"Dusk…?" Artemis calls as he walks down the steps and sees Dusk hunched over the table, completely engrossed in his work. "I know you have heard."
Dusk sighs heavily and closes his eyes. "What else have I been lied about? Is your return to getting used to the modern new life a lie as well? Or how about enjoying life with us?"
Artemis sighs and walks over to him before picking up one of his written papers. "I will say, I've chosen to lie to protect the citizens. But only because I still care about them. If the threat of monsters weren't there, I would have publically shamed him. You were my citizen, Dusk Shine. Now you are an equal and a friend to me. No more shall I be lying."
Dusk slowly turns to him. "Then tell me, is the friendship I have with you and my friends a lie?"
"No! That is real. The elements of harmony wouldn't have worked otherwise. What you have with your friends and me is all real. As such, it would be a barefaced lie to not go back and leave them to their fates," Artemis states. "What would a true friend do?"
Dusk groans slightly. "Help out in any way possible…dammit. I looked up to Solaris like my own father. And now this," he huffs as he throws the quill in his hand to pierce the book in front of him.
"Dusk, do you know what my brother is mostly?" Artemis asks.
Dusk sighs and hangs his head. "A ruler who wants more now and will take out anyone who is in the way."
"No, he is a politician. I am more of a military commander. That is the type of person we are," Artemis says.
Dusk looks at him carefully. "Are you going to end up like him one day?"
"I for one keep others safe. He keeps his ratings up or at least his rule," Artemis points out.
"Do you want the throne?" Dusk asks.
"No longer I do. My time to rule is coming to an end. I have seen the signs. Though my brother does not wish it so soon, his own rule may come to a close," Artemis says.
"So what's going to happen then?" Dusk asks.
"I don't know, but as we are now, the faction under our command won't even beat back the monsters," Artemis states.
"And what will?" Dusk presses.
"A change," Artemis says cryptically.
"You're not very helpful when it comes to messages, are you?" Dusk asks, trying to force a smile.
"I also do not know the specifics for I can not see the future," Artemis adds.
Dusk sighs. "You are cryptic as ever…mind if you stay a bit…maybe ease another citizen of their worry?"
"Who do you speak of?" Artemis asks.
"The mare that might be sitting at the table still," Dusk says pointing upward. "The pink one that you asked about having no underwear."
"Ah. The prostitute style mare," Artemis says bluntly and makes Dusk blanch hard. "I'll handle her. Good luck on finding an end to this," he offers as he walks off back upstairs.
"Maybe you weren't lying about trying to get used to modern life," Dusk says and makes Artemis smirk as he walks off.
"Are you well?" Artemis asks as he comes back and sees Sentire still sitting at the table, but now sees the dark energy coming off of her scythe leaning against the table and tries to pay it no mind to not worry the mare further.
Sentire turns to him in some surprise. "Yes…but why all of this? Wouldn't it be better if you could just tell and get it out of the way?"
Artemis hums as he walks over and sits by her. "Citizens' minds are fickle little things. You may be either no different or harden by sheer will and experience. As for those citizens when I came back, they were weak and the monsters were pounding on our doors. You may have been stuck in Manehattan at the time, but when I came back, only half of the lower Canterlot walls were built. Time was of the essence back then. I had to act at that moment. And I chose to lie. Only now the citizens are more harden. So it is about time to reveal the truth of the matter. Especially after learning of my brother's need to use slavery to fund his campaign."
Sentire slowly sighs and taps the table nervously. "I use to see the history as fact. Whatever I was taught in school. And now…now I don't know what to believe."
"Oh? You are as well. Heh. Dusk is troubled at the same time. Not sure if my friendship with him is real at all. Or even his own friends," Artemis says smiling. "You go through this a lot in life. Questioning your own existence. And here, you seem a lot like him. You look through everything with a hopeful eye. A hopeful eye who hopes to see rolling plains. Flowers blooming. Farmland abound. Bustling cities," Artemis sighs now. "And so does others…but in their own view. The Equities in the old ways and I would know their style. The ERM trying to remake the government by only the citizens themselves. And of course, Solaris trying to gain his full rule back over everything. Everypony with their own ways back to what they think is the best way possible to run a monster-ridden land."
