Three more lanterns had been lit. Glowing bright white within the presence of Camille. Now that these ghoulish figures had been vanquished. Halfway through the third lantern, the Zebras that had been hiding had once more returned to the fight. Given the time they needed to recover thanks to Camille's efforts. Having sustained a few new injuries of her own, she'd taken up directing where each group should go for the best tactical outcome. Doing so helped her gather the final two lanterns and areas to increase control over the area.
Control. Camille had lost it on that first lantern, showing just how easily she could be pushed over the edge. She reflected over these moments of weakness. If these were real, normal ponies-would she have been seen as a monster? To be fair, she'd always figured that most others viewed her as some sort of monstrosity already.
A sort of chimera with batwings, a lion-like tail, and eyes that shined with the light of blue and the dark of red.
A message had just reached her from one of the many Zebras she’d been fighting alongside of. The Sanctum was under siege, and that alone sent her teetering on the edge of collapse. Her mind instantly fell to the foals she’d been traveling with. Two young fillies she’d promised to protect through thick and thin. Thalia and Crystal were in danger and she was nearly on the other side of town. How could she be so foolish to think they’d be safe on their own?
Her mind had forgotten that they were not technically alone. In any case, it was her mission – her goal – to protect these two fillies until they made it home. Wherever that may be.
Camille nearly flattened the guard that had informed her of the situation. A small part of her kept her physically calm, even if her mind was ablaze with fury. Righteous, uncapped, unhinged . A new fire had ignited within the lithe mare, and it was quickly engulfing every inch of her heart. There was no slowing it, no calming, just rapid radiating heat.
She took to the sky, ignoring the pain in her wings from the battles she’d fought so far. Flying up to the perch of one building before jumping from it and soaring to the next. Camille continued this action from building to building until there were no more left. As she passed above, she eyed the battlefields below. Streets that’d turned into rivers of ichor and blood; bodies strewn out in most directions, with many more dragged into burning piles. The stench filled the air with a vile, sick odor that blurred her vision. She fought through the choking haze and made her final glide-to-land flight to the Sanctum.
It was here that her heart nearly stopped. A last few Zebras remained, mostly bleeding from fresh wounds or fading quickly in the dim light. She scanned for survivors that could respond to her, and the only one she’d found pointed into the Sanctum with a limp hoof. They tried to apologize, but Camille knew what they were hinting at.
Heart hammering the bat pony bolted in through the large doors, her eyes adjusting to the limited light quickly as she scanned for survivors. There were none here, and she figured they were all back in the sanctuary. That did little to ease her fears. The first room she checked was the one where Thalia and Crystal had been staying.
The only remains here were some drawings on the walls done in chalk. Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly approached the drawings. Camille reached up with a hoof and drew it gently across the doodles left by her fillies. Drawings of them, standing beside an angelic looking Camille. A bright halo above her head, and wings spread wide. It was contradictory, bat-like wings and a halo… A little bit of writing below it gave her a new nickname. Something much less gruesome or dreary.
Camille slowly turned around and found the room was no longer empty. On the side she stood, the world felt cold. Empty. Across from her the room was ablaze with fire and warmth. The feelings of belonging and something drawing her ever closer. At the center she found herself looking at…herself. A version of her with only red eyes. Imagination hinted to Camille that her own were now only blue.
This other version of her spoke with a smooth voice. Almost commanding and not asking questions. Everything said was factual.
“You desire me.”
Camille looked at this doppelganger in confusion.
“You need to let go. You have placed your light heart in the mitts of an insufferable land. A place that deems you enemy for simply doing the right thing.”
Once more Camille remained looking at the clone, but this time she could understand the words. They buzzed in her head, giving her a sensation bordering on pain and relief.
“Let me take control. Only for now. Let me lead the way and you will no longer feel the agony of the torment. I alone can release you from the darkness.”
“If I let you in,” Camille started to say, only to be interrupted by her copy.
