Chapter eleven

Twilight looked around and found herself in the Empress’s tent; Commander Star was there along with both her and the Empress’s guards. The Empress took a seat behind her desk before turning to look at Twilight.

“What you did today was incredibly brave Twilight Sparkle….” The Empress began.

“I was only doing my duty Ma’am…!” Twilight protested.

“…It was also incredibly stupid!” The Empress said cutting her off with a reproachful look. “You gave your name to a being beyond your comprehension, and then you assaulted it. You were taught by Headmaster Thunderhead himself, are you telling me he never went over the basics of confronting stalkers?” Cosmosmia asked incredulously.

“We covered them a little, but he seemed to be under the impression that they were very rare and that I wouldn’t run into one for years.” Twilight replied lowering her head.

“Well I suppose it’s good you have a member of the guild as your bodyguard then, see to it that he informs you about the dangers of such creatures before you confront any more in the future.” Cosmosmia said with a sigh. “In all honesty I suppose that this was unexpected, at least from his standpoint. You’re dismissed Twilight, go see to your friends, I’m sure they’d like an after battle report.” The Empress told Twilight dismissing her with a nod towards the tent exit flap, Twilight nodded and left.

“I’m glad that you’re alive mom.” Commander Star said coming over to embrace her mother in a quick hug.

“I am too dear, my cousin and I have never seen eye to eye and I’d hate to be stuck with her.” Cosmosmia said with a wry grin. “Also I would’ve had to bribe her to let me attend the wedding!” Commander Star sighed and shook her head sensing that the touching moment had ended.

“When is it?” Commander Star asked with a slight groan.

“Two weeks from now at the royal palace, I’m not giving away my only daughter and princess anywhere else.” Cosmosmia said with a twinkle in her eye as Commander Star sighed again, she’d always hated being called a princess.

“As long as you realize that I’m going to be going by Commander Star, not Princess Star; that would sound pretentious. Also I’d never here the end of it from the others.” Commander Star said giving into the inevitable.

“This is going to be so fun, the Fourth will be in attendance of course, and I suspect that your husband’s will be as well. I’ll have to supply lots of beer to keep conflict to a minimum, but I think we should be able to manage.” Cosmosmia said almost giddy with excitement.

“Am I going to get wings?” Commander Star asked her mother.

“Why ever would I give you wings?” Cosmosmia asked in bemusement.

“Oh it’s nothing.” Commander Star replied blushing.

“Dear I’m your mother, and as such I’m entitled to know anything that makes you blush so out with it!” Cosmosmia said pressing her face into her daughter’s and enclosing her in her wings.

“Well Stormy always wanted us to umm… do it in the air…” Commander Star said softly blushing terribly.

“Hmm… that would be an interesting way to seal the marriage, right in front of the entire Empire it would certainly prove your love for each other!” Cosmosmia said causing Commander Star to blush a deeper crimson.

“Please tell me that you’re joking mom!” Commander Star said urgently.

“Maybe… regardless I can probably magic you up a pair of temporary wings.” Cosmosmia told her daughter with a wink.

“Thanks mom.” Commander Star said with a blush.

“Now I’ve got a few matters to attend to and you have an army to see to.” Cosmosmia told her daughter her nodded and walked out of the tent with Stronghoof and Stonewall followed her out at an easy pace leaving Cosmosmia alone with Strings and Disk.

“So how bad was it Empress?” Strings asked looking at the Empress who finally let her guard down and sagged into a couch.

“If it wasn’t for whoever killed the coils I’d have been useless against it, by Faust I hate those things!” Cosmosmia said with a slight groan.

“Well you know what can make you feel better Empress?” Disk asked.

“No what Disk?” Cosmosmia replied.

“Whisky!” Disk replied loudly tossing her a flask of some of the best whisky that had come with the letter from Commander Stormwing’s father. Cosmosmia caught it in mid air and unsealed it before downing half of it in a gulp.

“I forgot how much I enjoy griffin whiskey…” Cosmosmia said with a sigh as the whiskey burned its way down her throat.

“Disk I don’t think that the first thing that the Empress should do after fighting a major battle with an otherdimensional threat is drink pure griffin whiskey.” Strings said in an annoyed voice.

“Oh lighten up Strings, she’s an alicorn goddess, if she can’t handle her whiskey then we have a real problem on out hooves!” Disk replied with a shrug before levitating her marefriend her own flask.

The Empress shook her head as she listened to her guards argue, what Disk said was true. Cosmosmia’s tolerance level was high enough that nothing short of Luna’s pure moonshine would get her more than buzzed. Cosmosmia got up from the couch and walked over to the desk to confront her worst enemy in all of existence. It waited for her patiently staring at accusingly just daring her to start down a never-ending path of destruction and misery. With a sigh and a shake of her head the Empress began to do paperwork.

