Is that enough proof fer ya?" He answered.
"I see... Then, I consider her my niece and part of the family then. It's best that we introduce her to the rest of the family."
"Yes, that's part of the plan, brother, but it can wait."
"Indeed. Then if that's all, I'll be taking my leave. Take care, brother." He'd stand up once more and leave, but would take a final glimpse at the mare. He could only shrug off the uncomfortable feeling she permeates.
"Eraser." The captain called to her once more and invited her to sit beside him.
" Ya got ta stop doin that, it's creepy even fer me." He'd then give her a glass and pour some cider into it.
"It can't be helped," she quietly replied after chugging down the cider.
"So, how is the village? Is it to your liking?" The captain asked.
"No, it seems they too side with Storm Bringer. I cannot stay here."
"Then tomorrow night we leave."
"And where do we go, might I ask? Equestria was the last place we could ask for refuge and help, and they side with the bastards." She took another jug of cider and drank.
The old captain would grab the mysterious mare's shoulder and grab her attention.
She'd just gave a look to the old stallion as she continued chugging it down.
She'd put the jug down and look at the empty cup. "You need not join me, as the bastard who dared kill us is gone. Your revenge is finished; you don't need to join my travels."
"Yes, we do, for we are family. Our revenge is not finished." The stallion poured another cider to her empty cup.
The mare smirked and gave a deep, big sigh. "You've grown old, father."
"And you're as disrespectful as the rest of yer brothers."
Both gave a toast and drank another jug.
"So, does Uncle have an offspring, or is it inherent to you're bloodline, forever a stud, a dud to the mares?" She asked the old stallion.
"Ha! This was my choice, young one. I married the sea, and don't you furget it!"
"And got betrayed and nearly got killed multiple times by your lover."
"Hey, don't you dare talk to yer mother like that! She may be a beach, but she's still yer mother, AHAA!"
"You crazy old hoot." She giggled as he tried to hold her laughter.
The old stallion smiled and felt victorious for making her at least smile and giggle. "And my brother? Nah, he has a son; he couldn't take being an island; that's why he's stuck at the port, ya see?"
"Oh? Then why didn't you get one?" she curiously asked.
"What's with you with all these questions all of a sudden?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. If I'm going to be your daughter, I might as well learn about you, right?"
"Well, I know that yer up to something, young mare. Hm... And besides, why would I want another family when I have you colts and filly ruinin my ship? My hooves are already full from ya." He grinned and smiled widely.
The captain would stand and take his last cider for the night. " Anyway, im gonna head ta my bed and sleep; no need ta drug me with more boos as you know its bad fer my liver. Just don't forget Kesu-"
Slam! 2 bags was put on the table, and everyone in the pub became silent.
"- you're, Redeye Erase-er!" Everyone cheered and raised their glass of cider.
"You know where we are, little pony; your family's got yer back. We'll be waitin." The stallion left, and the rest continued their merriment, while the wayward stallion held her emotions in and picked up her bag before leaving the pub.
Author's Note
As can be seen, the princess of friendship is considered the ruler of Equestria and not Celestia, hinting that the world has seen her as a ruler and is post gen 4.
Update:1.1
Update:1.2
Thunders clash and rain drops down the stained glass window of a purple alicorn and her five friends. And on the other side, that same alicorn stood and glared at the somber weather.
Her mane was lustrous, black, and long, with a strip of purple that waved slowly in the wind. She was bigger and wider than any other pony, with horns longer than unicorns and wings wider than pegasi; she was genuinely more majestic than the others.
Knock,knock. The sound came from the door on the farthest side of her chamber, where two guards are stationed and await her orders to welcome the would-be knocker.
"Enter..." she calmly asked.
The guards bowed their heads and did as they're told.
And on the other side of the door, another guard was there, holding a scroll, and hurriedly delivered the letter to her.
He bowed, "Princess Twilight Sparkle. News from Neighpony. They request our assistance on a joint search on Prancific Ocean as two ships have gone missing from the storm. One is from a cargo ship heading to Saddle Arabia, and the other... is from General Storm Bringer." The guard was doubtful at the letter, not sure if there was a mistake or typo.
This also caught the alicorn princess's interest.
"General Storm Bringer, a powerful unicorn who can control the weather, was taken out by a storm, you say?" The alicorn asked, questioning if what she heard from the guard was correct.
The guard looked at the letter once more. "Yes, ma'am." He was confused as well.
The alicorn's head was filled with doubt. "When did this happen?" she asked.
"Recently then, probably a day or week? No. Perhaps it has something to do with her." The princess's mood gloomed.
"That fool."
The elegant Alicorn stood up and went to her table. There, she wrote a letter and burned it with her magic, where its dust began to glow and zoomed out of the window. "I have sent our air force the details and is heading there right away. Please inform our navy and the ports of Equestria."
The guard saluted and quickly left the room.
She then approached one of the guards in her room, "You, call in General Gallus and Star Seeker Smolder. We have to show our support to Neighpony. Three fleets would do."
"As you command, princess," one of the guards left, leaving only one to guard the room.
"A message to my niece perhaps. Handling Equestria for a week shouldn't be a problem for her, right?" She asked the lone guard, who just shrugged at her question.
"Hmm..." the princess was a bit displeased by his reply.
She then waited patiently once more at her window, where a jet stream of rainbow color can be seen, destroying the bad weather and leaving a trail of clear sky as it passed by.
______________
The calming winds blow as the birds chirp on the fields, the grass as green as it can be, while the trees tower and give shade to the ones who need it. And there on a path walks a lone dark figure, ruining the scene.
A pony who wears all-black attire is tired and sweating.
"Damn it." She frustratingly huffed and puffed as she struggled to travel along this peaceful road. The sun, although not as hot as Zebrabwe, was more humid, and the breeze was strong enough to drag her behind because of her clothes.
She then rests at the side of the road, where a giant tree helps and comforts her from the sun's strong rays.
She began removing her black cloak and veil and removed some of her heavy clothing, revealing her white silky body, and shiny black mane.
"I feel stupid for wearing this."
Now bothered on what to do with her clothes, she knows that this attire was not suited in Equestria, particularly in the day as it was humid.
While she rested, she pondered over what to do with these clothes, as carrying them would be a burden.
The black cloak and veil would be important for her in the night, in case she needed to sneak, but her navy suit would just way her down, and she decided to leave it beside the tree. Now all that's left is her white sleeveless undershirt and refreshing black navy shorts that easily let in the breeze.
She looked at her clothes that she left once more, reminiscing about the days she had with them, and gave her final farewell as she continued on her journey.
Now she was lighter and more relaxed; no need for heavy clothes as the sun does not bite, and the insects here are no pest. The breeze does not drag her any more, as it aids her with its calm and gentle touch. A smile can be seen in her face, but that would not last as her past would bother her once more.
Her once jolly skip through the path became heavy and dragging. Her face began to sour, and her breathing started sighing. This must be some trick to lower her guard once more and regret her actions later on, just like last time. She does not want to be tricked again.
She will not be tricked again.
Her eyes frowned once more as she concentrated her mind that the past is gone and you have learned what the true world is. Don't be a fool, Kesu, or you'll repeat your mistakes, she chanted in her mind.
But soon enough, a fork on the road would stop the mulling unicorn.
Just up ahead, if she continued north,
And at her right, a path heading through a forest where a sign of a red X mark presented itself.
The forest was a no-go for her, as she'd probably just get lost there. While the path going north has a village waiting for her.
Seeing her attire, she knows she's screwed when the sun is this high, so she waited for it to sink down from the ground. She perched at the nearest tree and decided to rest because once the sun had started to sink down, she had to run as fast as she could to Somnambula, as the night of the desert is much harsher than the day, as its cold grip does not relent and is more brutal.
___________________
Knock, knock.
"Brother, I came to give you your meal."
"Here in my room? Surely I can get if fer m'self, i ain't that old, ya know?" he replied.
"Just let me in already."
And so the brother entered the room.
" So there be a reason for this then? Spill it."
The brother gave him a scroll.
He looked at the scroll and back to his brother, giving him a confused look.
"It's from the princess."
"I see..." He grabs the scroll and slowly reads it.
A hint of worry and a heavy burden can be seen and felt by the captain as he read what the princess asked for his brother.
"You sure am supposed ta read this, brother?" he asked.
"I did say I'd protect you, brother."
He'd then return the scroll by tapping it directly to his brother's chest.
"No need ta be worried; there were no unicorns aboard ma ship. You can check the rest of me crew."
"And what of eraser?" he asked worriedly. "She might not take this lightly; in fact, she might take it violently."
"True, which is good that she left."
"What, when!? No... Where did she go? She couldn't have gone far."
"Why chase her brother? She is not wanted by the princess. It's clear she was looking for a unicorn. Ya seen her already, right? She has no horn."
"True. Well then, if this did not bother you, then I guess my worries were for not." He took the scroll back.
"No, but thanks fer the heads up, brother."
"A pleasure." The brother left the room so he could eat his meal at peace.
" Hmm... A decision needs to be made."
____________
Blinding white light can be seen in the black, wide sky as the moon shines brightly at the cold and harsh desert. And at the spec of it all was Kesu, running for her life.
"Damn. It. This. Is. Not! One. Hun-dred. KL-OM-E-TRS!!!"
Eventually she'd see the light on the dark horizon ahead of her.
Slam! Kesu rammed herself inside the bar and tripped herself. Everyone there was shocked and scared at who was the one who made the commotion, but eventually turned to worry as it was just a mare.
Cold and tired, Kesu could barely stand up. But luckily the ponys there were kind and helped her up.
