The Truth of Magic
By Jaysteeny
Princess Celestia sat upon her throne, tapping her hoof idly. She sensed them, they were close now. She decided her guards would best not witness this, so gestured for them to leave the room. They wouldn’t see the Reapers, if they did not wish to be seen. Few beings were able to circumvent the powerful magic at work hiding them, she being one such being. Ten figures, clad in long black hooded robes; six equine, four humanoid; entered the room and lined up halfway between the door and the throne, bowing. The humans were carrying weapons, it seemed, which was hardly surprising considering their profession and the urgency of their summons.
“Reapers of the twelfth Reaper Corps, I welcome you to Equestria,” She greeted the humans as she stood up and walked over. She cut straight to the chase, saying “As you know, the disturbance is not in either of our universes. The reason why they have requested assistance is because there’s only one Reaper left in theirs.” This elicited a gasp from one of the equine figures. One did not simply eliminate an entire force of elite warriors. “Luckily, he survived long enough to undergo certain…changes, and fought his way to a teleport. He fused it so it’s a one way trip, therefore I recommend taking a return ticket with you.” She stopped to let the information sink in.
“So…He’s a pony now, is he?” asked a large Earth pony, lowering his hood to reveal the skeleton-mask beneath.
“Yes he is, and he’d appreciate you asking only questions that pertain to the mission.” Said a stallion as he walked in from behind the throne, wearing neither mask nor hood. He was a toffee brown creature, though his cloak left the question of whether he had wings. His mane was a creamy vanilla, and his eyes matched the blood that oozed from a cut on his lower lip. “My name before I changed is irrelevant, but my name now is Just Desserts; based upon, of course, my colouration. Although, I suppose it does sort of pertain to my profession: Giving those who deserve it their just desserts.” He grinned morbidly, and stepped into line.
“Thank you, Mr Desserts. Now, the disappearances were occurring around a potion factory Earth-side, and all but one Reaper were lost while investigating. Take prisoners only when necessary. Good luck, my little Reapers, and god speed.” One of the humans stepped forward, and with the best German accent he could muster, spoke to the princess.
“Jawohl, mein führer!” He shouted. All of them but Just Desserts suddenly snapped a Hitler salute, and shouted “Sieg heil!” before bolting for the Reaper armoury. Celestia shook her head and went back to her throne. Such were the troubles with Reapers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Equine Reapers moved about the armoury, equipping weapons and arming gauntlets. The humans milled about, cleaning or sharpening their weapons and restocking their scorpions (Darts that are sort of like straightened fish hooks, laced with a poison that makes you feel as if your blood is on fire, and eventually kills you). Eventually, they seemed prepared, and activated a teleport beacon.
“Alright, let’s move.” Just Desserts said humourlessly. He powered up the inter-dimensional teleport just as Celestia walked in. “You can make jokes about dictators when you get back.” He walked through the portal and was gone from sight.
“Reapers, be wary. You may be doing a search and destroy, but you may also be walking into a trap. Once again, I wish you luck.” Celestia said. Clearly the scars across Desserts’ leg hadn’t gotten past her.
“Will do, Tovarish,” Said a sleek equine in a Stalliongrad accent. He grinned beneath his mask as he stepped through. The others all followed silently, as Celestia looked on.
Travelling between universes is an interesting experience, to say the least. To get a general idea, imagine taking out all of your internal organs, all of your bones and pulling out every single hair, sending everything through a tumble dryer, and then putting it all back together. About ten times over. Then, you have a general idea of the feeling. Though this isn’t quite a complete description, it can be summed up in two words: Not fun.
Just Desserts was waiting when they exited the portal. Of course, time distortion. They waited a few seconds before they went through; he’s probably been waiting here for several minutes. Such are the hazards of inter-universal travel. They all came through, about thirty seconds apart target-side, and were given a more detailed briefing en route.
“Basically, about ten years after emergence; that’s the term used for when Equestria showed up in the Pacific; new converts started disappearing from this bureau. It was near the largest potion refinery Earth-side, so of course everyone went there to get converted; no running out of potions, y’see; anyway, HLF; that’s Human Liberation Front; are pretty low level in that area, but the ones that are there prefer to die rather than go pony. Turns out, they took over the potion factory. I got out before they killed me, but I was far from healthy. Still got the scars to prove it,” He held up his right foreleg to show the rest of them in the van, apart from the driver. “I’m glad I got a pair o’ wings out of it, though. Means I can program that GPS that’s leading us straight there.” The Earth ponies nodded in agreement. Using touchscreens and buttons designed for humans was a pain. The buttons are never hoof-sized.
