//------------------------------// // Chapter 6, Military Might // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain, Vol. 5 -- Faded Memories // by shysage //------------------------------// From chapter 1... Star Dusk faced one more detail. She decided she needed a 'guard' of sorts. Star Dusk walked around Canterlot briefly, and smiled as she saw most ponies wandering aimlessly around, including Princess Celestia. Star Dusk just ignored her. She found a large stallion however, in full guard gear, too. Star Dusk walked up to the stallion, stopped in front of him, and said "You will help me, correct?" The big stallion replied "Of course Star Dusk, for you are great". That 'big stallion' was Shining Armor... Star Dusk next erased the memory spell, which took less than half a minute maybe, then repeated "You will help me, correct?" ... The depth of Shining Armor's military training and amazing capabilities have already been seen in the dark journey recorded in Summer's first chronicles. His military might would play out now, as well. As soon as the erasing of the memory spell took effect, Shining Armor remembered everything... In a few seconds maybe, he very quickly made the following observations and tactical decisions. ... Before the memory spell was removed, all the ponies around him, he, himself included, could not remember anything, and were simply wandering around, unsure of what to even do. ... Equestria had been taken over by means of a memory spell, and the mare that faced him was at least involved. ... The mare that faced him had taken so long to erase the memory spell, that it was clear that she alone could not have taken over Equestria... Not even close... This meant that she was NOT working alone. This meant that there was another, unknown, magically powerful party also behind the takeover of Equestria. This meant that Shining Armor MUST NOT 'blow his cover' for any reason. ... Shining Armor remembered that his beloved Mare was somewhere around the Crystal Empire, probably wandering around herself with no memory of things past. ... Shining Armor remembered the last thing he had said to the mare now facing him, and that she had just asked him to repeat that. ... The big stallion replied again "Of course Star Dusk, for you are great". Star Dusk said to the stallion "You are my guard from now on. When I yell 'guard', you had better come." The big stallion replied again "Of course Star Dusk, for you are great". "Come with me" Star Dusk said. Star Dusk walked her new guard over to the large doors leading to the Audience Hall, then said "Guard, sit here and watch over things until I return." The big stallion sat down, then replied again "Of course Star Dusk, for you are great". ... The mare whose guard he now was, was now walking away, after asking Shining Armor to 'watch over things'. This left him more time to think, and plan. It was fortunate, at any rate, that so high ranking of a leader of Equestria's military was now able to remember, and therefore to function in his military role. However, Shining Armor still realized that he absolutely MUST act exactly like everypony else, so as to not draw the attention of whoever else was helping this mare. Well, he realized that he must also meticulously carry out the bidding of this mare too; failure to fully comply would cause problems. Shining Armor was a powerful Unicorn, and quickly sensed that more than one spell had been placed on him, and only one had been cancelled. He realized that one of them was some sort of allegiance spell, but it seemed fairly weak, and seemed to collapse once the memory spell was cancelled. Well, it collapsed for Shining Armor, at any rate. He could not identify the other one, but would keep alert should it surface. Shining Armor tried to keep on the lookout for any of Equestria's Princesses. He could do little at this point, but he would need to find a way to protect and/or collect them at some point. Protecting them was his job, even if it cost him his life. Shining Armor noted that the mare was leaving in an Air Coach. He ran through a few options in his mind, and decided that the Crystal Palace was at least a likely destination. The Portal to the Equestria Girls world was the likely reason. Still, at this point, Shining Armor had to do what he was told. He would stay where he was told to stay, and keep his eyes open, and his mouth shut. During the next hour, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna both walked past him. They couldn't remember anything, like everypony else, and were wandering around aimlessly, but at least they were otherwise fine. Shining Armor decided the elimination of the existing rulership of Equestria was not very important to whatever powers had taken over. The completness of the social destruction caused by the memory spell was the likely cause. If they couldn't remember, they weren't a threat. Shining