Mane Effect

by Quillery

Chapter 6: Hammerfall

What was the reason we were going to all this trouble in the first place? What happened to Equestria Prime was a travesty and we all had reasons to believe that Artemis was the one to blame. But now we had proof, undeniable proof that he was the one behind it all, and it was because of that discovery that we all felt a surge of victory in bringing Artemis down. But was it solely justice that drove us? Why not just for the sake of the galaxy as a whole, by stopping a potentially dangerous pony from doing who knows what? I knew why I wanted to bring him down, because it was just the right thing to do. But the reasons my new companions were so vindictive towards him still eluded me and as we galloped full speed back to the Promenade, my chances to ask would have to wait until much later.

We left the Warrens as quickly as we possibly could, taking little time to deal with the remnants of our involvement. The damage to the Den and the warehouses, as well as the squadron of thugs laying in an unconscious heap that we had left behind was just the tip of the chaos we caused in the Warrens. We had what we went there for, so the cleanup would just have to wait until after all was said and done. I was relieved to be back in the Promenade. The dreariness of the Warrens was starting to wear on me, and was reminding me far too much of life back on Earth. Even the running did not bother me, our discovery giving me enough vigor to power on with my friends towards the embassies, hoping that the Captain and the Ambassador were still there.

The embassies were quiet on our arrival, only a few noticeable ponies wandering about during the mid day. At the reception desk, I saw Aqualia assisting a few random dignitaries, and I waved to her as we cantered past. She was surprised at our haste, and watched us go past towards to the door to the inner offices. When it was obvious that we weren’t going to be stopping in line, she began waving frantically at us.

“W-wait,” she shouted. “You can’t!”

“Sorry Aqualia, no time!” I shouted back. “We need to see the Ambassador right away!”

Her shouts faded away as we rushed through the door and towards the offices. Firestorm was in the lead, and made it through the door first, and South and I came in just behind. We nearly ran into the pegasus when we noticed she had come to a full stop just inside the doorway. We skidded to a halt, and before South could start berating the C-Sec officer, we both realised why she had stopped so suddenly.

The office was empty. There was no sign of either the Captain or the Ambassador. Had they returned at all from their inquiries at C-Sec? Or had Artemis stooped even lower than we thought?

“They left for the hearing ten minutes ago,” a gentle voice from behind replied.

We turned to see Aqualia standing behind us, looking a little dismayed. “They couldn’t wait any longer for you, so they left without you. The Ambassador was not pleased.”

“Damnit!” Firestorm cursed. “The hearing will start any minute now! We have to get this data file to them!”

“Well,” South deadpanned. “Ah’m open to ideas.”

“If you ran to the Corral Tower, you wouldn’t be terribly late.” Aqualia suggested meekly.

“That’s all Artemis will need to throw us under the bridge. We have to get there faster,” Firestorm snarked.

She paced around angrily, not looking at any of us. Aqualia fidgeted nervously, but remained despite her duties being unattended. Firestorm trotted out to the veranda, and peered down the pathway, tapping her hoof impatiently. South and I joined her on the balcony, and even Aqualia entered the room tentatively. Firestorm looked at me, eyeing me up and down.

“Are you afraid of heights, Shepard?”

“Uh..” I blurted, confused at the out of place question. “No?”

Firestorm shrugged, a faint smile forming on her muzzle. “I guess there’s no way around it.”

“Around what?” I asked, my confusion growing to the point of frustration. “What are you talking abou- WHOA!”

Without warning, I felt my hooves leave the solid ground beneath me. In the blink of an eye, Firestorm had lifted off, and scooped me up with her forelegs. She hovered a moment, turning to South and Aqualia, who stared at us in shock and confusion. “Aqualia, could you please give South directions to the Tower? I’ll take Shepard ahead and hopefully get there in time.”

The Sea-Pony nodded silently, and even South was at a complete loss of words. With no further delays, Firestorm turned towards the open air with me in tow, and rocketed off with a mighty beat of her wings. I really wasn’t afraid of heights, but soaring at this speed was still hair-raising. Firestorm bobbed side to side, maintaining a rapid pace as she deftly flew through the open air with me in her hooves. I wondered how silly I must have looked hanging under the speeding Pegasus, but I doubted anypony would be able to see us at this height.

I looked up to the pony cradling me. It was difficult to see her entire face from below her, but I could see a glint of her eyes, and the fierce determination that burned within. She beat her wings furiously, still gaining speed as the ground below rushed past in a blurry haze. She wasn’t even breathing hard at the effort, or at the strain of carrying me or that heavy armor that she wore. Firestorm was, like what I expected of other pegasi, bred for combat in skill, stamina, and speed. I was glad I could count on her as an ally, at least until this business with Artemis was dealt with, and hopefully along the way I could uncover why she was so intent on bringing him down.

The Promenade was rather peaceful to observe from the grasp of a speeding pegasus, as odd as that sounds. While the inhabitants below were nothing more than tiny specs, the sheer number of them did little to soften the reality of how big the Corral really was. Corrina had told me that millions of creatures lived here, and I could not help but feel that there was room for millions more. It must have taken decades, if not centuries for the Alicorns to build this place, and it only made the truth sadder that a race that could build such a wonderful place vanished without a trace.

Firestorm banked wide, aiming towards a looming spire in the distance. The tunnel shaped pathway around us seemed to bend upwards with the strange shaped tower we were racing towards. I glanced around, noticing that much of the ceiling was changing from ivory white metal to crystal clear glass. Looking through, I could see the enormous inner ring of the Corral, and a large protrusion extending from it towards the epicenter of the entire station. While it was not very large in comparison, it was clear to me that the spire that I was looking at was the true heart of the Corral, literally and figuratively; the Corral Council Tower.

Firestorm slowed her pace, swooping upwards into a steady climb. Flying upwards with baggage seemed much more difficult for her, as her wings beat at a far steadier pace. The deafening wind subsided, and I could hear a tinge of labored breathing. I looked at the spire in front of us. It was a series of glass elevators that climbed the entire length of the massive construction. Looking up, I noticed that the tower itself had to be no less than two kilometers high, and I wondered if Firestorm would be able to make the distance with me dangling underneath her.

