//------------------------------// // Judgment // Story: Disappear // by ShimmeringStallion //------------------------------// Judgment “What is it that you wish to ask me?” Vanish sat comfortably, tipping his fedora up to get a clear view of Shining Armor. The Captain of the Royal Guard was trying to determine exactly what to ask Vanish through silent contemplation. The problem wasn’t the question itself, but rather how he worded it. “… Are you sorry for hurting my wife?” Shining Armor let his emotions speak for him, stopping himself from over-thinking the question and simply speaking from the heart. This did not amuse Vanish, who simply saw the question as being too vague to answer. “… Your wife: Princess Mi Amo-…” Shining Armor stopped pacing, pushing his nose directly against Vanish’s in fury. “CADANCE! HER NAME IS…” The white unicorn paused before turning around quickly, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. He quickly realized that if he lost control out of such simplistic reasons, or attracted the attention of the other guards, he would lose his chance of Vanish speaking to him, personally. The Captain of the Royal Guard would never be in a proper position to neglect his duties and speak to Canterlot’s sole prisoner, after all; this was their only chance to clear the air of all misconceptions. Vanish tilted his head and corrected himself. “‘Princess Cadance’ is it?” Shining Armor gritted his teeth in frustration. “Don’t toy with me.” Vanish smirked, ducking his head down, to which Shining Armor was about to remove the mercenary's fedora by force, until he saw him reach up and remove it himself, as he replied. “I did what I did, out of duty. It was neither a personal attack, nor was it premeditated. In fact, had everything gone as planned, I would have taken her wings in a similar manner to how I was ‘given’ the wings of Fluttershy. I had hoped to negotiate their retrieval, if possible.” “That doesn’t answer my question.” Shining Armor was diligent, loyal, and calm, such as he prided himself on being for his job. However, when it came to discussing his wife, he was a powder keg of emotion, waiting to burst when given the right incentive. In this case, it was how casual of a tone Vanish was taking with him. He asked again, “Are you sorry for what you did to her?” The dual-horned unicorn stood up, making direct eye contact with Shining Armor as he responded with a question of his own. “Let me ask you: Do you apologize for defending her?” Shining Armor raised an eyebrow at the question that the stallion that stood before him, had posed. “W-What kind of... Of course I don’t!” Vanish leaned against the wall as he took a casual tone. “I see. Why ask me about what I feel now, then?” Shining Armor’s eyes quickly went from fierce and unrelenting, to soft and hopeful. “Because I want you to give me a reason to trust you; that’s all I’m asking for. Princess Celestia might trust you, but I don’t.” Vanish chuckled at the words that the wedded stallion uttered, before talking. “I have no obligation to answer you based off of ‘wants’, Shining Armor. You should know this.” Shining Armor raised his hoof, and shook his head. “I understand that, bu-” “You want to trust me?” Vanish gave an ice-cold stare to the honorable guard as he stopped avoiding the question. “Then I will refrain from lying, as well as unnecessarily covering the cruel truth with some form of metaphorical ‘glitter’ to make it more appealing to you.” Shining Armor looked somewhat rattled at what Vanish was saying; this was not what he was hoping for. Vanish looked down to the floor, unable to look the stallion in the eyes. “I was paid to obtain Princess Cadance’s wings. This, I did. The means I took to do them, I find discomfort in remembering. I wish it was different,” He paused, looking up from the floor as he met Shining Armor’s stare once more. “but if I had to do it again, I would do it exactly as it happened the first time.” Shining Armor wanted to knock Vanish through the paned glass window for his words, but the dark blue stallion continued to speak. “What I mean to say, is that even with foresight of events, I could do little to change them and hope for me to still obtain her wings, and be able to take on the Rulers of the Night and Day.” Shining Armor was still furious, but was able to understand the stallion’s logic; if Vanish took it easier on anyone back in the Wedding Hall, they could have hindered his fight against Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. Still, it did little to help quell his anger. Quickly, Vanish took control of the subject, voicing his own curiosities. “If I may