Under the veil of moonlight, the Foal Mountains stood as a desolate field of stoney pillars, stretching as far east as the sea and silent as the night. Stars twinkled above, unobscured by cloud or shade. Within its westernmost peaks, however, rested another light, flickering against the gray stone and white-capped peaks. The flame danced in the gentle wind. It rested along a ridge crossing down from the mountain, a plummeting distance above the world. Flanking it were two large shapes, craft built of sturdy wood and hovering just inches above the ledge and moored to the stones. Twin ships. One, a lithe and pearlescent vessel, rested along the stone while the other lingered just beyond the ledge, a gangplank leading down from its deck. Blackened steel remained fastened to the hull of the Tornado to blend into the night sky. Though the deck stood still, lights flickered from within the captain’s cabin.
Within stood a company. Six hovered around the round table in deep contemplation, pondering the various scrolls, reports, and sheafs of information left behind by the vessel’s temporary owners, one of which pressed a hoof to a particularly large packet of parchment inked with the royal seal. His companions watched his movements closely, the mare to his side resting a gentle hoof against his shoulder. Without returning so much as a glance he pushed the packet before the rest of the group, and all eyes followed it.
“All of these missives are encrypted,” Glint began. “I’m sure Silver is familiar with the Investigation Bureau’s methods, but in times of warfare the crown will deliver coded orders to regional commanders. I, believe it or not, was not that commander.”
“It was that twerp, Lighthoof, right?” Gilda huffed.
“Yeah. Regular orders sent by legitimate EUP were sent to Lighthoof, but the queen’s orders were relayed by personal messenger directly to him. Thankfully, the changeling’s aren’t so clever in their encryptions.” Glint pointed to a particularly dense portion of the missive. “Lighthoof’s orders were to, specifically, contain the population of Ponyville until construction of a new hive in Canterlot was completed, then prepare them for assimilation.”
“Good heavens,” Rarity shuddered, clutching the stallion beside her.
“But how did the EUP never find out?” Kindle piped up. “I mean, controlling the nobility is one thing, but the military is too big. Someone, anyone, had to suspect something.”
“Some did. They aren’t with us anymore.” Glint’s casual statement earned a stern glare from the stallion across from him, clad in black.
“Glint’s mission wasn’t to make dissenters disappear, he only ever aided Shield’s tasks,” Abby interrupted.
“Not much better,” Silver declared, firmly. “While Shield was luring us to Canterlot, you were the one organizing the assault on Coltistrano, weren’t you?”
“It… yes.” Glint spoke as clearly as before, but failed to meet Silver’s glare. “It was only possible through Chrysalis’ support, she’s the one who showed him how to use the horn, but when she refused to free Shield Wall from her service he started to resist her.”
“That’s why he offered a truce with me, so he wouldn’t have to fight alone,” Rarity said.
Gilda spat at the comment. “Buck that. Tightwad and Queen Bitch deserve each other, there’s no way we’d back him up.”
“Of course not,” Glint said with a slight smile. “But he was convinced he could use you as a distraction while he infiltrated the palace and destroyed the new hive they’re building.”
“Honestly, are there no depths to which he won’t stoop?” Rarity pulled the sheaf to her, scanning it discerningly. “What about the city itself? What Silver’s told us, it’s locked down entirely, but if the changelings are truly in charge then you must know a way in.”
“I do,” Abby stated. “I was able to escape the city through Fancy Pants’ private airport, on the southwest side of the city. It wasn’t clean, mind you, but a single vessel can take the risk.”
“So what about when we get inside? Glint, is there anyone left from the Night Guard who would help us?” Kindle’s question was met with a dour expression.
“None, they… they’re all gone, left after what happened in Coltistrano.”
“Good riddance,” Gilda whispered, prompting Abby to speak.
“But Fancy Pants may know something that could help. He’s remained free and is still loyal to the crown. We have options.”
“Well, that’s a start,” Kindle mused, pulling a map of Canterlot from across the table. “But we have no idea what Chrysalis has done since losing Ponyville, maybe she’s stepped up security. Silver, was the city in bad shape when you were there?”
