//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: “I gave you a choice, and you chose me!” // Story: The Ghost of Coltistrano: Phantom Eulogy // by EthanClark //------------------------------// Tapping against polished, near-pristine wood was a common sound in the dimly-lit office of his home. It was a rhythm to him, one to follow when the day became tiring and he, pacing about the posh room nestled against the glorious view from Mount Canterlot, needed even the tiniest distraction from it to continue working, and once he saw the sun set through the large windows along the wall he would pack up his work, give a nod to his assistant, pass through the door bearing his name and cutie mark, and leave everything behind a closed door. A routine the unicorn cherished. Today, however, his routine was broken. His hoof tapped relentlessly against the wood, threatening to crack it. A tensed brow pinched his monocle in place as he peered out across Canterlot at nighttime. To his right, at a desk noticeably smaller than his own and perhaps twice as loaded, sat a blonde pony with his muzzle deep in papers, but quivering hooves betrayed his vacant expression. Scent of charred wood still lingered in the air. Between veiled excuses to his many guests for the havoc and his blatant lies to the guard investigation, Fancy almost lost track of how the home beyond the office door became a battleground, until he was pulled back to reality by an empty pair of sea green irises glaring at him from across the desk.  She sat there silently, patiently, tall in her chair. On either side of her were ponies clad in dark garb, known to everyone in the room as the attire of deserters. Their fierce eyes never left the unicorn, now stroking his thin blue mustache, even as he turned to face his guest and her domineering entourage. “There must be limits, miss, even for the whims of your master.” “‘Countess’.” “Not anymore.” Fancy Pants was quick with his words, quick enough to prompt a response from the two bat ponies before a dainty hoof from the mare stopped them. “It was a miracle I was able to call off the guard and prevent a further investigation, anymore and I’ll be held for questioning, then where will your master be, miss?” “Call me what you like, Fancy, but you know the consequences of failure.” “Oh, I am intimately aware,” he said as his eyes flashed to the picture of a pink unicorn framed on his desk. “But you ask too much. My office doesn’t have the authority to manipulate the news, not in the way you ask, and no amount of threats will change that.” Abby ignored both the comment and rising heat in her face, allowing the curt words to fizzle away in the back of her mind as she refocused. “You assured me this project would be complete upon my last visit.” “And you assured me of discretion, now my home is in tatters thanks to his bloodlust, leaving me with the near-impossible task of lying to both the press and the crown.” “But  you can complete our request.” “‘Request’ is a loose term… for the sake of Fleur, I will try.” “Only success can keep her safe, Fancy, that is the deal.” His hooves tapped together loudly, lips pursed, swift eyes darting from the disgraced countess to her bodyguards and back again, before a sharp snort signaled his next words: “Nimble Quill, gentlecolts, would you three excuse us, please? The miss and I need to discuss this in private.” Fancy’s assistant, Nimble, wasted no time in shooting straight up from his chair and allowing his papers to scatter across his desk as he hurriedly stepped into the flanking filing room, closing the door and disappearing from behind the frosted glass. The two Night Guard, however, remained rooted. One glared at Fancy, with eyes that almost glowed in the dim light of his office, and as soon as he made a single threatening step forward Abby’s hoof rose to stop him. Wordlessly, she commanded them with a gesture towards the front door. It wasn’t long before they were alone. “Abby,” Fancy began to whisper. “I know you understand what you’re asking of me, and you aren’t so foolish as to give in to his demands. If you are a prisoner as well then please tell me.” “I can call them back in.” Empty words left Fancy’s mouth as he gasped, forcefully rubbing his face with his hoof. “I am… compliant, but you have been missing for months, and only a few days ago you appeared in my home and began to make demands. His demands, and now this chaos with the Ghost, and that weapon of Shield’s. What happened? What has he done to you?” “I’m not here to discuss that,” she said with a hint of a sigh, but Fancy continued. “I know what happened in the Crystal Empire. Not many ponies do, but I know you left with him, all I want to know is why. What did he threaten you with? Please, I can help.” The earnestness of Fancy’s plea stifled Abby’s automatic response. Her sea green eyes blinked as they looked to the desk between her and Fancy, faint mumbling escaping her, but even after she managed to draw a slow breath to regain her composure it had already been an uncomfortable number of seconds passed and Fancy’s expression gazed right through her. “There are things, Fancy, mistakes that I cannot begin to… to justify to you. Just know I am here to ensure both his and your needs are met.” “Yes, I suppose he would’ve simply killed Fleur by now, wouldn’t he? So that’s it, then? I am to believe you are here for my benefit?” “Until he releases you, yes.”  