Chapter Ten: Going Underground
The two shared a name, colors, even overall disposition. The only thing they didn't share was species. MoonDrop stood to attention within the narrow hallway of rough blue stone, the space lit with an ambient cyan from natural crystals jutting from walls and ceiling.
She remained poised and professional with her silver spear pointed up, her silver chain mail vest, her silver bracers and shin guards all well polished. Alongside her, the dragon also called MoonDrop stood with her silver chain mail, silver bracers and shin guards all well polished. The Celestial MoonDrop was a dark blue that faded into pale white along her belly, her ghostly bat wings glowing with indigo light. The Dragon MoonDrop had fine feathers of the same colors, her physical mammalian wings hugging across her chest like a living cloak.
The two often exchanged glances despite being on duty. Each stood at the edge of a wooden support that kept the cave wall from collapsing as they faced a mirror embedded into the rough stone. Whoever decided to pair them together must have done it for their own amusement. She wanted to ask so many questions of her dragon counterpart.
Othet soldiers walked the long corridors doing their own rounds, some more than happy to report their behavior to a superior. It was only when hooves or footpads grew distant did they whisper just loud enough to be heard.
"MoonDrop?"
"What?"
"I was wondering. When I was fifteen my mom caught me kissing one of my friends in my room. She fainted on the spot. I told them I liked girls, so the whole 'no stallion' rule was flipped. Did- you?"
Her dragon counterpart continued to look forward with a lack of emotion. Most soldiers could hide what they felt behind a mask of professionalism, at least the ones that were still soldiers after their first year.
"My folks were killed in a raid when I was thirteen."
"Oh."
The Equis responded with one awkward word and a heavy load of guilt. Equestria had it better than Dagon ever did, even when one factored in the Day of Scars. The Dragon Queen had done the same to her own world. Anyone who didn't accept a 'gift of immortality' was mutilated. Horns were sawn down so they'd never grow. Wings were amputated, and Terran Drakes forced to drink potions that rendered them lame. This resulted in many infectious diseases that killed before the Queen's 'healers' could get to them. The collateral damage of a maniac's revolution. Frankly, many agreed it would have been better if she killed them outright.
"Can I meet them sometime?"
The Dragon let a hint of emotion escape her steely resolve. Just for a second she sounded more like a wounded child than a hardened soldier.
"When this is over. I promise."
The mirror flashed a bright green before ripples formed in the silver surface. The two leaned in and spread their wings as both slammed the butt of their spears onto the hard floor. A resonant hum came from the sharp spearheads as hidden rune markings began to shine a fierce and frigid blue light.
They prepared to lunge as three figures emerged, the lead being a head shorter than her companions.
"Speak!", they barked out in unison.
The short green dragon with curved horns spoke three words in a fluid language of growls and churls before giving three nonsense words in Equestrian. The two relaxed their guard and turned to face one another before making a step back.
"Proceed"
They spoke in unison as the MoonDrops waited for the new arrivals to pass them by. As they did, one of the companions, a white Mundane with pink hair and while fur, looked between the MoonDrops and the shorter dragon. Her eyes focused on their cheeks then looked at the short dragon again. When MoonDrop felt the heat under her own cheeks she knew what the demure white mare was noticing. The two MoonDrops were blushing in the presence of Alloy.
These three had 'history'.
-
"Where are we?"
Hex asked Alloy as she and Bless followed the short dragon down dimly lit corridors with random curves and several changes of elevation. It all seemed like the home of giant ants, the passageways not following any strict design. Large caverns branched off here and there, some covered by heavy cloth tarps instead of proper doors. Some that were open had soldiers sitting at long tables as they ate or classroom-like settings where others went over intelligence reports and plans for future skirmishes.
"Ever wondered why only a few invasions actually make it to Equestria?", Alloy asked without looking back at the twins.
"Never really paid attention to the news to be honest."
"She- we really couldn't handle watching the news.", Bless added to Hex's answer.
"Thank you for your honesty", Alloy said looking back with her milk-chocolate eyes. "We've been doing our best to take back Dagon. The Seven do what they can on your side while we sabotage my Celestia and lock her out of Mirror portals as we discover them. And before you ask, there's more at stake than our two worlds. If she figures out to access a third reality then Celeste knows what would happen."