“Target in 300 metres,” Stated the driver in a monotone as he stopped the vehicle. “Showtime.” He turned off the engine and got out, putting on his mask and checking his weapons. Scythe, check; Secondary scythe, check; Sword-staff, check; short sword, check. The others followed suit, and started walking along the road to the factory. “Silken Strand, you get up on that hill with your rifle.” A unicorn trotted up the hill and set herself up to snipe. She blended into the foliage perfectly. The other unicorn with the group, Star Walker, stayed in the van to coordinate manoeuvres. “Alright, so now we need a little music to set the mood. Set it to shuffle.” The twelfth Reaper Corps was known colloquially as ‘The Singing Scythes’ due to their tendency to burst into song during an assassination. Walker chuckled and played music into the communicator. A familiar tune played.
“Of course it’s Horror Movie. Are you sure the program isn’t sentient?” Asked Crimson Gale, a somewhat cynical, dark red Pegasus. Normally he’d be the ‘eye in the sky’ but since the facility wasn’t able to be viewed using any of their special filters, he was forced to trudge in on hoof. Soon enough, the singing started.
“Horror movie, right there on my TV!” The humans sang quietly as the group trudged to the facility, single file, with Desserts in the lead. Reapers only ever allow mortals to join their ranks, due to the enchantments used not reacting well with other unnatural and/or magical substances. As a result, all potential applicants are disqualified if they have ever smoked, used drugs or consumed alcohol. Once they’ve been inducted, however, the body gains the ability to accommodate these things. Nevertheless, the magic a Reaper wields is supposedly near god-like. The humans fell silent as they got closer (Much to the relief of their Equine counterparts) and began to simply walk in-time with the tune.
“Alright, let’s vanish,” Said Just Desserts as the group came towards the outer fence. They tapped into the magic that gave them power beyond that of an ordinary member of their species, and ceased to exist from an ordinary creature’s perspective. Desserts drew his secondary scythe; a one handed weapon with a cruelly curved blade; and slashed a doorway in the wire fence. “Pitiful. You would at least expect them to have it electrified.” Though they did not voice it, his companions shared this opinion, and would have much preferred more of a challenge. “Come on. The sooner we find out what’s going on, the sooner I can start resurrecting this corpse of a Reaper corps.”
“Crimson, you go up high,” Said one of the humans as the aforementioned Pegasus flew up to see if there was a potential exit on the roof. “When we get back, you ponies are going to see Hudson Hawke, so you know why we sing on missions.” The ponies looked slightly perplexed, but went along with it. “Let’s think: one minute to find out what’s going on, three to make it stop. Walker, play ‘Dead or Alive’ by Bon Jovi.”
The humans grinned beneath their masks as they entered the building. An epic guitar riff played over their communicators as the song began. Bubbly Wine; the group’s other Pegasus; went up to wait on the roof, while the others entered.
“Okay, I’ve hacked the cameras. Seems they knew we were coming; armed guards patrolling most corridors.” He looked carefully, comparing a three dimensional rendering of the complex to what he could see on the cameras. Tapping a few keys with his magic, he blacked out camera blind spots, and made unknowns red dots on the map, with Reapers marked in green. “Guys, we got bad news. There are several rooms on this blueprint that don’t show up on any of the cameras. Either they’re important enough to warrant closed-circuit, or they’ve had the cameras removed. Either way, we need to know what’s in there. Be prepared for a fight.”
“I drive all night…” One of the humans uttered quietly. The humans finished the lyric together, saying “Just to get back home.” They turned a corner, and found a pair of guards walking away from them, their backs turned. One of the humans sang the chorus as he dealt with them. “I’m a cowboy,” He ran forwards, arm swept back gripping sword-obo. “On a steel horse I ride,” He leapt to the right wall, running along it for a few steps before launching off. “And I’m wanted,” He decapitated the one on the left, before bringing the blunt end beneath the legs of the other, tripping him. “Dead or Alive.” He finished with a downwards stab. The rest joined in. “And I’m wanted,” The two Earth ponies sang along for the last line. “Dead or alive.”
“We’ll cover more ground if we split up,” Said Just Desserts. “Two of the humans come with me, the rest of you form pairs.” He threw off his cloak, revealing his wings; but more importantly, what he’d done with them: They weren’t just the usual feathered wings, oh no. He’d added blades to them, making them fan-blade like weapons. Whether they were effective would be seen soon enough. They divided up, singing as the chorus came on again.
“I’m a cowboy,” All but Desserts sang, “On a steel horse I ride. And I’m wanted,” Birdsong sang behind the others “Wanted! Dead or alive,” They moved off down separate hallways “I’m wanted, dead or alive,”
“So,” Birdsong asked the human walking beside her. “How come you guys always sing?”
