Dark clouds, gathering over the quaint little town beneath them, rolled in the sky. Their haunting shapes were somber, broad and lingered in place for the past two days. They robbed the city below of the sun’s grace, selfishly hoarding its warmth for themselves.
In a flash, streaks of color rose up from the city below, launching themselves skyward and through the oppressive barrier in practiced formation. The squadron hurdled through the air and struck on their descent. The pegasus weather team assembled to take back the solar gift, and each powerful impact along the darkened clouds freed more and more light for the city below.
Newly won rays of sunshine reached towards a small gathering below, and following them was a single pony speeding toward the clay tiled roofs below. He weaved through a few pegasi who hovered above the ground as he threatened to crash upon the clean cobblestone of Coltistrano’s main square. Many ponies around him gawked. A sheepish grin met their gazes as leathery wings twitched and folded against his sides before he trotted along one of the branching streets flanked by rows of freshly painted buildings, ranging from teal to orange to white. He hugged the far side of the street until he pushed through a slate colored door sporting a golden ‘G’.
“Ah, Mr. Kindle,” the pony behind the counter greeted. “Delivery for the governor, yes? Gilda told me you were coming. I’ve got the order sitting right here.”
“Thank Luna’s stars, uh… wha-what do I owe you?”
“Oh! The order’s already been paid for by Ms. Hearts, she said it-”
Kindle’s thanks barely left his mouth before he was off again, snatching the box of sweets and balancing it across his wings. Even rushed, he slowed his trot just enough to pass his sight over the rows of stalls lining the center avenue, housing a myriad of goods and wares, drawing the attention of the dozens of other shopping ponies. Beyond the bustle his keen eyes could spot small crowds of hard hats, hoisting clay and mortar up the scaffolding to the tops of the worn and aged buildings.
Then came the bells. Colistrano’s clock tower released its gentle chorus across the town, pushing Kindle’s legs into overtime as he bolted toward the governor’s mansion. Not a moment after his hooves passed the front gate was he fumbling with the knob to the tall, oaken doors that soon gave way to him, until a voice pierced his very ears as he hurriedly stepped across the red carpet of the lobby.
“Kindle! Where have you been?” The chestnut mare stomped toward him. “The guests have already arrived… and where is your bowtie?”
“I-I’m sorry, Ms. Hearts, I have it right here! I didn’t mean to be late-”
“No, no, forgive me, Kindle, I’m just shocked you can only arrive promptly when you’re invading my home, and not when you’re repaying its owner.”
“I think helping Princess Cadence defend the palace earns me a little credit, right?”
“Yes, which is why you’re allowed a bed in the very home where you tried to kill my son. Now, come on, grab that tray and follow me.”
Once the bowtie was flush across his neck, Kindle hoisted a tray of drinks and dutifully followed behind Honey Hearts. Along the cliff face, just behind the governor’s mansion, stood a somber gathering, each member adorned in dark colors and staring into a tiny skiff that earned each of their attention. Carved grooves in the wood almost framed the draped form inside and the bed within was littered with white lilies. Much like the Tornado, a small violet balloon floated just above it.
Silver was the one to step up. Where everyone else fidgeted in place, or simply tried to look away, he walked with calm determination to the side of his friend. A jagged beak peered up at him through white cloth. There was a moment where he almost smiled, remembering sharp words and hurtful truths that only the skiff’s occupant was brave enough to say, and Silver gently stroked the carved wood holding the once-ornery gryphon.
“There’s not much I can say now he never said, himself,” Silver began, turning to his friends. “Gorn was a crass, foul-beaked hardass, and never once did he ever tell me ‘good job’. Day in and day out, he made it his personal mission to criticize everything I did as the Ghost, right down to how I put on my boots. ‘Darrox’d have ‘em on an’ be out the door by the time yer lazy ass was outta bed!’ He said that, once.”
Silver watched as his friends’ tension waned, smiles and soft giggles daring to let themselves be heard in such a somber setting.
“I never understood why he stuck around, to be honest. There were days I was sure he hated me, but only recently I learned it wasn’t because he found me particularly charming… it was because he did care, in his own way. Gorn was loyal. Loyal to Darrox and his dream, loyal to keeping that dream alive, and even when I couldn’t see it, he was loyal to us. He…”
His eyes hovered just over the familiar site on Gorn’s neck, the one that was bound the most by the white shawl that covered Gorn.