“Terrible. Hard to go any tighter on security than lines of ponies in the rain seeking sanctuary. Once we get there, though, we can link up with Alate. She’s still in the city, she’ll know more.”
Glint’s teeth clenched at her name, and his back straightened, but Abby turned to him with a gentle tone in her voice. “She’s on our side, don’t worry.”
“But she’s not happy about it,” Silver interjected, earning an unamused glance from Abby.
“Great, bringing the psycho into the squad definitely helps this plan make sense,” Gilda grumbled. “This whole situation makes my brain ache. Look, if we’ve got a way into the city, great, but the real party’s in the palace, so how do we get in. Rarity, raghead, any ideas?”
“The only entrance I’ve ever acquainted myself with was the front door, or the occasional window,” Rarity returned.
“I thought you were tight with those rich airheads and went to all their weird parties and junk. You never heard of, like, a secret entrance or something?”
“Au contraire, Gilda, they’re my clients, and if any of the palace’s parties dared to include ‘secret entrances’ I may actually be excited to go.”
“But there’s gotta be a way, right?”
“There simply must be, even if we must make our own,” Abby declared. “But, at this point, it may be best to wait until we’ve infiltrated the city. We only have so much information and the changelings are everywhere.”
Abby’s suggestion earned a round of affirmative nods and sighing, prompting the group to slowly break from the table. Silver, however, stood still. He watched as Abby led Glint from the captain’s cabin and out onto the deck, and from his side Rarity sent him a knowing look, as if granting permission for his deft hooves to follow after them. But as Silver crossed the threshold into the cold mountain air, Kindle snapped to attention and followed him out.
A chilled breeze bit his muzzle. Keen eyes scanned the deck for the flowing form of black, finding Silver making his way down the gangplank behind the other two, all heading towards the second airship along the cliffside. Kindle rushed towards him, and towards the still burning bonfire’s warmth. Silver barely acknowledged him as he held his gaze on the mare.
“Abby,” he called, ensnaring her attention as ruby hairs whipped aside at his beckoning. “I hope you aren’t retiring just yet.”
“In a few moments, yes, but… o-oh! Yes, I suppose we should, shouldn’t we?”
“Should what?” Glint whispered before Kindle’s gaze drew an even sharper chill from within him, his hoof beginning to tug at her foreleg. “Abby, please-”
He was cut off by a gentle hoof on his cheek, and a pair of warm lips against his other. “You’re strong enough for this. I won’t be long.”
With that, Abby took her leave and walked to Silver, holding out his hoof and nodding to Kindle before leading her towards the bonfire. Crackling of wood and brush permeated the silence between them. Silver, despite standing tall in his garb, fumbled over the words in his head, mouthing a dozen different responses while stealing glances at Abby, who fiddled with her mane while staring into the bright flame.
“So… Glint, huh?” Silver finally said.
“Yes, well, friends are rare when interred under Shield Wall, and Glint has proven more than just a mindless servant.”
“Yeah, but… just friends?” Silver’s words prompted Abby to peer over her shoulder to the dark bat pony beyond before releasing a sigh.
“It isn’t like that, he just… it wasn’t always like that, I suppose. Things have been hard since Coltistrano, and you haven’t seen him like I have, but I trust you wouldn’t judge me if I decided to move on.” Her last words struck Silver as they flew towards him.
“No! No, of course not. I just didn’t expect it, is all.”
“Neither did I,” Abby said with a soft smile. “But he’s stood up for me against Shield Wall, and despite my best efforts I can’t help but pity him. He’s endured far worse than I.”
“I’m glad you made it out.”
“As am I. You haven’t any idea how awful it is to live under Shield’s rule.”
“Well, he was my CO once, and it’s not like he was ever nice.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Abby chuckled, relishing the levity. “Silver… I’m sorry. I-I know words aren’t near enough to make up for… but I hope… you must’ve known things weren’t right between us, yes? After everything?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “I should never have abandoned you like that. Pushed you away like you never mattered to me, when no one else mattered more. You were the whole reason I came back.”
“And why I held on for so long. Oh, Silver, why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t things be like how they were in that tavern, years ago? Do you remember? That dingy place, sitting across from your parents. No ghosts, no nightmares, just us.”