We climbed slowly but surely, making good distance with each passing minute. We were not yet late for the hearing, but glancing at my omni-tool showed me that we would not have many seconds to spare. Firestorm grunted slightly as she repositioned her grip on me, a pang of panic raced through my heart at the sensation. “Sorry about that.” she apologised. You’re heavier than you look.” I frowned at her comment, crossing my hooves, realising that it was a pointless gesture since she couldn’t see them.

“So..” she continued. “Your friend South seems a bit high strung. What’s her deal?”

I tried shrugging, but I don’t think it accomplished much. “She doesn’t trust pegasi for some reason.” I said plainly. “She hasn’t told me why either, so I don’t know what to tell you.”

She was quiet for a while. “I see...”

She went into quiet contemplation as we continued to climb up the tower. I estimated we had covered half the distance, and Firestorm did not seem any more fatigued than earlier, and looked like she could make it all the way to the top without any trouble. I was relieved at that at least, and felt comfortable enough to ask a question or two of my own.

“So why are you so intent on bringing Artemis down?”

There was no immediate answer. Instead, I heard the rhythm of her wings beat faster, increasing the speed of the climb. She took in deeper breaths, and was moving faster than I thought possible under the circumstances. Her burst of speed was short lived, however, as she slowed again to her usual pace. We had made good distance in the meantime, but now I noticed a considerable level of exhaustion in my brash friend.

I heard her sigh. “I’ve been in C-Sec for a long time, and the one complaint I hear the most from my superiors is how much they distrust the Sleipnir. Complete autonomy, and completely untouchable. They hated the fact that the Sleipnir could, and often break the rules to get the job done.”

I remembered a few things that Nimbus told me of the Sleipnir, and some of the things I learned for myself. What Firestorm said was true, but it had to go deeper than that.

“But me? I didn’t hate them. I envied them. Too many ponies and the like get away with some disgusting things because the officers sworn to protect them wouldn’t do whatever it took to get the job done.”

I had no trouble believing that Firestorm was a pony that would do anything possible to ensure justice was served, even dangling a pony out a window by his mane and shooting up a club that could have had an innocent bystander in it. None of this even made her seem evil, just dangerous. It was her fiery determination that gave her the feeling a dependability. That she would get the job done, no matter the cost.
I could respect that, even though I probably wouldn’t do the same.

“It isn’t common that a Sleipnir takes it too far, but it happens. Artemis is just one of many that lose sight of what is ultimately right, and he’s been doing it long before he became a Sleipnir. He’s a ruthless monster, and there’s nothing I would like more than to be the one that helps bring him down.”

I lost myself in thought at what she was telling me, even to the point where I didn’t notice that we had cleared the crest of the tower and were now moving forward again. I heard Firestorm huff a few shallow breaths, as she glided slowly down to the terrace below, and dropped me carefully onto the ground. She landed with a modicom of grace, and hobbled a few times while she caught her breath. I looked around where we landed, and saw that we were in a garden of sorts. Large sections of space were fenced off. The sections of tilled earth behind the railings and walls of glass were filled with exotic plants. A set of stairs caught my eye, climbing up towards the center of the tower, where groups of well dressed ponies hung around listlessly.

Firestorm trotted beside me, having regained what little stamina she could. She had a hard look in her eyes, looking up the stairs towards our destination. “I don’t know what Artemis has done to change so drastically, but I’m tired of him making the Pegasi look bad, Sleipnir or not.”

I matched her stare, looking forward towards the tower’s apex. It seemed everypony had a lot riding on Artemis being brought down, not just Earth Ponies. We had allies elsewhere, and as much as tensions between our races were high, I was not going to let that stop me from doing what was right. I started moving towards the stairs, looking back to my newest friend with a smile. “Then let’s go stop him together.”

She gave me a fond smile, and nodded. She joined me as we climbed the stairs into the heart of the Corral Tower, and hopefully to the better part of a long and tiring day.

“Where have you been?”

I don’t think I had ever seen the Captain angry before, but the look on his face was undeniable as he caught sight of us approaching the final set of stairs into the Council chambers. He had been pacing for a long time before he noticed us, and shot Firestorm a strange look. Firestorm, showing respect, gave Quartermane a firm salute, but it did little to soften his confusion.

“Where is South, Shepard? Who is this?”

I looked at my companion, who just shook her head. I looked at the Captain, and thought of the best way to answer his questions, if at all.

“This is Firestorm, she was the C-Sec officer in charge of Artemis’s inquiry.”

The Captain did not seem all that impressed at my answer, and looked sternly at Firestorm. “Your commanding officer said you were unable to find anything useful. Why are you here?”

Firestorm didn’t even blink at the accusatory nature in which the Captain was berating her. “I had found something, but my captain refused to give me the time necessary to acquire it. Your subordinates were more than helpful in my investigation.”

“South is on her way, sir,” I added. “We had run out of time, so Firestorm flew me here in time for the trial. How late are we?”

Quartermane seemed a bit overwhelmed at all the facts that were were throwing at him. He looked at me curiously. “She...flew you here?”

I nodded. “We tried to meet you back at the embassies with what we had found, but you were already gone. It was the fastest way.”

He did not appear to have anything to say to that statement. He just continued staring at the pair of us, his eyes deep in thought. A bookish looking pegasus appeared at the crest of the stairs, clearing his throat to get our attention. The captain turned to the timid looking pony. “Um..Captain Quartermane,” he stammered. “The Ambassador has requested your presence in the hearing.”

The Captain shook his head. “Of course he did,” he sighed. He looked back to us, beckoning us to follow. We strode beside him as we all followed the clerk into the Council chamber. The captain continued his questions, but kept his voice quiet. “You say you found something?”

I nodded. “Yes, Sir. We did.”

He looked at me with intrigue. “Is it anything good?”

“Oh yeah,” Firestorm replied. “It’s good.”

“Well, let’s hope its enough then.”

