//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 – History Shows // Story: The One True King // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// Chapter 5 “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.” — Theodore Roosevelt Silver Shoals Retirement Community After hearing the retelling of Daring Do’s experience in the Forbidden Jungle, the guests of the former Equestrian princesses were simply at a loss for words. Most of them were. Twilight Sparkle most of all, the Alicorn gazing to Celestia and Luna with incredulous eyes. Her friends nearly mirrored her expression to a T. From Applejack’s risen brow, Rarity’s furrowed own, Rainbow Dash’s agape jaw, Fluttershy’s hooves shielding her mouth, Pinkie Pie frozen in-between bites of her popcorn, and Spike looking younger by the second with his awestruck expression, they all reacted either similarly or in their own unique fashion. Of all the mares present, one stuck out from the rest. One did not seem surprised or shocked in the very least to what she was hearing from Celestia or Luna. If anything, Bon Bon seemed anxiously resolute. Almost having expected such a discovery, relieved to know it was not necessarily a beast to fear, but remaining curious and worrisome enough in order to know more. Thankfully, the former princesses provided her and the others with what she needed. And perhaps she could assist if needed. Celestia began again, recollecting the story she had given and what was needed next. She said, “The next morning, Daring Do contacted us detailing every piece of information from her discovery, and she did the right thing. We realized the severity of this situation soon, and we knew we needed ponies we could trust the most with this information. From the Council of Friendship… and from some old friends.” Celestia tried to meet Bon Bon’s eyes, but the pony just looked away. “You said… she was an agent,” Twilight interrupted, bringing Celestia and Luna’s eyes onto the only other Alicorn in the room. The princess leaned forward on her chair, hooves resting under her chin. “What was the name of the agency again?” “T.I.T.A.N.,” Luna responded. “Or the Tactical Investigative Titan Assimilation Nexus.” Twilight seemed to mull over that acronym. It made much more sense now than it did before. Still, her curiosity was ever growing, ever hungry, and she stared hard to nowhere in particular just trying to take it all in still. “Right…” Celestia was quick to ease her growing curiosity, stating, “We do not blame you for having no knowledge on T.I.T.A.N. or its history. That is primarily why we have brought you all here for this meeting, in order to unveil what should have been told to you… a long time ago.” That statement earned the princess’ attention once again, somehow bringing everypony and dragon out of their lost stupor. They all watched in unity as Celestia shifted her eyes from Twilight and onto the mare sitting on the far end of the furthest couch. That time, Bon Bon didn’t look away. She knew what was coming, and knew how Celestia was going to phrase it. It was only a matter of time before the truth came pouring forth. “And it is another reason… why we have also asked for Bon Bon’s presence here as well.” Twilight’s brow arose, her eyes following Celestia’s and turning to the Earth pony. “Bon Bon?” she repeated. If there was anything to remain curious about, Bon Bon’s presence within the retirement home of the former princesses was certainly something that should have pestered Twilight’s mind still, or any of them, really. But as Celestia and Luna recounted the story of Daring Do’s miraculous discovery in the Forbidden Jungle, and just the fact that Daring Do herself was actually a secret agent all along, Bon Bon’s presence kind of slipped out of relevance for the moment. But now, she was the center of attention. Bon Bon had little to no choice but to accept all the stares she received and acknowledge the pestering silence in the room. So, she sighed. She leaned forward on the couch and stared heavily to the carpet. For several seconds more, there was nothing but that stifling quiet. And then, she shattered it. “If we’re gonna be honest with one another from now on… I guess I should say that ‘Bon Bon’ isn’t my real name.” Everypony gasped. Minus Celestia and Luna. She lifted her eyes, had no chance to meet them all, and instead took in the deepest, bravest breath she could. Ten years of silence and secrecy all spilling forth for somepony other than the princesses. For somepony other than her wife. “It’s Sweetie Drops,” she said. “Special Agent Sweetie Drops of T.I.T.A.N.” If things seemed awkward before… “You gotta be kidding me?” Rainbow muttered. More so as an incredulous statement rather than a question. It was a statement that was mutually shared among the others. Of all the crazy stuff