***

Twilight found Trixie walking towards the appropriate medical tent and joined her. Once they entered the tent they found the rest of their squad relaxing on medical cots. Dr. Ginger Root nodded to her.

“Don’t worry Twilight they’re fine, it’s just a reaction to being in the magical plane when a massive number of stalkers cross over.” The Dr. told her with a tiny grin before he moved on to other patients.

“Hey Twilight, Trixie you’re both alive!” Angeldust exclaimed in excitement as she leapt up from her cot and dragged them over to the others. “So how was the fight against the mindrapeing monster?” Angeldust asked looking at them inquisitively.

“Umm…well I think I made a mistake.” Twilight told the others who looked at her with interest. “I kind of told it my name.” Twilight told them with a sheepish grin. Aqua was the first to react, she facehoofed and shook her head in amazement.

“Twilight, are you aware of what you’ve done?” Aqua asked her incredulously once she’d recovered her voice.

“From what everyone keeps telling me, I’ve sealed my own death.” Twilight replied.

“Come over here and I’ll cast some protections on you that should at the very least keep them from summoning you into their dimension against your will.” Twilight walked over to where Aqua had struggled to her hooves. “Ok because apparently your teacher never actually explained much about stalkers to you I’ll give you some of the basics-” Aqua began as she touched Twilight’s horn with her own.

“Aw I hate exposition!” Angeldust interrupted in annoyance.

“-Anyways stalkers are from the place between dimensions. They can’t break into ours without outside help but any time a portal is opened it’s free game. The stronger the being who opens the portal the stronger the stalker that comes out will be. Lower level stalkers cannot stay in our dimension without what we call coils connecting them to this world; these coils are made up of the ones who stupidly summoned them into our world. The stalkers themselves are all connected; they aren’t a hive mind exactly because the stronger ones have their own consciousness. However they are still linked, what you did by telling one your name was effectively put a large target on your back. The spell that I’ve been casting on you should make that target far less visible so that you won’t be every stalker’s center of attention anytime that they enter the battlefield against us.” Aqua said finishing her spell and her speech at the same time.

“Aqua, how do you know so much about stalkers?” Twilight asked her blue friend.

“Nopony expects the Imperial Inquisition!” Angeldust cried with a laugh.

“Yes what she said, I’m technically an inquisitor. And I still don’t understand why that’s so funny!” Aqua said looking at Angeldust and rolling her eyes. The golden unicorn just smiled widely.

“So what happened to you guys anyways?” Trixie asked as she took a seat at a nearby chair.

“Typical magical reaction.” Stardust replied from her cot. “We killed all the dog mages who weren’t connected to the summoning and then we noticed the last ten inside a magic field. We broke the field and it released the stalkers. Thanks to the magic of the plane when our magic mixed with the stalker magic unexpectedly we were booted from the plane and knocked unconscious.” Stardust finished with a shrug.

“Yeah my first time actually fighting in the magical plane and I end up unconscious and useless.” Blaze said dejectedly as he played with a green dragon flame. The flame sparked Twilight’s mind.

“Hey do you guys know where Spike went?” Twilight asked in concern.

“Oh yeah, he went to help Dr. Ginger Root, said something about not wanting to be useless.” Stardust told her with a shrug.

Twilight nodded and wandered off in the direction that Dr. Ginger Root had gone. To her immense surprise she found Spike talking easily to a patient whose ribs were currently being pulled open by Dr. Ginger Root. Blood dripped from Spike’s hands and Peewee sat on his shoulder gazing at the operation with interest.

“…Yeah I hear you man sometimes you’ve just got to tell them no more.” Spike told the stallion whose ribs the Dr. was currently rearranging with a spell.

“Tell me about it if you don’t they walk all over you!” The stallion replied

“This one time Twilight wanted me to-”

“I wanted you to do what Spike?” Twilight asked sweetly causing the dragon to jump in surprise and Peewee fluttered his wings to stay balanced on the dragon’s shoulder.

“Shi- I mean… Hey there Twilight I was just helping Dr. Ginger Root here take care of some hurt ponies.” Spike said rubbing the back of his neck with a claw nervously. The stallion who was currently being operated on gave a soft chuckle causing Dr. Ginger Root to look at him calmly and say.

“Please don’t do that, I’d hate for you to jostle my magic while I’m holding this scalpel.”

“Sorry Doc.” The pony said flushing with embracement.