“The last time I was here I burned a dear friend, cried my tears, and made a promise I didn’t know I couldn’t keep. Gorn knew, though. Before the end, he told me to save myself, to stop trying to be somepony I wasn’t and have the courage to just live. It was exactly what I needed to hear, but I wish his death wasn’t what finally made me listen.”
With a quick glance to Gilda she stepped to his side, a small torch in her claw. She peered over him. There was a moment where she almost lost her grip on the flame before Silver helped steady her with soft hooves on her shoulders, careful to avoid the healing burns. With his encouragement, she gently placed the torch into the skiff and watched as the orange ropes of flame began to spread, filling the vessel as heat rose into the balloon just enough to lift it from the ground. Together they pushed, and the skiff made its solemn journey out from the cliff and away through the air.
“You good, dude?” Gilda asked, her trembling claw wrapped around his hoof.
“No... you?”
“No.”
They wrapped each other in a hug while the rest of the party gathered around them, sending their well-wishes after the flickering skiff that sailed away from the mansion. Alone, Rarity stood behind them, and wiped a tear from her face as she retreated into the house, working through the hallways until she found herself in the main study. The presence of books and of a gentle, warm breeze through open windows helped ease the quiver in her lip. From a small pouch on her side she produced a violet journal, lifting a quill and ink from a side table before collapsing into the cush embrace one of the sofas.
Funerals are such an awful affair. Not one I’ve been to has held any modicum of joy in any respect, this one especially. I suppose I’m thankful not many have come, evidence of Gorn’s callus attitude, no doubt, but it’s much easier to get away and write after so long. Still, Gilda spoke the truth when she said he was one of us. I know Silver will miss him.
Out of everyone dressed in black, he was the only one who looked comfortable in it. It’s tragic how used to death he’s become, and since we came back to Equestria he’s carried himself differently. He’s much more… present. He spent hours with Shining and Cadence after the battle, no doubt catching up on all they’ve missed together, and to my knowledge he hasn’t once addressed himself as ‘Aristo’ upon returning. He’s changed. My love has changed.
Ms. Hearts, though, is an entirely different matter. News of Abby and Shield Wall, the attack on the Crystal Empire, has brought out more maternal stubbornness than ever before, and she’s put poor Kindle through the ringer in an effort to get even. It’s surprising how helpful he’s been. Ms. Hearts fears he may turn us over to his former allies, but I don’t believe a word of it. He’s far too scared of her to dare try.
And that leaves my darling Gilda. Silver offered her the Tornado, which she happily took before the words even left his mouth, and has wasted no time in claiming it as her own. She even commissioned me for a captain’s tricorne, imagine that? She’s been in good spirits even after the horrors up north. I never know how to say it, but crass as she may be I’m thankful for all she does for us.
“Why don’t you check on Rarity, hm? See if she could use some refreshment?”
“O-Of course, Ms. Hearts, but… could I at least take a little br-”
“Oh no, no, no, we’ve only begun your recompense for breaking into this house and threatening to put my son’s head on a plate!”
“I-... Yes, Ms. Hearts.”
Rarity peered over the cover of her journal just in time to see Kindle, carrying a tray of glittering glasses, enter the study. He crossed the large fireplace and offered the tray to her.
“Thank you, Kindle,” Rarity hummed, lifting one away. “I hope Honey hasn’t made you regret your desertion of the Night Guard.”
“What? No! No, I love it here, it's a lot different during the day, I just… well, I never thought she could be so… so-”
“Scary?”
“Oh, you have no idea,” he whispered, almost too fast as Rarity chuckled in response.
“Don’t fret, Kindle, this is nowhere near the worst she can do.”
“Oh, thank Luna’s sky-... wait, what?”
A light cough from the doorway signaled Silver’s arrival. Kindle shot up, nearly dropping the tray in his hoof as the pony entered. He chuckled at the sight.
“S-Sir,” Kindle stammered.
“I’m not you CO, Kindle, despite what my mother tells you.”
“I… right, sorry, still getting used to life outside of them, you know?”
Silver chuckled, but Kindle watched him with intense focus. A small, dopey grin made itself known and Silver sighed in anticipation.
