Professor Gold's POV
Sitting in my lab and tinkering on chemical weapons, I can honestly say that things were looking up for ol' me. It had been only 2 days since my arrival, and I was hailed as a success in the ranks of scientists, eager to learn my genius. Fools, one cannot simply teach another natural intelligence. They were born unnaturally smart, I was born with smarts so out of their league, I doubt all of the 20 or so scientists IQ's combined could even rival my own. And I made sure these words weren't just verbal arrogance, I had quickly proven these words to Master, for the first time laying eyes on the legendary pony of shadows I had only spoken to over intercom before.
And Master was, interesting, to put his personality in terms. Never staying in one place, never assigned a sleeping chamber. Did he sleep? I didn't think so, with the way he seemed so unlike a pony with those gravelly words and hidden face all the time. I was unnatural for a pony as well, but less so in a disturbing way. Master had a weird effect on ponies, making you naturally feel fear and less important. I chalked this up to advanced deception magic, pretty hard to do. Or so I've been told, being a Pegasus had it's ups and downs.
Ups because I could test out weather experiments on my lonesome with no bothering Pegasus assistant to help me like the other scientists. But downs because having magic is usually crucial to be able to understand it. But I made do, creating weapons even the ponies with their magic couldn't create. But as I stopped tinkering with the current weapon that focused snake venom into a pinprick the size of a needle that could pierce skin and paralyze enemies instantaneously, one of my favorites, I again shifted my gaze to the computer screen with green formulas and strands of DNA floating around.
The formula I had injected the bucker Hearth with should've killed him by now, at least cause a reaction with his genetics. Making his skin start to pump too much blood, drowning him in his own substances, or that is what should've been happening. Instead, his genes physically absorbed the deadly poison I had refined by grinding months of the rare Burban root that grew near the mountain I had grown accustomed to. And staring at his genetics for the millionth time, I thought for the millionth time how this was possible. If the DNA absorbed it, then they would've been completely shut down as well, but that wasn't happening. His body was actually keeping a healthy heartbeat and his genetics had seemed to become immune to the substance the instant his genes had enveloped the poison.
I continued to look at the screen, coming up with ideas and possibilities that would make this possible. Even my brain came up with blanks. It just wasn't possible, it simply wasn't. So why had it happened?
At that moment, I felt a chill envelope the room, making me shiver in my fur. Not because it was starting to go below freezing in my private lab I had been assigned, but because I knew who had entered.
"Gold, how are my weapons coming?" Came the dull, lifeless voice of that dark voice that always seemed to contain a threat buried somewhere, even if it was a cheerful comment like, "Hey," or "Would you like a cracker?" Not that he had ever said either of these words in his life.
Turning around in my desk chair, I saw Master standing not a meter away from me, with his hood on and remaining perfectly still. But you felt that he can, and will react to any threat or tease. I had heard too many stories about other ponies to do either of these things. "Great, Master. In fact, just wrapping up my creation of the prototype Pin-Point, shoots needles filled with lethal chemical combinations and such." I said, carefully checking and double checking the words that I said, not wanting a broken neck or stopped heart.
"Excellent, speak to the Bio Engineer Lethal to mass produce this weapon." Master said, before ever so slightly moving his head to stare at the green monitor flashing on my screen. "And what is this?" He asked barren of any emotion I could identify.
Deciding that it wasn't a secret, or a threat to Master, I told him, "The pony Hearth I had as prisoner in my mountain, I had injected a formula into his nervous system that should've taken affect by now. But his DNA absorbed the chemical data and even went so far as to build an immunity to the damn thing! Its impossible that he somehow healed from it, I mean, there is no cure. I refined the first batch myself, and no research had ever been made into the lethal part of the special root I had used." I explained.
Silence engulfed the room as I anxiously stared at the pony who was staring at the screen intently, not moving or taking his eyes off the monitor. This went on for a long time before Master slowly turned his head to face me once again.
"Is this the same pony who destroyed our allies the Saragaunts? And also the one who I have sent Angel to assassinate?"
Remembering the departure of Angel, I knitted my eyebrows and nodded. "He's trouble for us, Master, he may not be a big part of the war going on, but he will affect it. He already has, and I wish to-" I started to ask if I could join Angel and finish him off personally when Master raised his hoof that was still covered by his pitch black cloak. Motioning for my silence, I quickly complied.
"Remove yourself for one hour, Gold, so I may examine this data myself." He demanded, catching me off guard.
Not arguing or denying anything ordered by me, I promptly did as he asked. Flying across the room and through the metal lock doors I had unlocked with the device on my wrist, I couldn't help but look back as Master appeared in front of the glowing green screen. Imitating a statue, the way he stood stock still and examined the floating DNA. What was he so interested in?
Nopony's POV
Without sitting in the chair Gold had moments ago used, Master positioned himself in front of the green screen. Floating strands of DNA with diseased chemicals fighting, and losing, over control over this pony's DNA. Looking at the screen for a few more moments, waiting until the metal doors closed, he spread shadows to cover the room. Coating the security cameras so they could not witness what Master thought he knew was there, increasingly becoming sure as he watched the chemicals start to meld with his DNA, obviously a sped up process by the Professor to watch all the activity within the space of an hour when it actually happened over a few days' time.
Pinching his hooves together to zoom in, Master expertly maneuvered his way through randomly strewn strands of DNA and even zooming so far in that the chemicals seemed like skyscrapers, he found what he was looking for.
Implanted in the smallest of DNA strands, a darkened blotch pulsed silently as it seemed to be spreading at a snail's pace. Master stared at the screen for a few more seconds, before smiling without warmth at the malicious looking piece of DNA inside of the Stallion.
"This is why you're alive Hearth, but this will also bring death to others. Hearth Soul Fire, you will be my greatest tool and weapon in this war, by far." Master said in a quiet voice before chuckling to himself as his next plan began to formulate in his head. The timing would have to be perfect, absolutely timed to perfection, but it could and will happen.
