//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: “All you have survived are failures.” // Story: The Ghost of Coltistrano: Phantom Eulogy // by EthanClark //------------------------------// “This is a crisis.” Eyes of the room were fixed on her radiant visage. Many squirmed in their seats, others fiddled with pens or papers, scattered before them during the emergency meeting, but not a single soul dared remove their gaze from the towering white alicorn trapping them in hers. Those who did met the other’s eyes. Beside her stood a second alicorn of a deep royal azure, with a face as grim and firm as the words of her sister. Together, the two princesses stood at the head of the table, towering over the seated nobility. “An attack on Equestrian soil of this magnitude, not to mention cruelty, is unthinkable. Our forward scouts report the city is gone… gone. Completely.” Celestia motioned to the many sheafs of paper passed out to each pony. “An investigation is already underway. The EUP has mobilized to secure the region. With luck, we should soon know the source of such a heartless act and bring them to justice… but this isn’t why we’ve called you here.” To her side stood Luna, stepping forward and placing a single hoof upon the table as her piercing gaze ensnared the full attention of the room. “Many a pony here once served the whims of a vile blackguard, a pony of such ill repute we still see him in your nightmares. Such a tragedy beareth his cowardly, barbarous stench upon it. Dear sister wishes to grant thee solace from him, but we will not without recompense.” Quiet rumbling shook the room. Tapestries billowed against an unseen wind, ponies held tight to their seats, and all the light pouring in from the outside world drowned in a whirlwind of darkness spilling forth from the very air, trapping the trembling ponies in her veil as Luna spoke in a low, terrible voice. “We, as your Princess of the Night, command thee reveal what secrets you yet hold, what treasonous knowledge still festers in your minds, or in the name of mothers and children set to flame, by the stars, we will force it from you.” Even Celestia was silent. Luna’s eyes darted to every pony before her, each possible suspect, never once losing the tension in her muscles, her wings flared at her sides to accentuate her already powerful silhouette. The nobles frantically mumbled amongst themselves. Towards the end of the table, the only pony still possessed of his wits, was Fancy Pants, his hoof held tightly by a pale pink mare beside him.  “Mi amore,” Fleur whispered. “She means the horrible unicorn who nearly murdered you, no? You aren’t involved in that again, are you?” Fancy said nothing, electing instead to watch the composure of his colleagues quickly crumble under the princesses’ pressure, and a trained eye caught Luna glaring at him directly. She held him for longer than was comfortable. Fancy dared break eye contact to find another pony, an aged blue pegasus who shared his look of concern. After a small sigh he finally stood from his chair, with Stratos following suit. “Your majesties,” Stratos began, nodding to Fancy. “We have information.” Fancy adjusted his monocle as he spoke. “Princesses, we all share vivid memories of the plot in Manehatten, it was a tragedy nothing could’ve prepared us for. The very notion this nobility, those present, could be coerced into such treason is something I wish could remain a bad dream, yet here we are.” “The point, Fancy Pants,” Luna interrupted. “Of course. I have it on good authority, namely myself, that not only is Shield Wall active within Canterlot, but the shamed Countess Abundant Glow is in his company.” “What?” Celestia stepped forward. “She’s in the city? Have you seen her?” “Only when she desires to be seen, yes, and never without armed escort. More than once she’s visited me to ensure my cooperation in past events. These visits can be corroborated by my assistant. The vice general, here, has received similar visits.” “Death threats, blackmail, threats of violence against innocents, these are the depths Shield Wall has stooped to.” Stratos spat at the mention of his name. “He came to me demanding access to the eastern regions, around Coltistrano, but he just wanted the roads cleared. We don’t know how or where he’s gotten so many soldiers. Any attempt to gain intel ends in another dead soldier from the recon corps.” “How long has this been happening?” “Only a few weeks,” Fancy answered. “Quite disturbing, but nothing is ever simple with him.” “We will decide that,” Luna said. “You both shall join us for