private Sombra's Shadow

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@JonasDarkmane, Jinx shrugged. She had pretty much finished her experiments; anything not completed could be done later on. She didn't bother to go back to her room, wanting the extra time to complete her notes before she and Rave left, so instead used her magic to teleport everything she needed from her room to where she currently was. She thought nothing of Rave's temper; stallions often were like that.

 

~~~

 

@@Pucksterv, Jay listened to all that Twilight had to say. She was suprised to hear that she and Trivy were to travel to the mountains, but bit back the fear she was feeling at the thought. "Thank you," she replied. "One thing tho; you will always be a Princess to me, no matter what anypony says. You are the Princess of Friendship, and thanks to your help, I've made a friend." Jay managed a wobbly smile at Trivy, tho she wished that they could take Twilight out with them.

 

"The spell that stops Trivy's magic," she added, "I could take it off. While Jinx was inside my head, I learned the spells that she did and the magic inhibitor was one of them. Maybe if I do, then Trivy could do a spell so that we all could escape."

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Psych suddenly felt a sick pang hit his stomach, and he picked up Wing, placing her on his back as he began to run to Rainbow's room, thinking of horrible things that could be happen. Rushing in, he was too flustered to try to see anything. Listening to her frightening sounds, he tried to hone in on her. "Rainbow!? Where are you!? Are you okay!?"

Chip rushed after them, not wanting to wait on the others. He ran into the cottage, upstairs and back into the room. Rainbow was lying on the ground, her walking stick next to like she had wanted to go for walk. She was grunting, holding a hoof to her chest. ''She fell on the ground when we came in!'' Wing said while she climbed off Psych and rushed over to Rainbow. "Right here Big brother.'' she said while Chip sat down next to her.

 

''Misses Rainbow? Are you okay? We got you some help.''

 

''Thank you, you two foals are sweet.'' she said while she gave another grunt.

 

''Psych, what's wrong with her? Will she be okay?'' Wing said worried.

 

---

 

@@Pripyat Pony,

 

''You may think of me as you wish. I'm honored that you would still see me as a princess.'' Twilight said as she smiled at the two young mares standing in front of her. The two reminded her of herself when she was still young and filled with hope. The resemblance was actually quite unbelievable. She snapped out her thoughts when she heard the familiar sound of the laughing guards making their usual round. 

 

''You must leave now. Not only this dungeon but the kingdom. Get out of here while you still can. Don't worry about me. I'll get out of here on my own time. Go. Now.'' she whispered in a way you knew she was serious. Trivy nodded and grabbed Jay by her hoof before they started to run. ''Don't forget! The smokey mountains!''

Edited January 16, 2016 by Pucksterv

[JonasDarkmane 19,790]

@@Pripyat Pony

Rave was standing by the gates of the Empire. He had sent Jinx a magical envelope to let her know where to meet up with him. 

 

"Where is she? What is taking her so long? We need to get moving!". 

 

Rave walked in circles, his temper rising. His impatience was rising increasingly. There were voices in his head. New voices. The dark voice that had once plagued him was now gone. There was something new.... something darker.... now reaching out to him. He knew where it was coming from. From his black book, the book that Sombra had given to him. It had first started after he had burned his old diary and all his old memories. 

 

It was.... whispering... promising.... 

 

Rave shook his head. 

[Randimaxis 8,659]

He stopped.

 

The sound of his huffing for breath was all Winter could hear.  Then:

 

"... cart... for Rarity... I'll fetch it... you... with me... please..."

 

He looked back at Pinkie... Diane... whatever she wanted to call herself, and memorized every detail of the scene.  Eyes cold and distant, he turned and walked over to the inert pink mare on the ground.  He stopped short of her, his face a slate of stone.

 

"For all the pain I've caused you... I am sorry.  But I refuse to quit.  It's all I have left; I have nothing else anymore."

 

His brow furrowed, and his voice was much more dark and serious when he next spoke.

 

"REMEMBER THAT."

 

He turned away, keeping mind of Winter's presence as he made his way back to where the cart was.  It took a moment to hook up a slightly burnt harness to it, and a moment more to gather poor Rarity's remains into it.  After this grim task, Harcourt simply looked at the ground as he pulled the once-proud Mayor of Baltimare, the Bearer of the Element of Generosity, and the truest fashionista of all Equestria through the ruins of a smouldering town on what would effectively be her funeral cart.

 

"Please..." he nearly sobbed, "just tell me where to go, Winter; I don't wanna think anymore today... please..."

[JonasDarkmane 19,790]

@@Pucksterv, @@Randimaxis

 

A shadow had been watching the scene play out. It had seen enough and it completely disappeared from the area. However, other shadows in the area had heard fighting and were starting to become alert. Gathering up. They were now starting to look for whoever was alive within the ruins. 

 

It is only a matter of time before they find the duo. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

