Chapter 19
Barricade looked down at his armored chest. The stallion was now in full guard uniform with a captain’s rank. The unicorn felt uneasy wearing this, but he knew a great honor had just been bestowed on him and it would be foolish to reject it. He looked up, in front of him were Temor and another guard.
“I trust there are no objection to this,” Prince Temor looked at the guard, a white stallion with blue mane and tail.
“None at all sire, the High Shadow in her wisdom never actively recruited guards from higher ranks. She felt it was too risky to get that close to the inner circle of the Celestial sisters. The furthest she went was the secretary to Princess Celestia, and that was only because she married a descendant who was already a member,” the guard said, never dropping the hard look on his face. He did arch his brow though after a short moment. “However, I would be honored to advice your brother, if you so wish, sire.”
“Sounds good enough to me, you will be his instructor then,” Temor returned his attention to Barricade and smirked deviously. “Well brother, looks like you got yourself a teacher. I’ll leave you in his capable hooves.”
“Uh… thanks,” Barricade could only mutter. Wondering why his brother was promoting him so high, he had kind of hoped just to continue being a minor member in the Order. Then the unicorn realized he was sort of breaking protocol. Quickly he stood to attention and saluted. “I mean, thank you sir!”
“Don’t be too surprised though if my father drops by after the True Return to give further instructions,” Prince Temor chuckled when his brother repeated the thanks in more proper way. The prince turned and walked out of the armory.
When the prince was outside, his father materialized next to him. Temor didn’t quite address him until he had walked down the hallway for a bit.
“Wondering why I put my brother in charge of the guards?” he asked quietly, he wasn’t sure if the spell Ira had cast was still working and others could see Sombra.
“No, I see your strategy, you want them to think you are so glad to be back with your family, you are doling out favors,” the king said said simply. He had noticed that ever since arriving in the fort, Temor had shown much more confidence, far more akin to back when the king ruled the Crystal Empire. Sombra wondered if Ira’s little ceremony had a hoof in that. Then again, his earlier pep talk to his son may have gone better than he figured it would.
“There is a little more to it than that,” Temor chuckled and gave his father a glance. “If he wants his brother, he must earn it. What better way than to serve us directly.”
“I see,” Sombra frowned a little in thought, realizing that hadn’t been a dissimilar tactic he had himself used on Temor. He looked at his son. “I think you should speak with your mother again.”
“Why?” Temor grunted, not really seeing the point. He could barely remember the old mare. Right now he was going to see how Emerald was doing, he hadn’t had a chance to speak with her after arriving in the fort.
The prince had managed to talk with Ira, who explained to him in brief that right now they were really just getting ready for the True Return. She was going to fast forward few things since she didn’t want to risk their enemies trying to stop them. When Temor asked about the six mares, he had laughed when hearing they were now in the dungeon. Ira had then approved of appointing Barricade to the lead the guards, especially when Temor’s brother confirmed having military experience. The few royal guards who had managed to come, were themselves fairly new recruits and the crystal guards were a little out of date.
“Her mind is in turmoil, she’s seen who her lost son has turned out be. Let her accept who you are now and she might not do something drastic to attempt to get back the son she lost,” his father explained to him. Secretly he was thinking: Besides, she is your mother. The mare I stole you from.
Temor grunted, unable to argue against that logic. He really could do without having an old mare running around after him, trying to reminisce about days he barely could remember by now. With a resigned sigh the prince changed his heading to go to the section with the living quarters of the high ranking Umbrum members. Deep down he also didn’t want to disobey an order or an advice from his father.
The fort had turned out to be much bigger than the prince had initially thought when he first arrived. It was divided into several sections connected by stairways and hallways, all decorated with the same banners. There were areas for the lower ranking members near the base of the fort, higher ranking at the middle and at the top Temor and Ira and eventually Sombra would reside. Emerald, being more of a guest had been granted a room at the top, since she was considered a friend of the prince.
Before he reached the door that lead to his mother’s quarters, Sombra vanished from view. Prince Temor, grumbled, wanting his father to be there even if there was a chance right now that his mother could not see the spirit. With some hesitation the unicorn finally knocked on the door.
“Enter,” a quiet voice spoke.
The prince opened the door and strode in. Mirage was sitting by a table and staring at a picture held up in her magic. When the old mare looked over, she smiled weakly. Temor was glancing around, the quarters were decorated with pictures on the wall, the bed looked rather nice and there were relaxing looking reclining chairs in two corners. A fine woven rug covered part of the floor.
“Mother,” Temor addressed her and approached a step closer. “I do apologize that our talk earlier was so brief, however, I did have duties that I had to attend to. I am very busy.”