interrogation. Whatever plots yet linger shall be rooted out.” “I’m afraid that’s not possible, princess.” All eyes, even Stratos, landed on Fancy as he slowly pulled the monocle from his face, stroking Fluer’s hoof with his own. “A terrible little secret not even Stratos knows is what’s coming next… oh, don’t look at me like that. You can’t deal with Shield Wall without expecting a few surprises.” “What hast thou wrought, Fancy?” Luna’s horn flickered. “I take no joy in this, and I pray you may all forgive me, but if there’s any consolation, know you won’t be killed. It’s… oh, goodness, it’s time.” A second rumbling struck the room, this time from beneath the nobles seated at the table as each chair slowly shifted and churned in a cloud of green magic, slowly peeling away the visage to reveal black chitin within. Screams filled the room. The omnipresent buzz of furious wings pierced their ears as more objects from within the room shifted into a new nightmare. Paintings, sconces, vases, the entire room served as the perfect cover for the swarm of pale eyes and fangs. Celestia and Luna, together, erupted in a display of brilliant magic sent crashing against the attackers. For a while it worked, until a flash of green struck the larger alicorn. Luna’s gaze shot up to the ceiling to find the largest of the threatening brood, her hiss-filled cackle filling the room. Queen Chrysalis, mistress of the changelings, descended upon the lone alicorn in a bubble of green magic. Her display was powerful but not enough to outmaneuver Luna’s nimble wings, who fired a sharp, brilliant beam at the changeling queen. Despite her power, though, the numbers facing Luna only hastened the end as dozens of drones added their power to their ruler’s, and in a final blast of emerald magic Luna was cast against the wall with a crack.  “Fancy! Fancy, mi amore, what is happening?” “Please, Fleur, don’t think about it and run!” He pulled Fleur’s hoof to him and led her to the door, but when he went to pull it was forced open by a pony Fancy knew well. Shield Wall, humorless and firm, pushed back against Fancy to witness the chaotic display before him.  “I suppose even you have your uses,” he sneered. “Save your poisonous wit. I’ve done your bidding, our arrangement is over!” “No, not yet.” With a wave of his hoof, Shield Wall commanded two changeling drones to flank Fancy, prying Fleur away from him. “No! No, you bastard, we had an agreement! You gave your word you would leave her be.” Shield paused, passing an incredulous glance to the fuming unicorn before him, stifling his own chuckle. “Have you ever known me to uphold my word?” “Curr! I’ll see to it the ponies know, and it won’t be long before he finds you!” “He will be hard pressed to find anyone… as a corpse.” Words failed Fancy, hardly noticing the drones snatching him up and taking him from the room, leaving Shield Wall to slowly approach the table. He was surrounded by changelings terrorizing the nobility, and before him he found the princesses held in slick binds of ichor and their mouths bound. He knew their glares all too well. The eyes of the changeling queen, however, loomed over them, peering through the curtains of her thin, matted mane. Chrysalis placed the finishing touches on the slick cocoons, fully entrapping the princesses before they were hauled off by her drones, followed by the still panicking nobility. Shield stood alone in the room, surrounded by changeling soldiers and the queen, herself. “Finally,” Chrysalis cried out with a laugh, joined by her drones. “You see, Shield Wall, this is how you repay a debt, and look how easy it was! Now…” A deep, chittering purr echoed in the meeting room, contrasted by the chorus of violent hissing rising from the drones, erupting into verdant flames that took the forms of the now-imprisoned aristocracy. “Send the city into lock down, I want every pony under our control and our agents inside the EUP. As for you, Wall, while my subjects would relish the opportunity to finish the Ghost’s legacy, there is far more delicate work to be done.” “They know of him?” Shield managed to ask through the wall of disgust in his voice. “We don’t tolerate traitors, and Darrox is an exceptional specimen at that, but his protege…” The queen looked on with squinting eyes, a snarl forming in her upper lip. “We hivefolk have names for him, none you could understand with your basic pony speech. ‘Shadewalker’, ‘Phantom of the Web’, my subjects might hate him as much as you, but with him in ashes we’re free to continue our little game.” “This concludes our