//------------------------------//
// Freedom Born of Tragedy 
// Story: My Little Ponys' The Count of Monte Cristo 
// by kahnac 
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When Scorpan found Shining the next day, he saw him just laying on his floor in abject silence. For a long time now, he had been staring at something he held in his aura. A chess piece. A King's chess piece, in fact. Shining looked over it in absolute pain. Scorpan had remembered that it was from Sombra. "To remember better days" or something like that, Shining had told him. But the Gargoyle knew that he was using it as a symbol of his betrayal. And he could see now that his revelation had only made that knife cut even deeper into his heart than it ever had before. Scorpan already knew he couldn't leave his friend to wallow like this. And sympathetically, he asked, "Are alright, Shining?"

Shining's eyes never left the chess piece as he bitterly said, "I only just figured out that my best friend, the soldier I respected, and someone I never even met before, were all in cahoots to ruin my life for reason I can only begin to guess. So you tell me: do you think i'm alright, priest?"

Scorpan nodded in understanding. "Guess I deserved that." He then looked to him, and said, "Believe me when I say I know what you're feeling Shining. If you recall, the same pretty much happened to me - it just took a little longer before I ended up here. But while I was here, I became as filled with anger, and rage as you are now. All I wanted was to make the ones who wronged me pay for what they did. I wanted revenge oh, so badly, it hurt."

Shining cast a sideways glance. "What changed?"

A sad smile formed on Scorpan. "Clarity, I suppose. Or perhaps The One was showing pity on me. I don't know which it was, or what it could have been. But I know this: once I realized how painful revenge truly is......my connection to The Source became all the stronger for it. That's another part of how i've survived here for so long."

Shining turned his full gaze to his friend, who sat by the tunnel, and said, "The Source? What's that supposed to be, some super-special magic noponies ever heard of?"

This time, Scorpan's expression was a little brighter. "No, my friend: The Source is so much more than mere magic. Magic is as influential, and changeable as a pair of shoes. The Source is the universal energy that exists within all living things. Even you, and I hold some connection to it. It is the force which gives life to all throughout creation, and connects our hearts, and souls as one. So when our time comes, our primordial essence returns to The Source, and in turn, The Source brings new life to our world. We feed into it just as it feeds into us, thus ensuring a cosmic balance it maintained. In short, Dantes: All is One, and One is All."

After a moment of silence, Shining snorted a bit. "Okay, no offense.......but even I think that sounds completely ridiculous. What you're saying is that there's some universal power in the universe that gives life to all, and that we give strength to just by existing? Sounds as believable as God does."

Scorpan could only chuckle. "And yet that makes it no less true. After all, it was during my time in here that I learned to access the power of The Source. Just as our ancestors before had once done, I am able to draw upon the life essence which is provided by The Source, to perform deeds no ordinary creature can do." He sighed. "Of course.....it is an ancient art that I barely studied. So there is still much of it I don't know. But what I DID learn has been a great deal of help." He then raised up his mane to reveal his black collar, same as Shining. "As you may very well know."

Shining instinctively rubbed his neck to remind himself of his bondage. Though the redness of his neck had gone down a little, it was still maintained by the shocks he received each day - though now they were just quick little shocks which stung, but didn't hurt. Either way, he was mulling over what Scorpan was explaining. "Even if you are right," he sighed, "then what kind of all-mighty force would allow something so horrible to happen to both of us? Why would either your god, or this "Source" as you call it, allow evil like this to even exist in the first place?" A moment of silence passed, with Scorpan looking into the desperate eyes of Shining, who wanted at least some clarity, and justification for what he endured. Smiling with compassion, Scorpan sat beside his friend, and explained. "To test our faith, Shining. To see if we have the will to keep going. And to see if we can be better than those who came before us. Otherwise, we may one day end up repeating the same mistakes as The Vaninhala, and allow only hatred, and revenge - among many wicked things - to thrive, and drive us to destroy all that we hold dear."

Shining raised a curious brow. "The Vanin....what?"

Scorpan chuckled again. "Oh, sorry. I forgot Equestrians don't have the same lore as we do. If you did, I wouldn't blame you all for not remembering. It's an ancient mythology which precedes even the Alicorns. AND....it pertains to the story I intended to tell you of the dangers of revenge."

