Day 7- Shining Armor’s Chambers, 7:42am
A rhythmic rapping on his chamber door greeted Armor as he regained consciousness from the previous night’s trial. His muscles were tense and his bones ached from the stress he had been forced to place on them in the race against Dumuzid. Still, he managed to roll out of his bed and limp to the door.
The moment he unlocked it, it swung wide open and knocked him on his plot. An exasperated stallion charged into the room and quickly slammed the door shut behind him. The stallion directed his attention to the fallen guard captain, but his words were unintelligible in Armor’s tired stupor.
The pink alicorn princess crawled from the bed to try and calm the frantic pony and, upon sitting him down in a small chair and saying a few words, succeeded. The guard captain started to regain his focus, and he was thrust into the middle of a shocking piece of information.
Just as Armor’s head cleared, he caught the butt end of the stallion’s explanation, “…he just got up and started talking! B-but he was dead!” The stallion tapped his hooves nervously together as sweat poured from his face.
Princess Cadence spoke softly, “I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding. Ponies don’t just come back to life. Right Shining?” The alicorn turned her attention to the now-alert stallion.
Armor organized his thoughts and chuckled, “Well…who’re we talking about here?”
The pony in the chair exclaimed, “Rough Charger! He just got up and started talking to me a few minutes ago!”
This information immediately clicked in the guard captain’s brain. He mumbled to himself, “It worked?” He looked up at the two confused ponies and cheered, “It worked! My wish worked! He ain’t a lying bastard after all!” The stallion clapped his hooves and headed straight for the door.
“What’s going on Armor? What are you talking about?” Cadence placed an uncertain hoof on his shoulder.
The white pony chuckled, “I told you everything would be okay after last night!” He turned toward the other stallion and asked, “Where’s Rough now?”
“W-well, he’s still in the castle infirmary. Brawny and Lightning insisted we not bury him, so…” he stammered.
Armor raised a victorious hoof and cheered, “Sweet! If he’s back, then so is everpony else! I gotta go see how he’s doing!”
Without waiting for any questions, Armor darted from the chamber and headed straight for the infirmary, leaving the other two ponies with unanswered questions and shaky nerves.
Day 7- Castle Infirmary, 8:03am
“So wait, I was dead?!” Rough coughed between puffs on a cigarette. He and Armor had been talking for several minutes, waiting for the other guards to show up and for the commotion about his ‘zombification’ to die down.
The over-enthusiastic stallion cheered, “You sure were! You were a mess, too… Not easy on the eyes, if ya catch my drift. But hey, you’re alive now!”
“How’d I die?” The smoker asked bluntly.
Armor was unsure how to answer this question. He placed a hoof to his muzzle and sighed, “I would guess you fell off the Cathedral. You mean you don’t remember?”
The newly-revitalized stallion thought for a second before understanding what his captain meant. He chuckled, “Oh yeah, that nightmare tower thing. Wait, if I died in there, does that mean Sugar died too?” Worry suddenly washed over his face at the thought of his lover dying.
“She did, according to Boss. But if you’re alive, then so is she. And Mr. Rich’s daughter should be alive too.” Armor placed a reassuring hoof on his friend’s shoulder.
“Based on all the commotion in town, I’d say you’re right Captain.” Rain stomped into the room and plopped down on one of the vacant medical beds. He stretched happily and yawned, “Man, last night was the first good sleep in a week.”
“Yep, compared to the other night, last night was peaceful.” Brawny followed suit, taking a seat on another vacant bed. He scratched his mane in uncertainty at the current situation.
Rough laughed, “It must be awkward talking to a dead friend, right? So how many ponies came back to life?” He tried to think of all the stallions he had seen in the nightmares the first night he entered.
Armor tapped his hooves thoughtfully and said, “No clue. Dozens, hundreds maybe. But if Boss owned up to his end of the deal, they should all be alive now.”
The youngest of the group of guards entered the room and groaned, “What about the ponies that’ve been dead since day one? Isn’t that just a little bit messed up?” Lightning placed a welcoming hoof on top of Rough’s head, which was met with an angry glare.
“I’m sure it’s fine. Once everypony stops freaking out and accepts that their loved ones are alive, they’ll calm down.” Armor waved a dismissive hoof at the young guard before turning his attention to something a bit more important. “I think we should head to the Stray Stallion tonight. Bring your Cathedral partners.”
The three judged stallions nodded their understanding. The captain continued, “And send a message to Fancypants and the Ponyville rabble that are in town. They should be there too.” A wide grin stretched across his face as he planned one final get together at the bar before Boss’s departure.
