Chapter 9 - Slaughterhouse

The Moon shone upon the black cloud layer and smog that was rising from the ground. Red embers blazed and burned angrily within the blackness of the smoke cloud. The Smoke rose from a massive blaze that had consumed a mighty manor, the blaze burned so brightly it illuminated the thick black smoke cloud above. Casting it in a fiery glow, making it look like a broiling red and yellow sea.

The great inferno had a large mob surrounding it, many of them wore finely made armour, whilst others wore simpler leather armour or nothing at all but the clubs and other weapons they carried in their mouths. Several Unicorns continued to batter the house with destructive spells, creating gaping wounds in the walls.

One gaunt unicorn who was charging a destructive spell ended up killing fifteen members of the mob when a Crossbow bolt pierced his skull. He fell over, his horn and by extension his spell making contact with the ground caused a large discharge or energy and death.

Blackbird was perched at the edge of the scene, firing off carefully aimed shots with her Crossbow. Her targets were stationery and even if they moved their were so many she'd still kill someone. She concentrated on the Unicorns who were causing the most damage and took out three more before she was spotted. She switched her Cross bow into it's regular mode. Putting the sight she'd been using back into it's little slot in the crossbow and flew upwards taking well aimed pot shots at the crowd of attackers.

She watched the sky carriage from earlier crash into the crowd who had begun lashing out at the edges where Tick Tock and Shade were cutting them down. Blackbird watched a tall white Unicorn burst out of the Manor's front door. Crossbow bolts, arrows and throwing knives and axes surged forward but were repelled by a shimmering white shield. Blackbird noted a small purple pony on the white one's back dressed similarly to Tick Tock and Shade.

She flew closer to the mob, using the distraction the White Unicorn provided and began peppering the mob with Crossbow bolts.

*****

Nine Diamond Dogs froze as their lives ended. Shades Blade had made a clean cut through them as he efficiently hacked away at the hostile crowd. A spear flew at him, it was hard to predict where all the attacks would come from with such a large mass of Soldiers. BEHIND YOU Shade turned in time to block the incoming axe blade with his own sword, but felt a jab of pain as an arrow pierced his left wing.

Shade don't let anger cloud you, stay focused Shade grimaced as he forced himself to back off from the mass of bodies. Their were so many of them and each enemy was supporting the other. As one a large section of the force moved forward, careful to keep their defences up. Shade tried to fly, but his left wing was numb, he turned to it and found it was unresponsive. The clever devils drugged the arrows. Shade backed up again and used his blade to hold them back, performing a few wild swings to push the enemy back. He was beginning to feel trapped, when one of the soldiers screamed. He was stabbed through by a Manticores tail which promptly tossed him aside. The soldiers looked back only to be torn apart as a creature of chaos tore into them. It's powerful claws tearing open the throats of two other ponies. It gripped a fallen blade and began using it in conjunction with it's tail which rattled much like a rattlesnakes.

The soldiers now found themselves trapped between two monsters. Shade laughed as he drove his blade into them and used his sword, much like a vaulting pole to launch himself at his enemies. Shade's new ally was proving fairly effective. Piercing, clawing and stabbing his way through the masses of enemies.

"Your name's Shade right?" The beast asked as he rammed his tail into the skull of a Griffin trying to attack from above.

"I am Shade, but I don't know you warrior." Shade spoke politely as he cut through the legs of a Earth Pony Mare and then ran her through with her own blade.

"Oh yeah, sorry about that. You were with those fillies earlier. Tick Tock was gonna introduce me when he got back." They both finished off the last six troops. "Oh and I'm Pyretread." Pyretread was watching the sky for any fliers whilst Shade scanned the area around them. Shade noted his project was on fire, Lord Rust was still inside too.

"Dammit, this Mob has ruined my game." Pyretread gave Shade a puzzled look but shrugged it off. "Relax kid, you can always start again. I'll even help you." Shade smiled and nodded, as he galloped alongside Pyretread to assault a group of soldiers, attacking Blackbird.