business, then?” Shield announced. “‘Concludes’? Who said anything about ending this wonderful little arrangement we have, hm?” The hissing laughter of the changelings dug into his mind like talons as he stomped forward. “This was the agreement. Soldiers for information. Munitions for submission. I have granted you Equestria on a silver platter, and you seek to undermine me?” “Oh, but you did so well, didn’t you? And as my drones impersonate the nobility, directing the country however I see fit, you will be in charge of what comes next: the complete subjugation of any pony who dares stand against me.” “I am not your puppet!” “Aren’t you? Your victory in Coltistrano was only possible because of me, my drones have been passing you the information I want you to have, and this entire meeting was devised by you, because I ordered you to.” “Do not make an enemy of me, witch.” Shield produced the long, black horn from within his coat, snapping the drones from their jubilations. Chrysalis, however, laughed. “A pretty toy, but have you forgotten what real power looks like? The power to command, the power to intimidate. Oh, you were so fearsome before, weren’t you? But now… well, now you’re little more than a cheap trick.” “Mock me at your peril, I have killed dozens of you filth.” “Oh yes, I have no doubt you could kill many here, maybe even escape, but what about her?” The queen’s icy words paralyzed Shield. “All alone in that beautiful suite, the building guarded by soldiers, my drones in disguise, ready to kill at my command. Hide it all you want, but I smell it on you, a putrid scent but there’s no mistaking it. You care for her.” Shield held firm. He held her in his sights, right down the length of the horn, and every ounce of his now wrathful being urged him to release the power against her, every ounce except one. It sickened him, churning in the pit of his stomach like tar. The thought of her, though, broken and twisted on the floor was more than enough to sap any strength from his limbs as the horn lowered. His hoof retreated, but his anger pushed hard against the action, just barely restrained. “What… do you… require,” he whispered through clenched teeth. “Hm, much better. With my drones replacing the nobility and the princesses, we will begin issuing orders to the EUP, and with the recent attack you so deliciously executed we have all the excuse we need to mobilize. But enough foreplay, let’s discuss more delectable topics.” Shield froze. The changeling monarch before him licked her lips, tracing the long, forked tongue along razor sharp fangs as ragged breaths preceded her words.  “Rarity. Gilda. Kindle. The Ghost’s allies, and the ones who have so comically bested you at every turn, now’s your chance to even the score. So long as his allies are free to roam they are a threat to this operation’s security, and with Rarity dead the rest of the Elements will be crippled. You will take the drones I’ve given you to Ponyville and not return until they’re dead. It’s what you want, yes? Vengeance?” Even with decades of training and an iron will, Shield could only just contain his wrath as he shook in place, each muscle tensed and begging for an excuse to pounce, with the only thing halting the tempest of threats building within being his tightly clenched teeth. Chrysalis traced his shuddering body with languid eyes. Soft layers of chitin shifted and parted to make way for a growing smile as the silence between them grew, devoid of any true resistance from her unicorn servant, until an almost imperceptible nod from Shield allowed her release before he turned to leave. Wicked laughter followed him out the door, his eyes locked onto the floor as he walked from the destroyed meeting room and into the halls of the palace, echoing with the screams of servants and staff as the omnipresent buzz of drones followed him. He paid it no mind. He was burning from ears to hooves, every part of him screamed for violence, stoked by the sight of black chitin, but the queen’s threat held him at bay, so he kept walking. Even with all the fury his body could muster, all the rage and bloodthirst a soul was capable of, he kept walking. — “Welcome back, sir,” Glint declared. Shield was silent upon entering the Auberge suite. He looked around at the other guards, following him with empty eyes as he took a seat at the table, decorated with fine food. Beside him sat Abby, who ate quietly. Shield peered over to her, glaring at her near-pristine meal. “You have barely eaten.” “You went to the palace today, didn’t you?” “I did.” “Then it’s done, I take it?” “You speak