//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: “Silver… my love, I’m so sorry…” // Story: The Ghost of Coltistrano: Restless Peace // by EthanClark //------------------------------// One by one, guards in crystal armor marched from the throne room, the final one taking one last sweep of the area before gingerly shutting the large double doors behind him, as ordered. The click of the latch was sharp and echoed lightly. Even in the obscuring mist of this morning the crystal walls still managed to dance with glimmers of sunlight, faint as they were, and gave a comforting show of color to the room’s few occupants. Flanked by imposing pillars of polished stone and facing the expertly cut throne of the same material, they faced the same stallion from the night before. “So, are you going to tell us what this is about?” Shining Armor’s voice was urgency covered by patient sympathy. To his right, atop her brilliant throne, Princess Cadence sat and waited for their two guests to give some indication for their meeting, but didn’t share the slight tap in her hoof that Shining politely tried to hide.  “Of course,” Rarity began, eyes occasionally darting around the room. “Firstly, I wanted to thank you for your help last night with… well, with that unpleasantness. It was never our intention to put either of you in harms way, and-” “Rarity, please,” Cadence interjected. “There’s no need for formalities. We’re friends, but something terrible seems to have taken root in our home and we’re at a loss for how to combat it. Did you have something to share with us?” “Y-Yes.” Rarity’s voice shrank, eyes still scanning the ceiling, but a sharp glance from Gilda beside her strengthened her resolve enough to speak again. “The three of us have information to share with you.” “‘Three’?” Shining gave an inquisitive look to the only two in his sight.  “Yep, took a lot of convincing to get him to show himself, but this has been a long time coming.” Gilda raised a lethargic claw to the ceiling, giving the royal couple a sly smirk. Cadence and Shining looked up. From atop one of the pillars was a dark shape. As they peered up, squinting to get a better look in the fading light the shape looked back, causing Shining to step before his wife and adopt a fighting stance. The shape lept from the pillar and spread its dark form across their field of vision. Fluttering cloth trailed behind him as covered hooves clicked against the polished floor with metal-tipped boots, and the cloak slowly receded to its normal size, draped along the dark and sleek uniform adorning its wielder. Shining’s gaze trailed along the two-tone ensemble of black and dark grey until, just above the armored tunic, two amber eyes met him from behind their cowl. “Your highness,” the Ghost smirked. “You always make a show like that?” “It works most of the time.” The Ghost flicked the cape over one side, took a step forward, and gave a deep and dignified bow to Princess Cadence. “Princess.” “My husband may not be entertained by your performance, but I am.” Cadence rose from her throne and stepped past Shining Armor, extending a regal hoof to the Ghost. “Auntie Luna has told me much about you, Ghost.” “Hopefully not too much,” he replied, taking the hoof. “That would ruin the surprise.” “Surprise?” Both Cadence and Shining shared a curious look before the Ghost stood upright. “It’s no secret what happened last night: Shield Wall has escaped from prison and brought a force large enough to stage a coup in the Crystal Empire, and I’m not so foolish to think he won’t use every means at his disposal to ensure he wins. Last night’s engagement was… a mistake.”  He looked to Rarity, silently cheering him on with muted words and a warm smile. “There’s some other scheme in play, your highness. Shield Wall can’t take the palace alone and he knows it, especially with myself and the Ragged Mare searching for him. So, I’m here, personally, to ask for your help in stopping a disaster.” “We’re more than willing to stop that bastard,” Shining interjected. “But we need more than just your support. We need information, troop numbers, tactics…” “All of which we’re more than willing to find for y-” “And above all a reason we can trust you. Last night wasn’t very convincing.” Amber eyes held their gaze on the stalwart unicorn. The Ghost could feel the presence of Gilda and Rarity behind him, as if to keep him from running away, but he kept his hooves planted where they were. His breath was still and a thin smile began to grow. “You’re right…” Shining seemed taken aback by the Ghost’s words. Cadence, too, looked to the masked