//------------------------------//
// Truth: Trio 
// Story: Shine Of The Silver Sun 
// by Nameless Narrator 
//------------------------------//

The white city would be shrouded in darkness were it not for the abundance of street lamps and lights cast by every building, every high spire, and even the lanterns of pegasi flying above. Entire Canterlot looked like a brightly burning torch visible from most of Equestria on this clear late summer night.

Astray couldn't help thinking about Bubbles he'd dropped off near the School for Gifted Unicorns. The demoness had started climbing the walls immediately after Astray showing her the correct tower, seemingly unbothered by the fact that in just few minutes she was so high she could easily see the city walls. When he'd finally left, hoping nopony would notice the scars Bubbles' claws left in the walls, the happily climbing mare was just a little dot high up above him. 

Now, the night was already in full swing, and he saw next to the entrance to the Thirsty Traveller the dark towering silhouette of Anvil outlined against light cast from the ground floor windows.

"Hi," he waved at the minotaur who nodded in response.

"How was it?"

"My stomach revolved just from standing on the ground and watching her, but she seemed to be having fun. It's refreshing to see somepony as carefree as she is."

"Yeah, she just brings smile to one's face," Anvil looked into the darkness for a second, faint smile on her muzzle, "Let's go in. I think I might have scared off some potential customers by standing here so let's repay the owner a little."

"Heh, I didn't bring much gold with me, mostly just something for the night and the tickets back to Manehattan. A beer or two wouldn't go amiss after today, though."

"Definitely."

A wave of complete silence spread over the bar as eating or drinking patrons gradually noticed the entering 'giants'. Alcohol is a powerful social lubricant, however, and conversations restarted soon after Anvil waved at the bartender and pointed to the nearest free table where she sat down. The wooden chair creaked dangerously under her weight, but it was obvious that the innkeeper was used to at least griffon visitors because it was wide enough for Anvil to eventually ease herself onto it with some comfort.

"What'll it be, bigguns?" asked a grey earthpony waitress wearing an apron which had to be white at one point of history.

"Beer and," Anvil sniffed the air and licked her muzzle, "is that grilled cheese with herbs I can smell, the Crystal Empire recipe?"

"Indeed it is," the waitress gave her a wide smile, "Now that's a nose that would put a diamond dog to shame."

"It's one of the first southern treats I've ever had, and it's to die for."

"Southern recip- aaaah, I see. You're from the frozen north, right?"

"Exactly."

"So, that's one beer and grilled cheese. And for you, sir?" she turned to Astray.

"The same. If she says something is good then it must be top notch."

"Alright, doubles," the waitress flashed them both a friendly smile and left.

"I hope there's a lot of it. I could eat whole bucket, wood included," Astray stretched his legs. Today had been a lot of walking or standing up and he was happy to finally take a break.

"Actually, it's rather light," explained Anvil, "More a snack than a meal." 

"Awwww..."

Anvil quietly stared at the satyr. Astray requited the attention, and soon realized that while she was looking straight at him, her mind was somewhere else entirely. Not wanting to bother her, he looked around. The wide open room was filled with golden light of bulbs spread around the ceiling. A burning fireplace crackled in the corner as a safeguard against the night's cold. Astray hadn't noticed before, but while the night in Manehattan was warm at this time of year, Canterlot went fairly chilly after dark.  

"Two beers," he heard a cheery voice, realizing he completely missed the approaching waitress, "The food will be here in few minutes. It's a bit of a rush tonight."

"No problem, thank you," Astray nodded. Then he turned to Anvil who carefully examined her beer. It felt to him like she wanted to say something but was hesitant for some reason. Maybe it was about the case and she still needed to sort things out inside her head before preseting them to him? "Is something wrong?"

Anvil downed her entire mug of beer in one go.

"Bring another one, will you?" she told the shocked waitress.

"Oh, ehm, well, yes, of course," the mare rushed off. 

"Thirsty?" Astray raised an eyebrow. It was a move he'd learned from Cromach and Contradiction who used it in abundance. It clearly relayed that the question asked wasn't the real question, and that any topic the target would like to talk about was welcome.

