THE BEAST AND THE HARLOT

Dedicated to DeamoN67, your help will not be in vain my friend...

“But I don’t get it,” Pinkie burst out. “I thought your brother and Cadence whipped that meanie Chrysalis’ butt all the way to the Badlands!”

“I don’t understand either,” I replied. “But what’s most important is that we make sure everyone is okay. If it’s nothing, we leave.”

I leaned back into my seat in the train car, and glanced out at the passing countryside. The ride to the Crystal Empire was a long one, but at least the seats were comfortable. The green fields rolled by at a rapid pace. Watching the scenery on long trips usually staved off the insanity of boredom on long travels, but today it wasn't a good option.

I looked back at the girls. They all had some way to occupy themselves as the train trundled on to the snow-covered Northern Reach.

Rainbow Dash was resting her head on Rarity’s shoulder, muttering something softly to her as Rarity ran her fingers through her hair. Fluttershy was immersed in a book about advanced animal breeding, for Celestia knows why. She had mentioned something about Angel when she checked it out, but something in my gut told me that this went deeper than that.

Applejack shook her head as the train passed the FlimFlamCo’s orchards. Their Cider Processing Plants billowed thick black smoke into the open air, casting a grey haze over the once majestic countryside.

“Can you believe this Twi?” Applejack said, anger riding on her words. “Those two bozos come in, take some poor fool’s land, and build their damn factories ta poison the air. Is that not just a load of horse shit?”

I looked back at her, and saw the fury in her eyes. I couldn't help but take her side in the fight. Flim and Flam were only in Ponyville for a few days, and in that short time, they tried to kick The Apples out of town.

“I guess, but I can’t really take sides here. I don’t know much about agriculture,” I confessed.

“Psh, I guess you’re right. Ah was stupid for thinking that you’d get what I’m talking about,” she said.

She had an air of self-pity around her, and she looked back at the passing plains. I felt bad for her, but I guess it’s hard to understand another’s pain when you knew nothing about it. A feeling I knew too well. I dropped the conversation, not wanting to coax any anger from Applejack.

I searched around the car to see what Pinkie was up to, but found no sign of her. I leaned over to Fluttershy, and tore her from her book.

“Have you seen Pinkie around?,” I asked her.

Her once concentrated face contorted into an expression of worry.

“Oh no, Twilight,” she said in her usual quiet voice. “I can’t say I have.”

I allowed her to return to her book, and I went to search for Pinkie. I wandered around our train car, only to lead to the door to the rest of the train. The next train car was full of passengers and tourists alike, all wishing to reach their destination at their earliest convenience. For a large collection of impatient people, the silence was the most shocking part. Nobody seemed interested in each other. The children were either asleep or playing travel games. The adults huffed in frustration while their kids got too loud or rude, scolding them when this happened.

A stewardess was standing near the entrance of the car with a plastic smile molded on her face. Her back was inhumanly straight, and her eyes seemed to have glazed over.

“Um, excuse me, Ms.,” I said with a small voice. “Have you seen my friend? She’s about yay tall, pink hair, ADHD, among other odd characteristics.”

“Oh, ma’am,” she said in one of the most rehearsed voices that’s ever hit my ears “I have seen your....colorful friend! She’s moved back to the food car, and she mentioned something about the chefs. Is there anything I can help you with?”

You can get a personality, that’s a start, I thought.

“No, thank you,” I replied, hurrying away from that...thing.

True to the stewardess-thing’s word, the food car was all the way at the end of the line of train cars. As the food car came within view, I could already hear the clamor coming from the other side of the metal door. If there was one way to describe the noise, it was like if a train hit a raging bull.

“No, no, no, no, no, NO!” something from the other side shouted. “You’re doing it all wrong!”

I threw open the door, only to see an enraged Pinkie looming over a trio of traumatized bakers.

“P-p-p-please Ms. Pinkie!” one of the three men shouted. “W-we’ll try harder! Just don’t hurt us!”

“What in Equestria is going on in here?” I shouted, grabbing Pinkie’s attention.

“Oh! Hi Twilight, what’s up?” she said. All traces of anger were gone from her words, and she now was wearing her typical Pinkie Pie smile.

“Well for one, why are you holding bakers hostage?” I asked.