Shining scoffed internally, since, of course, he saw no reason to disregard his revenge. Nevertheless, his friend always told good stories, so he indulged him. "Care to tell me what it's about, then?"

Scorpan nodded happily. "As you wish: Long ago, before there was even the thought, there was The One. And in that expanse of nothingness, he brought forth 3 children, who embodied the 3 great aspects of existence: Hope, Light, and Darkness. The 3 were tasked with the protection, and safeguarding of a new world their father was set to create. And to always ensure that Balance is maintained. All of them agreed, and watched as not only did their father sacrifice his physical form to birth all of existence: but left 10 more children in his place for the Vaninhala to protect as their own brothers, and sisters. These would be the embodiment's of the aspects of our universe. And to the ancient civilizations before, they were known as "The Primordials". For it was under the guidance of the Vaninhala they shaped, and molded the universe into the bastion of beauty, and life that we know. The mortals of the ancient cultures revered, and loved these beings so. So much so, they were considered Gods by the mortals. Well, if all of the Primordials were Gods, then the Vaninhala were the Gods above all Gods. For the mortals truly basked in the glory of Hope, Darkness, and Light. Hope, for his ability to inspire, and drive them forward, and believe all things would be well, always. Light for her beauty, and compassion, who shined brightly in their darkest hours, and showed them a way back to the place they called home, but had lost. And Darkness? He may very well have been the most revered of all. For he was a true leader. A pillar of strength, and wisdom who lead all under his benevolent guidance to expand, and grow. His aspect providing them with a comfort, and strength that even Light, and Hope could not. But it was only when he had Light at his side that Darkness' best attributes could be shown. Light was mortal kinds beacon, and Darkness protected them in his warm embrace. For a time, peace, and prosperity reigned in this most ancient kingdom. And all was truly well." Scorpan's tone shifted. "But then......."

Shining, who had found himself sucked into this story, couldn't help but ask, "But then what? What happened next?"

"Like all things, nothing good lasts forever, i'm afraid." Scorpan said sadly. "And just like all things, there can exist no good....
without evil." Shining's eyes widened a little. "Though Darkness is not inherently a force of evil, those who cannot handle its power inevitably succumb to its darker aspects. It was these few who introduced evil into the world - and used Darkness' power to do so. The Vaninhala himself couldn't believe what he saw: how could his own gifts be so easily corrupted, and twisted? And by the mortals, no less?   It just didn't seem possible to him, because it had never been done before. But, sadly, it did. And it very well ruined his image towards the mortals who once revered him. They blamed him for the wrong doings of others, because it was HIS power that lead to such ruin. This turned their favor away from him, and towards his sister. Much like Celestia, The Light was quickly taken by this outgrowth of praise and admiration. And her radiance changed from a beacon, to a blinding radiance which made all forget of the balance that was meant to exist. She'd become so drunk on this admiration, she neglected to notice the signs of her brother growing bitter, and jealous of her. The balance had tipped. And He was enraged by how quickly the mortals turned against him when they had practically worshiped him. That was when he decided that the problem wasn't with him: it was in mortals. THEY were the ones who misused his gifts. THEY were the ones who painted him as a corruptible, evil force. And they were the ones who forsook him for Light, because they thought it protected them from him. Well, he would soon prove them wrong about that. He knew now that mortals were flawed, and ruined everything his father had made. At least, that's what he saw when he observed the worlds beyond. Thus, he vowed Revenge against all of mortal kind - and both the sister who made him an icon of fear, and resentment......and the Brother who stood by, and watched as this happened. He swore that all of them would pay for this betrayal - with their very lives, and souls."

Shining felt rather uneasy now. He could tell this story was taking a turn for the worst. And it was probably going to get even worse by the end. But he still wanted to know how it ended. "So........what happened?"