"Quickly, the poor thing is shivering!" They placed her in a seat and gave her a warm soup and blanket.
A mare that tended her noticed the state she was in and scolded her. "What were you thinking running at night at the dessert with that kind of outfit? Not only that, you looked like ya ran nonstop. If you were ill prepared on going through the desert, it would've been best that you've headed back than gamble your life just to get here." The mare frowned.
"Thanks for the worry, Miss, but I have my own situations."
The mare looked at her curiously, looking at her closely and squinting partially. "I, see..."
She didn't like how the mare particularly took her curiosity towards her and was set aback a bit, forcing her to distance her face from hers as it got close. "Anyway... what's in it for you for asking too much about a stranger such as myself?" She glared.
"Well, I happen to be the innkeeper here. So I can say if you can stay or not in my establishment, STRANGER."
"Oh." Her attitude and tone turned a 380, and she became more respectable to the innkeeper. "Forgive my manners, ma'am. I'm just a wanderer and wasn't prepared for a desert to be in my way, and I couldn't afford to turn back because... I got nowhere to turn back to, to be honest." She explained.
"Well then, it looks like you can cooperate after all. Now that's said and done, I may be kind, but you can't stay for free here, vagabond. But seeing your ordeal, you'd either pay up to stay here or work here to stay." She then presented her hooves to her, gesturing to pay up.
She looked at her hooves and back to her face. " Seriously?"
" MMM."
Kesu pondered over this as she can easily pay for her stay, but she doesn't have unlimited wealth and would soon dry up. Rest and waste money, or save and earn a bit of bits before leaving?
She took a bit of time before answering, "I ain't saying I'm poor, but work would help dearly to me."
And with that answer, she quickly grabbed her hooves, "Good to hear! We actually need the extra hoof, you see." She then drags Kesu to the second floor and into her room. She was shocked and taken aback that she could only go with her flow.
"Here's your room, miss. Now have a goodnight sleep coz tomorrow we'd be working! Details will be given to you tomorrow, bye!"
Slam!
The door closed at her back as the innkeeper left.
"Damn Wench didn't even wait for me to finish my soup."
"Yup, she could be pretty much up your rear in a second, I tell ya," a voice of a mare could be heard in front of her.
https://www.deviantart.com/kujamih09/art/Bluebell-the-red-mage-1127125996
She then tensed up as she was caught by surprise.
"Just call me Bluebell, Roomy." The mare then came out of her bed and revealed that she was a red unicorn with a white mane.
"Oh, uh... I see your parents have a nack of, um, giving names to their foals, yes?"
"They named me based on the plant they like, okay?" The mare answered, unamused.
"Oh? Ah, yes. Sorry, I still don't get it."
"Well... Roomy, I've pretty much introduced myself to you; how bout a name there partner?"
"Yeah, right..." She somehow didn't wish to give her name, but the last thing she needs is an awkward situation with the pony she'd be sharing a room with for probably more than a day.
"It's... Eraser."
"And you call my name weird."
"Hey, it's because of my cutie mark!" She then showed her rear, and there, a rectangular, pinkish thing can be seen, resembling an eraser.
" We'll that was lucky. Imagine if you're cutie mark WASN'T an eraser." She shrugged.
Kesu would try to comment on that but she'd eventually pause and ponder on that too. How did they know?
"Well, buddy of mine, its time we get some Zeez as we have a long day tomorrow, gnight!" The mare quickly hoped back in her bed and tucked herself in, leaving Kesu confused and bothered.
"Uhm, goodnight?" She too would follow suit; putting her things down and go to bed as she pondered about home, her mother, and her father, eventually dreaming of the past that she wished she could have.
.
"I can't breathe..."
The pony wakes to stare towards the abyss, floating and drowning in its embrace as it gradually draws her deeper.
"I can't move..."
The pony strained and choked as she attempted to avoid plunging into the darkness.
.
"...."
But her heart beats.
It beats loud and pulses, sending waves of light.
She began to feel the rage and frustration welling up, until her will to fight came through.
She screamed and flailed until the feel of the grasp was gone.
She began swimming upwards away from the abyss.
And there from above she saw a small light slowly increasing in size as she swam closer and closer, until she hit a light membrane and broke through it.
POP!
She woke up from her dream feeling heavy and tired, and the culprit; was a body on top of her.
Shocked and confused. She tried to analyze what was on top of her.
It was soft, smelled of flowers, was red, and quite heavy. As her vision cleared up and her body fully awake, it was another pony.
She quickly shoved the pony out of her body and kicked her off, flinging the body off her bed and onto the floor.
Thud!
The red pony slowly stood up confused and half asleep.
" Wa you do da for!?" It was Bluebell.
Kesu glared at the mare as she felt violated.
Bluebell, in return, got angry. "You're the one I should barbeque here, waking up a pony by kicking her ofr bed! How rude!"
"Who wouldn't!? You were violating me and my space!"
Bluebell then quickly pointed at her, "Then what're YOU doin in my bed! Flirtin me'nd makinnmy hopesup."
".... THIS IS MY BED!"
"... Oh!... Sorry about that." She then waddled to her own bed and slept.
"...." Kesu couldn't believe what just happened and was boiling with rage that her once white pail coat turned red in anger.
She tried to calm down, but looking at her roommate makes her mad again, so she decided to get out of the room since she's already wide awake and the sun's already peeking.
But then she decided she wanted her revenge towards her, so she went back in, grabbed the covers of Bluebell's bed, and yanked it off, pushing her off her bed.
Thud! "Ouuuwwww... You meanie," Bluebell timidly complained.
This satisfied Kesu, making her smirk in victory.
As she got out of the room and in to the mezzanine, she saw the whole floor below her empty of customers. Perhaps it was still too early.
As she headed down, she sensed movement on one of the counters.
There, a mare popped out, with huge round glasses, wearing a black and white maid outfit with matching red ribbons on her twin-tailed mane.
She was a bit dusty as she coughed from it. The maid would eventually catch sight of her, making her aware that she wasn't alone.
"Oh, you're finally awake! Come! Come vagabond pony, as your work starts now!" She excitedly invited her.
Kesu gave her a look of confusion and wondered, Who might this imposing earth pony be? "And who're you?" She asked.
The earth pony pouted in shock. "Your landlord and employer," she replied coldly.
She blundered once more and gave her another bad impression once more.
"O-oh! I didn't notice you in that get-up, ma'am." She worriedly replied and apologized.
She was a bit miffed, but let it slide. "Just call me Comfy from now on, okay? Now have some breakfast before doing your chores, and... is that all your clothes, dear?" She asked as she looked at her from head to hoof.
A dirty old white sleeveless inner shirt and a messy navy shorts. "Is there a problem?" she asked.
"Yyyyeah, I got extra clothes, and YOU will wear them."
She then heads to the kitchen to make some meals for her; the clatter of kitchen wear can be heard as she prepares.
She sat down and waited, mulling over the things she needed to do and what to prioritize.
She'd end up not noticing the meal that was prepared for her was already done.
"Oh, that's quick. Thank you for the meal." She began praying before eating the meal prepared for her, which was oats and hay and some cooked vegetables on the side.
"Eat up, eat up! I need a strong and happy worker!"
And as soon as she finished eating, Comfy forced her to wear the same clothes as her. They both rushed to her room and began stripping Kesu.
"H-hey! Wha?" Her reaction was too slow. The mare was quick with her work, as she already forced her clothes on to her.
"Yey! Twinsies! I've always wanted a sister, hihi." She hugged and marveled at how perfectly the dress fitted Kesu, while she blushed and irked at what she wore.
"My pride in exchange for money...ekh"
Smack!
Comfy smacked Kesu's back. "Now get out there and clean my inn!" She then gave her a broom to use and some cleaning cloth for her to wipe the tables. "And don't forget to smile, Vagabond!"
https://www.deviantart.com/kujamih09/art/Kesu-the-maido-1127125894
"It's K-ahmm, Eraser; just call me Eraser already."
"Eraser?... Not a catchy name," she bluntly replied.
"Hey!... Tsk." Kesu thought it was cool though.
An hour would pass, and the inn would start to pick up customers. She'd continue her day by taking the customer's order.
Being a new face in the inn, she attracted the attention of the stallions, causing a crowd to build up at the inn, requesting for her to serve them.
She was quite embarrassed at the situation she's in, but she has to soldier on as the manager watches; she can't afford to slack off.
"Muhehehe... Jackpot." Comfy smiled with greed as she rakes in customers.
A whistle could be heard, grabbing Kesu's attention. "Hey there, sweet cheeks, when do I get to get my order from ya?" It was Kesu, heckling at her at one of the tables. This time she was wearing her matching blue cape and wizard hat, decorated with the constellations.
This infuriated Kesu, but she has a job to do.
She hesitantly approached her heckler and asked, "May I take your order, miss?" She grinned as she tried to hide her scowl.
"Ehk, what an ugly face. Pony these days would ride just about any pony now, huh?"
"Watch it, Wench, I might accidentally mop your face off; its hard to distinguish it from the gunks on the floor." She grinned. "And what rights do you have to say that you pervert?"
"Ah!" she gasped. "As if I'll let you lay a hoof on me. Oh, and last night, you moaned and cried like a filly, waaa. Sad. I had to tuck you in at night, and this is how you treat me, boohoo."
Snap.
The broom broke in two and caused the room to go silent.
"Im shoving this in your ass," she said with a grim face.
Bluebell wouldn't back down and shoved her face right in front of her. "Oh yeah? I wanna see you try!"