We were led up a long set of stairs that opened into a large vaulted chamber. I heard murmured whispers floating in the air, coming from the large amount of onlookers from several balconies overlooking the center of the room. A loud and angry voice carried through the room, and I recognised its source as the Ambassador, who stood alone on a small ledge before a set of podiums across a pit of glass and vegetation.

We stopped unnoticed behind the Ambassador, as he finished his current tirade, and I was close enough now to make out the calmer rebuttals from the Council members themselves. The pegasus councilor, dressed in grey vestments spoke first.

“Ambassador, you speak as if your one witness is at all credible. A traumatized dockworker is hardly valid as evidence.”

The Ambassador stomped his hoof. “And I suppose Artemis is sloppy enough to allow any survivors, let alone one to testify. You cannot expect us to uncover evidence against a Sleipnir when all they touch becomes private information.”

“Then,” the Unicorn Councilor interjected. “I would hope that you would attempt better to build a credible case, than to falsely accuse one of our own operatives with no evidence to support your claims. We cannot simply believe your story just because you have nothing else.”

The two councilors looked over to their third member. Now I remembered what creature it was, from the one I had seen earlier today. The third Council Race; the Gemini. A race of sentient, biped, and erratically intelligent hounds that had an appetite for gemstones. While they often looked haggard and slovenly, their ‘Alpha Females’ were unnervingly eloquent. This particular Gemini stood quietly on two gangly grey furred legs, only partially hidden by an exquisite full body robe. Her arms were crossed gracefully behind her back, and she regarded her fellow councilors with a silent nod. Her beady yellow eyes scanned scrupulously across the chamber, darting to everyone in attendance, before falling on me. I saw her large furry jaw shift in thought as her eyes pierced through me, her ear twitching slightly.

“It seems the Gemini councilor has no comment to add, Ambassador.” The Unicorn Councilor continued.

A harsh sounding chuckle filled the room. I looked up, noticing that above the councilors was a large holographic projector. The image displayed was of a pony I had never seen before, but it was obvious enough to know who it was. A steel blue Pegasus, wearing silver armor was displayed. I saw that he was covered in bits of silvery metals across his body and face, no doubt hiding a series of scars and wounds that never fully healed. His cold eyed glare was focused on the councilors, and his face was contorted in a sinister grin as his chuckle subsided. “A shame really,” his voice filled with fake disappointment. “I do so enjoy the councilors comments.”

“What say you, to these accusations, Artemis?” the Unicorn Councilor asked.

Artemis adopted a look fake interest, directed at the Ambassador. “The Earth Ponies have every right to be upset at what happened to Equestria Prime. A terrible thing, the Geld invading without warning. And to lose an Alicorn relic and a Council Sleipnir in the process. It would look terrible if it was to be your fault wouldn’t it?”

“And how would you know anything about that, Artemis?” the Captain snapped, stepping forward. “Those events have not been mentioned during this hearing.”

Artemis sneered as he turned his head towards Quartermane. “You underestimate how well informed the Sleipnir are, Captain Quartermane. I was a direct superior to Nimbus, and upon the news of her death I was given access to her reports. It seems that your hopeful performed well, until Nimbus was killed.”

“You mean after Nimbus was murdered. By you.” Quartermane’s face was set in anger. “How many more innocents and friends have to die around you before the Galaxy recognizes you for the monster you are!”

Quartermane was shouting now, and all eyes in the room were focused on him. Except mine. I was starting at Artemis, gauging his reaction. His sneer morphed into a wicked smile, as he glanced back to the councilors.

“It seems the Earth Captain can’t leave old ghosts in the past where they belong, Councilors. I do believe this hearing is meant for more pressing matters, is it not?”

The Unicorn Councilor nodded. “Sleipnir Artemis is correct Captain Quartermane. Unless you have something to add to the matter at hoof, I will ask you to remain silent.”

Quartermane’s anger softened slightly as he broke his gaze with Artemis to the councilors. After a weighted pause, he nodded slowly and backed away from the podiums.

“Now then,” The Unicorn continued. “Is there anything else, Ambassador, that you wish to say before we make our decision?”

The Ambassador did not respond. A look of self satisfaction developed on Artemis’ face, as he looked back to the councilors.

The Pegasus councilor stepped forward. “If the Earth Pony ambassador has nothing further to add, then I believe it is time to end this pointless debate.”

“I have something!”

If it weren’t for all the eyes falling to me, I would not have believed that I had said anything at all. The Ambassador turned to me, and appeared to still be mad at me for being late, but I did not focus on him for long. I looked at the captain, who nodded towards the podiums. Even Firestorm gave me a gentle nudge forward, as I trotted slowly to the center of the room. My eyes glanced up to Artemis, who looked amused at my outburst.

“So, this is Shepard?” he mocked. “This is your newest prodigy, Quartermane? I do believe they are getting smaller.”

He directed his mocking glare at Quartermane, who did not respond to it at all. The councilors stared at me as I approached the dais.

“Shepard?” the Pegasus councilor questioned. “So you were the one that Nimbus chose to evaluate.”

“Yes, I was.” I replied.

“Then perhaps you can tell us something useful. Did you see operative Artemis shoot Nimbus as your ambassador was claimed?”

I did not appreciate the level of spite in his voice, and I glared at him in kind. “No, I didn’t”

His eyes narrowed. “Then what use are you, not only to the Sleipnir, but to the Corral as a species?”

Artemis laughed. “Now Councilor, there is no need to be so harsh on the poor pony. You did try your very best, didn’t you Shepard?”

I had had it with the condescending tone that the two Pegasi were using on me. For once, I finally understood, at least a little bit, of how South could dislike them so much. All of their anger and spite was directed at me, and they were twisting it into an attack of not only myself, but my entire race, and I had had enough of it it.

I looked up to Artemis. “Maybe if your race wasn’t so busy being smug jerks to the new ponies in the Galaxy, you would do a better job of covering your tracks.”

I raised my omni-tool, accessing the file that the Countess had gave us. My tool gave a little flash, the recording ready to play.

“This is a voice recording given to us by somepony who Artemis sought killed to prevent it from reaching this hearing, and even attempted to kill me to do it.”