Anvil looked from side to side, as if checking for somepony following her. Satisfied, she leaned closer to the satyr, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them.

"Alright, Astray, don't read too much into what I'm about to say, okay?" 

"Uhhh, sure?"

"You know what I think about you, right?"

"You haven't missed an opportunity to tell me, yes," Astray nodded, "Although I've gotten some mixed signals recently."

"Well, you're wrong!"

"About the good part or the bad part? I'm really confused here."

"Can you shut up and let me talk? This is difficult for me as it is," Anvil took her fresh beer from the arriving waitress and this time just sipped it before putting the mug down, "Ehm, I was wrong... partially. I thought you didn't belong with us. You're not strong and you will never match me, Bubbles, or Contradiction. But... I learned strength comes in more forms than I thought. You possess... one tiny fraction of the many facets of strength. Bubbles told me I wasn't really cold and hard, and I wanted to prove her wrong. I was worried that would only be showing weakness to those I can't completely trust. And... I still don't trust her, I can't read her, and I don't know what she'll do under pressure. I don't trust Contradiction in the same way to keep her cool when needed. The only four Order members I think I can trust are Cross and Shadowstep due to their infinitely greater amount of experience, Cromach because... because I just feel I can put my life into his talons and... well... you. You might not be poweful, but for what it's worth if worst comes to the worst I want you to have my back more than Bubbles or Contradiction."

Astray's growing shock during Anvil's monologue was reflected in his opening eyes and mouth. Never in a million years would he expect the thing bothering Anvil to be her possible respect for him.

"I... I don't know what to say other than thank you," he stuttered out, "I know I leave a lot to be desired but I'll do my best to fill those gaps and be a worthwhile member of the team."

Anvil clicked her tongue, frowning.

"That wasn't exactly what I was trying to say..." she drummed her fingers on the table while taking a swig out of her mug again, "I mean... I've always said you ponies were too emotional, and that's completely true, but Bubbles said I should try it at least once so... here it goes. You aren't right in the head, Astray. No one who wants himself to be harmed is. But that makes you easy to figure out and read. However, you'd refuse to hurt a fly unless absolutely necessary, which I disagree with as well. You need to be hard when the situation requires it. On the other hand, you talking to Black Shield instead of stabbing her was... stupid, yes, but somehow inspiring, I guess? What I'm trying to say is that while I might disagree with your approach sometimes, I will respect it in the future and take it into consideration instead of dismissing it."

Astray still got the feeling that Anvil was avoiding the real subject she wanted to talk about, because this time she'd just said a similar thing as before, only with a little more detail. However, it was still... a new and unusual feeling to be appreciated. Bubbles was different. She wanted simple things anypony could provide and Astray was just in the right place at the right time, but Anvil's... trust was something to be earned. He would have never expected to reach that level. After all, his highest goal had always been to be good enough to take a blow for somepony better...

...and that was exactly what was holding him back, as Anvil had just said.

However, in the same way she accepted that he wasn't only a sum of his flaws, he should finally do the same thing. He couldn't just ignore them, though.

"I'm glad you believe in me, Anvil, I really am, but there is a long way ahead of me before I become somepony I myself can... be in peace with, if ever. Now that I have at least a little perspective I must admit to myself that the reason I wouldn't hurt anypony wasn't because I was good or anything, but because, as you said, I wanted to be hurt myself. I don't know how to be different, honestly. It took sir Cromach and you to make me at least think about trying, though. Namely your... well, massages."

Anvil blinked, a corner of her mouth curling up.

"How come?"

"Uhm, this is going to sound weird."

"I am a minotaur currently talking about her feelings. You don't get stranger than that."

"So, here goes... I never thought somepony would willingly touch a broken monster like me in a good way. I've had plenty of physical contact, and I hated almost all of it," Astray looked up from his beer, catching Anvil biting her lip. He grabbed her big hand with his both, "Look, what is all this really about? I'm truly happy you consider me worth talking to, but I feel that's not what you want to say."

She recoiled and sighed.