Rainbow, Applejack, Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Spike had heard in just that evening alone, the fact that one of their friends from Ponyville, somepony they had known since the day they all moved to the quaint town, was actually a secret agent of an elite organization run by Princess Celestia was easily the most shocking of all. Not Daring Do being a secret agent; she was practically living a double life already. Not the ancient temple discovered in the Forbidden Jungle; there were hundreds of hidden temples across Equestria. But it was their friend, that innocent mare from Ponyville just seeking a normal life, being so much more than they ever believed was what truly knocked the wind right out of them. “After all these years?” Fluttershy asked, her voice barely audible. It was quiet enough for her whisper to sound like a sonic boom, everypony looking her way. “For as long as we’ve known you in Ponyville?” Sweetie Drops knew it wasn’t going to be easy. She sighed, dropping her eyes once more. “It’s best if I just start at the beginning…” she said, lifting her gaze directly ahead of her. “With your permission… Celestia?” She bowed her head and closed her eyes, raising them both only as a means of confirming Sweetie's request. The fireplace crackled and popped, illuminating the living room in a comforting orange hue. It felt anything but comforting, for everyone involved. With that beat of encouragement from Celestia, Sweetie Drops took it for what it was, biting her lip, recollecting her knowledge on the history of the organization, and beginning after a long, drawn-out breath. “The agency was created around sixty years ago by Princess Celestia. Long after Nightmare Moon was banished, so Princess Luna wasn’t around to witness the agency’s creation. Even though she knew of the Titans’ existence before her fall…” Luna picked up for her—Sweetie Drops grateful for that—saying, “I was only informed of the agency after my return and reformation. My sister told me everything, from the great history of the organization, to the rise of the first Titans after my imprisonment, and to the agency’s eventual collapse. Above all, she demanded that what I had been told remain confidential. The world need not know of the dangers that lurk beneath them. Until now… that is.” Acknowledging Luna’s support with a nod and a smile, Sweetie continued. “After certain tremors started spiraling out of control on Equestria’s homeland, Celestia sent out a patch of experts within the harsh deserts of the Badlands in hopes of discovering what was causing the continuous earthquakes. An escort of Royal Guards joined the expedition… and only a hoofful of ponies made it out of alive.” A grisly look was shared among the crowd of mares, Spike included. Celestia seemed distant, lost in the rushing wave of memories hitting her like a freight train. She let Sweetie Drops take her on that journey, weaving the story and only aiding when necessary. Only when there was knowledge and history even Sweetie was not aware. “The tremors were being caused by a beast. A creature beyond ponykind’s understanding. I… unfortunately wasn’t alive yet to see the awakening of Titanus Typhon… but I can only imagine the scale of it all. Seeing a monster that size… awakening and wandering across the land… To have lived and witnessed such a creature. How horrifying it must have been. Having no instinct. Losing all sense of what was real. Somehow… nearly losing yourse—” “Sweetie Drops.” The room was staring at her, and not in the way she intended it. Rubbing her eyes with her hoof, Sweetie Drops cleared her throat and gathered herself. “Sorry. Anyway… the Titan was stopped before he could reach Ponyville. Back then, nopony really knew how to properly handle the Titans. It was only when Princess Celestia herself was forced to take action and send the beast back into a deep hibernation with a… particularly powerful spell.” Celestia managed a tiny smile at that. “It was at that point that Celestia knew a task force would be needed to handle all threats of monsters, creatures, beasts, and even Titans threating the global order and our very way of life. Because… it wasn’t just Equestria where the Titans were awakening.” Twilight remained fully engrossed, leaning over her chair with her hoof covering her mouth. Rainbow was laying on the backrest of one of the couches while Rarity and Fluttershy sat quietly, attentive, and awaiting Sweetie’s next word. Applejack shared Twilight’s look to an extent, seeming slightly less interested than the Alicorn with all the fancy mumbo jumbo Sweetie Drops was spouting. Spike looked like a young colt being told a storybook in school, sitting cross-legged on the carpet with his claws in his lap. Pinkie Pie was popping a fresh bag of popcorn over the fire, ripping the bag open and jamming her mouth with the white, fluffy kernels. “More and