Silver grinned, chuckling at the memory. “I’ll never forget that night. Things were… simpler then. You were just a rich mare with good taste, and I didn’t speak in alliteration so much.”
“I swear, I would’ve died in that booth after your father’s blunt comments about us. It’s no wonder where your boldness comes from… I miss him.”
“So do I, but he always liked you, if that’s any consolation. He chided me for an hour that night about when I would finally pop the question. ‘A girl like that’s got a platoon’s-worth of stallions chomping at the bit to be where you are, so lock it down before they get competitive.’” Silver and Abby laughed together, a single tear glistening against his cheek. “Prophetic, huh?”
“Sadly, and everything that came after… well, I’m afraid I’ve disappointed him, haven’t I?”
“Me, too.” Silver looked down, taking her hoof in his as he let out a long sigh. “I hurt you, didn’t I? You needed me, if only to tell you I hadn’t left for good, but I never let you get close, or I didn’t know how to let you. I didn’t mean to be so guarded, Abby, I promise. It just… you meant everything to me. Hurting you was the last thing I wanted.”
“Oh, Silver. Not a day goes by I don’t regret all the horrible choices I made, but… yes, I wish you had been there. That house felt so empty until you visited, and even then you were hardly there. It frightened me. To think you, of all ponies, were so ready to wash your hooves of me after everything, after all the pain and joy we shared. Maybe things would’ve been different if… no, that isn’t fair.”
“If I had stayed with you,” Silver finished.
“Yes.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, almost dwarfed by the crackling flame beside them. Despite the chill hovering between them Silver cracked a smile.
“Why do you think I haven’t taken a vacation? Six-year long stint on an all-expense-paid deserted island and look what happened to me. Came back with all the style and none of the common sense, least of all to know how good I had it.”
Abby snorted, chuckling at the little smirk Silver shot her. “Well, at least you admit it, and better late than never. Poor Darrox all but ruined you, didn’t he?”
“Call it a case of hero worship,” Silver shrugged. “No one told me there was a line between ‘inspiration’ and ‘emulation’.”
“But you have so much fun with it, don’t you? I’ve never seen a pony so excited to leap from a building, even after one as dreadful as myself.”
“I had to.” His quick, stern response stifled the flutter in her chest as he spoke. “Even after everything that happened, and for what he was doing to you, I would’ve done so much more.”
“You… but I betrayed you. You and everyone here, not to mention all I allowed Alate to do, and you still forgive me?”
“Yes. I’m just tired, Abby, tired of seeing the world through the eyes of this cloak, the way Darrox did. I let you suffer alone, and in return you betrayed me, but look at us now. We’re here. Talking together like none of the nightmares ever happened, and I want to keep it that way.”
“You can’t just ignore what happened, Silver, you know that.”
“But I can choose whether or not it breaks us apart.” Silver touched her shoulder, gazing into her with illuminated eyes. “We drifted apart, we got hurt, and it took far too long to reach this moment, but you are not my enemy, Abby, and I don’t want to be yours.”
Frozen in his gaze, a tear rolled down her cheek, flush from the chilled mountain air, and in the next second she fell into his embrace, sobbing softly against his shoulder as Silver wrapped his forelegs around her. They held each other in the light of the bonfire. Languid, dribbling words tried to form in between her gasps of breath, but failed. Instead, she continued to hold him. After a moment, Silver wiped the glistening drops of his own away and faced Abby.
Silver sent her a warm smile as he stroked her hooves, until he gave an airy chuckle. “But this whole Glint thing… that’s gonna take some getting used to.”
While the two laughed beside the crackling fire, Kindle and Glint shared a somber silence. One would peer over the edge of the cliff, sneaking a glance while the other wasn’t looking, only to turn away again. Kindle fidgeted uneasily in the cold air. Glint, however, stood as if he were a part of the mountains at his hooves, wings tight to his sides and keeping his eyes down, aside, anywhere except towards the bad memory before him. Then, Kindle dared to step forward. Glint’s chest began to heave, breath trembling. He glanced across the ground towards Abby, too enraptured by her conversation with Silver to notice how he shook where he stood.