Hearth Fire's POV
With drooping eyes, I gratefully made my way up the stairs with my buddy Stallions who were mocking me over an incident at the Canterlot barracks where Angel had supposedly 'tripped' and planted a kiss on my lips. She had said what a klutz she was, and everypony wouldn't just shut up about it. It must've been a mistake, because I was tired of all this 'It was a date' nonsense. Alright, maybe I was a little attracted to Angel. But that was solely off of looks, I felt like I didn't know the mare at all and over the 3 day period of interviewing guards for our assignment, drawing blanks by the way. She just seemed so flirty now that I knew what she was aiming for; she was so needy for attention too. Not letting me go for 5 seconds without paying her a compliment or telling her she looks pretty or something of the sort.
I wasn't the kind that liked the emotional tsunamis that mares were all to known for, having enough emotional issues to overflow a psychiatrist's brain. I know there's somepony behind that primped up mane and clumsy acting hooves. I know there is.
But I wasn't even the one taking these 'accidents' in the worst way. It was Silky, flipping out and most of the time saying something cruel, with hate filled eyes and usually Apple wasn't far behind. I know Apple has feelings for me, but I honestly don't know how to act on them. At the moment, I had enough going in my life without a marefriend to further complicate stuff and get mad for not putting down the toilet seat. Seriously, how is that even important?
But Silky, I honestly didn't know what her issue with Angel was. Maybe she also didn't like flirty mares who would stab themselves for attention, or maybe it was just her sisterly instincts to defend me from them. But for some reason, as appealing and logical as those choices were, they didn't sound right compared to Silky. She was logical yes, but her comments were never revolving around sisterly instincts, they were always on Angel's appearance and other names I wouldn't ever repeat in front of a pastor.
"So are you spending the night in our room Hearth? Or maybe a friendly visit with Angel in her room all night!" Gusty teased further, bringing a groan from me and small snickers from my friends who were starting to get on my nerves.
"Uh, Hearth?" Cotton asked before wiping my lips and pulling it away with a lipstick stained hoof. "There, that's better."
With the other ponies starting to laugh more uncontrollably, I felt a blush start to force its way onto my face as I couldn't help but remember how her lips were so gentle... NOPE! I reminded myself as I started going into uncharted dangerous territory. Main point, everything was embarrassing right now. I just wanted to settle down and sleep, then I'd be fine and dandy for tomorrow. Hopefully making progress on the traitor list that was starting to become smaller and smaller as guards were proven innocent over and over again. Having alibis to where they were, what guard duty, and more importantly, a deep offense taken whenever the subject of them being traitorous was even mentioned.
The list was down to 5 names, and no leads. Either the interviewed ponies were insanely good at lying, or there were no more traitors. Which I'm sorry, I couldn't believe. Too much stuff in between places that seems so perfectly planned, and only a guard could've had access into the dungeons without arising suspicion. Ugh, and with all this stuff in between the cracks with the kissing and giggles at unfunny stuff I said, I was starting to develop a painful migraine.
"Could you guys shut up for a second, please! Dear Celestia, this same joke for over an hour is starting to get old." I said, reminding them of the amount of time I had not had the comfort of silence to accompany me.
"Fine bro, just saying that I have no idea why your not making a move or whatever on her! She's super smitten with you, and she is very hot! You should take her on another date tomorrow, let the rest of us sort out this case of traitors in the mist. You deserve it, and besides, you aren't looking too swell chief." Gusty said, motioning towards my drooped eyes.
"Just tired, I'll be fine in the morning, don't worry. And no, I am not going out with Angel again, not until this war is sorted out and I can relax!" I said, exasperated at all the annoying twists in conversations. Mocking, to apologizing, to comforting words. Where the buck is my bed?
We trotted up the stairs in a silence for a while longer until we reached the door to our floor. I rubbed my temples as Zeal opened the door with his magic and the rest of us followed him down the hall. Zeal was the weirdest acting one out of us all, he seemed more subdued after the mares fight, looking more forlorn and thinking a lot more. He wasn't the funny cool Zeal that had joined us, he seemed confused about something. I would check in with him in the morning, but now I was too tired to ask about someponies thoughts or feelings.
Trotting up to the door, I looked confused back at my friends who were slowly trotting down the hallway towards the exit door leading to the stairwell.
"Guys! Where are you going?" I called out.
"We're going to get drinks at the bar downstairs, we need to release some stress dude! And no offense, but you need the sleep and rest. Sweet dreams!" Gusty called as the rest of my friends entered the stairwell, quickly accompanied by the slamming of the door.
I didn't know what to think, in fact I didn't want to. But I couldn't help but be offended they didn't invite me, even though I felt like my eyes had weights that kept dragging them closed again. We were a team, us 4 now. Oh well, they are only caring about my health, and buck it. So should I! Deciding not to take offense to the statement, I shrugged my shoulders and yawned as I pulled out the key to our apartment. Pushing it into the lock, I opened the door to the hallway which was covered with fragmented candles that smelled like Tulips, like Silky's mane. I loved the scent so much, but I was snapped awake as I realize I had not left around a million fragmented candles burning when I left this morning.
Galloping into the next room I froze as I witnessed one of the most terrifying things I've ever laid eyes on. Angel was sprawled on the bed with a sleek mane curling to enhance her looks, and make her fur glisten in the light of the candles as she stared at me with lusty eyes and a smile that almost made my heart stop beating. I'm not going to say I didn't completely stare outright at the sight in front of me for a couple of moments that felt like years the way she looked at me like that. In fact, I was basically frozen in place.
The mares had come back early, saying they were hungry and that they would be asleep when we got back. It was obvious Angel had a different agenda. I knew the look she was giving me, and it made my voice abandon me as I opened my mouth to talk.
Giggling at my state, Angel winked and patted the spot behind her. "C'mon handsome, I can see in your eyes you want to. It can be our little secret, I promise." Angel said, smiling curtly.
I'll admit, I was tempted. The most stunning mare wanted to, well, ya know... With me, but I averted my eyes from her as she was basically exposing herself to me, saying, "Angel, no way! I barely know you! I mean your beautiful and all, but... No. I can't just do it off of needs!" I pleaded as I backed towards the hallway again.
