The Shadow of Equestria
Chapter 10
Welcome to Oasis
"What do you mean you can't find him!" yelled Celestia as she sat upon her throne looking down at the guards giving her the bad news.
"We've searched everywhere Princess; there's just no sign of him anywhere. We can only conclude that he's left the city."
Celestia groaned as she slinked back into her throne. "You are dismissed."
"But Princess.." began the guard.
"YOU ARE DISSMISSED!" yelled Celestia in an amplified voice. The guard, knowing that now was his time to leave, bowed and quickly left the throne room, causing the room to become silent.
"We did not think that thou wouldst use the Royal Voice. We thought thou were beyond sure things." said a voice as it made its way to the center of the throne room.
"I'm not in the mood for this little sister, I have a lot on my mind." said Celestia as she sank lower.
"Is it about Zhane leaving the city? We heard about that, how the Black Hooves caused a diversion allowing him to escape. What is troubling you about him?" asked Luna
"I'm started to think that he's unstoppable." began Celestia. "He escaped from the castle, has the ability to control a dark magic, and has stood against a majority of the Royal Guard and walked away even killing a few of them along the way."
"If this concerns you so, we have a suggestion on what thou can do to stop him."
"I know exactly what I'm going to do." said Celestia. "I'm going to get the best bounty hunters I can find and put a large reward over Zhane's head. That will bring all kinds of hunters, the best of the best."
"Well dear sister, I happen to know an easier way for us to get the upper hand on Zhane. The best thing is, it won't cast thou a bit."
Celestia looked over at her sister. "What are you thinking about Luna?"
"Tis simple dear sister, we go to Oasis."
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I will not go to Oasis. You should know why Luna." berated Celestia.
"Think about it logically dear sister. Whatever wiped out the human before has to be long gone by now. If not, it would have already wiped us out as well. Just think of the information we could learn by going there. They would definitely hold the answers to stopping Zhane. It was a human society and Zhane is a human."
"I...I don't know Luna, I don't really like the idea of intruding on a place that is basically one giant graveyard." said Celestia as she looked to the floor.
"So thou are telling us that thou wouldst rather a murderous human roam her country whilst thou sit idly. Is that what thou wants?" asked Luna.
Celestia sighed and paused.
"No, I don't want that to happen Luna. So we'll go to Oasis but only on one condition. We only look for a way to stop Zhane and nothing else."
"Of course dear sister, let us make haste, we have a kingdom to visit."
The carriage made a sudden stop about one hour into our trip.
"We have arrived ta yer destination!" called the old carriage driver. Smiling, I opened the door expecting a large city, one with a place to set up and hunt those Elements. However, I was met with a smallish cabin bordering a tree line.
"Where are we?" I asked as I looked over to the carriage driver.
"We are 'bout one mile away from Ponyville. Dark Wing gave me orders to take ya to the contact we have in each city. It just so happens that our contact in Ponyville doesn't even lives in Ponyville. He does know the city however and will be willing to help you two. He's name is Red."
I jumped out of the carriage along with Poison Spectre and watched as the carriage driver turned the wagon and started to go back the way we came.
"Have a good day you two!" he called out.
With him gone, Poison Spectre and I turned towards the cabin and started to walk towards it. Once at the door, Spectre gave it a good knock and backed away waiting for Red to answer. Seconds later, the door opened revealing a reddish Earth Pony.
"You two, inside now!" demanded Red.
I looked over to Spectre and shrugged my shoulders. I turned towards Red and walked into his house as he shut the door behind us. There was a sound of locks clanging shut followed by a silence before Red spoke up.
"Never did I think I would meet somepony with such a stupid death wish." he said as he stood in front of us.
"What are you talking about?" asked Poison Spectre.
"Your friend there, Zhane. One would think why somepony would come to this back water village especially somepony of your importance. Why would you go out of your way to come here? I was puzzled at first when I got a letter from Dark Wing saying that he was told you two were coming to Ponyville but then it hit me. Zhane here was with Nightmare Moon on that night. He was there when the Elements wiped her out. So, the only real reason for somepony like him to come back to a place like this is quite obvious. You're after the Elements, something not even a mad pony would even dream of doing. Do you even realize what would happen if you were to try what I think you are going to try? You would have the whole country on your back let alone..."
I leaned down and clamped his mouth shut with my hand.
"Let's make some things clear shall we. First, I am not a pony, I am a human, the correct term is someone or no one. Secondly, I admire your skill to deduce things but it has already gotten quite annoying so I would suggest that you stop. Lastly, I will go one with my plans; nothing any of you ponies say will stop me. Now before I let go, let me know that you got all of that."
Red nodded slowly and I let go of his snout before standing back up in my rightful position.
"You have made your point and even though I do not like it, I will help you. That's what my orders are." said Red. "However, simply going for the Elements would cause too much attention; you need to do little things that would cause some chaos. During which you could go in for the kill."