*****

The words whirlwind of death were never more appropriate when it concerned Tick Tock. His hooves worked faster than it should be possible, his attacks were sloppier than his usual accurate kills, instead a great many of his attackers lay choking to death on their own blood or bleeding out from multiple wounds. Capsules flew out as Tick Tock carefully aimed explosive capsules. Like miniature suns they ignited sending off deafening booms and stunning shockwaves. Tick Tock's body still ached from his careless use of his Alicorn wing concoction. I shouldn't have been so reckless. He could feel the strain his body was under. It had been a long day, going from city to city, staying up late, using transformation potions, hefting several pounds in supplies hadn't helped either.

Tick Tock threw three throwing knives watching them impale three different spots of a Zebra's body. This unruly mob of warriors was so confusing. They had no real organisation, except when working in smaller groups. As a mob they could potentially overwhelm Tick Tock and his team. But the sight of such a well prepared team of Ponies slaughtering them seemed to stall many of them.

They didn't know who they were fighting. But whoever sent them probably knew I was gone. Tick Tock, having run out of explosive capsules and having only five poison joke ones opted for a less than normal approach to killing the Donkey in front of him. Tick Tock performed a curving leap and steadied himself on the donkeys back whilst using a length of wire to strangle the poor mule. The mule bucked and kicked, injury his fellow attackers. As the mule's face turned blue, Tick Tock used the wire like a sling. The mule soared over Tick Tock's head and into the crowd of attackers, offering a brief reprieve. His opponents surged around the fallen stallion hoping to take Tick Tock by surprise. Instead he saw a rapid burst of crossbow bolts pierce into several of the attackers. Looking Up he Saw Blackbird descend and offer him her tail, he leapt and bit down on it, quickly climbing her tail and shimmying onto her back.

From above, Tick Tock could see their were less than a two hundred attackers left. He saw Snowball levitate and manipulate a dozen or more weapons, it was hard to tell since they were moving at such a speed they were hard for even the Stallions impressive vision to follow. Dagger was still on Snowball's back, Snowball was maintaining a shield to keep any of the remaining ranged or magical attackers at bay. He watched with pride as Pyretread used every part of his fierce body to lash out, his scorpion tail acting like a lance as it struck in quick and decisive strikes puncturing holes in armoured hides. Pyretreads claws slashed at unprotected faces or gouged out eye's as he fought with an almost primal rage. Tick Tock noted however that Pyretread had several minor gashes and cuts over his body. Shade was killing at a much slower rate, the foe's he was fighting outnumbered him and wore heavier armour. Forcing Shade to actively seek weak spots, when he was used to making them with the sheer force of his weapon and the aggressiveness of his fighting style.

Blackbird landed close to Shade and let Tick Tock hop off, before she took off again, intent on assaulting Shade's attackers from behind.

*****

A hurricane of death surrounded the shimmering white shield as Snowball focused on killing as many foes as quickly as possible. She smiled as she caught a crudely formed fireball spell and began squeezing it, sending a controlled downpour of hot flame on the heads of multiple attackers, their manes and fur burning viciously. Every foe she struck down was a bit of personal revenge for the harm that befell Dagger.

The fire raged, consuming the wallpaper and igniting the ceiling. The flames were unnatural, magical green and crimson flames powered by the combined effort of several Unicorns. The Fire hungrily consumed walls and support beams, and lashed out at Snowball, Dagger and Pyretread as they fled the infirmary. The cantered down the stairs, the flames creating a terrible searing heat whilst also consuming the oxygen in the room. As if the lack of oxygen wasn't bad enough, the smoke being generated was partly obscuring the way downstairs. Snowball tripped and was getting on her feet again, when the stair case above her cracked. She reached out with her magic and halted it, getting back onto her unsteady feet. Pyretread grabbed her and pulled her away quickly as the staircase fell down.

They reached the ground floor when she saw the support beam falling, she managed to yank Pyretread back with her Magic, but Dagger was a little too far ahead. Snowball pulled her out of the way, but the beam still struck her back as she was pulled out of the away. A sickening crack and a horrid gash decorated Dagger's back. Galloping out the front door, they saw the soldiers finish surrounding the Manor. Gently Snowball levitated Dagger off her back and saw how badly her back was bent, she focused on setting it and engulfed her in a healing spell.