"Alright. I know you've been staring at me while I strutted around naked. You are at that age. I was the same some ten years ago. Before Rift was founded, I forced minotaurs half of your age to service me in the middle of the camp while other watched. Of course, warriors used me like a rag in turn whenever they wanted. That is the life between minotaurs, at least its... carnal portion. So... I've had a dry spell since leaving the north and you're the closest thing to a minotaur I've met whom I wouldn't have to force into anything."

Now it was Astray's turn to chug the rest of his beer in one go. This was impossible. Straight up. The beer had to be too strong, that was the only explanation. He was currently passed out and frothing at the mouth while Anvil carried him off to bed. This wasn't what was really happening.

"But me and Bubbles..." was all he could mutter in his shock.

"Bubbles loves you, as much as the little thing is capable of, I don't. I just trust you enough not to take advantage of me if I allow you to... be practical about our natural needs. Not that you could FORCE me into anything even in a good position for you, but I'd prefer avoiding unnecessary defensive violence."

"Another beer?" asked the waitress passing by. Astray, currently frozen in such unfortunate position that left him glaring straight into Anvil's abundant cleavage, was unable to answer.

"Yeah, bring him another," Anvil nodded.

"Is he okay?"

"I think I might have broken a life's worth perception of reality," the minotaur waved the earthpony off, "He'll be alright after another beer or two... or ten."

"AAH!" Astray unfroze after a while, realizing where he was staring and turning his head away. Anvil just chuckled to herself. The satyr gave her a careful and thoughtful look, "Look, I've told you already how ponies treated me before I joined the Order. I don't know if I can ever look at sex like a normal consensual thing, but I guess we're in a similar boat about it. Anyway, you told me over and over I wasn't a real stallion to you."

Anvil smacked the table.

"I was wrong, all right? This entire chat is about how wrong I've been about so many things and how I'm risking looking stupid and weak at the moment. Anyway, I'm not romantically interested in you, I'm just offering a mutually beneficial physical agreement. You can have all your emotional stuff with Bubbles or whoever else you want. So, you in?"

Contrary to the angry tone, Anvil still looked apprehensive and flustered. Once again, Astray came to the conclusion that he was overthinking the situation. If he wasn't available, Anvil would just visit a brothel eventually. If he wasn't good enough, nothing would change. If he somehow turned out to be worth her time...

Despite his experiences, a nearly ten years older minotaur was interested in him. Then he realized the truth about his past - he'd been forced to learn to give pleasure and used over and over. Nopony would use him repeatedly if he wasn't worth it. Perhaps he could, as they say, use his powers for good?

Maybe, just maybe, the past was only something to learn from, not something that would haunt him for the rest of his short, miserable life.

"Let's, umm, give it a shot," offered Astray.

"Good. Now you know why I wanted a lighter dinner."

"You planned on me agreeing?"

"Could somepony refuse this?" she leaned back in the chair and stretched. 

Astray shook his head, letting out a short laugh.

"I guess you're right."

"Grilled cheese with crystal berries, twelve herbs and spices. Twice," the waitress' cheery voice cut through the already much more light-hearted mood than before. Leaning her back in a practiced way to make the platter slide on the table while putting the other one balanced on her foreleg in front of Anvil, she delivered the entire order, "Bon appetit!"

"She's pretty smart for a tavern helping hoof," commented Anvil.

"By now, the two of us should know best that appearances might be decieving," Astray dug into the white wheel of drippy cheese covered in greenery. With the next breath, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He wheezed, "Spicy..."

"You'll get used to it."

After the quick snack and a short chat, Anvil rented a room upstairs for tonight.

Astray learned that a forceful touch didn't have to be only bad, and Anvil was introduced to the experience of somepony who had the knowledge of how to pleasure others kicked and beaten into him. Neither of them regretted it.

Some time later, Anvil ran her hand over Astray's sweaty, heaving chest.

"Only two hours? We'll have to work on that."

Astray, gasping for breath, just gave her a wide-eyed stare. Anvil laughed and continued:

"What? Stamina comes with practice. It's just like any other training."

"I'm... gonna... die..." the satyr croaked.

