Praetorian

Praetorian

By Mushious

Prologue: Shadows in the Dark

“Ah, don’t like this Twi’, we shouldn’t be here,” Applejack’s voice echoed out through the dark cavern.

“Yes, darling, I’m afraid I am going to have to agree with Applejack here. This is simply terrifying.” Rarity called out, her horn lit up briefly before being snuffed out like a candle. “Simply unnatural.”

Rainbow Dash grunted, “Aw, come on you guys, quit being such fraidy-cats, it’s not like we’re in dange--” A loud crash rang out, followed by a series of curses.

“Rainbow, I told you, no flying in here, who knows what you might crash into. We can barely see as it is!” Twilight’s voice rang out, clear and true, her magic flaring to life, illuminating a large array of stalactites lining the ceiling. “Now come on, I’ve found the way through.”

Shadows rolled in as her magic dimmed, plunging them into darkness once again. Twilight groaned and recast the spell, only for the shadows to creep up on them again even faster. Tiny trails of energy seeped away into the dark, the four too distracted to notice. After a few minutes of stumbling in the dark they breathed a sigh of relief. Upon turning a corner, they were greeted by a sapphire glow.

“An underground reservoir!” Applejack exclaimed.

Rarity nodded in agreement, “it’s beautiful! Who would have thought such a thing existed here, under Canterlot all this time?”

“Well, since you asked... Canterlot’s location was actually chosen for this very reason. After the destruction of Everfree Castle, Celestia sought out a site where all ponies could live in harmony. To live in harmony for a thousand years, you need fresh, clean water. Lots of water.” Twilight pointed across the lake at a pair of large pipes. “Those pipes draw water from the aquifer up to Canterlot and beyond. This is the purest water in all of Equestria and we’re the first ponies in a thousand years to see it!”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and let out a snore. “Listen Twi’, no offence but, if I wanted a lecture, I’d go tell Mayor Mare about how every window in Ponyville simultaneously exploded.”

“Was that before or after you made Twilight a new window?” Applejack chuckled.

Twilight scowled, “and knocked over every book in the library, the day after sorting day...”

“Hehe, yeah...”

Before she could continue, Rarity’s ears twitched, “Everypony, quiet! Do you hear that?”

The sound of water being displaced quickly filled the air, the ponies looked around, surprised by the sudden intrusion. After a minute the sound dispersed and a new sound filled the air, waves lapping at the shore.

“Twi’ Ah’ thought you said we were alone here.”

“Princess Celestia said nopony had been down here since Canterlot was built. I guess somepony must have found another way in. Let’s go have a look.” Twilight walked over to the lake to investigate.

“Twilight dear, do you think that’s the best idea? Who knows who... or what it could be?” Rarity asked cautiously.

“I highly doubt it will be anything bad, for all we know, we could have just discovered a lost civilization or a... rock.”

“A rock?” Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow chorused.

“A rock.” Twilight confirmed. “I wonder where it came from, I’ve never seen anything like it. Rocks that move on their own? It just doesn’t make sense.”

She moved closer, craning her neck to get a better look. Unable to see clearly in the crepuscular light, her horn flared up, momentarily illuminating the rock before tendrils of amber energy lashed out and absorbed the glow.

Twilight lept back shocked, the others running to her side.

“Woah. What was that Twi’?” Rainbow asked, peering at the rock from a distance.

She shook her head, “I’m not sure, it seems to react to magic within it’s proximity. What it’s doing with it, I have no idea.”

“Ah’ don’t like this Twilight, all this magic hoodoo is making my head spin something awful.” Applejack began backing away, her face full of worry.

“Chill out AJ, it’s probably like an ancient artifact or something. This is awesome! Like Daring Do!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, suddenly enthusiastic at the thought of becoming her storybook hero.

Twilight nodded, “I’ve never heard of such a thing but it would make sense. Much of the archives were damaged in the Lunar War, such a thing could have been common back then. We should take it to Princess Celestia.” She tried to pick the rock up with magic, only to have it instantly absorbed. Sighing, she reached for the rock only to freeze in place upon making contact.

“FREEDOM!”

Light flooded the room, Twilight’s horn instantly went into overdrive, sparkling orbs of energy flew in every direction, narrowly missing her friends.

“You’re mine now... suffer well little foal!”

The voice boomed out across the cavern, coming from everywhere and nowhere.

“TWILIGHT!” Rainbow Dash dove at Twilight, knocking the rock from her grasp. Laughter reverberated through the air.

“YOU’RE TOO LATE FOAL, THIS ONE IS MINE. SHE WILL NEVER SEE YOU OR ANY OF HER FRIENDS AGAIN!”

Applejack galloped at Twilight, “not if Ah’ have anything to say about it!” She dove at Twilight, only to be hit in the chest by a ball of searing energy. She fell back, her coat seared where the magic made contact.

“Oh dear, oh dear. Rainbow Dash, we have to get out of here! Help me with Applejack!” Rarity cried out, traumatized at what was happening.

“Are you kidding me! We can’t just leave Twilight here! Who knows what will happen to her! She’s our friend and friends don’t abandon friends!”

Rainbow made another dive at Twilight, grabbing her tail just as a crackling nova exploded from her horn. Rarity and Applejack flew through the air, hitting the cavern wall with tremendous force. An impossibly dark shadow sailed across the now illuminated room towards them.

Rainbow Dash sailed through the air in the opposite direction, the force of the blast stunning her. Unable to flap her wings to gain control, she smashed into the rocky wall above the lake.

“Girls... I’m... coming...” She uttered, before the darkness took her, venomous laughter filling her ears as she fell into the water below.