ask, how is she? Your wife, I mean.” Shining Armor was slightly startled at the sudden act of concern that emanated from the eyes of Vanish, but responded with a stern, defensive look in his eyes. “S-She’s in the Infirmary, resti-!” Vanish lunged at Shining Armor as soon as he heard the word ‘Infirmary’, the act of which caught Shining Armor entirely by surprise. “She's your WIFE! How are you capable of doing anything, but staying by her side in her time of need!?” Vanish’s words cut into Shining Armor, wounding his pride and his honor more than any spear could hope to cause in mortal damage. The blue-maned unicorn was given the opportunity to stand, doing so while backing up, unable to answer the question poised against him with the same stern look that he was receiving. “W-Well, I have a job to do.” Vanish raised his hoof with an enraged stare, curling it as if he was about to throw a punch into Shining Armor’s face as he belittled the Captain of the Royal Guard. “You… You dare to criticize me on how I do my job, when you let yours control your life so carelessly!?” Shining Armor found himself backed against a wall with Vanish’s furious gaze piercing right through him. The white-coated stallion had become covered in a cold sweat, stammering as he tried to respond. “I… I…” Shining Armor had no comeback for the criminal’s claims. He failed to even see the moment when the conversation shifted in direction, let alone when the target of aggression went from Vanish to himself, as it happened so fast that he could do little to stop it. It was then, that Shining Armor came to a realization. “I-If I did nothing, then Cadance would have been fine… it’s my fault.” Vanish’s look of aggression softened as he saw Shining Armor’s eyes stare into empty space, before the noble guard sat down and bowed his head, psychologically exhausted and defeated. “It was me.” He closed his eyes, as tears could be seen forming in them, while he continued whispering to himself. “Cadance… I’m so sorry…” Shining Armor was in his own world, his heart being at the mercy of his own mind, which had begun seeing him as the one to blame. However, the sound of magic being used caused him to look up at Vanish, who had grabbed the fedora he had removed earlier, as he spoke to the demoralized Captain of the Royal Guard. “I won’t seek your forgiveness, nor your trust, stallion. You know what you need to do, but first you have a job.” Shining Armor wiped his eyes with his foreleg, and stood back up, before continuing to walk down the hall, the tough exterior being little more than a hollow shell at this point. “Alright… It’s just down this hallway.” Shining Armor held back from prolonged conversation, trying not to lose control of his emotions again from the figurative ‘war’ that was going on inside his head. Vanish could see the stallion struggling to forgive himself, and spoke up. “Were it not for you, Cadance would not have lived to visit the Infirmary.” Shining Armor stopped and turned his head, shocked at the bold nature of the words Vanish spoke. The mercenary tipped the fedora on his head up in order to produce a solid line of eye contact with the Captain of the Royal Guard. “Understand that, before choosing to cast judgment upon yourself, Shining Armor.” Vanish continued to walk forward, as Shining Armor looked at the floor for a moment before galloping in order to catch up, eager to question the penultimate statement made by the fedora-sporting stallion. “What'd he mean by that? And… is he telling the truth?” Princess Celestia had been awaiting the arrival of Shining Armor and Vanish for an hour, now. She was far from being ignorant, though, and had spoken with the white-coated stallion about his wife, prior to giving him his instructions to await Vanish’s return to the castle. She knew that the two stallions would exchange words, but wondered if that is all that would be exchanged between them, given the actions the mercenary had taken at the Wedding Hall, coupled with the loving devotion that Shining Armor had for his wife. The Captain of the Royal Guard was too honorable to ask the princess for a day off, however, and it was not her place to push the notion, so she simply waited outside a room filled with bitter, cold memories that she was glad not to be facing. Much to her surprise, Shining Armor finally arrived with Vanish, neither one harboring visible wounds, aside from the ones they acquired from the fight in the Wedding Hall. Princess Celestia had the best doctors in Canterlot at her disposal, and they made sure to help Shining Armor with as much of their ability as they could once he had recovered from the