//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 // Story: The Price of Power // by kingrulerword //------------------------------// **********Canterlot 3rd POV********** Celestia sighed silently as she studied the captain of her royal guard. He had seen better days. Dark circles hugged his tired, bloodshot eyes. His training held his body firm, but she could see him sagging ever so slightly. The bandages wrapped around his body suggested that his injuries were focused on his barrel and forehooves. “Oh, Shiny,” Cadence whispered. Celestia looked to the others in the room. On either side sat a fellow princess. Luna looked stone faced at the unicorn while Cadance couldn’t help but let out a few tears.  Shining stood in the middle of the throne room and behind him stood Meat Grinder and Long Bow. They both looked uneasy and slightly injured themselves. Luna cleared her throat. “Darkness, you say, is the catalyst for this illusion?” “Yes, your highness,” Long Bow said. “When he is in an area that is dark, or dimly lit, he acts as if Sasuke is in the room with him and begins fighting. We have attempted to restrain him when this happens, so he doesn’t injure himself, but...” the pegasus trailed off and coughed. “Captain Armor is a very adept fighter.” Meat Grinder signed a few words very quickly. “Right, yes! Captain Armor’s eyes have taken on the same pattern as Sasuke’s when the illusion is active.” “My poor stallion,” Cadence whimpered. “A tell-tale sign of direct control,” Celestia frowned. “Has he done anything other than fight? Any patterns?” “Nothing I can discern,” Long Bow stated. “What concerns me the most is the timing,” Luna thought out loud. “Why is it becoming active now? What was the trigger?” Meat Grinder started moving her hands and Long Bow relayed the information. “We had captured the leader of the Valkyries and Shining Armor was keeping her in a forcefield. Our intent was to bring the prisoner here for interrogation. We took turns keeping watch through the night. During Shining Armor’s turn, it started.” “Shining Armor, you need to let me examine your mind,” Luna ordered. “There may be more triggers buried within.” “Yes, Princess,” Shining Armor’s body relaxed and he eased himself to the ground. “While my sister works, Princess Cadance and I will continue the report,” Celestia said. “Captain Bow, General Grinder, if you would.” She led them out of the throne room leaving Luna and Shining Armor alone. Cadance looked worriedly towards her fiance as she left. “He is in good hooves,” Celestia assured her. “Shall we begin Captain Armor,” Luna asked. “Yes, Princess,” Shining Armor resigned himself to the process. “Then sleep.” Luna’s horn glowed with magic and Shining Armor slumped into unconsciousness. Luna’s body glowed as she shifted into her human form. “I’m going to try something new.” Her eyes changed and adopted the signature sharingan pattern at the same time her horn glowed. *** Luna gasped as she entered Shining Armor’s mind. Normally, the mind of a pony, especially a guard , was organized, focused, and full of light. Shining Armor’s mind was a mess. A web of darkness and confusion littered the mental landscape. A single path led through the chaos and Luna sighed again as she recognized a trap. Nevertheless, she continued onwards through the darkness. She smiled as her influence began to reshape Shining Armor’s mind, restoring order to everything she touched. She could feel Shining Armor returning to normal. It wasn’t a permanent fix, he would need time for that, but it was a start. The deeper she went into the unicorn’s mind, the stronger the corrupting influence became. Eventually she came to a point where she could no longer change anything. A sign popped in front of her ‘Sasuke This Way’ and pointed further down the path. Luna sighed once more, “This is getting tiresome Sasuke. Reveal yourself.” She resumed walking to the sound of Sasuke’s laughter. Eventually Luna reached a gothic looking castle surrounded by a flaming moat. The lunar princess rolled her eyes at the glowing demons flying overhead. “This is, what’s the word,” Luna tapped her chin, “ah, yes. Overkill.” A drawbridge lowered and the fires died down. Luna rolled her eyes and started walking again. Torches lit up a path, revealing Sasuke sitting on a throne in an impossibly large throne room. Shining Armor was held by a menacing jester on the end of puppet