Then his world shattered but, thankfully, his pelvis did not.


***


While Anvil was busy making both Astray and the bed scream for mercy, Contradiction was pacing around Cromach's office in Canterlot castle. Something felt off, wrong. Not only did she have zero clue how to find a new trace of the rings, but after listening to the report of the Royal Guards currently investigating within the ranks of high wizardry she was getting the idea that whoever had outsmarted the Royal Guard once would be successful again. 

Inside her head, she turned back to the only Royal Guard who had one-upped the mages before - Black Shield.

"Seek Mystery. Two Hazel street three, filly," she muttered to herself, "Name, address... and?"

The "filly" part of the note seemed out of place. Granted, the meaning might have been lost with the horrible shape of the message, but a little voice inside Connie's head kept telling her there was more to what Shield had left behind. After all, the pony had managed to overcome a complex mind-control spell tailored specifically for her. She HAD to be pretty smart.

"Filly... insult? Calling me too young to understand? Maybe so that I would get angry and pursue the clue before it became useless? I doubt that," the unicorn shook her head, clicking her teeth in disappointment, "Maybe a clue to what Secret Seeker wanted with the rings? Regenerative powers, longevity, immunity to disease, what more could he unlock? He already managed to fully recover from a chunk of his body missing in under a minute."

Kicking the workdesk in frustration, Connie gave up for tonight. 

"Stuff might make more sense after a good night's sleep. It usually does."

Pulling out a rolled-up thin blanket from her saddlebag, she relaxed on a couch by the wall. Cromach had often spent days here in Canterlot working on pony-griffon ambassador stuff, and he still didn't have his own guest quarters. However, his office here was big, much bigger than the one in Manehattan, and Cromach had made it into a little home away from home.

Despite her head heavy with clues, ideas, and theories, Connie fell asleep mere seconds after she closed her eyes.


***


Bubbles was having the time of her life hanging outside a window to Arcane Hex's tower quarters. Her climb had left sections of the wall looking like a cheese grater, but now that she was up here she was quiet, nearly invisible in the darkness, and had excellent view of her target sitting in an armchair, reading, and making notes. Hex only rarely moved during the hour of her spying, and while Bubbles knew her mission was super important, she couldn't help looking down at the bustling night city.

Everything looked like dancing fireflies!

She had even followed the elderly wizard when he'd gone to the bathroom, crawling on the wall until she reached a smaller window cracked open. She'd been a little disappointed not to find any secret laboratory, but had dutifully followed the mage back to his study when he finished his business. 

However, her forelegs were growing tired by now. As light and strong as she was, she couldn't hang by her jaw without chewing a piece of wall off, which was her strongest muscle. Bubbles, though, had learned a little about scouting from talking to Anvil and already had a plan. She was so proud of herself that she had come up with it and didn't have to be told it for once.

Mister Arcane Hex's home was right under the roof, right? So if she climbed up there, she could still hear him moving around and climb back down to the windows in case something happened. With few leaps up a vertical wall, she ended up on hexagonal roof only slightly sloping down with a chimney where she could rest without sliding off. After her quiet exploration in case she had missed something earlier, she heard Hex walking around. According to her knowledge of the apartment's layout, the hoofsteps under her once again aimed for the bathroom.

The old pony had to be drinking a lot, or maybe that was just something ponies at that age did.

Still, she heard him much better than she had expected to.

Flushing of the toilet, hoofsteps on hard tiles, then on the carpet, the soft creak of the armchair, and the turning of a page.

Looking down the chimney, she heard Hex's quiet cough. Yep, that thing conducted any sound so well that her already excellent ears could hear everything happening inside loud and clear.

She heard soft grinding on the roof right behind her.

Spinning around, she showed her widest grin to...

...empty air.

Empty air which wobbled like steam, revealing Arcane Hex in his red wizard robe looking straight at her with a curious expression.

"Mind if I ask who you are and why are you walking around on my roof?" he asked amicably.

Bubbles' eyes darted from Hex to the long drop behind him. While she could easily get back down, doing so in a hurry wasn't something she wanted to do.