Winter was still in shock about what had happened in such a short time. She had no proper response while she followed Harcourt with her eyes absentmindedly, trying to forget the image of the raging stallion standing over a lifeless pink body, in a way she had never seen him before, in a way she had never seen any pony or creature before. She hoped the face, the one she knew and trusted, the one she was now looking at would make her forget that.... that other side she had seen.

 

"Please..." he nearly sobbed, "just tell me where to go, Winter; I don't wanna think anymore today... please..."

 

Winter shook her head, her mind switching back into the real world. ''Let's just get out of the city... try to find a good place to bury her so we can make some peace... again.'' she sighed. ''Come on buddy. There's nothing left here but darkness. Darkness and...'' Her ears popped back at some rustling behind her before her head followed. She saw red eyes burning in the far dark of the ally. In all her days she knew that it could only mean one thing. ''...and shadows.'' she gulped.

 

''Yeah uhm... Harcourt, we best get out of here. Fast. I mean like now, right now.''

[Randimaxis 8,659]

''Let's just get out of the city... try to find a good place to bury her so we can make some peace... again.''

 

"There is no peace..."

 

In light of everything that had happened, Harcourt felt delirious.  Everything was spinning in his head, and he had a feeling the darkness at the edge of his vision wasn't Shadow-related.  Nevertheless, when he heard the panic in Winter's voice, the edges of the darkness slid back a bit, and he could focus for a bit longer.

 

"Winter, take to the air; they can't fly as nimbly as a griffon.  Scout ahead and keep me abreast of any trouble in the road ahead... you can complain about being given orders later, if you wish."

 

With that, Harcourt dug in his hooves and took off like a shot through the dismal, ruined streets of a city that no longer existed.  The cart banged and rattled behind him; he hoped Rarity wouldn't mind a livelier procession than a funeral would normally entail.  He didn't even take note of the fact that pulling the cart was now about as difficult as dragging a piece of string - his mind was totally focused on getting Winter and himself out of this place as fast as they could.

 

Anyone could see that Harcourt was running for his life... but from the Shadows or himself, it was hard to tell.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

"Winter, take to the air; they can't fly as nimbly as a griffon.  Scout ahead and keep me abreast of any trouble in the road ahead... you can complain about being given orders later, if you wish."

 

''You've got that right.'' The griffon said grumpy but  followed his orders anyway because she knew he was right. She spread her wings and took off into the sky. She could see him running fast, but in the wrong direction as she could see a large group of shadow creatures waiting for him in one of the alleys up a head. She followed him quickly, hovering above him as she shouted directions, trying to steer him away from the shadows. ''Take the next left and then right!!'' she shouted. ''There's one behind you! You gotta go faster!''

 

''Keep going straight, you're almost at the gate. At least, what used to be the gate!!''

 

''Yeah and watch out for the dead on your way out!'' A voice said, coming from an unknown mare that had suddenly appeared flying next to the mystified griffon. ''What?? Where do you think the shadows came from?'' The stranger said before she gestured to follow her to the ground outside the gates. 

 

Winter looked at Harcourt running below her to make sure he was going to make it before following the mare towards the ground.''Who the hay are you?'' Winter replied confused as she landed next to her, out of breath.

 

''Not now. SUMMER!!'' The mare responded.

 

''uhm it's Winter actually.''

 

''No, not you.'' The mare turned around, gesturing towards a stallion behind her. ''Summer, get your flank over here! The shadows are almost here.'' She said before she turned back her head. ''Winter, how long do we have to wait until your friend arrives?'' she said fast while making herself ready for the large flood of shadows coming their way.

 

''He'll be here. He's fast, despite his age or what you think of him.''

 

''We do not think anything of him but he does need to hurry if he wants to make it out alive.'' The stallion said who had made his way over as well.

Edited January 22, 2016 by Pucksterv

[JonasDarkmane 19,790]

@@Pucksterv, @@Randimaxis

 

As the duo split up, the shadows paused for a while, confused, before they resumed to chase the easiest prey, the grounded one. The shadows were now pursuing Harcourt, intent on doing their master's bidding and leaving non to escape the massacre that took place in Baltimare. Other shadows that had not been close enough to have heard the previous battle between Diane and Harcourt, were now starting to join in with the already pursuing shadows, appearing in street corners and coming from alleyways. 

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@Pucksterv, Jay felt as tho her heart was being torn in two as she ran with Trivy. "I won't forget!" she called in a low voice to Twilight. "And I won't ever forget you!"

 

As she galloped by Trivy's side, Jay said, "I can take off the magic inhibitor once we get away from the dungeons. Since we can't rely on my magic, we'll need you to have yours so that we can get to the Smokey Mountains."

 

Again, Jay trembled at the thought of going out into the wide world. But at least this time, she had a friend by her side.

 