effects of the sleeping powder Vanish had blown into his face, as well as the faces of everypony else in the Wedding Hall, save the Princesses of the Night and Day. Once asleep, Twilight Sparkle and her friends were given steady ‘dosages’ of powder to keep them asleep, but Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, and the Wonderbolts had been given the chance to wake up, and were instructed to head to the Canterlot Infirmary, accompanied by several guards, to tend to their injuries; Vanish had plans for several ponies, but for others, he felt a sense of responsibility for their wounds, not that he would openly admit it to any of them. To the princesses, he simply stated, “They have no place being here when they could be given proper medical treatment. Escort them at once.” Princess Celestia smiled as she saw Shining Armor smile to her, walking with authority towards the regal princess and some ponies that were standing guard in front of the closed door behind her. He stopped his trot just short of the princess and saluted the guards and Princess Celestia, as Vanish bowed in Celestia’s noble presence. Amazingly, his bow was rather minor in comparison to the one he gave to her sister, with him only removing the fedora with his hoof and bowing down slightly, though he had his reasons. Shining Armor spoke up. “Princess, I have brought Vanish, as per your request.” Shining Armor sounded as proper as he always did in front of the princess. “Excellent work, Shining Armor.” “Thank you, Princes-Oof!” Princess Celestia raised her eyebrow in confusion, before seeing Vanish retracting his own hoof, having used it to hit Shining Armor’s cutie mark, as if trying vaguely to produce some sort of ‘reminder’. After struggling to maintain his composure, Shining Armor continued speaking. “Erm, Princess, with your permission, I’d like to request… a temporary leave of absence.” The guards were visibly shocked to hear their diligent captain sounding as though he was asking for a ‘day off’, as was Princess Celestia, but she did not want the other guards to consider her as being a passive monarch by accepting such a request without reason; she had an image to uphold. “I see. I request to know the reason why you would request this.” This was solely a formality, but they both knew the reason, and it was no surprise what Shining Armor responded with. “Princess, I request to be allowed to remain by the side of my wife, Princess Mi Amo-!” Vanish chimed in. “Cadance!” Shining Armor gritted his teeth, having been casually interrupted by Vanish as he had done to the fedora-wearing stallion in their own conversation, before continuing. “… Princess Cadance, while she is in the Canterlot Infirmary.” Princess Celestia kept a look of firm authority on her face, but on the inside, she was proud that Shining Armor was showing such devotion to that which truly mattered in his life. After a brief pause, the alicorn princess made her decision. “Shining Armor, your request is granted.” Princess Celestia stepped forward to lower her horn upon Shining Armor’s shoulder. “Give the princess my regards.” Shining Armor smiled broadly before lifting his stance up properly. “I shall do so, Princess. And thank you.” Shining Armor turned and galloped down the hall with haste, as though time was somehow against him, knocking Vanish over in the process. The other guards were diligent in their stance, but smiled as their captain dashed down the castle halls. Vanish righted his position, sweeping some dust off of his saddlebags with his hooves, before properly standing up. “This really could have been prevented, for the most part, if you just spoke like normal ponies. I mean seriously, this is how you speak to one another?” Princess Celestia felt as though she was being mocked, but chuckled at the somewhat bitter criminal that stood before her. “Nice to hear from you too, Vanish.” The stallion bowed properly, as though his earlier one was only a gesture ‘for show’. “Good day, Princess Celestia. I come seeking my ‘living arrangements’.” Princess Celestia raised her foreleg, pointing it out to the side and addressing the guards behind her. “Guards? Open the doors.” Complying with the request, the two unicorn guards used their magic to each open one of the door panels, revealing a moderately sized, dimly lit room that the relatively small door seemed to be stopping most light from accessing. The room itself was made of blackened stone, almost seeming similar to coal or jet-black paint being used to decorate the walls. The floor was slightly brighter, but not by much, making the room almost look like it was from somewhere entirely