"And you?" Sentire asks carefully.
Artemis slowly shakes his head. "I can lead ponies. An army. Fighting mostly. But not the land itself. If I wanted to, I can learn how to do so. Dusk will mostly be excited to teach me," he chuckles. "But I do not. My rule may soon come to an end along with my brother. It is only right as a family. Even a ruling family must fall one day. And it is time to change. Now you? What do you want? I do not care if you even remain unaffiliated and I will help in your journey. Nothing else after our fall."
Sentire stops for a moment as she stares at him. "A…Are you sure? Just to help me remain…basically a non-citizen of a new government?"
Artemis shrugs. "Might be fun. Traveling around, doing mercenary work. Honest pay since you have a say in the matter."
Sentire gulps nervously and stares at the table in some worry. She could stay almost like what Trial and Leone are. Just mercenaries…but she does want to one day stop and end her life in some happiness. "I…"
"You do not need to say anything for now. Once this matter is dealt with, you might have a clearer mind. So I will leave you alone until then and I will pose the same question," Artemis says getting up and starting to walk off.
Sentire presses her lips together hard before turning around in her chair. "Will you regret going against your brother?"
Artemis hums as he stops and turns his head slightly. "We will see."
Sentire watches as he leaves out the large door and watches it shut close. She then looks down a little and grabs her scythe and walk out as well.
"Okay. See it, girls?" Trial asks as they see the uncorrupted deer grazing in the field while they hid in the grass.
"Wow…so beautiful," Sweetie Belle could only awe at.
Trial chuckles as their enthusiasm before they see a tail rise up out of the grass behind it. "And here is Leone coming in for the kill."
"Aw. Why kill it?" Apple Bloom questions.
"Because we need to survive. Don't worry. It's old enough that I'm sure that the population can handle one loss," Trial reassures and Leone pounces on the deer and bites into the neck before breaking it. "Who wants deer?"
"Will Leone give it up? I know lions don't like to give their kills away," Scootaloo says.
"That's a male. Leone is a caring female. She will go to lengths to protect me. Even give up eating for the day," Trial says proudly as he stands out on the grass and walls over. "Right Leone? You won't be greedy?"
"…maybe," Leone says thinking on it.
"You do it and no more bed with me," Trial says smirking.
"So to the north, we have plenty of fertile farmland, to the west, there is a deposit of minerals and ore, to the south, there is a lush forest where we can get plenty of wood from, and here, east of the building, we have ample game lands," Leone says.
"A fine place for a homestead I would say," Trial says.
"Seems we got lucky with where he sent this place. And since we're close to two settlements, we can also get what we need from them just in case," Leone says picking up the deer over her shoulder.
"By close, you mean miles away and both are struggling with the holding of both cities," Trial says.
"Well, by the time they will have gotten word where we are, you will have already gotten to work purifying the corruption in the area, starting with the farmland," Leone adds.
"I aim to please…you think Applejack will like it?" Trial asks curiously.
"Just plant apples…and pears," Apple Bloom said and makes Trial look to her in some confusion. "Um…our ma was a pear," she embarrassed.
"We need to plant more than that, corn, wheat, other herbs as well. The list goes on," Trial says.
"Why not ask that zebra for help? I think he can give some seeds and plants to start us off on the herbs and his potions," Leone points out as they walk back.
"I can, but while I am in the nature realm, I will look for items as well," Trial says as they near the house after a long silence.
"You're back," Barb says as she gets a few things from outside and having different plants in her arms. "How did your walk go?"
"Meaty," Leone says showing the deer and makes Barb drool a bit from the sight.
"Let's cook," Trial says pushing her in. "I'll help. I'm a good cook."
"He can bet on that…where's that dark princy, smart-alecky princy, and our favorite mare?" Leone asks looking around.
"Artemis left to head back to the settlement. Dusk is in the basement. And Sentire went out. No idea why," Barb says as she and Trial grab the deer and move it to the counter.
"Their worldviews were shaken. Let them come to terms with it," Trial says.
"Seems a long enough time for that," Barb says as she helps Trial work on the deer.
"Who wants to learn to skin a deer?" Trial asked the fillies.