“Oh! It’s because,” she turned to face the bakers, “These fools can’t bake worth two bits! I mean, ten bits for this!”

She threw down one of the cupcakes for sale. It hit the floor, and splattered like any other baked good would.

“Uh, Pinkie? What am I missing here?” I said with a heavy amount of confusion.

“Silly Twilight, what aren't you missing? Can’t you see? It’s got too much sugar and it’s WAY too moist. Those guys think they can call themselves bakers when they can’t even make a simple cupcake? I mean who does that ‘cause I don’t and honestly I can’t name anyone who does except maybe little baby Pumpkin. Oh! She’s sooooooo cute when she bakes even though she-”

“I understand!” I snapped. “Uh, I mean, I get what you’re saying. I’ll leave you to this...work.”

“Okie dokie lokie Twilight!” she said with glee. “And you three! Get back to work!”

I slipped out of the car before any of the yelling got too severe.

This is going to be a long ride, I thought.

The warming light of the Crystal Empire came within view after a LONG four hours after Pinkie’s baking incident. But there was something off about the light. The usual blue glow of the barrier was darker, and more foreboding. It was muddy in colour, and no longer looked safe to cross through.

“What’s going on Twilight?” Rainbow asked.

“I have no idea, Rainbow. I've never sensed such...power in a spell before,” I said, “But I know that this isn’t my brother’s power alone.”

The train car passed through the barrier, and I felt chills run over my entire body, almost like they were looking for something. My gut and hands also began to burn a little, more than likely from the strong concentration of magic in the shield. I could feel many different sources of magic contribution got the barrier around the Empire.

“I think there may be something really wrong girls,” I said to the other five, “But I’m sure if we remain calm and listen to instructions, everyth-”

“WE’RE ALL GONNA GET KILLED BY CHANGELINGS! RUN!”, Pinkie shouted to the entire train.

The people on board began to all run and scream, all now fearing for their lives.

“What’s going on in here?!”, a very authoritative voice shouted, “Everybody STOP!”

The people stopped their stampede, and looked at the owner of the voice. His golden armor and helmet all reflected their shock at the sudden outburst.

“I need you all to calm down! My name is Commander Ironsides, and I’m looking for the following people!”, he shouted above the murmuring.

He removed a scroll from his waist, and unrolled it.

“I will need the following people to exit the train immediately and report to The Princess’s castle!”, he boomed, “Ms. Applejack, Ms. Rarity, Ms. Rainbow Dash, Ms. Fluttershy, Ms. Pinkie Pie, and Ms. Twilight Sparkle. That is all!”

We all looked at each other before exiting the train. I had a sick feeling brewing in my stomach.

Whatever this is, it can’t be good.

I walked through the crystal hallways of the castle, following the escort of guards to our destination. The guards of the palace all seemed on edge, looking for even the slightest excuse to attack an offender.

“If you don’t mind me asking, where are we going?”, I asked one of the guards.

“I’m sorry Ms. Sparkle, but I am not at liberty to answer that question.”, he replied.

“Can you tell me who needs us?”

“No”

“Why there’s a magic shield around the city?”

“N-”

“Or why my brother sent me a distress letter? Or why the guard is up so much? Or why-”

“Ms Sparkle!”, Commander Ironsides snapped, “All will be revealed in due time. So please keep you questioning at a bearable minimum!”

He continued his brisk pace to our destination, not even missing a step due to yelling. While he wasn’t looking, I stuck my tongue out at the back of his head.

“I’m sorry,” one of the guards whispered to me, “That’s just old Ironsides. He’s like that to everybody!”

I turned to look at him. All I could really see was his eyes, but they had some of the most beautiful I had ever seen. They were a swirling sea of royal blue that could woo even Rarity.

“It’s okay, I’m just a little nervous is all,” I replied.

“Don’t be, I heard that it’s just a small disturbance, so what ever The Captain needs can-”

“FLASH SENTRY!”, Ironsides boomed again, “Are you talking to the VIPs?!”

“I was, uh-”

“It’s a yes or no answer cadet!”

“Yessir.”

“And what would possess you to do such a thing?”

“She was-”

“WRONG ANSWER! Unsat fail boy! You’ll be sure to pay for that later!”

