//------------------------------//
// Return of the Shadowbolts 
// Story: Luminous Atonement 
// by Metool Bard 
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Luminous Atonement Chapter 11:
Return of the Shadowbolts


The Furies as you know them are dead and gone.  Despite the myths surrounding them, they indeed met their end in the Canterlot Caves.  However, they have returned through the help of another trio of pegasi that served the Princess of the Night.  You would know them better as the Shadowbolts.

Now, as you are no doubt aware, the Shadowbolts were not actually ponies.  They were an illusion; an obstacle that was overcome by the Element of Loyalty.  And upon their defeat, they dissolved into the dark energy from whence they came.  But the same dark magic that created them can be wielded by another creature.  That creature, of course, is Orthrus.

Ever since he was imprisoned, Orthrus has fought against the magical suppression of Tartarus.  This was not an easy feat, for Tartarus was designed for the purpose of keeping creatures like him from wreaking havoc on Equestria.  For a millennia, he focused his energy and strength, and after all that time, all it yielded him was a magic lamp from Saddle Arabia.  For him, this was a good start, and a precursor of things to come.

And while it was indeed a precursor, it was nothing more than that.  The genie's magic was not strong enough to free him.  Nevertheless, Orthrus would not be deterred.  He had the genie free another monster from Tartarus, and that monster promised to return and free him.  This plan did not bear any fruit, for the Chimera was quickly found and dispatched, thanks in no small part to the Element of Generosity.

This was but a minor setback for the great Hound of the Moon.  After his first plan failed, he came up with another.  Abusing his status as master of the lamp, he ordered the genie to harness the power of a unicorn who could free him from Tartarus.  Unlike last time, he was actually freed from his prison, if only temporarily.  Using his cunning, he fooled the genie into willingly becoming his servant.  Had it not been for the might of his brother and the unwavering inner strength of the Element of Magic, he would have triumphed that day.

However, much to his chagrin, he did not.  He was defeated by Cerberus, and the genie was freed from his control.  He was dragged back to Tartarus, where he would bide his time just as he did for centuries on end.

And then, five days before this very moment in time, he managed to push his limits again, and cast even stronger magic.

This time, he created his own Shadowbolts, and had them reanimate the bodies of the Furies.  In mind, these new Furies are the same as when they were still alive: Vigilantes who punish any and all infractions of justice.  But below that intelligence lies a more primitive instinct; the instinct of the Shadowbolts.  Though not aware of it themselves, they exist only to serve their master Orthrus, and nothing can be said to convince them otherwise.

These new Furies were summoned to Tartarus, and their instincts dictated them to find a way to free Orthrus.  For five days, they found themselves without a solution.  That is, until one presented itself, in the form of the Element of Kindness.


***


Luna and the others opened their eyes as the Kraken's psychic tale had concluded.  Luna's brow furrowed, and she placed a hoof to her chin.  Discord's reaction was similar, as he stroked his goatee with his eagle talon.  Fluttershy flattened her ears and cast her eyes downward, nervously twiddling her hooves.  All was silent for a time.  Finally, Discord was the first to speak.

"So, let me get this straight," he said, donning a chef's hat and summoning an oven and a baking pan that held half a cake. "You're saying that Orthrus took a half-baked idea, put it back in the oven for a few more minutes, and came up with necromancy."

To illustrate his point, the Master of Chaos put the baking pan into the oven, waited a few seconds, and took out a full cake.

"(How you interpret it is irrelevant,)" gargled the Kraken. "(All you need to know is that it is the truth.)"

"Huh.  And here I thought Orthrus was crazy back when he thought the Chimera was going to be of any use to him," said Discord, taking a bite out of the baking pan while leaving the cake intact.

"Wait, you're not telling us everything," said Princess Luna. "You mentioned before that the Furies bar our way to Orthrus.  How so?"

"(It is because of the Furies that the rumors are spreading as quickly as they are,)" the Kraken answered. "(If left unchecked, your allies will be few and far between, Princess of the Night.  Just as they were when you became Nightmare Moon.)"

Angel raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

"I'm with the bunny on this one," said Discord as he polished off the baking pan and threw the cake away. "It's true that not a lot of ponies like me and Lunatic right now.  But we still have more support than Nightmare Moon ever had."

"(And who will support the supporters, Master of Chaos?)" the Kraken inquired. "(What would happen if somepony decided to take things into their own hooves and, say, wage war against the Princess of the Day or the Crystal Empire?  Even with a handful of friends standing by your side, you cannot hope to take on all of Equestria.)"

"Hi, I don't believe we've met.  I'm Discord, Master of Chaos.  Maybe you've heard of me," said the draconequus, extending his lion paw to the sea monster.

"(One has already envisioned innumerable scenarios where you are turned back into stone, Master of Chaos,)" growled the Kraken. "(One would not act so smug in your position.)"

"Don't bother.  It's come to my attention that it's impossible for him to take anything seriously," said Luna with a sigh. "But enough about that.  You're saying that we need to defeat the Furies and stop these rumors before we fight Orthrus, correct?"

"(Indeed,)" the Kraken said with a nod of his great head. "(Without the Furies, Orthrus's curse is his only weapon against you.)"

"So, how do we find them?" asked Luna.

"(There is a small forest to the east of the Valley of Dragons,)" said the Kraken. "(The Furies will be searching for you there.)"

Fluttershy gulped. "Th-they're looking for us?" she mumbled meekly.

"(Not per se,)" said the Kraken. "(It is part of Orthrus's plan.  If they don't find you, they'll do something drastic in order to flush you out.  One presumes that One does not need to elaborate on what would happen should they carry out this plan.)"

Luna bit her lip and shook her head. "No, you don't," she said darkly.  She then turned to Discord, a serious look in her teal eyes. "Discord, take us to those woods, immediately.  We have to stop the Furies here and now, before they can do any more damage."

"Now just a minute, Lunatic," said Discord. "I still have some questions for Ink Breath over here.  Like how is my magic being countered?  I don't think Orthrus was ever that powerful."

The Kraken closed his eyes. "(That is something even One has trouble wrapping ones great mind around,)" he said somberly.

"Wow, it's just not your day, is it?" said Discord with a condescending smirk. "I'm beginning to think that all-powerful brain of yours is not what it's all cracked up to be."

The Kraken snarled. "(One is very patient, Master of Chaos, but that patience is wearing thin.)"

"Look, I'm just as curious about that as you are," said Luna. "But this is more important right now, don't you agree?"

"I never said it wasn't," said Discord with a shrug.

Luna stared at the draconequus blankly. "Then, why did you bother asking?"

"Well, who do you want to ask?  Orthrus?" Discord shot back. "I think he'd be a bit preoccupied trying to destroy us.  Unless he wants to boast first, in which case I'm probably going to fall asleep from boredom."

Luna raised an eyebrow.

"What?  If you've heard one grandiose villain speech, you've heard them all," said Discord plainly. "At least mine were a bit more creative."

"Um, Discord?  Your Highness?  We, really don't have time to argue about this," said Fluttershy timidly.

"Fluttershy's right," said Luna. "If we have to beat the answers out of Orthrus, then that is what we'll do.  Now let's stop horsing around and get moving, Discord!  There's not a moment to lose!"

"Alright, alright!" Discord conceded. "Sheesh, you can be just as touchy as your sister sometimes, you know that?"

He then snapped his fingers, and the Kraken found himself alone once again.  The Kraken snorted.

Ones actions mattered not, thought he. The Furies would've gotten what they wanted either way.  With that being the case, One has to wonder how you will handle this, Princess of the Night...