The chamber went still, and sounds of hushed shock and whispers filled the air from the audience. Artemis feigned interest, but the Councilors leaned forward in anticipation. I pressed play, allowing the voices from the tool to carry across the room so all could hear it.

“My lord?” a female voice asked.

“Yes, what is it?” A second voice replied, clearly belonging to Artemis.

“We have found something that may interest you. Another relic has been found.”

“Where?” Artemis’s voice was rapt with interest.

“On Equestria Prime, an Earth Pony Colony in the Weaver Nebula.”

“Are you certain?” Artemis’ voice was growling, and echoed of metal.

“Yes, there is no doubt. I made certain myself.”

“Excellent, then we must get to it at once.”

“There is one other thing, however. The Council has already been informed, and will dispatch a different Sleipnir to recover it shortly.”

Artemis did not reply immediately. “Hrrm,” he grunted. “Then we will have to make sure that they do not get their grubby hooves on it first. Prepare to deploy the Geld to the colony. I will see to this personally.”

The recording ended, and the room was dead silent. The Councilors, the Captain, the Ambassador, and the entire crowd of onlookers were frozen in shock. It was quiet enough to be deafening, the only sound I heard was one of...applause?

Artemis...was applauding. The slow, clopping sound echoed through the chambers, each sound piercing the room like a razor. He wasn’t angry, or even concerned that his ploy had been uncovered. He looked...pleased.

“Oh ho ho,” he chortled. “Well done Shepard, well done! It seems that you have caught my mistake, and made it public to all. I must say, perhaps your race isn’t as useless as I thought.” Something about his praise made me feel sick to my stomach.

“Artemis,” the Unicorn Councilor said, aghast. “Are you saying this is true? That you sought to defy the council?”

Artemis scowled at her. “You look surprised, Councilor. Here I thought your kind were the smartest in the Galaxy. It appears that I was wrong”

“This act of treason will be your death, Artemis!” the Pegasus Councilor shouted. “To defy the council, and murder innocent civilians will see your Sleipnir status and life forfeit!”

Artemis scoffed. “I do not need your petty resources to accomplish what I have started, and you have an entire Galaxy to scour if you wish to find me.”

He looked at me one last time. “Good luck, you will all need it.”

The projection of his image flicked, and sputtered into nothing. Silence rushed over the room once again, before erupting into a storm of anger and outrage. The entire audience was engulfed in furious anger, and was teetering on boiling out of control. The chamber guards sprung into action, moving to quell the sudden riot.

“SILENCE!!!”

Order returned, silence prevailed, as the entire Council Chamber stared at the Gemini Councilor. The lithe creature stood with a wide stance, arms at her side in response to her ear shattering shout. She regained her composure, returning to her demure stance of indifference and nodded to her fellow Council members.

“Now then,” she began. Her voice was strong, but had an air of quiet regality to it. “It is a great shock that Sleipnir Artemis has gone to great lengths to defy us, but it serves no purpose to lose our heads to anger.”
She looked to us on the Dais. “We should give thanks to these brave soldiers who went above and beyond to see that this travesty was brought to light, and now we can begin to move forward and bring the traitorous Artemis to justice.”

The other councilors nodded in agreement. “But Artemis is right on one part,” the Pegasus Councilor added. “We have no idea what he is doing, or where he is going.”

“Actually,” I interjected, raising my hoof meekly. “There is more on the recording that I did not play. Officer Firestorm suggested I not play the entire message, to falsify how much we actually knew of Artemis’ plan.”

The Gemini Councilor smiled. “Very clever, may we hear the rest of it?”

I complied, bringing up my omni-tool again and hitting play.

“Has your, associate, found anything else?” Artemis’ voice continued.

“Um,” the second voice faltered. “I am not certain. There were rumors of something in the Meridian Cluster, but I have heard nothing else.”

“Well then, see to it that the rumor is examined thoroughly.” Artemis snapped. “I want nothing left to chance, no matter the risk. Or do you need reminder of our agreement?” Artemiss voice was dead of any emotion, and made me unwary of his intention.

“N-no, that fine. I will ensure it is done as you requested, Lord Artemis.”

“Good. Nothing will stop the return of the Purifiers. Least of all your incompetence.”

I closed the file, looking as matter-of-factly as I could to the Council. “That’s all there is.”

More silence, as the Councillors contemplated quietly. The Unicorn was first to speak.

“What are these Purifiers that Artemis spoke of? Was there any other information on them?”

I shook my head. “He only mentioned them once in the recording, Councilor. There was nothing else in the file about them.”

“And that other voice,” The Pegasus Councilor added, “she seemed frightened, perhaps under duress. I do not know who she is though.”

“Nor do I,” The Gemini Council added. “But this added information is quiet helpful. You have proven to be very resourceful, Shepard.”

The Gemini clapped her paws together once. “Now, we must consider options in locating Artemis. Our only clue at the moment seems to be that his forces are in the Meridian Cluster.”

“That is a very large section of space,” The Unicorn added. “And part of the Everfree systems. It would be a risky venture to send any considerable amount of scouts to search for him.”

“Then we send a single operative after him,” the Pegasus added. “There are other Sleipnir than Artemis.

The Gemini shook her head. “Artemis was one of our best, and Nimbus was as well. The board has been cleared, and Artemis has the advantage.”

“May I make a suggestion, Councillors?”

The Ambassador stepped forward. He had a focused look on his face, and I could almost see the wheels in his head turning. He had a plan in his head, and as much as I couldn’t stand his negativity, he was the Earth Pony Ambassador for a reason. The Councillors looked at him curiously. “What do you have in mind, Ambassador?”

He cleared his throat. “While I understand that you have a selection of your own personal operatives to solve this problem, I would like to suggest a different kind of variable to the equation, if I may?”

“Such as?”

“Somepony with personal stake. Artemis’s recent act has angered a race, Councillors. Our race. And any member of us with any level of patriotism would wish to seek Artemis personally for justice. Better still, we have somepony here today who has personal reasons to wish Artemis brought down, one who would put everything on the line to see that the task was fulfilled if the resources you can provide are given to them. Vindication is an excellent asset if put to good use.”