“Yessir”, Flash Sentry sighed, and then looked back ahead.

I leaned over to Applejack, not looking away from the commander.

“He could stand to be a little nicer,” I whispered.

“Ah know, but it’s better we keep our noses outta it”, she replied.

“Ms. Sparkle, even though you are a guest here, I also expect you to respect my position of command,” Ironsides said without looking back.

This got me to a point where my anger boiled over.

“Well then ‘mister commander sir!’, I think you should know that in the past day I was evicted from my house, had a meltdown in the town square, watched two of my best friends have sex, and NOW I’m being dragged to some war meeting I know nothing about! So, I expect YOU to respect my position on life right now, SIR!”

Flash Sentry flinched, and Ironsides stopped walking. He turned around to face me, and walked up to me. He leaned over, and put his face close enough to mine that I could feel the stench from his breath.

“Look here you pretentious little bi-”

“Commander Ironsides!”, a familiar voice called into the hallway, “I know you aren't kissing my sister, so care to explain why you need to be that close to her?”

I looked over the commanders shoulder, and saw my brother standing with his arms crossed at the end of the hallway. His expression didn't reflect it, but I knew from years of living with him, that he was livid.

“Well, Captain Armor, I was just informing Ms. Sparkle about the system of command we have around here, sir,” he said.

“So why did I hear you yelling?”

“Well, sir, Flash Sentry was breaking the regulations of this escort, sir.”

“And that requires my sister’s discipline, why?”

“She was questioning my authority in front of my squad sir.”

“Right, so let me get this straight. My sister was being so rambunctious and so snotty that you yelled at Flash and got in her face. Correct me if I’m wrong.”

“Well, sir, that’s not entirely accurate. Ms. Sparkle was in fact being quite rude th-”

“You liar!”, I shouted at him, “You were mad at me for whispering!”

“Oh-ho-ho!”, my brother shouted mockingly, “The truth is revealed! What was that you said to Flash? 'Unsat fail'? I like that! Unsat fail Lieutenant Ironsides. Please return to the barracks now. This is my escort.”

Ironsides knew better than to argue, and walked away as calmly as he could. My brother walked over to us, and patted Flash Sentry on the shoulder

“You can forget about anything he said, Sargent Sentry. You have to be the only one who can put up with him without wanting a transfer. You earned those chevrons soldier!”, my brother said proudly.

“Well, uh, thank you a whole lot sir! I’m glad someone appreciates me!’, Flash Sentry said proudly

“The rest of you are free to leave,” Shining said to them.

The guards all walked back down the hallway, patting Flash on the back and ruffling his hair.

“Sorry about Ironsides,” Shining said, “ He can be a real unlikable martinet sometimes. He didn't hurt you right?”

“He’s just lucky he didn't get the chance to say anymore! You little sister would have ripped him a new one!”, I said in my best bravado.

He chuckled lightly, and wrapped one of his muscular arms around my shoulder.

“Wouldn't want that now would we?”, he joked, “Come on, Cadence is dying to see you!”

Shining guided me into the throne room, where our meeting was going to take place. Sitting on the throne made up of gleaming blue crystals, was not only my sister, but one of my best friends: Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

“Cadence!” I shouted in glee as I ran toward the throne to greet her.

“No! Twilight, wait!”, she shouted, but her effort was in vain.

My elated strides were interrupted by a wall of magical energy hitting me dead on. I was met by a strong electric shock, and flew back a couple of feet, landing hard on my butt.

“I’m so sorry Twilight!”, Cadence said, getting up from her throne, “Things have been a little...different around here recently.”

Cadence walked towards the now visible wall of magic energy, and as she passed through it, it lowly faded away.

“What’s going on?”, I asked her as she helped me up.

“Well Twilight, I think it’s better we discuss the matter in...private,” Cadence said softly.

“Right,” Shining said as the group waited outside of a magically sealed door, “I’m sure this doesn't have to be said, but anything you see in there must never leave the room. Is that understood?”

The group nodded in agreement...well, all but Pinkie. She had her arm raised like an impatient schoolkid. She was bouncing and making “ooh!” noises in an attempt to get my brother’s attention. Shining sighed like a defeated father, and pointed to her.