strings. Luna grimaced upon seeing the captain’s sorry state. “I thought it was an accurate representation of what’s happening,” Sasuke said as he lounged on the throne. “But I’ve never been quite as good at subtlety and symbolism as you. How would you have done it?” Luna walked forward readying herself to attack. “I would have had a stage on which he was performing, unaware that the other actors were phantoms. I also wouldn’t have left his mind such a desolate wasteland. Was it really necessary to exact such a toll on him?” “Of course,” Sasuke said, disinterested. “I needed him to be this far gone. He might have noticed something was wrong, otherwise.” “You speak as if you know him intimately,” Luna said. “Is this more of your foresight?” Sasuke grinned. “I told you before: I’ve seen the ultimate ending. I know how all of this is going to play out.” “As entertaining as chatting with even a phantom version of you is,” Luna’s chains wrapped around Sasuke. “I must rid the poor captain of your influence.” The chains evaporated and Susanoo formed behind the princess. “But this is the realm of the mind, dear princess,” Sasuke laughed. “We’re equals here. And besides, I don’t feel like leaving yet.” Susanoo swung his fists trying to crush Luna but she fluidly dodged. Conjuring her own giant guardian, she sent it to fight Susanoo while she returned her attention to Sasuke. “I have a question for you,” Luna said while she lunged at him. “Sure,” Sasuke responded, teleporting behind her. Luna wasted no effort spinning around and created clones of herself. “You have shown us that your vision is true.” The clones attacked simultaneously while Sasuke weaved through them. “Did you foresee my fall to darkness?” Sasuke paused for the briefest of moments and one of the Lunas tore through him. He looked at his side where his chakra began leaking out. The Lunas took the opportunity to chain him and burn away the remaining chakra. Susanoo faded away and the castle began to fade. “Will you not answer me before you fade?” Only the top half of Sasuke’s body remained. “I did,” he sighed. Luna’s face hardened. “And you did nothing to prevent it,” she spat. “You did nothing to help me! You are my beloved! I still love you! It pains me that we are enemies, that I must kill you! And you knew! You knew what would happen and you allowed it! WHY!?!” Sasuke sighed as his body completely faded from sight. “I carried the knowledge that you would turn to darkness with a heavy heart. Could I have prevented it? Maybe? I don’t know. But every event happens for a reason. There are some things that I can’t risk changing.” “That is a poor consolation.” Sasuke’s chakra faded entirely leaving Luna and Shining Armor alone in his mind. Luna stayed to make sure that Shining Armor’s mind was repairing itself before she left. *** Standing in the throne room of her castle, Luna returned to her alicorn form and sighed heavily. She walked to the throne and sat down, leaning her head on the side. Celestia and Cadance entered the room looking tired and concerned. “How was it, sister,” Celestia asked. “Is Shiny going to be ok,” Cadance asked. “Sasuke’s power ran deep within him but I have cleansed it,” Luna explained. “He will return to full strength in time but for now I suggest he rest.” Shining Armor groaned as he awakened. “Shiny? How are you feeling,” Cadance helped him to his hooves. “Like a fog is lifted from my brain,” he said rubbing his head. “I don’t think I realized until just now how messed up I was.” “It’s good to have you back,” Cadance nuzzled him. “Princesses, I would like to formally step down from the Anti-Sasuke Taskforce and return to my post in Canterlot,” the captain said. “After all, I have a wedding to help plan.” “Understood,” Celestia smiled. “Thank you,” Shining Armor breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s go get you some rest,” Cadance said as she led him out of the throne room. Once her niece and captain had left, Celestia’s face hardened. “How bad was the damage?” “Quite extensive,” Luna replied. “He needs to be in an environment to which he is accustomed. Returning to Canterlot as captain of the guard will serve him well, as will spending time around Cadance and under our watchful eye.” “I fear what may come,” Celestia sighed. “We received an emergency message from Golden Reach.” Luna’s mouth hung open in shock. “What has happened?” “It would seem they were