~~~

 

@@JonasDarkmane, Jinx walked up to where Rave was standing. She carried saddlebags with what she considered would be useful. "I'm here, now, so you can quit badmouthing me in your head," she said, thinking that, judging by his earlier behaviour, Rave was probably impatient to be off so was cursing her silently. However, Jinx wasn't late; she just hadn't seen the point of leaving before she had packed a few items.

[JonasDarkmane 19,790]

@@Pripyat Pony

 

Rave snapped out of his moment of thinking and the voices in his head vanished. He looked at Jinx angrily. He had been in the middle of something and was not happy that he was not able to finish what was progressing, but he softened his visuals as he did not want to give himself away. 

 

"Ah, I am pleased to see you have arrived here on such short notice" he said passive aggressively. 

 

"We will be on our way to Manehattan now. The journey should not take so long, as nothing will get in our way. Well, let's get going. We have delayed long enough". 

 

He started walking in the direction that Manehattan lay. 

[Stardust* 3,302]

@@Count Paradox,

 

Stardust looked at Psych and the two little fillies running back to the house. Confused she decided to follow the three of them. Looking to Aria with a strangely concerned look on her face. She flew to the door and heard the scurry of the hooves up the stairs. As she entered she heard the conversation. 

 

 

 

 ''She fell on the ground when we came in!'' Wing said while she climbed off Psych and rushed over to Rainbow. "Right here Big brother.'' she said while Chip sat down next to her.

 

''Misses Rainbow? Are you okay? We got you some help.''

 

''Thank you, you two foals are sweet.'' she said while she gave another grunt.

 

''Psych, what's wrong with her? Will she be okay?'' Wing said worried.

 

Star stood back trying to take in what had happened in the room trying to figure out what was wrong.  