“So, uh… how are you?” Kindle’s first words offended him, sending a sting through his throat.
He finally found the courage to move, turning back and away from Kindle, but his chilling response to Kindle’s advances did nothing to deter him, and soon he found a careful hoof making its way into his peripheral.
“Glint, I know…” Kindle sighed, straightening himself before his friend. “I don’t blame you for what happened. Shield Wall is crazy. Heck, this whole situation is crazy, and we were all too scared to do anything about it, but I know you were only doing what you believed in. What he made you believe in. So, what I want to say is it wasn’t your fault.”
Kindle waited a moment for a reaction, any sign his words penetrated the veil of Glint’s stoicism, before he continued. “You remember back when we invaded Aristo’s house? You told me about the Ghost for the first time? When he cornered us in the house, you threw yourself at him to save us. I could tell how scared you were but you did it anyway. Shield would’ve never done that for us grunts. You did, because you care, and that’s why I stuck around for so long. I knew you were just as loyal to us as we were to you.”
Kindle watched for the slightest hint of a reaction in Glint’s face, but all he received was the solid gaze he held against the ground. A few remaining words trickled out alongside puffs of hot breath, but he relented. Kindle turned away.
“Kindle.”
He snapped around so fast he nearly tripped, finding Glint had finally mustered the strength to look him dead in the face, and with a burst of courage Kindle trotted to his side.
“I’m here, commander,” Kindle said with a smile.
“No. I don’t deserve this, Kindle.”
“Maybe not, but you stuck your neck out for me more than once. What happened in the cave doesn’t matter.”
“I lead the attack, Kindle. I planned the assault patterns on a non-hostile city. Even if you forgive the cave, you can’t forgive Coltistrano.” Gluten paused, his vision wavering. “I can’t forgive it.”
“But we’re gonna figure it out. You’re my commander, and my friend, and I don’t want to see you and Shield share a cell, or worse.”
“That doesn’t… Kindle… I can still hear them, Kindle.”
Glint’s stoic expression, along with all his trained resolve, began to crumble. The corners of his mouth twitched. Slowly, Kindle could see welling tears threaten to fall against his face as Glint clenched his teeth in desperation to contain what little of his composure remained.
“I’m not a good person, Kindle,” he choked out. “I’m just a soldier, and I chose the wrong side.”
“I know you did, but you aren’t the only one. I mean, look at them.” Kindle threw his foreleg to the side, pointing at Silver and Abby. “Silver never talked about Abby like she’d done something wrong, but like she was a victim. I mean, damn, she stabbed him in the back and twisted, you know? But he never wanted to hurt her. He wanted to talk to her, and he wanted me to talk to you, too.”
“Dozens are dead because of me,” Glint declared, shakily. “How can I expect you to forgive that?”
“It’s not about forgiveness, Glint. What happened, what you did… yeah, it was pretty awful, but it’s eating you up inside, right? I know you regret it because you’re actually talking to me, so let’s just start there, okay? Let’s try to make things right.”
Glint’s voice had left him, lost to the winds circling the campsite, and in that moment the final scraps of composure escaped as well. Glint collapsed against Kindle. Silent sobs and firm forelegs were all Kindle experienced as he patted his back, peering over to see Silver and Abby watching just a few steps away. When Glint noticed, as well, he quickly straightened himself up, wiping away any stray tears and clearing his throat with a firm cough. Abby chuckled, walking to him. Laying her hoof against his shoulder, she could feel his muscles slowly relax, and Abby looked to Kindle with a warm smile and slight nod of her head. Glint held Kindle's shoulder, smiling.
Then, Abby slowly pulled Glint away and led him back to her ship, tracing their way up the gangplank. She shared one final glance with Silver before her red curls disappeared from sight. Silver sighed.
“So,” Kindle drew out. “How’d it go on your end?”
“It was good. It… I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“Me too.”
Kindle stared out across the mountain range with Silver beside him, but as the seconds passed between them his smile faded into a pair of thin, pursed lips. A hoof tapped the ground. Silver peered over to him, but Kindle moved first, turning to face the pony in black but freezing just before anything managed to escape his mouth. He tried again, Silver waiting patiently.
