Chapter 12.
Comet and the others were in Shields hospital room hoping that the dark stallion would pull through. The doctor soon entered with a grim look on his face. The ponies rushed up to him with hope in their eyes
“It doesn’t look good. He has several fractures in his shoulder blades and his wings are all but broken, his skull is cracked and he has severe internal bleeding.” Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Shady were weeping in the corner. “It’s a miracle that he’s even still alive after taking a fall like that.” he said nothing more and left the room. The ponies all turned back to their friend who was hooked up to a series of machines, keeping him alive. Gizmo looked at the door way to see a light brown unicorn stallion wearing a police uniform starring at the group of ponies, Gizmo got to his hooves and saluted the stallion.
“Chief Bronze sir!”
“At ease. Gizmo, I’m here on a personal visit.” he made his way over to the bedside and put his hoof on the dark pegasus’s head. “What happened to him?” Gizmo began to explain the situation with Red Wing. Bonze took his hat off and got to his hooves. “Taken out by a rapist. The Phantasm of Manehattan, the stallion that had survived the worst this world has to offer only to be taken out by some low ranked scum!” he yelled as tears began to roll down his face. The ponies looked at him in surprise. “IT’S NOT FAIR!” he yelled as he flipped over the table standing next to him. The green stallion then sat him down in a chair and attempted to calm him down. Applejack trotted over to him and put a hoof on his shoulder.
“You’re his father ain’t ya?”
“No....but I’m the closest thing he has to one.” he said as he wiped the tears away.
“Why does every-pony keep calling him the ‘Phantasm of Manehattan’? What happened to his last partner and why in the name of Celestia do you Manehattan cops keep everything from your friends!?” Twilight said as she looked at the chief with a kill that could kill a manticore. Gizmo rushed over to the lavender mare who began to cry, he held her in his hooves and tried to calm her down. Bonze let out a sigh and looked back at the ponies.
“Okay. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“How did all of this start?” Comet interjected.
“You must be his partner, Comet correct?” the mare nodded. “Shield’s father was an average cop and his mother was an attorney for criminal justice. A perfect team, his father would arrest the criminals and his mother would make sure they stayed behind bars. They were married after two years of dating. One year later they had a son. Shield was a very happy colt, he had friends, a schoolyard crush and honest parent’s who loved him with all their heart. Only few can be so lucky to have that.” his tone then dropped to a saddened level. “When Shield was eight years old, he saw his mother and father killed right in front of him. A group of thugs were trying to rob their house, Shields parent’s died protecting him. By the time I got there they had been dead for hours. I found shield curled up in a ball next to his parent’s bodies crying.”
“Oh my god.” Comet said as she felt tears in her eyes.
“I took him in and did the best I could to raise him. After that he was...different, he shunned his friends, kept quiet in school and got into a lot of fights. I tried to reach him but...nothing seemed to work.” he took a deep breath. “When he entered high school he showed interest in criminal justice. I tried to deter him from this path but, he’s stubborn just like his father was. He entered the academy when he was eighteen and graduated the following year. He was the best student they ever had, well he and Angel were.”
“Who’s Angel?” Rainbow asked.
“His old partner, he’s dead.” Comet answered.
“Yes. It was hard for him to do it, no pony saw what Angel really was and by then it was too late.”
“What are you talking about?” Comet asked. Bonze pulled out a flask and took a long swig from it.
“Do you remember the string of murders that happened a few years back?”
“Yeah they said it was the work of some stallion with PTSD.” Comet said as she searched her memory.
“What’s PTSD?” Applejack asked.
“It’s Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When some-pony goes through a traumatic experience either physical or emotional they can go insane and act out.” Gizmo explained.
“That’s what happened. Shield was investigating the murders, when he tracked him down he had an entire team ready. We called it ‘Operation Black Cloud.’” the ponies ears perked up at the name. “It was supposed to be simple, get in arrest the target and get out. Shield was squad leader for the APU at the time.” The Chiefs story began to play out in their minds.
Shield was dressed in a swat uniform and sitting on a cloud above a large ware house complex, he looked at the six stallions who were waiting for the green flag
“This is S-1 we are clear for capture. Over?” Shield said over the radio.
“Roger S-1, you and your team are clear. Over.” Shield looked back at the six stallions and waved his hoof. The seven stallions dived off the cloud and landed silently next to the ware house, as they entered. Shield heard an electronic beep.
“Shit! Get-” his warning came too late as he and his team were engulfed in a cloud of smoke and fire. Shield watched helplessly as his teammates were burned alive, he touched his face to feel a warm liquid running down his face. He looked at his hooves and saw they were red with blood, his teammates blood. He felt a blunt object hit his head and he soon blacked out. Shield awoke to find himself shackled to a wall and his wings were pierced with hooks, he heard a voice coming from the darkness.
“Not looking too good are you Shield?”
“Who are you!?” he yelled.