"War is what happened, i'm afraid. By allowing mortalkind to disown him, and curse him for something not his fault, and neglecting his feelings of pain, and mistrust, Hope and Light allowed Darkness to return to them in Anger, and Hate. His once pure essence now corrupted, and distorted into evils beyond imagining. For many centuries, he had simply vanished from all knowledge, save for the family he left behind. Now, he had returned with a legion of unholy demons born of the darkness in both hearts, and souls. A force so great, no army in our world could ever compare. And forces so twisted, and driven by hate that it threatened to choke all of the goodness there was. Only then did Hope, and Light see what their negligence had brought about - and Darkness would make them suffer for it. Thus began what the ancients referred to as "The Great War of Revelation". Good and Evil clashed in a devastating conflict which brought ruin, and death to all who ever lived. The Primordial's forces suffered greatly, as did the mortals they were sworn to protect. Either killed......or condemned to a fate worse than death by being changed into those unholy things. In the end, all that was left were the the Vaninhala, the Ten Zhanglao - or Gods/Archangels, as you would refer - and their youngest circle in the pantheon of Primordials, the Erementaru, who embody the earthly elements, and were also known as Lumarraeum. They alone stood against the tide of Evil and fought to their last breath. But in the end, it was the final battle between the 3 siblings which brought about an end to The Great War. Some versions mention a fourth involved, but...those are so scarce that noone even knows if it's true, or not. But either way, in the end, both Light and Hope struggled valiantly against their former brother, and eventually triumphed over him: splitting his very soul from his physical form, and casting it into the darkest depths of The Realm of Darkness, itself, with his body being shattered into thousands of pieces. Victory was theirs.........but they soon learned what the price of victory soon meant."

Shining's head tilted to the side, and silently urged Scorpan to continue.

"According to the legend, Darkness had used his newfound powers to cast a spell which would have ended all of existence. Reduced it to nothing but the empty darkness of the time before time. He would rather have seen his own destruction than allow them victory. Only the Vaninhala's interference allowed the devastation to be thwarted - but at a cost." His hands glowed with the golden light, and a small orb floated in the air. "Despite their efforts, what once was a single, whole world exploded." The orb burst apart in a flash, and became what appeared to be hundreds of smaller lights. "And in the end, what was once the world before ours had been fragmented, and scattered throughout time, and space. Transforming into infinite, smaller worlds which would be known as realms. The world the Primordials had called home was no more: they alone were the sole survivors. Without their realm, or the kingdom they once resided in, they had no reason to remain in the ruins of their destroyed sanctuary. New realms had been born, and they had been needed now more than ever. And so, they went their separate ways to perform their duties - given to them by their father, The One. Sadly, it is also said that Darkness still lives, even to this day. And that even now, he uses a fragment of his physical body as his Avatar from within his prison, to seek out, and find the remaining fragments hidden throughout the realms. And that if he should ever find them.......he will bring an end to all that there is."

Shining took a heavy breath once he was sure that Scorpan was done. That was........intense, to say the least. And it sounded as though this story, if it were real, could put the adventures of the Royal Sisters, and the Pillars of Equestria to shame. It was almost too hard to believe. But, he'd be lying if he said it didn't make him think a little. And he had at least one thought in mind. "Do you.......really believe in it? The story, I mean. Do you believe it's real, and that all of this happened?"

Scorpan looked to Shining, and smiled warmly. "I believe.......that the lessons of this story are ones you should take to heart. A little anger is a good thing, sometimes. But too much of it can lead to a myriad of emotions stewing within you. Burning you from within. As it if for Revenge, too. If all you focus on is the pain, and suffering, and wish to inflict it on others without considering the price......then you may as well dig multiple graves. The rest for your enemies..........and one for yourself." He then went back over to the tunnel back to his cell. "Well, anyway, I think it's high time we got to work, don't you?"

Shining looked one more time at the chess piece. Yes, he had taken some of those lessons to heart. But..........he wasn't even sure he could just let go of his anger, and quest for revenge so easily. The difference between him, and the characters in that story was that the two offenders were not completely guilty, so they didn't fully deserve their fate. The ones HE was after willfully ruined his life, for petty, and pointless reasons. What he was going to do to them was something they deserved. 

And he would make sure they got what was coming.

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13 years finally passed by like leaves in the wind. The duo had made substantial progress with their tunnel. But even with all of the rock, and dirt they excavated, it was uncertain how much closer they were to freedom. Nevertheless, Shining waited behind Scorpan with newly lit candles while the Gargoyle continued to chip away at the rock in their way. He had just cleared some out of the way, and was about to blow on the dust.........when he noticed something. Something he could scarcely believe, but knew was extremely important. Dangling from the ceiling, it was a true sign of their progress. And Scorpan's spirits lifted even higher at the sight of it. "Oh, my god." he whispered, before calling back to shining after noticing how low his candle was. "Shining! A light! Bring a light, quickly!" Shining rushed over to him with a candle, and was lighting up where Scorpan pointed. "Look! What's that there?" Shining, himself, was quite stricken with shock, and amazement, at what he and the Gargoyle both saw. "Tree roots." Scorpan said with such hope in his tone. "We've found tree roots. Do you know what this means, Shining? If we've found tree roots, then....we're only months away from the outer wall! We're almost free!"