Getting up out of bed with a slight smile that glowed in the candlelight, she made her way towards me until her eyes were mere inches from mine. Grabbing my hoof in hers, she tugged towards the bed, but I resisted and backed away faster. "No, Angel you don't want to do this! You're not this kind of grubby specimen that just likes Stallions for this! I won't and couldn't ever go this far in a relationship without feeling something deep for the mare, and I don't!" I cried as I looked back at her.
She was silently staring at me with confusion on her face and even a bit of anger, but she just shook her head. "You don't understand, honey, I don't do this with anypony else than whom I think is worth it." Angel said, intriguing my interest more than she should have.
Angel Joy's POV
Why was he making trust so difficult to achieve?! I tried getting his attention with kisses, a date, and making me indulge him in conversations every moment I could! I have even gone off the deep end, going this far is almost never used, unless I'm far into a fake relationship and they want it. Then I give it to them, and then stab them in the chest while their grubbily groping me with their hooves and trying to deflower me. Yes, I was still a virgin. I would never go that far until I had settled down. I made sure to never be caught all the way in with a bandit, but Hearth was different. I thought he would have made the move on me, attacked me with those strong Stallion needs and try to have his way with me.
But the idiot was even disgusted by my act, backing towards the door he had just come in through. He had seemed irritated during our conversations where I had flirted, denied going anywhere private multiple times, and now he was forcing himself to not go for the most beautiful mare in Equestria at the moment! What could I do to gain his utmost trust! All the other Stallions had instantly returned my gestures and completely dived on me as we made out, with the Stallion pulling out his valuables before I slit his throat and burst through a window with my wings as I flew away into the night. So why wasn't Hearth?!
"I really don't care Angel! Your making me sick, truly! I know there's a real pony in there somewhere who isn't the idiot she acts to be, but I'm getting tired of talking with somepony who is simply trying to impress me with looks!" Hearth said, before giving one last look at me with a look of repulsion. "Please, just stop this."
As Hearth left the room, I stared after him with an open mouth. What had I done wrong? I was never rejected in this category! This was my best card, the one used to get in so close with the Stallion they couldn't help but fall for me... I stared after him for a couple more minutes before going around the room and blowing out the candles before making my way into the hallway where Hearth was nowhere to be seen.
Silky Sensation's POV
I was dreaming of Hearth, of us laughing in a hammock looking out at the ocean. His hooves were wrapped around me protectively as he fiddled with my mane and continued to joke and laugh. I couldn't hear his jokes or words, but they still brought a smile to my lips as I wrapped my hooves around his chest as he wrapped his hooves around my neck and brought me in for a kiss. Without thinking, I closed my eyes and leaned in before a harsh knocking woke me up.
My lips were linked with the pillow on the other side of my bed as I heard the knocking increase in both noise and speed. Embarrassed about my dream mixed with my hook-up with the pillow, I got out of bed and rubbed my eyes as I made my way into the hallway and opened the door to behold the sight of Hearth with a blush and nervous looking eyes as he looked back at his room, as if it was going to explode any minute.
"Thanks Silks!" He said, before trotting past me and into the bedroom before I could react to the surprise and shock of my visitor. I thought it would be Apple or Midnight from the bar down in the hotel, but I wasn't going to say this was an unwelcome surprise. Closing the door to the lit hall, swamping the rooms in shadows again, I trotted after him. Finding him in the bedroom as he was turning on a lamp, I quizzically scratched my head with my hoof.
"Uh, Hearth? What are you doing in my apartment at," I said before looking at the clock, "10:30 at night?"
Turning to face me, Hearth shifted his eyes as he bit his lip and rubbed one hoof against the other. "Uh, my room is currently occupied." He replied, with something in his voice that I didn't like.
"Who? Are the other Colts not letting you sleep?" I asked.
"Not... Exactly." Hearth said with a twitching lip, slowly saying the words. As if he said the wrong ones, a bomb would go off.
"Then who?" I asked, more sternly than I should have. But I really didn't like the way he was frowning, but had a weird excited look in his eyes.
Looking at me for a second, Hearth scratched the back of his head with his hoof before shrugging pathetically and laying down in the bed, in my spot. Closing his eyes, choosing not to respond.
Climbing into the bed as well, I came closer to his face and tapped his muzzle gently, trying to get him to answer. No response. Getting irritated, I shook up back and forth for a couple of seconds before shook me off and turned to face the opposite direction.
"Hearth!" I begged, "It's not Einstein here! Who was not letting you sleep? Please? You can trust me you know."
There was a short span of silence before Hearth turned back to me and looked up at me with those wide, now sleepy, cherry red eyes. Staring at each other for a moment, he completely destroyed the comforting and kind of nice atmosphere by saying, "Angel is in my room with about a million scented candles burning."
I stared at him for a few more moments before I felt heat begin to rise in my face as I realized what he was saying. "Hearth, did you...?" I said, anxious as to what his answer would be.
Looking startled, he blushed harshly and sat up to look into my eyes at the same height, "No! Oh Celestia no Silks! I backed away and came in here after she said some things." He said, with his blush turning jalapeño red.
Feeling insanely relieved, I breathed out, "Good." Realizing what I had just said, Hearth cocked an eyebrow at me before I blushed and continued, "Good that you did that, it would be bad... God's eyes and all that... That you didn't do it..." With the air around us turning awkward, due to the fact we were incredibly close to each other in the same bed, we just stared at each other for what felt like forever.
That little... What was Angel's deal with Hearth?! Her grubby hooves truly didn't deserve him, and I'm insanely glad he was smart enough to see through her act of being the prissiest thing on the planet. I didn't like her, and I was happy that Hearth was growing distaste for her as well; I don't care how mean that sounds. I don't like stupid mares kissing Hearth on 'accident'. Celestia keep me from slapping a filly tomorrow.
"Do you want me to take the floor?" Hearth asked as he broke the silence, pushing away the covers and plopping onto the fuzzy floor below the bed.