"You'd like that, huh, pervert?"
But before it all got worse, Comfy was able to intervene. She grabbed both mare's shoulders and forced them to sit down. "Hey, you ponys better have the money if ya plan on starting a brawl here, because whatever ya break here, you'll be payin. And as for the broom, Eraser."
"... Y-es ma'am, I'll be paying for it..." she sighed as her paycheck got cut.
"And as for you, Bluebell, stop causing trouble, ya freeloader."
"Hey! I have a very important role in this community! And its protecting the town from giant desert scorpions!"
"And you're not doing a good job at it as well. Last week a house and our storage room got destroyed before you could ward off the damn thing, and you weren't able to kill it off. Now its out there coming back every night causing trouble to either our cargo or our storage house. The damn thing gets smarter every day. Tsk."
"Hey, I risk my life out there for you ponies. Do you know how hard it is to fight that thing solo? Last I heard, it took 5 ponies, and not a single one of them laid a hoof on it. And all I ask is a roof and food to compensate for my troubles."
"Yes, your right, but you're starting to slack off. You promised us a week, and its been a month, Bluebell."
The two ended up quarreling some more, pointing out each others mistakes and excuses, but this gave Kesu an idea.
"Hey! What if I take it down for you?"
"HAH! YOU!? Please..." Bluebell scoffed.
Comfy agreed with Bluebell this time. "Desert scorpions are no laughing matter, Eraser; best be letting the experts handle this, which YOU SHOULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF BY NOW!" She yelled at Bluebell.
"Alright, alright. Sheesh mom," she coyishly replied.
"Watch it," she warned her.
Kesu didn't like that she was ignored and belittled by the rest, so she insisted on her plans. "I'm serious! Where's this vermin at? If I kill it, I get paid well, right?"
"As if you can kill the beast, that thing has armor made of steel. I had to bombard it with magic just for it to run away. And we're talking huge here, little pony, probably five times your size."
"No problem," she replied haughtily.
"Oh? Then this I got to see."
_________
Woosh
The scorching sun sends waves of heat towards the desert as it makes mirages. And there, two ponies are waiting under the sun.
Kesu has changed her clothes back into her sleeveless shirt and navy shorts, but this time with a white cloak to cover her. While Bluebell didn't change clothes as the heat didn't bother her.
"You sure the things out there? All I see is sand." She impatiently asked.
"Oh, it's there, alright," she lazily replied.
Kesu gave her a doubtful look, but just when she was about to call it a day, a shift in the sand was seen, and one of the cactus just sank in the desert.
"Great, it's under us."
Boom! The scorpion bursts out of the sand and is directly in front of her, towering the two ponies.
"Well, good luck, cry baby. Tell me if you need your big sister to drive the big meanie away, kay?"
"Hmp! Just watch."
She readied herself and unsheathed a dagger—a white, curved dagger.
"You're going to use that small thing? Are you crazy!?" Bluebell questioned, but Kesu has no time for her and bolted towards the scorpion.
She noticed her movements in the desert were different as the sand cushioned her steps, making it hard for her to release her full potential.
Slam!
The giant scorpion's claw aimed at Kesu, which luckily missed, but the blast of sand forced her to back away.
"Peh!" She spat some sand on her mouth. "Nimble for something as big as this."
"Hey, ya good out there?" Bluebell asked from a distance.
She continued to ignore her while she cleaned herself from the sand.
She once more charged at the scorpion with the sands effect on her in mind. This time her movements are more fluid.
Kesu aimed at its back as the scorpion twirled around trying to catch her.
As the scorpion's final attempt, it used its tail to slam her to the ground, not knowing the mistake it made.
Slam! Slice! The tail crashed to the ground, severed from its body. Shocking both the scorpion and Bluebell.
"Now that's just high-grade bullshit! How'd you be able to cut that!?" Bluebell complained.
"Skills," Kesu scoffed. But soon regrets as the scorpion did a follow-up. It swang its big pinser at the unsuspecting pony, flinging her through the air, knocking her out cold.
Thud!
"A shit, I spoke too soon." She face-hoofed herself, as she knows this was her fault too for distracting her. "I'ma comin!!"
Bluebell began casting an array of fireballs towards the scorpion, forcing it to dive back into the desert.
She then quickly grabbed Eraser and ran for her life back to town.
"AAAHAHAHAHA you crazy pony! Hey! You better not be dead, ya hear me!"
Author's Note
Made some edits. A lot of spelling and grammar edits
Chapter 4
The void once more, where the mare floats, but this time, its embrace is more inviting.
"I can get used to this..."
Warmth can be felt, the touch soft.
The smell of flowers entices her nose.
"Hmmm... Wait."
The dark abyss is slowly being eaten away by a red fluff of fur, slowly creeping towards her. Putting her back into a corner, trapping her, making her wait for the inevitable.
As it got near, fear and cringe began crawling through her skin, making her quiver and jolt away from the encroaching red fluff of menace. Fear skyrocketed as it made its first contact with her skin. "!!?... Oh, it's not so bad after all." Until it began engulfing her leg and quickly came up to her body, with the aim to consume her
"Wait. No. No no no no!!!"
And before the red fur completely engulfed her, a mirror would present itself, showing not her but Bluebell on the mirror, completely replacing her.
She woke up from her dream.
https://www.deviantart.com/kujamih09/art/Kesu-and-Bluebell-first-contact-1129428773
Her eyes wide open and her body ready to jump, but something was holding her down. She noticed that she was in bed and someone was embracing her.
The smell of flowers and the soft red fur were very familiar to her.
"AAAAA!!! GET OFF ME!"
She fought and struggled, but this time Bluebell had a good grip on her.
"Hehehehe." She laughed creepily.
"AAAAAAAA!" She struggled.
She just continued to laugh. "Heeeeheheehhe- ukh! AAAUUUUGH! HEY! I CAN'T... breathe! Urgh." Kesu was able to grab Bluebell from the waist and begin crushing her.
"Uuuuuurgggh! I give, I GIVE! dont kill—urp... me!!!"
Kesu, fuming with rage, began to grin. "I thought you wanted this pervert? And now that I'm giving it to you, you don't want it, now that I'm enjoying seeing your lights going out?"
Bluebell began to go pail. " No more, no more! I saved your life!"
This was Kesu's chance to get rid of this pest, but she wasn't that heartless of a pony to kill off her rescuer.
"Tsk. Fine!" She lets go and got off her bed, leaving the red pony panting for breath.
"Gasp! Ugh... Uhh daddy, that was wild, cough." She jests, even in her situation.
Kesu stared menacingly at her.
"Op op op op! I was just kidding, hehe!" She tried to calm the furious pony. "Sheesh, for a unicorn, you're as strong as an Earthpony, yauch!" she said as she stretched her back from the painful hug she had received.
"!!?" Kesu began touching her head, and her obsidian Tiara was missing. She began covering her broken horn and looked at Bluebell. "Where!" She panicked.
Bluebell was taken aback and quickly pointed at a table, where she placed the tiara.
She rushed in a panic to grab her tiara and quickly placed it back on her forehead. She breathed heavily as she tried to calm herself down.
"Hey, there... Are you okay, sweet cheeks?" she worriedly asked.
She took a deep breath and confronted the meddlesome pony. "I'd like it if you'd leave me alone and mind your own business." She glared.
"Rrrr..." She flirted.
"Tsk, you have a death wish?" She warned her.
"Ohohoho, you know how to push my buttons, do you?"
It was no use talking to a pony like her, so she decided to double down on the threat. Luckily her dagger (her horn) was just beside the table where her tiara was placed; she grabbed it and was about to point it at her, but as soon as she left her out of her sights, she was already in front of her, pinning her chest towards Kesu and her hoof holding down her dagger.
Both looked into each other's eyes, the one intending to kill the troublesome unicorn and the other to trouble the hornless pony.
Kesu, at her breaking point, asked the pony why she insists herself to meddle with her life before she ends hers. "What is it that you want from me?"
"Curiosity perhaps? It's been boring here in this Alicorn-forsaken dump of a wasteland village. And seeing you? Is like a diamond in the rough; I'd be stupid not to grab and fiddle you." She grinned as she looked indecently at her eyes.
"You make my skin crawl." Her voice trembling in anger and her hoof gaining strength as she tried to force her dagger out of Bluebell's grip.
"That's not the only thing I'm good at, if you know what I mean hehe."
Snap.
The last straw broke, and Kesu was determined to end the meddlesome pony's life. Her dagger broke free, and she aimed at her neck. But she'd end up hitting air.
Her body felt different and started to turn, making her dizzy and vomit. "Uwwwweeeehhhk... Wh- what did you!?" As she tried to find her, she noticed that she was not in the inn anymore. They were outside the desert. "Teleportation magic!?" she questioned in her head as she analyzed the situation she was in.
"Correct little pony." She appeared from her back, grinning widely.
" You?..."
"Oops? I guess that's out of the bag, huh, princess? Oops." She smiled.
"... Why?"
"Well you and I, well we're special, correct? Dawh, you don't need to answer that; I already know tihee."
This time, Kesu feared the red unicorn as the red menace began revealing who she was. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious? You, silly!" She pointed at her. "Let's play together!"
She began casting her fireballs, but this was larger than the usual fireball she makes and more intense in heat, that the fire started to turn blue.
"I am Bluebell, the exiled prodigy!" Five more fireballs appeared before it started zooming towards Kesu.
She was able to dodge the first one, but the four incoming fireballs were impossible to dodge. She used the tip of her horn to block the incoming projectiles and was quickly snuffed out.