Shining himself couldn't help but laugh along with Scorpan. "Well done, priest." He kissed the Gargoyle's cheek. "Just hang on: i'll go get my chisel!" And he went back down the tunnel to fetch his tools. "Good, good." Scorpan said happily, going back to work. Now, with such an important discovery, he knew they couldn't relent now. Freedom was only months away, and at their current pace, they could probably precede that time. Things were finally looking up for them.

But then, something began to happen. A low rumbling took place above Scorpan. And to his growing fear, dust began to pour from the ceiling. Shining also quickly took notice, and began to understand what was happening. But it was too late. The roof the cave was beginning to shake with what both knew was their biggest danger. "Cave-in! Scorpan, get out of there!" Scorpan grabbed what he could quickly, and tried to turn around as the ceiling began to crumble with rock, and stone. He had almost reached Shining when he was caught in the cave-in, and had numerous, large rocks crush him beneath their weight, to Shining's horror. "SCORPAN! NOOO!!!" Once the rumbling had settled, Shining crawled as fast as he could to his friend. With both his hooves, and magic, he began shoving off the rocks which had covered his only friend. "Scorpan!" He shook the stunned Gargoyle. "Scorpan, are you alright? Same something! Please!" His tone was desperate and fearful. Of all the things he had suffered in this place, losing such a close friend was not something he wanted happening. 

He didn't want to be alone again - not when they were so close being free.

To his relief, he hard the Gargoyle cough, and wheeze as life returned to him. And the first thing he said was, "Oh, my! That was quite a rocky experience." he wheezed out. Shining, tears filling his eyes again for the first time since meeting Scorpan, laughed at his friends horrible joke, and got to work moving him. "Come on, bud. Let's get you out of here."

"No." Scorpan said weakly. "No...forget about me. Leave me."

"No way! You're not staying down here! Now let me help you!"

It wasn't exactly as if Scorpan had a choice in the matter. As it was, he could barely even lift a claw, much less move on his own. So he just stayed quiet as his friend dragged him out of the cave. Both of them unaware that they had left Scorpan's plate behind.

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Once they were back in Scorpan's cell, Shining laid him down on his back. His breathing was erratic. And Shining could see a big of blood on the side of his mouth as his eyes struggled to stay open. He wanted to reach a hoof out, and touch him. But he feared it would  only make things worse. He had no idea what to do, and it made him feel absolutely worthless. "Are you......i-i-is...is it serious?"

Scorpan coughed again, as he weakly spoke. "I'm afraid it is. I.....I can feel it: my lungs......many of my organs. They've all been punctured by my ribs. I think........i think i'm dying, Shining."

"No!"Shining exclaimed. "No, just-......just let me call for the doctor, please! He might not be all that pleasant, but he still took care of my wounds when they-"

"Shining.......listen to me." Scorpan put both of his claws to the side of Shining's face with gentle care. "It's alright. I was *wheeze*........I was....ready for a day.....like this. Death holds...no terror for me. And it should hold none.......for you, either. We all, inevitably....must die one day. How we.....choose to accept it.........is for us to decide. And though.........I didn't choose this manner........I hold no regrets. Especially since......." He weakly smiled. "I made such a wonderful.....and good friend. Thank you.....Shining. Thank you......for making life in this prison........far more tolerable than I could've imagined."

Another coughing fit arose, and Shining could only shake his head as tears poured down from his face. "But.....but you can't die! Not here! You were gonna be free! You were going to see the light of the sun again - feel the coolness of the wind. Even......even the soft, sweet grass as you step through the meadows I want to show you. There's so much we can still do together. You-" he chocked. "I wanted-.......i wanted you to meet my family. And Cadence. Once we're together again, I want-........" He then found it in him to faintly smile. "I want you to officiate our wedding. You're now the only one I could ever trust to bind us together. Please, Scorpan: you have to live! If not for yourself, then at least for me!" He then weakly, and sorrowfully said, "Please..........I don't want to be alone again. Not ever again."

