//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: The Cost of Utopia // by Dr Freedom MLP //------------------------------// “The first duty of a man is to think for himself”  ― José Martí Chapter 14 ______________________________________________________________________________ Shining Armor awoke the day following his confrontation with Celestia the rest of that day had been fairly calm. Nothing important had been found when he and some of the other soldiers searched Zecora’s hut. Apparently she had packed most of her things before making her way to Ponyvile. Standing up he headed for the bathroom to shower before he started his day. I have a lot ahead of me today. He thought For my plan to work I can't make any mistakes. Nopony can expect anything if I want to succeed, least of all any of the troops or worse Celestia. He stepped out of the shower and dried off before donning his armor. He stepped out of his quarters once again and turned to his personal guard. "Anything to report?” The commander asked "Sir, no sir!" the colt replied enthusiastically. "At ease." The white unicorn turned and walked away. Now to find Rainbow Dash. The burly unicorn made his way through the streets towards her home avoiding eye contact with everypony. He had never hidden things well, ever since he was a filly. He remembered once many years ago Twilight had caught him kissing with Cadance. He hadn't been sure then how his parents would react to him dating their foal sitter so he told his sister to keep quite. Later at dinner his father had mentioned Cadance and Shining couldn't help but blurt out that he was in a relationship with her. They were happy for him of course. He chuckled at the memory. What had ever happened to her? They lost touch when she moved so she could attend advanced magic school in Trottingham. He should get back in touch with her. His thoughts of lost love were cut short as he arrived at his destination. Floating above him was Rainbow's cloud home. He pulled the string hanging down, a doorbell for non pegasi, and waited for an answer. Sure enough a tired looking Rainbow Dash emerged and drifted down lazily. "Ugh, does the empire need me now? It's not even ten yet." The lazy pony bemoaned. "I have a special mission you are required for." The stallion stated. Dash perked up a bit at the mention of some possible action but remained wary. "Really? Celestia seemed rather against me doing um... Anything!" "Just precautions. This matter is highly classified and we don't want anyone to think anything." The stallion replied coolly. Everything was going to plan. After thinking for a few moments the pegasus decided that the story made sense. "Alright then, what do I have to do?" She asked "Follow me closely. I'll explain more once we're in a more secluded environment." He responded. With that he started heading for the Everfree forest. Once they cleared the town limits he spoke up again. "We are going to find where your friends are hiding and report back to the rest of the army. We're still trying to nip this thing in the bud." "Gotcha, want me to do a fly over to see where they are?" "No, too risky. Is there any place the six of you and Luna have been before?" There was a short pause as she thought. "Well there is one place." She began slowly. "But it's so obvious, they would never go there." "Sometimes the most obvious places are the ones ponies never look. Do you know the way there?" "Ya of course! A pegasus never forgets!" She exclaimed. "Ya, right." Shing responded, shaking his head at the butchered saying. "Can you show me the way?" "Ya, of course" With that she took off, heading for for the old ruins, where they had fought Nightmare Moon. She moved slowly enough so her counterpart could keep up. After a while she tried to start up a conversation. "So you seem a little nervous." She stated nonchalantly. "What makes you say that?" The guard captain replied, already starting to sweat a little. "I don't know you just seem a little less confident than usual. Maybe it's in your eyes." She replied, not noticing how uncomfortable the stallion had become. "Nature of these missions I guess." He lied. If she had been looking at him she would have known it was a load of crap. "Yeah." She responded distantly. "What do you think of this whole thing? I know the whole situation has me stressed out." The castle ruins were in view now and the place was obviously filled with activity. "What if *mhff*" she was cut off as a gag was put in her mouth and her wings and legs became bound. She was caught out of midair by a light rose magic aura. Her eyes turned to see Shining Armor hold her in his telekinetic grasp. The unicorn shook his head. "You talk too much for your own good." he paused "You don't seem super surprised considering I just kidnapped you." Rainbow did her best wing shrug while tied up. "I gotta get better at hiding things." he said to no one but himself. Dash just rolled her eyes. He, and his prisoner, approached what was left of the entrance to the old castle. He had clearly sounded the alarm because he could see pegasi flying every which way. "Who goes there?" Cried a familiar Royal Canterlot voice. "It is I, Shining Armor! I bring information and a certain mare I'm sure you would love to see!"