Pyretread roared, alerting Snowball to a lightning spell thrown at her. She dodged it but felt it prickle her fur, Dagger cried out as the lightning grazed her. Screaming in fury, Snowball began lashing out, forcibly drawing the blood out of the first twenty five attackers and began using the blooding to lash out as the surrounding mob. She let the blood fall and levitated Dagger onto her back, engulfing them both in a white shield as she started to draw out her blade and arm her bow.

Snowball levitated the weapons of the first troops she killed and used them to begin cutting a swathe of death and destruction.

The memories of the horrible events spurred Snowball on, she noted a Black headed Griffin flying overhead, taking out enemy troops and mentally marked the Griffin down as an ally. She Started to notice a distinct lack of enemies and realized their weren't all the many left. Roughly sixty fighters if she had to take a guess. Shade and Pyretread were making a combined effort to kill off the remaining enemies, whilst Tick Tock was picking off the stragglers trying to get away. She noted how exhausted he looked and heard a faint moan from Dagger, which reminded her why she had been fighting so hard. Snowball decided she had to kill as many of them as quickly as possible, so Crow or Tick Tock could examine her.

Closing her eyes, Snowball folded her bow and levitated her blade into it's sheath. She tugged at Shade with her magic, his masked face turned to her and got him to fly over.

"Shade, get everyone away from this rabble. I'm about to finish this." Shade nodded and opened his hooves as she levitated Dagger into his hooves. He gripped her firmly and flew over to the Griffon a little unsteadily, who proceeded towards Tick Tock. Snowball levitated the stolen blades and sent them into the ground, creating two half rings, one bigger than the other. Her horn flared and crackled with magic, Snowballs shield began shaking and fading. A grazing blow from a thrown axe, almost made her lose the spell. But she held firm and opened her eyes.

Snowballs eyes were now glowing white orbs as the grass on the ground died around her. Even the flames seemed to sputter and dim as she brought down the spell. Bolts of Arcane power shot through the blades, creating a killing field. A great chorus of screams split the night air as the bolts of power ended the lives of her would be attackers. The scream seeming to echo on even after the spell finally fizzled out.

Several piles of ash surrounding Snowball indicated the enemies who had received the brunt of her spell and had died and been incinerated rather quickly. Farther out they corpses still smoked and burned, the tingle of magic in the air made her horn spark and sputter. Snowball navigated the battlefield, the various swords and armour of the fallen had fused, creating a single mass of death, bodies and metal. She passed the larger outer ring of blades and noted that they had melted into piles of useless metal slag.

Tick Tock trotted up the hill again, carrying Dagger on his back, Dagger looked much better now. Her breathing was calm and steady and a leather brace was wrapped around her mid-section, keeping her back straight. A flash of red magic confirmed Crow's reappearance, he seemed bedraggled and exhausted. His coat was coated in soot and his body and mane slick with sweat, but he still managed to keep a calm demeanour.

Tick Tock nodded to him and gently lay Dagger on the ground, allowing Crow to examine her more carefully. Tick Tock looked at Dagger and back to Snowball,flashing a knowing smile and then trotted off to examine the dead.

*****

The morning cycle began as the brightened moon illuminated the burnt out husk of a manor. The lower levels had been saved and some of the rooms on the upper floors had been spared. It was partly due to Snowballs spell that the fire had become more tame, the energy stolen from it had robbed it of some of it's destructive power. Tick Tocked placed another stack of books in another crate and grunted in unfamiliar annoyance as he couldn't read the title's as clearly in moonlight.

I never thought I'd miss that Sun as much as I do now... Tick Tocks thoughts continued to protest packing his books this way, surely he could spend a few moments gathering some glow worms or fireflies? Perhaps I could send Shade to gather some fireflies? No, no he's already busy packing things with Crow. He sighed as he trotted back inside,  an unfamiliar glow caught his attention, turning he saw Pyretread with an annoyed look as Blackbird continued to poke a strange glowing orb, at the tip of his tail.