Scorpan could only look to Shining with that warm, heart-filled gaze of his. And he let out a weak chuckle. "Well..........at least maybe........one regret i have.....is leaving you, Shining, and missing the chance to meet your wonderful family. But as for the rest.........do not prioritize........something that I.....don't care that much about. Even if I never experience feeling the sun, the wind, or the feel of grass.......it doesn't matter. I remember those things.....well enough not to obsess over them. And.........I find no shame in dying here. All I have to do......is remember the good....that i've experience in here........and smile as I meet my fate. Because.........despite the ups, and down.....and my time spent here.........My life has been fulfilling, at least. Even........in the darkness of Chateau D'if. And I would rather spend.....my last moments..........smiling." 

Shining, still with tears, looked incredulously at Scorpan as if he'd lost his mind. "Even after all you went through.......even after all the torment you've spent in this place.........you can still find it in you to smile with happiness? That's what you choose over freedom?!" He then shook his head with a hollow chuckle, and his tone took on one of frustration. "I guess we were both right about you, priest: you ARE insane. Only a mad pony, or creature, would actually choose that over freedom."

"Heh. Perhaps...But, Shining, I always knew that...freedom was not in my future. If it was, I would not...be here to begin with. I would not have met you...However, The One has given me a chance...to redeem any and all transgressions I have...by giving you a chance...to gain freedom. And so, if I cannot join you in that freedom to - as you say - feel the grass again...then yes I would rather...smile." Scorpan explained and began to cough violently, bloody spittle flying onto Edmond's prison garb.

"No, no, Scorpan, please! Save your strength! Just...try to live. If not for yourself, than for me." Edmond said as the frustration left his face and his dreary grey muzzle now adorned an expression of sorrow while he cried more.

"I'm sorry, Shining, but I must deny you this once. I...have no will to live any longer. However, I ask you to live for me. And more importantly, live for redemption. Can you do that for me...my friend?" Abbe asked.

Shining wanted to protest, tell the former priest that he will be alright, but deep down he knew that everything his friend said was true. His time was steadily running short. He would not live to see the outside of this prison. There was nothing that could be done. With that in mind he decided that the least he could do was grant Abbe's final wish since he was unable to save his life. And so, with a tearful smile, Edmond nodded.

"Yes. I can do that, Abbe. For you I will live." Shining replied.

With that, the Gargoyle released a weak fit of laughter, even as he coughed horribly once again. It cleared up, and he could finally speak again. "Thank you.....my friend. That's all I want." His tone then turned serious. "Now....before time runs out, listen: over there.......by that book on the floor. Remove the stone.....and bring me what you see." Though reluctant, Shining complied. His hoof dashed the other objects aside, and his magic lifted up the rock. To his surprise, there really was something there: it was a small, brown piece of cloth. It appeared to have been folded up so that it could better fit. Scorpans doing, undoubtedly. But either way, he picked it up in his mouth, and sprinted back to Scorpan. The gargoyle pointed to it, and asked him to open it up. Shining was unsure of what he'd see, at first. But then he got a surprise: what he held was some kind of map - leading to the Isle of Monte' Cristo, of all places. "When....I told Tirek...that I didn't know where the treasure of Gold Sword was.........I lied."

Shining's expression widened with shock. "You?"

Scorpan chuckled. "I'm a priest - not a saint." Shining almost laughed at that, till Scorpan winced in pain, and spoke again. "Now listen to me.......when you escape-"

"No, i can't." Shining shook his head. "The tunnel's blocked: i can't finish it now."

"Shining." Scorpan said firmly. "When you escape..........use your head. Remember....all that i've taught you. Remember your lessons....and follow the map. Only you.......can decipher its clues now. Use it......to find the treasure's hiding place. An Island.......off the Italian cost."

"Monte Cristo."

"Yes." Another heavy wheeze, and more blood was coughed up. "Just.....keep digging. Finish the tunnel.........and escape this place. But when you find it.........I want you to promise me.........you'll use the treasure.....only for good. Only for good."

"No, surely-.........Surely i'll use it for my revenge."