“Because,” He replied, “It scares the living crap out of anyone who’s already aware they’re going to die.” He smiled as he heard voices nearby. More targets. A Reaper’s scythe is unlike an ordinary scythe, in that it has a pike on the end opposite the blade. All the better to kill you with. He turned the corner, to find a pair of door guards, seated in chairs and arguing about something unimportant. He nonchalantly walked up to them, and bowed low. “Good evening, gentlemen. May we please pass?” He asked as he rose. They looked at him and chuckled, standing and reaching for their pistols. “Darn, and here I was hoping for an easy night…” He muttered with his face turned towards the ground. He decided to give them some time. One second seemed sufficient for a fast draw. Slash! He cut off their right hands and they fell to the floor, still gripping the guns. They screamed, but were quickly silenced as the one on the left was impaled, and the one on the right got a skirted scorpion in the throat.
“Can’t let the humans have all the fun,” Said Birdsong. “Oh look, they had a key.” She bent her head down and gripped it in her teeth, ignoring the blood. She put it into the lock, and turned. The door came open, to reveal a room filled with grinning men armed with guns. Their path of escape was also blocked as men filled the hallway. “Not my fault,” She said, as they were surrounded and their weapons taken. Stealthily, she pressed a button on one of her gauntlets, and a small light began to flash. It went un-noticed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“So, I saw the way you looked at that mare as we split up,” the human said to Bull Dust as they moved down their hallway. “So is she, uh, a ‘goer’? Know what I mean? Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more,” He said, waggling his eyebrows. Bull simply grunted in response. A stallion of few words, it seemed. “Oh, I see. Not one to talk about it, eh? You can tell me, strictest confidence, you know. Humans have dying wishes sometimes, you know. I never divulge them, except to those who need to know. Anything you tell me will never leave my lips, I can assure you.”
“What I do in my own time,” He replied, “Is none of your concern.” Suddenly, several people in riot gear blocked off the hallway at both ends, forming a barrier. “What I do while at work, however,” He grinned, before getting into a charging stance. “You can feel free to witness,” Bull lowered his body so the human could climb on. He charged forwards, feeding off the fear the guards were doing very badly at hiding. The human drew his short sword, hacking at the men who didn’t dodge the living boulder rushing at them far enough. There were several layers of them, and by the latter section Bull was finding it difficult to continue. Eventually, they pressed him in, and they were trapped. The human surrendered his weapon happily, by flinging it at one of the soldiers. Bull, being almost covered by humans, was un-noticed as he pressed a button on his gauntlet.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Walker stayed in the van, looking at what was happening. One by one, beacons were being activated. The only possible explanation was that they had been captured. Luckily, he could still track them throughout the facility even if they weren’t shown on the cameras. Suddenly, he realised what was going on. It was a trap! Somehow, they had known others would be sent. “Oh no…” He whispered. He checked the area around him for anyone. Only a few armed men, but enough to take both him and Silken Strand if they had the element of surprise. Shame he knew they were coming. He opened a direct channel to Silky, and warned her. “Silky, watch out, it’s a trap! Mount bayonet and prepare to defend!” He whispered, feeling some of them surround the van. He grinned as he pulled out a pair of pistols with his magic. “Noobs,” he muttered as he opened the door and shot them all.
Meanwhile, Silky was faring quite well. She teleported up a tree, just as they all pounced where she was supposed to be. She shot one through the head, before leaping down and using the rifle in her hooves. She bought the bayonet across the back of one’s knees, before leaping over him and smashing another in the face with the metal back-plate. She cocked it and fired at another, hitting him right between the eyes. She finished the survivors off by stabbing them through their hearts. About twenty more suddenly rushed over the hill towards her rear, and as she turned she threw out a hoof, releasing a multitude of scorpions in a shower across their chests. There were no survivors. At that moment, Star Walker ran up the hill towards her.
“Come on, we don’t have much time,” He urged her as she slung her rifle. “I’ve made a copy of the map in my gauntlet; we can see where they’re being taken.” At her blank look, he elaborated. “Look, all of us were tricked, and it’s only a matter of time before whatever reason we were brought here comes to pass. Crim and Bubbly were already taken; I advised them to go willingly. Something tells me that they haven’t got a very good way to synchronise their movements, so we got some warning. Now come on, let’s go save the bringers of death,” Silky smiled and led the way to the factory. This was probably the best mission turnaround she’d ever seen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Man, I just love this guitar solo,” One of the humans said as they walked down a plain hallway with numerous unmarked doors. “Say, you ever wonder why there are so many rooms in these places? I mean, they can’t really use all of them, right?” He looked to his comrade.