At this, Fancy managed to chuckle, bringing a hoof to his mouth as each vibrato laugh forced Abby’s stomach deeper and deeper into her gut. “Shield Wall never leaves loose ends, Abby. You know this. If you won’t tell me why you are with him, and you won’t let me help you, then please consider this: You are as close to him now as Midnight Gavel was. You know the nature of his plans. At any time, you can be the one to tell the EUP, or your aunt Celestia, or even the Ghost. I saw you with Lord Aristo tonight, perhaps he could-” “Do you have what he requested or not?” She sprang from her chair, voice firm enough to pin Fancy to the back of his own, witness to a harshness in her he had never seen before. “Yes… yes, it can be done. It will take time, but it will happen.” Fancy’s gaze hovered for a moment on Abby, who turned away. “Will you promise me something? If he hurts you, or goes too far, or… well, will you at least consider my request? Please?” “... Yes.” Her voice was soft, barely enough for Fancy to hear, but he sighed at her response. “Thank you, I suspect things will be difficult from here on out, especially now considering his latest move after he crashed my party.” The stiffness of her brow softened. Abby took a step towards Fancy’s desk. “What?” “Please, don’t play coy,” Fancy huffed, shuffling documents in and out of drawers. “You master’s latest stroke of villainy. That small city on the edge of Rambling Rock Ridge. Carti… Capistra-” “Coltistrano.” “That’s it… or was. Word arrived via the reorganized Night Guard, those still loyal to Luna. The city is no more.” Fancy sent one last glare towards Abby as he indignantly passed the sheaf of documents to her, but she didn’t accept them. She swam in a rising sea of worry that flooded her mind, the nervousness guiding her hooves from his desk and out the office door. The two bat ponies positioned there jolted at her abrupt exit and were barely able to follow her through the palace without fear of being spotted. Abby, though, held no such fear. The palace was known to her, with many years spent trotting through the very halls she knew fled through, her hooves making little noise as she followed her memory, frantic as it now was, of all the pathways guards scarcely patrolled.  Cool mountain air touched her mane. Ruby hairs flowed along the breeze, bobbing with each step toward the center of the city, uncaring of the few passersby who may spot, or even recognize her. Abby’s thoughts were elsewhere, and her eyes locked with a prime example of noble living: The Clocktower Auberge. It was posh, clean, and illuminated against the night sky as the hands of the clock face struck two. Two bellhops at the front door, ponies only Abby would recognize as agents, gave her a firm gaze before stepping aside to let her into the tower lobby, with a third set of eyes following her from an equally familiar receptionist and up the stairs. It wasn’t long before she found herself at the door to the auberge's most expensive suite, paid for by the dwindling funds of her family’s squandered wealth. But the room was empty when she entered, save a lone bat pony standing beside a long dining table of delectables. He peered out of the clockface windows. “Glint,” Abby huffed. “Where is he? Where… what happened to you?” He barely responded. As he turned Abby saw the patches of dirt and soot lining his uniform, with smudges of ash contrasting his deep navy fur, but when she saw his face she could tell his mind was far away. She dared to approach him, until something else caught her eye. At the head of the table, draped over the back of a chair, was a long and dark garment she knew too well, now stained with ash, and with some effort she could even see hints of red. Then came the deep chime of dark magic. He emerged from a green line of power that sliced through the open air, the portal widening just enough for the unicorn to enter the room, dressed in a uniform stained with splotches of dusty white. He approached the table without looking at either of them, setting the familiar severed horn to the side, drawing out the chair and sitting across from the cloaked obelisk. What sickened her most was his smile. “Ah, my dear, would you care to join me?” “What did you do?” Abby’s voice was low and hoarse. “I ordered dinner… and invited a guest,” Shield hissed gleefully, motioning to the cloak across from him. “You… y-you went… this isn’t what you promised me.” “Is it not? You would give me access to your funds and resources, and in return I would kill the Ghost.” “To demoralize him! To sow confusion and discourse against the Ghost’s name, things you’re known for.” “All of which I have done, to great effect I might add. Now none will dare think to follow in his hoofsteps, and we, my dear, are now free.” “You used my money, my family’s money, to fund this slaughter!” “We have raided Spade’s treasure stores and bolstered our reserves. Less than half what I sailed out with long ago, but enough to compensate you, you need not worry.” “This isn’t what you promised me!” Abby’s outburst shook Glint from his trance, finally noticing her as she stomped to the table. “You told me you could return Silver to me. You told me you would free him.” “I lied.” His deadpan response stunned her. Abby gasped at words that hung outside the realm of thought, eyes darting between the