Getting strangely irritated, I crawled after him on the bed and looked down. He was sprawled out on the floor and appeared to be uncomfortable, but he was hiding it away. "No! It's my room; I should be a good host! You can have the bed and I can have the floor."
"Silks!" Hearth muttered in irritation that matched my own.
Jumping off the bed, I lay on the floor beside him and lifted him into bed with my magic as I laid down where he had been. I thought the matter had been settled until moments later I felt strong hooves wrap around me and throw me into the bed. It felt welcomingly soft, but I growled as I got back out of bed and looked down at Hearth who was smiling at me. With that damn infectious smile of his, I couldn't help but return it. I started to laugh, with him quickly joining in as we laughed at everything and nothing at all.
Until I teleported him into the bed beside me and pulled a small blanket from the bed as I laid on the floor and stuck my tongue out at Hearth, who had quickly recovered and was now looking down at me over the side of the bed.
"Stop being so stubborn Silky!" Hearth begged as he tried to lift me unsuccessfully off the floor.
"No!" I responded as I firmly held onto the ground with my hooves as he tried to drag me onto the bed.
"Fine!" He finally said, "You can sleep on the floor, stubborn mare!"
"Good!" I retorted as I closed my eyes and snuggled into the floor which felt much colder and less comfy now. I turned off the lights with my magic, and settled in once again as I tried to find a comfortable part of the floor once again. After about 10 minutes of being cold, I felt warm hooves wrap around me and warm breath tickle my neck. I tensed and let out a small surprised squeak at first as I didn't know what was going on, but as I slowly turned to look at the warmth, I smiled. Hearth had dragged a blanket off the bed and covered us both on the hotel floor as he wrapped his hooves around my waist. Soon hearing snores come from his throat, I giggled to myself before turning around and burying my face into his warm fur. Falling asleep almost instantaneously from the comforting safety of his warm breath on my mane and a smile on my lips, I gave a sigh as life proved to be kind.
Angel Joy's POV
I didn't know where Hearth had gone, but one thing was very clear. I was losing his trust, fast. Things were spinning out of my control, and once word reached the other members of the group, they too would have distrust for me. If that happens, I won't be able to make a silent kill and get out without suspicion and my name printed all over Equestria on wanted posters. Things aren't going smooth for the first time in my life, and I didn't like it one bit. Next chance I had alone with him, I would have to gut him and run before his friends could catch me.
Trotting back into my room, I got out my Silver knife and put it on my dresser as I climbed into the cool sheets and snuggled into the pillows. Wondering if I might have had blood on my hooves tonight if Hearth had gone for me, and if I would have tried to kill him. Would I have? I think so, although I truly liked him and his outlook on life. I respected him and truly liked the Stallion I was going to kill. I just wish he was on my side so I wouldn't have to kill him, so I could've loved him properly. But I will not stop until my revenge is made on the ponies of Equestria! Not even if I have to skewer a loved one to do so.
Zeal Amethyst's POV
The group of 8 ponies were standing in a circle talking and laughing as white space enveloped them, making them seem to float in mid air. I felt light headed and like I was truly happy, until Hearth suddenly stiffened and blood spurted from a silver knife appearing in his chest with a look of pain on his face before falling into the white ground below us, as a pony laughed in a marish voice. Whipping around, I saw Angel Joy dancing on Hearth's dead body as blood poured out the wound and he sank deeper into the white space below.
I awoke with a start, sweat pouring down my forehead as I looked around the room. Hearing the snoring of Stallions beside of me, I knew I was back in the Maneton. Shaking my head to rid myself of the memories, I went into the bathroom and splashed water onto my face just as the alarm clock went off in the other room. Ignoring the buzzing, I looked up at the mirror. Stared at the Stallion on the other side who had a multicolored mane and a gleaming purple coat and tired, yet frightened purple eyes.
I had dreams like this one before, ones I could've saved ponies with. I had dreams that predicted future events that would change something important to me. Hearth would die by Angel's hoof, I didn't know when or how, but I knew I was right. My dreams don't lie, never. So I had two choices, leave or save Hearth. Obvious choice, save him. He was a friend, I am sure of that much, I wouldn't abandon him when he needs me most. But when would she strike?
Looking down at the faucet, I felt that strange feeling as I felt the designs in my bones. How far it went down into the hotel, and even felt the rumbling of the tank far below that was filled with sloshing water. Shaking my head to rid myself of the weird ability I had been born with, I trotted back into the living room where Hearth sleepily entered through the door as Gusty and Cotton started to wake.
"Hey fellas, how's it going?" Hearth asked, with a wide smile with something behind it I couldn't pinpoint. Hearth was looking happier than he usually did, much happier than he usually did. But there was also the feeling that he was hiding something, with the way he looked around as if there might be somepony there other than them.
"Hey... Wait. Where have you been?!" Gusty angrily shouted, completely waking up whatever sleepiness remained in my system.
A voice besides Gusty called out, "No way! Hearth my friend, did you do all the things we teased you about?"
Looking over at Hearth, I saw a look of unease cross his face before he quickly shook his head. "Almost, in fact, that's what I want to tell you guys about. Angel was in here last night trying to uh... You know... That." He so accurately explained.
Angel had been in this room courting Hearth and he had left, to where exactly. "Where exactly did you go then?" I asked, putting voice to the questions in my head.
"I was over at Silk's place, uh, sleeping until we got up about half an hour ago and had pancakes! They were awesome!" Hearth explained, licking his lips and having a content expression on his face. But something told me he wasn't happy from just the pancakes.
Deciding not to lay pressure on the issue, I remembered what I needed to tell him about my dream. But it had to be in private, and now was probably the only chance I'd have until tonight, and Angel might have made the move by then. No, it had to be now. Now or never, as the popular saying goes.
"Hearth? May I speak to you in the hall for a quick second?" I whispered into his ear as I made my way into the hallway.
Hearing hoof steps follow me to a spot where we couldn't be overheard by anypony in doors, I turned to face him. "What's up Zeal?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "This isn't about you thinking I'm lying about Angel, is it?"
