Chapter XII: Sting of Remorse

Clockwork

"Chronos?" an Observant called out as I open a portal. "What in the name of the Ancient Ghosts are you doing?" I explain I am going to talk to Dr. Hooves and find why he acted the way he did. "You are already in violation of several…," before he can finish I cross through the portal and arrive at the doctor's house.

"Doctor you home?" I call out as I hear grumble about more guests coming.

"What…oh my…," he says finding me sitting on the couch reading a book. "Chronos Clockwork I presume," he says coming up to me but not looking directly at me.

"Why did you refuse to help my wards on their quest?" the time pony said it was not his battle and his war ended when he came to Equestria. "You wouldn't get involved to see the place you now call home freed from evil." He says he had enough adventure and that I promised him peace and happiness- especially since the war ended. "I did but peace does not mean refusing to get involved when all is at stake."

He looked down scraping his hoof on the ground, "I did help them. I gave them a book with a map of Canterlot castle in it. It shows a secret entrance." he looked at me, "don't you get tired of this bloody fight with evil. You've done this since time began," I do get weary but that is not the case here. "What do you want me to do?" I tell him that I will have a mission for him later then left for the Ghost Zone. "Bloody Time Master!"

Rainbow Dash

"Look at the markings on the rock. The entrance must be nearby," Twilight said pointing to a star etched on the rock. Everyone raced over to see the markings but I stayed behind. I can't believe I let Chrysalis use me like that.

"It wasn't your fault Dashie," I hear Fluttershy say as she put her hoof around me. "She preys on pony's emotions like that." I sighed, maybe , but I almost ruined the entire mission. Flutters reminds me that it is never too late to start again.

"Danny, Sam," I flew up to the two humans. They both looked me cautiously. "I am sorry I didn't trust you and trapped you like that." Sam looks like she was going say something but Danny held her back. "I would like to start again. Hi my name is Rainbow Dash."

Danny's face softened and said he understands what happened. "I know what's like to have you emotions…," a blue wisp came out of his mouth. I asked him everything was all right. "Get behind me!"

He walked toward a bush when a bony limb grabbed his wrist. He blasted the attacker leaving nothing but a pile of bones.

"What was that?" Fluttershy asks hiding behind me. He says that they were undead creatures. Eons ago they served a despotic king and his knight. A couple years back Vlad managed to gain control of them and uses them as soldiers.

"You mean they…," Rarity cries out as something grabs her. She kicks the creature's spine turning it to a pile of bones. Spike rushes up to her and asks if she is okay, "yes, it just startled me is all." She assures him petting his scales.

Sam takes out some kind of device but a lone arrow pins her arm to the rock. A group of skeletons in armor appear. Before they can even reach her Danny uses his powers to fry them. "You would…," a bony hand pulls Danny's limbs behind his back and wrap around his neck. He closes his eyes trying to use his powers to escape but something is messing with them.

"Hang on!" I shout as I fly at the creatures and force it to free Danny. This allows him to blast the thing in the spine causing it to fall apart.

Dani

"Did you hear something?" one of the changeling guard asked looking around the room. I grabbed the filly and went invisible. He searched the room for a moment before realizing it was just his imagination and teleported to another part of the castle.

"That was…," the orange pony said until I gently covered her mouth. She blushed and apologized. She asked me how I did that. I explained that I was part ghost and was able to go invisible. "I never knew it was possible to be half ghost. Did you make some kind of bargain with a dark entity ? Maybe you traded half your soul to gain immortality like Dr. Lockjaw?" I sighed; I never had a soul and even if it did it belong to Vlad. Scootaloo apologizes for her remarks.

"It's okay," I tell her taking a breath. I remember what Sensei Tommy told me once. It's not a person's past that decides what they are but the present. I may have been created by Vlad but my rejection of all he stands for freed me from his grasp. "We need to find a way out of here. I am not exactly sure where we are."