I wondered at what point the Ambassador was trying to make, and who on earth he was talking about. Maybe he was talking about the Captain, or even Firestorm. Both of them seemed to have a lot of reasons to want to chase after Artemis, and would be perfect for the job. The Councillors looked between themselves pensively, intrigue being the dominant expression on their faces.

“The Ambassador raises an excellent point.” the Unicorn commented. “While vindication can easily fall prey to revenge, it can be useful in situations such as this.”

“If you believe your candidate to be worth the time, Ambassador.” the Gemini added. “This is not a decision we make lightly.”

The Ambassador nodded. “I have the utmost faith in them, Councilor. We would not have gotten this far without their effort.”

The two female councilors looked to the Pegasus, waiting for any indication of his opinion. He glanced between them and the Ambassador, and reluctantly nodded.

“Very well then.” The Gemini reached out her paw expectantly, gesturing towards the dais. “Have your candidate step forward please.”

The Ambassador stepped off the dais, and pointed his hoof towards it. I looked between those present to see who he was waiting for. Nopony moved though, and I looked to the Ambassador. He was looking right at me.

“Well, Shepard?” he said impatiently.

“Well what?” I replied, confused.

“Get up there!” he hissed quietly.

Before I could object, or even think on what what was going on, I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Quartermane looked at me fondly, a proud smile on his face. He nodded reassuringly, and he too gestured me towards the awaiting dais. Seeing no alternative, and no way out, I stepped slowly back into the center of the room and the center of attention. The councilors all used the consoles in front of them in unison, and silence descended on the room once more.

“Specialist Shepard,” the Gemini began. “Through your recent actions, you have shown a steadfast dedication to completing the tasks set before you.”

The Unicorn spoke next. “Today you have aided invaluable in bringing an unforeseen conspiracy against the Corral to light, and we can never fully repay you for your actions.”

Then the Pegasus spoke in turn, continuing the cycle. “While there has been debate on where or not the Earth Ponies were ready for the responsibilities that entail being a Sleipnir, you have shown a level of tact and resourcefulness that our operatives pride themselves on in completing their roles as defenders of the Corral.”

“Your Ambassador makes a valid point, you have personally dealt with Artemis’ treachery, and your life has been threatened as such. Whether you feel the urge of vindication towards him is up to you, but it is clear that you would work hard to hunt him down.”

“You skills are varied, and your allies are strong. You can be, in time, proof that your race is indeed deserving of greater status within Corral space.”

“Are you ready and willing, to accept the responsibilities of the Sleipnir, and join the Council elite?”

It seemed like they were actually giving me a choice, even though I already knew the answer. I looked back to my friends, the Captain and Firestorm. They all nodded, giving me the courage to speak, and seal my fate.

“I am.”

The Gemini raised her arms in a conciliatory manner. “Then it is done.”

“I quit.”

After the hearing had adjourned, I was expecting to receive all kinds of praise and attention. The last thing I expected to hear was somepony’s declaration of resignation. The Council had long since filed out of the chambers, as did many of the onlookers from the vestibules above, leaving me to deal with the flow of events that would follow. Ponies came and went, and there was a great deal of chaos and shifting in the Corral Tower as one of the biggest decisions of the day had been made. The ambassador had stolen the Captain way for a private conversation, even before he could offer an official congratulations. Instead, Firestorm took me aside for her own conversation, one she seemed desperately interested in talking about.

“I want to go with you after Artemis, Shepard.”

“But what about C-Sec?” I inquired. Firestorm was a skilled officer, with a strong insight on the criminal underbelly of the Corral, and the thought of taking her away from here seemed like a disservice to those that lived here.

“You’ve seen how C-Sec does their business,” she stated. “If we had done this their way, that hearing would have gone very differently. And that irritates me.”

“Rules are there for a reason, Firestorm,” I countered.

“Yeah,” she mused. “They’re there for somepony else to break them.”

I couldn’t argue with that. Having freedom to do anything could be beneficial in my duties to come. I had never need to break rules before, but having the option was something at least. This all led to the inevitable conversation that followed when Firestorm confronted her commanding officer who was on his way out of the tower.

“You what?” he grunted.

“You heard me,” Firestorm snarked. “I quit. I’m going with Shepard to hunt down Artemis.”

“And what makes you think i’ll allow that?”

“Did you not hear the part where I quit? If I had listened to you, Artemis would have gotten away with everything. I’m tired of not being able to do what it takes to get the job done, and let criminals get away.”

The C-Sec officer glared at his defiant, now former employee. He broke eye contact with an impassive glance to me. “Flare’s not gonna like this Sunny.”

I saw a heated look in Firestorms face, but she quelled it with a shake of her head. “I stopped caring what she thought the moment she tossed me into bootcamp.”

She started walking away, but paused briefly. “I have to do this,” she said quietly, then kept walking. The look in the gruff Pegasus’s eyes was foreign to me. It was sad, but trying to hide behind a stoic exterior. He watched quietly as Firestorm trotted away, then looked at me. He looked lost, like he was rooted to the spot and had no idea which way to go.

“Shepard.”

My eyes fell on his. He appeared to be torn between several emotional states, and was just barely keeping them in check. It reminded me of a certain pony that still owed me her life story. The officer sighed, and trotted past me, towards the edge of the terrace. “Keep her safe.”

He flared his wings and leapt off the edge, plummeting down the tower spire and out of sight. Failing to decipher what that meant, I stumbled away and caught up with Firestorm, intent on getting answers. She had stopped near a high ledge and appeared to be talking to a group of ponies that I had not noticed before. As I got closer, I noticed that the three ponies surrounding Firestorm were all Unicorns. Two of them wore long flowing shawls that covered their entire bodies and faces, only the glow of their eyes piercing through the intricate clothing. Between them, was a pony I recognised. She no long was wearing a ratty cloak, letting her extravagant violet dress skirt across the ground. Her jeweled mane was dazzling in the bright lights of the tower, and she had a demure smile on her face.

She noticed me as I approached, beckoning me over with a gentle motion. “Ah, Shepard.” She said softly. “I’d like to wish you congratulations for your victory over that dreadful Artemis.”