"Quit it Blacky, bad enough I can't control all of my bodily functions without you turning me on and off like a light switch" He huffed and tried to walk away. Only for Blackbird to poke his tail again and turn it off, and on repeatedly.

"Light on, Light off, light on, light off." Blackbird laughed as she messed around with his tail until Pyretread punched one of the walls in anger, the taloned fist drove straight through the burnt wood and let out a horrid cracking sound.

"Now, Now you two. I assumed you'd both get along wonderfully, I recruited you both on the same day after all." Tick Tock's tone was cheery if a little strained. He'd been awake nearly eighteen hours, and longed to get some shut eye, but he had to secure all the books in his study first. He gave them both a stern but friendly gaze, just the right amount to make them squirm.

To their credit, Pyretread and Blackbird looked equally guilty about their behaviour, and tried to imitate Snowball's sad eye which had originally gotten them into their scavenging task. Tick Tock sympathized with them, their sad eyes could easily be seen through. Blackbirds predatory eagle eyes and Pyretreads mismatched set were hardly going to match up with Snowballs skill. Still Tick Tock softened his gaze a little and chuckled at their sad eyes.

"A valiant effort, but I've suffered that stare more times than I care to recount." Blackbird seemed to deflate a little at hearing this, Pyretread shrugged and waited for Tick Tock to continue.

"Pyretread, I believe I have a specific task in mind for you, follow me please. Blackbird my dear, can you please check in on Crow? He has an even bigger library than I do." Blackbird saluted and flew off to find Crow, Pyretread followed Tick Tock to his study and saw several open boxes and a lot of singed furniture.

"Sad isn't it? I really liked those chairs." Tick Tock's back was to him as he lifted several books that hadn't been burned or ruined down off higher shelves. "I need some light Pyretread, see if you can ignite it yourself."

Pyretread sighed. What am I, an acolyte or a lamp? Grumbling to himself, Pyretread pulled his tail forward and tried to twitch the right muscle with his claws. Tick Tock watched him and shook his head. He made his way back to the floor, balancing the books on his head.

"Pyretread, you'll never be a true Assassin if you can't control your own body." Pyretread scowled at his master. What does he know about it? Hmmmm? Oh joy, Dark voice was back. "I know what it's like to use muscles you're unfamiliar with Pyretread. Allow me to enlighten you on a little story about myself."

Tick Tock sat himself down on one of the closed crates and invited Pyretread to do the same. He complied and sat down looking into Tick Tock's Gray eyes as he began his tale.

*****

The sunlight shone brightly on the unusual town of Two Towers. What made it so significantly different from many other towns on the borders of Equestria was the majority of the town was built on a massive bridge. The Bridge spanned the width of two castles, and was three miles long. Each end of the bridge had a small village built on the surrounding land to cater to visitors or house the farming families that lived by the river's edge.

Each end of the bridge was guarded by fierce stone fortresses, built to withstand attacks from either end. The Fortresses were identical, excluding the colour scheme. Both were built of hard stone and identical layouts, but had different decorative layers. One Castle decorated in a layer of Obsidian and the other decorated in a layer of Alabaster.

The town built between the two castles, had two long rows of buildings, some extending to twelve stories high, as was permissible by the Viscount and Town architects. No space was wasted on alleyways or back gardens, though rooftop and window gardens were a common enough sight, even a few gardens built on balconies overlooking the river or streets. No villa's existed on the actual bridge since it would be a horrible waste of space.

Both sides of the Bridge had guard posts built along it, and stoic guard ponies patrolling it, wary for Ponies trying to sneak into the city by scaling the walls via the river.  

The sun shone brightly off the Alabaster Castle. The castle had an occupied medical room where a fair mare breathed in and out quickly, besides her a Stallion stood and gripped her right hoof firmly in his own. The mare heaved and wept as she was encouraged by the form of a white doctor stallion and the black coated stallion gripping her hoof.

"Easy my dear, it's almost over. Just one more push should do it." The Doctor Stallion said. The black coated Stallion flared up his magic and the Mare breathed more easily as she pushed once more. The pain was dulled allowing her to focus on pushing and ignoring the pain. She gritted her teeth and stamped her left forehoof down on the metal railing at the edge of the bed, depressing the metal.