Shaking my head, I said, "No, but it does involve her. Hearth, I had a dream last night that I am sure is foretelling the future." I began, drawing a blank look onto Hearth's face. Not knowing what he was thinking, I continued anyway. "Angel will kill you unless something is done, and I promise you, it will happen. She's not the pony you believe she is, Hearth! She's not the Angel her name indicates she is! She wants to end you, and that's what she will do unless you do something about it." I told him flat out, knitting my eyebrows at the Unicorn who looked quite bewildered in front of me.
Hearth paused, then laughed to my confusion. "Dude, I know Angel might be something of an air head at times, but I really don't think you dreamt about her, she couldn't hurt a fly!" He said confidently.
I stared at Hearth for a while, wondering if he was the most trusting pony I had ever met or just plain stupid. Either way, he wasn't going in the direction that would spare his life. "Dude, I know she's been a part of the group for a couple of days, but aren't you warning bells going off here? Something didn't sit well with me when I thought of her before, too! She has a scar on her cheek Hearth, and it's deep. Nopony could get such a wound unless it was a face off. It's depth meant she wasn't running from something, she was running towards it." I explained, pointing to my cheek where I had examined her scar.
Hearth shook his head again and replied in a slightly irritated tone, "C'mon Zeal! She was running from the raid on Cloudsdale, there are so many situations that can make up for that fact!"
"Oh yah!" I said, starting to get more serious, "Then why is she such a prowess when she fights, how does she seem so fluent and acting like she knows exactly what she's doing and where to strike? Where a pony is weak? Aim for a spot with a nerve bundle? You saw her in her fight with Silky as well! Silky has Royal training from the most elite in the guard, pitted against a pony from Cloudsdale with no experience in a fight? The results should have been obvious, but not only was Angel holding her own against Silky, she was beating her!"
These actually made Hearth back up and think about it, placing a hoof on his chin. This went on for a few moments before Hearth suddenly squinted his eyes and shook his head. "Can't be, besides Zeal, where could she have learned how to fight?"
I stared at Hearth who was desperately looking for an answer that didn't involve the pretty mare being the villain, but I knew if he was to live I had to prove my point before he could recollect himself. "For the Algazarii Empire, Hearth. Her fighting methods aren't from Equestria, I didn't recognize them and I've been assigned guard duty once or twice back in my day. Her battle methods don't mimic her own countries, so what other answer is there when she says she's been in Equestria her entire life other than this being a lie?"
I knew my point had hit home when Hearth looked at the ground in silence, tasting the sour words I had delivered to him. But he had to hear it if he were to live, and I couldn't let more lives be lost because I was afraid to take action. Instead of giving a verbal answer, Hearth looked up at me with a pained expression before nodding at me and trotting at a slow pace with slumped shoulders. This confused me, wasn't he going straight to Angel's room to sort this out? But I realized what he was doing the instant he entered the stairwell, the idiot wasn't going to do anything; he was going to take his chances rather than blame a friend for such acts of betrayal.
"Idiot!" I muttered to myself as I trotted back towards my door, almost going in before I thought of another way to stop the future from happening. Turning my head, I looked from Angel's room to Silky's room, and knew who could help me find evidence of what was surely there.
Silky Sensation's POV
I jumped around the kitchen squealing after Hearth departed with a mouthful of pancakes and a little syrup dribbling from his chin, making me laugh. I had spent a night of snuggling with the only Stallion I had ever wanted to! He was so warm too, living up to his name when he radiated heat into my body like a hearth fire on a chilly winter eve. I couldn't get the smell of his fur out of my nose either, which didn't bring discomfort. In fact, he smelled quite nice, he smelled like roasting marshmallows! Last night had been the very definition of perfect for me, with his protective hooves around me and his quiet snores as to not wake me, like he knew I was there even while he was sleeping.
Stopping, I put half a pancake into my mouth before putting a hoof to my chin and pondering what my mare friends had called it... Spooning! I enjoyed spooning very much! Ruby Red said she spooned with the President of some popular brand, some Stallion who she would not shut up about. But now that I knew what it felt like, I truly didn't blame her. But I doubted he did it better than Hearth.
I jumped around the kitchen some more as I giggled to myself and continued to be light headed at the experience I had been waiting forever for. "Suck on that Angel, you vamp!" I cried out which made me giggle and laugh twice as hard, falling to the soft floor as I laughed myself to tears. Composing myself, I drew a few deep breaths to quell the small giggles that continued to escape, before calming down entirely and laying back to look up at the ceiling. I stared up at the white plaster forever, wondering if Hearth had found the experience equally as enjoyable, even half would delight me.
I wish he would notice me not just as a sister.
This thought popped out of nowhere, and then all my other emotions dulled as I realized the entire point of last night in his eyes. I had been cold, so he helped his little sister by putting the blanket over her and holding her to give her warmth. If I had been seen as a romantic partner, he would've snuggled equally as much as I did, but he merely wrapped his hooves around me. These thoughts brought a wave of sadness as more thoughts of equally compelling evidence came forth almost all at once. I felt a tear start to form in my eye, but I quickly wiped it away with my hoof before it could stain my cheek. I didn't want to look weak in front of his real marefriend.
But as this thought entered my mind, thoughts of him leaving her for me brought a wave of happiness into my thoughts. Even if Hearth didn't see me as a romantic partner (Yet), he still left that incredibly pretty mare for me. This brought a smile to my lips as this registered in every way as true. He had chosen to trust me more than her.
As I compared notes on the vamp's losses to mine with Hearth, I heard a sharp rapping come from my doorway. Curious, I got up and trotted into the hallway, opening the door to show one of the last ponies I thought would come alone to my door. Zeal Amethyst was standing awkwardly in the doorway, rubbing his hoof against his shoulder. But he had a look of determination I had not seen before in him, a fire burning his eyes that meant that he would do anything to accomplish his goal. Dumbfounded for a second at the Stallion at the doorway, he trotted past me without saying anything.
Why were Stallions always inviting themselves in? Seriously?!