pony with curiosity, though neither were ready to watch one of his gloved hooves slowly travel upwards. Dark fabric was tugged. It gently fell back across his scalp as he pulled. The cowl gave way to argent hairs that fell across his face and neck, faintly shimmering in the sunlight. A visage reached out to them both, but only Cadence still had the power to speak. “Lord… Aristo?” Cadence muttered. “You’re the Ghost? Well… I suppose as far as secret identities go, I never could’ve suspecte-” Shining Armor pushed past his wife. Step after firm step placed him face to face with the now unmasked pony before him, a face that still lived somewhere in the depths of his mind, and left him frozen save for a few choice, timid words.  “This isn’t… Silver?”  It was all he could manage to utter. The tall, brilliant prince of the Crystal Empire was stripped of his presence, capable only to stare at the pony in utter disbelief. Cadence squinted for a moment. Then, her hooves found their way to her mouth in time to suppress a sharp gasp that sent her on her haunches. Sharp pricks gathered in Silver’s throat. “You’re dead,” Shining mouthed, barely above a whisper. “Not anymore.” The exchange was all it took for Shining Armor and Silver to fall into each other. Firm forelegs ensnared them both as seven years of pain fell from their contorted faces as tears, and not too long after Cadence flung herself into their embrace and was quickly accepted. Silver, most of all, surrendered to the smothering wash of relief within him, relishing in the grip two souls from a once-lost time now had on him as evidence of his joy fell from his face. In the wordless moment, Gilda leaned silently to Rarity. “I think we did it, huh, Rares?” “I think we did, too.” The two watched as the pile of emotion slowly rose and cleared their tears, with Shining still holding onto Silver to assure himself he was, in fact, real. “You were dead… that bastard, he killed you. Where have you… why didn’t you tell anypony? Why didn’t you tell us?” “There’s a lot of fear and emotion wrapped up in that answer, Shining,” Silver said. “I never felt like I could, not until now.” “Abby! Silver, does Abby know?” Cadence grabbed him in alarm. “She knows, she knows, just… I haven’t been the most social with her.” “What are you talking about?!” Shining slapped Silver on the shoulder. “You disappeared for years and you didn’t even get back with her?” “Shining! I’m sure he had his reasons.”  “Right, right, I know, but… you fought Shield Wall alone! Silver, why didn’t you ask me for help? I would’ve busted his chops right alongside you had I known what he’d done!” “Definitely would’ve been twice as easy with you around,” Silver said, returning the slap and a hearty laugh. “I’ll tell you everything, buddy, I promise, but please know I’m here now.” “To think you’ve been doing all this, for so long. Silver, as Princess of the Crystal Empire, I’m granting you authority to work with Shining to find Shield Wall and put him away, where he belongs.” Cadence then turned to Rarity and Gilda. “I don’t have the words to express just what you two have helped do for us. Thank you.” “Psh, don’t sweat it,” Gilda said, gently blowing on her talons as Rarity rolled her eyes. “Cadence, there’s much to discuss,” Rarity began. “We don’t know how great Shield Wall’s force is, exactly, but there’s a third element in this fight.” “The Ragged Mare, yes. Twilight included that in her letter to Shining. Is she as dangerous as they say?” “Perhaps more so. She is a changeling, bent on bloody vengeance against Shield Wall and all of his followers, including those who came forward about the conspiracy, like Abby.” “Was Abby attacked?” Cadence’s voice became firm. “She’s alright, safe in Canterlot under Luna’s protection. Right now, though, we’ve lost track of her, and who knows what she’ll do once we, or Shield Wall, makes a move.” “We’ll double patrols, the Crystal Corsairs will scour the city until we find her,” Shining declared. “Fat chance, Shining,” Gilda began. “If Silver’s a ghost then she’s a damn wraith. The bat boys are easy enough to spot from the air, if you know what you’re looking for, and pretty lame in a fight, but she’ll come out of thin air and melt you before you have time to think of a response.”  “We need the Corsairs and whatever forces you can spare to patrol the city for Night Guard forces,” Silver said as he returned to Gilda and Rarity’s side. “We can’t risk Shield Wall getting the upper hoof while we don’t even know where he is. If we find him, we’ll find Alate.” “So where do we start?” Shining returned to a tall, stoic pose. “We’re not sure,” Rarity replied. “The Night Guard are nothing if not evasive, especially with their wicked leader guiding them. Waiting for the patrols to turn something up might be our best option.” As Silver, Rarity, and the royals deliberated on their next course of action, Gilda’s head slowly tilted past them. A shape had begun slowly inching its way through one of the far windows, gently placing a hoof onto the floor upon its entry. Its familiar face scanned the room before being caught in Gilda’s predatory gaze. To her surprise, though, the bat pony slowly raised his hooves in surrender. They shared a silent conversation. He nudged to the group and to his saddlebag, responded in kind by a subtle growl and the clacking of a talon upon the floor. It captured his attention. With trepidation, he placed his hooves together, pleading with an irate Gilda, and very soon she had enough of the pitiful display and tapped Silver on the shoulder. “Hey, dweeb, mask up. We’ve got a guest.” All eyes fell upon the pony in question. Kindle maintained his pose until a tall, masked, and terrifying shadow traveled across the throne room to him.  “Woah! Easy! Easy, easy, easy, I-I’m not here to fight… doubt I could anyway, right?” Kindle’s jest held no sway on the Ghost’s firm face. “I’m going to give you one chance to convince me not to throw you back out that window.” “I-I-I’m here to help! Please, I swear, I know I’ve messed with you in the past, but Shield Wall is crazy!” “You only realize that now?” “Oh, ‘ha ha’, I’ll remember that the next time he sics my friends on me.” Kindle slowly rose from the floor, taking great care not to provoke the vigilante before him. “Look, I know what he’s planning, and I’ve got it right here.” Everyone in the room flinched as Kindle reached for his saddlebag, but the object that emerged from within was more than enough to subdue them. Cadence recoiled at the sight, gripping to Shining Armor, while Rarity held a hoof to her mouth in shock. Gilda wasted no time in stomping toward the now trembling visitor, held back only by the Ghost. “Okay, I know it looks bad-” “It is bad,” the Ghost deadpanned. “But this means he doesn’t have it! And I’m giving it to you.” “Just like that?” Rarity snapped. “That isn’t just some common trinket, it’s the horn of King Sombra!” “How did Tightwad even manage to find it?” “By using the scrolls stolen from Twilight’s palace.” The Ghost approached and took the horn, returning it to Kindle’s saddlebag despite the subtle chill it sent through him. “Cadence, do we have somewhere to hide it from Shield Wall?” “Tartarus, maybe,” she spat. “But I’ll have it placed somewhere safe when we’re done. Now…”  Cadence stood to her full, princessly height, towering over Kindle with a glare that could cut the very stone they stood upon.  “You are an invader and a threat to the Crystal Empire. You may have had a chance for sympathy in Equestria, but you’re not in Equestria. So, to have any hope of freedom when this invasion is put down, you will tell us everything you know. Otherwise, the mines of the White Wastes to the north could use another worker. Are these terms… agreeable?” Kindle had never nodded his head harder in his life. The famous Princess of Love held him in a gaze of pure, undistracted malice. Even the Ghost beside her could feel the fury radiating from her face and watched every individual hair of her rosey fur stand on edge.  “Begin.” “There are at least three thousand of us!” Kindle blurted out the words almost faster than the others could hear. “They’re not all here yet. Or maybe they are, I don’t know, I’ve been on disciplinary duty for a few days now at the dig site. B-But I’ve heard stuff! Bad stuff. He’s been talking with Glint, mostly. A lot of talk about saving Equestria and using the Crystal Palace for something bad. He… wants to take over.” “‘Take over’ what?” The Ghost pressed. “Everything. The palace, the empire, the ponies… everything.” “Cadence, what could Shield Wall do with the horn in this place? Could he accomplish that?” The Ghost asked. “King Sombra once polluted the palace and used it as a seat of his power. It fuelled him, but the horn is just that. A piece of him, not something Shield Wall could use alone.” “What about when he possessed the Crystal Heart,” Shining suggested. “That was how he performed most of his magic, like subjugating the crystal ponies.” “But this is King Sombra’s magic we’re talking about,” Cadence contested. “Shield Wall would have to break into the palace, take control of it, then corrupt the Heart with a horn that isn’t even his own. I doubt