Chapter 6: A Revealing and Revalations
“Oh, please do,” Princess Celestia said somewhat dryly, looking around at the ruins and rubble of what had been, only an hour earlier, the royal hall of Canterlot Palace. “Because with all due respect, Zack, I am seriously contemplating throwing you in a dungeon for this.”
Spitfire, and just about everypony else in the room, nearly jumped out of her fur coats. Zack on the other hand simply groaned and face-palmed with his free hand; he guessed even though his actions were righteous, they were still far from consequence free, especially considering how much damage he had done.
“Guess it’s understandable,” he groaned as he rubbed his temples, and returned his Buster Sword to its rightful place; slung nicely over across his back. “Look, I didn’t intend to do all this… I just kind of lost control of myself in the heat of the moment, it’s hard not to when everyone you care about is in danger.”
“That I can understand, I see my subjects as my own foals when it comes to protecting them,” Celestia nodded as most of her royal guards at last began to exit the ruined hall, a detachment of guards who seemed to belong to Luna taking their places in clearing the rubble. “What I cannot understand, however, is how you wield such destructive power with such ease. I am left to wonder if you are somehow related to Discord.”
Everypony cringed except Zack, who simply raised a curious eyebrow and folded his arms at the strange name. Whoever this Discord was he apparently wasn’t a nice guy, so it probably wasn’t a great idea to go asking questions about him.
“Well, my powers come from being a SOLDIER, which basically translates to a human-jenova hybrid genetically enhanced and engineered for elite combat purposes. Originally I was born human, but when I became a SOLDIER I was exposed to Mako, which I guess for you guys in simple terms... is kind of like raw magical energy, and then I was injected with Jenova cells, Jenova being a powerful extra-terrestrial being... thing…" he shuddered at that particular memory. "Which all together makes me extremely strong, fast and able to perform powerful tricks like you just saw. I’ll admit it’s not a nice process and a lot of try-outs get Mako poisoning or worse, but I made it through, and eventually after a long while and my fair share of missions, I made SOLDIER first class, which basically means I’m one of SOLDIER’s best of the best… or technically I was…”
There were mixed reactions to his admittance; Spitfire and Soarin seemed predominantly unfazed or perhaps a little curious, Rainbow Dash actually somehow seemed impressed, Shining Armor seemed far more suspicious now, and everypony else looked as if they were about to be sick.
He guessed the ‘genetically engineered’ and 'extra-terrestrial cells' thing didn’t really go down well.
“So, just out of curiosity, is that why you can walk on clouds?” Spitfire asked with a slight tilt of her head, drawing odd looks from the other ponies around her. “Us pegasi ponies only can because we have a special type of natural magic in our wings… but you don’t have wings, Zack, so I’m a little confused.”
“My body has been exposed to raw magic energy, so maybe,” Zack replied, his eyes suddenly darkening a little. “Or it could be the jenova cells in me, I don’t want to discuss the subject for personal reasons, but there have been cases of certain SOLDIER’s with high amounts of jenova cells in them… growing wings.”
Everypony, including Spitfire, winced at what he had said, but luckily didn’t pursue any answers. Celestia likewise didn’t say a single thing, but Zack swore her face had paled at his statement, a considerable feat given that her coat was already pure marble white.
“I see you are far more then I first imagined,” she sighed slowly, closing her eyes for a moment like she was thinking before going on. “You have put me in a very difficult position here, Zack, given all the damage you’ve caused to my palace and what I have learnt of you... but I guess I’m willing to let this slide this time, considering you did just defeat Chrysalis.”
Once again everypony in the hall, except Zack and Shining Armor shuddered, the royal guard captain instead clenching his jaw, snorting and looking like he was about to kick a hole in something.
“Considering that I’ve answered you’re question, I’d like one of my own answered Celestia… exactly what the hell was that thing back there? Was it a Chrysalis?”
