Scootaloo and the School of Ghouls

"Hkkkkkkkk-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!"

A terrific shiver ran down Scootaloo's spine as she twirled about. Floating down from beyond the snow shield were seven Void Callers, their ghostly cloaks somehow resistant to the breeze, them not even billowing. Then came that cold, empty feeling the young filly had felt around them before. It was nauseating to say the least. She felt as if her stomach was being tossed and turned.

She began backing up, as Applemoon angrily shouted:

"Well, when it rains it ain't a storm! What in Edeathstria do y'all want?!"

"Hkkkkkkkk-Click-Click-Click-Click..."

Rainbow quirked an eyebrow.

"Wait a minute... I think I know what they're saying..." she said slowly.

Applemoon squinted her eyebrows, glancing at Deathie. "Since when did you know Voidenese?"

Rainbow shook her head. "I don't know much, but I do know that four, slow clicks... with a larger interval between the fourth and third means..."

She glanced downward in thought.

"Well?!" Applemoon said impatiently.

Rainbow's eyes widened. She turned to Applemoon, her tone deadly serious as she said:

"It means... 'stay out of this.'"

The group of younglings began backing away from the Void Callers as well, following in Scootaloo's lead, some of the ghouls gazing at them with intrigue, others with barely contained horror.

"It's interesting... mother always said they were beings of servitude," Metus said, with more curiosity than fear.

Sweetie gave a gulp. "Good, does that mean they'll back down if Applemoon keeps yelling at them?!"

Metus shrugged in response, continuing to gaze ahead. "I'm not sure how loyal they'd be to anyone but a powerful Eldritch Abomination... I wonder how they're even being controlled here?"

"Uhhh... yeah...” Apple Bloom said nervously. “In that case how dangerous are these guys, anyway?"

"Let's just say they can make those lovely lil' Felhounds look like pet dogs if they feel like it," Pipbossa grunted. "Their touch alone can turn ghouls n' ponies alike into bloody statues...” His tone became low. “Living statues."

The Crusaders immediately let loose gasps. They knew exactly what this meant.

"Eeeeep! I don't want to be Discorded!" Sweetie cried.

"Hkkkkkkkk-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!.!.!"

"Alright!" Applemoon roared, galloping in front of the group of students, Rainbow Death quickly joining her, holding her scythe in a defensive stance as she narrowed her eyes. "Ya'll can just go back to whatever Void Callers do on their spare time! Personally, I've started to like jugglin'!"

Rainbow Death gave her an odd look, to which Applemoon shrugged at, before continuing with:

"But the situation here is already handled!"

The Void Callers continued to close in, now from all angles, hovering slightly above the ground.

"They're in the moonlight!" Sweetie whispered to Scootaloo, sweating now. "I thought they couldn't do that!"

"M-Must have put on sunscreen," Scootaloo squeaked.

Sweetie threw her a blank look. “But… it’s moonlight.”

"Moonscreen, then," she groaned, wincing at her own bad joke.

"Um… hello." a voice said, the origin of it stepping out from the crowd of students and joining Applemoon and Rainbow Death, who quickly did a double take upon seeing her.

"Oh no," Sweetie gulped. "Metus! What are you doing?!" she yelled.

"I just want to talk to them, is all," she said, blinking.

"That's very brave, kid," Rainbow Death complimented, glancing at her worriedly. "But you need to get back to the group. Me and Applemoon uh... got this."

"But I can understand them," Metus said calmly.

Rainbow Death raised her eyebrows.

"Wah?" she said, quirking her head.

Suddenly, the Void Callers halted, glancing at each other… almost as if confused.

Metus actually gave a light smile. "But they can't understand me."

"W-Wah. What does she mean?" Scootaloo said, instinctively gazing at Sweetie, who seemed to already be in a deep mode of thought.

Rainbow and Applemoon's looks became baffled as well, the former squinting her eyebrows.

And then, Sweetie glanced at Scootaloo as if she had just solved a hard riddle.

"It's the passive fear she generates! They don't know how to handle it!" she chirped.