“It was no trouble at all, Countess.” Knowing that she was a pony of respect, I felt that the least I should do was bow. She smiled at the gesture, returning it in kind.

“There is no need for such formality my dear. You saved my life, in more ways than one, and I am indebted to you.”

“Are you certain you are safe now, Countess?” Firestorm asked. “I doubt Artemis is one to easily forgive.”

The Countess giggled softly. “With his betrayal revealed, I believe his resources here will dwindle. I should not have anything further to fear from him, so long as I travel with my guardians from now on.”

The two escorts beside her nodded, speaking in unison. “We live to serve you Countess.”

The monotonous tone of the guards was unsettling, but neither Firestorm or the Countess were bothered by it at all. The mistress smiled at the devotion of her servants and then looked back to us.

“If that is all, I must take my leave. I have been from my chambers for too long.” She turned to leave, but Firestorm stepped forward, giving her pause.

They stared at each other silently for a while, Firestorms gaze filled with piercing curiosity, while the Countess’ were calm and lucid.

“Who was the other voice on that recording, Countess? Even the Councilors didn’t know who she was. But if Artemis needs her, she can’t be just a common thug.”

The Countess closed her eyes. She appeared to be lost in deep, cherished memories with the small curl of her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, looking at Firestorm.

“As I said before, she is a dear friend, whom I’ve known for as long as I can remember. But she is also a very secretive mare, who lives a solitary and troubled life. I did much for her before she disappeared, to try and break her from her shell, but whenever we are apart she falls into her old habits again.” She trotted slowly away from us as she told us with her tale.

“I doubt even you would know who she is, Officer Firestorm. She rarely used her name in common society, preferring falsities to hide herself. On the border worlds, she is known as the Black Mistress, but I know her as Lady Midnight.”

“Lady Midnight? Is she a Matron like you?”

“Oh heavens no,” the Countess chuckled. “She had never took an interest in my line of work. She had her mind focused on ancient secrets of the past.”

“Like the Alicorns?” I added.

She cast a smile in my direction. “I believe so yes. And I believe it is her experience that attracted Artemis to her.”

She and her guardians had circled around us and paused just before the veranda leading back into the tower. She looked back to us once more, her eyes shimmered softly in sadness.

“I fear for her safety, but there is little I can do from here. If there is anything you can do, should you pursue Artemis, please do what you can to help her.”

She turned away and left me and Firestorm on the towers edge without any further questions. We stood there watching her leave quietly before she blended into the dispersing crowds and vanished from sight. Firestorm shifted awkwardly at the silence that descended on us and returned to her heated pace. I snapped to my senses as well in her hasty departure and rushed up beside her.

“What was that all about?” I asked hurriedly.

“I don’t like going in without all the facts, Shepard. Not knowing who Artemis was working with bothered me.”

“No, not that. What was that with your commanding officer?”

She gave me a hard look, then looked away sharply. “Don’t worry about it.”

She attempted to speed up, but I grabbed her by the shoulder forcing her to stop. She stared at me blankly, shaking her head. Her fiery mane danced around her face, but it did little to distract the hard look I was returning.

“I want you to come along with us Firestorm, you did more than help out. But you are leaving a lot behind, and I’d like to know that it isn’t going to come back and bite you in the flank.”

She smirked. “Family issues usually do.” She stepped away from my grasp and trotted towards the edge. “I’ll see you back at C-Sec on your way out.” She jumped off, and was gone.

Just what I needed, more baggage. While dealing with my newest squadmates issues would be no end of entertainment, I needed to speak to the Captain about what our next move should be. Thankfully, by the time I found him, he and the Ambassador looked to be finishing their conversation. He noticed me, and beckoned me over with the fakest smile of appreciation I had ever seen.

“Shepard! Glad you could join us. I was just discussing with the Captain some details of your recent accomplishment. Congratulations, by the way.”

The Captain rolled his eyes at the excessive cheeriness that the Ambassador was suddenly exhibiting, offering me a hoofshake of his own. “It wasn’t part of the plan, but the Council couldn’t have picked a better pony Shepard. I’m proud of you, and I know you will do well.”

“Thank you, Sir.” I said, returning the hoofshake. “I’ll do my best.”

I looked back to the Ambassador. “What details are you talking about?”

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with, I assure you Shepard. The Captain and I will iron everything out before you get started. First of all is your own ship of course! You can’t possibly serve as a Sleipnir without your own ship. I’ll have to speak to Stable command and see what I can get together. Quartermane, come with me. I’ll need your help.”

The ambassador started off quickly, not even noticing the Captain mutter something as he trotted away. “That’s a first.”

We both smiled as the giddy stallion trotted down the stairs, and thankfully out of sight. The Captain and I basked in a pleasing moment of silence, before we walked together towards the elevators ourselves. I was surprised by how quickly the tower had emptied, seeing only a few ponies left of the dozens that filled the council chamber not minutes ago. I saw the nexus of elevators, and the Ambassador was the only one waiting. We took our time in descending the stairs, watching in amusement as the greying stallion tapped his hooves impatiently.

The contented expression of the Captain relieved a great deal of the stress that had piled up in my mind. But something about his stoic expression nagged at my mind, remembering his outburst during the trial. The Captain I knew had always been able to control his temper, even when things went south, but what I saw in him minutes ago was nothing like I had ever seen.

“Uh, Sir.” I blurted, my mind getting ahead of me. “If I may, what was it that Artemis did that has you so angry at him? What you said back there, it didn’t seem like you.”

He slowed his descent, but did not look at me. He maintained his stone faced expression, looking ever forward.

“It’s not a past I enjoy talking about Shepard,” he said sternly.

“Neither is mine, Sir. But I told it to you. If I’m going after him, I need to know what I’m getting into.”

That caused him to stop entirely and finally look at me. He scanned over me with a curious glare. Then he smiled. “You aren’t going to drop this are you?” he asked wryly.

I shook my head. He sighed, returning to his steady descent down the stairs.

