Chapter Seven
After two days of traveling south, the party had finally reached the border of Equestria. Once they had reached Manehattan, they boarded a train that was bound for Ponyville, where they would have to get off and board another train to Canterlot. The train car was comfortable, of course, but most of the party was trying their hardest to figure out what the cyan colt was talking about instead of relaxing.
What was this "final form?"
Who was that demon and where did he come from?
Why was he intent on killing Luna?
What are these orbs?
So many questions, yet no answers.
Twilight Sparkle looked out the nearby window, her front leg still in the splint. No doubt those exact same questions were swirling around in her mind. She wanted answers. Badly.
"Whoever this demon is," she said to herself, "I hope that he didn't get to Ponyville or Canterlot before us."
She looked around the car. Big Macintosh was seated in front of her. In the seat on the opposite aisle sat Princess Luna, who was busy writing a letter which was probably addressed to her sister. Windshield and Shadow, the two surviving escorts, were seated in front and behind her respectively. Rainbow Dash was seated beside the purple unicorn. She noticed that there were more empty seats, then remembered that the Shang-Xiao soldiers had to return to Graystone Village after they made sure that Luna and company made it to Manehattan safely.
Rainbow Dash looked over at her friend. "You still wondering about that freak and that blue guy?" she asked.
Twilight Sparkle looked back at Rainbow Dash. "Yeah, I am. I think the cyan earth pony's name was Haku if I recall."
"Yeah, but what I really wanna know is what the heck was he talking about. Orbs, final forms...I don't understand any of it."
Twilight Sparkle looked back out the window. The scenery whizzed by in a blur as the train sped towards its destination.
"Me neither," she replied, "but I believe that we'll be finding out very soon."
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"We've been through this seven times, Emperor! That was a training exercise! Nothing more! Just a training exercise!"
"You expect me to believe that lie, General Stormbeak? That is what you said sixteen years ago when you launched a sneak attack on both Equestria and Shang-Xiao!"
"Ugh! For the last time, that was a rogue commander who went against orders! Those were not the actions of the Griffin Republic!"
"Please, you two. Calm down and focus on the matter at hand."
Princess Celestia did her best to prevent any further argument between Supreme General Stormbeak of the Griffin Republic and Emperor Xiao of the Shang-Xiao Empire. Both leaders hated each other's guts and were constantly bringing up each other's past flaws at every single meeting. The other leaders - Celestia included - were growing tired of their constant squabbling.
"My apologies, Princess Celestia," said Emperor Xiao, an elderly green earth pony donning expensive silk robes and an elaborate headdress. "I just find it hard to believe that those barbaric, war-loving Griffins are simply 'performing training exercises.'"
Stormbeak slammed both of his claws on the table top and stood up. The Griffin was covered with old battle scars and he had an eye patch over his right eye. "Emperor Xiao!" he shouted. "You are truly testing my temper!"
Another earth pony stood up and spoke. "You two constantly go back and forth about that incident sixteen years ago," she stated. "Why can't you both just put that little incident behind you and move on?"
"Because," Stormbeak replied angrily, "this old fool keeps bringing it up!"
"Who are you calling a fool?"
"You, Xiao! I'm calling you a fool!"
"Both of you shut up before I have to smack you both with my cane!" shouted an elderly Diamond Dog.
"Heh! You think you can hurt me, mutt?"
"I'm warning you, if you ever call me that again, I'll-"
"ENOUGH!"
All of the leaders in the room turned to look at Princess Celestia, whose expression clearly stated that she was fed up with the constant argument.
"Yes, the incident was sixteen years ago, and yes, it caused a lot of damage to every nearby kingdom, but constantly bringing it up in every single meeting for the past three months is not going to get us anywhere! Now I don't want to hear another word about it for the rest of the meeting, and do not start arguing or you will be escorted out. Am I understood?"
Everyone in the room nodded in response.
"Good." The solar princess sighed before continuing. "Now, back to the matter at hand. Emperor Xiao?"
The earth pony stood up and cleared his throat. "Ahem, yes. There have been reports of bandits and rebels prowling the roads in the southernmost part of the Empire, mainly the areas affected by the previous earthquake. Already, there have been a few relief teams that have reported being ambushed and robbed by these brutes. Our military has responded, but they are spread quite thin right now, and some of the roadways remain inadequately guarded."
"Speaking of these brutes," the Diamond Dog added, "the border patrols have reported that some of them have attempted to sneak into Equestria. Our kind had to collapse several tunnels near the border that were supposedly used or are being used by them."
Celestia nodded. She turned to Stormbeak. "Have your patrols reported any suspicious activity near the Republic's borders?"
The grizzled veteran nodded. "Indeed they have, Princess. Not as frequent as the Equestria-Shang-Xiao border, but still."
Celestia nodded once again. "I believe that it would be best to increase security near the borders," she said. "Also, every team that is delivering relief supplies to the affected region in Shang-Xiao must have at least a squad of soldiers for escort. So far, no casualties have been reported, and we want to keep it that way while preventing any more raids on the deliveries."