“Of course, the True Return.” Mirage nodded and put the picture down. She rose from the table and faced her son. For a moment the mare regarded the prince, before she glanced down to the floor sadly. “Look I know how he got you, I read his journal… I just hoped to hear it from you, wanted to hear if you remembered it…”
Temor arched his brow, he couldn’t detect anger or resentment in Mirage, just sadness and disappointment. The stallion then frowned as he walked closer. If she already knew how he was taken by King Sombra that at least made things a little simpler. Not that Temor really cared, as far as he was concerned the mare might just as well be a stranger.
Then again she was already a loyal member of the Order. Ira had told him that she had alerted her to their enemies. He remembered Turquoise, the old crystal mare who had been his nursemaid while growing up with his father. He had to admit that Mirage’s blue gray coat and dark azure mane kind of reminded him of the kindly old crystal mare, who had been the closest thing he remembered as a mother figure.
“I do remember it, it was a difficult time at first,” Temor said, now standing right in front of the mare. His frown changing into a scowl, not really wanting to recall those memories at all. “If you really must know, I did hate every minute of it at first. I was not initially intended to stay there, I was meant to go back. But I got stuck and the king, instead of just tossing me to the side, took me in. He more than paid for his first cruel treatment of me by adopting me and teach me. I have forgiven him and he became very much my father.”
“Oh, I know Temor… I know,” Mirage sighed deeply and sat down, raising her head to look at him. “The High Shadow told me, when she found out you were my son, she told me everything.”
“You… you did?” Now Temor was actually surprised, then he hoofed his face, realizing he had completely forgotten that Ira had watched him grow up as a spirit. It would only make sense that Ira would then tell his mother of his life with the king. From what he could already tell, his aunt never seemed to deceive her followers.
“Of course she suspected it for a long time, but it was confirmed when we got the journal of the King and I saw the passages describing you. She brought me and Brother Wing here and then told me everything,” Mirage looked up again. “I… was confused, upset first. But everything was happening as she had foretold. How could I be angry?”
“So you do not resent my father for taking me?” Temor frowned, not quite buying that. Then again, much like his father, he was just as highly tuned to emotions like fear and hate and he detected none from the mare.
“I believe it was fated for you to stay with him, I can’t resent fate. The King did hurt me by taking you away, but I understand and accept you had a greater role to play than to stay with me,” Mirage smiled now warmly. “I am a member of the Order of Umbrum, my son. I am so proud of you. You are a prince, you stand so tall and proud. Sure I wish things could have been different, but you do not always get what you wish.”
“What matters to me is… you’re back,” she picked up the picture from the table with her magic and showed it to him. It was of Temor when he was five, holding a sword and wearing a knightly helmet. “In some ways, you have grown into the knight from your favorite stories you used to play as. ”
Temor had to hold back a maniacal laugh as the words of Twilight Sparkle went through his mind. She had tried to use his own family to reach him. Now he stood here, face to face with the mare who had the most just cause to fully resent his father, pretty much stating that she was quite alright with how he had turned out.
The prince instead grabbed Mirage’s hoof, raised it to his muzzle to kiss it. Then he looked at his mother with a smug expression. Quite a bit of admiration shone in his eyes directed to his aunt, how she had so completely manipulated Mirage to their side.
“Mother,” he said, this time without any reservation. He now saw it would be quite easy to reward Mirage for her loyal service and dedication to the Order. “I do believe you have your son back.”
Emerald sat in the room she had been assigned deep in thought, staring at the toy figure. The room was much nicer looking than the one she had for a brief time at Starlight’s house, the bed was bigger, there were velvet curtains in front of the windows, lounging chair and a small table near it, a dresser and closet. She even had access to her own private bathroom. Frankly she was surprised they had granted her this luxury, not that long ago she had been a slave.
Right now, she was considering her situation. She had been quite frightened, seeing the spirit of Sombra during the ceremony, almost wanted to sink into the floor. Terrified when hearing the ponies chant praises to him.
We may be friends, but he is still loyal to the king, she thought sadly, remembering when Temor loudly shouted ‘long live the king.’ Perhaps I should go back to the Crystal Empire.
A knock on the door brought the mare out of her thoughts. She looked over and quietly invited whoever it was to enter. She expected it to be Temor but was surprised to see it was Ira. She put the toy on the dresser and rose up.
“Hello again, Emerald,” Ira addressed her with a warm gentle smile as she walked into the room.
“Uh… hi,” Emerald whispered, not sure how to address this pony.
“You don’t remember me?” the High Shadow asked curiously. “You don’t remember the friendly voice that made sure Temor got your notes and the toys you gave him. Who brought you the nice food and sweets he sent you?”
“That was you?” the crystal pony gasped as she realized the voice was very familiar.
Ira nodded and walked all the way over to her. She looked at the wooden figure on the dresser, smiling wider when seeing who it was meant to resemble. Emerald kept watching her, still not sure what to say or think or do.