“Chrysalis is her name; she is the queen of the race of Changelings,” Luna answered distastefully for her sister as she stamped her front hoof, the sentence the first thing, Zack realised, he had heard the princess of the night say. “A most vile and twisted creature if Equestria has even known one.”
There was a few moments of silence afterwards, during which Zack looked to Spitfire for guidance, but the golden mare had none to offer other than to wait.
Eventually, Celestia spoke up again, this time, however, she seemed a little more calm and contained than she had been before.
“Yes, she is a wicked creature with virtually no morals to speak of… so really, I must thank you for succeeding where I failed, and I guess while your awake I’d also like to ask you, Zack, that if you are not in urgent need of sleep, that you may accompany me somewhere a little more private. You see, there are things in light of these events I wish to discuss with the elements, Shining Armor, and yourself.”
“Only if Spitfire and Soarin accompany me,” Zack said firmly, placing a hand on the shoulder of the now utterly surprised pegasus mare. “I have faith in your guards, but I’ve lost too many friends in the past, and with changelings running around I’m not willing to take any chances.”
His words were only half true; he wanted to keep Spitfire safe at his side, but he only wanted to keep Soarin around so he didn’t go prematurely shooting his mouth off to the other Wonderbolts.
“As a Captain and vice-Captain of an Equestrian paramilitary group, I don’t see why not,” Celestia chuckled before turning to one of the stallion night guards, the tone in her voice sounding almost like she was teasing the SOLDIER. “Have the other Wonderbolts escorted back to their chambers, everypony else, please follow me.”
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Celestia silently led the group deep into the white stone palace she called home, Zack’s hand resting on the grip of his Buster Sword the entire time while his glowing blue eyes hunted the regal and exquisite corridors for any sign of unusual movement; luckily, the only things that were moving were squads of patrolling guards. As was to be expected, Spitfire walked close to the protective SOLDIER’s side, Soarin on the other hand seemed content to apparently trot at the back of the group, and try to start a conversation with a yellow pegasus with a pink mane named Fluttershy.
During their long journey he had learnt the names of the six ‘elements of harmony’ as they were called, wielders of perhaps the most powerful magic known to ponies; Twilight and Rainbow Dash were two, while the other four were known as Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie.
Zack now understood why Spitfire had said everything was based on friendship, for even the magic of Equestria had its source in the attributes that would be considered between two beings signs of friendship, such as honesty and kindness, unlike in Shinra where the sources of magic were Mako and Materia.
As they walked along the heavily decorated corridors Twilight happily and excitedly bombarded Zack with questions, apparently enjoying asking him about everything from his childhood to the style of government in Shinra. Some of her more interesting questions drew the occasional odd look from both Zack and the ponies around him.
This mare really liked to learn.
Luckily, the Princess brought them all to a rather large golden door before the mare’s questions got too complicated, or personal; Zack was really not in the mood for discussing how he had ended up in Equestria, and he really didn’t want to talk about his old friends from SOLDIER either.
To say the door was a work of art would be an understatement; a giant sun had been etched into the centre while numerous sparkling gems had been inlaid around it, set into a large marble wall.
“Hold the door,” Luna instructed to the four night guards who had escorted them all through the palace, the dark armored unicorns instantly taking up their positions,
Without a glance back, Celestia promptly opened the door, and beckoned Zack and the others inside, the SOLDIER ending up being forced to duck to fit through.
There was no doubt in Zack’s mind, as he peered around the room he emerged into, that these were Princess Celestia’s private quarters; the pure lavishness of the place put every equivalent he had ever seen to shame, so much so it made his and Spitfire’s chamber look like a fairly standard hotel room by comparison. Every wall had either a painting or royal banner across it, while the furniture looked to be turned out of pure gold, the bed was absolutely massive and the fireplace was probably big enough for him to stand in. In the middle of the room was a circle of what looked to be regal lounging chairs and cushions, which without instruction everypony quickly gathered around.