"What do you have in mind?" I asked.
"Quite a few things Zhane, quite a few."
Flying to Oasis is a task easier said than done. The problem doesn't lie with finding Oasis; Celestia already knew where it was. The problem was getting through the rough weather of the northern tundra. Trying to follow Luna in the blinding snow and being cold wasn't exactly Celestia favorite combination. But nevertheless, Celestia pushed on as she followed the barely visible blue mane of her sister.
After another five minutes of following, the snow had stopped, telling Celestia that they were close to Oasis. As it states in the name, it is an Oasis in the middle of the tundra. The only thing keeping explorers and looters from finding is the snow, magically enchanted to keep unwanted things away.
Now with her vision cleared, Celestia looked forward to see a large stone tower signifying they had arrived. Celestia looked down to see that Luna had landed and descended to meet her.
"We have arrived." said Luna in a sing song voice as Celestia landed next to her.
"Remember what I said Luna, we only look for things that might help. Everything else will remain part of the lost human empire. Understand?"
"Of course dear sister." said Luna as she began to walk towards the Castle that loomed over the two. "Honestly, I don't see why thou art so worried about the artifacts this castle holds."
"I'm not afraid of the things inside Luna, I'm afraid of what would happen if the ponies of Equestria got their hands on some of the human's inventions. If any pony were to get their hands on Soul magic, the world would come to an end as we know it. To think that the humans would create something so deadly and barely even use it. I guess that's why they were always at peace; they wielded power that could wipe a whole country. This leads to why I don't want to be here. If something was able to bring an end to the humans then it was incredibly powerful."
"You worry too much sister." said Luna. "That was 2000 years ago and whatever wiped them out is long gone."
"I hope you're right Luna, I really do." said Celestia as the two entered the castle door and walked straight into the main throne room. The whole room itself was in shambles; the tapestries that lined the walls were burnt or torn, the decorative columns were destroyed and scattered across the room. What made it even worst were the old bones that lined the room, some donning armor. The two made their way to the throne before stopping at the foot. To the right and left were long passageways that branched off.
"We think it will be more effective to split up here." said Luna.
"What, split up here? Are you crazy, it could be dangerous." said Celestia.
"Yes, we know that sister. However, it would waste less time to split up. Don't worry; we still remember the rules about unimportant items."
Celestia sighed and looked at her sister.
"Fine Luna, you go left and I'll go right. After you're done, meet at the castle gardens, near the fountain. Do you remember where that is?" asked Celestia.
"Of course dear sister, I remember where that is." said Luna as she turned to go down her assigned passageway. Celestia rolled her eyes and went down the other passageway.
'You're adventurous attitude is really starting to become a pain dear sister.' she thought as she started down her path.
After one hour of searching, the two now exhausted sisters met at the castle fountain which held two statues of the Captains of the Oasis Guard. Agliss and Yamato.
"Did thou find anything Luna?" asked Celestia.
"No, we searched the guard's barracks, the kitchen, the maid's quarters, and the dining room and found nothing of interest. What about you dear sister?"
"I searched the library, the armory, the infirmary, and tower and found nothing as well. I'm starting to think that we'll find nothing. Even all the book in the library was burned beyond all recognition."
Luna looked down in sadness as a silence washed over the two. Luna's eyes looked over at Celestia before being caught be a sign posted on the fountain. Without realizing it, she began to read the sign out loud.
The Wishing Fountain.
To commemorate the valiant efforts of Captain Agliss and Captain Yamato who fearlessly led their men into battle fighting with all of their might. In the end they gave their life for their land, immortally craving their names into human history as the ones who stood against Oasis' most vicious enemy
May they find peace on the other side.
Luna looked over to Celestia and smiled.
"Couldn't hurt to try." she said as she closed her eye and began to mouth a silent wish. She reopened her eyes and looked around with a frown.
"Well, it was worth a try I guess." said Celestia. "Come Luna, we must head back to Canterlot. We'll find another way to stop Zhane I guess."
Reluctantly, Luna turned from the fountain to follow Celestia back to Canterlot. With her spirit of adventure crushed, she approached with her head low. Celestia gave her an assuring hug, silently telling her that it would be alright and turned to guide her out of the castle.
"Never in my days did I think that I would see Lulu and little Tia ever again."
Celestia and Luna separated from each other before turning back and looking with eyes widened.
After I spent a good time climbing and watching Poison Spectre effortlessly fly ahead of me; we reached the mouth of a large cave on top of a mountain. Poison Spectre, who was at my side, nudged my leg lightly.
"Are you sure that you trust Red on this?" asked Spectre.
"Of course." I said. "It all made sense. The mountain right next to Ponyville is the only other place a dragon could make a nest in. However, the fun presides in evicting the dragon and he will make one hell of a problem.
Here's Chapter 10 for everypony, enjoy!