"I will have the Griffin Army ready to defend any relief convoys that will be traveling into and out of southern Shang-Xiao," said Stormbeak as he straightened up in his chair. "No pathetic rebel who wants to live shall dare attempt to raid another convoy."
"By the way, your highness," began a pegasus stallion, "have you heard from Princess Luna lately?"
The white alicorn shook her head. "No, not yet. She and her escorts should have been back a few days ago, but I'm sure that Captain Silverblade is keeping her safe."
The pegasus nodded. "Yes, I agree. With Silverblade and his team on the job, I am positive that no harm has or will come to Princess Luna."
Celestia smiled and nodded. "Alright, then. On to the next subject..."
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With the help of a brown unicorn, Rarity loaded clothes and blankets (some made, and some donated) into large wooden crates, which were then loaded onto a wooden cart. She and her helper had been doing this since high noon, which was two hours ago.
"Last crate," Rarity said to the brown unicorn. "Then we can take a quick break."
"Got it, miss."
Rarity had volunteered to collect clothing and blankets that were donated by fellow Equestrians to help those that were affected by the earthquake in the Shang-Xiao Empire. They weren't the only ones, though, as Rarity had received donations coming from as far as the Griffin Republic and other faraway kingdoms. Cotton, wool, silk, synthetics, almost every kind of fabric that existed was donated and sent to the Carousel Boutique where the two unicorns sorted them out and loaded them into crates for distribution.
The brown stallion folded a cotton garment and placed it into the open crate. "That's a pretty nice-looking kimono that I just loaded."
"Yes, it was very elegant-looking," Rarity replied, "but that wasn't a kimono."
"Beg your pardon?"
Rarity leaned over the crate and pointed at the garment. "It's not a kimono. See? It's made of cotton, not silk, so therefore, it's a yukata. And according to the multicolored design, its for a child. Adults usually wear solid, darker colors. They're also a pretty common sight during the summer."
The brown unicorn nodded. "You sure do know your stuff when it comes to clothes, Rarity."
"Thank you, dear. It comes with working in the clothing industry."
They went back to work and, after a few more minutes, they finished loading the crate. Another unicorn closed it and moved it onto the cart and hitched himself to it. After waving goodbye to the two, he pulled the cart off towards the centermost part of Ponyville.
The brown unicorn sighed and looked at Rarity. "Gotta go, Miss Rarity," he said. "I promised to take my girl out for a walk today."
"Okay, dear. You may go, but be sure to be back at six."
The stallion nodded. "Got it, ma'am. Arrivederci."
As he walked out, Rarity used her magic to pick up some paper and a pencil. She wrote down some notes pertaining to a new outfit that she had in the works, then set them down and left the boutique, locking the door behind her.
"I think I should go and visit the others and see how they are doing," she said to herself as she headed towards the town's outskirts. She thought about Twilight and Rainbow Dash as she walked and wondered what was taking them so long to get back. They should have been back a few days ago...
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a familiar pink pony popped up in front of her, startling her and causing her to jump.
"Hiya, Rarity!"
"Oh! Pinkie Pie. You startled me."
"Oopsie. Sorry. Anyways, how's it going?"
Rarity smiled. "Good. We've just finished another load of donated clothes and are on break until later this evening. How are things on your end, Pinkie?"
"Well," the pink earth pony began, "AJ and I had finished baking another batch of apple pies and a whooooooole lotta cupcakes for the refugees. Also..."
She reached into her saddlebag which Rarity had just noticed, and pulled out a sock puppet. It was white and red with green buttons for eyes and a red horn made out of construction paper.
"...I'm about to do another sock puppet performance for the kids. Wanna join in?"
"Gladly, but I have to make a few stops first. I'll meet you at the camp after I'm done."
"Okey dokey lokey!" Pinkie replied. "But don't take too long, or I'll have to start without you."
"I won't be long, dear." Rarity told her as she began to walk off. "See you there."
"Alrighty!"
I have to find him! He will pay!
Haku darted through the woods as he traveled south. He was hot on the demon's trail. He knew it! That monster will not escape him this time!
Fifteen years of endlessly hunting him down, through rain, snow, sleet, hail, heat, cold, storm and sunshine...fifteen long years!
He nearly crashed into a fallen tree, but leapt over it at the last minute. He landed and continued to run at full speed. The environment was nothing a blur.
He will die! I will have my revenge!
Princess Celestia had just exited the room after the meeting was adjourned when a letter poofed in front of her. She caught it using her magic and opened it.
"Your Majesty?"
A Guard lieutenant had walked into the hallway and stopped in front of Celestia, just as she finished reading the letter. She lowered it, and the guard could see that she had a dark expression on her face.
"Is there...something wrong?" he asked once more.
"Alert the Guard," said the princess with a serious tone. "Tell the officers to meet me in the meeting room immediately, and have Shining Armor move his company to Ponyville. Go!"
The Guard saluted then darted off towards the exit to alert the others. Princess Celestia looked back down at the letter.
"So, the rebels have decided to get bolder."
...to be continued.