more tremors kept popping up, worldwide dangers emerging from within foreign nations of similar events unfolding. Rising threats in our own country, unaccounted anomalies from the Everfree Forest and beyond… what the world was witnessing was a steady and continuous rise of creatures beyond reasoning with… as well as an ancient superspecies.” Celestia took over, Sweetie Drops once more grateful for that. The Alicorn spoke, “T.I.T.A.N. was founded shortly after Titanus Typhon’s awakening. He was the one of the first of what was undoubtedly several more Titans beginning to stir from their long, long slumber. Our top-secret monster-hunting agency remained as just that, a secret. One of many.” She and Luna exchanged a glance. After a moment’s hesitation, Celestia breathed and pressed onward. “The organization was meant to track the beasts worldwide, organize with foreign nations, and spread our influence within those nations. Soon enough, the Tactical Investigative Titan Assimilation Nexus had been integrated with nearly every intelligent species we could reach. The nexus of nations was formed—hence the name—to protect Equus from any dangers arising from our seas and from the earth itself. As the years progressed, just as we predicted, more and more signatures began to arise. Various otherworldly tremors, volcanic activity unlike any other, and countless more ships lost at sea ensured that T.I.T.A.N. was kept feverishly busy for decades.” “Hunting,” Luna said, taking the spotlight. “Tracking. Studying. Learning everything they could about the beasts they knew and the ones they didn’t. From ponies, griffons, dragons, minotaurs, zebras, felines, moose, deer, and even Hippogriffs to an extent, the organization of T.I.T.A.N. worked hard to keep these beasts contained within facilities across the globe. There, they remain dormant, put under a deep rest from my sister’s magic, as well as the magic of the world leaders who helped capture the creatures on their own homeland.” Celestia said, “There, they will forever remain hidden from the world that could never know of their existence. We have come close many times before, and those innocent lives who witnessed the Titans for themselves were disregarded. Ignored. Their claims made to be superstition. The stories they told to their children and their children’s children to be mere legend. What other choice did we have? The world was kept safe, the majority of its citizens blissfully unaware of the monsters beneath them… surrounding them… wanting nothing more than to annihilate them and reclaim the planet.” There was a sudden stop in the room, as if every heart froze and then continued in after that shocking second of revelation. Twilight especially was caught on that particular word. Reclaim. Almost referring to a possible dominion that the Titans once held over their world. While Twilight mulled over that possibility, others took offense to the way Celestia worded her explanation. Especially Fluttershy. “You’re… imprisoning them?” the Pegasus questioned. The former princesses turned to her, almost taken aback to hear those words leave somepony like Fluttershy’s lips. She even shot out her wings, stamping her hoof roughly into the couch cushion, and put on the hardest expression she could manage. “How could you?” she continued, voice rising surprisingly high. “Not all creatures are mindless or merciless! They’re not evil; they’re animals! And from the way you’ve been treating them, of course they’re going to act the way they do! They’re probably scared being trapped in those chambers!” While her friends were momentarily shocked by Fluttershy’s sudden outburst, Luna eased them with her raised hoof, explaining, “We can assure you, Fluttershy, that the holding cells we keep the Titans in are not for their discomfort. I once felt the same way as you do now, but my sister and T.I.T.A.N. took every precaution necessary to ensure that the outposts, facilities, and chambers they hold them in are specifically designed to match the creatures’ desired environments. Nor are they awake, for my sister’s magic have kept each beast in a deep state of hibernation since their capture.” “Until we can learn more about them, it is in ponykind’s best interests if they remain distant from public knowledge. We simply cannot take the risk yet, Fluttershy,” Celestia added. “It’s taken you sixty years and you still don’t know more about them?!” Fluttershy shouted. That time, everypony flinched. Everypony leaned back. Even Sweetie Drops. “Let me… apologize, Celestia,” Twilight stated, holding out her hoof towards her agitated Pegasus friend. The tension in the room could be suffocated in. “As you know, Fluttershy can have a very strong opinion when it comes to animals. We do not mean to be rude in any sense.” Twilight turned her accusing glare to the butter Pegasus, Fluttershy calming down