“So… you’re the Ghost. I mean… you? The Ghost!”
“Yes,” Silver hummed.
“You were the target… Aristo, I mean, the same noblepony who helped expose Shield Wall the first time, but you were also the Ghost. Was it you all along?”
“Silver takes great pride in his performance that night,” Rarity piped up, sipping gingerly from her glass with a smirk.
“I seem to remember you even asked for a ‘midnight encore’,” Silver shot back, his half-lidded eyes watching hers.
“You mean the night of the gala? The Night Guard had us review that incident, like, a dozen times in case we even ran into you. I only ever heard the name ‘Aristo’ a few times before the mission, probably because he isn’t really you, right?”
“Aristo is one of our more brilliant ideas,” Silver continued. “Somepony wealthy enough to have some sway in Equestria, but so pompous you’d never want to talk to him about it. Though I think he’s outlived his usefulness.”
“So you’re just ‘Silver’, now?”
“Thankfully.” He glanced at Rarity, giving her a soft smile before Kindle continued.
“Well Silver, you… I think you saved my life back in the empire, and I’m sorry about your friend.”
“I’m sorry about yours,” Silver returned, taking a glass of his own. “Have you found any trace of him? Or the rest of the Night Guard?”
“Not yet, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Glint was never just another guard, he was always the best the vice general had. To think he got away...” Kindle felt a hoof touch his shoulder.
“You’ll find him, and for what it’s worth I think you’re the only one who can reach him, now. Are you going to be alright for recon?”
“Yeah, yeah… honestly, I’m surprised you, uh, trust me.”
“Well, ‘trust’ is a strong word. I have faith in you... and faith in Gilda to knock you on your ass if you try to steal the Tornado. Welcome to the team.”
Her name caused Kindle to tremble as Silver patted his side, a tender scar just below his wing, shaking the glasses on the tray as he and Rarity watched the bat pony make his way out of the study, leaving them alone. Then they looked to each other. Rarity was the first to break eye contact, her gaze fluttering between him and the empty seat beside her, taking care to ensure the growing smile across her lips was noticeable. That grin spread even farther when she felt his weight land beside her. He gazed upon her bashful face, surrounded by a halo of sunlight that dripped through the white curtains of the study, tiny rays poking through her violet curls.
Then, she began to fidget. Silver could spot a thin line of red forming across her muzzle, filling her cheeks, but his attention was caught by her foreleg coming up from her side, seemingly unsure of where it was going, and landing on the back of the sofa. Rarity slouched. A gentle whip of her hair pulled Silver back to her face quick enough to watch her mouth struggle to form her next few words.
“Um… ‘s-sup, babe?”
An eternity passed between them in utter silence.
Warm, unrestrained laughter filled the study. Silver fell against the backrest of the sofa, occasionally pushing his face into it as Rarity grew beet red. Before she could turn, though, her flushed cheeks were caught in long kisses pressed against them, the first movement Silver made to close the distance between them both.
“Thank you,” he managed to say, still giggling.
“F-For what?”
“For… you.”
“Oh, goodness,” she chuckled. “An attempt like that hardly deserves any flattery.”
“Would you rather I stop?”
“I’d rather you keep going…” Brushing her mane aside she pulled herself toward him, falling into the forelegs slowly closing around her. “It was Gilda’s idea, I promise.”
“I have no doubt.”
“She’ll have an earful for this, for sure.”
“Don’t.” Silver pushed past her mane to plant a kiss on her forehead. “She might pull the ‘saved your life in the palace’ card.”
“Tch, you’re right… I’m sorry... for what happened.”
Her soft words forced an image of biting wind and tearful eyes into his mind, and Silver responded only by squeezing Rarity just a bit more, pulling her closer. He said nothing. A few times Rarity could see his lips part slightly, only to shut when the tease of words fell short of speech.
“Shining and Cadence were in good spirits, though,” she blurted out. “Even after all that happened, are you glad you reached out to them?”
“I am,” Silver replied, releasing his staggered breath. “It… was nice. Shining is still mad about me not telling him, though. Says he wants a letter at least once a month.”
“And a generous donation to their reconstruction, I’m sure.”
“Yeah...” Silver drew out with an airy chuckle. “Cadence didn’t seem too torn up about it, all things considered, but she’s already been asking me about better ways to hide people in the palace. Did you know she and Shining have a baby?”