"We're in Castle Canterlot. My friend was practically raised here," she explains. I ask her if she can get us out of here. "No problem ," we start down the hall looking for an exit.

Pinkie Pie

"That was awesome, did you see how Danny zapped them into bits," I said excitedly as Danny blushed. "You're like a superhero? Do you know Mistress Mare-velous?" He looked like he was about to answer when Twilight said we should move on.

"Pinkie tends to get over excited about things," she explains. He looks up at the next ledge and flies up to secure the rope for us. As soon as he lands the ground crumbles beneath his feet and falls backwards. "Fluttershy!" she calls out as the pegasus flies up and catches the human before he falls all the way.

"Are you okay?" Fluttershy asks gently placing him on the ground. "Normally Mt. Canterlot is very stable I don't know what could…," Danny said it was one of Vlad's tricks. He's using the Alicorn Amulet to alter the mountain. "How can he do that. Even with amulet he still needs to know magic?" Danny thinks for a second trying figure it out.

"We'll get to that bridge when we cross it. Right now we need to get up there and rescue our friends," Rainbow Dash says examining the mountain. "I think I see the real ledge. I can fly up there and secure the rope," Danny hands her the glowing rope and tells her to be careful. "Don't worry, Rainbow Dash is here."

Twilight's eyes grew wide, "Twilight? are you okay?" Rarity asks worriedly. All that she say was 'Shining' and that 'we had to hurry.' She closes her eyes and uses her powers to take us to the next ledge.

Technus

"There is nothing like hacking into a secure computer system to make an old ghost feel young," I entered into my lair with my stash of valuable electronics. "Come to papa!" I poured them out on the table and examined him. "Ooh Exabyte storage. I so do love next gen tech," I was about to plug in it when Plasmius appeared in front of me. "Wow, a new ghost power?" I ask the billionaire as he smiles.

"You could say that. I have a mission for you," he produces an image of the Amity Park Museum. According to him the ghost child's geeky friend is trying to steal a valuable piece of art from there. I ask why he would do that. The child and his friends fight for good "I stole it first and he was trying to get it back." I ask him what needs to be done, "take care of him anyway possible but make sure I cannot be tied to it," I salute and tell him I will do as he asks. "Excellent Technus," with that Vlad vanishes as quickly as he came.

Trixie

"Hmmm this one looks nice," I said trying on a crown. If I am to rule Equestria I need proper headgear and my dusty old hat won't do anymore. I looked at my reflection and frowned. This one made my head look fat. "There has to be…" just then I sensed someone entered the room. "Oh Vlad," I turn around and see my benefactor standing before me. "I was just picking out a crown to wear for my coro…" he grabs me by the neck and glares.

"Have you forgotten Ms. Lulamoon that Equestria is my kingdom? You are merely the mouthpiece to keep this insipid ponies in line," he takes the crown and vaporizes it. I was going to tell him that it was a priceless artifact but the look on his face ordered me to shut up. "Daniel and his friends will be here soon and I need them taken care of," don't worry we have plenty of traps for…"I have something more potent in mind," he drops on the ground.

"Like what?" I ask massaging my aching neck. He produces a scroll and tells me I am going to cast it. "You must be crazy, only an alicorn can…," he uses his magic to lift me up again. He doesn't care wants I me to cast it. "Like Tartarus I am. I could be killed and then where would the land be without my magic and intell…"

"You miserable little equine, I am responsible for your sudden rise to power. If you decide that you no longer wish to be under my tutelage I can easily dump you back on skid row. I am the power that rules this planet." he tosses me against the wall. "Now, the spell," I take the scroll and read it over. I tell him I need more power to do it." He snaps his finger and one of the unconscious palace guards appears. "Think of this as practice when we capture Twilight."

"Uh yes…," suddenly I felt strange doing this. I am not like this I am good a pony. Yes I am egotistical and boast of my greatness but I not a maniac not an evil pony. I cast those thoughts out of my mind for the moment and concentrate on the spell.