Jynx was clingy for a while, as was Midnight, but they eventually broke out of that. With my disease out in the open, everyone except Dash and Pinkie treated me like I was made of glass. And they wondered why I didn't tell them. Jynx and I still wanted nothing to do with Celestia, but still treated her with the respect required of station. At least the urge to punch her in the face every time I saw her went away. There were some ponies that were still scared that Jynx was some kind of undead abomination, but they knew better than to say anything. I was still trying to figure out who the changeling was. I was pretty sure it was Bonbon, but still needed more proof. Of course I wasn't going to expose her, I just wanted to learn about them.
Once again, though, there was very little of interest in my life (unless you count catching Octavia with Vinyl's horn... yeah... during a party) until...
April 17, 1006,
We cheered as Twilight blew out the candles on her cake. It was her twenty fifth birthday and we were all gathered to celebrate. It was a day for celebration and joy, hell I was even getting along with Celestia (considering I can't look at her without the urge to punch her in the face, that's a big deal). She was still weak from the Nightmare, but she had regained her full size at least. I chuckled a little at the memory of Twilight standing a couple inches taller than her mother. Luna tormented her relentlessly the whole time.
“Congratulations on surviving your own tests and experiments for a quarter century.” I said, “If you're lucky you'll do it again.”
“Ha, ha.” She gave a sarcastic laugh, “You are hilarious. What ever would I do without your amazing wit?”
I smiled and said, “Your life would spiral into depression where you would fall in with drugs and alcohol. The paparazzi would report on your many anonymous flings with complete strangers. Then after a bit on “E! True Equestrian stories” you'll pull your life together and fade from the spot light until someone does a “Where are They Now” bit on you.”
“It's OK Twilight.” Pinkie placed a hoof on her shoulder, “I'll even arrange your intervention when you start selling your body to feed your rainbow dust addiction.”
Twilight's angry gaze didn't last and the laugh she was trying to hide broke through, “Thank you, Pinkie. It's good to know that when my life is a dark pit of an substance abuse and sexual depravity I’ll have somepony to pull me out of it.”
“Enough about royal prostitution, let's cut the cake and eat.” Said Rainbow.
We took that superb advice and each enjoyed a large helping of cake and ice cream. Of course the Cakes baked it special themselves, so it was awesome. Pinkies a damn fine baker, but even she can't compete with the world famous couple. They were even invited to bake the cake for the coronation of King Vincent IV of Griffany.
The party was (seeing as Pinkie arranged it) amazing, but as is normal in my life, It was interrupted. Unlike the usual monster or cataclysm, though, it was one of Celestia's guards. He strode in and whispered in Celestia's ear.
“What? Now?” She let a sigh, “Fine, tell him I'll be there Shortly.” She waited for the messenger to leave before continuing, “Twilight, I'm sorry but the Griffin ambassador has arrived.”
“We shall prepare.” Luna said and took off.
“Shiro, Captain Armor,” Celestia said, “You need to come as well. Everypony else enjoy the party.”
I was about to ask why, but decided against it. If she was bringing Shining and me it was important, and I had a feeling I knew why. So Shining and I followed the princess out of the ball room and through the castle.
I was singing on the way, “Dig through the ditches, And burn through the witches, I slam in the back of my, Dragula”
“What are you singing?” Shining asked.
“Dragula by Rob Zombie For some reason I've had it stuck in my head all day.” I said and went back to singing.
We made our way to a room with a large round table, and two griffins sitting. One was a male with dark red plumage and black fur. The other was a female with white feathers and orange, tiger-striped fur (I instantly liked her). Luna arrived with the night guard captain.
The male griffin stood and greeted us, “Your majesties, I am Lord Tiber, the personal adviser to King Vincent IV. My companion is General Saga, of the Royal Griffin Army.”
Celestia spoke, “Welcome to Equestria Lord Tiber, General Saga. I am Princess Celestia, and this is Shining Armor, captain of my guard.”
Luna took over, “We are princess Luna, and this is Captain Lazy Night, of the Night Guard.”
It was my turn, “I am Lord Shirotora, guardian of Equestria.”
The griffin general raised an eyebrow and said, “You are a white tiger who's name means white tiger. That as ridiculous as a griffin named Griffin.”
“General!” Tiber snapped, “My apologies. The good general is often a little too honest.”
“That's alright,” I said, “I admire that. One of my good friends is the same way.”
Celestia put the meeting back on topic, “As you know this is a call for assistance in war. Last summer, My uncle Balder contacted Lord Tora to sent a warning. Lord Tora, if you would tell Lord Tiber what Balder said to you.”
I repeated as best I could what I was told. By the time I was done I could see the fear threatening to over take Tiber's face. Shining, Captain Night, and General Saga all had grim expressions.
“The letter he gave me had specific instructions that I share it's contents with the leaders of the armies that will fight.” Celestia said.
“Then why am I here?” I asked.
“I'll get to that.” Said Celestia, “The letter says that an army of creatures will form at the base of Sky Peak. They will launch an attack on Canterlot and destroy the city along with all living within. We won't let them attack. I plan on staging a preemptive strike the moment they gather. I'm asking King Vincent to lend aide. We are in need of soldiers and few are as skilled as those of the Griffin Kingdom.”
“The king assumed you might ask for reinforcements and has authorized me to grant 150 troops, but if things are as bad as you say we may need to send more. I will speak with my king and we should have your army in two weeks.”
Celestia sighed, “I truly wish you could have arrived a month ago. The war is suppose to happen in one week.”
“A week?” I asked, “Why the hell did you wait this long!”
“She didn't.” Lore Tiber said sounding upset at my tone, “We received the request six months ago, but we had an issue that need to be resolved before we could answer. I'm sorry Princess, but it will take five days just to arrive.”