“Everypony, please make yourselves comfortable,” Celestia stated bluntly, the alicorn sending a flash of golden light into the rooms wood filled fireplace, causing it to burst into burning life, and in an instant banish the prior shadows. “Sister, please close the door, it is important that what we say does not leave this room.”
A small knot twisted in Zack’s gut as he sat down on a large white floor cushion next to Spitfire and Twilight. Gingerly, he removed his Buster Sword, before laying the mighty blade across his lap and gingerly resting his hands on it
The other ponies likewise seated themselves around the sun princess, while the darker alicorn sealed the room’s entrance with a loud metal clang, the sound clarifying they were now alone.
For a few moments after, there was a tense silence as Luna took her own seated place beside Celestia, during which Zack and the other ponies looked somewhat nervously between each other for guidance, but found none, Spitfire apparently making sure she was as close to her bodyguard and his sword as possible.
“Now then,” Celestia began, her eyes gently closing as she spoke, as if it somehow helped bring her thoughts and words together as one. “What I am about to tell you all must not be repeated to anypony within Canterlot, I am understood?”
The words ‘Yes Princess’ just about filled the entire room, so loud it actually made Zack’s ears hurt slightly.
“Good… so then I guess I will be blunt with you, my little ponies, in light of this latest attack I am left to wonder how exactly an army of changelings, once again, penetrated Canterlot’s bolstered defences, and the only conclusion I can see as reasonable is that there are changelings hiding somewhere in the city, and perhaps even the palace itself... changelings I believe who must be found... and destroyed if necessary.”
Zack instinctively grasped the grip of his Buster Sword, as if he were about to leap into combat at any moment, and by the looks of thing everypony was likewise taken back by the princess’s statement.
Admittedly, it was a reasonable explanation, given how tight the notable security had been, and the SOLDIER was forced to wonder for a moment what would have happened if he had not been present when the guards were caught unaware.
“Hence I am now regrettably forced to take drastic action… so, as of tonight I am sealing off Canterlot, so nopony can get in or out of the city by train, hoof, or wing, and I will only lift the enchantment once I am certain that the city is free of these monsters.”
She then turned to Shining Armor, the tense expression on his face telling Zack the white stallion was just about fuming with anger, and Zack guessed he knew what it was, given the same thing formed the pinnacle of his own life.
“Don’t go beating yourself up, Shining,” The SOLDIER said gently before Celestia could speak, drawing an odd look from the princess, but a strange almost relieved one from the stallion. “We all make mistakes, and sometimes we believe we have lost our honour, but in truth you fought very well tonight, so you should be proud of yourself… besides, how were you to know they’d show up tonight.”
The words from a fellow warrior seemed to cheer the royal guard captain up a little, and both Celestia and Twilight nodded their own approval and agreement. Zack just hoped it would put the two of them on slightly better terms than what they had been previously; the captain of the royal guard wasn’t exactly the first pony he wanted to call an enemy.
“I agree with Zack, Captain, you are far too hard on yourself sometimes,” Celestia said, to Zack’s utter amazement nuzzling the stallion like he was her either her foal or close family, causing Zack’s eyebrow to rise almost on its own. “But if you want to try and prove or redeem yourself, this will be your chance; I am putting you in charge of the changeling search teams. Twilight, I wish to keep you and your friends here, in case the elements of harmony are needed in the unlikely event of another attack.”
“You can count on us princess,” Twilight said confidently, her friends all nodding their individual approval, even Fluttershy nodded slightly from the protection of her mane.
“And even if there’s only one of them here princess, I’ll make sure it’s found,” The captain replied with hearty chuckled, giving the princess a heavily metallic salute which made everypony grin with amusement, exactly why he wore so much armor was beyond anypony present.
It was then, however, that Celestia turned her eyes to Zack, Spitfire, and Soarin, her smile fading and now looking a little unhappy.