"Um…" Sweetie Belle starts.
"Here," Scootaloo says walking over.
"I'll stay here," Apple Bloom says raising a hand.
"Alright. Hope you don't get squeamish," Trial says as she walks over by him.
"Is this dinner?" Rainbow asks.
"Yep," Trial says simply as he works and moves aside for Scootaloo to watch. "Barb, before I begin, a few buckets please," Trial request.
"Sure," Barb says going off to get some.
After a bit, Sentire came in to find the seen of a skinned deer and meat being prepared. Her blade being bathed with some dark liquid. "Okay…what did I miss?"
"We explored the area. I hunted a deer like a lioness," Leone informs.
"Oh…got some more monster patrols…you're welcome," Sentire says before sighing. "I'll go wash up," she says before walking off.
"She's becoming bold," Trial observed.
"And I am wearing her clothes. And she was damn right about the movement. I felt like a real lioness," Leone says smiling as she shows off her outfit that looks exactly like Sentire's.
"I like your old one. More unique," Trial says.
"I can remake those into my own style," Leone says showing her claws. "Though, it does show me off more for you, right?" she asks, turning her flank to him.
"I rather not have others getting a view though," Trial says making her smirk.
Leone giggles. "You always have access to this flank though."
"Is this how you two flirt?" Apple Bloom asks, looking between the two.
"Please don't get her started," Trial requests facepalming. Leone grins and was about to speak before Trial slaps a blood covered hand on her mouth. "Don't," he warns again while she licks the blood off of his hands. "How about you go wash up as well? Dinner will be ready in an hour or two," he says before letting go of her mouth.
"Okay," Leone agrees as she licks her lips before giving him a small kiss and walks away.
"You two…have the strangest relationship ever," Apple Bloom could only say.
"Don't remind me. Barb, do you have any way to get rid of the stuff we won't be using?" Trial asks.
"Yeah. A spell deconstructor. Mostly for the garbage we can't burn off or throw away," Barb explains.
"You mind handling that and put the antlers somewhere for later? Maybe we will make something out of them," Trial suggests.
"Just don't boss me around too much. Still, Dusk's," Barb says gathering the things and walking off to dispose of them.
"You girl should go wash up as well," Trial says to the fillies as he started to go about preparing the food.
"Okay," they all say and get up to clean up.
"What do you think Barb? Roast, barbecue, or stew?" Trial asks.
"Stew," Barb says coming back.
"We will need some fresh water," Trial says looking for a pot now.
"I got that," Barb says going to the sink. "Staring at my ass isn't going to speed it along. Besides…have others in mind."
"Who are you talking to?" Trial asks, as he, to her shock, was cutting the meat with his back to her.
"Nothing," Barb says quickly.
"Well, help out here. Need another hand for the front legs," Trial says.
Barb shakes her head as she walks over and starts to work on the other end of the body.
"Dusk, get your flank up here! No excuses!" Barb calls down into the basement.
"One second," Dusk calls back.
"NOW!" Barb yells.
"Alright. Geez," Dusk mutters at the end and starts to walk up the stairs.
When he got to the top, he saw everyone there sitting at a table with dinner on it.
"Well…" Dusk says as he follows Barb and sits down at the table washing up a bit. "So what are we having?"
"Venison stew," Trial says.
"Good enough for me," Dusk says as he sat down and looks at everyone as they seem a bit anxious. "So, what is your next plan?"
"Landowning and building work," Leone says happily.
"I will be going back to the nature realm soon to cleanse the corruption of the fertile farmlands we found," Trial informs.
"But the nest…" Dusk tries to start.
"I already burned it out. This land is needed," Trial informs.
"Trial came across a giant creature which was a mix of a tiger and spider," Leone informs.
"I thought I said to never speak of that," Trial says pointing a knife at her while Barb passes out the plates of food.
"What kind of fusion?" Dusk inquires.
"Spider body with white tiger fur all over it and a white tiger head with spider mandibles," Trial informs.
Dusk blinks slowly. "That's a corrupted manticore."
"It spun a web and made no sounds while moving," Trial informs.
"His greatest fear," Leone says smiling.
"Not fear. Just hate them," Trial grumbles before filling his mouth to not speak.