"Emmm," her mind worked so hard she thought smoke would start coming out of her ears. Then she recalled one of the simpler books Anvil read to her and smiled innocently at the wizard, "I am a chimney sweep!" she inched close to the chimney, put her ear on it, tapped it several times while circling around and humming thoughtfully to herself, "Yep, my analy- ansis- I think the patient is all good now," she patted the bricks like an obedient pet.

Hah! She knew the experience from watching the ponies at the hospital would be useful one day.

"A chimney sweep, eh?" Hex tilted his head, the corners of his mouth curling upwards, "For this exact chimney?"

"Yes!" Bubbles nodded so fast her mane flipped around.

"This one connected to the fireplace in my living room?"

"Exactly."

"This magical chimney?"

"Definitely."

"An exact copy of any enchanted chimney which doesn't let out soot because the flames burning down there are pure magic?"

Damn it! Bubbles let out a nervous whimper. She was way out of her depth here, but she still had a job to do. A great -no, genius- idea came to her rescue.

"It's my first day."

Arcane Hex's loud burst of laughter surprised her. The wizard wiped his eyes after his fit was over, and repeated:

"-my first day," he took a long breath to calm down, walked over to Bubbles, and patted her head, "Young lady, I saw you with miss Contradiction from the Silver Sun and a satyr named Astray from the same organization when the Royal Guards came and caused a commotion. It also doesn't take a pony with my experience to know you are some unnatural being. The fact that you have been watching me for over an hour tells me I am under Silver Sun observation now. Is my assumption correct?"

Bubbles gave the wizard a stern look. Why wasn't he mad? On top of that, how was a pony of such age so okay with standing up here in the cold without even batting an eyelid at the height.

"I can't tell. Miss Connie said not to," she clamped her both forelegs over her mouth, "Dammit!"

"I see, so miss Contradiction is keeping an eye on the school or me specifically, good to know. I would not mind, in complete honesty, if you weren't so loud."

"Loud?" Bubbles' eyes bulged. Nopony should have been able to hear her.

"A poor choice of words from my side. You see, my quarters are surrounded by alarm spells which you tripped in abundance. You haven't made any noise my old ears could catch, but the constant ringing of magic in my head at your ever movement kept ruining my concentration so I had to take a close look myself."

Bubbles's big ears flopped down. So much for proving herself to miss Connie...

"I can just lie down by the chimney and not move much if you don't mind," she offered in an attempt to salvage her mission.

"While that would truly help, I suppose you won't just go away if I ask you to, right?"

She shook her head fiercely.

"Direct orders!"

"I see," Hex sighed, "Let me offer you a compromise then, because this night chill isn't agreeing with my old bones. How about I allow you a search of my quarters and then you let me get back to work?"

"I dunno, I was just supposed to watch," Bubbles hesitated.

"You can watch me from inside as well where you won't be making my spells go off all the time."

"Hmmmm..."

"I have hot cocoa."

"Deal!"

Scoring a better observation spot after being revealed AND getting a free drink? Bubbles was a GENIUS! Miss Connie would be so proud of her for this.

"Alright," Hex gave her a faint smile, "Grab my robe."

As Bubbles did so, her world distorted and she found herself standing on the carpet inside Hex's tower.

"Neat," she couldn't help grinning. The place was so full of normal things, shiny things, gadgets, glassware, stuff she didn't know names for. She could spend a whole day messing around here and wouldn't even scratch the surface of the mess of treasures around, "This thing spins!"

With a chuckle, Arcane Hex left the demoness admiring a small scale moving model of the Equus solar system. After a moment, Bubbles recovered from the sensory overload and remembered her reason for being here.

She had to search the place for something. Well, the plan hadn't been coming in here whatsoever, but miss Connie had been looking for some two rings all this time, right? The ones Bubbles had seen around Secret Seeker's horn during the fight. Shrugging, she started examining the ceiling-high shelves full of books by the walls before even attempting to dig into the workbenches and tables. Even she was pretty sure that a criminal wouldn't keep important things somewhere he would willingly invite her, so she just did her job and looked as official as she could.