The Doctor Stallion seemed visibly nervous by this display but focused again on the task at hand. A small head emerged much to his relief but he noticed the cord wrapped around the infants throat.

"NURSE, WE NEED A RESPIRATOR ASAP!" The Doctor bellowed at a Nurse Mare standing by. She galloped off quickly as the mother continued to push desperately. The pain returning as she forced herself to the point of exhaustion. A sense of relief washed over her as the small filly's body came free. The Black stallion focused on the young filly and began breathing for her, forcing her lungs to take in air for her small body.

The nurse returned with the respirator and immediately set it up, pulling the small mask onto the filly's face whilst the Doctor stallion examined her. The Black Stallion stood by the Mare as she blacked out, the last thing she heard was, "Doctor what is wrong with the filly."

Twelve hours later

She awoke to an unfamiliar sensation, opening her bleary eyes, she saw a machine hooked up to her swollen teats draining her milk and bottling it. Looking around she saw the black Stallion levitating a small Pegasus filly. The Filly was being rocked, very, very gently by the Stallion until he noticed she was awake.

He smiled and trotted over his magic propping her up against a small pile of pillows. "You did it my Lady. Your own filly." He stood beside her and gave her a gentle look as he ever so gently, handed her the small filly. The filly's eyes were closed as she slept softly, the miracle of life, symbolized within her own hoofs.

*****

Pyretread sat on his haunches staring straight ahead as his mind began to make sense of everything Tick Tock told him, the detail of the town, the pain of giving birth, the effects of the spell. Dawning horror spread across his face, much to Tick Tocks own amusement as he burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

"HAHAHAHA Oh how I love seeing everyponys expression when they hear that story. Giving birth the first time is a terrible task." Tick Tock seemed almost invigorated by his amusing story. Whilst Pyretread reflected glumly that he felt rather weak and tired. He was about to ask Tick Tock what this had to do with learning to turn his tail on, when Crow kicked in the Door.

"YOU!" Pyretread squeaked and hid behind Tick Tock, amusing since he was taller and bulkier than his Master. "How did you do it." Tick Tock gave Crow a quizzical look. "How did my apprentice offend you Crow?"  Crows features contorted as he angrily showed him the glittering interior of his pressure cooker. "You put ground up gems in a pressure cooker, exclusively designed to cook vegetables." He pointed an angry hoof at Pyretread who somehow managed to look smaller than the two Stallions in the room.

"Calm down Crow, I see a solution to your dilemma." Tick Tocks voice was full of confidence as he spoke. Crow nodded and waited for Tick Tock to continue, an intrigued look on his face.

"The way I see it, Pyretread messed up as he's an inexperienced chef. You Crow are a Master chef taught by thirty seven different culinary masters." Crow beamed, a smug smile creeping on his face.

"Pyretread is an ex-soldier coping with a new body, and a lack of practice in cooking anything that isn't explosive." Pyretread nodded in agreement with Tick Tock. "Henceforth you shall be his Cooking Master." Tick Tock allowed a grin to permeate his face as Crow and Pyretread looked aghast. They both noted they had a similar expression on their faces and promptly shut their mouths and pawed the ground nervously.

"And no but's from either of you, I already have a headache. Someone come wake me when Lady.C arrives." Tick Tock trotted out the room, leaving the Chimera and Stallion looking at one another. They both had an unspoken understanding, as they both walked off together. "Since you'll be my cooking apprentice, you'll need to learn your cooking implements. You can help me pack up the kitchen supplies." Crow lead the reluctant Pyretread into the kitchen and began instructing him on each cooking utensil and pot he owned.

Author's Notes

Hey guys, hope you liked this chapter. I'll try and see if I can maintain a twice the week update rate. some days I obviously don't have a lot of inspiration or know where to take my story in the next chapter. I have some brilliant ideas regarding the next few chapters. I feel chapter 11 will definitely be that long promised flashback chapter and in a day or two I'll be posting an updated character sheet.