"And you are going to help us build," Leone says looking at Dusk.
"Huh?" Dusk honks.
"You heard me," Leone insists by cracking her knuckles.
"Oh, just do it, you big baby," Barb says walking around the table as she kept putting plates of food.
Dusk frowns a little as he starts to eat and mumbling something about entitled mercenaries or something.
"We are going to start with a granary," Leone adds.
"First, we need to set up a field and line of property," Trial says.
"Which is all the territory we can hold onto. No one owns the area anymore. All leases were null and void by the princes in the early days of the monsters when they kept getting bombarded with requests to help defend properties with their very thin forces at the time," Dusk says.
"I guess it would be considered a necessary move with the chaos and how easy it would be to forge papers about such things to steal during it," Trial says to himself, not bad mouthing the decision to a few of their surprise.
"I think there are too many cloves," Barb says smelling the stew.
"Hey, Dusk. I got some more monsters for you to study on," Sentire says, coming down with a net and a few crows.
"Thanks. Put it in the cage. I'll deal with it in time," Dusk instructs, pointing to an open and free cage as he looks over a cut open rat.
Sentire hums and walks over before shoving the net inside and shuts the cage. "So…how's the search going?"
Dusk sighs and stands up and walks away from the desk before turning to a map on the staircase wall. "Well…does a few miles closer help?"
"Maybe…knowing Trial and Leone, they would cover the entire area with whatever magic they have," Sentire says leaning on the table next to him as they both stare at the large map of the entire Equestrian land.
"How's up to the coast from the middle of the lands sound?" Dusk jokes and makes her smile. "Anyways, I can't pinpoint the exact area. Too large a corruption zone."
Sentire hums as she tilts her head a bit and looks to him. "What if there are more zones?"
Dusk blinks confused at her for a few seconds before looking back to the map and starts to walk to it with a thinking expression on him. "Sentire! You're a genius!" Dusk suddenly yells and rushes up and hugs her tightly in a fit of happiness as Sentire chokes. "I can kiss you right now. And I will," Dusk says happily and kisses her on the lips and leaves Sentire in a daze as he goes back to the table and grabs a few books before heading over to the map and starts to redraw the areas.
Sentire stares at him before smiling. "I'm guessing you weren't popular in school."
"Too busy working and studying. So many to read," Dusk sighs in happiness as he remembers it all.
Sentire giggles a little to the side. "What about others? Like any close friend? Someone for you at least discusses all your…research?" Sentire tries to guess the word.
Dusk hums in thought and looks back at her. "Honestly…hard to say. I always kept my head in my books."
Sentire shuffles in place nervously as she stays at the table. "So…would you like someone else to discuss with maybe? Maybe where you can discuss things without worry?"
Dusk raises an eyebrow slightly at her. "Are you asking me out?"
Sentire blushes heavily now and wrings her hands together as she turns her head away. "Kinda…yeah."
Dusk stares at her for a long while as she stayed in that position while her blush only grew in size. "Sure…I guess. Maybe in the evening tomorrow?"
Sentire nods, keeping her gaze away from him while her smile never left face. "That would be fine."
"Great…now…this can take me a while. You can do whatever you need to do while I work," Dusk informs as he turns back to the map and his books of notes.
"Sure. I'll…see you tomorrow then," Sentire says walking away back upstairs.
Dusk hums before looking up and watches Sentire leave while his eyes trail down to her flanks. 'My foalsitter would have a field day.'
"Dusk, what are you doing?! We need your help up here!" Barb calls.
Dusk blinks before dropping everything and running upstairs. "What's wrong? Monster attack?" he asks frantically.
"We are building a granary. You have to help," Barb reminds shutting the door and locking it with the enchanted key Dusk had given her to prevent someone from magically unlocking one of the doors of their house.
Dusk frowns heavily. "Dammit."
"Now go on. Trial has already entered that state in the middle of what we have planned to be farmlands," Barb informs.
Dusk rolls his eyes annoyed and sighs as he walks off to get this over with. What he saw was several large rocks sitting near the building and another being rolled towards it.
"So…where do you want it?" Dusk asks the mage mercenary as he seems to be overlooking the area where he wants the field.
