Chapter XVIII: Steady Steps
Princess Celestia
"Ghostwriter, could hand me that microprocessor," Tucker said as the spirit handed him the piece and soldered in place. Luna was enjoying helping them, she always had a knack for fixing things. When my favorite talking doll was broken Luna fixed it.
"Quick where there is the star?" Apple Bloom said as she looked at the pieces. Sweetie Belle asked she if meant the five sided or six sided one. "Six sides," seeing them play brought a smile to my face. That game should keep them busy for awhile.
I walk into the living room to sit down. I see a large box on the floor. "What is this?" I open it and find an elaborate chess set. "This is gorgeous," I admired the pieces they must hoof crafted. On the board was a card. 'Congratulations Little Badger. Your friend, Vladimir.' I set the pieces up as Jazz comes to see what I was up to.
"I see your found Danny's prize for winning the science fair," she says. I ask her why it hasn't been opened as it was beautiful. "Vlad gave that to Danny," why would some as evil as this Vlad do something so nice. "He's been trying for a couple years trying to make Danny renounce his family and join him. Ever since he became mayor he's been trying extra hard."
"Vlad is mayor of your town?" I asked shocked at the revelation. She nods. A year ago he ran for mayor and used his powers to cheat. Once installed he became virtually a dictator and watches everything little thing that goes on. Jazz said her brother hasn't had a moment's rest. "Are you and your brother close?" I ask curious.
"At first no. He always thought I was overbearing," I laughed as Luna told me the same thing. "When I discovered his secret we became closer. I asked about that secret. "Let's say there is more to my brother than meets the eye." She looks at the set and asks of I would like to play.
"If you don't mind," I say as she takes her place on the other side. She asks if I play a lot. "When I was a filly I was taught by my mentor, Starswirl the Bearded, but since becoming princess my plate has been too full. You move first," Jazz moves her pawn and the game begins.
Walker
"If I ever see those punks again they will never see the light of day again," I said looking over the broken remains of my device. "Stupid human punks! Damned talking...," Bullet stepped forward. "This had better be important."
"You're needed in the observatory, sir," my second-in-command says as I follow him. Several of my best cops were huddled around the table looking at a map. They snapped to attention at seeing me. "About half an hour ago a large swarm of those creatures were seen entering the Zone," Bullet says pointing the map. I asked him what they were doing.
"They're headed towards Skulker's Island," Colonel von Boom said showing me the direction they are headed. So the hunter is the one leading them. I tell the colonel to pick his best squads and intercept them. I want him to bring me Skulker and one of these creatures. "Yes, sir," he says saluting me and taking off.
"Have our undercover agents follow them," I order them as I peer into the telescope. Bullet asks if the older hybrid is behind this. "I am not sure, but I wouldn't it past Plasmius to be experimenting with ghosts." Whatever he's up to I will discover it. "The punk may slipped through my fingers, but Skulker and his little friends will learn not to mess with the law.
Rainbow Dash
"We've searched this entire room and still haven't...," I begin to say as I pick up a book and examine. "Hold that thought, I have some AJ." The title read 'Healing Potions and Antidotes' "AJ did..," I saw Applejack fighting some of those skeletons. "Hang on," I leap through hair and perform Daring Do's trademarked super spin kick. The bonehead crumbles to the ground.
"They're coming through the floor," Applejack says as more appear. "We can't keep fighting them," she says as Danny comes over and helps us. "How's Scootaloo doing?" He says for now she's stable but not sure how long she'll... a bony hand grabs Danny's ankles but he blasts them to bits.
My heart sank at those words, I am going to make this Vlad pay for...a skeletal hand grabs my tail but I shake it off and into the wall. Danny says he has something that might work. He takes out what looks like a wrestling belt and places it on the ground. A green glow appears on the floor. A skeleton tries to come out of the floor but is met with a shock.
"Specter Deflector," he says smiling. "I had my friend alter it so it won't effect me," he says as I hand him the book. "You are a life saver Dash," I smile and tell him I am pretty awesome. "Let's see Slumberslime, Chimera poison, Cockatrice glance. It doesn't have anything about ghost venom," he says looking at the injured filly. "I hate to do this but we'll need to go to plan B."
"What's Plan B?" Trixie asks coming up to us. Danny removes a small container from his belt. Inside as a needle. I shuddered it seeing but Danny says it's the only way. He rolls up his sleeve and asks the unicorn to use her magic to stick the needle into him. "Ok...ay," Trixie concentrates and focus her energy on the needle. It levatates through the air and gently injects it in his arm. She moves the plunger removing some of Danny's blood.
"I thought you said you weren't how your blood would interact with Scootaloo?" Applejack asks as Danny says right now the only concern he has is saving the filly's life.
Trixie gives the syringe to Danny. He races over to Scootaloo, "I know how to do this with humans but not ponies." Applejack asks what's he trying to do. "Find an artery to inject the blood into her." AJ takes the squirt's left hind leg and points to a spot. "Thanks," he says injecting Scootaloo.