Armor also realized that, even though the take-over of Equestria was maybe an hour or two old, he was probably the only one who 'remembered', and could therefore function. This thought was immediately followed by the cryptic magical message he perceived: "Rod, Sir, Func" (Roderick, Sir [Shining Armor], are you Functional?) Princess Celestia could receive and send mesages from Princess Twilight via Spike. Shining Armor and his upper command could communicate verbally, well mentally, using their magic. This tactical fact was known by very few. Shining Armor thought a minute, then realized that his suspicion that the Portal was the mare's next stop was correct. Shining Armor had left Roderick in command at the Crystal Palace when he left for Canterlot this morning. Evidently, she had picked him as her 'guard' there. Shining Armor sent back "Yes, SitID, Brief" (Yes, Identify your situation briefly) Roderick returned a few mesages "Mare, Memory Clear, Eq. Compromised" (Mare cleared his memory, then he realized Equestria had been taken over) "Aligned, led to Portal" (Roderick aligned with the mare's expectation just like Shining Armor had, then he led the mare to the Portal) "Mare cast on Portal, back to Air Coach" (The mare cast magic on the Portal, then Roderick lead her back down to the Air Coach) "Portal Guard, back at Portal" (Mare made Roderick Portal Guard, and he was there now) "Mare in Air Coach, Dest unk." (Mare left in Air Coach, destination unknown.) Shining Armor replied simply "Stby" (standby) Since the Portal had the spells cast on it, anyone who came through would probably receive the same spells, and therefore would not remember. There was nothing anypony could do about that, so detaining anyone that came through would be useless. Shining Armor realized that anyone who tried to use the Portal from Equestria would likely be involved in reclaiming Equestria, and so should probably be left alone. Still, Shining Armor wanted to carefully monitor ALL Portal use. Shining Armor sent to Roderick these messages. "Allow ALL Portal use" (Allow, do not stop ALL use of the Portal.) "Rept ALL Portal use" (Carefully report ALL Portal use to me) "Check Princ as opport and rept" (Check on Princess Cadance as he had opportunity, and keep Shining Armor posted) Roderick quickly replied "Undst" (Understood) And that was that. Shining Armor just sat and waited. He and Roderick were tracking the most important areas, but they could really do nothing without more help. Sometimes waiting was the hardest... After maybe 4 hours, the Air Coach returned. Shining Armor was still sitting where the mare had placed him, and hadn't moved. He would do what he was told... ...until this mare walked up with Shysage's Mare... Shining Armor was instantly furious, but kept his composure, as this mare said "We wish to not be disturbed", and then took Shysage's Mare inside. Nopony needed to tell him what was about to happen... Shining Armor's job was to know. He moved to where he could listen. Still, he was surprised that Shysage and his Mare were so close, that even with the memory spell, the mare was 'getting nowhere', and was only getting frustrated. When Shysage's Mare started to cry out, Shining Armor began quietly knocking on the door. It was all he could do... And it was all he could do to not sleep that mare, or worse, right where she stood, after what she had tried... "Guard" Star Dusk yelled. It was likely that Shining Armor's knocking had precipitated this response at this point. Her guard (Shining Armor) came in. "Take this 'thing' to the dungeon. She can rot away there, for all I care..." Shining Armor used his magic to gently and carefully drape Shysage's crying Mare over his back, and hold her there, then open the door, and they were soon gone. He would take her to the dungeon, all right. That was probably the safest spot in the realm right now. Shining Armor took Shysage's Mare to the prison cells below the Palace, and found one that was fairly clean. Then he used his magic to run maybe five big buckets of water through the cell to clean it up the rest of the way. Shining Armor carefully put Shysage's Mare down on the stone floor, and she quickly sat up and just cried... Every minute or so, she would cry out "Shysage, please come back..." She never opened her eyes... Shining Armor used some wet cloth to clean her wounds, and Shysage's Mare just ignored him. It was clear to Shining Armor that Shysage's Mare was emotionally battered too. She simply did not deserve this... Shining Armor brought in some water and food, and then carefully locked her inside for her own protection. If Shining Armor had any say, that mare would never get close to Shysage's Mare again... Ever... Days... Weeks... Roderick frequently saw Princess Cadance, and let Shining Armor know. At least she was ok. Every day, Shining Armor would tend to Shysage's Mare, giving her new