“Regrettably, Spitfire, you and your team won’t be able to leave Canterlot until the search is complete. As I said, nopony gets in or out, and that includes the Wonderbolts.”
“I understand princess, and if there’s anything we can do to help, just ask,” The golden mare replied, using a hoof to at last reach up and remove the facial cover of her blue uniform before having a quick shake. “Sheesh… sorry about that, but this thing was driving me nuts, and it rubs my muzzle when I try and talk.”
Celestia put a hoof over her muzzle as she giggled lightly; when she herself had to wear a crown all day she knew exactly how good it felt to remove it, and how annoying it was to have something on your head for long periods of time.
“Quite alright, I assure you Spitfire, and it’s good to have your team on side,” she smirked as she lowered her hoof and stood up. “And on that note, I believe that is all for now fillies and gentlecolts, so I will leave you all to return to your chambers… but before you go, Zack, I wish to speak with you in private for a moment.”
Zack flinched inside, but simply nodded in reply, the SOLDIER remaining motionless as everypony else got to their hooves and quickly filed out of the room, led by Shining Armour, the only one to cast a look was a rather cautious looking Spitfire, just before the golden door closed again and they lost sight of each other.
As soon as they were alone, Celestia returned to her haunches and eyed the SOLDIER as if she were examining him, Zack in return doing the same to the white coated princess, while his hand stayed firmly on his sword. Neither said anything, but just sat motionless and traded looks, all the while the fire crackled and burned, both expecting the other to move or flinch first.
“You are a powerful warrior, Zack Fair,” Celestia said bluntly at last after about a minute, the tone in her voice stone cold without a single bit of her former cheerfulness. “But I am warning you now, that should you hurt any of my little ponies, you will answer to my sister and I, and we will not hesitate to deal with you accordingly.”
The amount of venom in her words surprised Zack, but he kept his cool and replied to her in an emotionless tone so as not to provoke her.
“May I ask why you would suddenly think I’d intend any harm?”
Celestia’s face and eyes darkened, to the point where Zack thought they were made of steel, and for the first time he actually felt unnerved by the princess who was glaring at him, or rather who was glaring at his Buster Sword like it was some kind of abomination. He would at that point have much rather left the room, but as fate would have it he was stuck under the unfaltering gaze of Princess Celestia, ruler and protector of all ponies.
“Some weapons are made for self-defence Zack, and I know that sword you carry is not one of them, it is made for bringing a quick and merciless end to one’s life, and not for protecting yourself from others. Your powers are likewise suited for destruction rather than preservation, and despite your good intentions, you have shown me that rather clearly tonight when you dealt with the changelings…take this as a warning, Zack Fair, I am a generous ruler, and whatever your story I would see you live well in Equestria, but I will not allow any harm to come to my subjects. You no doubt know that I sent my own sister to the moon for a thousand years so she could not harm them, so do not expect any lenience from me… have I made myself clear?”
“Crystal,” Zack replied as he wiped a small bead of sweat from his head, whether it was due to Celestia or the fire, however, he wasn’t sure.
“Good… now get some sleep… I have a spell to cast.”
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“Wow… so she basically gave you a roasting then, huh?” Spitfire said dryly after Zack had finished explaining what had happened, eyeing the slightly unnerved black haired SOLDIER, who was sitting on her bed with concern from her seat beside the fireplace. “You sure you’re ok, Zack?”
“Yeah… just a little uneasy I guess Spitfire,” he sighed as he looked over at her, his glowing blue eyes fixing with her own. “You know I’d never hurt anyone without legitimate reason, but I’m not sure if Celestia could see it that way... if such a thing ever happened, I mean.”
The golden mare just smiled and jumped up on the bed beside him, laying her head across his now armor-bare shoulder while her front hooves wrapped around his torso in a soft and affectionate embrace to calm him. After a few moments of tension he finally relaxed, and returned the gesture, it seemed the distinction between who was looking out for who wasn’t exactly clear anymore.