“Things were bad before you came back, Silver,” he began, fidgeting. “And I don't think we would’ve made it out if you hadn’t.”
“Kindle, you don’t need me to-”
“We do.” Kindle’s words were quick, sharp, but he recoiled as soon as he spoke. “You always know what to do, and no matter how bad it gets you’ve always got a plan, and me I’m just… I felt powerless. A lot of ponies were hurt and I can’t help but think if… I mean, I’ve had training, but…”
“Kindle?” Silver watched the bat pony carefully as he swayed from side to side, fiddling with his own hooves, before Kindle finally gave a strong huff and looked to Silver with lethal intensity.
“Will you teach me? I want to learn how to be you.”
The wind kicked up. Silver stood silent, the cloak whipping around him like wild limbs, and Kindle standing defiant against the chill of the mountain air. The words echoed in his mind, louder each time. Were it not for Kindle’s fierce gaze holding him in place, the knot in Silver’s chest would have sundered his will. Instead, he spoke in a slow, measured tone.
“I can teach you some things.”
Kindle gave a wide smile, responding to Silver’s polite grin by thanking him, rushing back to the Tornado. Silver stood on the cliff, alone. Once Kindle was out of sight the wind kicked up again. Silver chuckled at each forceful gust of air, turning to gaze at the night time horizon and the field of stars above.
“I know you’re there, old friend,” he said to the wind. “I can feel you, and I’m sure you must be disappointed in me, huh? After all, it’s hard to find anyone crazy enough to want to do what we do.”
Again, the wind struck him, but Silver’s gloved hooves dug into the stone as he relished the chill of a familiar night, a comfort in recent days filled with turmoil.
“I could, you know? Pass the torch, teach him all I know, spend my days with Rarity knowing someone else is taking the risk, and I know he could do it, too. Kindle is strong. He knows right from wrong, and he knows what he wants. He wants to protect ponies. He wants to stop Shield Wall. He wants a lot of what I wanted, and what you wanted, too, but he’s capable of so much more beyond us, beyond me. Beyond the Ghost.”
Again, the chill returned, forcing a smile from Silver. “I never had a choice, did I? I needed a way to fight back, a way to protect those I loved. You gave me all of that, and in return all you asked was that I continue the fight, because after losing so much how could I refuse? I needed something to follow, something to be. I needed a purpose, but you never told me what it would cost to be this monument to justice, never once thinking about everything we’d lose along the way, everything you gave up. Everything I fought to get back.
“Kindle doesn’t deserve that. Kindle has friends, joy, and the comfort of knowing he isn’t alone in the world. All the talk about the discourse, that was your life, happily sacrificing everything to uphold some moral victory over the world’s evils, even your own family. You abandoned Alate, Darrox. I abandoned Abby, and it took Gorn’s death to show me just how wrong we were. No lofty ideal is worth the lives we’ve lost. A moral victory is worthless amongst graves.”
His breath emerged as hot puffs of breath against the darkness of night, free to form their own little clouds as the wind halted, waiting for his next words.
“I won’t train him.”
Flames behind him began to flicker against the gale threatening to knock Silver to the ground, but he held firm against the ferocious gusts until calm returned to the camp.
“You’re going to have to deal with it, old friend,” Silver declared. “I’m keeping my promise to you. For as long as I live, and for as long as ponies need me, I’ll carry this cloak against anything that threatens them, but it’ll be me. Not him, not you. Me, fighting for the ones who burned so your moral victory could be achieved. No more. One day the Ghost, like me, will die, and when that day comes we’ll return to what the Ghost always should’ve been: a story. One to inspire others to fight, without losing sight of what they’re fighting for.”
At once, the wind stood still. Silver lingered where he stood for a moment, ears trained for the slightest phantasmal response from a soul long gone, lingering somewhere along the range of ash-white peaks. He smiled. Ripples of black cloth flowed behind him as Silver turned towards the Tornado, sated with silence. His eyes trained on the glimmer flowing from the captain’s cabin, and with one final look across the deck he allowed the memories of an old mentor and his burgeoning pupil play out before him, the withered smile greeting him once more.