Pipbossa gave a nod of agreement, looking at her with quite an impressed look.

"Mph, it makes sense, lass," he smiled. "Creatures of Null Space dun usually feel it, but it seems lil' Metus can make em' whether they like it or not."

"Mmmm, and you know, weird or not, she's got guts for just walking up to them like that," Pipsqueak complimented, Scootaloo giving him a light smile.

"Alright kid, what in the world are you doing to them?" Rainbow asked in a confused, though impressed tone, apparently not having heard Sweetie. “Unless it’s just the high level of awesome in front of them they’re afraid of, of course!” she grinned.

Metus looked back at her. "I think it's because they don't understand the concept of fear," she stated simply, as if that would answer her question directly, before looking back at the Void Callers and letting loose a series of clicks of her own.

The group behind her couldn't be anymore baffled if they tried.

"Heh, well ain't that somethin'. Got ourselves a translator for once," Applemoon chuckled, as the Void Calllers glanced at each other, clicking to themselves, before one turned back to Metus and let loose and replied to her:

"Hkkkk-click...click...."

"What did you ask them?" Rainbow Death asked.

Metus lowered her eyebrows, turning towards her. "I asked them what they wanted, and all they said back was that they sense an 'old friend' is nearby."

"Well, I haven't been chillin' in Null Space lately," Rainbow Death grunted, before glancing at Applemoon. "You?"

"Nope," she said, shaking her head.

"Hkkkkkkkk-click-click-click!"

"Alright, what's he-it-ugh- whatever! Saying now?" Applemoon asked, glancing at the 'lead' Void Caller.

Metus glanced back at her, actually gulping slightly.  "That we should move out of the way."

"Uh uh!" Rainbow grunted. "I-I already put these kids in danger once today, I'm not doing it again! Tell them they can buzz off!"

"Yeah! We ain't movin'!" Applemoon growled, puffs of steam once again sailing from her snout, before glared back at the leader. "I don't know why Shadowed trusts these folks, but they've been causin' more trouble lately than Princess Trollestia! I'd be in my right mind to have a lil chat with-"

"Something you want to tell me?" a voice called, a hoarse whisper as cold as all the ice in the north.

Shadowed Armor clanked into the scene, his armor glinting in the moonlight, a red-cloaked Void Caller at his side.

"As a matter of fact, both of us would!" Rainbow Death growled, suddenly zipping in front of Shadowed. "And not just about the Void Callers!"

"Mmmm... perhaps we should make it a private venture then," he said in a bored tone, glancing at the group of young ghouls, before looking back towards the red cloaked Void Caller. "Primary, tell your kin to disperse. I'll handle this."

"Hkkkkk-click-click-click-click...." the red cloaked Void Caller said, almost as if it seemed disappointed. He then pointed one of his long, bony fingers towards the blank tundra in the distance, him and his kin letting loose a rapid-fire series of annoyed clicks before floating away.

The entire group gave a collective sigh. though still, Rainbow didn't seem content with just that.

"Uh uh! We aren't finished here yet," Rainbow snapped, drawing closer to Shadowed, her eyes two black slits of anger as Applemoon galloped to her side.

Shadowed didn't move a muscle.

"Uh oh, this is not good," Pipsqueak whispered. “This school really needs to get its internal issues worked out....”

Sweetie gave a reluctant nod of agreement.

Then, Rainbow began to speak at a lower volume, at which her words became muffled to the group of young students. Though still, the tone of those words told them enough about what was going on.

"I heard you decapitated Trollestia yesterday... which was pretty cool," Rainbow Death admitted, though her glare continued. "But Twilight also says you've been acting like nothing but a huge jerk to her other than that!"

"Have I?" Shadowed yawned.

"Oh don't play dumb!" Rainbow growled. "This sound familiar? Embarrassing her during the commencement ceremony by acting like you didn't want to be there-"

"I don't want to be here," he said bluntly.

"-And then you acted rudely to Twilight's counterpart during her class!" she continued, ignoring the comment. "Do you have any idea how much our Twilight wanted her to come?!"