“Well, maybe they just store stuff in them? But of course, then why not use a warehouse?” He replied perplexedly. They didn’t have long to ponder, however, as it was revealed they were filled with two to three guards each. “Meh, not too hard.” He leapt over Just Desserts and began carving them up with his hand-scythe, while his counterpart did the same with the sword-obo. They sang as they worked. “Oh, and I walk these streets!”
“A loaded six-string on my back!” the other continued. “We play for keeps!” He declared as he pulled a concealed dagger from the blunt end, revealing an internal blade on the shaft.
“’Cause we might not make it back!” He sliced the abdomen of one of the advancing men. “I’ve been everywhere, And still I’m standing tall!”
“I’ve seen a million faces, and I’ve rocked ‘em all!” They sang the final chorus together, as was always the way.
“’Cause I’m a cowboy; On a steel horse I ride! And I’m wanted! Wanted,” Suddenly they both stopped, both feeling a blade at the back of their necks.
“Dead or alive,” Desserts sang the final line, drawing out the ‘alive’ bit for effect. “You know, I think I like this singing thing.” He smiled as they were handcuffed, disarmed and led away. He walked to the same location by another route, humming to himself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
All the captured Reapers were in cages, weapons on a small table nearby. Just Desserts came in, blades still outstretched as if to assert his dominance.
“Well, it appears we are still missing two, but that’s alright; we can start without them,” Just Desserts said calmly. “I found that your use of music to instil fear was extraordinary, so I’ve decided to try it myself. You Equestrians may recognise this tune. Then again, you may not.” A low, synthetic piano began playing as the cage of Crimson Gale was lifted into the air.
“Oh, great. I just knew I’d die with music in the background,” he muttered.
“Now, a potion’s tale isn’t quite as nice; as the story we knew of sugar and spice; but a Rainbow’s easy, once you get to know it; with the help of the magic of a Pegasus Device” The room lit up, revealing it was incredibly large indeed. On the other end was a pit full of equine corpses; dry beyond what should have been normal. Strange machines dropped from the ceiling, looking like syringes, only much bigger. “I hope you’re not afraid of needles,” He said with a chuckle. “Frightened blood getting into the potions is very bad indeed, if you were wondering.”
Nearby, Walker and Silky had sneaked inside. Suddenly, the pieces came together in Walker’s head. “Of course!” He whispered loudly, “The potions! They may be mostly nanite controlled, but the nanites need to know what to make! That’s why they’ve been killing ponies and extracting their blood. That’s why he’s the last of his Reapers. That’s what we need to stop.” They nodded, and went in opposite directions. Silky looked at the locks on the cages.
“Huh, one well-placed anti-tank round should be able to break ‘em all out,” She muttered to herself. She was glad her rifle had multiple barrels for different calibres. She loaded an anti-tank round, and took aim. Bang! It pierced through every single one, freeing the Reapers. It was a mad-rush to get to the weapons. But Crimson was still in his cage! Birdsong picked up a knife and threw it as hard as possible, managing to at least damage the lock. The Reapers went about attacking any guards they could, as Desserts tried to maintain order.
“Let’s delve deeper into this potion’s philosophy; far beyond that of misleading mythology!” He was silenced by a fist hitting him in the back of the head. The song continued to play as they duelled. Another Reaper joined, and Desserts kept them well at bay. Stab! He managed to get one in the stomach. Part of his wing-blades had flaked off inside the wound, like shrapnel. Bang! A bullet pierced his chest, and he fell over, dying. As he died, he whispered the end of the song. “In the potion factory…Where your fears and horrors come true…In the potion factory…Not a single soul gets through…” His voice was below a whisper now, and with the last of his strength, he attempted to slice through one of the human’s necks. A glancing blow, but he’d die without proper medical attention.
They teleported back to base, courtesy of Star Walker and Silken Strand’s combined magic, and got to work; but it was too late, both of the injured humans were fading. One of the humans had searched the room in his anger at being unable to help. Three vials of potion sat in a rack alongside an empty one. He brought them over. “Will these help?” He asked desperately. They didn’t speak, only administered it by syringe. The changes began immediately. In all the humans’ years, this was the first sight that had given them pause. They simply turned away, and teleported home. Those weren’t Singing Scythes anymore; they were creatures that did not belong on Earth. They’d be given good homes in Equestria, but that wasn’t their concern. They reported back to their superior; the Choir-Master; immediately, and told me of their trials. I listened intently, and told them to go speak with my superior: The Conductor. I wrote down their tale, which you have just read. Unless this file was declassified, I’d suggest hiding for the rest of your life.
The end