“Meeting ponies like Artemis changes you for the worse, Shepard. Something I learned the hard way. It was about twenty years ago, during the First Contact War. I was a Junior Lieutenant then. I was part of one of the smaller skirmishes in those times, as reinforcements.”

Quartermane looked up, as he searched through his memories. I saw his eyes quiver slightly, glistening with anger.

“One of our forward assaults went bad. Real bad. It was such a decisive loss that the commanding officer of that fleet surrendered just to prevent further loss of life. We were called in to give them aid. When we got there, there were only a few ships of ours left, surrounded by Pegasi warships.”

The Captain halted again at the bottom of the stairs. He looked away from me, but I could hear the rage curdling in his voice.

“We received a message from our command ship. The Pegasi had boarded them and taken the ship. We watched them take the bridge of the ship, and Artemis was one of them. He was much less scarred back then, and actually looked like he was capable of kindness. But even monsters can wear masks. He took the commanding officer, and executed him and his entire crew right there on the spot. He did it easily, and made us watch. He even justified it by saying ‘weakness deserves no mercy’.”

Quartermane’s revelation made me sick to my stomach. I figured that Artemis was a skilled veteran, battle hardened from decades of service. I knew that he was going to be a challenging adversary. But finding out that he was a heartless killer and murderer was just too much to take. The Ambassador was right, I had a lot of reasons to want to take Artemis down, and now I had another.

“But how does he know you personally?” I asked.

“We had more reinforcements than they could handle. We managed to surround their ships in return. I was part of the team that went to reclaim our ships. We had to fight our way into the bridge. It was absolute chaos. Somehow he managed to get the upperhoof in our own ship and take us by surprise.”

“They managed to capture our boarding party, and corralled us back into the bridge, intent on executing us as well. When we got there, I noticed that many of the Pegasi were showing signs of dissent against Artemis’s actions. There was an argument between them and it was enough for us to cause a riot among the survivors.”

“The chaos was short, but we managed to cause some damage to them. I took a few shots at Artemis, giving him a few of those scars on his face. He was about to return the favor when something stopped him. This was about the time the Council finally intervened, near the end of the war. They had ordered the cease fire of all Pegasi warships and were already working with Stable for a hasty end to the conflict.”

We finally reached the bottom of the stairs. Quartermane seemed calmer at the end of his story, but he was still showing signs of repressed anger at his past.

“That cease fire saved my life, and I could tell Artemis was furious. But he wasn’t stupid. One wrong move then would have reignited the war and he would have been branded a war criminal. The Pegasi left the ship and returned to their systems. That was the last time I saw Artemis. Until now. I guess he remembered me as well, but who could forget the one who scarred your face like I did to him?”

Quartermane chuckled at his morbid comment while we continued towards the waiting Ambassador. His face returned to its previous expression of calm, and it was enough to show that he was finished on that particular subject.

“So what did you think of your first visit to the Corral, Shepard?” Quartermane asked passively, changing the subject swiftly.

In the course of a few hours today, I had been present for several arguments, persuaded a religious preacher, been pony-napped, stared down a Manticore, and been in more gunfights that I cared to count. Not to mention being on a planet side battlefield not two days ago, and now was tasked to hunt down the rogue pony that had started it all.

“It was...exciting.” I said slowly.

“Well, you better get used to it.” He grinned. “You’re a hero now Shepard, excitement is part of the job.”

We made it to the waiting Ambassador just as an elevator rose to a stop from the giant glass tube. The doors parted, and revealed a familiar mahogany pony standing inside. She noticed us immediately, looking at the three of us dumbfoundedly while tipping her white hat courteously. “Uh...heya.”

Quartermane chuckled. “I’ll let you fill Sergeant Major South in on what’s happened, Shepard. We’ll meet you back at the docks.”

He and the Ambassador trotted into the open elevator, while South carefully stepped out, attempting not to bump into either of them. She looked around at the open terrace that she found herself on, mystified at the scenery much like I was when I first arrived. The door began to close and before it did, the Captain shot me a firm salute, one I quickly returned before the door slid shut and began its descent.

South and I watched the capsule descend down the glass tube quietly, before she gave me a curious look.

“So whut’d Ah miss?”

I suggested we take the longest possible route back to the Normanedy, so that everypony could get all their business dealt with without me, and I could give South the most detailed retelling of the hearing. She was less impressed at the parts where Artemis and the Pegasus councilor openly mocked our race, and in retrospect, I was glad that South wasn’t actually there to begin with. The part where I nailed Artemis to the wall however, sent South into a fit of giggles.

When I got to the part where the council had appointed me a Sleipnir, she was oddly silent. She didn’t seem distant, or confused, not even upset. She just had no visible expression or opinion at all. I probably should have felt irritated at the fact that somepony that I considered at least moderate friend wasn’t showering me with praise, but honestly, South did not seem the type to get all emotional. The following playful punch to my shoulder hinted that she prefers being physical in her accolades. One step forward, one step back I guess.

After the story was finished, we descended in and out of random conversation, either talking about something we noticed in passing along our walk, or just trotting along in silence. I could have pressed South about herself, but I did not want to ruin her elated mood with the potential of dragging up memories that she had a reason to hide. As always, the best time would have to be later.

The surrounding area started to get familiar, and my eyes immediately searched for the entrance to C-Sec, and the elevators to the docks. Our little hike took the better part of an hour, and I had hoped that the Captain had managed to help the ambassador without strangling him, as his exasperation with the diplomat suggested. I noted the glowing kiosk to our right, wishing a few more moments with Corrina, but I knew South would have dragged me away kicking and screaming if I tried. Maybe next time.

Instead I turned left, walking towards the atrium like structure of C-Sec. Not much had changed from this morning. Droves of Pegasi were moving back and forth in groups and individually, doing their appointed tasks. South seemed...marginally less spastic upon entering, and hopefully we could walk through here to the elevators without incident.

“Hey, Shepard!”

Oh right, that. Crap.

Firestorm trotted briskly towards us, even giving South a pleasant salute. South returned a similar pleasantry, but kept a careful eye on the approaching Pegasus. “Came t’ say goodbye, Firestorm?”