just enough to fall back behind the safety of her mane. Her anger was cooled like a hot poker jammed into a pale of water. Her hoof rose to gingerly rub her own foreleg, the mare looking away in clear embarrassment for her outburst. Easing her hoof away, Twilight turned back and said, “Sorry again, Celestia. As you were saying?” Celestia understood the outburst and held no ill will towards it. She almost expected it with the knowledge that they were inviting Fluttershy of all ponies into their humble abode to be discussing these matters. She took no offense to it, and simply nodded in return. And told them all, “We would like to know more about them… more than you understand. But the more we discover, the more origins and traits we find that each Titan holds uniquely from the others. Each one its own distinctive superspecies. Most of them have shown violent and uncontrolled tendencies. It is not as easy as simply talking to them. These processes take several years each, with the constant threat of possibly waking them up, causing them to break free from their chambers, and having them roaming the earth once again. It is a very… very delicate process.” Fluttershy tried to see the bigger picture the way Celestia and Luna did, but it was still quite difficult. She neither made a sound nor took any opposing action, retreating instead back into her mane. “These monsters,” the former princess continued, “most given their names based on the cultures that discovered them… or more scientifically referred to as Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms if not given a name—or MUTOs, for short—would awaken on occasion before T.I.T.A.N. and myself would be forced to put them back to sleep. Over recent years… the accounts of Titans emerging from their holding chambers steadily rose. One specifically chose the inconvenient time to awaken during Discord’s return… forcing my sister and I into action.” “Wait… that’s why you didn’t help us take on Discord?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Celestia nodded to that. “That played a factor, yes. But the trust I held in my former pupil and you all still holds true today as it did back then.” “A theory we formulated was that of Discord’s presence, and the emerging of such chaotic forces being just enough to have tipped the harmonic tides of the world out of balance, thus causing the creature to awaken,” Luna suggested. “That… is but one theory,” Celestia countered. “The sudden surge of Titan activity recently may also be explained by Discord’s antics… but it wouldn’t explain the many years prior.” “Right!” Pinkie said, popping into the picture. “‘Cause Discord was still trapped in stone!” Celestia and Luna both nodded. The eldest replied, “And his power would have been contained. So… there could very well still be something else out there that is causing these rapid awakenings.” Sweetie Drops picked up again after a long moment of silence and listening from her end. She leaned forward on the couch, clearing her throat and stating, “Well, it seems we still don’t really know. I was working for T.I.T.A.N. when Celestia sent us out to do some investigating, trying to understand what was making these Titans restless. We never found anything. Nothing but resilient creatures causing needless damage and needing to be imprisoned in Tartarus. Not really anything about Titans, though. In fact, the last loose Titan sighting recorded was—” Sweetie Drops froze, unable to speak, remembering vividly that night seven years ago. Her lips shivered like she was doused in subzero waters, hooves quivering all the same. “A-after the l-last loose Titan sighting seven years ago… there were no others for quite some time. Things had gone quiet. Real quiet. It was only after the Bugbear escaped from Tartarus did T.I.T.A.N. start to show itself more. To say we were caught off guard was an understatement. The Bugbear wasn’t like the other creatures we dealt with. It was more elusive… stronger, faster, causing death and devastation to any settlement it crossed. One day we would hear about the attack, and a few hours later after we arrived to the scene… it was already gone. Everything… was gone.” With every syllable, it seemed Sweetie Drops was digging deeper into a hole she had buried long ago. Perhaps a hole she had intended to keep buried. She paused again, and everypony allowed her the time to breathe. “We only really ever had to deal with the mountain-sized beasts, ones that were slower, easier to disorient and capture with magic. Bigger targets, if you will. Bigger targets… and weaker creatures. Feral manticores, chimera, and hydra were filly’s play compared to the Bugbear. More and more failed missions and captures later, T.I.T.A.N.’s existence was discovered. The truth of our organization was nearly released to the public after we failed to defeat and capture