“What if you could speak to your king now?” I asked.
He said, “If I could we could get an army here just in time, but...”
I cut him off and held out my crystal phone, “Here, focus on your king and you will be able speak to him.”
He took it and used it to relay the message to his king who promptly agreed to send one thousand.
“That is a fascinating device.” Tiber said.
“It's crys-tec. My wife discovered it and has made several inventions using it. We collaborated on some, like this.” I held up my right arm and activated my light sword.
The general seemed very interested in it, “You have a talent for making weapons.”
I explained “I use to be human. An alien species that excelled at warfare. That includes making weapons of war.”
“I'm glad you mentioned that, Shiro” We all looked at Celestia confused, “Because the letter says that the Equestrian forces are to be led by you.”
“What? Me?” I was stupefied , “I don't know how to lead an army. I don't think that's a good idea.”
“I don't like the idea either, but I trust my uncle's judgment, General Tora.” She said, “So General, do you have any input.”
I was quiet for a moment. The only thought in my mind was WHAT THE FUCK! The only armies I've ever lead were GDI and Nod. I had to think for a moment before I answered Celestia, but an idea hit me like a brick. A project I had been working on for a few months.
“Luna!” I said forgetting I was suppose to be formal at things like this, “Take me home for a sec.”
She looked at me like was craze(er), “O...K... We suppose you need to retrieve something.”
In a flash we were gone. I ran to the lab, grabbed a case and Luna zapped us back. The others were beyond confused.
“I have something that may help us.” I said holding up the case, “Follow me.”
I left the room heading down to the training area. I walked at a rather brisk pace as I was kind of eager to test it myself. Demonstrating an untested weapon to royalty and foreign officials is good right? That's why they say hindsight is twenty-twenty. Anyways, I placed the case on the ground and opened it, pulling out my secret weapon and showing it to them.
I them explained to them what it was, “This is the Mark-1. A prototype weapon that fires a concentrated beam of light called a laser that burns whatever you point it at. Captain Armor, do we have any plate armor that we can destroy?”
“Yeah.” He said before he went to a closet and pulled out a set.
“Can you place the armor on the dummy please.” I said indicating one of the bow training targets.
After he put the steel on the dummy he returned behind me. I pointed the weapon at the target and pulled the trigger. A white beam of light shot out and in under a second melted through the armor and set the dummy on fire.
“Holy crap!” Captain Night spoke for the first time.
Celestia looked at the target and said, “How many ponies will you need to produce one thousand in a week?”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
April 20, 1006,
We were ahead of schedule. We already had 726 rifles, and several other designs I had were in production. The day after the meeting Paruk, a representative of the Kras Dragon clan, came to discuss an alliance (taking a pony form of course). It turned out it was the same one that Fluttershy stared down to protect her friends. At first I thought thee might be a problem because of that, but it turned out he actually respected her for her courage. They even ended up talking for a bit and put aside their past differences.
Over all preparations for the battle to come were going well. The only problem, the disease was making me very weak. There were some days I woke up and had trouble getting out of bed because I felt like I weighed a ton. The doc said I most likely had a month or two. It was advancing a little faster than usual. It didn't bother me because I was probably going to die in a few days anyway. If I was going to die, it would be protecting my loved ones.
The door to the office I was using burst open and Dr. Petri ran in with a smile on his face.
“I did it!” He said.
“You found a cure?” I asked hopefully.
“Kind of.” He answered, “I found out where to get one. There is an ancient vault from the time when King Chronos and Queen Gaea ruled. I know where it is and even have the key, but it can only be used by one who has a great need. Inside the vault is a lost element, The Flask of Cleansing Water. It has the power to cure any ailment.”
This was it. I was going to live after all.
“What are we waiting for?” I said, “Let's go.”
“I have a carriage waiting for us.” He said.
We hurried to the carriage and quickly took off. As we flew Dr. Petri told me what was going on. He pulled out a n ancient stone disk.
“This is the key.” He said, “All you have to do is put it on the pedestal and turn it. We're here.”
“That was quick.” I looked and sure enough we landed just below Canterlot.
“Come.” Said the doc, leading me to the mountain.
We made out way to an area of incredibility smooth stone. I looked around for the vault he mentioned, but saw nothing.
He saw my confusion and said, “Just wait.”
The sun made it's way to the highest point in the sky. As soon as the mountains shadow vanished, the rock face shimmered and vanished. In it's place was, as the doc said, a pedestal and door.
“Here,” Petri Dish gave me the key, “Do just as I told you.”
I nodded and made my way toward the ancient structure. This is it. I'm going to survive this thing. I'm going to get to see Razor and Midnight grow up and get married. I get to see another hearth warming. I’ll get to spoil my grand kids. I stood at the pedestal and carefully placed the disk in the indent and turned the key.
A glow appeared on the key as the door started rumbling. The glow formed the words “Dimitte omnia spes”. I looked at them in confision. It made no sense for that to be there. The door fell the rest of the way and a familiar screaching came from within. I realised why it said that. “Dimitte omnia spes” “Forsake all hope”.
I ran back to Dr. Petri and said, “Doc, that's not a vualt! It's...”
A sharp pain ran through my chest. I looked down and saw a dagger.
“A door to Tartarus.” Dr. Petri said, “The Heralds of the Shadow thank you.”
I fell to my side, my entire body erupted in a torrent of pain as if every bone in my body was being broken. I heard his laugh grow quieter as I screamed out in pain. I felt the world start to grow colder and dimmer. The last thing I saw before I lost conciousness was a familiar pink blur.
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Saga is the property of Levoanp
Lazy Night is the property of Soulless DCLXVI