“Thanks, I needed that.”
“Everypony needs some support now and then, Zack, and you were there for me in that diner in Cloudsdale, so it’s only fair I’m here for you now.”
Spitfire just giggled and gave him a small lick on the cheek before removing herself from his arms, and then with a shake of her mane headed for the comforting warmth of the bed's blankets, tucking herself in while she watched a slightly blushing Zack remove his Buster Sword and set it down on the floor.
“And I’m glad you are,” he chuckled as he removed his boots and stood up. “Meh, as long as I behave myself I should stay in her good books.”
She knew she probably shouldn’t watch, but the golden mare couldn’t help but feel almost captivated, as for the first time since they had met the SOLDIER reached up, grabbed his collar, and pulled off his changeling-residue dirtied shirt, dropping it beside his sword and already removed shoulder plates.
She had often wondered what he looked like underneath it, and what she saw didn’t disappointed; he was etched with defined muscle both back and front, but his skin looked to be as smooth as the finest moulded glass, a far cry from a fur coat.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’d rather get that washed before I sleep in it again,” Zack said sheepishly with a nod towards his turtleneck, his long black locks now a messy mat from the fight and the removal of his shirt.
“Your choice,” Spitfire smiled in return as she watched him remove his waist belt with half closed eyes, the combination of dancing firelight and the room’s shadows highlighting every line in his frame.
As he usually did, Zack stretched and readied himself for another night bunking on the floor, but, before he could lay down and get comfortable, Spitfire rolled out from her own bed and landed exactly where he intended sleep, looking up and him sternly with all four hooves planted firmly on the floor to show she wasn’t intending to move.
“Oh no you’re not, for once Zack, you are going to sleep in a bed like a civilised pony…er SOLDIER, but you get what I mean.”
Zack just smirked and cross his arms over his bare chest; he had to admit she was cute even when she tried to act serious, the firelight that splashed across her face only made her look even more adorable.
“And what are you going to do if I say no?”
“If you say no, then I’m using you as a mattress.” she replied smugly with a flick of her tail, Zack’s smirk fading in a heartbeat. “Look Zack, let’s get something strait here alright, yes I’m a mare, and yes you’re a stallion, well sort of anyway… but that doesn’t mean that sleeping in the same bed as each other is inappropriate.”
Zack groaned and ran his fingers through his messy black hair as he looked between her and the huge sleeping arrangement of blankets and pillows, knowing that whether he liked it or not he was caught between a rock and a hard place; he didn’t like the idea of sharing the same bed due to his as of yet unadmitted feelings for her, but the idea of trying to sleep on the floor, while she used him as a mattress, was an even more dislikeable proposition.
“Fine,” he snorted at last, an amused giggle becoming the golden mare’s response as she jumped back into the bed, Zack gently, and somewhat awkwardly climbing in under the thick blankets after her.
What happened next though wasn't what he had expected, for just as he got comfortable on his back and put his hands behind his head, something soft fell across his chest, and looking down he saw Spitfire was using him as a pillow. Part of him screamed at him to push her away before things got any more awkward, to perhaps to abandon the bed all together; but he did neither and instead lowered his left hand so it rested on the base of her neck and held her close to him.
“And here I was thinking you didn’t do affection,” Spitfire grinned with closed eyes, her voice barely loud enough to hear as she quickly drifted off to sleep
“Only for you, Spits,” he chuckled, staring at the dark ceiling for a moment before closing his own eyes, his dreams instantly pulling him away. “Only for you.”
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Notes:
Sorry for the lateness everyone but I’m back at uni, so sorry.
So with this story I’m going to follow an in-show phenomenon that I don’t believe has even been explored in fan-fiction, what that is you’ll just have to wait and see. And just so you all understand, Tia doesn't trust Zack because he reminds her of Discord, but they'll get along...eventually.