“You didn’t know? Silver, darling, it was all the papers could talk about for weeks. Twilight was there, even.”
“Never thought I was that out of touch.”
“Well, we’re going to fix that, you’ll be caught up in no time. Speaking of, um, knowing things… are… well, are we…”
“Together?” The word hung between them for a moment, drifting along the rays of sunshine. “Do you want to be?”
“W-Well, yes, but considering what happened, a-and Abby’s…” Rarity pressed a hoof to her mouth, collecting herself before giving the most dignified cough she could manage. “I would like that very much.”
Their manes fell atop each other in the gentle breeze. Silver held her face to his, greeting her with a slow, firm welcome upon her lips that softened when she returned his affection, stroking his back with her hooves as if to pull every part of him into herself. A giggle escaped the corner of her mouth. As she moved to his cheek Silver could only sigh in response, relishing the sensation of her touch, her warmth, and the gentle hold she kept on the back of his head, but he retained enough of his senses to find a new target.
“Ooooh,” Rarity cooed, quivering in response to the soft nipping on her neck. “You are in so much trouble for that one, sergeant.”
“You’ll have to court marshall me, ma’am.”
“Ha, freaky…”
Two sets of horrified eyes snapped toward the source of the third voice, standing smugly in the doorway. With a lidded expression and a grin to match, Gilda let loose a low, rhythmic pur that summoned a deep red color from Rarity’s cheeks. Silver, however, could only laugh.
“You gotta learn to knock, G,” Silver chuckled.
“Sock on the doorknob, bro, you know the rules. You wanna do the thing before this gets too spicy?”
Silver nodded. A shout flew from Gilda’s beak, and from down the hall came Kindle at a brisk, nervous pace, glancing behind him every so often before joining the rest of the study’s occupants. Silver faced Rarity again, beet red but still sporting a small smile. A comforting kiss landed on her lips before he stood and approached the side table, next to the large fireplace, and with a quick stroke of the sketch beside it the stone moved away.
“Whoa!” Kindle gawked at the contraption. “This is where you were hiding?”
“Among other places.” Silver shot him a sly smirk before leading the troup down the dark stone staircase.
Again, Kindle stood in awe of the carved structures surrounding him, the stone columns that supported the mansion’s undercroft and reached out toward what he guessed was the cliff face itself. Sconces ignited by themselves as they passed. With each step the undercroft was illuminated to reveal the heart of their secret operation. In the center stood the tall, imposing glass case housing the cloak Kindle learned to both fear and respect, flanked by workstations of every sort. Silver approached the largest of them, a wall-sized map of Equestria surrounded by tools and small baubles.
“We have a situation,” Silver began. “Since the attack on the Crystal Empire Shield Wall, the Night Guard, and Alate have practically vanished. Cadence and Shining Armor are running recon along the border for any trace of their escape, but I think it’s fair to assume they’ve returned to Equestria. What we need is a trail to follow. Kindle, where would they go?”
“O-Oh, um… well, we deployed from our safehouses along the western Crystal Mountains, north of Galloping Gorge, but we closed off travel too and from the empire after the battle. Best guess says they may have hoofed it through here, this gap in the mountains’ eastern slopes.”
Kindle pointed to the map that, to his shock, illuminated his target with a glittering blue light.
“Any guess where they went from there?”
“Not one. From that point, all of eastern Equestria is open to them. We have a few safehouses north of Cloudsdale, but nothing strategically valuable.” A yellow light appeared where he pointed.
“Did he have an escape plan? Anything he shared with you?”
“No… I don’t think he thought he’d lose.”
“Of course,” Silver sighed. “Gilda, I don’t want the Tornado too far from home. What do you think a good path for recon looks like?”
“I mean, we can push it between Neighagara Falls and Dodge City, but he could be all the way in Vanhoover for all we know. We kinda whooped his flank in the empire, remember? My guess is he picked somewhere far away from us to lie low.”
“I agree with Gilda,” Rarity piped up. “Shield Wall’s losses were devastating to any future plans he may have had. With Kindle’s help, we may want to consider focusing our efforts on intercepting Night Guard operations.”
“Kindle, can you do it?”
“Yeah, I’ve still got the maps and tools we were using to plan the siege and-”
“No, I mean will you do it?”