attacked, and during the attack, the factory producing our new weapons was burned to the ground.” “Was Sasuke behind this,” Luna said through clenched teeth. “Boudicca is unsure,” Celestia. “The eyewitness reports are conflicting. Some reports indicate a hazy memory of a bipedal creature while others remember timberwolves.” Luna stood pensively, chewing her lip while her mind raced. “You said there are reports? When did this incident happen?” Celestia walked to one of the windows that overlooked the city. “Two weeks ago. The latest message indicates that she has made multiple attempts to contact us.” “Then someone has been interfering,” Luna stated dryly. “And if Sasuke was behind the attack, he is long gone,” Celestia added. “I have already dispatched assistance to Golden Reach but this is so frustrating! We are always playing catch up! We need to find a way to predict where and how he will act. Maybe…” “If you have an idea, please, do not hesitate to share it,” Luna implored. “There was a special agency a while back,” Celestia started. “They hunted all types of monsters for me, and imprisoned many of them in Tartarus.” “What happened to them,” Luna asked. “They were dissolved after one the creatures they captured escaped,” Celestia put a hoof to her chin. “They were the best of the best.” “If they are as good as you say why didn’t we lead with that?” “They are retired, now. Many of them have settled down with families and I couldn’t ask them to go back to that life. Not when it took so long for them to adjust.” “This is for the good of our world,” Luna pleaded. “Please! We may not even need all of them. We have an open space on the taskforce. Just one. That is all we need.” Celestia stood quietly as Luna stood beside her. “There is only one of them whom I believe would be able to help. Black Blade, they called her. No prey has ever escaped her.” Celestia summoned a quill and paper. “She carved through monsters like a skilled artist.” She sealed the letter in an envelope and magicked it away. “Hopefully she hasn’t gotten rusty.” **********Equestrian Cruise Liner: Middle of the Ocean********** “Bon Bon you silly filly, stop lounging around and help me out!” The cream colored earth pony looked over her comically large sunglasses at her marefriend, Lyra. Bon Bon rolled over on the beach chair. “I don’t wanna.” Lyra giggled. “You’ve been laying there for three hours now. I think you might have melted into that chair.” Lyra laughed at her marefriend before trying to complete her card castle. “Please just for a little bit? Then we can go to the buffet and pig out!” Bon Bon mumbled a bit and sat up. “Fine. But don’t eat so much you can’t walk this time. Rolling you is too much work.” Lyra grinned. “I make no promises.” Rolling her eyes but smiling any Bon Bon got up to tickle sneak attack the mint unicorn when an envelope materialized in front of her. “Who’s sending you messages all the way out here?” Lyra asked. “I don’t-” Bon Bon froze when she saw the seal the solar princess. She quickly tore open the letter and scanned it with frenzied eyes. “Bonnie,” Lyra asked, “What’s wrong?” Bon Bon took a moment to compose herself. “I’m sorry Lyra, but our vacation is going to be cut short.” Lyra pouted. “Why,” she whined. “Um..” Bon Bon thought up a lie. “Princess Celestia has requested a special candy order and I can’t let this opportunity pass.” “Fine,” Lyra grumbled.  “But you better to make this up to me.” “Of course,” Bon Bon cooed as she hugged her marefriend. “Oh look it’ a speedboat!” Lyra broke the hug and ran to the railing. “Bonnie come look! It’s a bunch of griffons on a speedboat!” She waved wildly while Bon Bon looked on and giggled. ********** As the Valkyries rode their speedboat past a cruise ship, a few of them couldn’t help but wave at a mint green unicorn. “Would you idiots cut that out,” Aoife ordered. “What part of inconspicuous do you not understand?” “Sorry,” one offered. “We’re just so bored out here.” He looked back at the cruise ship as it faded from view. “Then make yourself useful and go check on Andraste,” Aoife said. The griffons looked nervously at each other before one stepped forward. She gulped and walked towards the stairs leading below deck. She silently creeped down the steps, desperately trying to keep her breathing under control. When she finally made to the bottom, she couldn’t help but stare in awe and fear at the sight in front of her. Andraste had assumed a human form and was sitting cross legged in a meditative pose. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was steady. Her hair floated around her head, much like an alicorn, and it looked like a constantly shifting galaxy. Her body radiated power, almost visibly. The griffon mustered up her nerves and stepped forward. “Hey there, Andraste,” she whimpered. “How are you holding up?” Andraste opened her eyes, revealing them to be pure white and glowing with power. “We, I am doing well,” she spoke with multiple voices layered together. “It is difficult trying to contain this much power,” she admitted. “But Scorpio is helping me.” “Do you mind if I ask what it’s like,” the griffon asked. “You know having it inside of you?” “It is strange,” Andraste said. “I feel so powerful! Almost invincible!” The air crackled around her as she spoke. “But it’s scary. One misstep and I don’t know what would happen. I don’t think I like being a jinchuriki. I’m glad I won’t have to be one forever.” “Yeah but if you can’t handle it, what makes you think ponies will?” “Lord Mephisto is training them for this explicit purpose,” Andraste countered. “I can’t imagine that they- We are getting close. You should go back up.” The griffon nodded and swiftly moved up the stairs. She joined the rest of her team as they approached an island. The island appeared to glow as sunlight reflected off of the white stones that covered it. “Valkyries, we are looking for the same kind of starry material that we found on Scorpio,” Aoife instructed. “The compass shows that Cancer may be on the island somewhere or, if it cannot be found, we will assume it is under the island.” Aoife flew onto the island and was followed by her Valkyries. “Fan out.” Each went in a different direction searching for their target. Aoife landed in the dirt and scanned the area. She didn’t recognize any of the various flora that populated the small island and the only animals that she could see were birds. It unnerved her but she pushed onwards, looking for signs of Cancer. She leapt across the white rocks littered across the landscape, never allowing her focus to break. Her trained senses scanned the environment swiftly. She searched for what felt like an hour, when she heard the unmistakable sound of skittering behind her. She quickly turned around but saw nothing. Aoife crept towards where she heard the sound, a tree sitting on a white rock. “Cancer?” she said calmly. “We just want to talk to you. We mean you no harm.” She once again heard the skittering and stopped moving. “Please come out,” Aoife said as she removed her equipment. “See, I am completely unarmed.” The sounds of shuffling grew louder and Aoife tensed herself. Just as she was thinking about grabbing her bags, an eyeball popped out from behind the tree. “Cancer?” Aoife asked, very confused. She shook her uncertainty away. “I would like to talk to you.” The rest of the creature came out from behind the tree after a moment of deliberation. It was a crab the size of a minotaur. Its body was a translucent dark blue dotted with glittering stars. It was large, but after seeing Scorpio, Aoife was shocked. Weren’t constellation beasts much, much bigger? “Hello Cancer,” Aoife bowed. “I am Aoife of the Valkyries. I have come to you on behalf of my…” Aoife stopped talking when became apparent to her the the astral crab was not listening. It circled her curiously. Aoife shuffled nervously in place. She didn’t want to think the worst but she couldn’t help but think that it was contemplating eating her. In one quick move the crab grabbed her and her bag and threw both onto its back. It began a quick march across the island. “Whoa there,” Aoife said. “Where are you taking me?” The crab said nothing. “Still giving me the silent treatment, huh?” The crab continued its journey. On the way, it passed several of the other Valkyries. It glanced at them but did not stop. “Boss,” a griffon asked as he approached Aoife, “is this Cancer?” “I think so,” Aoife replied. “It matches the description….mostly. Gather the Valkyries together and go back to the boat. I think I can handle this.” “Yes ma’am,” he said. Giving his wings a powerful flap he lifted up into the air. Aoife continued to ride the crab until the sun began to set. It brought her to one of the beaches on the edge of the island. Still silent, it walked around a large rock formation