Firestorms brow arched for a moment. “No, I’ve said all my good byes that matter here. I’m ready to go whenever you are.”

Oh crap. Crap, crap, crap! I didn’t plan for this! I didn’t even consider this exchange. Of course this would slip my mind at the worst possible time.

“Shepard,” South said in a low voice. “Whuts she talkin’ about?”

Firestorm looked at me too. “You didn’t tell her did you?”

Doom. Critical failure. Game over. My adventure was over before it even began. I stared blankly between the two accusing mares, not making eye contact with either of them, praying that if I didn’t answer, maybe everything would explode around me and I might survive the blast.

“South,” Firestorm started. “I asked to come along to help you all catch Artemis, and Shepard said yes.”

I saw Souths eyes widen a bit in the corner of my eyes, but I remained still.

“But if that will cause too much of a problem with you, I understand. I just felt that we worked well together, and would give Artemis a run for his money.”

South didn’t respond, still focusing the flicker of anger in her eyes on me.

"If you’re afraid of being shown up by a Pegasus, I can understand that too”

My head painfully snapped to Firestorm of its own volition in horror. Was she trying to cause a nuclear explosion in the middle of C-Sec? I tried backing away, but my brain decided to go on vacation for the rest of the day.

South turned her head slowly from me to the boastful pegasus. “Whut. Did. You. Say?”

The lightning eyed pegasus gave a confident smirk. “You don’t trust the Pegasi, I get that. But wouldn’t a soldier such as yourself love an opportunity to beat one at their own game? I’m sure even you can appreciate a good natured wager?”

Souths eyes narrowed. “Whut do you have in mind?”

Firestorm flashed her teeth victoriously. “At the end of this Artemis business, I bet I can kill more Geld than you. Loser buys the winner all the drinks they can handle.” She spat into her hoof, and extended it to South with a straight face. “Deal?”

My head twisted again to South, and I made a note to ask Chalkdust later if she knew chiropractic medicine. South stared vacantly, thinking hard on Firestorms boast. I did not know real fear until I saw her mimic the pegasus’ smug smile, and spit into her own hoof in kind, completing the disgusting ritual.

“Yer on!”

It took awhile for me to to return to cognitive function, my mind still focused on what force of nature had I just loosed on the galaxy. I figured for now it would be best to just roll with it, if anything to get the day moving to an end and hopefully get to a soft bed. The galaxy could fall apart tomorrow as a result of these twos wager, and I would have prefered to be well rested. I muscled past the ‘you’re going downs’ and the ‘hope you brought your credit chit’ and moved towards the elevator. I pressed the call button as much as I possibly could without breaking it.

I entered the elevator quietly, and my companions managed to enter silently as well, saving their feud for another day. I braced myself for the eternity long ride back to the docks, and hoped decades of established peace between two races didn’t dissolve during an elevator brawl.

Thankfully it didn’t, and arrived at the docks with no incident, aside from a bit of off beat banter between the two feisty soldiers. It was nice to see the Normanedy again, but seeing it now reminded me that there were many changes in my future, one of them being that I was to receive my own vessel. I guess I could appreciate the value of owning my own, but it would be no Normanedy.

I saw the Captain standing with the Ambassador near the airlock. They were idly conversing, but the Captain waved us over as soon as he caught notice of us approaching. The ambassador turned to us, still wearing the look of excessive happiness that did an excellent job of freaking me out. He looked to South and Firestorm, and addressed them politely, before focusing his attention on me.

“It’s excellent that you’re here, Shepard. The Captain and I have just finished speaking with Stable Command, and we have managed to pull some very delicate strings to get you the resources you need to get started.”

Here we go. I tried to look as appreciative as I could, but I had a feeling that even with my new Sleipnir status, I would be getting some kind of second banana. “So what kind of ship did you acquire?”

He chuckled softly. “Well, you’re standing right next to it, of course. Why else would we have you meet us here?”

Bwuh? I looked to the Captain, but he only added to my confusion with an agreeing nod. “He’s telling the truth, Shepard. The Normanedy’s yours now.”

“B-but, you’re the Captain.” I stammered. “She’s your ship.”

“Not anymore. You were part of the team that built her Shepard. You know her inside and out. And she was built exactly for this kind of assignment. I know she’ll do just as well in your hooves as she would mine, if not better.”

“What exactly brought this on?”

The ambassador decided to answer the question with smug satisfaction. “You are a Council Sleipnir now Shepard. All of Stable knows that you are our first step in being respected by the Galactic community, and you have performed many of your duties admirably and with skill. It took a little bending, but even Admiral Packard agreed that you deserve a chance in proving yourself, and having your own vessel to do it.”

“But I can’t lead an entire ship, I’m not even a Captain.”

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about commanding the entire ship, Shepard. Many of the military security personnel will be reassigned, leaving only the essential crew. You will only have to worry about yourself and your squad, which I see you have taken the liberty of assembling on your own.”

I looked back to ‘my squad’. As far as the kind of ponies I would want to be working together with on this endeavor, I could choose nopony better. But I felt that I would need a lot more if I was going to hunt down Artemis with any hope of success. Then it occurred to me that somepony was still missing.

“What about Lieutenant Poindexter?”

“What about me, Sir?”

I turned to the open airlock, and saw the tan pony with the electric blue mane standing there. He was smiling, as was usual for him, and he looked like he woke up from the most relaxing nap of his life. He trotted over to me, and saluted. “It will be an honor to work with you on this Shepard.”

I saluted back tentatively. “What’s with the sirs and saluting? Aren't we the sort of the same rank?”

“Oh right, “the Ambassador continued. “That's the other thing I needed to mention. Stable command felt that if they were going to give you your own ship, the least they could do was give you the level of authority to command it.”

The Ambassador reached his hoof around my neck and pulled me into a far too friendly hug, as he admired the magnificent ship before us, while I was still trying to piece together what the hell he was talking about.

“The Normanedy is yours...Commander Shepard.”

Oh, thats what he meant.

Codex Entry Added: Sleipnir

Codex Entry Added: The Gemini

Codex Entry Added: Artemis

Codex Entry Added: Regal Quartermane