[Count Paradox 3,548]

Psych moved over to Rainbow, afraid to move or touch her from fear of aggravating her condition. "R-Rainbow... Are you... What's wrong?" Tears were welling up in his eyes, he didn't want this to happen, not here, not now, not when Winter was gone. "Rainbow, please... Be ok..." He knelt down next to her, trying to find a way to comfort her.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@@Pripyat Pony

 

''My magic?'' Trivy said as she opened the door from the dungeons to the outside. "I can try but I must warn you. I don't have a lot of control either.''  She said waiting for Jay to come through the door before closing it, grabbing her hoof again and start running. ''Let's just get out the city first and th-.'' She suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, causing Jay to bump into her. She ran around the nearest corner, pulling Jay with her before pushing against the wall. There was a great panic in her eyes as she covered Jay's mouth, keeping her from yelling if she decided to.

 

''Sorry.'' Trivia whispered. ''Don't shout. Jinx. At the gate. Need to be quiet. Okay? Good.'' she said while tried to catch a breath. She looked around the corner, starring at Jinx and Rave in the distance. ''It seems she's leaving. With that Darkmane. What do we do? Do we just wait for them to leave?'' she asked as she turned her head back towards Jay.

[Randimaxis 8,659]

Forward... have to go... forward...

 

The darkness on the edge of his vision (that wasn't attributed to the encroaching Shadows) was growing again.  Harcourt could see the blackness trying to creep across his vision, sending him into what would be his last sleep... but if they got to him, he wouldn't have to worry about rest anymore.

 

... won't... let... Rarity... rot here...

 

His heart, straining to keep up with the fantastic output his body was giving, was slamming against his ribs at an alarming pace.  His leg muscles, normally used to constant wear and tear, were taut cables of steel that were nearing their breaking point.  His lungs were almost literally ripping the air from around him to feed his starving bloodstream.

 

... can't... fall... down... 

 

He heard Winter above him calling out directions, but it was tough to make out over the thunder of his hooves on soot-stained cobblestone, the rattle of the wooden cart banging along behind him, and the rush-thump sound of his own heartbeat in his ears.  Regardless, he remained vigilant and stuck with whatever she said.  He trusted her; he had to, as right now she was all he had in the way of allies here.

 

Push that... lazy... flank of... yours... harder...

 

There was another voice above him for a moment, but Harcourt couldn't afford to look up; even the slightest distraction now could spell disaster for the aged stallion, and the voices of his family would never let him rest in peace before he avenged them.  This thought, combined with so many others, began spinning around in his head.  He shook it hard, the blackness refusing to pull back this time as he could feel his body begging for relief, even if only in the sweet release of death.

 

No... not... dying... today...

 

His hooves pounded along, sweat splashing the dirt behind him as he left the front gate of what was once a city by the name of Baltimare.  At this point, the smallest circle of vision in front of him was all he could see... and he couldn't hear a thing except his own ragged, desperate breathing.  He saw where Winter and... somepony else... two (?) somepony elses... landed, and focused himself at that single point.  His vision blacked over completely, but he kept on running that direction until finally, finally, finally his poor body couldn't take anymore.

 

... for... give... me...

 

He hadn't managed to get any sleep the previous night, dealing with thoughts of Trivy... then the boat trip, which he spent watching from the upper deck... then the tantrum at finding the unhurt cart in the midst of the ruined city... then the fight with Pie... then the hard dash out of town at full tilt...

 

... just... a... bit... furrrrrrth*

 

It was all he could do to make it to where Winter and the other two were standing at before Harcourt's legs simply slid out from under him; he went face-down onto the dirt road, and the rapidly-rolling cart smacked into his backside, shoving him a few more feet ahead of where he fell.  The attached harness didn't yield, but seemed to hold him in place as he left a cloud of dust and a drag mark behind him.

 

When he finally slid to a stop, his mouth and nostrils were full of dirt, his mane was dripping with sweat, and he was completely unconscious... but the cart and it's cargo were here in one piece.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

When he finally slid to a stop, his mouth and nostrils were full of dirt, his mane was dripping with sweat, and he was completely unconscious... but the cart and it's cargo were here in one piece.