"Zeal? Why, what are you doing at my apartment at this time in the morning?" I exclaimed.
Trotting into the living room, I found him scooping the remaining pancakes onto a plate and pouring syrup onto them before sitting down in one of the plush chairs that had been here when I had checked in at the hotel. Looking up from his seat as he ate pancakes with a fork, he spoke through the food in his mouth, "These are good pancakes!"
Rolling my eyes, I couldn't help but laugh a little before responding, "Thanks, but the look in your eyes Zeal says that you're not here just for the food."
This brought a look of tiredness enter his features as he narrowed his eyes at the plate and shook his head. "Hearth is being stupid, like always." I couldn't help but silently agree to this statement. "I had a dream Silky, where Angel killed him with a knife in the chest." He said, indicating a spot on his chest with his fork. "And don't question my dream, because their real. Part of my skill set, I get prophetic dreams when something major is about to happen in my life. They can be changed, but they have to be changed immediately, ASAP or else it happens."
I'll admit, I truly wanted to bust the vamp, but I knew that if I dived in to far, Hearth would get mad at me for not trusting her with my entire heart and soul. That would never happen. Plus, a dream didn't seem like proper evidence to put forward for a murder. I don't think that would ever go through well in court. 'Uh, yah, I had a dream where I didn't kill this guy, your honor!' Good luck.
"What you got to go on?" I asked, crossing my hooves.
"Really? Wow, I thought you'd bite immediately. Maybe you're as smart as Hearth brags you are." He said, winking at me with a knowing smile that brought heat to my cheeks. "Anyhow, Silky, while I was patching her up after your little excursion, I found a deep scar. One that could only be made in the heat of battle, one that was made not from running away, but from charging into one. That's point 1. Point 2 is that she held her own against you Silky, claiming to have no experience with a fight before, seem likely? Nope, not in the least bit. Point 3, her style isn't from here. I have reason to suspect it comes from personal training with Algazarii instructors or whatever they have. She's lying about her background, and its painfully obvious. Added on to the fact that Hearth is basically top of their hit list, I'd say she's being paid or motivated to do this act by whoever is running that nut job house of theirs." Zeal finished, looking up at me before finishing his last bite and standing up, looking at me expectantly.
I knew something was off about her, but I now had reasonable evidence towards Angel, ones I could use if I was caught by the others. Ones I could make an excuse for, or I could use them to deface this mare who wanted to end Hearth. I liked option 2 far more than option 1. "I like it, what's the plan?"
He smiled before responding, "I say we get in her personal stuff where she doesn't want us to be, remember the hotel room incident?" He asked, reminding me of the time that their group had wanted to see Angel's room after they're second day of investigating. She had flipped out when we had almost opened her door, saying that it was private and such. I had my suspicions, but there was a lot of things this mare could've been embarrassed about... Like her ugly face. I don't even care anymore if this didn't make any sense, I hated this mare. Angel had lucked out as Hearth made the rest of us back off, bringing a flirty smile and a comment into his ear that made him blush. I heard a certain part of it that made me almost kill her on the spot, "You can see it if you ever really want to come be with me in the night."
"Yes, I do. So you think we'll find something in there?" I asked.
"Of course! Why would she have been so defensive? She's hiding some stuff I bet we can find if we dig just a little deeper." He said confidently, that flame in his eye becoming brighter.
"This all sounds good to me, but when should we break in? And how for that matter? Angel is the only one with the key and we cannot break down the door! And as an addition, we have to report to the barracks to sort out the final names on the list today!" I said, speaking my concerns about this heist.
Zeal just chuckled and replied, "Dear Silky, do you really think I can't break the lock on a wooden door handle? That's a check, and I say we wait until she leaves her room, which must be soon."
As if a wish had been granted, I perked my ears towards the doorway and listened as I heard Apple knock on Angel's door and continue to knock on mine, until her hoof steps were heard trotting down the hallway towards breakfast downstairs. Luckily, Zeal and I were working on full stomachs. Zeal and I quickly trotted into the hallway, with him looking through the peephole intently. I heard a door open from across the hall and out of habit to being anxious my nose began to tickle. I tried to stifle the sneeze, I really did! But it came out anyway, even louder because of holding it in so long. Zeal's jaw tightened as he seemed to see something, before relaxing and breathing out a sigh of relief.
"She reacted and looked at the door for a second before shrugging and moving down the corridor." He informed me before quietly cracking the door open and squeezing himself through the gap, with me following on light hooves. When we arrived at the wooden door, Zeal positioned himself in front of the device and his shoulders tightened as he went to work. However he was doing it, it worked. The lock clicked moments after he focused in on the small metal handle with a key hole.
"Ok, now we go in. If anything happens, scream. I can help, and remember Silky, we are just looking for evidence that proves our point." Zeal said over his shoulder to me before pushing the door open and trotting slowly inside, as if the ground was covered with land mines. Trotting after him, I could only wonder how he broke in so easily with only his hooves, but quickly dismissed it. It was his Cutie Mark after all, those mechanical things were his forte.
As we trotted into the living area, I examined the room I was not supposed to be in. The shutters filtered the light, making a gray glow engulf the room, making everything seem more gray and drab. Her bed was neatly made with suitcases piled on top of the comforters, where was she going? Nothing else seemed out of order, what a neat freak. Zeal went to her bags first, motioning with his hooves to check the bathroom on the other side of the room. Nodding back to him, I trotted over to the door and pushed it open, flooding the room with the filtered morning light.
Looking at the counter, I couldn't help but give out a small evil laugh as I saw how large her make-up pack was, and all the different colors and assorted mascaras. But I didn't bask in laughter too long as I then saw a faintly shining object between two shades of pink, reflecting light into my eyes. Scarcely daring to breathe, I picked it up with my magic and pursed my lips.
It was a silver knife, and it was very sharp. The blade itself gleamed in the morning light and sent beams of light shining around the bathroom, shining so brightly I knew it must've been sharpened, recently. Very recently actually. The hilt itself was bound tightly in leather, with a patch of a green arrow skewering an orange sun embroidered into the knife. I looked up and my jaw fell as the realization hit me.