different from most of Equestria, let alone the rest of the castle. The alicorn princess began explaining the meaning of the room to the dark blue unicorn next to her. “This room holds two cells. It has been here since Discord's rule over the ponies of this nation.” Looking down at the stallion, Princess Celestia began to feel ill as the mercenary seemed to me smiling sickly to himself, as he kept his stare aimed to the room ahead of him while speaking. “I must confess, Princess: I have read about this room. Gather had used it to detail what a prison cell looked like for our plans. It certainly feels ‘isolated’, given how it's in such a massive castle.” Princess Celestia had most of the castle renovated or outright rebuilt once Discord had been defeated by her and her sister, but they kept this room in case they ever needed to place a pony in captivity for some form of ‘crime’. Thankfully, they had been quite fortunate with regards to those that came to Equestria, as they often simply sought peace, leaving the room mostly unused. Those who threatened the harmony of Equestria often didn’t stay for very long, such as Nightmare Moon or The Queen of the Changeling Army. For Princess Celestia, just one look at this room brought back memories of when Discord had been in power over the ponies of Equestria. Retaining her commanding tone of voice, the bitter memories were submerged once more as she spoke to the mercenary. “… Your cell is the second one.” Vanish walked forward, noting how rough the floor and walls were. Not only that, but they were very, very cold. It looked uncomfortable, and it felt even worse. This was a room not meant for the ponies of Ponyville or Canterlot, surely. As the dual-horned unicorn approached the second cell, a guard used their magic to open the steel-barred cell door, which slid open with a sickening screech. Vanish looked inside the room, seeing a mirror and a sink on the right side of the room, and a cot to the left, directly opposite the mirror and sink. At the back, there was a small window with bars on it that provided a compact view of the garden outside the castle, and in the back-right corner of the cell, stood a single stall with an open door on it, akin to a public toilet often found around Dodge Junction. Vanish quickly commented on his new 'home'. “Hm. No comforts, just necessities.” Vanish used his magic to remove the two heavy double-saddlebags that he had carried from the chariot, placing them on the cot and attempting to walk inside the cell, before Princess Celestia stopped him by sticking her foreleg out in front of him, holding him with her hoof to his dark, dark blue-coated, fur-laden chest as she explained herself. “You will be staying here… but only when you are not serving your community service.” With that, the guard closed the cell door as the fedora-wearing stallion backed up, following the Princess out of the room, where she appeared to be finished speaking with the stallion. “P-Pardon me? ‘Community Service’? There was no such clause in my contract, my dear!” Hearing the guards close the doors behind him, Vanish caught up with Princess Celestia, who was smiling. “Well, Vanish, you told me to make a decision about the contract. It specified that I can also choose how you serve your incarceration. I was going to limit it to simple imprisonment, until Twilight Sparkle proposed an option that would benefit everyone.” Vanish stopped walking, looking down at the floor and remembering what Twilight had said. “… Twilight…” “By the way, the pony who will be responsible for monitoring you while you are in Ponyville serving your sentence, is here.” Princess Celestia raised her hoof to the window in front of her, as Vanish looked up, seeing the tall, white alicorn keeping her attention focused not on him, but on what was on the other side of the massive glass pane. “Pardon me?” Vanish walked forward before looking out the window himself, seeing an all-too-familiar pony waving their hoof at him. Vanish’s fury turned to an unusual feeling of relief, as he laughed to himself. “Ah ha ha, I should have known. From the very beginning, I should have known that you wouldn’t just let me stay in a cell, like I had more or less hoped would come to pass.” Princess Celestia proceeded to walk down the hall, away from the stallion and the prison cells, her eyes closed and her mouth displaying a coy smirk as she provided a clever remark in response. “Don’t blame me; it was your oversight, ‘my dear’.” Vanish chuckled briefly, sitting down and staring at the pony that was just outside the window, in the garden. “I suppose it was, Princess.” “… I suppose it was.”