“You don’t remember me? I’m hurt I thought we were friends.” the voice said in a mocking tone. Soon a dark blue pegasus stallion with bright yellow eyes stepped into the light. Shield’s eyes couldn’t believe it, they didn’t want to believe it. “Long time no see partner.” the stallion said with a smile.
“Angel? Why? You were my partner, my best friend!”
“Tell me do you remember that case when that mother smothered her own colt just because it wouldn’t stop crying?” Shield nodded reluctantly as the memories started to flash before his eyes. “Some ponies can’t handle things like that! It broke me, so now I’m gonna break everything else until everything is as fractured as I am!” he said with an insane laugh.
“You’re insane!” Angel kicked him in the stomach.
“You’re in no position to be making wise cracks especially when we have company.” Shield looked at him in confusion, Angel turned on the light switch to reveal a shackled yellow earth pony mare with a blue mane. Her mouth was tied and she had tears in her eyes.
“Flora!” Shield looked at his former friend with tears in his eyes. “Please, don’t do anything to her. She’s done nothing wrong! Just let her go.” Angel put a gag in Shields mouth and trotted over to the mare, he withdrew a large knife and held it against her throat. Shield was thrashing in his restraints letting out cries of agony as he felt the hooks dig into his wings. Angel the proceeded to lightly cut the mare along her arms and abdomen. Flora tried to cry out in pain but the gag muffled any cries from escaping her lips. “Time to end this.” Angel said calmly, he raised the knife and brought the metal blade down into the mares head. Flora stopped screaming, breathing and moving all together. Shield was wailing in agony and cursing at the stallion. Angel trotted over to the table and withdrew a small white item. “You know what’s the best part of this?” he then moved the item in front of the stallion. It was a pregnancy test that showed positive.
Shield stopped moving at the sight and just stood there stunned. “That’s right, you were going to be a father. Congratulations.” he said in a mocking tone. Shield began to thrash again, he could feel the hooks tear into his wings, he didn’t care. The shackles broke from the wall and the dark stallion broke free from his chained prison and tackled the pegasus to the ground. He reached for the knife and began to thrust it into the blue stallions chest, he lost track of how many times he stabbed him before he stopped. Shield limped over to Flora and cried as he closed her eyes. He wrapped her up in a sheet and lifted her onto his back. He looked outside to see at least a dozen police ponies staring at him. As he made his way out of the door he collapsed on the street.
The brown stallion finished his story and looked back at the ponies who all had tears in their eyes. “He soon resigned from the APU and took a beat as a normal cop, he never worked with another partner again until you.” he said as he looked at the sobbing mare. “Shield was decorated for his actions, but they didn’t mean anything to him. He lost his parents, his lover and his best friend who’m he killed. It fills my heart with as much pride as sadness to see that he’s come this far.” he said as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“Why? Why does he keep doing it?” Rarity asked fighting through the sobs.
“So he can make sure no pony has to go through the pain he’s had to endure. That’s enough motivation for him to go to hell and back every day.”
“Why didn’t he tell us?” Twilight said with tears still streaming down her face.
“He didn’t want your pity or to feel bad for him, he blames himself for Flora’s death. If she hadn’t become involved with him then she might still be alive. I’ve told him that’s B.S. at least a thousand times now, but he won’t have it. He always says if you have some-pony you want to protect then you keep them at a distance.”
“He told us that.” Twilight said.
“And tonight only makes that point all too clear.” he said as he looked at the sobbing white mare.
“That’s crazy! I love Rose and I want to keep her close and-” Comet was cut off by Bronze raising a hoof.
“You’re still young inspector and you don’t understand what a cop’s life is like.”
“What is it really like then?”
“Pain. Plain and simple. We inflict it, we stop it and we endure it with hope that eventually it will disappear. Shield knows better than any-pony that that’s impossible, but I have a feeling that the skies would turn dark if he ever accepted it.” as he finished his statement he heard the heart monitor beginning to flat line.
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Shield woke up in a void of darkness, he saw a glowing orange light and the figure of a large grey pegasus stallion sitting by it, the dark stallion cautiously made his way over to the warm fire. The stallion sitting down looked back at him and smiled.
“Hello son.” he said with a warm smile.
“D-dad? If you’re here then that means I’m-”
“Yes. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault, I should have been-”
“Stop blaming yourself for everything!” he spat out.
“It was my fault that I’m dead and-”
“No, I never wanted any of this to be apart of your life. I’m sorry son.”
“What?”
“We never wanted you to see the things I have had to.”
“We?” as he said that a yellow earth pony mare appeared next to him. Shield looked at her with tears in his eyes.
“Flora....I’m so-” the yellow mare put a hoof to his lips.
“Shhh. It’s okay.” she said as she wrapped him in a hug. Shield began to cry as he felt the mares warm embrace.
“No, no it’s not. If you never met me then-”
“Then I wouldn’t have died? We both know that no-pony lives forever.” Shield was about to protest, but let it go. “I made my decision to fall in love with you and I wouldn’t change that for anything in the world. The time I spent with you was the happiest times of my life.” the mare said as she put a hoof to his face and looked at him with tear filled eyes.