Arcane Hex returned, levitating two steaming, sweet-smelling cups. Bubbles immediately shoved the book she was currently looking at back on the shelf before remembering she was explicitly allowed to examine everything.

"This would be much easier if I knew what you were looking for," commented Hex while passing Bubbles the cup, "Or is that something you're not allowed to say as well?"

The criminal mind was a complex thing, but Bubbles was becoming better at thinking like her prey, at least she thought so. She concluded that a possible criminal would know what was stolen and keeping it away from him would only make him more suspicious. If Hex thought Bubbles wasn't seriously considerng him a target then he might make a mistake.

"Some two rings. They are supposed to be super magical. They make ponies heal really fast."

"Aaah, those," Hex nodded knowingly, sitting back down to his armchair, "I see! Those are what was stolen from the Goldhorn manor a month ago. You are doing very important work then, young lady. Those artifacts are extremely powerful and in the wrong hooves could cause... well, not much as such. The power inside them is inherently focused on regeneration and vitality. They could provide an extremely powerful shield for a bad pony. I will be extremely happy when both rings are safe either back at the castle vault or with their new rightful owners." 

"Miss Connie will be glad to know you're on our side," said Bubbles, gulping down the entire cup of cocoa in one go.

Arcane Hex cleared his throat, staring at the now empty piece of porcelain. The cocoa had been piping hot.

"You are definitely a unique individual. I hope I don't offend you with this, but what exactly are you?"

"I'm half-demon, half-pony. Well, most demon and some pony. At least that's what I was told."

The interest in Hex's voice grew all the way to eleven.

"A real half-demon? Real outsider demon here in this plane of existence?"

"Yeah," Bubbles nodded, returning to her fruitless search, "My dad was... umm... mom said she didn't know but told me it was such a big orgy that I should be happy I'm not barking," she stopped, "But I can bark. It's not hard, see? Woof!" she shook her head, "I wonder what she meant by that."

Hex covered his muzzle with his hoof, snorting.

"Do you mind if I run some tests on you? I have never seen a being like you up close."

"I don't know. I need to keep an eye on you for now."

"Imagine how much easier that would be if I was just running around you and poking you with various rods."

Bubbles had to begrudgingly admit that was true. Anyway, the search of Arcane Hex's quarters wasn't really her job after all, rather a way to stay close to Hex.

"Alright, but no needles."

"Of course."

The following over half an hour was spent in what had to be the only clear and orderly room in the entire suite where Bubbles mostly did the standing part while Hex cast weird spells which tickled, and touched various parts of her body with some antennae. The room resembled what she recalled from the hospital - one full of beeping devices which had glass panes that showed pictures, squiggly lines mostly.

In the middle of some experiment during which Hex softly hit her knee repeatedly with a small hammer, the mage yawned.

"Stars above," he looked at some spherical device which opened like a seashell, revealing a miniature clock, "after midnight already?" he sighed, "I guess we're done here then. I hate to cut this examination short, but I am an old pony and I can't pull all-nighters like I used to. Time is a dangerous enemy, miss chimney sweep. One difficult to defeat through ordinary means."

Jumping down from the raised platform in the middle of the room, Bubbles followed Arcane Hex back to the living room.

"I'm afraid I can't let you stay here overnight, even though your mission is important."

"You can send me back on the roof."

"I already told you why I won't do that. I can teleport you out of the School, though, right to the entrance."

"Alright," Bubbles bowed, "I'd like you to know I appreciate all your help, and I'm sure miss Connie will be happy to hear it too."

"You're welcome," Hex ruffled Bubbles' mane, "Now be nice and go tell young miss Contradiction both of you are doing a good job."

"Mhm."

Arcane Hex drew a pattern in the air with his foreleg, and after a quick blur Bubbles found herself standing on the stairs in the street in front of the main school building.

"What a nice old pony." Bubbles muttered, looking for a nearby tower with a good view of Arcane Hex's, "But I'm not that stupid. Being around Anvil can teach a pony about real honesty."

Up high once again, she watched Hex's silhouette walking around in his quarters until the lights went out.