“You aren’t letting me in, Camille. You’re letting me .”
“If I let you…out, as you say… You won’t hurt anyone that’s innocent, will you? You’ll protect them?”
“I give you my promise,” Camille lied.
There was a sudden silence that filled the entire Sanctuary, as if all fights had finally reached a conclusion…
The world around the city seemed to explode into vibrant light and sound. Reflecting and echoing off the walls, refracting back and forth. A door was then kicked from its hinges as a released Camille climbed through. Almost as if she was no longer simply hunting her prey but stalking them. A towering beast before her turned to eye the young mare. The two red eyes looking back at it almost completely stunned the creature.
That moment of weakness, that silence, the sudden stun, was all that it took. The beast’s head fell to the floor, followed a moment later by its body in a thud that shook the room. Blood dripped from the claw of Camille’s wing as she continued her march forward. A devious smirk on her muzzle as she moved.
“Nuvolosa. Ohhh, Nuvolosaaaa. Come out, come out! I just want to !” Camille kicked a door down, sending it flying across the next room. Empty. She moved onto the next one.
“You promised to keep them safe. And your words are important to me. It is so important that I shan’t break your jaw. At least not at first.” A sickly chuckle escaped her as she trudged onwards. “I know you’re not to blame! Just come out and let me see what you hid.”
Dawn was approaching, and Camille knew that it was what this lying monster desired. Breakfast in the form of fillies. Suck their souls away and leave them as empty husks. She recognized the notes from before. The language. Her mother’s stories. Every single one of these details coalesced into a simple answer.
Nuvolosa – Cloudy – was indeed some sort of monster from back in her mother’s day. Cloudy was indeed a sister to Rosa, right? It made sense how she knew Rosa, even now, a thousand years after this village had been destroyed.
“So, what will it be? Will I destroy everything here, tear you to pieces, and leave? Or will you do what’s right and get to feast on souls once more?”
Cloudy stepped out from behind a doorway with a fearful look on her face. She was cautious, as if unsure if the monsters outside were really gone. Until she saw the blood caked monster before her. Camille continued approaching, eyes focused on her target.
“Camille? Please! I promised to keep them safe, and I did! They are in the back!” Cloudy pleaded, holding her hooves up defensively.
“Oh, I believe you, I really do. I just don’t like that I was used to help cure your diseased city.”
“I know, okay! I know! I really needed your help! You’re right, I was there when it fell but I wasn’t the cause, I was trying to help! It was your mother that destroyed the place!”
“Only after she was deemed a demon by the rest. You sought control, and now you have it. Bring the foals to me, and I’ll let you live for your betrayal. Just do this, we leave. I won’t flatten this place.”
Cloudy stared at her for a long moment before suddenly standing straight. “No.”
“No..?”
“You are just like your mother…a-a demon! They saw what you did, Camille…and they don’t want to be with you anymore,” Cloudy stated, stomping a hoof.
“You don’t know that! You’re lying!” Then her eyes caught the two younger gals in the background, holding each other and staring at her in fear. She looked behind her, realizing they had been looking through a window when she took down that large monster. With no remorse. Wild. “I-“
Cloudy stomped her hoof, flicking her tail to point at the door. “Leave, Camille! You’re banished from this sanctuary! I’ll take care of getting them home.” She’d grab an item off of a shelf and toss it towards Camille, the item bouncing across the floor and stopping at her hooves. “Your payment…”
Camille looked down to see an attachment for her gauntlets, an upgrade that could help her move quicker, and quickly engage or disengage her cestus. “But-I made a promise…”
Cloudy scoffed. “You? A promise? Rosa promised, too…but here we are. You spilled blood in the sanctuary, and lost control, y-“
Within an instant, Camille was at her throat, red eyes bright and glaring into her own as the thestral spoke in a deep growl. “I don’t need the list.” She suddenly spun around, kicking Cloudy through the air, the zebra landing and sliding across the floor to the two foals. Just at that time, multiple guards flooded into the room and surrounded her, along with the flapping wings of the Valkyries.
Camille turned slowly, looking to each one. “Oh-hahaha! You seriously invited the bird brains?”
“Camille! You are charged with the murder and destruction of many ponies and homes. Do not run, for we will find you again!”
“I’m tired of running.”
The Rise and Fall of a Trottingham Princess <3
—
tested out some new brushes, been wanting to draw Pink as Chappell for awhile!
13 people like this.