“I still could have been there for you more I-” Flora then slapped the stallion.
“Shut it! What happened to the stallion that I knew and loved?” she said in a sad tone. “You used to be the stallion that could handle anything, the stallion who’s gone through the worst things in this world. What happened to the stallion who swept me off my hooves and was going to father our child?” she said as she began to weep. The memories came flooding back to the stallions mind. He then sat down next to his father, Flora did the same.
“I-I don’t know.”
“Do you remember how we met?” she said as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“Yeah....I was investigating a break in, you thought I was a burglar and smashed a flower pot over my head. What is with mares and hitting me over the head with things?” he said with a small laugh.
“You just have that look about you, I’m sure Rarity would agree.” she said with a laugh.
“Rarity....she’s....my mare friend and-”
“She’s waiting for you out there!”
“She almost died because of me! I’m just a complication for their lives I-” he was stopped by Flora slapping his face a second time. “Ouch!”
“Shut up! You’re not a complication, you give them hope and you protect them from the the horrors of the criminal world, your world! Rarity loves you and you love her!” she yelled. Shield looked at her in shock as she began to fade. “I have to go, just do me one thing. Forgive yourself, if not for you then for me. Remember that I’m always there for you and that I love you.” she put a fading hoof against his cheek, Shield held it there as the mare vanished. The grey stallion trotted over and put a hoof on his shoulder.
“I know how you feel son. I’ve never forgiven myself for leaving you alone in this world.” the stallion then wrapped him in a hug.
“It’s okay dad-”
“No. You had to grow up all on your own, I’ve missed so much in your life; Flora, graduation, your first case. I’m so sorry.” Shield held his father and began to cry. “I’m so sorry that we both died so young. You’re my son and I know nothing about you!” he sobbed.
“Well let’s talk.” Shield said as he sat down next to his father.
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The hospital room was filled with doctors and nurses. Twilight and the others were ushered out of the room, only Rarity and Bronze remained. Nurse Red Heart soon arrived with the defibrillator.
“We’ve got no pulse! Get the crash kit.” she yelled as she put the two panels onto the stallions chest. “Clear!” the ponies saw the stallions body jolt. “Still nothing, going to two!” the nurse turned a dial and placed the panels back on the stallions chest. “Clear!” the body jolted a second time. “Nothing, going to maximum output.” the mare turned the dial all the way to the right shocked the stallion one last time.
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Back inside the void Shield had just finished his tale.
“Wow....I missed a lot. I’m sorry son I-”
“Dad, I understand what you and mom did. You gave your lives so that I could live and ....I forgive you.” he said as he looked back at his father and smiled. Shield felt a sharp pain in his chest. “Gah! What was that?” he looked at his hooves and saw that they started to fad from his sight. His father put a hoof on his shoulder and smiled.
“Looks like it’s not your time yet. Have a good life son and if you love some-pony then hold them close and never let go, protect them with everything you have.” Shield could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes. Shield felt himself fading. “I’m proud to call you my son.” the dark stallion could feel himself being drawn out of the void. “Thank you for forgiving me.....I can finally see your mother again.”
Shield could feel pain rushing through his body, his eyes snapped open and he sat up on the bed. He saw a room filled with doctors and nurses, he looked over in the corner to see Rarity rushing over to him with tears in her eyes. He smiled at her as she wrapped her hooves around him. He returned the hug, soon the other ponies came bursting into the room and rushed over to their battered friend. Sweetie belle and the other foals hoped onto him and started to cry.
“Help......still....injured!” he breathed out. They suddenly released their grip and looked at him with tear filled eyes. “Are you...okay..Shady?” he said as he looked at the blue colt.
“Y-yeah. Thanks to you.” the colt said as he wiped the tears away.
“Good. Rarity?”
“A lot better now.” she said as she trotted over to the stallion and slapped him across the face. “Don’t you EVER do that to me again!”
“Ouch!” he said as he rubbed the sore spot with his hoof, he then noticed the brown stallion smiling at him “Chief? What are you doing here?”
“Gizmo told me what happened and I came as soon as I heard.” he bit his lip and looked at the stallion. “I..I told them everything.” Shield’s eyes shrank.
“Everything?”
“Yes.” Shield breathed a heavy sigh at this and looked back at the ponies who all shared the same look of sadness. Twilight stepped forward and hugged him.
“I’m sorry for the constant questions. I had no idea how much you’ve been through.” the other ponies soon joined the hug and began to cry. Shield broke the hug and looked back at them with a sad look.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but....I just couldn’t. It was too painful.” he said as he cringed at the memories. Rarity held him tightly and rubbed her hoof through his mane.
“It’s alright dear, I’m here for you.” Shield could feel tears begin to well up in his eyes, he looked back at his friends who nodded and smiled at him.