Poof.
"Marvelous! Finally a worthy opponent, someone, someone to scratch the itch inside of me!" The mad unicorn began casting more fireballs without a care in the world. "YES!!!"
The sky was littered with thousands of blue fireballs, aiming towards Kesu.
"Are you mad!" She screamed at her.
"Mad? MAD!? I AM MAD!" She then commanded her spell to drop down from the sky. "You too are mad, right!? You should know this feeling that's eating inside of us! Don't hold back, sweet cheeks! You don't need to hold back! BE FREE!!!"
SLAM! Silence erupted as the fireballs collided to the ground, causing a wider explosion, setting the whole sky in marvelous white that erases all.
As the explosion settled and cleared out
And at the opposite side, where the fireballs crashed and collided, there stands Kesu, with her blade at the ready. She wasn't completely unharmed; some of her clothes and coat were singed.
"Mad?" she calmly asked Bluebell.
" Hmm?"
"Why do you insist that we are both mad?"
"Oh, are we not?"
"How would I know? I'm not like you, who can read other pony's thoughts." Her dagger was already near her face as it swiftly darted towards it. This took Bluebell by surprise, as she did not see it coming; no thoughts or intent came out of Kesu as she struck Bluebell. But again, it was all air; a miss.
" Tsk."
Bluebell managed to teleport out of the way and made distance to her.
"She has teleportation magic as well? No. I felt movement. She approached me, not appeared. Then acceleration magic? That's the only reason why she got close without me noticing." But before she could finish analyzing, Kesu would appear from behind, ready to strike. But Bluebell teleported again.
"Ahahaha! Look who's making someone's skin crawl!"
"You don't like it, do you?" She said as she appeared right in front of her face.
"Son ofa!?" Kesu's dagger was inches away from Bluebell's stomach and was about to hit her, but suddenly.
BOOM!
They both exploded and were sent flying off of each other.
"Cough, cough, urg!" Kesu was badly injured at that explosion; half of her body was singed and battered.
Weirdly enough, this worried Bluebell. She began biting one of her hooves. "Hrmmm, not good, not good at all. Was I expecting too much of you? Was I wrong? Hmm!!!"
But Kesu stood up and continued to glare at Bluebell.
"Hmm... Hm? I see. Don't make me worry so much, sweet cheeks, and here I thought I was wrong about you, hehehehehe."
Kesu's injury vanished with a flick of her dagger. "So, you're telling me that we are the same, correct?"
"... Yes?"
"That's why you're acting like a foal, playing around with the likes of me, since you think we're the same?" she asked.
Bluebell raised an eyebrow. "Oho? So we aren't? You think you're better than me? I can read your thoughts! You should be grateful I considered you to be like me!"
"No, because if I let loose like you, you wouldn't be standing right there, while I can easily handle your pitiful tantrums."
Bluebell would grin, but she worries deep inside. She's having a hard time reading her thoughts; her attacks would be nothing if she blocked them; if she managed to land a blow, her injuries would just vanish. To top it all off, she can accelerate; no, it's not acceleration. She pondered. If it were, she could've easily avoided her explosion just now. A fluke? No, rather, she removed her presence. "Hmmm.. hihhiihi... You! You you you you... Eraser... Ahaa! I see the theme now." She shivered as her thoughts of her ran wild.
"You think you know everything, do you?" Kesu prepared herself.
"Hmm... Yes, but... Except you though, well, not exactly; its so nice to swim around your dreams, the trauma, the pain, the disappointment this world has to offer! You and I aren't so different!"
"Shut up, you pervert of a mare! We are not the same." She prepared her dagger and vanished from Bluebells sight.
"Ahahaha, I already know how it woorrkkkks!" She then made a giant fireball engulfing her. "Tell me, Eraser! How're you going to get close now?" The flame did not bother her, as it seems she was resistant to her own spell, but.
Fwoop.
Her fireball just died and vanished, and behind her was Kesu. The two locked eyes and rushed their hooves at each other, but Bluebell was able to touch her first and teleported her up into the sky, where Kesu saw herself, falling to her doom.
"Haaaaahahahaha! How're you going to survive that! Sweet cheeks!? Beg for your life!!!" The crazed pony laughed.
Meanwhile, Kesu remained calm and remained vigilant.
"This crazy pony won't admit defeat; rather, she'd choose death than admit it, hahaha!" She then shouted. "Beg for your life, and I will spare you!"
She did not reply.
"Tsk, suit yourself."
Kesu continued to fall but remained calm, while Bluebell was not sure of Kesu's plans. She could not read her mind even up to this point, making her doubt that this pony still has a few tricks up her sleeves. She remained vigilant and distanced herself.
"What are you up to, hornless?"
"You want me to get serious? Fine." Just before she crashed to the ground, she removed her presence and vanished right before her eyes.
But before Bluebell could react, Kesu struck her dagger at her horn.
Slash!
Her blood spurts out of her now-cut horn. "GYAAAAAHHHH!!! AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Her blood would drip from her eyes to her face; she'd constantly wipe it off and panic.
"M-my horn! My horn!!!" She frantically tried to find it, but it was at Kesu's hooves.
"A-aaaa... S-stay away from me!" She tripped and began crawling away from her while she slowly approached the panicked pony.
"You said we're the same, right?" Kesu asked. But Bluebell could only cry and crawl away from her, fearing her every approach.
"What's wrong? Don't you like me anymore? We're equals now." She then grabbed her cheeks and pulled her up and smacked her forehead against her. "We're both hornless now, sister." She then began reading Bluebell's thoughts as if she had her abilities as well.
"Now its my turn to mess your head."
She then entered Bluebell's mind.
There, a filly sitting on a corner, alone, crying.
"For someone who's perverted and old as you, you're as fragile and young on the inside, huh?" She said disappointedly, to the state Bluebell's mind was in.
The young Bluebell looked at her and began shying away from her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disappoint you. Please don't be mad." The filly continued to sob as she apologized. "I promise I'll do better! Please don't leave me!" She pleaded.
"This is not what I expected." She regretted going in her brain, "Tsk, what kind of—shit, I hate myself!"
A puddle of her memories would leak out showing Bluebell, studying at the school of friendship, beside a tall purple alicorn, happy and proud.
"Hmm? I see..." She looked at her with a pissed-off face. "I bet they replaced you with someone else huh?"
"Why are you mean to me?" the filly cried.
https://www.deviantart.com/kujamih09/art/Young-Bluebell-1138783319
"Gadang it! Why don't you act like your age and grow up... From the inside, I mean! Dawww... I guess it's impossible for you." She sighed.
"Like you're one to talk, you big meanie." The young Bluebell flicked her tongue towards the young Kesu.
"!?" She looked at a stagnant puddle, and there reflected a young Kesu, wearing the most fancy clothes in Neighpony.
The two filly's would lock eyes, seeing the things that they had not seen from each other.
A prodigy and a princess were replaced and forgotten because they were misunderstood, feared, and hated.
She does not want to remember anymore of this pain.
"Let me out. Let us out!"
A vacuum would soon collapse the insides of her mind before spitting out Kesu.
It took a bit out of her before fully releasing herself from Bluebell's mind.
Bluebell, shocked and afraid, experienced for the first time her mind being violated, while Kesu understood a bit what's inside Bluebell's mind.
Bluebell fearfully waited for Kesu's judgment while she glared at her.
Her eyes were wide, full of tears, swelling up from fear and anxiety.
And Kesu's final call? She raised her hoof with Bluebell's bloody horn, ready to strike her.
In return, Bluebell would cower in fear, trying to avoid getting beaten up.
Plop.
Her horn dropped beside her as she saw Kesu walking away from her.
She stares in bewilderment before fainting on the ground.
The lone pony walks alone in the middle of the desert.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. As the rain drops in Las Pegasus, so does the blood of its residence. The sea lions that marched through the city left no survivors in their wake.
"My ponies..." The alicorn sobbed as she saw her city lost to the eldritch horror.
The alicorn was furious. She began to glow and cast a spell that warped the very black sky. And there, from above, drops a giant purple meteorite, screeching down the city. As the rock made impact, a wave of silence would ripple before reality hits in and caused an explosion. Now the once high and mighty city, boasting of its skyscrapers, was now leveled and in complete ruin.
"May you rest in peace, my loyal subjects; forgive my late arrival," she cried.
But her mourning would be disturbed as one of the royal guards would give his report.
"Princess, the city has been eradicated, but some of the invaders have escaped and survived the blast and have begun fleeing. Some are heading to the rest of the nearby village and city."
"Then make news to all of Equestria. Their homes are in danger. We must continue to round up the rest of the surviving horrors." She then entered her carriage and began to prepare to leave the lost city. "Comfy, I leave the rest to you; finish up the rest and clean up afterwards. Please, let no survivors escape."
"Understood, princess..." Her final reply before the princess closed the doors of the carriage and began to fly off towards Canterlot.
"You heard the princess. Let no one survive." The hooded ponys from the shadow nod to her command and begin to vanish into the darkness.
"Bluebell, if you're going to just stand there, then you should've just joined the princess and left this place to us."
Bluebell would shrug her existence and watch the city burn from the purple flames of the princess. "That fucking liar..."
Comfy was a bit disappointed at her and left the deranged, hornless unicorn alone. "I have no time for you." Comfy too vanished into the shadows and left the hornless pony alone.
"Hmmm..." She looks at her horn and thinks deeply. "The price I need to pay... for my freedom is this?" She still could not process the things that had happened to her or perhaps could not accept the reality she's in.