Scorpan, even with his weakening vision, showed only sympathy for his unicorn friend. "Don't forget......... what I told you: the tragedy of the Vaninhala. You must......remember that story, and the lessons it tells. Do you understand?"  Shining didn't answer right away. In fact, he didn't want to give any answer out of a small sense of guilt. Scorpan paid it no mind, and reached a hand to the back of his neck, so that he could be drawn closer to the Gargoyle. Closing his eyes, he once drew on the power of The Source. Drawing on his own lifeforce for this one final act. To Shining's amazement, Scorpan touched the black collar around his neck. And with a few moments of strain, did what Shining thought was impossible: he snapped off the black ring from his raw neck. Once it hit the floor, it disintegrated into nothingness. For the first time in forever, Shining gently reached up to his neck, and felt.....nothing. Just a wound that would heal, given time. Though it might possibly scar, he didn't care. In away, he was taking another step to freedom, and it made him happy. But he didn't forget Scorpan, who was now breathing slower than before. Though foolish, Scorpan willingly sacrificed what little life he had to free Shining of a cruel burden. He could feel his life was almost over. But he just needed enough time to say what he wanted.  "But also........here is your final lesson: do not.............do.......do not...........do not commit the crime......for which you now serve the sentence. You know........you are innocent, Shining. Prove it. Do not.......dwell on thoughts of revenge. They will only bring ruin. The O-............God said "Vengeance is Mine". Let it stay that way."

"Scorpan.......you know I don't believe in God, or whatever else you call him."

A final smile formed on Scorpan's face as he whispered, "It doesn't matter.......he believes in you." 

And after putting up such a long, tremendous fight, Scorpan had drawn his last breath. He was satisfied with what he had said to his friend. And now, he had given in to the blissful sleep of death. Shining could feel Scorpan's weight shift in his front legs, and his body go limp. Fearfully whispering his name, Shining was now met with another cruel reality. Abbe Scorpan Faria, the mad Gargoyle priest, his teacher, and mentor........and his only friend in the dark confines of hell....was dead. Shining felt himself about to give in to grief, and mourn his friend. But a sound of clopping hoofsteps told him he had no time. A knock on the door signaled a guards arrival, followed by him saying, "Plates out." It was already evening! What's worse, Scorpan's plate was nowhere to be seen. They would see the tunnel! But he had no time, because they might see him. Making absolute sure he made no sound, Shining quietly darted towards the wall corner next to the door, and held his breath. The slot opened up, and the guard reached down the spoon to pour Scorpan's meal. But he was surprised when there was no plate. What was the matter with him? Did he fall asleep, or was he just being lazy? "Come on, let's have it!" The guard said sharply, kicking the door to rouse the priest. Still, there was no reaction. What the hell was wrong? That's what the guard leaned down to peek through the slot to find out. Imagine his shock when he saw Scorpan's lifeless body on the floor. He never even noticed the tunnel thanks to the angle Scorpan's body had taken. He was still taken aback, and was quick to go, and fetch his mates.

Shining, following the guards departure got to work moving the obvious, misplaced stones. He returned the one hiding the map. And then he covered up the tunnel entrance as best as possible. He was very fortunate that noone ever cared for the stones of the prison. That was when he heard the distant hoofsteps, and the jingling of keys. The guard was returning with others, no doubt. Now, all he had to do was hide before he was caught. He heard one of them say "But he's always awake." as the keys to the door jingled with insertion. With his magic, he covered his own tunnel with its stone, and then stayed down there as quietly as he could to listen to what the rams were saying. The 3 of them slowly walked into the room, actually seeming taken back to see Scorpan was dead. "First time in 12 years he hasn't said 'Thank you'." One of them, possibly the meal carrier, said in a tone that almost sounded....saddened. "Think i'm actually gonna miss that, in a way." He then went over to examine the body. All he did was just confirm the obvious. "Dead."

"But, how did he die?"

"I don't know: maybe fell off the bed, and broke his neck, or somethin'."

The ram guard carrying a large bag with his magic looked over Scorpan's body with mild disgust. "He's a bit dirty."

The other guard just looked at him funny. "You're kidding, right? They ALL are."

The bag holder just sighed, and said, "Well....in any case, let's sew him up. Then we can go fetch Grogar." He laid the bag across Scorpan's table, showing it to be a large burlap. The other two Guards picked Scorpan's body up in their magic, and placed him down in the bag. Shining listened as they tied up the bag, and sealed Scorpan inside. "Alright. Now let's go get Grogar. Been a while since we've had any dead around here." Feeling frustrated about all that's just happened, Shining waited until all 3 of them had left. To his growing fortune, one of them closed the door behind, and locked it. 