Chase
Why does she look depressed? Like she won but she's not happy about it
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1
7 hours ago

PinkBow
It’s a reference to Chappell’s expression from her Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess album :3
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7 hours ago

Chase
I want to believe that she tried to fail the pageant to avoid the attention but it didn't work so now she's literally suffering from success.
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1
7 hours ago

PinkBow
That weirdly aligns with real world struggles Chappell has been having with her sudden success :o she’s stirred up trouble for having firm boundaries and not letting members of the press walk all over her lol. I love her so much haha, the press went from screaming at her at events to politely asking... View More
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6 hours ago

Chase
Honestly not talking to the press is a good policy, don't let them dig for controversy.
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6 hours ago

PinkBow
Also ty Heat Index for da brush recommendation :3c trying to beat the pencil brush addiction lol
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2
7 hours ago

Heat Index
Hail yeah! I’m glad u liked it! This is some gooood stuff. Looks like it could be an album cover
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1
7 hours ago

Heat Index
Omg I just saw ur other comment xD
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1
7 hours ago

PinkBow
AHH TYSM ;—; it makes line art so much speedier!! w the pencil brush even at full opacity its like..v grainy and see through lol, so id be going over it a lot. but its also kinda a balancing act sometimes w proper pens and feeling like its losing the fluidity and line weight of the sketch. i think t... View More
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1
7 hours ago

PinkBow
closeup yay :3
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1
7 hours ago