"I didn't want her to come," he said, and again, in a bored tone. "The headmaster should have a say in things, shouldn't he? And she didn't even consult me."

"UGH!" Rainbow Death cried, shaking her head. "Since when did Shadowed Armor, the great warrior of Edeathstria, become Shadowed Armor, the great douchebag of the Edeathstria?! You're acting like a spoiled child who didn't get the candy he wanted!"

"I don't have a need to explain myself to you, Death," he hissed, taking a menacing step towards her. "Shouldn't you be out defying the heavens and playing judge to the legions of souls you reap?"

Rainbow gave him a threatening look. "Don't you dare say anything about that! My method of punishment is the only way I make it through the day with this job!"

Applemoon drew a nervous look her way.

"Easy there, sourcube," she gulped.

"Yet how many times have you been wrong before?" Shadowed said softly, quirking his head. "How many times has the great karmic weigher of souls Rainbow Death made the wrong call... sending innocents to an eternal prison?"

"Once or twice," she said coldly. "But I've always rectified my mistakes."

"Have you?" Shadowed said in an amused tone. "Tell me about Marygold, then?"

Rainbow's eyes widened, her head sinking slightly as she gave a shiver.

"And what about the time you almost led my sister to her death by foolishly trying to take Prince Blackblood on by your lonesome..." Shadowed continued. "Is that how you treat someone you love? By acting like a fool not fit to hold the scythe?"

At that, Rainbow looked like she had just been punched in the face, her look of shame immediately turning to an odd, placid calm.

“What did you say?” she asked quietly, a slight hint of venom barely seeping out her tone.

“I stand by my opinion,” Shadowed said coldly. “You’re no more fit to hold the scythe than you are to be dating my sister. You’re arrogant at best, and completely foolish at worst! She would have been better off if you just let her pass through the golden gates and back to paradise where she belongs!”

And suddenly, that look of calm became one of fiery rage.

"OH THAT'S IT!" Rainbow roared, stamping a hoof. "HOW ABOUT I GIVE YOU A TRIP TO THEM?!"

She began hovering above the ground, flapping an angry wing wildly. And to the horror of Applemoon and the rest of the group, she quickly twirled her scythe, growling as she did so, before jettisoning its blade down towards Shadowed's scalp...

CLAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!.!.!

A shower of sparks rang out as his brilliant blue blade kissed her crooked one.

Applemoon gasped, a frantic look upon her face. "Rainbow! Simmer down! Noghoul's ever taken on Shadowed and-"

"RAUUUUGGHHHHHHHHHH!.!.!"

SWIIIISHHHHHHHH!.!.!

Rainbow twirled about in a dramatic, three-hundred-sixty degree ark, her scythe aimed for his legs this time....

CLAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG!.!.!

Only for Shadowed to effortlessly move his sword downwards, blocking it.

A low growl emanated his armor, and upon hearing it, Scootaloo felt she just be doused with cold water. It was almost as bad as having a Void Caller nearby.

"You... are not Death personified, you are emotion personified," Shadowed said, his tone actually showing a hint of anger. "In some ways, you're worse than she who came before you... and she was no more fit for the job than you were. For Death is cold... Death is neutral..." He let loose another growl. "And Death comes easily to fools!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Rainbow roared, pressing all her weight against him, her wing flapping madly. "And YOU are nothing but a huge asshole! And don't give me the 'I'm an old soldier' bullshit, because I know plenty of soldiers who are decent people! And you aren't one of them! Your heart is as empty as your armor!"

"You talk to me as if you know me, yet you know NOTHING!.!.!" he snapped, suddenly pushing all his weight forward, sending Deathie sailing backward, gasping.

Armored was upon her like an angry storm, pelting her with wave after wave of sword hits.

CLANG-CLACK-CLANG-CLING-CLACK!

Deathie gasped, struggling to block his barrage of strikes, sweat now pouring down her face.

"I should be with my men fighting on the fields of battle!” Shadowed roared.

CLING-SHIIIING-CLACK!.!.!