"Actually, I was going to ask how you can edit Mirror Portals. That's a skill Lady Twilight herself would find difficult."
Hex's question would be answered with the next turn. They followed Alloy through one of the many tarps and entered a cavern lit with a massive cluster of pale blue crystal. In the center was a table carved neatly from the same stone along with stone chairs padded with purple seats and backrests. Three out of nine chairs were occupied. One dragon and one Equis sat opposite of a dark blue Ascended.
There wasn't a single Equis that didn't know that face, but as far as Equestria knew, she had died on the Day of Scars.
She sat with perfect posture despite the evident fatigue in her eyes. Down to her chain-mail covered shoulders her hair flowed as if it had a life of its own. Despite the bob-cut she sported currently her hair was stunning. Each strand seemed like the window to a night sky pregnant with nebulae and young stars. Her slate blue eyes carried a millennia of knowledge behind them, but also a willingness to take a life if it came to it.
Queen Luna gave a sidelong glance as the other sitting Equis went on about rations and dietary needs. A single hand went up to hush the older officer.
"Scout Alloy?"
Two words held such weight coming from the Queen. It expressed annoyance and an ultimatum her time wasn't to be wasted.
Alloy stepped aside and looked at Bless. The white mare looked wide-eyed at Luna, the sphere clenched against her chest.
"Your m-m-m-m-m-a. Qu-"
Hex to the rescue once again. She was polite yet didn't feel the aura of intimidation others could.
"Your majesty, we have the seventh element, technically the thirteenth."
"Get out"
Everyone froze as Queen Luna barked out the order.
"I said get out!", she looked over at the two seated. They seemed taken aback yet were not about to disobey.
Queen Luna rose and walked over to Bless. The white mare seemed on the verge of passing out, but when Luna's expression softened a wave of relief washed over her.
"Sweet Celeste, you're only half a soul", She turned her head to Hex, "And you're her shadow, I take it?"
"So you can see it too?" Hex answered simply.
Luna gave Hex the look of a person who wasn't willing to answer an inane question.
"I see we are not in touch with our inner demons, are we?"
The Queen spoke as if trying to provoke something in Hex. Whatever the intention it didn't seem to have the effect Luna desired. She formed a thoughtful look and focused on the stone sphere itself.
"This has to be fate. Tell me, did the Element of Redemption do this?"
Hex and Bless gave a nod, Bless far more subtle and demure in her silent answer. The Queen frowned and began to think deeply.
"Were there six others along with this?"
"I'm not sure, your highness. The sphere just flew into my hand shortly before a pack of timberwolves attacked."
"Well, no matter." She said with a hint of disappointment in her tone. "This tilts the balance in our favor."
"Actually…"
Bless spoke up yet froze when it gained the attention of the Queen. Silence spread between the two until Hex finally spoke.
"… we would like to borrow the sphere for just a bit longer. We-I have a hypothesis."
-
"BrightStar, come with me."
Ravencroft paused in the hallway only long enough for the astral to meet eyes with him. His patient lay on her stomach, the pastel celestial's naked back marked with a large x-shaped scar.
"Um- excuse. I'll be right back."
He awkwardly abandoned his work station and followed his boss and benefactor down the hallway. BrightStar parted his lips to ask a question several times yet his voice only came out in squeaks. He couldn't understand why, but something weighed down the very air that surrounded the old stallion.
"How can I h-Help you, mister…"
He was already in another examination room. Ravencroft kicked open the steamer trunk that contained the mechanical brain of his machines and poured six sturdy glass jars with brass caps onto the mechanism. BrightStar could only watch as he pulled out cables and clicked the jars into place.
Those "jars" were resonant chambers with ports for kinetic cable, and inside them were six dark gems that radiated six of the most unpleasant elements of a soul.
"Son, I'm putting my life in your hands. I hope you don't mind."
BrightStar could hear a storm outside. The wind picked up and a clamor rose. From the corner of his eye he could see out a window as a swirling mass of black feathers blackened the sky.