//------------------------------// // 12 - To Be a Shadowbolt // Story: Embracing the Fog // by SunnyDays //------------------------------// Charger wasn’t expecting for Captain Aurora Glitz to approach him again so soon.  “Well, hello again there, beauty. What can I do you for~?” He asked with a smirk. “What do you think?” Aurora scoffed, “More visitors for you. Asking about your compound in the middle of the village. Everyone’s been tight-lipped, but we can’t get them to buzz off. They’re insisting that the Princess sent them here and that they want to find Soarin. One of the fillies slipped up and said that she’d trapped him during our ceremony.”  Charger sighed and shook his head, “It’s always the fillies… Can you give me a description of these visitors?” “They’re two mares. A yellow one and a white one.” "Two mares, you say?" Charger mused on this for a moment. It was likely that these two were Wonderbolts, and by that extension, Soarin's teammates. He could just about hear Nightshade's grumbling response about Spitfire from here. As much as he knew that he should report this, Charger couldn't help but think of an idea. It was an unfortunate idea, but one nevertheless.  Charger was definitely skilled at chasing off mares, if past encounters with anyone of the other sex had taught him anything. He wasn't sure why his flirtations had never worked for him in the past, but it was probably the most painless way to go about the current situation. His ego was a small price to pay. "I'll chase 'em off for ya, Captain," Charger replied, "where were they last seen?"  Aurora raised an eyebrow at him. She probably knew that he was breaking protocol by his decision. That, or she had guessed how exactly he planned to pull it off. Either way, she didn't mention anything about it.  "Last I heard, they were in Shadowrunner's tavern. That was only a few minutes ago, so they might still be there," Aurora said.  Charger nodded at her. "Thanks. Either way, I'll alert my superiors about this. Hopefully, we won't continue to see uninvited guests show up around here."  "I sure hope so," Aurora muttered in annoyance as she watched Charger take to the air. Charger arrived at the dimly lit tavern, glancing around. The thestral bartender gave him a side-eye as he came in. As the two locked glances, the thestral subtly flicked his eyes toward a table across from the bar. Charger nodded, following the directions to see two pegasus mares sitting at a table, talking amongst themselves.  Even with only a glance, Charger immediately recognized them. The yellow mare was undoubtedly Misty Fly. From what they knew about the Wonderbolts, she was the left-wing of Spitfire; Soarin had been Spitfire's right. They also knew that she was from a noble household. More specifically, she was the daughter of Luna's newly-appointed advisor. While that meant that Misty's father knew about the Shadowbolts, it also meant that she was risking her father's reputation for being here. However... It also meant that their claims about being sent here by Luna held more ground.  Next to her was Surprise Pie. She was behind Misty in all known ranks as far as the Wonderbolts were concerned, and had a reputation for being a loose canon. Diving into the Dragon Incident of Ponyville without Spitfire's clearance or a clear plan in place had been more than enough to prove that. She was lucky that she'd been allowed to stay on the team after that stunt. If this excursion to find Soarin had been Misty's idea, it wasn't a shock that Surprise dove into it headfirst. Then again, with her being apart of the Pie family, Charger supposed that it had all been a given. Charger approached the table, flashing them both a charming smile as he leaned against the back of one of the empty chairs.  "My, my... Two new, pretty faces around here. What a shock and an honor to this little town." He said.  Surprise's muzzle crumpled immediately in disgust, just as he thought it would. "Blech!" She verbalized, sticking out her tongue. She looked at Charger as if he'd just offered for her to eat garbage.  Misty's eyes narrowed at Charger before she spoke, looking him up and down. She crossed her front hooves on the table and leaned closer to him. "Ooh hoo~ How forward." Misty fluttered her eyelashes. "Feeling lucky tonight, are we? Well! I'm feeling a bit parched. Shill out a few drinks for my friend and I, and maybe we can... discuss a few things." Charger's eyes widened. Luckily, it was hard to see it from under his goggles. Of course. Of course his flirtations would work the one time he needed it not to. Charger tried not to let his voice crack as he went along with this. It was all he could do after failing so miserably. He'd be able to gather info this way. At least, that's what Charger tried to justify this as. This was still kind of a win in his book, considering he'd actually managed to get a mare interested in him.  "What an offer," he chuckled, signaling to the bartender to serve them three drinks, "I'd be a fool to turn you down. Besides, no stallion in his right mind would leave two mares thirsty like this."  "Handsome and wise. What more could a mare ask for in a gentlestallion?" Misty asked, her curved grin almost predatory as she leaned in, “and who shall I thank for such wonderful hospitality?”  "Sweet Celestia, Misty..." Surprise muttered, rolling her eyes as the two continued at it. She looked as if she were about to throw herself off of the tree. “Name’s Charger. And I won’t beat around the bush… everyone knows who you two are.” Charger chuckled at Surprise's discomfort, but it didn't phase him. "So... What brings two famous lovelies such as yourselves to this sleepy little town?"  "We're actually here to find a friend of ours," Misty said, tapping together her hooves idly. "Princess Luna said that he's here visiting his sister, but didn't give us much more information. You wouldn't happen to know a mare by the name of Nightshade, would you?" Charger rubbed his chin with a hoof as the bartender came by to drop off their drinks. "Perhaps I might. Nightshade's a solitary mare, though; I don't think she'll be very happy if I brought you to her." "Well, do you know if Soarin's there or not?" Surprise huffed. "We're here to see him!"  "Surprise, calm down," Misty warned. "It's alright." Charger chuckled, "Perhaps after we share our drinks, I could duck out and talk to Nightshade myself. If we all meet here, perhaps she'll be more lenient to meeting with you two."  "Oh, that would be so appreciated," Misty said with a more genuine smile.  Surprise nearly downed her drink in a single glug. The action was as loud as Surprise could physically make it sound, and some of the cider dribbled down either side of her face.  Charger took the time to take a normal swig of his drink while Misty glared bullets at her friend's behavior.  When Charger had sufficiently drained his mug, he stood. "Alright. I'll be back in a few moments." He strolled casually out of the tavern, but as soon as he cleared the building, his pace picked up urgently. Charger ducked out of the town, repeatedly scanning his surroundings to assure that he wasn’t being followed before slipping into the compound. Nightshade was sharing a coffee with Soarin in the main room in an attempt to warm up after their early morning flight.  “Cap, we have a problem.” Charger said as the door shut firmly behind him.  Nightshade stood at once, “What is it?”  “Two of the Wonderbolts have made their way over here and are asking around for Soarin.” Nightshade muttered something about Spitfire in the background. Soarin stood. “For me? Any idea who they are?”  “Misty Fly and Surprise,” Charger said, “I left them at the tavern in town to speak with you about it.” He looked over to Nightshade. “Sorry about breaking protocol, Ma’am; I figured I could gather some intel on why they were here before approaching you.” Nightshade let out an exasperated sigh, “I trust your judgment on that. They didn’t follow you here, did they?” “Not that I know of.” Charger shook his head. “Then just leave them there.” Nightshade huffed, “They should’ve known better than to come snooping around, looking for someone who doesn’t want to be found.”  “Actually, Shadey… Can I talk to them? That’s all they want, anyways.” Soarin’s ears flattened against his head as he said this.  “Besides, they claim that they’ve been sent here by Princess Luna.” Charger responded. “...what?” Nightshade whirled around, “Why would she do that?! We’re supposed to be a secret!” “But Nightshade, I knew that you were around here-” Soarin said, only to have his snout bopped lightly by his sister’s wing. Her attempt to silence him worked, but not without a huff and a pout.  “I’m not sure why either, but that’s what they’re saying.” Charger cleared his throat. “Should we investigate?” There was a pause as Nightshade seemingly mulled it over in her head.  “Alright,” she said at last, “the three of us will meet with these two, if for no other reason than to shoo them away for good.”   “Maybe Charger and I should go by ourselves?” Soarin suggested, “If all they want is to talk with me, then I’m sure they’ll leave after I talk to them.”  “No, no, I need to assure that they understand that they cannot go spreading our name along to anyone else. The only way I can do that is by doing it myself.” “Nightshade, please don’t make a scene out of this. They’re still my friends. They didn’t do anything to me, and they don’t deserve to be dragged through the mud for an event they weren’t even present for.” Soarin pleaded with her.  “I’m still going.” Nightshade’s words carried an air of finality to them. Soarin knew that any further arguments would only waste their time. He hung his head in defeat and followed as Nightshade trotted out of the compound.  Charger hung back, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “Well, something’s up with her,” He said rather bluntly as he and Soarin hung back, “Nightshade doesn’t usually lose her cool this easily.”  Soarin let out a breath. He knew that Charger was right, but he also knew exactly why Nightshade was acting this way. She was holding onto the suspicion that Spitfire put the two up to this. For all Soarin knew, that suspicion could’ve been entirely justified. It did seem like a Spitfire kind of thing to do: have a messenger or two summon him to her office for a chat.  However, Blitz had seemingly just met with Spitfire a few days ago and she hadn’t mentioned anything about wanting to talk to him on Spitfire’s behest. Which made it all the more likely that Misty and Surprise had just come to try to console him, or beg him to come back. His hunch said the latter was more true.  