In the Liturgy, during sessions involving the war we had been shown bows and pieces of armor and equipment. This symbol had always been somewhere on every piece of equipment! The Liturgy had been curious about this before I spoke up to the rest of the members, on my throne looking over the Liturgy I had told them that this must've been their creed. Their symbol, their message that they would pierce the very heart of the sun itself, Celestia.
Galloping into the other room, I showed Zeal the knife, making his eyes widen and his pupils shrink as he examined it. Looking back up at me, he shook his head sadly. I knew what he was feeling, for deep down I too wished that Angel wasn't a traitor that she wasn't the enemy. But now our small group had every piece of evidence we needed to end this, to make sure Angel would never be able to kill Hearth.
"C'mon Silky, more time she has to work with the better chance Hearth will be toast. Don't want that to happen to your Coltfriend now do we?" Zeal said with a taunting smile. I opened my mouth to make a comeback, but all I did was stutter which made him laugh. "Just kidding, geez. Sensitive subject, understood!"
He saluted me and gave an apologetic smile, before turning to exit the room through the door. I looked after him, giving a slight smile before following him. This experience made me realize I had never spoken to Zeal one on one before, and he was ok for being that big of a tease. Galloping to catch up with him, I entered the hall and found him waiting for me.
"Got it?" He asked.
All business again, I liked this guy! "Right here," I said while showing him the knife. Nodding his head, we galloped down the hallway to the staircase doors.
Zeal door opened the door and was immediately pulled into the stairwell. Taken aback by the sudden disappearance, I looked into the doorway to see Angel throw Zeal over the railing and sent him flying down into the stairwell. Seeing me, Angel flew at me with an outstretched hoof to punch me.
"I ain't losing two fights with you vamp." I muttered to myself as I raised a hoof to block the punch, before the punch with my right hoof. Feeling it connect, Angel flew over my head and into the hall, expertly landing on all fours.
"Silky Sensations, always the snoop aren't you!" My opponent cried as I teleported up the stairs and to the side of her, trying to give a rear kick to her head. Foreseeing the attack, Angel grabbed my rear hoof with her two front ones and twisted around, before flicking me like a discus down the hall. Sending me sailing through the air before I recovered my balance and landed on all fours facing Angel.
"I only snoop when mares try to kill my friends!" I called back, before slowly trotting towards Angel, who had her eyes narrowed in rage at me.
"You killed my dad you know, Silky." Angel replied, in a soft voice and pain in her eyes. "You ordered his death in Cloudsdale about a month after you became the leader of that damn Liturgy!" She said, before shaking her head angrily and spreading her wings, giving a push and sending her flying right at me.
Taken aback by her comment, I barely had time to dodge the punch. But unfortunately, she reached out her other hoof and grabbed my throat in a hold, before bursting through the hotel window down the hallway, sending glass down below and into the streets. Starting to feel myself fade into darkness, I fueled all my remaining strength into a uppercut that hit Angel right in the gut, winding her. Releasing me, I fell through the air for a couple of seconds before teleporting to a nearby building and gasping for breath. Taking deep gulps, I gained composure and looked up to see Angel land on the opposite side of the large house we were on.
Remembering her comment from earlier, I recalled that Stallion that had been put to beheading. "It wasn't my idea Angel! I wanted to cut his sentence short, but I was outnumbered! I am equal in votes to everypony else in the Liturgy, although I am the leader I still cannot-"
"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Angel screamed, "You're lying! You could've done something Silky! You must have been able to do something! He was all I had!" She screamed, out of both pain and anger at me. She loved the pony that had died, but I truly had tried to help him. But his crime was with weapon, and he had threatened the banker that had been employed at that time. I tried to give him time in jail, but the other members had revolted against me and voted for death, to prove a point to the populace. I had no choice but to concede.
"I'm sorry that happened to you Angel, but that doesn't make you who you are! You have to let it go and know that your father wouldn't want this to happen!" I yelled back across the rooftop, trying to convince the pink Pegasus to give up her goals made out of spite and anger.
"No! I won't stop until you Liturgy ponies are dead! And you will be the first one to die!" Angel screamed, finally losing control and flying like a bullet at me.
Gritting my teeth at this idiotic mare, I teleported onto her back while putting my hooves over her eyes. She screamed as she began to lose control of her flight, eventually flying straight up and into a cloud hovering above. Twisting herself into a cork screw, I began to lose my grip on her. Before I was thrown off, I cast a spell on a nimbus cloud floating lazily nearby and dove off the furious Pegasus onto the white fluff made solid.
Gaining her sight once again, Angel laughed as she gave me a grin from above. "Have you even done your studies Silky?! I control the weather, what kind of idiot takes a Pegasus into a fight in the sky?"
Realizing she was right, I tried to float down to the ground but my path was blocked as she zoomed in a tornado like fashion, bringing clouds to surround me on all sides and obscuring my view of anything. The air was smoky and I could barely see my hoofs below me on the cloud. Trying to get my bearings, I was punched in the cheek with a resounding smack that brought waves of pain to my face. Before I could apply a healing spell, she flew down and kicked me in the rib cage, almost sending me flying into the smoky abyss below. Gritting my teeth, I endured the pain because I knew if I was to fall off the cloud, it was game over for Silky. Falling at terminal velocity from up here, it would take too much magical energy to teleport myself safely to anywhere. I would die from magic exultation.
"What's wrong?! Is the Silky sensations Hearth bragged about too dumb and weak to be able to find her way out of a cloud?!" I heard a voice from above jeer. Looking up, I was met with a hoof to my face, sending me stumbling towards the edge of my magic cloud. Teetering on the edge, I collapsed to the bottom of the cloud as a hoof almost shot into the back of my skull. That would've definitely sent me off the cloud.
Regaining my hoofing, I closed my eyes and tried to figure out this situation. I couldn't see with my Unicorn eyes in this atmosphere, but Angel could. Teleporting isn't an option anymore, I have to find a way out using my wits. Looking back at my shadow behind me on the solid white cloud, an idea popped into my head that made me smile.