the Bugbear. The truth of the Titans was nearly released to the world. Legend was almost truth. Celestia couldn’t let this happen, so… she scrapped it.” The room turned to Celestia. Sweetie Drops moved on, with them or without. “Mostly all of it. The organization was pushed back into the shadows while the princess allowed smaller teams of special agents to continue to operate in the field, either solo or in partnership. I chose the lonely road. The agency was defunded and scrubbed across the nations, if anything, leaving just a skeleton crew to continue monitoring the Titans in their hibernation. As for full-blown missions and operations… those were a relic of the past. Like the relics Celestia still likes to keep.” The ponies and dragon all shifted their attention back to Celestia, the Alicorn sipping her tea before placing the cup aside. Celestia clarified, “Every shred of evidence was destroyed, save for our most precious relics, artifacts, archeological discoveries, and photographs deep within Canterlot’s archives. Whenever you wish to see them for yourself, you need but ask.” Though it was offered to the room, it was mostly directed towards the current ruler of Equestria. As its ruler, Twilight accepted the offer with a small but quick nod. Retrieving her cup of tea with her magic, Celestia continued. “Special Agent Sweetie Drops was sent to Ponyville as a means to track the Bugbear’s last known location near the Everfree Forest. Once settled, she took on the name ‘Bon Bon’ as a disguise.” Everypony seemed to gather enough history to put together the picture in a way that they each could understand. It seemed as if a certain rainbow-maned, cyan Pegasus scratching her head on the couch she laid on popped the question that they were all sort of thinking. “Sooo… what do we call you then?” Rainbow asked. To their surprise, Sweetie Drops smiled with a weak giggle. She responded, “I would prefer ‘Bon Bon’. Even though I’m retired, I’m still trying to keep a low profile. Don’t want to bring any… unwelcome guests back home if we can help it. Lotta monsters out there don’t really like me all that much after I imprisoned some of their friends in Tartarus.” They took that for what it was, each mare and dragon nodding appropriately. As for Bon Bon, she took a moment to compose herself before pressing on. “Eventually, I captured the Bugbear, had it sent back to Tartarus with Celestia’s approval. But it broke out, hunted me down, eventually returned to Ponyville to seek revenge. But you know a lot about that particular incident… don’t you, Your Highness?” Twilight blinked at that. It only took a few seconds for her to connect the dots, allowing the picture to become larger and more visible. “That was the same Bugbear my friends and I defeated? The same one we sent to Tartarus?” she asked. Bon Bon nodded. “The very same.” “And these… Titans…” Twilight continued, turning from the Earth pony and onto the pair of Alicorns. “How many are there?” “Several dozen,” Luna answered grimly. Celestia’s response made the atmosphere even more grim. “And those are just the ones we know about.” Everypony’s individual reactions were that of a subtle overload to an eventual collapse. Twilight fell into her hooves, the tips of each rubbing her temples as she stared wide-eyed to the carpet. Rainbow Dash shook her head with a scoff, gazing off into the flames of the fireplace. Rarity and Fluttershy exchanged a worrisome and somewhat astonished glance, the fact being that they had been sharing the same world with such titanic creatures all these years and not even knowing about it. Pinkie Pie and Spike were both unmoving as they shared Pinkie’s bag of popcorn. “This is a lot ta take in,” Applejack sighed, leaning back in her chair and sinking into the cushions, her hat slipping over her face. “Even though our knowledge is limited,” Twilight added, giving the former rulers the assurance she assumed they needed at the moment. She raised her gaze, offered a confident smile. “Whatever you need us to do… you can count on us.” Celestia and Luna stared at each other, their smiles comforting each other and easing the growing fear of everypony present. All except for Bon Bon. She remained cold, calculated, and fully aware of what they were dealing with. She had firsthoof experience after all. The Titans were no laughing matter. Nor were they a matter to smile over. They were something else entirely. Something beyond their understanding. Something that could possibly be beyond their control. Celestia continued to ease their fears, especially Twilight’s, when she said, “T.I.T.A.N. will not rest solely in your hooves, Twilight. Considering your ascension as the ruler of Equestria, we understand all of this is new not just for you… but for all of you.” Luna bowed her head at that, raising a hoof over her heart. “My sister and I—with generous