She holds her horn up high and begins forcing herself to cast her spell once more.
"Fire...ball..."
As the sun sets in the rock farm, the once glowing crimson village became dark, until one by one, little lights would beam out of the small windows of the village huts and houses, giving it a dark and cozy feeling.
"Well, Miss Eraser, here's our humble little inn. Sorry for the short tour. As you can see, it gets reeeaaal dark out here, hehe. I suggest you don't go out at night, as it's reeaally dark, and you might end up falling down the cliffs or meet one of the beasts that might've wandered into the village." He said as he tapped his hooves together. "Yeah... Not safe at night... BUT! As long as you stay indoors and keep the lights on, everything is honky dory, hehe..." He sweated. "Um... Sorry for telling you about it this late."
"Well, looking at the map, this is the safest place I could stay. I mean, it's either I sleep here or go out, right? And where else is there to stay? And it's not like I can't handle myself. I've fought giant scorpions in the desert and fought serpents in the high seas and fought demons in Zebrabwe. Can't get any worse than that, right?"
"Hahaha, true, Miss Eraser. That sure sounds fun... Anyway, then perhaps tomorrow we can continue the tour to the village. At least then we'd have the whole day." He suggested.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" She jokingly replied, while giving him a tap on the shoulder.
The stallion got flustered and blushed. "Well, I mean, if it's alright with you, miss..."
"I wouldn't ask anyone otherwise!" She gave a bit of a blush.
"Then it's a date?" He flustered.
Eraser gave it a bit of a thought before giving her answer, "Sure, why not?" She gave a smile.
The flustered pony was speechless and could only back away from her, hitting the door as he did. "Oof! Uhm. Yeah, tomorrow, hehe...." The stallion left.
"... I thought he said it's dangerous at night? Well, if it's him, I don't think it's going to be a problem."
As she turned around to find the counter, a small mare would already be right in front of her, tiphooving just to close in the gap on her face. "Brighthoof sure is head over hooves for ya..."
Eraser flinched as she backed away from the mare, as she didn't feel the presence of the sneaky filly. "Holy shi... Don't you dare do that again, missy!" She scolded the little mare, but the young one didn't flinch from her scolding and just curiously gazed at the mare and ended up grinning.
The young mare was pink all over, even her curly mane and tail. But what's eye-catching about her was the scar that ran across her left eye.
"Huh... curly..." Eraser muttered as she remembered what Rockhoof explained about certain ponies in his family.
The young mare did not like what she heard and was offended. She then covered her mane and began to distance herself from her, giving Kesu a disappointed look and grief.
"Oh! Uh, sorry! I mean, please don't take it the wrong way, please; I was just curious about your mane and tail. I quite like it, actually; you look cute!" She tried to flatter the young mare.
" Yyeeaahh..." She answered doubtfully.
The mare did not buy the flattery and continued to avoid her. "Well, if you're staying, then you should ring the bell; my mom will come by shortly." She replied as she slowly went up the floors and vanished.
"Hmmm..." She didn't mean to alienate herself from the filly, but she left an eerie feeling that just creeps out Kesu. She felt torn apart if she should apologize, or perhaps it was better this way.
Now that the creepy filly left, she was able to take in the atmosphere of the inn, which showed a rustic kind of feel and warmth. The place was well lit and clean, most likely because no one barely uses the inn, which was apparent from the lack of ponies inside. The longer she tried to marvel at the place, the more it became hollow and lonely.
" Hmmm..." She let out a sigh as she felt awkward inside the establishment.
It was too late to find another place for her to stay, as this IS the only inn in this village... Farm? All she could do now was suck it up and look on the bright side.
She prepared herself for the worst as she rang the bell, since she was going to meet the filly's mom, and she had already painted a picture of what she might be.
'cling~!'
The bell echoed in the empty halls.
She waited about a minute, but no one came. She rang once more and now noticed that a mare was peeking below the counter, creepily lurking and waiting. "OI!!! Tsk ahhhh kussssoooo..." She blurted out in anger and frustration as she jolted away from the counter.
The mare on the other side of the counter remained gloomy and shy; wouldn't even bother to react to Kesu.
"....." They both continued to stare at one another, but Kesu would lose at this staring contest. "Umm... May I help you? Kesu awkwardly asked the mare.
"....no."
Kesu was taken aback and lost. What was she supposed to do in this situation? Nobody knows.
"... May I help you?" The mare at the counter asked.
Kesu thought for a moment before she flustered a bit in frustration and anger.
The mare would slip a key from the counter. "Room one..."
Kesu would hesitantly grab the key, but as soon as she reached it, the mare would grab ahold of her hoof and bolt to her head near her ear and whisper. "Rockhoof is mine..." Then she slowly backed away to hide behind the counters, revealing her long, straight, drooped-down gray mane that covered one side of her eye, revealing only one bagged-up red eye on a pale white face.
She was so spooky that it left an aura of fear that even Kesu couldn't erase. She was like fear incarnate. Their eyes locked, and Kesu could not escape; she felt her soul being sucked dry.
Cling.
A chime was heard. And the ghastly mare was forced to break their lock to look where the chime came from. This gave Kesu a heavy sigh of relief, and he began panting. "I must leave." She then stared back at Kesu without moving her head, giving a much more menacing look. which made her stiffen up once more. Her hair began to curl up slowly, and her eyes started to pop a vein. "He's mine..." Her final warning to Kesu as she sunk down the counter and vanished from the shadows.
Kesu would dare and check slowly as to where the mare had gone to, and lo and behold, she was gone. This made Kesu's spine rise up and gave her goosebumps. She ran out of there in search of her room and hid under the covers of the bed.
Lightnings clash as the skirmish between the shadow ponies and the eldritch horrors of the sea began. It was a one-sided victory for the shadow ponies as they slaughtered the incoming waves of fleeing horrors. But their enemy was playing a whole other game. They did not bother to fight; they would only run and flee, occasionally overrunning their opponents from their stampede.
"They're not even bothering with us, and yet we are losing ponies! You call yourselves the princess's shadows!?" Comfy yelled to her comrades.
"Head Skadu, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but we are outnumbered," one would report.
"We have already failed the princess once. Then death to our clan it shall be. Fight, you cowards," Comfy ordered without even looking into their eyes.
She stared at the battlefield as they massacred the horrors, but their numbers slowly dwindled, as their enemies used numbers to their side and fatigue as their weapon. Soon after, their line would break, and a few would pass through.
"For the princess..." Comfy would now join her fellow shadows in combat to face their end.
The clash of blades and shadows would continue until but a few of them would remain.
Injured and weakened, hope was but fleeting.
"It was a trap, Head Skadu. Their numbers were not but a few; they were waiting underground and launched their numbers by surprise. The foot soldiers information to the princess was false."
"Perhaps... But it is not our job to find who wronged us. It is to follow orders. We already failed once, and that is our limit. We might as well die here than face the princess with another failure."
The remaining Shadows would bow down their heads in submission and agreement.
"We die for the princess!"
As soon as she shouted those words, the once dark sky became crimson red as a gigantic fireball formed behind them. They could barely see the silhouette of the pony casting this spell, but the Shadows knew who it was.
Comfy grins as her shadow grew from the fireball's brilliance.
Not only that, the fireball continued to grow and turn bright blue.
Knock, knock.
The young pony would saunter lazily towards it to open. And there a tall stallion stood; it was Rockhoof.
"What do you want so early in the morning, two-timer?" The pink filly asked.
"Two-timer? Hey! Where'd you learn that from? You shouldn't even be talking like that to your elders. Do you even know that word?" He scolded the little filly.
"Yes, and I'm looking at him."
"Oh yeah? What made you say that?"
" You already have big sister, and yet you simp to another."
"Simp? Now yer just making words up. Pebbles, can I just go in already? I have some business to attend to."
"Uuuu, you horny stallion." She smirked.
"Hey you! Watch your mouth, young filly!"
" ~I'm telling Madeline!~" she mockingly hymned.
"Foals these days, what in Equestria have we been feeding them?" He worried for the filly.
The stallion entered the inn and sat at one of the tables and looked through the menu handed over to him by Pebbles.
Rockhoof would browse the menu while taking his time, which irritated the Pink filly for taking too long. "What's taking you so long!? There are only four things to choose from that paper, and you always go for the rock soup!"
This caught the stallion by surprise, forcing him to drop his dithering and went with his usual order. "Sheesh filly, then rock soup it is!"
"And I bet you're going to stay long if that mare doesn't wake up any sooner... This'll be a drag..." The filly yanked the menu rudely, making the stallion flinch. "What's gotten into you?"
The filly would just flick her tongue and leave.
"... Well, good morning to you too, Pebbles..." He sighed.
The filly would hand over the order to her mom in the kitchen, "here mom!"
"...."
She'd quickly go up to Kesu's room and would rudely barge in without a knock and wake the sleeping pony.
"Wake up!"
This jolted Kesu up from her bed, and almost fell. "Wha!?..."
Unamused, the pink filly waited a bit before continuing, "You have a stalker waiting for you down the hall! If you won't wake up to meet him, he'll probably stay there the rest of the day for you, and is stinking up the dinning hall."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the pink filly. "... Curly."
The young filly blushed and pouted, slamming the door close as she left. "Hmph!"
"She's such a cutie..." She yawned and prepared herself sluggishly for today.
"... I wonder what's taking her so long," Rockhoof questioned as he was playing with his food, stirring his soup endlessly.
"You missed me that much, stud?" Kesu sat across his table, spooking the stallion, as he had not noticed her presence.