The filly gives a moan as she slowly opens her eyes. "Take it easy squirt," I tell her petting her mane. She says she feels strange. "That's probably the medicine Danny gave you. Just rest for now," I tell her as Danny uses his powers to make an ice pack for her. I gently place her on my back as Danny bandages her leg.
Sam
"What's the matter Sam?" Pinkie Pie asks noting the concern on my face. I tell her that we haven't seen any changelings in awhile. "That's good, right?" she asks as I shrug. It reminds of the one level on Doomed. You enter what looks an abandoned bunker. The moment you step through the threshold a squad of goons appear and begin shooting.
She is takes out a pair of goggles and says she's doing recon. "No, we don't have...," I began to say when I hear voices coming our way.
"Why aren't we looking for the ponies?" a voice asked as a group of bugs walked by. His partner said that Chrysalis gave them new orders. They are to meet outside the south entrance to the castle. "What for? The pests are already in the castle and that city is locked tight and no pony would dare to come out."
"All she said was that she needs to find new feeding grounds," the first changeling says as I try to make sense of this news.
"What do they mean new feeding grounds?" Pinkie says they feed off of love. "If Canterlot is secure they must be...," I swallowed hard as I realized the queen's goal. Vlad must showed them a way to our world. "I am going to see what Chrysalis is up to. Tell Twilight I'll catch up later."
"But you don't know the castle. You could get lost," the pink pony says worriedly. I tell her if I can navigate level 49D on Doomed I can make it through the castle. "B...but...," I tell her I have to make it to the meeting place.
Dr. Hooves
"Princess Luna, did you set up the primary bypass?" Tucker asks as the alicorn nods. I admire his handiwork. "Not bad work for a layman," he says proudly. I tell him it is impressive but there is just one problem. We need an input device to change the coordinates. "I have just thing, Apple Bloom could you me a favor?" he asks as the filly looks up amazed.
"Me?" she asks confused. Tucker asks to go upstairs and go into Jazz's room and bring down her keyboard. "You mean like a music keyboard?" the human nods saying Jazz's is the third room on the right. "You got it," she says racing up the steps to get it.
"I think a test is in order," I tell him as he nods and tells us to stand back. He throws the switch but instead of turning on the device a bolt of lighting shoots out and hits him in chest. "Great whickering stallions," I race over and ask him if he's okay. He nods as an image appears in front of us.
"I must applaud your ingenuity," a voice says as a tall being with blue skin appears in front of us. "Using the ghost portal to find your way back." Luna growls and blasts him but the bolt goes right through him. "This is where your little project ends." The figure turns to controls and blasts them.
"How dare you!" Luna says charging at him but the imagine vanishes. "Come back here, thou coward!" she says looking around.
"Vlad must have known we would try to get you back home," Tucker says looking at the damage. "The primary oscillator is shot," he looks around the room. "Dr. Hooves, would you check that table over there. You should a mini portal."
"Right away," I say heading over to search for the object. "What does a mini portal look like?" he says it looks like the ghost portal only smaller."
"How long will take to repair it?" Ghostwriter asks looking at the damage. Tucker says he's not sure as the damage looks extensive. "Don't fear with the four of us we shall have it running in no time!" she says proudly as Tucker smiles and goes back to examining the device.
Dani
"You okay?" Shining Armor asked as I looked at the floor nervously. All I could think about was being trapped in that mire. What if the fruit loop tries again and..., "It's okay see solid ground," the pony stamps his hoof on the floor. I slowly start to walk towards him. 'Please don't let me sink. Please don't...' I heard Princess Cadence's voice again.
"It's okay Danielle, my husband will guide your steps," I look over to Armor who's keeping en eye out for changelings. "Yes, Shining Armor is my husband," I look down at the floor and then to Armor. He turns to me with his horn glowing. The floor starts to glow and am filled with the confidence to follow him closer.
"Cadence talked to you," he says as I look confused. "I heard her voice too. She told me to guide you. The spell allows you to see through the illusions and see the truth." I smile and catch up to him. "Cadence told me your teacher thinks highly of you," he says as I blush thinking about when Sensei Tommy told me that I had what it takes to make an incredible martial artist.
"Thank...," my ghost sense goes off, "Vlad must be near," I tell Shining Armor as he looks around. "It's coming down this way." I start to go but Armor tells me to wait up. He says that a couple of guards are coming to help us.
I could hear footsteps as a couple guards appeared and saluted Armor. "This way, keep you eyes open. We don't know what this monster has planned. A unicorn guard nodded and took the lead. "Dani will tell you where to go," he said as I walk up beside the guard. "Don't worry, Buckler has the keenest eyes in the royal guard. He knows every secret entrance and exit."
"Follow me," I tell the guard as he cast a shield spell around us. I also cast a ecto-shield to augment his magic. "Vlad is no doubt waiting for us." I tell him as we lead the group to source of the signal.