“Instead, I was dragged away for what as well have been garrison duty! Forced to abandon them as they die by the bushels in a war that shouldn't even be happening!"

CLAAAAAANNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG!.!.!

The two met in a brilliant parry, angry black eyes gazing upon empty armor, the two blades creaking against each other.

However, after a beat, Shadowed actually took a deep breath. Suddenly, he released his blade, backing away from Deathie, a glare still on her face, as the group continued to glance upon them, awe-struck.

"But perhaps I can make a difference here,” he said, his voice returning to its usual calm tone. “This school needs to be fortified... and I'll start by pruning out the illness that’s infested it…"

"Oh, and by that you mean me?!" Rainbow snarled.

"No, you fool!" he shouted, before taking another deep breath. "There is a disease festering inside these castle grounds... the Void Callers sense it." He then actually gave a chuckle. "But of course, you're too narrow minded to ever trust the words of anything from the void! Because 'they're all evil!' Not a surprise coming from someghoul who only sees the world in black and white!"

"Yeah, well the only thing I don't trust is YOU!" Rainbow roared, preparing to send her scythe flying at him yet again-

"RAINBOW! SHADOWED!" a shattered, though angry voice shouted.

With what looked like the greatest amount of effort in the world, the former paused in her attack.

Sauntering towards the scene came both Twilight Soulshard and Rainbow Dash, Twilight's eyes watering ever-so-slightly.

"What are you two doing?!" Rainbow Dash gasped.

The two turned their heads towards her.

"Settling a disagreement," Armored said in a cool tone.

"I'm about to rip this asshole a new asshole is what he means!" Deathie shouted, shooting him a another glare.

Twilight merely shook her head, her eyes still watering.

"I-I can't believe you two," she whimpered. "F-Fighting in front of the students like this... acting like two drunks in a bar!"

There was a second of silence, as Deathie's look of pure rage slowly morphed into that of remorse. She took a deep breath, Scootaloo continuing to stare at the scene in awe.

"T-Twilight..." she gulped, before fluttering over towards her. "I-I didn't mean to..."

She merely glanced away from her, Deathie sinking her head in shame.

Armored, however, let loose a grunt, not saying a word, before taking out a whetstone and beginning to casually sharpen his sword.

"Oh, you're not even going to apologize?!" Rainbow Dash suddenly roared, shooting him a death glare. "Just gonna sit there sharpening your sword?! At least my counterpart was willing to do that!" she pointed, actually giving her a small look of respect.

"It is not my business to apologize anymore than it is your business to be in the Nightmare Realm, morta-"

"All of you, stop it!" Twilight suddenly shouted, her tone more desperate than angry, as she glanced wearily at the students who looked upon the scene. "You're doing nothing but making Bogmorts look like it should never have been reopened..." she sighed.

"Well actually, I thought the fight they had was pretty bloody coo-" Pipbossa grinned, before gaining a rib from Sweetie. "Oi! Can't speak my mind anymore these days, can I?"

"Shush," Sweetie hissed. "This is serious..."

True to her words, Death actually seemed to look like her heart was shattering.

"S-Seriously, I'm sorry, Twilight..." she gulped. "I-I shouldn't have let myself get out of control like that... it was so stupid of me..."

Twilight, however, didn't bother to respond to her. Instead, she continued to gaze upon the sword Shadowed seemed content to sharpen...

"Shadowed..." she said in a suspicious tone, gesturing him forward. "Can you walk with me for a second?"

"Mph," he grunted, sheathing the sword. "I suppose so..."

The two formed along side each other, Twilight not even saying another word to Death, as they began trotting towards the castle. Deathie, in the meantime, hovered to the ground, collapsing on her flank, looking like she had just lost a limb.

Rainbow Dash gave her a concerned look, quickly hovering down beside her.

"Hey... you alright?" she said.

"N-No," Deathie gulped, shaking her head sorrowfully. "I-In fact, I haven't felt this way since... since Nightmare Night... when I thought I lost her for good... I-I don't know how to deal with it..."

There was a beat of silence, Rainbow glancing her over, before she actually set a comforting wing on her counterpart.