“Spike, you’ve been very helpful but why don’t you go with Twilight?” Dr. Ginger Root asked Spike kindly before turning back to the operation.

“Sure Doc, I’ll see you later.” Spike said turning away from the Dr. and his patient. Then he ran up to Twilight and wrapped her into a big hug, he apparently forgot that his claws were covered in blood. “I was so worried about you Twilight!” Spike exclaimed hugging her tighter.

“Thanks Spike, although next time you want time you want to hug me will you please check to see if your hands are covered in wet blood?” Twilight asked him with a small smile as the dragon blushed.

“Sorry, I’ve been helping the Doc keep these guys alive.” Spike said with a tiny grin. “Apparently being the assistant to a unicorn like you builds good hands, he even let me cut open this one guy’s stomach!” Spike told Twilight excitedly. Twilight raised an eyebrow at his excitement; then again he was a dragon so blood was probably one of those things that he wouldn’t mind much.

“I’m happy that you and Peewee found something constructive that the two of you can do while I’m up to my stomach in corpses.” Twilight replied with a grin.

“Pick me up a souvenir next time; I could use a sword and I think Rarity would like it.” Spike replied with a smile as he thought about the white unicorn.

“Spike… you know we’ll never see her again right?” Twilight asked worriedly her good mood gone.

“I’ve been thinking about it Twilight and I realized something. For every year that passes here it’ll only have been a day there, dragons live forever unless killed. So if I can find some way back in the next oh, eighteen thousand two hundred and fifty years then I’ll still have plenty of time to spend with her.” Spike replied with a large grin. Twilight looked at her purple assistant and shook her head with a tiny grin.

“I’m sure she’d be overjoyed, although you know if you take too long she may find a stallion.” Twilight told him.

“I know, but I’ve got time, besides I wouldn’t want her to waste her life waiting for me anyways.” Spike replied with a somber smile.

“When did you become so mature Spike?” Twilight asked the dragon as they walked out of the medical tent. She’d never known the dragon to be so introspective.

“I think it’s this place it messes with your mind a little but I don’t mind.” Spike replied with a shrug. “So, are you ok? Because I heard that you were fighting something around as powerful as Discord.” The dragon asked Twilight in concern.

“I’m…I’m ok Spike it wasn’t nearly that bad I just, well I did something extremely stupid.” Twilight replied and told him what had happened as they took a break from walking in the mess tent. When she finished her tale Spike whistled softly.

“Twilight you are such a weirdness magnet.” Spike told her shaking his head with a small grin. “Well at least Aqua can keep you safe right?” Spike asked in concern.

“She said that the target is still there, only now it’s not painted bright red.” Twilight replied with a shrug before she bit into muffin.

“Mind if I sit here?” A voice asked from behind Twilight.

“Sure.” Twilight replied without looking over as the stallion took his seat.

“So I’d like to tell you that you’re either incredibly lucky to be alive right now.” The stallion told Twilight, Twilight turned around to see the black unicorn from the battle against the stalker sitting next to her.

“Yeah, it was pretty stupid.” Twilight told him blushing.

“As I always say, it’s only stupid if it doesn’t work; if it does then it’s heroic and daring.” The unicorn said chuckling to himself when Twilight looked at him in surprise. “From what I’ve heard about you from grasshopper you’re a very smart girl don’t let anypony tell you different.” He told her with a smile.

“Thank you sir.” Twilight replied with a small blush.

“Any time, I can’t stand to see a mare in danger that’s my job.” He replied with a smile.

“I can take care of myself.” Twilight told him with a scowl.

“I didn’t mean it like that kid. I just don’t like mares in pain.” The unicorn told her with a sad look on his face. “I’m Inquisitor Blackstone by the way, but you can just call me Blackstone.” Blackstone said offering Twilight his hoof which she shook slowly.

“Hi I’m Spike, and this is Peewee.” Spike said offering Blackstone his hand to shake, the black unicorn didn’t hesitate for even a second before he shook the dragon’s hand. He then scratched the phoenix under the chin and received an appreciative coo in return.

“I’m happy to meet you Spike, and you too Peewee. It’s not every day I get to meet a dragon who doesn’t want to kill me.” Blackstone said with a grin before turning back to Twilight. “I see that grasshopper cast a nice cloaking spell on that target attached to your back, good. Would you mind if I gave it something a little extra?” Blackstone asked politely.

“Of course sir.” Twilight replied, she didn’t know why exactly but she trusted this pony. Blackstone lowered his horn and connected it with Twilight’s, a glow escaped his horn and traveled down Twilight’s.