even somepony like Sunburst or Twilight could accomplish something so heinous.” “Wanna bet?” Gilda’s crude interruption sent a twinge of doubt through Cadence’s chest, prompting her to turn once more to the Ghost. “We can’t let this happen,” she said resolutely. “It won’t, but we need to work fast.” The Ghost stepped to Kindle and kneeled down, with a face far less severe than before. “Kindle, for all I know this is a trap and you were sent to scare us into making a mistake. That’s how Shield Wall operates. For all I know, he’s outside right now, ready to do all of the terrible things you say he’ll do, but I’m going to take a chance and trust you. “This is your chance to help us undo everything he’s done, and finally do something that helps Equestria, not hurt it. And with your help, we may even be able to stop him before he hurts anypony else. Are you on our side?” Kindle was stuck in his own mind. The Ghost, the object of his nightly torment and the terror of his comrades, now extended his hoof to him as an ally. He was stunned, his mouth flapping lightly, trying to find something to say in response, but all he could muster was a jagged breath and the trembling hesitation of his own hoof. One look in his amber eyes, though, was all it too, as they looked to him earnestly.  A single, steady breath pushed his hoof forward into the Ghost’s, and together they stood from the floor. Tremors still rocked his body, but slowly Kindle felt the tightness in his stomach fade. “Hoo boy… I-I, um… they’re gonna kill me, for sure.” “Better us than somepony else.” “R-Right, right… wow, you’re really serious about it, huh?”  “Just don’t get too comfy, newbie,” Gilda sneered, slowly closing the gap between them both. “You remember what happened the last time you took beef with us… right?” Kindle’s eyes were captured by the firm claw that gripped his shoulder, the one just above the scar just along his right wing, and memories of the feathered missile tackling him out of the night sky hit him like a sack of bricks, strengthened by the subtle squeeze she gave him. “You’ll be working with Cadence and the guard,” the Ghost said. “Tell them everything you know, help them plan a solid defence for when Shield Wall attacks. Rarity, can you help them? Nopony’s better suited to force Shield Wall out of hiding.” “Hmm, you always resort to flattery when you need something,” she said with a giggle.  “Only when it’s desperate.” “Oh, you must be hopelessly lost without me, then,” she teased. “Cadence, with your permission, I can get started right away.” “Of course, Rarity, but what about the Ragged Mare?” “I think I have an idea,” Shining said, slapping the Ghost on the back. “You wanna go ‘on patrol’?” “It might be best if I go alone. You’ll be needed here to coordinate a defence, and if you-” Rarity shoved her elbow expertly between the layers of padding in the Ghost’s suit, earning a sharp grunt from him. “It’ll be nice to have help, for once.” “If you’re looking for info about the killer, we’ve been tailed by her for weeks,” Kindle announced. “It’s almost uncanny. She’s managed to follow us everywhere we’ve gone, no more than half a day behind us. Would’ve melted me back at Sombra’s crypt if I hadn’t offered to help.” “‘Offered to help’?” Rarity inquired. “Yeah. She showed up after the fight last night and… w-well, melted everypony, but I told her about the horn and that I was gonna give it to you. And, trust me, it was not easy convincing her! Guess she doesn’t hate you all that much.” “Intriguing,” Rarity said, slowly. “Do you know how she managed to find you so quickly after the battle?” “Glint sometimes said that maybe she was hiding among us, but the Vice General never let secrets slip. Kept everything real close to the chest. Best guess is she has a pretty tight intel network, or she’s just that determined.” “Aren’t the Night Guard, like, supposed to be basically invisible?” Gilda leaned over between Kindle and the Ghost. “How is one angry changeling supposed to find you at all?” “Wait… she’s a changeling?” “Gilda’s right,” Shining said. “The Night Guard are elite. Best of the best. It’s doubtful she could’ve found them alone if they managed to hide their involvement in the conspiracy from the Investigations Bureau.” They deliberated around her. Rarity ignored them, keeping her eyes focused on the empty space before them, her ears beginning to burn with the heat of her furious deductions. Kindle’s testimony disturbed her to the point of self-reflection, and the series of her experiences rolled out before her like a brilliant crimson carpet as a timeline of her