"Why'd you lock it? He's not going anywhere."

"I don't know. Habit, I suppose."

And once he was sure they were gone, Shining exited from his hiding place, and trotted over to Scorpan. Wanting to see his face one more time, he undid the part of the sack covering his face, and opened it. He was still amazed, and saddened by the frozen expression Scorpan held. Even in death, he held an honest, loving smile. That only made Shining wish, all the more, that his Gargoyle friend was alive to taste freedom. He just seemed.....so at peace, it was almost unreal. But....he'd be lying if he said he hadn't expected him to be like this. All he could do was stroke the Gargoyle's face, and say, "Goodbye, Scorpan.....my friend. You're free now......as i'll never be." But as the sound of wind passing through his tunnel echoed behind him, an idea suddenly popped into his head. And his eyes widened in understanding.

He may have just found the means of his escape - his friend was still looking out for him!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grogar, and the other 3 guards walked through the darkened halls of the prison with stride. They felt no urgent need to hurry up, and hasten their movement. Was a corpse gonna suddenly come back to life, or something? No. Thus they had all the time in the world. With torch in magic "hand", carried by his red aura, Grogar lead his rams to Scorpan's cell. When he saw the Gargoyle's body, or the sack carrying it, he wasn't all that concerned. "So the old priest has finally gone to Elysium, eh? Alright. Bring him along." Two of the Guards from earlier picked up the sack with their magic, and started carrying it behind Grogar. As they walked, Grogar stopped in front of Cell # 37: Shining's own cell. And after staring at the door for a little, he let out a chuckle of personal amusement before moving. "Can hardly believe it's been 13 years since that soft-touch was brought here. Can't even remember his name anymore. Whatever, it doesn't matter - funeral awaits, and there's a body to be buried."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They had reached the squared staircase which lead to the top of the prison, and to the outside. The rams keeping slow, steady pace as they trudged the steps. Grogar, however, moved at a faster pace than the others, and stayed ahead of them. Though, of course, he wasn't all that patient with them. "Come on already, you slumps. I haven't got all day!" He halted in place, just before he took another step. Then grinned as he said, "Actually, I do." He then began to laugh almost maniacally as he continued walking. Bellowing as he said, "I've got all the time in the world!", and let it carry on until they were outside. Night had fallen over the Chateau D'if Le Tambelon like a shroud. The only real sounds to be concerned with was that of the crashing waves of the sea down below. They were loud, even from where the rams were on the huge stairwell.

Meanwhile, back inside, the ram guard who had discovered Scorpan was dead was finishing up his rounds. Now, he had arrived at Shining's cell, and ready to finish up for the night. But when he opened the slot to this cell, he was again met with no plate. And no response, even as he kicked the door, urging the inmate inside to bring their plate out. He was starting to think the unicorn was somehow dead , too. That was just perfect. The last thing this prison needed was an epidemic on their hooves. When he leaned down to peek through the slot, however, he found that there was no such luck. Instead, there was a hole in the floor with rocks sticking out, and surrounded by dirt. The guard hurried inside, confused by what he saw. It was a clearly dug hole, leading to an unknown location. But what the guard was really concerned about was the figure he saw laying on the empty cot in the cell. To his growing worry, he noticed brown fur, a long tail, and folded wings. He reached over, and turned the figure over to find not Shining Dantes.

But the body of Scorpan, still maintaining his frozen, dead smile.

"Warden Grogar!!!"

Outside, the actual occupant in the sack, Shining, was staying as quiet as he could while the rams carried him in their magic. He was happy that they had the same abilities of unicorns: otherwise they might have notice him inside by feeling his legs, and horn. They paid no heed, to his relief, and only had Grogar's half-baked sermon to listen to as they kept walking. "Dear lord, we bequeath unto you, these remains of your humble servant...............whatever his name was." He then let out an indignant sigh while rolling his eyes. "Good god, i'm bored." Still unaware of the guard who was now frantically racing through the shadowy halls of the prison, calling out his name. The ram had actually guessed what Shining was doing, and was determined to stop him. But odds were, he was already too late.