As they made their way into the dimly lit tavern, Soarin immediately spotted the two mares at the closest table to the bar. They had apparently seen him too, as Surprise nearly crashed into every table and chair between them as she ran over to give him a hug.  “Soarin! Oh! It’s so good to see you, boss!” Surprise beamed as Soarin accepted her embrace.  Soarin chuckled. “Good to see you too, Surprise.” He looked up as Misty rose from her seat to head over. “But what are you two doing here?”  “And more specifically, who sent you?” Nightshade grumbled.  “We were here to see Soarin! The base is sooooo depressing without him being there! Like, everyone walks around all sad and zombie-like. We really need you to come home!” Surprise pouted up at Soarin with big puppy-dog eyes.  For some reason, that struck a chord with Nightshade, and her teeth ground slightly.     “And we were worried about you, of course,” Misty said as she trotted up, “We didn’t even hear about what happened until after the fact, and you did storm out rather quickly.”  Soarin blushed softly, rubbing the back of his head, “Yeah, well, I’ll admit that leaving the way I did was sort of a… knee-jerk kinda reaction. I didn’t really consider the rest of you guys when I left like that. I was only thinking about how I couldn’t stand to be around Fleet and Spitfire for another minute.”  “So… I take it that you’ve cooled off now?” Misty said.  “I have a little,” Soarin responded, “I think with time, I’ll really be okay. But, to answer the question that I know you’re going to ask: no. I’m not going back to the base.” “Pleeaase Soarin! We’ll overthrow Spitfire in a bloody revolution and crown you the new captain!” Surprise said. Nightshade and Charger seemed a bit taken aback by the statement. “No, Surprise. That decision was made a bit too quickly, but I don’t regret it. I’m the oldest Wonderbolt, so it was going to happen eventually, anyways. I’ve made my mark, and I’ve retired. Besides, living here with my sister was a more rational decision, and I’m admittedly surprised at how much I’m enjoying it.”  Even with the funk she was in, Nightshade couldn’t help but smile at her brother.  Soarin continued, “Though, if you two wouldn’t mind carrying back a message for me? I want to let everyone else know that I’m not mad at them. I leave the Wonderbolts with good opinions of most of the pegasi there.” He smiled, at peace with that fact.  “What about Spitfire and Fleetfoot?” Misty asked with her own soft smile at him.  Soarin’s smile dropped a little, “Honestly? I think I’m already less angry at them than I was when I left. So…” He pulled in a breath, “Again, in time, I think I’ll be able to forgive them.”  Surprise let out a disappointed sigh, “It’s going to be so different without you there to play peacekeeper.” Soarin smiled, “Then maybe you or Misty should take up that role instead. I know that the team would thank you for it.”  “I’ll… try.” Surprise smiled back weakly.  “Then… I wish you two the best, but you guys should really get back to the base. Hanging around here isn’t such a good idea,” Soarin said, “thanks for coming to check on me.” He gave them one last salute, to which the two mirrored.  “No problem, Soarin.” Misty smiled. “Can we maybe… Visit on occasion? Or hang out? Or something?” Surprise asked.  “Yeah. I’ll write to you guys.” Soarin nodded, “Just… Don’t come around here looking for me again, okay?”  “Yes sir!” Surprise nodded.  “And, uhhh, can I write to you, too?” Charger broke up the touching moment as he looked over with a sly smile to Misty, “I could use a mare like you in my life on the occasion.” Misty giggled, “Sure, Charger, I await your letters. Hit me up when you’re free, will you?”  Soarin blinked at the sudden mood change, looking in confusion between Charger and Misty.  “Alright Soar, get lover boy out of here,” Nightshade chuckled. “Way ahead of you,” Soarin replied, nearly dragging Charger out of the tavern. He knew what Nightshade needed to do, but it didn’t mean that he had to like it.  Once they had left, Nightshade set her eyes on the two mares.  “The two of you and I need to have a little chat,” Nightshade said as the bartender turned his back on the three of them.  “Yes, we do.” Misty stood her ground against the other mare, “You’re the Shadowbolts, are you not?” Nightshade didn’t answer her. “Do you know what they do?”  Misty nodded, “The Princess told us.” Nightshade’s wings glinted with the steel of the newly revealed wingblades. “Then I think you should be rather quiet about what the Princess told you… Accidents happen every day, you know? Even to the wealthy and the famous.”  Surprise was shaking as she hid behind Misty.   Misty’s bravado was faltering, but she managed to stay in place, “W-We unders-stand clearl-ly.”  “Good. Now leave, and don’t go running your mouths about what you’ve seen and heard.” Nightshade sheathed her wingblades under her feathers again as she began to trot out of the tavern. She paused at the door, looking over her shoulder at them again. “No one will believe you, anyway.” Her grin curled into a crookedly satisfied smile as she left the tavern behind her.   This was the best part of the job.