Brave Charger
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2
6 hours ago
7 people like this.
The Strange Pony ? was Looking around, Wearing a Hazmat suit unsure why multiple ponies were changing genders out of nowhere!?, Was it some kind of strange infection!?, Or maybe she's been too busy Reading about alternate universe infections. That might honestly be it, BUT She was looking for the Li... View More
When Arcana looked back to Flem... her head was soaking wet, Yet surprisingly not a single droplet was on any books, She must've used magic to protect the pieces of knowledge and just splashed herself with water, She kinda looked as if She came out of a Tv after Seven days later. Odd.
"W-What was i... View More
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February 2, 2026
Her purple coat does not hide her blush well, unfortunately. She visibly forces herself to look away, over the shelves, “N-nothing. I was…” She tries to find the words in her mind, “I-I was a-simply say-s-saying i-it is f-fort… U-um…” So many words in her mind. All the time, not all solely her own. ... View More
"Y-Yeah ?, T-There are many Books... For Reading" Flem said, Whilst her brain was having a System Reset, She was slowly forgetting about the reason she came to the library, Was it for something like a book ?, Well duh Sherlock THEY ARE FULL OF BOOKS, But what was the book she needed ?, Something for... View More
With an embarrassed and flustered flick of her tail, Arcana looks away after a moment of staring back. Looking at Andromeda Flemish certainly wasn’t helping her state of mind. “I-indeed! Bo-b-books! F-for rea-reading, reading, y-yes!” Her blush certainly wasn’t fading any as she talks. “Di-d-did I, ... View More
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8 hours ago
This just caused Flem to Chuckle, "N-Nether can I!, I Just know it was for something about one of those Dummies books, I-I can try helping you Narrow down what k-kind of book you needed ?" She Asked, Blepping to her New Friend, Whilst Containing a Whiney, She had to Contain herself from heading to t... View More
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7 hours ago
Is that how you ponies use dark magic? We runebyns call it dark magic simply because it involves the dead and the night. All natural stuff. No negative feelings involved, though you can use them to power it sometimes, like you can use it to power light magic.
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February 1, 2026
Looking back to Brady as she continues to walk, “Really?” Looking back ahead with an idle flick of her tail, “For ponies, those are simply standard fields of magic, though necromancy isn’t exactly smiled upon. Less as a matter of fear like dark magic, however, and more of disgust. We can still use n... View More
I'm aware of how the other species look down on and/or are afraid of necromancers. For some reason, everyone else fears death, even have a myth of the fountain of youth or some such bull. We runebyns respect death, knowing that all go to the gerund eventually. But I guess what makes it easier for us... View More
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February 1, 2026
Shaking her head lightly, Arcana sighs. “I don’t believe that’s the reason necromancy is looked down upon, Brady Thunderfoot.” Idly dragging a field of magic through the dirt as she walks, like a stick, “Certainly the majority of cultures fear death, but what those who look upon necromancy see is so... View More
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February 2, 2026
I dunno how other creatures use it, but us runebyns use to to raise undead special units to help us fight wars and cut down on the losses of lives. We don't use them as slaves.....seems weird and perverted. Best thing? Yes we can use souls to spy on others or control our minions, but we have develop... View More
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Yesterday, 4:56 pm
"Hey," Molly said her bag rustling against her side as she aproached the unfamiliar mare, "you look new around here, do you need directions? a place to stay? good cafe spots?"
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February 1, 2026
Taking the offer to shake hooves, her nervous air only grows more evident while making her introductions. “Shade-S-Shaded Arcana, and just A-Arcana will suffice in place of a miss, wonderful t-to meet you too.” Following along, she looks around as she walks, forming a map in her head. “T-thank you f... View More
"Nice to meet you ms. arcana," Molly, not being quite versed in social situations other than shaking down fraudsters for info, or ordering her choice of drinks, barely noticed the blush scattered on shade's face, "Bio mancy you say, quite the interesting study, I know a few things about it, mostly j... View More
On the other hoof, nothing about this ‘Molly Hollythorn’ feels familiar to Arcana. Certainly not the casual nature with which she interacts, something Shaded has no clue how to respond to. More used to fear, disgust, curiosity, nervousness. Or simply indifference. It makes her incredibly nervous, ev... View More
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February 3, 2026
"ooh living biomancy?" Molly raised her eyebrow, "certainly a risky pursuit ya think?" Molly ran through her mind palace trying to remember all the living biomancers she could. living biomancers were always either poisoning themselves or changing their appearance so often that no one remembers their... View More
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February 3, 2026
She can’t help but give a tiny, amused snort at the thought of living biomancy being risky. “N-no more risky than, t-than any o-other pursuit I d-specialize in…” Shaking her head lightly, Arcana internally compares the idea of giving herself cancer to what she already has. Couldn’t she say she alre... View More
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8 hours ago
At the griffon mare’s approach, Arcana blinks. Did the temperature suddenly rise? Is she simply imagining it? Does she have a fever? She doesn’t let any of these questions show, simply giving a faint nod. “I am simply a bit lost, stranger.” Looking around at the nearby buildings, “If you would, do y... View More
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February 2, 2026
"Oooo I'm heading there now to pick up a book called how to tame a dragon. It's a fun book, so um just follow me!"
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February 3, 2026
A blink of confusion. Quietly, “Tame… A dragon?” More to herself than anything, before speaking in a normal voice. “B-beforehoof, just because I’m curious, are not dragons sapient creatures, like you or I?” She pause for a moment, “Isn’t that like t-taming a pony? Which, for certain is something a f... View More
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February 3, 2026
Oh this one is super young. And I'm helping foalsit for a dragon couple.
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February 3, 2026
I have a fun idea.comment down something random and I will recommend a video game for you to play
2 people like this.
*assembles a tiny crossbow from stationary and fires a paper dart into the ceiling*
2 people like this.
8 people like this.
(O:FB 10 Chapter 2: The Castle Timeline)
*We were within the multiversal throughway, rounding up our info and seeing what we could come up with.* So he's gathering an army...
(Skye) And he wants to de... View More
2 people like this.
Well why don't we ask the two people that know of the multiverse well, brother.
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January 22, 2026
The Queen could feel one big headache coming on..."Walk with me Aurora."
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12 hours ago
*We would make it to the chapel, where my sword would glow more now. We would notice felled guards too.* He's trying to recruit Somber! We need to find that chamber! *I would check the guards and feel pulses.* They're ok. Skye, Yinu, see if you two can tend to the guards. Sis, Skystar, with me.
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11 hours ago
I don't like this, brother... not one bit. *She would fly with Stickman.*
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11 hours ago
Aurora hummed as she stepped alongside Lesa. From what Lesa had seen of the witch before, she'd probably notice a change in demeaner. She had her head high, her eyes focused, and walked with conviction. "Don't worry, Queen Lesa. I'll do everything in my...current powers...to protect those you cheris... View More
It was quite refreshing to see the change of demeanour from Aurora. The Queen hadn't seen this side of her before, she didn't question why but it was enough to make her smile a little, but that smile didn't last long when she saw the unconscious guards... she let out a soft sigh was it too much to a... View More
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10 hours ago

