as if you understand what is at play,” he said, firmly. “I understand death threats and blackmail well.” “Then you understand now we are free!” His sudden outburst caused Abby to flinch, her eyes fixed on her plate, but Shield released a ragged sigh. “They would just as easily kill you, Abundant, so I do what I must to survive.” “All you have survived are failures,” Abby snapped. Heat rose within Shield’s skull, threatening to singe his own mane, but he stopped. Wrinkles lining Abby’s tense brow and piercing eyes seemed to hold his own rage at bay. Seconds passed in silence between them, long enough for Abby to huff and return to prodding at her meal, desperate to summon some appetite while Shield was left trapped in the echoes of his raging thoughts, eyes darting around the scene until he finally made his move and reached out to her with an uncharacteristic gentleness.  “What are you doing?” Abby firmly deflected his hoof. “You have been tense since the night I returned. I thought perhaps-” Abby shot up from her seat. She stomped away from the table and across the suite floor, slamming the door to one of the bedrooms behind her with enough force to rattle the glass of the windows. Shield lingered on her seat, then crashed his hoof against the table, threatening to spill the open bottles of wine.  “A simple gesture. All I offer is a simple gesture and I am crucified!” Glint watched as Shield continued muttering to himself, but soon his attention was caught by a soldier entering the suite and crossing the room to him, whispering in his ear. “Sir, the rest of the Coltistrano refugees have settled in Ponyville. The Ghost’s allies are amongst them.” “Finally, good news.” Shield threw his legs aside and lifted himself from the chair. “And now they are on the run, correct? That is what you have come to relay to me?” “Correct, sir,” Glint nearly hissed through clenched teeth. “Good, now they are desperate. Their primary goal will be to survive, and perhaps even serve as a distraction.” “Distraction, sir?” Glint trembled at the suggestion in Shield’s words. “Chrysalis suspects me, perhaps even plans to kill me as we speak, but the queen is intimately familiar with Silver and his master. She hates the old bug, almost as much as I. Silver’s allies, however, could prove a suitable distraction so we may make our move against her, which is why you will join me as we travel to Ponyville.” Glint’s ears stood up, eyes locked onto the almost passive expression of the unicorn before him. “Sir, you’re a wanted felon. The drones might not try to arrest you, but they won’t protect you from any guards or EUP in the region.” “Hardly concerning, I assure you. They will not tread far from the city. Finding them should prove simple enough, and when we do they will be hard pressed to refuse my offer to them.” “Offer… sir, they would never work with us. Not after everything that’s happened.” “I disagree. The princesses are imprisoned, changelings scour the land, and the Ghost is dead.” Shield sent Glint a wry, sinister grin. “They will have no choice. We are their last hope.” “... To save Equestria?” The slightest hints of a smile began to form at the corners of Glint’s mouth. “They will be compelled. In Silver’s honor they would do anything to save the nation he died defending. We will use them as a diversion to lure Chrysalis’ attention away from ourselves, Glint, if only for a moment. Then we will have our chance to strike. To burn her new hive before she even finishes it, then bury her in it.” Shield’s words smothered Glint’s hopeful smile, his chest now heavy with the singe of smoke, blinded by the memory of flames. “Sir, the new hive is in the palace, and not everyone is… we take orders from her. Her spies are everywhere.” “That is exactly why.” His voice was harsh. “The game has changed. The Ghost is dead, Chrysalis rules Equestria from the shadows, and in order for us to survive whatever wicked designs the changeling queen has planned we need to escape from under her fetid hoof.” “We are talking about Equestrian citizens. We can’t just-” “We can, commander, if we must. If she thinks I will remain her… puppet…” Shield spat at the word. “Then she is mistaken. I will burn her new hive to ashes, much like I did Silver’s home, even if all of Canterlot burns with it.” The silence weighed on Glint, a pressure suffocating his composure, until he raised his head and, with firm eyes and a trembling lip, spoke. “Sending a message isn’t worth the lives of Canterlot.” “It is not your place to decide!” Shield’s thundering retort snatched away Glint’s voice. “Do not think your seditious thoughts have gone unnoticed, commander. Much like the disgraced countess, you made a choice to follow me, knowing full well my reputation, and if that wretched swarm of Chrysalis’- nay, if Equestria itself needs reminding who is in control, who holds true power, then by the stars they will be reminded!” “I joined you to save Equestria!” Glint snapped, casting forth heavy breaths. “I joined you to save ponies who couldn’t save themselves, and all we’ve done is hurt them! This isn’t the Equestria you promised!” “This is not about saving anything!” “Dammit, why not?!”   