"I guess that makes two of us," she said.

Deathie gave a sorrowful gulp. "I've never been good with just... living... with emotion... I always have to try to fix what's bothering me... instead of just letting it go... and I'm not sure this is something I can fix..."

"Trust me, I know how you feel," Dashie said, patting her gently.

"And don't worry," Applemoon said, sitting by her side and giving her a warm smile. "Twilight will get over it... she will. She's just stressin' is all. You know how she's been workin' to get this school reopened."

Deathie chuckled darkly.

"Y-Yeah... and I'm here wrecking it for her," she sighed, her ears sagging. "I s-should just get back to my real job... I don't belong here... my stupid ass almost got killed in front of my class today..." She then let loose another sigh. "Though if Shadowed is right... I don't belong in that role either."

Applemoon suddenly gave her a stern glance. "Hey now! Don't be givin' hoarse lip just cus you made one mistake! You're Rainbow Death! And if I remember right, you and Dashie here were responsible for gettin' rid of Blackblood, weren't you?"

"Y-Yeah... after getting my flank kicked by him like five times," Deathie muttered, shaking her head.

Applemoon's stern look didn't falter. "Yet in the end, you still whooped his gooey flank good. And ya know why?"

Deathie slowly looked towards her, a quizzical look on her face.

"W-Why’s that?"

Applemoon merely smiled.

"Cus, as cheesy as it sounds, there ain't no Rainbow who ever gives up."

"Damned straight," Rainbow Dash said, fluttering her wings with a grin.

Deathie's eyes widened at that. And then came a beat of silence, as her eyes slowly narrowed in resolve. It was as if she had been reminded of something she already knew.

"Y-Yeah... you're right!" she finally gasped, suddenly getting to her hooves, her ears perking upwards yet again. "I didn't give up with Blackblood, and I didn't give up with Twilight! And in the end, it worked out!"

“Now that’s the spirit!” Applemoon cheered.

She then turned... and actually wrapped her arms around the Lycan pony.

"Oh nelly!" Applemoon nearly coughed in surprise, returning the hug. "Hangin' out with Twilight really has made you softer!"

"Yeah, and you know what? I like it!" Rainbow Death grinned. "I don't care what Shadowed says! I can be as emotional I want and still be the reaper! He may have seen so much shit in his day that he's shut off his heart, but that isn't me!"

She then turned back to the class of waiting students, smiling warmly.

"And I'm going to make it up to Twilight by making this class as awesome as it can be!"

"Awwwwwww...." the Crusaders cooed.

"Heh, Who would have guessed Death is so...." Apple Bloom said, trying to think of the right words.

"Mortal... in the end?" Sweetie smirked.

"Yeah... I guess that works," Scootaloo smiled.

"Sorry about that, kiddos! Let’s get back to the lesson, shall we?" Deathie chirped, before putting on a sheepish grin and glancing towards the Forbidden Forest. “Though we uh... seem to have lost what it was about..."

"Just splain' to them what ya know about em'. That'll do fine, sourcube," Applemoon beamed.

"And hey... uh... need any help with anything?" Rainbow Dash said, quirking her head with a smile, before she glanced up towards the heavens. "Hmmm... looks like the sky may need a bit more clearing..."

Deathie grinned at her, nodding. "Show us ghouls how it's done.”

"Haha! Now that is something I can do!" she smirked, before giving a wink and launching herself in the sky, the clouds above shuddering at her presence.

"Now then," Deathie said, turning back to the class. "Does anyghoul want to give a guess as to where the primary pressure point is on a Felhound?"

A few enthusiastic hooves were raised, as the class continued.

However, Scootaloo's mind quickly drew elsewhere, thinking about what had just happened. The Void Callers were interested in her... and Shadowed was talking about some sort of disease being on campus... right after she had had a conversation with the mysterious 'Arthur', who seemed to enable her to actually control the Felhounds. It was just too much of a coincidence.

A horrible thought came to her, one that made her shudder. Was it possible that she was the disease he spoke of?

And if that were true, what could she do about it?