“Is it supplies for a surprise party?!”, Pinkie shouted gleefully.

“Party supp-”

“Because I can throw a super-mega-incredible-quickie surprise party in like no time flat, so if it’s party supplies I can toatlly-”

“Uh, Pinkie?”, Applejack interrupted, “Ah don’t think they’re hiding highly classified party supplies.”

Pinkie’s shoulders slouched, and she hung her head down by her knees.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right, “ she said glumly.

“Are you ever going the door, or are we all just gonna sit here and talk party supplies?!”, Rainbow Dash snapped.

She looked around alertly, and realized that her cranky thoughts had manifested themselves.

“Opps,” she said, a bright blush burning on her face.

Shining shrugged, and pointed one of his hands at the sealed door. A bright purple beam of magic hit the door, and a large lock, almost the size of the entire door, materialized. The keyhole on the lock shimmered brightly, until the whole lock released and it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Shining walked over to the door, and opened it cautiously. He peered inside, and stepped back.

“If you’d all step inside, we can begin,” he said, scanning the halls around us.

I walked in first, and looked around the room. It was much larger than what the door revealed. The light on the ceiling were removed, and instead large surgical lights were the only source of vision in the room. There were no windows, furniture, or even places to store a torch.

In the center of the room, a tone table sat flanked by a variety of medical supplies. I could hear the rhythmic beeps of the heartbeat monitor beginning to match the throbbing in my head. The tablet, however, wasn’t only occupied by machinery.

In the center of the tablet, a girl lied unmoving in the darkness of the room. Her clothes had been removed, and not even a hospital gown was spared to conceal her nudity.

I took a few careful steps toward her, hoping that what I was seeing wasn’t another nightmare come alive. With every step I took, the throbbing in my head intensified, and the drone of the monitor grew louder.

The girl’s hands twitched ever so slightly, and her eyes stared unblinking at the ceiling. Her irises were stained a glowing lime green, and her pupils were dilated to an almost unhealthy size.

Her lips were pale and were cracked with the arid air in the room. Out of the corner of her mouth, a small dry trickle of some unknown liquid had dried a dark green; an almost muddier shade than her eyes.

Looking down her body, my eyes locked on her neck. A large, blood-soaked bandage was sealed to the side of her neck, and desperately needed changing.

“W...what happened here?”, I asked in absolute dread, “Who is this girl?”

The others came and stood by me, and all had their own reactions of dread to the...corpse lying on the stone tablet.

“A maid,” Cadence said, her eyes reflecting a dire state of seriousness, “She was found like this two days ago.”

“Why is she all...well, dead?”, Rainbow asked, her eyes not leaving the nude maid.

“I can assure you she isn’t dead,” Shining chimed in, “She’s in what the doctors are claiming is an ‘intentionally induced coma’. Caused by this.”

Shining held up a clear medical vile. It was filled almost to the brim in a glowing green liquid.

“This was found in her room. Our best team of scientists couldn’t tell us what it was, but I have a good idea...”

“Love,” I finished, “It’s a liquid state of a person’s emotion of love.”

“Yep,” he said, and levitated the vile over towards me, “And with an unfortunate amount of personal experience, I know that the only creatures alive with the capability to draw it out are Changelings.”

The room chilled out at the mention of the stealthy parasites.

“We’ve labeled her Patient Zero of what I’m calling ‘Love Deficiency’. We caught a lucky one here. As far as I know...too much stolen from your body and...”

“You die,” I said, hollowness reaching my mind, “So what are we gonna do?”

“Well right now,” Cadence said clearing her throat, “We have no idea how many Changelings are hiding in the city, but we do know one thing.”

“An’ what’ll that be?”, Applejack asked.

“That Chrysalis is here, hiding in the city.”

“How can you be so sure?”, Rarity asked, “Surely it can’t be something that serious!”

“She left a note,” Shining said starkly.

Shining held out one of his hands, and a folded piece of blood-stained paper appeared in his hand. He levitated it over to me, and I unfolded it.

Hand over Twilight Sparkle and the rest of The Elements of Harmony to me, or your precious city will burn and you wife will suffer.

Much love, Chrysalis.

Author's Note

Today's song: The Beast and The Harlot by Avenged Sevenfold off of their album City of Evil.