Shield’s harrowing gaze softened at Glint’s words, and slowly he eased away from him and returned to his place at the railing. The floating glass returned to him one last time and emptied itself over the ledge. Humor, frustration, all emotions drained from Shield’s face. The silence continued for only a few moments, long enough for Glint to gather his composure as Shield remained frozen, peering listlessly into space. “Because ponies like us cannot save the world, it is only saved from us” Hot puffs of breath landed against a shuddering, yet stoic Glint as Shield took a moment to withdraw his aggression. “I hope you are comfortable with your station, Glint, because in our precious world of do-gooders and would-be heroes… we are the villains.” Glint found clouds forming at the corners of his vision, his head buzzing with Shield’s somber confession, almost unaware as his master straightened his posture and sighed. “Remain here, survey the palace, then join me in Ponyville. We will begin the final phase.” Slicing across empty air, the horn tore open a path for Shield to travel, boldly stomping through the portal, rank and the scent of embers making itself known before the gash stitched itself up and disappeared. Eventually, though, Glint stood alone in the suite. A heavy sigh left him. Legs weary from standing all day finally began to sway as he threw himself into his master’s seat, taking bits of the delectable meal before him as impromptu payment for his discipline and he melted into the chair at the first taste of the banquet. He took his time sampling everything he could, uncaring if the mess he made would arouse suspicion. After he downed the first glass of wine he froze. The absence of his rhythmic chewing allowed new sensations to enter his mind, and their arrival tightened his jaw. Screaming ponies and their friends fleeing through broken streets, under toppled walls and over rubble from bombs falling like meteors, their cries competing with his own thoughts. All the noise arose as a chorus of pain. The song drew a ragged breath from him, but what gripped him most was the heat of his own memory. A fire. Images dancing through his mind were framed by a rising tempest of flame and malice flooding the streets of the city that swept the tormented faces howling at him away, leaving only his own peering back with scorched eyes, and he threw himself away from it. Panting, he rose from the waking nightmare to see his reflection in the Auberge’s clock face window, joined by another. “M-Miss Glow…” Glint barely managed to stand as she bid him stop with a faint gesture. “Don’t, Glint, you’ve stood around long enough.” She crossed the room to one of the empty seats beside him, taking it for herself. “You’re shaking again.” Glint was silent, straining his muscles in an attempt to quell the tremor in his foreleg, but the wine rippled in its glass all the same. “Perceptive.” “I like to think it’s empathy,” she said with a smirk, pulling some of the spread to her plate. “Have you been able to sleep since?” Glint avoided her gaze, instead locking his sight onto the pristine white carpet below. “Sometimes, never for long, but maybe we should just blame the wine, huh?.” “If only all things could be blamed on wine… you don’t have to be so formal around me.” Abby’s voice was cold as she began to delicately enjoy her meal, but she did notice Glint sneaking glances at her. “Of course.” Silence hung between them as they ate. “I’m sorry about the other night, when I implied you were a monster.” “Oh, please, think nothing of it. With all that’s happened, it isn’t far from the truth.” “Well, after I heard it was you who beat the Ghost in the Crystal Palace, I’m sure it isn’t.” Abby shot him a quick, sidelong smile. “You have a peculiar sense of flattery, Glint.” “I’m out of practice,” he chuckled. “Not many chances to talk to beautiful mares when you’re… doing what we do.” “Hmm, yes, it’s rather hard to socialize when you’re a prisoner. But these moments