With that, the group of guards went about their business trying to settle everypony down and prepare for that night’s meeting at the Stray Stallion. While everything was hectic around town and ponies ran around in utter confusion, the castle managed to stay moderately calm and peaceful…
Day 7- Stray Stallion, 9:21am
Boss sat limp on the barstool at the back of the bar with a bottle of whisky in one hoof and a mug in the other. He let out a deep sigh and gulped down mug after mug. He had bandages scattered on his face and tissue shoved up one nostril. His sunglasses barely covered a large purple circle around his right eye, and the left lens was cracked. His suit was wrinkled and torn slightly in places, and his bowtie was loose and slipping.
“I’m getting too old for this, I suppose…” The defeated stallion sighed in a depressed tone. He poured another mug of whisky and chugged it, trying to drown the pounding in his head.
“Nonsense. Shining Armor was just an amazingly good player. Even a designer can’t stop every player.” Astaroth attempted to comfort the sad pony.
Boss snarled, “I don’t need your sympathy, Astaroth… I need more alcohol…”
The bells on the front door jingled, sending thoughts of the bell atop the Empireo through the stallion’s head. He groaned as a lean pink figure approached the counter. The mare giggled, “I guess you lost again, huh Boss? Oh well, at least he didn’t utterly destroy you like Vincent did.”
“You’re reminiscing is not needed, Miss Catherine. I’m well aware of how badly I was beaten…” The old pony groaned in pain and sorrow as he poured another mug of whisky.
Catherine placed a gentle hoof on his back and sighed, “So what’s keeping you here in Equestria? Is Daddy being stubborn again?” She frowned at the thought of her father being too stubborn to send them back to Earth.
Boss scoffed, “No, nothing that simple, I’m afraid. I promised that pain in the ass I would have drink with him before I leave…” He was about to pour another mug of whisky when he realized the bottle was empty. He placed it on the counter and sighed in complete depression.
“Yes well, Nergal is standing by whenever you give the word. See you on the other side, Dumuzid.” Astaroth chuckled condescendingly as his voice faded away.
The old stallion and young mare sat and shared words for a few hours, drinking the time away. Catherine tried to cheer him up, but it just seemed as if it couldn’t be done. She was also amazed at how well he handled his alcohol. After several bottles of whisky, the stallion was still coherent enough to mix cocktails for her…
Day 7- Stray Stallion, 8:28pm
After the hype around town settled down, the whole group of stray stallions (with some mixed company) met at the bar of the same name to enjoy one last night together. The following day would bring both the Wonderbolts show that had attracted the Ponyville crowd and the day Boss would be leaving Equestria. Although only Armor was aware of the latter, everypony was psyched for the former.
Of course, for the first little while, there were tons of questions and threats passed between the lovers of the judged ponies and Boss, before finally the tension was released and everypony decided to have a wonderful time and enjoy themselves.
After the final threat had passed from Starlight to the bartender, all the anger and tension dispersed into the spirits stored on the shelves. Boss declared to each pony in attendance, “Liquor’s on me. It’s the least I could do to make up for the events of the past week.”
Everypony relaxed and enjoyed drink after drink in peaceful conversation. Nopony dared bring up the topic of the nightmares, not wanting to risk starting arguments between the victims and the judge. This was going to be a wonderful evening of cheer and relaxation…
Until Catherine walked into the bar and sat at the counter to talk with Boss. In a single instant, the cheer died down and gave way to an emotion similar to anger. For three of the present stallions, she was the cause of their climbing the towers. How could they not be upset with the seductive mare that had tricked them?
After ordering a cocktail from Boss, the mare turned to address the present company. She giggled, “Hasn’t this week just been fun? This town can get pretty lively, can’t it?”
Mr. Rich leaped to his hooves and slammed one on his booth, causing his wife to flinch at the sudden action. His daughter nearly spilt her smoothie as she jerked away from her obviously-angry father. “How can you say something like that, you banshee?! Half of this is all your fault to begin with!”
Big Macintosh nodded in agreement and said, “Eeyup, I’m afraid Mr. Rich is right, Miss Catherine. It’s because ‘o you that me and him ended up climbing.” A frown covered his face as he thought about how cheaply he’d been tricked.
Catherine scoffed, “It’s not my fault I like to have fun every once in a while. And it’s certainly not my fault you two decided to fall for me.”
“You’re a succubus, how the hell could we not?!” Armor slapped a hoof to his table in disbelief of her indifference.
Fancypants chuckled, “I believe we’re taking this far out of proportion, my friends. Lighten up; there’s no sense in letting one mare ruin our fun!” He was met by Rarity’s angry glare.