cloak, Glint, and the vicious golden eyes that followed her every move with a small smile. When she finally made her way over to the vacant garment she collapsed. Her sobs were stifled by the tarnished fabric, and all the while Glint felt a twinge of pity begin to well up in him, until the sharp and stony words of his commander made themselves known. “How many tears have you shed for him? How many were wasted?” Shield rolled his eyes as his magic enraptured a glass of brandy and pulled it to his lips. “You leech! You bastard! This isn't how it was supposed to happen. You weren’t supposed to… supposed to-” “To what? Kill him? Drive a dagger into his gut and twist? To beat him down with his filthy dirtborn mother as witness as I cast him from the cliff?” Each word brought forth a soft scream from within Abby. “He was my enemy, trained by my enemy, set to war against me. I did what had to be done.” “‘What had to be done’? What did you do, how far did you go?” “I made a grave of his home and buried his people in it, with him as the headstone.” Shield raised his glass high above his head. “Here lies Silver Spade, first among the bones of Coltistrano, may he be denied peaceful rest.” Abby’s mouth hung agape at the morbid declaration, her eyes turning to Glint. “Glint, please, tell me this isn’t true. Tell me he’s mad.” “The commander understands the value of a conquered enemy,” Shield interrupted, cutting off Glint's attempt to speak. “The city was a den of filth and wretches.” “Lies! There were good ponies in Coltistrano!” “And now there are not. If the lives of strangers mean so much to you, then you would do well to remember you chose me. I gave you a choice, and you chose me! And if you truly miss your beloved whelp so much, you are free to pull him from the rocks I cast him upon, once the vultures have their fill.” It was all she could stand. Abby felt lightheadedness come upon her, rescued only by her quick escape across the room and out onto the balcony. From inside, Shield and Glint could hear her wretch over the railing, causing Shield to once more roll his eyes and groan at the display. “Sir, should we… contact her? She’ll want to know.” The veil of satisfaction fell from Shield’s face, following behind the ragged sigh he gave to Glint’s statement. “Yes, I suppose she would.” Emerald power flew from the jagged horn, returned to Shield’s hoof, summoning a fiery green orb before him that erupted in black and violet smoke. Visions of a magical maelstrom swirled within the orb. Soon, its wisps of power formed into a shape, a visage announced by a chorus of chittering and horrid screeching that caused even Shield to wince. With a final spurt of flame from the horn the silhouette became clear and spoke to him with a fanged scowl. “Finally,” it cooed with a sickening, feminine timber. “Did you enjoy your sport?” “The city is no more, your soldiers did far more than I anticipated. I daresay there is scant little left for the princesses to investigate.” Shield’s face was firm, humorless in his delivery. “Excellent, then my end of the bargain is upheld. I trust you are prepared to deliver on yours?” “Herding the nobility is like herding cats, I fear, there is a process to-” “But you will deliver.” “Of course, but in time. Our business arrangement is delicate, and therefore the resolution of such needs careful contemplation and-” Piercing eyes revealed themselves against the silhouette in the orb, eyes that held even Shield Wall in his seat as the flaming orb grew ever brighter in a sudden burst of power. “Don’t forget who came to whom, little pony! It was I who revealed the dark secrets of the very horn you used to raze Coltistrano. My army is what secured your victory over the traitor’s apprentice. Were it not for me, you and your fledging little gang would be back in prison or worse. This isn’t a ‘business arrangement’, you are an investment. You work for me, Shield Wall!” The gaze which held him overpowered the trembling rage coursing through his limbs as a stream of hot blood, teeth clenched like an iron trap to restrain the flood of fury threatening to escape from him. Glint’s gaze was fixed on Shield. He watched the unicorn shake in his seat, watched the twitch of his upper lip and his hooves push harder against the chair that barely contained him, but the fear of his master was dwarfed only by the fear of whatever force could control him, so Glint stood still. Long, silent seconds preceded Shield’s retort, delivered as a clenched and shaky hiss. “I will address the nobility… personally.” “See? Was that so hard? To think I would be more honorable than a unicorn, especially one of your reputation, but this is proof even you can change.” The silhouette gave a wide, fanged grin, punctuated by a haughty laugh. “Now go, be a good pony and fulfill your promise.” Sputtering green flames fell from the orb, fizzling out against the table as the orb slowly dissipated. Glint finally allowed himself to breathe. Shield glared across the table, deep into the eye holes of the ash-covered cloak staring back at him, but with each passing second he found himself growing limp, his limbs falling slack against the chair, his frustrations melting away in the memories of death. “You are dismissed, commander.” Glint tried to respond but found himself unable, instead making his way out onto the balcony and rested against the railing. He shivered. The