"Ohh!... Uh, how much have you heard from my mumbles?" He sheepishly blushed like a young maiden, which ended abruptly as he recalled he was called a — "Wait, what? A stud?" The confused stallion followed up.
"Well, you got that young filly and her mom wrapped up in your hooves, right?" She dismissively looked away from Rockhoof, but in fact she just wanted to get some answers from him.
The stallion paused for a bit and wondered, "Who, Pebbles? The pink filly who works from the inn?"
"Oh, so that's her name... She's the cute pink curly filly, right?" She asked.
"Well, yeah, and I don't think she likes ponys pointing out her curly mane by anyone like that. And wait, wait, mother? Her mom's dead for a year now."
This gave shivers throughout Kesu's whole body that she ended up curling up from her seat and tried to contain her goosebumps.
She then covered her ears, "Kyaaaaa... Yamete rrrrgh!" She silently screamed, trying to contain her fright and shiver.
As Rockhoof continued to ponder, "Oh, maybe what you meant was her sister? Yeah, she seems to look old enough to be her mother... I think? The sisters had a really stressful life, and everyone in the village is chipping in to help them out."
Kesu gave a big sigh of relief. "Phew... That filly never seazes to creep me out; it's quite amazing actually... Perhaps it runs in the family."
"Creepy? Those two are like the mascots of this town, always smiling and welcoming, makin everyone in this farm cozy and ready for another day!" He happily announced. "Although Pebbles has become quite rebellious lately... Hopefully it's just a phase."
What he just said was quite contradictory to Kesu, as doubt can be seen painted throughout her face. " ...yeah, no wonder the farm is so famous."
"... Hey, was that sarcasm?" Rockhoof questioned and disapproved of her thoughts against the sisters.
"I will admit Pebbles is cute, but her sister creeps the hell out of me..." She shivers at the mere thought of Pebbles's sister.
"How so? They're so nice to everyone." He continued to defend her.
She looked around the inn, and the only people there were the two of them and Pebbles, who was at the counter.
"Yeah, sure." To her it seems like the sister was only kind towards Rockhoof and no one else.
"Hmmm..." Rockhoof was a bit miffed that Eraser didn't believe what he said.
"Anyway, I'm not a stud, okay? I'm not that kind of a pony; I respect each and everyone here," he proudly proclaimed.
"Mmhm, yup, you are definitely different." She gave an unconvincing answer, which Rockhoof picked up. "Hmmmm..."
"Anyway, once you're done playing with your food, where are you taking me?" she asked.
"Oh, sorry! Would you like something to eat?"
" Nah, watching you is enough."
"Oh! Uh, umm..." He hurriedly slurped his soup and nearly choked on it. "Ahurph! Ahm... Well, the ones that we haven't visited yet are the actual farms and the town hall. So after we finish the tour on the farm, we can go and visit the Elders."
"... Wait, elders? In the town hall? Wait, what? You mean the mayor, right? Aren't the elders supposed to stay in a retirement home, and the mayor running the hall?" She smirked as she mockingly questioned their ways here, but Rockhoof took no offense at how she acted and calmly replied, oblivious to the sarcasm she commented.
"Well, that really depends on the situation of the village. Ours is... kinda rocky at the moment. The farm's population isn't as great as it was, and everyone seems to be leaving." This gave the stallion a down mood and gloomed him a bit.
"Our community is quite small, you know, so even just one pony can have a big effect on us."
"Oh, sorry." It seems Kesu has hit something sensitive.
"No, don't be, and besides, it's getting better, remember?"
"... Hmm, I guess so..." she worried.
Ssssllliiittt!
Blood would gush out of the sea lion crab abomination, showing the victor to Comfy.
She pants heavily as the sun rose from the horizon, and none of the invaders stood, but at what cost?
"Haaaa!!!!—ugh—urrrrgh..." Comfy, weakened and in a daze, would collapse to her knee as she desperately gasped for air and rest. Her body continued to feel heavy, not willing to listen to the mind.
"SHIT! HAA! WE... we won..." As she panned through her surroundings and looked at the state of her troops, few remained.
Tears would drip as she could not hold it no longer.
"I guess you owe your life to me now..." The bruised mage stood in front of her.
"Tsk, I cannot deny that, but if your goals do not align with the princess's, then forget that we owe you anything." She then lightly pierced the sole of her hoof, but not of blood would spill, but a mist of dark shadow would erupt and enter Bluebell's nostrils.
"What the fuck!?" She struggled for a bit until all of it went in her. "Hey! What the hell was that!" She pointed her horn at Comfy.
"A pact that I have made with you; my second undying devotion towards you."
Bluebell scrounged her eyes towards that remark. "...hmm..."
"You've always been an ungrateful mare, you know that? Ever since you were a filly." She sighed.
"Tsk, I do not need your half-assed loyalty! If I had known you'd kept your loyalty to the princess, then I should've just left you to die." The mare would limp away and into the unknown.
Comfy could only look at her as she limped away. She in turn would head the other way, to where her injured troops awaited her.
"Is this all that remained?" She asked the rest.
"Are you disappointed?" one of the shadows would ask.
"Watch your tone, unless you want your head cut off," she threatened him.
"Where is my commanding troop? I need my report," she asked once more.
"I AM!" the same persistent shadow shouted. "I am the commanding troop." He presented himself once more.
"No... Where's Madeline!" She shoved the stallion to the ground, disapproving of his new status.
"There is no one here except you who outranks me, Head Shadow," he angrily replied.
"You... You really want your head cut off? her face distorted with rage and engulfed in shadow.
The stallion would hold his tongue lest he wish to lose not only his status but his head.
"MADELINE!" She madly requested for her.
The other shadows would look away and avoid her gaze.
As she looked at them one by one, she became irritable and confused.
"Search for survivors! Quickly!" She yelled. The rest of the shadows would bow and do as they were told and vanished into the dark.
She too would search but would trip and fall, her body still refusing to follow. "SHIT... AHHHGGG MOVE!" She'd abuse her body to move.
One of the shadows would return and see her sorry state, forced to assist her to stand.
"Why have you returned? Did I not order you to rescue surviving troops!?" She scolded the shadowling.
"Head Skadu, we have more pressing matters."
"What?" Her face confused and irritated.
"The other shadows have abandoned you; only I remained."
"W-what?" Her tears flow once more.
"Do they not care for their kin!? Why would they abandon them!? And what of our promise to the princess? Do they not wish to serve her no longer!?"
"Head Skadu!" The shadowling yelled and caught Comfy's attention.
"There are no survivors... And their faith is gone," the shadowling sadly replied.
"Lies! Madeline... MADELINE WOULD SURELY SURVIVE! That mare. That mare is as tough as a roach, haha. No matter what harsh training I gave her, she'd always stand tall! Any missions I gave her, she'd always pull through! She can't be dead!"
The shadowling would pity her as she'd stand and listen to the head Skadu. "My lady... Please, follow me." The Shadowling would then present her back for her to ride. "Please, so we may quickly meet her."
This left a question in Comfy's head about what she had said, but she would welcome her offer, as she'd want to meet her as soon as possible. "So you've found her? Why didn't you say so! Quickly!"
The shadowling would then carry her from her back and lead the way. "Yes, head Skadu," she said sorrowfully.
"Well, the farm was unexpectedly amusing. I quite enjoyed that," Kesu said joyfully towards Rockhoof, which made the stallion perk up. "Really?"
"No, not really." She smirked and giggled.
"Now that's just mean." He pouted back.
"Well, for a rock farm, I didn't expect it to be... to be... to be too deep into it, you know what I mean?" Kesu tried to explain.
"How so?" he asked.
"Well, I didn't expect you guys would dedicate any kind of research to these rocks. I mean, I thought you guys would just mine and break rocks and stuff."
"Well, yeah, we do that too, but we need to also learn their uses since we keep discovering new materials in our digs and minin."
" Hmm, yeah, I know; it's just... weirdly surprising is all."
" ...hmm, I see you've greatly underestimated us rock farmers then." Rockhoof gave a look of moue.
"... Sorry, I mean, not really? You turned a rock into dust with just one swing of your hoof, mind you!" She smirked.
"True." The stallion blushed and was proud of himself.
"You can be so innocent sometimes, Rockhoof, you know that?"
"That's a good thing, right?" He asked innocently.
"... Probably?" She simpered.
But then a foul odor would hit Kesu's nose.
"Hmm? Oh, perhaps it's the town hall; that place hasn't been well maintained and isn't in the best condition," Rockhoof explained.
"What!? You should burn that thing to the ground and just build a new one! How can you keep up with this smell!!"
"Is it that bad? Perhaps I've gotten used to it... Strange."
"Strange? That's all you can say about it!? I wouldn't be surprised if the elder running your hall is dead... Which we should probably check if he is, though..." she worriedly replied.
"Don't jinx it, Eraser! Now you're makin me worried."
The two would rush towards the eerie town hall that stands at the center of the village; watching over everyone.
Creek...
The old wooden door opened as the two ponies entered the town hall.
"Hello, old stal-jankins! (Old man jankins)
I know it's been years since I visited, but... Here I am, hehe..." He awkwardly laughed, as if he was embarrassed.
Kesu could only look at him in disbelief and just shrugged it off for now.
The place was dark and filled with cobwebs; the air was stagnant and disgusting. If the outside was already putrid, it was no match inside; if Kesu hadn't used her abilities, she would've already died from the smell, which surprisingly Rockhoof didn't.
"You seriously can tolerate this smell?"
"Is it really that stinky? I mean, we haven't had visitors for a while, so I guess the old stallion didn't bother cleaning the hall up," he suggested.