“There all done, this enchantment will make you both harder for them to detect and more importantly it’ll give you some of the knowhow to deal with stalkers in the future.” Blackstone said sipping a mug of ale that he’d grabbed from the buffet while he was casting the spell. “I just wish we had some of Tom beer…” Blackstone said softly.

“What?” Twilight asked but the inquisitor just shook his head.

“Don’t mind me I’m just remembering an old friend, I think that you should probably get back to your unit Twilight.” Blackstone said before draining the mug and grabbing another with his magic.

***

Dane sat on the rise sitting next to his sister, through some funk in genetics or more likely their mother’s various affairs, Cloe was a yellow lab. She was wearing a similar cloak to the one that Dane had been during his assassination attempt but hers had a yellow stripe down the back, which Dane had told her repeatedly would get her killed.

“That was a classic distraction you pulled earlier sis.” Dane told his sister who smiled a toothy grin.

“Thanks I thought it up on the fly.” She said proudly.

“So what are you doing out here in the first place? I’m on assignment making sure the purple unicorn doesn’t die, but last time I checked you were searching for more cult material around headquarters.” Dane asked his sister with a small frown, their father should have known better then to send her on a mission like that in the first place.

“I, um, I kind of snuck out…” Cloe said with a tiny grin and a blush causing Dane to facepalm with an audible smack.

“Of course you did…” Dane said with a resigned sigh. “Oh well I guess I can look after you, actually you can help me look after Twilight.” He said his eyes brightening.

“Really, you aren’t going to send me back to dad?” Cloe asked excitedly.

“Well after the wedding I’m going to be bringing her to meet dad anyways so…” Dane said allowing her to finish the thought.

“So it’ll be better if I say I thought you needed my help and used it as an excuse to validate my leave of absence!” Cloe said excitedly, and then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks Dane!” She said jumping to her feet enthusiastically. Dane groaned to himself quietly, it would be his sister…

***

Dane and Cloe sauntered into Twilight’s unit tent and were met by several sets of eyes, everyone was already here.

“Who’s this?” Stardust asked looking from one dog to another.

“This is my sister Cloe; she’s going to be following me around and annoying me until I can get a free month to take her back to the guild.” Dane replied with a sigh.

“Dane why didn’t you tell us you had a sister earlier?” Twilight asked as she got up to make her way over to the two dogs.

“Because Twilight, she’s supposed to be safely back at the guild and I didn’t expect for you to meet her out here.” Dane said casting an annoyed glance at his sister who rolled her eyes.

“Ignore him he’s just all stuffy thanks to dad being that way.” Cloe said with a grin causing Dane to facepalm loudly.

“You said your dad was dead and that you were an orphan.” Twilight said casting a slightly accusatory gaze at Dane.

“If you remember I also told you that two of the things that it’d told you were lies.” Dane said with a wide grin and Twilight groaned.

“Well then welcome to the family, but first I have to test something.” Angeldust said suddenly jumping down from the ceiling of the tent and began sniffing her intently.

“What are you doing?” Twilight asked in concern as Angeldust waved her nose back and forth over Cloe.

“I’m checking for spells Twilight, no be quite and let me work.” Angeldust replied with a wide grin at Twilight’s mystified expression.

“Wait… you’re checking for spells with your nose.” Twilight said flatly looking at Angeldust and arching an eyebrow.

“Yep.” Angeldust said with a wink.

“Have fun.” Twilight said shaking her head before turning back to Cloe.

“Hi, I’m Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight said offering the dog her hoof, Cloe took it in her firm grasp and shook it once.

“So you’re the one who my brother is protecting right?” Cloe asked looking the purple unicorn over.

“Yeah that’s me.” Twilight replied with a small smile.

“Nice to meet you, don’t get my brother killed please.” The lab said with a grin.

“Your brother seems extremely hard to kill so I wouldn’t worry about it too much, despite how unpleasant he is.” Trixie cut in with a slight glare towards Dane who had speared her muffin and started munching on it.

“That reminds me do you ponies have any meat, I could use a steak?” Cloe asked with a grin.

“Nope sorry all out of steak, although I’m sure we could find something for you.” Twilight replied with a shrug. Angeldust finished her scan and frowned.

“What’s wrong Angel?” Stardust asked her.

“The party is becoming too cumbersome.” Angeldust replied with a thoughtful look.

“What?” Blaze asked looking up from the green flame that he’d been nursing.

“I’m just musing, ignore me.” Angeldust replied with a shrug as she looked at her hoof.

“Well I’m going to bed, want to come Twilight?” Trixie asked with a grin.

“After the day that we’ve had today, hell yes.”

AN

So guys random question, who’s is everyone’s favorite OC?

Next Chapter: Chapter 12 Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 60 Minutes