are nice, aren’t they? Just us, away from him?” “It’s like I’ve sneaked a girl into my parents' house.” Red wine dribbled from her mouth as she restrained her sharp laughter, threatening to burst through her sealed lips. Glint was quick to offer his napkin to her before her resolve was lost. “It is, isn’t it? Goodness, I don’t think I’ve been that daring since…” “Since Silver?” Glint suggested, detecting her hesitation. “Yes, I suppose, but that was long ago,” she said, dismissively. “Take it from me, Glint, it’s not wise to linger on long dead emotions. The Crystal Empire taught me that.” “Ever since… I mean, when we came back… how’re you feeling?” Abby paused, eyes fixed onto the open space before her. “Coltistrano was a second home to me for many years, and one of the best ponies I’ve ever known burned along with it. I’m… full of hate, beyond any rage I could imagine, but powerless to stop the nightmare I helped create. All I can do is… have you considered what we talked about? On the balcony?” “You know what happens if we’re caught. I…” Trembling returned to his foreleg, but after a long drink of his wine Glint slowly placed his hoof on hers. “You’ve only ever been kind to me, and I can’t stand the thought of him hurting you.” “Oh please, what else could he do to me he hasn’t already done? For all his violence and malice Shield is nothing without something to threaten you with.” “But you’ll be betraying him, and he cares about you.” Kindle watched as Abby chuckled into her wine. “Mm, no, no, your master doesn’t care about me. He cares about possessing me. It’s all he’s ever wanted.” “Was that why he tried to kill Silver? Back when he was a soldier?” “Among other reasons,” she mused through a sip of wine. “But knowing him it was to satisfy some deep, unknowable madness.” “Be careful he doesn’t hear you talk like that. Don’t you fear him?” “I fear what he’ll do, and how many more might suffer because of what I did.” Her words were like a lullaby to his worries, unraveling in his chest with each second he watched her. The fluttering of her eyes distracted him from images of suffering ponies, her ruby mane supplanting the flames once tearing through his mind, and the rattling hoof holding his wine glass finally calmed itself enough for him to take another sip, one that filled him with a sliver of courage. “He doesn’t deserve you,” he blurted out. “Oh? You only just figured that out?” “I mean it. The Vice General is… has his methods, but I know he’s only ever tried to control you.” “Bold for his trusted commander to criticize him like that,” Abby chuckled. “You might find yourself in Midnight Gavel’s place one of these days.” “I think it’d be worth it,” Glint said through another, larger sip. “After all, it’s all he knows, right? Violence and malice, like you said.” Glint suddenly downed the rest of his glass, his hoof firmly pulling the bottle to him as he poured another. “It’s all Equestria knows him for, really. A monster, a traitor, a damn hypocrite!” “Glint…” “You know, you aren’t born a bat pony, you become one. It’s a deal you make with Princess Luna as a sign of loyalty. Of trust. You’re the best, bar none, and only the best can handle the jobs the Night Guard take on. Sure would take a lot to break that kind of devotion, right?” “Glint, slow down, you-” “He sold us on ‘saving Equestria’ like that wasn’t already our job. We were made into monsters to fight monsters, but then he shows up, convinces us the real monsters are hiding in the government, and turns us against ourselves. I mean… I mean how screwed up is that? Now he’s out there fighting… killing…” Abby placed a hoof on Glint’s shoulder as his speech slurred. “Glint, please, give me the glass.” “And he got you, too, huh? He got all of us. Every last one of us fell for the threads of bullshit and promises he laid out, like a bait and hook, just waiting for any poor sucker to take and… and I… Luna’s sky, Abby, my brothers joined Shield because I asked them to. Then he… he burned Coltistrano, and I let him! I let him… the ponies… I can still hear them.” His somber muttering was all that could be heard as the wine glass toppled from his hoof, spilling onto the floor. Falling back into his chair he covered his face with a hoof. When Abby approached he shrunk into the seat, but her hooves were gentle as they slowly cradled his head into her chest, careful not to speak as silent tears rolled from his eyes to her dress.  Together they sat, surrounded by peerless ill-gotten fineries. Convincing lies to hide their prison as the clock tolled its haunting chime once more.