Her face had a look of disbelief. "When was the last time you HAD visitors? A year?" She jests.
"Probably a decade already."
"... Your mayor is dead, Rockhoof... He's dead." She deadpan said to him.
"I will never die." A creepy old voice spoke behind her ear.
Kesu would bolt into Rockhoof's hooves and scream in fright. Meanwhile, Rockhoof was flushed red, as he felt Kesu's body pressed onto his.
As she clung to Rockhoof, she looked back and saw a cloaked-up old stallion standing there.
"...What do you want, Rockhoof?" Rockhoof's daydreaming would be interrupted as the old stallion asked.
"Oh, uh, old Stal-jankins, I'm just giving our new friend a tour of our farm."
Kesu gave a sigh of relief knowing it was just the mayor. "O-oh, sorry. She then let go of Rockhoof's flustered head and approached the mayor to give a hoof shake.
But the mayor just stared.
"I see... Then why are you here? Have I not told you to leave them once you showed them to the hall?"
This placed Kesu in an awkward position as the two continued talking without her.
"Yes. But I... I just wanted to be with her?"
"The tour allowed inside the hall is for one pony only; no exceptions. Leave now, Rockhoof."
This disheartened the stallion, and he could only sulk and obey.
Meanwhile, Kesu would rather leave than continue the tour to this creepy hall.
"Wait! I'd rather stick with Rockhoof then; it's a nice place and all, but... yeah."
But before she could leave, the wooden flooring would lift up, making Rockhoof slide out of the hall and blocking the entrance, and there, revealed the mechanism that moved the floors; it was a bunch of disfigured corpses.
"...Oh shit."
The creatures began crawling out of the floor, trying to detain the frightened mare.
But instead of freezing up, the mare went into a blind rage. "R-ROHO MBALI! ROHO MBALI!"
Her flurry of strikes would crush the corpses through the wall.
"A shaman... How troublesome."
The cloaked stallion began to run away in a way that is not appropriate for his age.
Meanwhile, Kesu was busy pulverizing the corpses.
"Kyaaa!! MBALI!!!..."
As she got back to her senses, only the twitching remains of the corpses remained.
Goosebumps still crept at the mare as one of the hooves still continued to move towards her.
"Uuhhhggg... Why must it be the occult..."
She took her horn from her bag and zapped the crawling severed hoof.
"Cool..." Rockhoof spoke behind her.
"AAH! SHIT... I almost killed you!" The alarmed Kesu scolded, as she was inches away from zapping Rockhoof.
"Hey, hey! Friendly, friendly! Watch where you point that thing!" He worriedly replied as he saw how it evaporated the hoof.
Kesu started to calm down once more but still gave a punch on Rockhoof's shoulder, which just barely made him flinch. "What was that for?"
"Don't sneak up on me like that again, okay!?" She said with a heavy sigh.
"Sorry... But you were so cool! You punched the leaving... Well... Punched them dead again into oblivion! Double dead! And that wand, what is that?" He excitedly and curiously asked.
Kesu quickly hid her horn and began to stutter and make excuses. "O-oh this? Is. A wand, yes. From Zebrambwe! Where a witch doctor taught me occult stuff and magic... Yes... Even without a horn," she explained.
"Cool..."
"... I like how simple you are sometimes..."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing. And what took you so long to rescue me!"
"... You seem to not need it, and I'm afraid that I'd get hit as well with all that flailing."
"Oh, right, you saw that... Just forget you saw that, and why aren't you surprised by the zombies!?" She questioned and distanced a bit from him. "Don't tell me you're a zombie too!"
"No! No, I'm not. To be honest, I've always thought of him as a bit weird and never interacted with him much, plus do I look rotten?"
"Okay, you only considered him weird?... Just weird. Fine, but we've got to stop that necromancer; he is definitely up to no good."
The sun gives its final glare as it descends at Comfy while she laments the demise of her trusted Shadow. There, in front of her, was a giant tree made of darkness, and at the center of it was Madeline, disfigured and her face distorted by horror.
She tries to honor her by looking at her demise, but she could not; it was too horrible to look at. "Ahk! Who did this to you?" She cried.
"What the hell happened to her! This did not happen to the rest of the shadows who died by the abomination's claws. This... This was something else."
Her fellow Shadow could not reply, as she too was horrified at what happened to her fellow.
She gave a moment of silence and prayed for her.
"You will be avenged. Will you assist me?"
"For you and for her, I will not rest."
"Thank you, sister."
The two looked at each other and began a ritual where both stabbed their hooves, and black mists of shadow would engulf their bodies.
"Now how do we go about this, sister?"
"First we must put our fallen sister to rest; I do not like to see her like this. And second, a promise: she has a little sister. She needs to be taken care of."
Slam!
A corpse would hit the wooden walls of the town hall as it flung towards it.
"There's no end to them. Wait, is that you, Bob?" Rockhoof asked, but the zombie only moaned in response and attacked him.
"AHHHH!!!" He quickly smacked the zombie on the head, which flew off to the other room, leaving the body to collapse where it stood.
Rockhoof was stunned at what he did. "...I-I… I killed Bob!?" He panicked.
"Get yourself together, Rockhoof; he's already dead!" She replied as she fended off the other incoming zombies.
"Kyaa! No touch!"
As the two fought off the incoming waves of zombies, the old hooded necromancer was on the next floor above them looking at the veranda. "Rockhoof, you fool, you have doomed us all!"
"Why me!?" He asked.
"I should've abandoned you, tsk," the old stallion's reply as it continued to flee above.
"Rockhoof, you gotta hold them off." She then bolted upstairs and left Rockhoof.
"Wait, hold on, aaand there she goes." As he turned back around again, a horde of zombies was creeping in on him.
"Uhhhh—well—" he then punched the flooring and destroyed it, dropping everyone from that floor, including himself.
Kesu paused and worried as she looked below from the veranda.
"Rockhoof!... Damn it, that's not what I had in mind..."
"Cough... I'm okay! Go on ahead, I'll, uh... find a way going up there... On second thought, I think I need to run!" He scurried away as he was still being chased by the zombies.
Worried, she has no choice but to continue on.
"My love... We must not delay. It's now or never."
Slam.
The door where the hooded stallion was in was slammed open.
"You mad horse! Your terror ends here."
And there at the top of the town hall, the two faced off. It was a large round wooden room; it looked empty, but looking up, she saw contraptions by the dozen unknown to her, dangling from left to right. Parts of bodies hanging from it.
Seeing this, her resolve to kill was settled.
She let out her horn and quickly zapped him.
His body drops, and complete silence permeates.
"Now that that's done, the dead can finally rest."
STAB!
"UHK..." Blood drips from her stomach as a spike pierces through it.
It was one of the machines above the ceiling that moved and pierced her.
Her look of confusion was apparent on her face as she looked at her stomach.
The pain starts to introduce itself as the machine begins to lift her up.
"Aaa..." Her scream was muffled as the pain was unbearable.
Creak.
The hooded stallion she just shot began to stand up, revealing a hole through his chest. No blood could be seen.
"A foal you are." He spoke to the dangling mare.
A machine with a screen would go down and light up in front of the stallion, and he began reading through its texts.
"You will be my final subject, a worthy one, might I add." He grinned while Kesu struggled for her life as it hung in the balance.
"You... You are the one I've been looking for... Your magic is INCREDIBLE! For an earth pony... No. A hornless unicorn? Incredible... With you I can finally bring back everyone to life!"
To Kesu, his voice would only trigger irritation and anger to the point of hearing a certain stallion's voice, Storm Bringer.
"Khakk uurkkk khaa!" She tried to speak, but her blood was drowning her voice.
"Rest now and do not worry; your sacrifice will not be in vain, for I will use it for the better of ponykind!"
"You will never use me." A voice he heard from the corner of his ears.
He quickly turned, but no one was there. He also looked up to see that the mare was gone too.
"What? No! Come back! I need you for this to work!" He frantically searched for the mare, but there were no clues or trails to find as to where the mare could have gone.
"You..."
The stallion fell to the ground.
"Ouff! You cheeky little—!?" As he tried to stand up, he noticed that he had no hooves to stand on.
As he struggled to look up at the mare, he saw that her wounds were gone. "Impossible."
"Says the stallion who murdered hundreds." She then points her horn directly at his head.
"You cannot kill me; I am tethered to everyone in this village. I can simply go to another host." He grinned.
"Try it then."
His grin turned into a frown as he looked around and saw nothing but void.
"Wait, what? No! Stop! You cannot kill me! My work! Everyone is counting on me! Spare me! If I die, all my work... Everyone that I brought up will vanish, hmp!?" His mouth vanished as he pleaded for his life.
"You're already dead; why beg for your life? What of the ponies you robbed of their lives? No... You deserve... Death?"
A necromancer cannot turn himself into a zombie.
As her rage began to subside and her thoughts began to clear, she noticed her mistake and began to be cautious.
But we are both erased from the world; he cannot abandon this body and relocate to someone he has tethered. And if he is a zombie, then the necromancer who controls him should have lost his connection.
"Why do you still speak? Zombie?"
His mouth returned as Kesu ordered it.
"Gasp! My mouth... It's back?"
"Speak undead! Where is your master?"
"Master? Undead! You mock me. I am a great necromancer. I am not an undead!"
"No necromancer can turn himself into an undead unless another necromancer has arisen you." She then stabbed her horn into the stallion's head.
"Lies erased... And... a barrier from your memories? It has been tampered with? I knew you were dead... Now show me who your master is..."
The stallion began to jolt and flicker.