Brawny scoffed, “Yeah, I’ll lighten up when this tramp gets outta our hair.” He waved a dismissive hoof at the succubus sitting beside Boss.
“What did you call me, you old mule?!” Catherine clapped her hooves together and screamed in indignation.
Starlight leaped to her hooves and pointed an angry hoof at the pink mare. She screeched, “I know you’re not talking about my Brawny like that!”
“And what if I am, you hag?” Catherine stuck her tongue out at the older mare.
Boss muttered quietly, “There’s no need for violence, Miss Catherine.” His words went unheard as the tension escalated once more in the bar.
“Who are you calling a hag, you floozy? Don’t you have brains in that head of yours, or are you all looks?” Rough coughed after a puff of his cigarette. He thumped the ashes and waited for the next pony to continue the onslaught.
Princess Cadence shook her head and sighed, “Who do you think you are to come in here and crash our party?”
“Your party?! This is a bar! I don’t see your names on it anywhere!” Catherine sent a nasty glare at the alicorn princess.
Boss cleared his throat and cheered, “That’s where you’re wrong, Miss Catherine!” In the instant, everypony shut up in curiosity of hearing what the stallion meant. He continued, “I went earlier this evening during all the commotion to have the deed to this building changed. It now belongs to the only businesspony in town I feel I can trust with its assets.” He pulled a piece of folded paper from within his suit and handed it to the blue-mustached stallion.
“Wait…what?” Catherine’s eye twitched in disbelief as she realized that the rich pony had the authority to kick her out of a bar she helped run for almost a week. At least, she liked to think she helped run it.
Fancypants looked over the deed for a few seconds. He nodded his head and chuckled, “Well, isn’t this a beautiful piece of irony?” He grinned smugly at the pink succubus.
“Alas, I’m afraid I must be leaving as well.” Boss sighed as he poured one final mug of whisky. After chugging it down, he sighed, “We’ll be leaving Equestria for quite a while. Try not to let things get too out of hand, will you?” He winked in Armor’s direction before clapping his hooves in the air.
Almost instantly, a cold wind began to circulate around the room and a funnel formed at the very back of the bar. Little sparks of electricity shot from the funnel, and a purple ball of light started to grow. Only a few ponies lost their nerves during the show, considering this was nothing compared to the demons of the towers.
The purple ball eventually stretched out to form a circular window in the middle of the wall, and from that window a long gray arm with black stripes reached out. Following the arm was a body, another arm, two legs, and a head. The creature resembled a larger form of Thomas Mutton from the prior night’s trial, but only Armor was aware of that.
The creature’s head was adorned with two horns similar to a goat, and it had an extraordinarily bushy beard and flat hair. Its eyes shined a magenta color as it groaned, “Are you two finally ready to leave this sickeningly cute place?” It had a deep echoing voice, and was filled with a tone of discomfort.
Boss smirked at the ponies staring in horrified awe, “Of course, Lord Nergal. Our time here was most enjoyable. Come now Miss Catherine, it’s time to go home.” He took Catherine’s hoof in his and approached the massive creature.
“Good, I finally get to beat you in another round of Street Fighter!” The creature slapped a hand on Catherine’s back and laughed triumphantly.
The mare rolled her eyes and sighed, “We’ll see, Daddy…”
With that, the portal closed abruptly and all signs of it disappeared from the bar. In that instant, both Boss and Catherine disappeared from Equestria altogether.
After a few minutes of silence, Armor spoke up. He pointed a hoof limply at the wall where the portal had just been. He sighed, “Did…Did she just call that thing her dad?”
…
So here we are again. Did you pick up on all the wonderful lessons taught in our lengthy story? More importantly, do you think Shining Armor did the best he could to lead his fellow strays to victory at the hands of the nightmares?
So in the end, almost every pony learned their lessons and came out of it okay, all thanks to Shining Armor’s determination and unwillingness to let Thomas’s damage remain done. He truly is a role-model for all of us to follow, isn’t he?
He encouraged each of his friends to face their demons and conquer the nightmares. He overcame the temptation of the succubus Catherine, and made amends with his dear lover. He even managed to put Thomas in his place for a second time. So many wonderful things came to fruition because of that stallion.
This is where our story ends, I’m afraid. But don’t you worry; Armor and Cadence have plenty of interesting situations waiting for them in the near future. But those are tales for another day.
I’ve been Trisha, the Midnight Venus, and I want to thank you all for tuning in to the Golden Playhouse for another fine show. Maybe one day there will be another. Until that time comes, stay golden…