and into a hidden cove. Aoife gasped. All around her were the same white rocks from before but these had a luminescent glow. A swirl of colors bounced all over the cove and made it look as if the water was shifting between different colors. The swirling creatures Aoife could barely see through the water seemed to enjoy it. Actually… “What are those,” Aoife asked quietly. She leaned closer to the water. “Are those… eggs?” Creatures the size of small dogs happily moved about in what looked like bubbles. “What is this place,” Aoife asked the crab. Again she got no answer. Aoife sighed. “Now what do we have here,”  a happy feminine voice emanated from everywhere. Aoife took a defensive pose on top of the crab. “Who’s there?” “Such a feisty little thing,” the voice laughed. “What brings you here, visitor?” Aoife looked around, searching for the source of the voice. “I am Aoife, leader of the Valkyries. I am here to talk to the great constellation beast, Cancer.” “Of course you are,” the voice said happily. “That’s why my little one brought you here. Now how may I help you?” “I have come on behalf of my master, Lord Mephisto, to ask for your assistance,” Aoife stated. “Lord Mephisto?” Cancer asked. “And what would this griffon lord ask of a constellation beast?” “My master is not a griffon,” Aoife explained. “He is a human.” “Human...human...human ah yes! I remember humans. Funny, I thought there was only one. And that it was male.” “You’ve met a human before?” Aoife asked, momentarily distracted from her mission. “Oh yes,” Cancer said. “A human once came here with a centaur. They didn’t like each other very much but they were trying to do something. For the life of me I can’t remember what it was. But that was a long time ago, what does your human need?” “Yes, right,” Aoife stuttered. “Lord Sasuke would like to offer you the ability to walk among the other races of this world without causing a panic. And the chance to pass this ability on to your young.” “That does sound interesting,” Cancer admitted. “What would you ask in return?” “We ask that you allow yourself to merge with one of us,” Aoife said. “You would share knowledge and experience with one of us and share some of your power.” “Me? Merging with a mortal?” Cancer’s laugh shook the island. “Why would I lower myself to the level of a mortal?” “Because, just like Scorpio, you feel lonely.” Cancer stopped laughing. “You met with Scorpio?” “And Ursa. They both agreed. You live on this island out in the middle of nowhere. Surely you must want some companionship, some conversation at least.” “But if I were to leave, who would guard my children?” The small crab that Aoife was sitting on started chirping. “Alright little one, if you insist. But you must shroud our island.” The small crab chirped something affirmatively. “Then I will travel to the land of mortals with you,” Cancer said. A tremor shook the island. Aoife watched in amazement as the entire island rose out of the water. Trees and rocks fell into the water and birds flew away, squawking in panic. Aoife couldn’t help but stare as the gargantuan starry crab stood above her. “Now how shall we do this?” **********Automated Wagon 1st POV********** “I’m soooo booooored!” “Shut up, Gilda!” Trixie yelled. “We heard you the first 50 times! No one cares!” “Should’ve brought a book,” Adagio said without looking up from her own. “Or you could try working on your Equestrian magic,” I mumbled, bandaging up my arm. Learning to use haki was painful. Gilda snorted in my direction and looked away. “Ow,” I said as I touched a particularly sensitive bruise. “Sunset, you’re making this overly difficult.” Sunset looked up from her book at me, smirked, and went back to her book. “Too bad,” she said smugly. “I’m comfortable.” “That can’t possibly be true,” I said to the girl laying in my lap. “Oh but it is,” she replied. I sighed and went back to patching myself up. I looked over to Starlight who was studying the map. “Starlight get your sister.” “This sounds like a ‘you’ problem,” she said without missing a beat. “Also if I’m reading this map right…. You’re a suicidal maniac that’s going to get us all caught.” “What does she mean,” Adagio asked, worry in her voice. “Well,” I started as the wagon stopped moving. I got up, ignoring Sunset’s glare of protest. “She’s probably referring to this,” I walked over to our door. I opened it with a flourish. “Welcome to Ponyville!”