"Dead? I am... I could not bring my wife back to life and my daughter. My experiment failed... I—I died... Then... Pebbles... My youngest daughter..."
He cried and smiled.
"I am so proud of you..." His last line as he suddenly became lifeless.
"Pebbles?"
The void where they are began to shift and crack.
"What? How!"
Crash!
Kesu fell back to reality and into the top floor of the town hall, where Pebbles stood from the other side.
"You... You gave him a reason to leave." The angry filly glared at Kesu.
Hearts raising, minds ablaze as Kesu backs away from the encroaching pink filly.
" Pebbles?" She worriedly asked as if she was trying to communicate with her calmly; showing that she was not a threat. But the filly did not answer, she just stared and slowly went near her without moving.
Fear began to creep as the filly nears. Goosebumps starts to intensify her mane began to stand.
By instinct she involuntarely began to point her horn at her, which she in turn was shocked at what she was doing.
Her voice began to raise as her fear for her rise. " Pebbles! Listen to me... I do not want to hurt you."
The filly stopped.
"...lies!"
As the filly screamed Kesu felt a strong static that pulsed through her. Stunning her for a second. She was forced to shield herself but still felt the pulse; her spell had no effect.
"!?"
She knew she was up to someone she should seriously consider a threat.
She quickly looked behind and pointed her horn at where she felt the static. But there was no one there.
Tap.
She felt a hoof on her legs and as she looked down, there the filly stared back.
Her eyes pierced through her very soul as her senses began to fade her whole body begins to numb.
This... I'm.... Fading away?
She began to struggle to break away from the touch of the filly, which felt like her whole body is being grasped and torn apart.
Successfully she did, is what she thought but she was no longer in the top floor of the hall.
She was in a void.
" You... You have the same powers as me?" She asked in disbelief.
"...no"
As soon as those words echoed from the void, eyes began to open from the darkness. It was in the thousands.
"Wha—!? Where am I!?" She panicked.
" You are in my play room... And you will be my next toy."
Kesu felt a strong grab from the ground which shocked the very core of the pony. As she looked at her hooves, it was been grabbed by something she didn't noticed that she was stepping at. It was a corpse of a pony.
She looked in horror as the whole floor and room was actually made from corpses.
" Guhaaaa!!!?" She screamed in fear.
Her eyes would shift left and right trying to find a way to escape. She tried to fight back, but even erasing the corpses that's grabbing her another one would grab her and drag her down.
" Leave me alone!" She vanished.
Poof she fell to her void, she had erased herself.
She pants heavily as she tried to make sense of it all.
What am I up against with!?
The panicked mare had no time to rest as she felt the same static permiating inside the void.
Again... It happens! This is impossible!? This is where everything is erased!... Why am I feeling anything here!?
The place where she once felt insecure and alone, is now a safe haven for her, but now another entity barges in.
CRACK!
" Oh no you don't!" She began to fight back. She began to erase the cracks.
" We can also play here if you want."
The horrors in her mind shot through the roof as she looked behind her.
There the mare stood at the void.
"I-I did not invite you in..." She stuttered.
" Neither did I..." Hooves began to appear from the void, slowly replacing the void of Kesu into Pebbles's play room.
If she can freely come in the void... She could easily come out of it. I cannot simply erase her . Her thoughts of fear.
As the play room creeped so did the static she felt.
Her sweat began to pour her eyes dilated her hooves shaking, mind gone mad. Her heart deafening.
" Y-you... You made me do this..." She then tapped her horn in her head and the soul in her eyes vanished.
" !?"
Pebbles was taken by surprise as she noticed nothing from the body... No static.
" Did you kill yourself?"
"..."
" I can always bring you back to life silly... I say when you die mare."
As she pointed her hooves at the corpses the static bounced off and did nothing.
"!?"
"What did you do?" The filly asked curiosly
The soul in her eyes returned.
" Static?" The filly asked.
" I suggest you behave yourself." She pointed her horn once more.
" So you can stop me?" The filly asked intuitively.
This took her by surprise.
Why? She thought.
" It would be nice to be normal again."
" Ah... I see... I'm afraid I can't make you normal... Only you can." The mare felt sorry.
" I can't though... It hurts when I stop..."
"Can't you not erase my powers? I do not want this..."
"Removing your static is death itself Pebbles! I'll help you control it! That's the only thing I think I could do to help!"
" ... Then you can't... That's what she also said." The filly frowned and her hair drooped straight.
The aura which was once static became dark and gloomy. The field around her became stronger.
" You adults always lie..." She then sank like a rock from the floor made of zombies.
She clenched her horn and hesitated for a bit.
" I know... They're all a bunch of liars..." She cried with anger, not only from those she hate but herself as well.
She mustered all her courage and dashed outside her safe spot from the void to the play room.
She blasted her horn at the ground and opened a path towards hell, where the filly awaits within the depts of the playroom.
She leaped in leaving her fears behind, in pursuit of the mirror bellow the labyrinth.
A beam of light penetrates this room of darkness. And at the center Kesu stood.
"Pebbles I want to help you."
Silence.
" I too have been lied too same as you, promised of greatness of ones ability, just to be locked up and used by others... I know the pain and I hate it."
She threw her horn.
" I will do all that I can to help you."
"...then please take it away. I don't want this power."
" Your ability is who you are, presumably your cutie mark. If I remove that, I'd be removing you. And if I just remove the static, you'll just make a new one."
"Then death it is."
" NO! no it isn't I've gone the same path as you. I didn't need to die... I learned. I grew. I over came it. You too can over come it Pebbles!"
" The same? Another one of those lies."
" I hate those liars too. And I'm not gonna end up like one of them."
She then sprinted into the darkness.
" My proof is that I can find you inside this darkness!"
She grabbed the filly from the darkness and yanked her out of it.
Pebbles was shocked and amazed, this mare was able to find her and pulled out from the darkness.
" How?"
" I too hid in the dark..." She hugged the filly and once more told her, " you can do it. I'll help you okay?"
" But... What about them? Everyone in the farm is dead..."
" Let them rest. Can you do that?" She ask.
" I'll miss them..."
" Is it really them?"
" ...no... Not really..."
The filly hugged tightly to Kesu and whipped softly at her chest.
The play room began to shake and about to collapse.
" Oh cr- poop! We're still inside."
" Hihi the filly giggled slightly."
" Silly filly this isn't the situation we should be laughing at, we'll be buried alive you know?"
" Then let's go to the void! I kinda liked it there!"
"Easy for you to say..." She smiled worriedly.
The room continued to shake as she rushed towards her horn. As soon as she grabbed it she began to whisk it to the air.
The filly nodded and both vanished to the void.
The farm shook and began to crumble, sinking below and turned into a lava pit.
" A shoot... How am I gonna report this to the princess?" Rockhoof scratched his head as he worried.
But before the dust would settle from the farms collapse, giant shadow like trees would grow out from the lava pit and spring out leaves made of fire.
This astonished and scared Rockhoof.
The void, where Kesu kept her emptiness, now a place she could call home.
The two would enter and Kesu would drop from fatigue.
" Ahg! Uufff.... You don't mind if I catch a bit of rest right?" She asked pebbles.
" You're tired already?" She pocked her while she lied down.
" Hey stop pocking me. You know, I'm like your big sister now! So you should respect and listen to me."
" Boo you suck as a big sister."
" Hey!"
The filly smiled as she mocked her.
" Hmmm..." She pouted.
" That said... Don't forget to really on me as well okay?" She said as she ruffled the filly's head.
" Hey! Hihi!" She giggled.
" Okay, I will..." The filly smiled and laid beside her. " I guess not everyone lied..." She said as she snuggled beside Kesu.
Kesu was genuinely happy as she has seen herself from the filly. In a way, she saved herself.
" I can't believe I let myself lose to you hihi" the filly snickered.
" Wa— you should know I was handicapped." She then booped her nose.
"You know I can do it too right?" She then whizzed back and forth from Kesu's void, appearing beside her then at her back.
" Not a bad idea... That way you can learn how to use your powers while depleting the static you've been producing."
" I don't think it's reducing it though... It's more like charging me up even more..."
The both stared at each other for a bit.
" Okay; good to know." She then tapped her horn at Pebbles.
" Hey that tickles!" She giggled.
" You can keep on practicing that, just tell me when it starts to hurt okay?"
" What about you? Doesn't it hurt when you use your powers?"
" It does... But you get used to it... Part of growing up I guess?" She shrugged.
" What? That's just silly!" She giggled.
" Didn't I promise to help you? I can handle a little pain."
" Thanks... Um... What's your name?"
" It's... Hmm... I go by the name Eraser, the pirate earth pony as my alternate identity! But my secret identity is Kesu! The dazzling and beautiful princess of the east! Banished by her pony kind and know a wonderer out to seek the truth!" She epically announced as she aimed to entertain the filly, which did not work as the filly cringed and tried to be entertained.
".... Um wow."
" Hey! I was being serious!" She began to tickle the filly in retaliation.
" Hey! Hihi!"
The two played inside the void as they learned a little bit about themselves; growing ever so slowly.
" What the fuck is this!?" Comfy yelled as she stared at the giant shadow tree where the Rock Farm once stood.
Author's Note
My head hurts from studying bio electricity and static fields... Yes through my studies, I'm basing pebbles and necromancy through these fields.... Static fields and bioelectricity... Why she can move through dimensions electrostatic... This also links up why pinkie pie can fourth wall and why she has a balloon as a cutie mark and her connection to rocks and her family.... Basically pinkie pie is the ultimate rock.
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