//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Cape and Cowl III: Showdown // by Artimae //------------------------------// 1 It was a cold ceremony that day, but a necessary one. All shifts of the Guard stood outside of Town Hall, looking up the steps as former Lieutenant Murdoc stood across from the mayor. Joules Watts watched on from the front row, standing alongside the line of his fellow Sergeants. “It is with a heavy heart I conduct this ritual,” the mayor said, hanging his head. “On any other day, this would be a cause for celebration. I wish it were so now.” Murdoc said nothing, simply standing there at full attention, his armor glinting in the pale sunlight. “You have showed exemplary performance throughout your years, and now you must prove yourself once again, should you accept. Do you accept your newfound role as Captain of the Guard of Manehattan?” “I do.” “Then let me be the first to name you, Captain Slate ‘Murdoc’ Stonewall.” A hushed murmur pierced the crowd - very few Guards had known Murdoc’s real name… but they all knew the name Stonewall. Unfortunately, none of them knew it in any good way. “I thank you, mayor,” Murdoc said, allowing his old armor to be taken away in place of a shining new set. He could feel the weight of the Captain’s insignia upon his chest already. He panned across the crowd, barely hearing their stamps of approval, even despite their newfound knowledge of his name. I hope you’re happy, father. Even now you manage to string me up. He sighed, and then braced himself for his acceptance speech. 2 After a long day of emotional draining, the Watts family finally returned home. Kilo set about making dinner while Tera stole away to her room. Aureate stood outside of the doorway, staring blankly at nothing in particular. Joules turned around, noticing she had stopped abruptly. "You alright, Aureate?" he asked, having turned to face her. "I guess," she replied, sighing heavily. "It's just a lot to take in.” "You wanna talk about it?" he asked, taking a seat in front of her and shutting the door behind him. "He's really gone, isn't he? Everything's different now.” He stood up, moving close to her and embracing her. "He has... but you're not alone in this. I know I'm not your family, but I am your friend, and your dad meant a lot to me. If I can do right by him and you by making sure you're okay, then it's no trouble for me at all." "I appreciate everything you're doing for me," she said with a twinkle behind her eye. "But... I want to know something…” "... Was the Mare do Well there?” "Yes," he said. "She was wounded trying to save the Oranges.” "... Tell me exactly what happened. I'm ready for it.” He looked at her, then nodded. He then spend the next half hour regaling the events of that night, going into detail about the plan, the initial attack, the Mare Do Well dueling the Red Hoof, the fire, then the final encounter in the field where Leaf met his end, and the death of the Red Hoof. "... So it's all her fault,” Aureate muttered. He met her words with a small frown. "What do you mean?” "She was supposed to be Manehattan's hero... and she failed.” He pondered her words, then sighed. "I can't... I can't really say that, because she did save a lot of lives... unfortunately, she just wasn't quick enough to save his.” "I see..." She sauntered into the apartment, finding the picture her father gave her of him and the Mare do Well together. It was a picture she had requested with such fervor, but now... Now she saw it differently. She folded it in half, carefully tearing off the half with her dad and putting it away. She took one final, hard look at the Mare do Well, before ripping it to shreds and throwing the pieces in the trash. He gave a heavy sigh. I wish there was more I could do... he thought to himself. 3 Mosley set down his newspaper, getting up to answer the doorbell. “Yes?” he said, opening the door. Julius Rind stood in the doorway of the Orange compound, flanked by his two remaining grandsons. “Mos,” he said, staring at the doormat. “I need your help.” “Please, come in,” he offered, stepping aside and letting them in. “What can I do for you?” “It’s these two,” Julius said, nodding at his silent grandsons. “Please, let them work the grove. They’re good boys, they deserve better than what they got.” Mosley looked evenly at the old sire. “Why just the boys, old friend? I was thinking of bringing on another foreman.” Julius looked up at Mosley, not daring to believe his ears. “Truly?” “Of course! Come join me for a drink, and we’ll discuss the details.” 4 "So, like, are we staying in this city or what?" Charade asked, laying in bed with Hano. "The Guard kinda know your face now, and you did kinda kill somepony in front of all of them." "It... has put them in an odd position. They did see me kill the Red Hoof, but it was the Red Hoof that was killed," he mused. "Speaking of, are you seriously gonna keep that... thing as a trophy? It gives me the creeps." "I am concerned that if it falls into the wrong hands, it could be used as a weapon... there is still much malevolent, black magic in that horn." "So smash it," she suggested. "The Red Hoof had many spells active before he died... if I destroy that horn, who knows what could happen." "I still don't like it," Charade said. "Where're you gonna put it?" "Mm... perhaps I will put it in a locked case, then either bury it or send it to the bottom of the sea." "Oorr," Charade added cautiously, "give it to those lovely little princesses and then beg for mercy?" "I would not submit them to the vile darkness of the Hoof's magic. If somepony were to steal it..." "Psh, like anypony would want it." Hano said nothing in response. He could, in fact, think of many who would kill for such a powerful piece of black magic. 5 Snow Storm collapsed onto her bed, stretching and yawning widely. The Oranges were downstairs, discussing something-or-another, but it didn’t matter to her. That she could hear them at all was the most important thing to her. She would make absolutely sure they would never be harmed again. Still, what did it mean for her future? Now they both knew about her secret identity, would they still approve and even support her? That also didn’t matter. She’d do it no matter what they said, not the least of which because she liked it. She liked it a lot. For the first time in her life, she was truly in control of something. She covered herself up, and pulled her favorite stuffed toy into a tight hug. As far as she was concerned, everything was going to be all right, and now she could finally rest.