food and water (she rarely ate or drank), and cleaning up her wounds, which were slowly healing. Still, it was clear to Shining Armor that emotionally, Shysage's Mare was retreating into herself... She needed her Stallion soon... Shining Armor had no control over that. The mare whose guard he was seemed to bring in a new 'catch' every day, and had little use for the Air Coach. With her permission, Shining Armor walked across to the Air Coach stallions one day, and quickly sent them to the Crystal Palace. Once there, Roderick briefed them, and told them what their obligations were now, and how to act. They assured him they would do everything they could for Equestria. On Day 8, Roderick informed Shining Armor that a mare in the city had 'thrown herself at him' that afternoon. Roderick indicated that he actually had to sleep the mare in order to get away. Shining Armor suspected that the third spell cast on him may be related to that... And that was disgusting... On day 11, a new pony came through the Portal. According to the Cutie Mark, Shining Armor knew it was Equestria Girls Summer Rain. Well she forgot everything anyway. Shining Armor told Roderick to try to keep her close to the Crystal Palace, but realized that he couldn't be everywhere at once. Day 14, a 'people' appeared at the Portal, grabbed the edge then disappeared, only to reappear maybe a minute later, then turn into a pony and jump off the balcony. A minute later, that pony flew to the balcony with the Day 11 pony, and he pushed the mare through the Portal, and thy were gone. Roderick had just finished this message train to Shining Armor, when the same two ponies came back through the Portal. Shining Armor knew it was Shysage from Roderick's careful description of the 'people' form. Shining Armor knew Shysage's Mare needed him as quickly as possible. Shining Armor knew how to make this happen. Shining Armor sent back "Arest, Air Coach, Canterlot" (Arrest them, send them to Canterlot in the Air Coach) Roderick played the part, and arrested them on the spot and harshly demanded they follow him down to the Air Coach. Still, he realized he could not do much to restrain them by himself, should they attempt to flee. They followed, and were soon in the Air Coach headed to Canterlot. Shining Armor met the Air Coach in Canterlot, and was also harsh, and led them quickly to the jail cells under the Palace. He placed them both on either side of Shysage's Mare. Five minutes later, he opened their cell doors, dumped water in, then left the cell doors open, then left himself, in order to check on the mare whose guard he was. She was 'busy', so he came back. It was clear that Shysage and Equestria Girls Summer Rain both had their memory. Of course, they were all in Shysage's Mare's cell when Shining Armor returned. Shysage was trying to help his Mare while crying... Shining Armor walked in at this point, and realized Shysage was sure they were 'done for'. Shining Armor just asked how he could help... Shysage immediately wanted to know what happened, and Shining Armor's description seemed to draw his Mare out some, and Shysage did the rest, and pulled her back. Still his Mare knew she was really battered, inside and out. Shysage asked for another hour, and they just cried together. This was a good thing though. Shining Armor let himself back into their cell in an hour. Shysage, still crying, immediately thanked Shining Armor for taking care of them. "I need to get her out of Equestria... I need to get her to the Portal" Shysage said, almost pleading. "Won't the Portal erase memories when it is used?" Shining Armor asked. Shysage replied slowly "No... I had that fixed..." "Well, I can't risk sending you in the Air Coach, but I think it is safe to take the Train" Shining Armor suggested. "I can come help you, maybe. The station isn't far." "Ok, lets do that, then." Shysage said Shysage knew traveling would be hard on his Mare, but they had little choice at the moment. Shysage also remembered that Shining Armor's Mare was out there somewhere too. "Shining Armor, if you can, get your Mare through the Portal, it will erase all the spells, and prevent any of them from sticking any more. Just don't stay long." Shysage said softly. "I wish I could do more to help you..." "Thank you, Shysage. Do you have a plan, by the way?" Shining Armor asked. "Once my Mare is healed, we will probably need to gather Princess Twilight and her girls, one at a time, using the Equestria Girls to help find them. We will need to collect the other Princesses too, probably the same way. Once that is done, we will need to face, together, whoever is responsible. It all seems like a long-shot though, so I don't know..." Shysage said haltingly. Shining Armor recognized battlefield trauma when he saw it. Shysage was almost completely overwhelmed. Shining Armor just said softly "Let's get your Mare to the train station."