“So there was one missing,” Ira chuckled and raised a hoof, a ball of magic materialized above it, holding many toy figures. Gently the dark unicorn let the sphere float over to the dresser and released the toys on top of it. “That should complete the set.”
“My brother made these, then he gave them to me when he was old enough to attend to more duties,” Emerald commented gravely, staring at the toys. “Then, when seeing how sad Temor was, I gave them to him. I wanted to cheer him up.”
“And they did.” Ira looked at her again, dropping her hoof back to the floor. “Oh you should have seen the adventures he had them go on. Fighting all kinds of monsters, finding treasure, exploring the great unknown. You really cared about him.”
“I did… I do…” Emerald sighed and sat down. “It’s just his father…”
“The king caused your family and your nation a great harm, I know,” Ira still spoke gently and placed a hoof on her cheek. “You do not have to like his father, just to remain by Temor’s side.”
“I… guess?” Emerald frowned and looked up. “I’m just so afraid… the Order of Umbrum…”
“You have nothing to fear from us.” Ira raised her hoof to gently caress the top of the pony’s mane before tracing it back to her cheek. “We wish you no harm. In fact, we are in your debt for what you did for my nephew. You got him away from those who no doubt would have wanted to harm him.”
“I… did.” Emerald found herself unable to look away from the red eyes looking at her, they looked so kind and welcoming. So unlike the red, intent eyes of the king.
“I will not keep you here against your will, Emerald. I consider you a friend and you are a friend of my nephew. Say the word and I will take you back to the Crystal Empire, back to your family,” Ira assured her and removed her hoof.
Ira stepped back, still smiling that warm smile at the crystal pony. “But if you choose to stay, if you join us. I will protect you from my brother if you feel that is needed, you never have to speak to him. You can be with your friend again, that I promise and I deliver on my promises.”
“I want to stay with, Temor,” Emerald whispered, she was still unsure if it was a good idea to return back to the Crystal Empire. What if they thought she was a spy for the Order? She had rescued an enemy, on her own free will.
“You are welcome to stay. The Order of Umbrum welcomes you to stay. Most of them are just normal ponies that I have offered comfort and support. Comfort and support that I failed to give when I ruled my empire for brief time.” Ira saddened a little as she remembered different times.
Emerald slowly nodded, deep down she had no desire to leave the prince. He had been a constant stability in her long life as a slave, the only real source of comfort after she was separated from her family to serve him. She realized that facing so many free choices frightened her, she was just unable to really choose, the only thing that really made sense to her was to just stick by Temor.
“Then I stay, I will not lose my friend,” the crystal pony declared. Ira stepped closer and again caressed her cheek with a hoof.
“Then be welcome to the Order. I will protect you as fiercely as I protect the others, this room is yours, not even my brother may come here uninvited after the True Return,” Ira told her before stepping back and turned to leave. As she walked to the entrance, there was knock on the door and Temor peeked in.
“Oh, Aunt Ira, am I interrupting?” the prince asked with an uncertain frown.
“Not at all, I was just leaving,” Ira told him, Temor opened the door fully to let his aunt out as he entered.
Temor looked at Emerald who was staring at the toys on the dresser. The prince arched his brow when seeing the full set of wooden figures. He approached the mare and the dresser, glancing between them and wondering what had gone on between her and the High Shadow.
“Hey,” he finally addressed her. Emerald jumped a little and quickly turned, she relaxed when seeing who it was.
“Sorry, I was just… oh never mind. Anyway, I just joined the Order… I think.” Emerald frowned, she remembered kind words, compassion, but the whole discussion with Ira was getting a little fuzzy in her mind. Hail the High Shadow.
“You joined the Order of Umbrum?” Temor arched his brow, once again dumbfounded by the show of loyalty from Emerald. “You joined the actual order that wants the king back?”
“The High Shadow assured me that he would not bother me.” Emerald looked up at him and smiled a little. “Besides, I just want to be with you.”
“Well, I came to see if you were settling in and if you had figured out if you really did want to remain here… I guess that answers that,” Temor chuckled, he offered a hoof and helped the mare to stand up. He smiled now warmer. “I did want you to stay, but I didn’t want to order you to stay.”
“I know.” Emerald smiled back and then looked at the toys. “Your aunt brought the rest of the toys.”
“So I saw.” Temor glanced at them for a moment. “She knew they were important to us.”
“She was our secret friend,” the crystal pony told him and reached out to pat the wood figure with the blonde mane. Hail Queen Ira.
“Yeah, I was starting to figure that out myself,” the prince nodded, then he glanced back to the door. The spirit of Sombra stood here, smiling knowingly before drifting out of the room. “We seem to have a habit of having spirits around us.”
“Seems so.” Emerald nodded in agreement. Hail King Sombra.
End chapter 19