Not that Shining knew of it. Nor was he fully aware of what was waiting for him. At least until he heard the sound of the crashing waves grow in volume. He was getting quite confused, and uncertain of what was going on. That is, until he heard the sound of chains, and felt his legs being bound by them via magic. Then, his expression widened, and his ears fell as he understood. Grogar used the word "bury" as a figure of speech: they actually threw their dead out to sea over the cliffs. And with both those chains, and what he could feel might have been iron orbs to weigh him down, he was on a one way trip to the sea bed. He was going to drown! He needed to get the chains off of him once he hit the water, or else his freedom could be premature. To his utter amazement, he found exactly what he needed to make it happen: keys which hung from the golden band around Grogar's neck. Figures. But the ram didn't even know Shining's horn was free, and he could use magic again. Before they even tried picking him up, Grogar asked, "Oh, before you finish: did he, in fact, have a map on him?"

"Uh.....n-no, sir."

"Hm. Pity. Lord Tirek certainly would've paid a great deal for it - or I could've used it, myself." He sighed uncaringly. "Oh, well. Go ahead, and chuck him." Shining's fear began to increase. He had to act now, before it was too late. But the rams picked him up too quickly for him to focus. He couldn't see the keys properly. And already, the rams were beginning to swing him side, to side.

"Wait, what do you mean after 3? Do we throw him before 3, or after 3?"

"After 3."

(both)
"ONE..........TWO.......AND TH-"

"WARDEN GORGAR! WAIT!" Shouted the ram guard, panting as he stood at the top of the prison stairs. Unwittingly helping Shining out by distracting the guards, even though they still kept swinging him back, and forth. This still gave him the chance to focus on the keys hanging from Grogar's neck collar. All the while, the guard tried to tell them not to throw the body over the cliff. But from where he stood, it was impossible for Grogar to hear him over the raging rapids. Same as the other guards. So despite his protests, they just started their countdown again. Just as they counted again, Shining's horn ignited. The second time he was swung towards Grogar, he grabbed the keys in his aura......

"AND THREE!"

And he ended up dragging the old ram with him over the cliffside. Both of them, to the shock of the guards, were sent plummeting down to the deep ravine for several moments. Finally, they both crashed into the water. But while Grogar, stunned from the blow, was still able to swim to the surface, Shining didn't seem to have such luck. With the ball, and chains still holding him, he sank all the way to the bottom of the waters. But after a few seconds, he easily broke through the bag with his own hooves, and his magic. He could hold his breath a little longer, but he was running out of time. He'd run out of breath soon enough. That's why he unlocked the chains as quickly as possible. Another gift of being a soldier at sea was that he could swim if he fell overboard. With only seconds to spare before the water filled his lungs, Shining rose to the surface with a loud gasp. He coughed out whatever water might have gotten in his lungs. And after looking around, he began to understand that he was almost free.

Keyword being "almost", as he saw Grogar looking down on him with shocked eyes while clinging to the rocks.

Something inside of Shining snapped. He remembered all of the unbearable tortures this monster put him through. The collar shocks. The brutal beatings. The Vicious Lashes. All of them seared into his brain like a red-hot poker. Igniting some of the anger, and resentment he held for the ram. However, beneath the anger, he knew he couldn't let Grogar escape to warn Tirek, or anyone else that he'd escaped. He needed to be silenced. So with all the strength, and speed he could muster, Shining swam after the ram with the fury of a shark. Grogar saw the anger in his eyes, and was rightfully intimidated. He began struggling to climb the rocks, and escape what the unicorn's wrath would wrought. But he was too slow from the blow of crashing into the water. Shining used his magic ahead of time to grab the ram by his bell collar, and drag him back into the water. Once he was close enough, he grabbed the rams head, and forced it under the water for as long as possible. Grogar put up a fight as best as possible. Even tried using his magic to activate the black collar's security measure.....but was horrified when he realized Shining had gotten his off somehow. And after a couple of minutes of struggle, Shining felt Grogar's body quit its struggles, and go limp in the water. He had done it: Grogar was now dead, too. But Shining had no time to think over it. He had to swim to shore away from this awful place. He swam forth, through the rocks, with all of his might, moving straight on through to freedom.

Meanwhile, the two ram guards, who had watched the whole thing, and now had no idea what to do, only had this to say.

"Well...............I think we could've handled that a little better."