aid from one of our most trusted agents—will help you every step of the way. It would seem Bon Bon here has quite the experience with hunting monsters, more so than anypony else we know. Even Daring Do to a degree, considering the adventuress prefers to hunt treasures rather than monsters.” The two sisters chuckled warmly to themselves, leaving Bon Bon silent and alone in her own world. Again, not a laughing matter. Returning to the matter at hoof, Celestia announced, “We will leave first thing in the morning.” Twilight’s expression seemed to brighten at the aspects of an adventure. Not the way she had wanted it to be, but an important adventure nonetheless. One that would ensure the safety of her country and every country for that matter. The Alicorn smiled brightly, declaring, “Oh, perfect! I’ll just send a letter back to Canterlot so they can send another private airship and—!” Celestia and Luna both chuckled to themselves. Twilight’s smile mysteriously fell apart. “That won’t be necessary,” Celestia told her, still holding that warming, motherly, knowing smile. “If T.I.T.A.N. is to come out of hiding, then so will its arsenal. We already have a few airships on their way, each one appropriately designed for these particular missions. Tomorrow, we will all board and travel to the Forbidden Jungle where the temple was discovered.” Luna added, “If anypony here has any qualms or wishes not to partake in the coming campaign, please let your voice be heard… and you will be allowed to return home.” They were nothing if not merciful. Knowing the journey ahead would be one permeated with peril, uncertainty, terrors beyond imagination, and many more dangers, they would not allow their friends to risk their lives for something they did not wish to be a part of. But it was their choice, the Alicorn sisters waiting patiently, knowing that it could take quite some time for the mares to each come to an individual conclu— “You kidding?!” Rainbow Dash practically screeched. She took off towards the ceiling, performing several loops and stunts to the awe-filled gazes beneath her. Pausing, she turned her confident-filled smirk onto the crowd. “Ain’t no way I’m passing this up! Spitfire can handle the Wonderbolts, but I’m gonna go monster hunting! Ah, yeah! So awesome!” Pinkie Pie suddenly bounced to life from the carpet, appearing more like a spring toy than a living, breathing pony. “I’m with Dashy! This sounds amazing! Ooooo, I’m so nervouscited I could just POP!” The pink mare exploded into an array of confetti and streamers, moments before reappearing in Luna’s flowing mane. She booped the former princess on the nose, whispering sharply, “Magic!” Rarity sighed, waving her mane out of her face. “I suppose I could risk my life for this particularly daring, dreadful… and albeit exciting mission. Anything for you girls, that is.” “I would like to meet these creatures for myself,” Fluttershy whispered. “I’m game!” Spike declared, rising from his place on the carpet and taking flight alongside Rainbow. “It’s not every day you get to go traversing ancient temples and looking for monsters! I have a feeling this is gonna be one for the history books, Twilight!” “Only if history wants to remember it,” Twilight replied, winking at Celestia and Luna. The former princesses smiled in response. “Count us in.” After everypony gave their response, being mostly enthusiastic, Bon Bon remained silent and distant as she was before. Finally, she faced the princesses and gave them each a solid nod. No emotion other than absolute solidity present on her expression, in her eyes, or upon her actions. Though nopony knew it as well as her, Bon Bon’s response felt more like she was fulfilling her duty as a T.I.T.A.N. agent if anything, wishing to finish whatever fight was still out there, or whatever fight was still in her. If there was even some fight left in her. Applejack raised her hoof, and soon everypony had turned to the lone Earth pony who still hadn’t given her answer. “Ah’d say… Ah’m in.” And that was that. At least… they thought it was. Celebrations and smiles were put on hold after noticing Applejack’s hoof was still raised. “Only question Ah have is… why exactly are we goin’ ta this specific temple?” Celestia and Luna looked at each other for what felt like the umpteenth time, only that time… it felt different. It felt unique in its own mystical and majestic sense, each sister knowing and believing that what was in their hearts and within their minds were equally shared and equally understood. For the mission ahead was not to be feared. Not initially. If anything, all they were planning to do was visit an old ally once thought to have been gone forever. An ally who could offer them more than they ever thought possible. It was Celestia who answered her and said, “Because after more than a thousand years… she has returned.”