“Oh…” Kindle’s voice shrank and his leathery wings fidgeted against his sides. “I-I don’t like it, but what the Guard did… I can do it. I will.”
“What about Alate?” Rarity stepped forward, casting her own spell to produce an emerald light upon the map, stationed at the Crystal Empire. “You said she vanished during the fight with Shield Wall. With the horn in her possession, she’s far too dangerous to leave alone.”
“My guess is she’ll keep following the Night Guard,” Silver replied. “Even for someone like her, running solo in her condition will be dangerous. Whatever move she makes against Shield Wall will have to be worth it.”
“We’ll have to be especially careful, darling. I’ll reach out to Twilight. With some luck, she may have a way to follow whatever traces that terrible thing on Alate’s head will leave.”
“If you feel she can help, then by all means, we need as much as we can get. That just leaves…”
A soft teal light appeared over Canterlot, where Silver’s vision lingered. Flashes of her teary face came to him like wisps of smoke and danced along his vision, and for a moment his jaw clenched at the premonition of her voice, echoing through his mind.
“It’s been more than a week since Abby defected. Princess Luna reports she hasn’t returned to Canterlot, and her estate sits empty. I’ve reached out to the Investigations Bureau to check Aristo’s holdings in Abby’s charity foundations. My guess is, if she’s really turned on us, her accounts will be empty.”
“That’s not so bad, is it?” Gilda asked, prompting Rarity to speak.
“She was a countess, a direct descendant of Celestia. Even on her own, she commanded considerable wealth and resources, not to mention royal authority.”
“‘Kay, so how much damage could she do in a week?”
“More than I dare imagine, Gilda. Her authority holds little power in the Crystal Empire, but we haven’t the slightest idea what orders she may have issued before we informed Princess Luna. I shudder to think what she could’ve done to help that monster.”
“So we find her first,” Gilda began. “If Tightwad’s using her for money and power then she’s his evil sugar mama. We find the babe, cut Tightwad off from her cash, then bring the hammer down on him before he can give Manehatten a sequel.”
“It seems the logical starting point,” Rarity said to a frowning Silver. “Finding her means finding Shield Wall, and I’m sure our newest acquaintance is more than willing to track his former colleagues’ whereabouts for us, yes?”
“I’ll get right on it!” Kindle’s enthusiasm followed his brisk trot to the stairs, just before he froze. “R-Right after I help Ms. Hearts clean up.”
Silver’s smile finally appeared as he watched Kindle ascend from the undercroft. Gilda and Rarity slowly approached, standing beside him as Silver’s gaze returned to the glittering colors upon the map’s enchanted surface.
“So, you good?” Gilda whispered.
“I’m good, I’m… I’m better than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Even with everything that’s happened? Darling, just the thought of it.”
“I guess…” Silver peered over his shoulder at a pony-sized glass case, sitting in the middle of the lair. “What do I do now? So much of my life was spent trying to live up to Darrox, trying to live as Darrox. Now I’m me again, really me, and believe it or not I have no idea where to start.”
“Way I see it, you’re the one wearing the cloak,” Gilda stated. “What kind of Ghost do you wanna be?”
“I… I want to be the kind who loves without fear. I want to be the Ghost who only hides his face, not his heart.” Silver approached the case and peered into the cowl’s dark eyes. “I want to be the kind of Ghost who fights to promote all I’ve been taught to be. Honest, loyal, compassionate and to never be controlled by fear.”
“Then that, my love, is the perfect place to start,” Rarity said, closing the distance with a kiss to his cheek.
“‘Bout time, too, got tired of listening to you rant and mope down here,” Gilda chided with a smirk.
“You’re welcome to join me if you start feeling sorry for that nasty patch of charred fur on your hide,” Silver shot back, chuckling.
“Hey, my burns are awesome. ‘Tasteful’, as Rarity would say, and everyone in town wants to hear how I got ‘em, too. Maybe you should try it?”
“Maybe…”
Silver offered a foreleg to Gilda, watching her yellow eyes roll to the side as she took the stallion in a firm embrace. Another leg wrapped around Rarity. In the low light of the undercroft the three stood before the glass case, and Silver gazed upon the cowl with a soft, pensive smile.
For the first time, it fit the reflection staring back at him.