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// Chapter 56: "Interrogating Grubber" 
// Story: The Redemption of Tempest Shadow 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
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With Gojira dead, the Mercenaries had reached the first of their many goals to eradicate every creature associated with the attack on Canterlot.

But, Instant Justice had one target in mind as he awaited Cemetery Wind for a report. "Have you done Gojira in?" He asked his second-in-command on a call spell.

"Yes, my lord," Cemetery Wind flatly answered. "We gave the creature no mercy and have collected all the evidence he was hiding. Enough to expose the whole truth about the invasion."

"Now now, let's not get carried away," Instant Justice cautioned. "Gojira is but one associate with a load of evidence. There are plenty of other associates that must pay with their lives. Remember, we do not rest until all those behind the attack on our land are eliminated. You and your mercenaries take on those monsters, but the ringleader is mine."

Instant Justice then took a wanted picture of Tempest Shadow that sat on his desk and crumpled it up in a fit of anger. "And nothing would make me happier than to have Tempest Shadow's hornless head hanging on my wall. A reminder of what happens when traitors return to Equestria and commit war crimes, expecting to be forgiven because of one small act of ‘redemption’."

"That mare affected us in many ways, my lord,” Cemetery Wind added. “My sister was killed under her."

"So was my wife and my son," Instant Justice declared, taking a picture of him and his family and showing it to Cemetery Wind. "Because of Tempest Shadow and her war crimes, I will never see them again! Make sure that every target dies a slow…painful…death. Long enough for them to think about the suffering they dealt out to others! Do you understand?"

Nodding in reply, Cemetery Wind disappeared and Instant Justice was left alone in his office. However, he wasn't to be alone for very long as the door to his office opened and two of his mercenary ponies came in with Grubber in between them, bound and gagged. "Lock the door and don't open it until I say so, understand?" He ordered.

Removing the bound and gags off of Grubber, the mercenaries left the office and doing as they were told, locked the doors.






"Hey pal, I don't know who you think you are!" Grubber angrily snapped. "But, I just happen to have been given a second chance here! So, if this is some kind of joke…"

But, Instant Justice remained steadfast and glared down at the reformed hedgehog and former minion of the Storm King. "Hedgehog, whom do you think I really am?" He asked in a low key voice. "You're trying to protect your new friends, that's admirable. But I'm trying to defend the nation of Equestria from war criminals. We've had a taste of what that looks like and we are not going to tolerate another one. Now, there are two different versions of this conversation that can play out. You can go back to your new life as a chef, you are pardoned for your crimes and your new life as you know it will go on. All you have to do is tell me what I wanna know."

"What do you want?" Grubber hissed.

"Where is Tempest Shadow?" Instant Justice demanded.

"She's also been given a pardon by the princesses for your information. Now let me go!” Grubber demanded.

"A big mistake on their part, hedgehog," Instant Justice said as he walked over to the window overlooking Canterlot, before turning back towards Grubber. "But, I have a plan to rectify the mistake that my superiors have made. You see, my friend, my job is to clean up the messes that plague this land. And the most recently made mess has made me realize that we have been far too forgiving on our criminals."

With each word that was being spoke, Grubber began to feel more and more uncomfortable. He could see that this pony was filled with revenge and was determined to not leave anypony alive. "You may have been just a minion, a lackey to Tempest Shadow, but you are a criminal nonetheless,” Instant Justice went on. “What's more, it doesn't excuse you from facing the full penalty of the law."

Although he was scared for his life, Grubber was determined to defend himself. "Now you listen here!" He cried, standing up in the chair. "But if you want Tempest dead, then you'll have to convince the princesses! And you’ll have to go through me!"

"Oh, I will convince them of their folly in due time," Instant Justice laughed, opening his drawer, pulling out a small knife and placing it at Grubber's throat. "I have ways of convincing others to bow to my will. And perhaps I could leave your sorry hide as a reminder of how they are constantly leaving Equestria vulnerable."

"You think that killing me is going to solve anything?" Grubber nervously commented.

"I'm not going to kill you unless I have to," Instant Justice remarked, taking the knife away from Grubber's throat. "I want the biggest bull in the roundup, Commander Tempest Shadow herself. I will personally make sure that she is hanging from the highest gallows in this city, and show my leaders how we should really be dealing with criminals."

"You're twisted!" Grubber shouted, all the while growing more and more afraid.

"Am I? I’m going to ask you one more time, hedgehog. For your sake, I suggest you listen," Instant declared, once again placing the throat to Grubber's throat. "Where is Tempest Shadow? Tell me, and I will let you walk out of here alive. But, continue to defy me and I will silence you forever."

Grubber nervously began to realize how he was going to answer to Instant Justice's tense questions. He knew that this was more than likely the end right here and right now.






But just as it seemed the end was to come, a knock was heard at the door, much to Instant Justice's irritation and annoyance. "Who is it?" He called.

"Open the door, my lord." Called a mercenary pony on the other side and storming to the door, Instant Justice opened it.

"I told you not to open until I said so," He barked to the mercenaries. "What is the matter with you?"

"B-but i-it's from C-Commander Cemetery Wind, m-my lord," The mercenary stammered,, showing him what appeared to be a scroll. "It says that the next two targets have been spotted. The publisher of the Storm King's propaganda newspaper and the head of labor conscription."

"Where were they found?" Instant demanded.

"Near Klugetown. Apparently, someone has been hiding them." The mercenary answered.

"Have we questioned that cat fellow, Capper, is it?" Instant asked.

"Yes, we have,” The mercenary nodded. “But, he said that he had no knowledge of them."

"So you say," Instant whispered, sighing briefly while looking back at Grubber. "Very well. It's at least a small victory to say the least. We did at least eradicate the one who oversaw the three day forced labor here in Canterlot. Three down, seven to go. As for you, Hedgehog, I'll deal with you later. Be thankful I let you live, now get out of my sight!"

Shocked and disgusted at how he had been treated, Grubber got down and silently walked past the deranged minister of justice. "I'll see to it that the princesses know of what you are doing,." He seethed, knowing that the true monster was revealed and it was not Tempest Shadow.