Zeal Amethyst's POV
Falling through the air in the stairwell, my face made connection with a metal bar which made pain shoot through my head. Recovering myself quickly, I reached out my hoof and grabbed onto a railing, making my hoof twist into a painful angle. This day was sure sucking, and it was only morning! Pulling myself over the railing, I gave a yelp of pain as my hoof touched the ground. Bringing it close to my face, I examined my hoof. It was badly twisted, but I could manage. Galloping at a fast pace up the stairwell, gritting my teeth as the pain shot through my hoof, I burst through the wooden door and found nopony there. Looking down, I found a dropped silver knife with the creed Silky had found in the bathroom. Looking down the hallway, I saw the window broken and glass scattered on the carpet.
Realizing they were outside, I picked up the knife and made my way painfully down the stairs, almost killing myself a couple of times from my twisted hoof almost tripping me. Reaching the bottom, I opened the door to the lobby and found ponies trotting around, making orders and talking on sofas, but our group wasn't here. Thinking they must be in the breakfast hall, I galloped as fast as possible through the crowds while pushing ponies aside that made rude comments about my mother.
Opening the doors to the breakfast hall with several ponies behind me telling me to grow a brain, I found Hearth, Midnight, Apple, Gusty, and Cotton looking at me strangely from sitting down at the table in the front of the hall. Normally I would be happy that we could get food and sit so close to the exit doors, but right now I just didn't have the time.
"What's up Zeal? You don't look too happy man." Gusty chimed in, pointing at my twisted hoof. "Stairwell treat you kindly?"
"No, but Angel gave me a good look as she pushed me over the railing!" I exclaimed, bringing surprised looks from my friends and an annoyed look from Hearth.
"Zeal, don't go saying things about Angel that-" Hearth began to say, growling in the back of his throat before I interrupted him.
"Hearth, shut up! Angel's fighting with Silky outside, and I don't think it's a friendly sparring match!" I exclaimed, bringing fearful looks from everypony, even Gusty looked uneasy. "Angel had this," I said tossing the knife onto the table. "This is the creed for the Algazarii, the enemy! She's one of them you guys! And this was found in her bathroom!"
Everypony looked shocked for a moment before getting out of their seats and galloping towards the exit. Following them, we burst through the spinning doors to the outside, looking up into the sky to see a gigantic white cloud sphere floating above the city.
"What is that?!" A stallion nearby cried, pointing at the phenomenon as other ponies screamed and cried and said it was the end of the world. It was so sad the way these ponies had no courage, truly.
"They must be in there!" Cotton cried over the terrified screams of other ponies.
"Wait, what's that happenin' right now?" Apple said to us as she pointed to the cloud above.
Following her gaze, I saw lights start to flash in the sphere, with rays of light shoot through parts of the cloud.
Angel Joy's POV
Silky, what was her deal?! Saying she couldn't have helped Dad, that she couldn't have saved him? She must've been able to do something, or else he would still be breathing! And it's all this mares fault!
Diving in for a punch to her head as she was unbalanced, she dropped down and I missed. Sailing off into the clouds, I regained my balance and turned around to find Silky looking around, back and forth, in a robotic way to try to find me. But her eyesight was not used to weather; she couldn't see me when I could see her. It was over for her, and she must have known it because she was near the edge of the cloud with her shadow shining on the cloud. This was odd, but I decided it must've just been the moisture in the cloud starting to evaporate. Pitching forward into a dive that would finish Silky for certain while her back was turned; I put my hoof in front of my hoof and gave out a laugh as I was just about to hit her.
But just as I hit Silky, a blinding light flashed, dazing me in my place. At that moment, the shadow from earlier expanded outwards and a duplicate of Silky jumped out and punched me in the face before sending a light ball right into my chest, hurtling me backwards and slamming me into the cloud sphere I had created. I rolled away before the ball could go through my body, but no sooner than I had done this more were sent flying at me. Flapping my wings, I flew upwards, sending them shooting through the sphere and letting light leak in to the interior. Realizing what was happening too late, all my clouds filtered through the holes made, leaving me out in the open.
"There you are!" I heard one of the Silky's yell out with a smile, confusing me until the other Silky flickered and disappeared. Silky had sunk into the cloud, and made a look alike to take the hit, letting her know where I was. Clever little... Ugh!
I was about to retort when Silky shot several more spheres at me, with me dodging around most of them, but some scraped against my side, singing fur and leaving partial burns. Knowing I was losing control of the fight rapidly, I flew through one of the holes made by the glowing spheres to try to escape, but Silky had thought of this plan as she teleported herself and the cloud in front of the exit I was flying towards and sent an orb point blank into my face, making me reel back in pain as I felt my face light on fire from the contact, sending me flying back and smacking into the bottom of the cloud sphere. Wiping away the flames that had sprouted on my facial fur, I gave a sigh of relief as I doused the painful heat on my face.
Dazed, I looked up to see Silky creating a gigantic light orb, one that was growing bigger with every second until it was the size of a small house. As she sent it flying at me, I punched a hole in the bottom and fell through as the orb chased me towards the ground miles below. Spreading my wings, I flew up and over the sphere, smiling to myself as I watched the sphere fly past me until it disappeared from view as it evaporated into pink sparks in the air. Looking back up, a wave of pain shot through me as Silky collided with my body, sending us both hurtling towards the city below as she wrapped her hooves around my throat and charged her horn, pointing it at my forehead.
Frozen from fear, I knew I couldn't do anything to save myself as the mare's horn began to glow brighter and brighter. Closing my eyes, I waited for the mare I despised more than anypony to end my life.
Authors Note: Yup, end of chapter! Sorry about cliffhanger, but I truly don't know where to go from here. At least Silky got her revenge for the loss of the earlier fight! Pondering potential situations made by either the choice of killing, or letting loose Angel Joy. I'll get my mind around it, but reviewing never hurts ya know! By the way, longest chapter as of yet!