observations. She started at the beginning. The murderer eluded them at every turn. Her most valuable target led a frenzied chase into the Crystal Empire. A simple murder led them all into a conflict beyond her expectations. Nopony knew what could happen next, but somepony had to. Rarity wracked her mind for some loose detail, something that could tie every symptom of this endeavour together under a single cause. Alate was simply a knife. Rarity needed the wielder. She set her eyes upon Kindle. The fact he survived almost disturbed her, given the gruesome memory of every other victim wearing his armor. Dozens of murdered guards, traitors or no, left as nothing more than sizzling piles of muck in her wake, without the skill of somepony such as Silver of Shield Wall to evade Alate’s wrath. Nopony survived the Ragged Mare. Nopony.  “Oh! Oooooohh!” Rarity’s outburst sent a jolt through the others in the room and her frantic hoof began slamming itself rapidly against the Ghost’s shoulder. “Darling, I-I think I figured it out, who’s been helping Alate, but… I’m not sure you’ll like it.” “Rarity, at this point, I’ll take any lead I can get.” “Y-Yes, but dear… I really-” “Cadence! Cadence, are you and the hubby here?” All eyes snapped onto the massive entrance of the throne room, whose doors had been pushed open to welcome a single mare and assistant. Two guards stood at the entrance, an unsure look between them, as the ruby hair of the mare bounced in time with her hoofsteps, thin and pretty shoes clacking against the polished stone floor and followed by a familiar, elderly pony dragging her luggage behind him. She beamed at the sight of the group. With a dainty hoof she hurried the elderly pony behind her and waved down the others. “Silver! I can’t believe it, you did it! Shining, Cadence, I’m so sorry I never told you about him, but I was sworn to secr-” “Abby… what are you doing here?” Each pair of eyes now gazing at Abby seemed to share the Ghost’s sentiment. “I wanted to come visit Cadence and Shining, maybe let them know of the danger. With the amount of security, though, I take it they already know.” “It’s always lovely to see you, Abby.” Cadence stepped past the others, nodding to Berry and giving the unicorn a hug. “But things are dangerous, right now. There was an attack last night, and not everyone walked away.” “Cadence, I’m perfectly capable of looking after myself. I survived Shield Wall’s house of horrors, did I not? I can certainly survive a day in the palace.” “Abby, that’s not the point,” the Ghost interjected. “Shield Wall is here, in the empire, somewhere. You know what he’ll do if he finds you here.” “All the more reason for us to work together then, yes? Afterall, I was the one who gave you this lead.” “Mysteriously, so,” Rarity muttered, catching Abby’s attention. “I’m sorry, Rarity, I hope there’ll be no problem,” she said curtly. To her side, Berry’s gaze slowly reached Rarity and held firm. “N-Not at all, um… darling, we should talk.” “About what?” Abby took a quick step forward. “About the source of our problems,” Rarity replied, sharply, a look of pleading in her eyes as she stared up as the Ghost. “Sh-Shall we?” “Are you sure you know who it is?” The Ghost asked quietly. “Who ‘who’ is?” The quiver in Abby’s voice began to draw attention, prompting Gilda to proactively step between her and the other two, wings threatening to spread. “Silver… my love, I’m so sorry…” “‘My love’?! What d-... the nerve!” “Rarity.” His eyes locked onto Rarity’s teary azure orbs, a hoof stroking her cheek as he felt the sensations of needles return to his throat. “A-Are you sure?” She pulled her forelegs around his neck. Gentle lips pressed themselves against his cheek and she could feel the quiver of his jaw as he returned her embrace. The crowd was stunned by the display, and Gilda’s firm wings shot out to stop Abby’s advance. “Silver? What is she saying to you? S-Silver… oh, dear, what’s wrong? Silver!” His cowled face turned from the crook of Rarity’s neck. Slowly, he freed himself from her, walking languidly toward the frantic unicorn held at bay by Gilda. He nudged her aside, and the gryphon allowed Abby to cross the distance she so aggressively had sought, falling into the Ghost’s chest. What she saw haunted her. His eyes, narrow and fierce, glared down upon her like two indignant suns. She babbled a response, anything to save her from the intensity of who she desperately clung to.  Her strength was wasted as a defiant hoof slowly pushed her away, and the Ghost spoke in a low, rumbling voice betraying both his fury and despair. “It was you.”