Trial didn't respond in his meditative state as the nature magic was now leaking out of him.
"Hello?" Dusk calls before sighing and turning to Leone rolling the stones. "Help me out here."
"Can you use your magic to cut these?" Leone asks.
"How do you want it?" Dusk asks, his horn lighting up.
"Start with making them into squares," Leone says.
Dusk holds out his glowing hand before swiping it across the collected rocks. Quickly calculating the square blocks he can make. Soon there was a pile of square blocks at Leone's hooves while more were still happening. "How's this?" he asks, still working on more.
"Keep doing that," Leone instructed as she kept working.
Dusk hums as he keeps cutting. "How long has he been like that?"
"He is cleansing the field. It will take time," Leone says as the fillies were helping set up a tarp over him in case it rained, seeing as the pegasi can no longer safely control the weather.
"Right," Dusk could only say and continues cutting. "How long would that take?"
"Till it is done. Also, we will have to go through it again if it is wrong. So no rushing," Leone warns.
Dusk sighs and keeps cutting the correct measurements.
Dusk spent the rest of the day cutting the stone and then helping set it as the foundation before they started working on the mill's rising walls and then the internal stuff.
"No. Set the pole in the middle," Dusk warns as he keeps working on the internals.
"Hey. Barb says dinner is ready," Apple Bloom informs from outside.
"Goodie. I'm starving," Leone says excited as she drops what she is holding and heads of, leaving Dusk to quickly grab the pole in his magic and set it in place before heading out as well.
"What about Trial?" Apple Bloom asks.
"He most likely won't be moving for days again," Leone informs.
"Oh. Cause Sweetie Belle is trying to get him to come in and eat," Apple Bloom explains.
"I will go tell her," Leone says following her.
Dusk shakes his head while walking inside and sees Sentire already setting up the table with Barb putting on the finishing touches. "So what's for dinner?"
"Venison. We had leftovers that we preserved," Barb informs.
"Good enough for me," Dusk says washing up.
"So what is happening between you two?" Barb asks looking at Sentire as she sat down.
"What?" Sentire asks confused as the plates full of food were placed in front of them.
"You two have been spending a lot of time together," Barb points out as Dusk sits on the opposite side of the table.
"Well…I do have to help him with finding out about how to stop all this," Sentire says, starting to blush as Dusk caught on that she is playing dumb now and plays along with her.
"Yeah. She has been helping a lot and she did help find a starting point for a breakthrough. A day or two and I might be able to track it all down," Dusk explains.
Barb raises an eyebrow at him and places a hand on her hip, cocking it to the side. "And what part is this?"
"Their locations. This whole time we have been thinking of these monsters as one starting point. But what if they are more than one and the smaller nests are offshoots of it?" Dusk suggested.
"Back on track," Barb says, turning back to the blushing Sentire as Barb keeps putting out the plates on the table.
"Nothing is going on. It's basically a coworker relationship," Sentire quickly says.
Barb leans in a bit towards her before nodding and going to get more plates. "So what are you two doing later tonight?"
"Researching," they both said and Sentire claps her hands over her mouth as Dusk gives a little facepalm.
"Is that so?" Barb asks as she turns her head to look at them before sighing. "Why do I always feel left out?" she mutters to herself.
"Meat. Meat. Meat. Meat," Leone chants while walking into the kitchen and drools.
"Easy there tiger," Barb says holding a plate out for her to grab and she takes it eagerly. Barb quickly working on making three more for the fillies. "How many days are we expecting for Trial?"
"Eh, he will try or as long as he can most likely. So a few days?" Leone says unsure.
"Noted," Barb says, thinking of what to make in that time.
"Will he be ok out there?" Sweetie Belle asks.
"Yeah, if he gets too hungry or tired, he will come out of it and with the barrier up, nothing can get in at the moment as he set it that way so we wouldn't have to worry about that. I mean nothing. No ponies or anything can enter at the moment so don't go outside it," Leone warned everyone.
"Also noted," everyone else says.
"Now everyone, let us eat," Leone says smiling.
"You're halfway through," Barb points out as everyone starts to eat and Leone looks down to her slab to see the meat half eaten.
"Oh…" Leone notices before chuckling almost deviously.