 

''HARCOURT?!!'' Winter completely freaking out after he collapsed onto the ground, face planted full into the dirt. She ran towards him quickly, trying to drag him away from the shadows as fast as possible with the cart still attached to him. The dark wave of shadows waved around the 3 ponies and griffon like a the sea during the full moon.

 

''Summer, NOW!'' The mare shouted to the stallion who immediately and literally jumped into action. His horn started glowing, brown like his eyes, creating a large shield out of what seemed like a dark smokey cloud, turning everything into darkness. Winter took cover near her unconscious friend when the shield shattered with a loud cracking bang into shards which then pulverized into million little pieces, leaving nothing but dust floating in the wind.

 

''Haha, that will teach them not to mess with us!'' The mare laughed while she hoof-bumped the stallion. 

 

''Are you completely out of your mind?'' Winter yelled angry as she got up on her four paws again. ''Do you think this is laughing matter?''

 

''Hey, you better calm down griffon! Instead you can show a little appreciation, we just saved your life and your friend. Those shadows would have shred you to pieces if we didn't come rescuing you fools.'' The mare replied as she walked up to Winter with an angry pace. ''Unless you wanna start a fight sister? I'm all for it.''

 

''Oi! Calm down Dreamy!! This ain't a time to start fighting.'' Summer said, trying pull apart the two before it turned into hoofs vs paws. ''We came here for a reason, remember?''

 

The mare took a few steps back, hissing to herself a few times before she calmed down again. ''Look, we gotta get out of here before the other shadows get word. Try to wake up your friend so we can go. And don't give me that look. You just got to trust us okay? We ain't bad ponies, honest.''

 

''It seems I don't really have a choice anyway. I'll do what I can to wake him.'' Winter said while she knelt down in front of the old stallion, trying her best to get him out of his current state.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Pucksterv

[Randimaxis 8,659]

...

 

Harcourt lie there in the dirt, looking every bit like a stallion near the end of his rope.  There were visible dark circles under each eye, his mane and tail were split-ended and disheveled, and one of his unshod hooves were cracked; anypony who saw him would figure he was more than past due to be put out to pasture.

 

...

 

Winter shook him; she shoved him, she even gave him a small slap on the muzzle, trying to rouse him from his exhausted slumber.  None of it seemed to do the least bit of good; it was apparent that the Blackwater was both down and out for the count.  He had pushed himself over and over, and for far too long.

 

...

 

The cart was sturdy, and had enough room in the back for Harcourt to be carried with the deceased Element Bearer... of course, it all remained to be seen if the two newcomers would even have any interest in saving the blue and green stallion's horsehide... because it was obvious that he certainly wasn't going anywhere of his own volition.

 

...

[-Octavia- 1,176]

Bringing up the rear, a dangerously familiar sight greeted Aria. She stood paralyzed for a moment as the air around her grew heavy, seizing her breath. Through time she was careening, all the way back to her fillyhood, where she watched as a mother drew her daughter into a tight embrace before some unforeseen foe lanced her heart mercilessly. Tossing aside such woe, Aria shakily brought herself back to the present, dropping beside the chromatic mare that looked to share a similar fate.

 

"M-Ms. Dash," Aria began to inquire, failing to keep a hint of panic from her voice, "are there any special herbs or flowers you need? Medicines you take? P-perhaps you have Hawthorn growing in your garden...?" Her mind raced through any and all options of which she knew from loss.

[Pripyat Pony 2,608]

@@JonasDarkmane, Jinx just rolled her eyes once, and followed Rave. She had no idea what he had planned, but hoped that the stallion would get over his hissy fit and tell her. In any case, even experimentation palled after a while and it was always good to get out of the castle once in a while. Jinx did however hope that there might be ponies that she could try her new spells out on; tho she had tried them out on various slaves, one never really got the satisfaction from torturing slaves as one did from torturing free ponies.