lights of the city below flickered in his hazed vision, resembling the fires of the buildings he ignited not a few hours earlier, and he shut his eyes tight. A mantra repeated in his mind, silently spoken upon his lips. They brought him no comfort, and memories of the Crystal Palace played out in his head, of the chaos and battle and orders he threw to the many comrades wounded and lost in the fight. Flashes of black struck him, his battle with the Ghost at the forefront. The cloaked pony’s words sank deeper into his memory. As he went through his painful reminiscence, a faint mumbling reached his trained ears from the far side of the balcony where he found Abby, crumpled into a ball, resting between the floor and the railing. “What have we done, Glint?” Her eyes, wet with tears, did him no favors in maintaining his composure, but he managed to stay firm. “We were following orders.” “We didn’t have to.” Glint peered over his shoulder, through the window. Shield Wall sat inside, ranting boisterously to the cloak across from him as he sucked down more brandy, and as far as Glint could tell his horn wasn’t alight.  “What else could we have done? He said it himself, we chose him.” “Then we chose wrong.” Abby, still woozy, managed to pull her gaze to Glint. “You’re shaking.” “No I’m not.” “And you’re a terrible liar.” “You must be intimate with lies by now.” “Of course, I work with… him.” Night wind touched her, stinging her tearful eyes and forcing her to look away from the twinkling lights of Canterlot around her, and after the long silence between them Glint carefully stepped towards her and spoke. “Why did you do it?” “Oh please, like you’ve ever cared.” Her dismissal earned a huff from Glint, who glared over the railing until she finally relented. “I was in love.” “R-Really, with who? With… him?” “Oh, heavens no,” she said with a coarse chuckle, daring to grin through the tears. “No, with the stallion behind the mask, with the Ghost. I knew him before he haunted Equestria.” “Intel said he had no romantic attachments.” “Pfft, ‘intel’ from the same stallion that ordered you to burn a city, right? No, he and I were very much in love… before Shield Wall tried to kill him. Then he was gone for years. I’m sure you can imagine my shock when he returned.” “Why didn’t he stay with you?” “Why do you think?” Abby gave Glint a playful tilt of her brow. “He wanted to keep being the hero, traipsing about Equestria and fighting all manner of villainy, and suddenly every headline about the Ghost became painful. Seeing him, living his life, a life without me. And like all things, Shield found a way to twist it to his advantage… he really never told you this?” “No,” Glint said passively. “Probably never saw the use in it.” “Or he didn’t want you to know the Ghost was once a soldier under his command. A soldier he tried to kill for his ‘insubordination’, almost like your friend Kindle.” Glint’s teeth clenched at the name, memories of the cave flooding into him as Abby continued. “He probably didn’t want you to know what was coming. I can tell you’re his most loyal conspirator.” “I joined him to protect Equestria.” “So did many others, and now you’re his right hoof, doing whatever he pleases whenever he demands it, second thoughts be damned. But he’s not protecting Equestria anymore, is he?” Glint’s muscles tensed in the silence, prompting a light scoff from Abby. “No, nowadays you’re dealing with our new friends, creatures without dignity who kill for pleasure. And you do it without question.” “This is all big talk for somepony with the blood of my comrades on her hooves,” Glint snapped. “My comrades all deserted Shield Wall before they became monsters, but not you. All you need is a broken heart.” “Scary, isn’t it? How little it takes before we’re all just rabid dogs? But in the end, he’s the one pulling the leash.” “I’m no dog.” “Sure you aren’t, you were just following orders.” His voice hitched in his throat. Before him sat the mare who directed the instrument of his fellow soldiers’ demise, the images of their bubbling remains still fresh in his mind, even so long after, but the only thing stopping him from reaching out and striking her was a small pang deep in his chest. It reminded him of Kindle, and the cave. He stood there, trembling in all his fury, forcing it all back down into the same dark place he put everything, until something touched him. “We don’t have to do this anymore, Glint,” Abby said softly, now standing with a hoof on his shoulder. “We might not be able to stop him, but we can at least save ourselves. Try to do some good in the face of all we’ve done.” “Desertion is unforgivable.” “So is betraying a friend.” Her words settled deep in Glint’s mind. Even after she had slowly pulled her hoof away and walked into the suite, and even after she long disappeared from his sight, those same words played again in his mind, just as loud as when she first uttered them. The city lights began to go out, leaving just enough to illuminate the clocktower. Glint could only peer over the edge in a dazed meditation on all he had committed. Upon reflection, it didn’t sit right with him. Nothing did, now. So Glint lept from the tower and flew toward the balcony of his own room in the auberge, retiring for the evening, but never once free of Abby’s words, whispering to him in his mind as he drifted off into a fearful, anxious sleep.