 

~~~

 

Eyes widened with sudden fear at the sight of Jinx, Jay nodded. She was too frightened to speak after seeing the mare who had first inhabited her mind, then been her captor for so long. She had glanced over and seen that Jinx was with Rave Darkmane. This meant that waiting til the two left was the best option; Jinx would only cut short her experiments if she was to leave the castle. Jay's fear lessened a little as she watched the tall unicorn mare speak with Rave for a while, then trot after him as he left.

[JonasDarkmane 19,790]

@@Pripyat Pony

Rave kept on going, talking about the task ahead of them. 

 

"....and then when we arrive there, we must make sure that the defense grid that is put up will last for quite a while, at least so that no one has to continuously channel magic into the defense system". 

 

For a while, Rave thought he had noticed something. His sharp eyes he uses to map down areas caught something, but he immediately dismissed it as he had other things in mind. Big things. Dark things. 

 

----------------------------------------------------------

 

Meanwhile, a lone shadow was racing it's way to Manehattan, being directed by Sombra's will, knowing where to meet up with Rave and Jinx. 

[Pucksterv 4,508]

@, @@Count Paradox, 

 

''I need you to hit me.'' Rainbow told Aria while she tried to sit up straight. ''Don't look at me funny, just... hit me on my chest. A-and yes, I do have Hawthorn growing in my garden but we'll get to that later.'' she grunted.

 

''Psych, We're really sorry, I know you said we should run through the house. But we did and now Misses Rainbow is sick. We will never be bad again. Promise. Will she be okay?'' Wing said as she hid behind her brother. ''We really didn't mean to.''

Edited January 28, 2016 by Pucksterv

[-Octavia- 1,176]

Despite Rainbow's request to not look at her funny, Aria could not keep a quizzical look from flashing across her features. Her body, however, had little hesitation as she positioned herself on her haunches to better balance herself, trusting the experience of the pegasus before her. It wasn't the action that bothered her so much as accidentally killing the poor soul who survived far worse things than a musician. Nevertheless, she delivered a glancing blow with little follow-through, in case Rainbow Dash proved to be far more delicate than she already appeared.

[Count Paradox 3,548]

@Pucksterv @Octavia Melody

 

Psych watched with baited breath, biting his lower lip out of fear and nervousness as Aria did as Rainbow asked. But his concentration was broken when Wing began speaking of something that she did that may have caused Rainbow's current condition. "Sweetie, what do you mean? What happened?" He asked, keeping his voice normal, not wanting to frighten the young ones in the room, or help to aggravate Rainbow's condition.

[Pucksterv 4,508]

With a blow to her chest, Rainbow's wing popped open so she could finally sit up straight. Her hoof was still to her chest but her painful expression seemed to slowly fade from her face. ''T-thank you.'' she said as she tried to stand up from the ground but immediately lost her balance. ''I think I'll just... sit down for a moment.''

 

@@Count Paradox, 

''We were just playing catch the shadow. Honest.'' Wing said while tears filled her eyes. 'It was an accident, I swear.''

 

''It was Wing's fault.'' Chip said.

 

''No it wasn't. You pushed me.'' Wing yelled back. "I really didn't mean to.'' she said as she looked down at her hoofs with sad eyes.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Pucksterv

[Count Paradox 3,548]

Psych quickly moved over to Rainbow's side, sitting next to her so she could have something to prop herself against for balance. His head then turned quickly to Wing. "Wait... Catch the shadow?" Fear crept into his mind. He knew exactly what it meant, and he spoke to Star and Aria. "Girls... I think the only young ones here might have scared of a shadow, one that might have been attacking Rainbow. It may be gone now, but it will more than likely come back to try and finish the job, no doubt with more shadows. I don't think it's safe here anymore if that's the case... I may be completely wrong, but I do think we should gather everypony and leave before they return... That is, if it was really one of Sombra's Shadows..."