//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Equestria Noir Case 19 "Womb of the Ocean" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Epilogue Perspective: Private Eye “So you see your majesty, that’s what happened,” I explained as I stood on the shore. Poseidon was there, wading in the shallow waters of the ocean. Twilight and I had arranged a meeting using Raequa as a liaison. Poseidon’s expression through the story of what happened was a mixture of guilt and self-loathing. “To think that my most trusted magician would do such a thing,” Poseidon said sadly, as Raequa swam to her father and gently put a comforting hoof on him. “I owe your people a great debt,” Poseidon said, but then his eyes turned to Twilight. Who was walking here with Reeflet on her back. The seapony was looking away from her father in shame. Twilight gently set Reeflet down on the shore. She risked a glance at her father, but then returned to looking down at her tail. “Reeflet,” Poseidon said, swimming as best he could to her, “I was so worried.” “I caused all of this,” Reeflet said sadly, “I should’ve listened to you, daddy.” “No, my dear,” Poseidon said, looking at his daughter with kind eyes. “I should’ve listened to you. All you wanted to do was see the surface. I destroyed your dream because I was afraid of losing you.” “Daddy,” Reeflet said, tears in her eyes. “I think both parties are at fault here,” I said knowingly, “but let’s start mending the bridges now.” I reached under Reeflet with my nose and lifted her onto my back. I then walked over and gently slid the sea pony into the water. She met the water and spent a few minutes getting used to her tail again. She surfaced after two minutes and swam to her father. The father and daughter embraced each other tightly. Tears filled Reeflet’s eyes as she gave many apologies to him. Poseidon was doing his best not to cry as well. Raequa then swam to us and said, “We will make sure Saladin never harms anypony ever again. I’m sorry for yelling at you too earlier.” She bowed her head in apology. Twilight shook her head and replied, “You were just worried about your sister. I would’ve said the same things in your position.” Poseidon and Reeflet swam up to the three of us and Poseidon spoke with a small smile, “My daughter and I have reached a compromise. I have decided that in a few years’ time she will be able to return to shore as an ambassador from our people to yours.” “That’s great!” Twilight smiled. “This means you’ll get to see the surface again Reeflet!” Reeflet gave a small smile and wiped her eyes, “That’s all I really wanted in the end. Nor- I mean, Saladin was only an excuse. I hope one day to make my people proud.” She bowed her head in respect. “May our people find favor in your eyes after this.” Twilight and I bowed in turn. Raequa swam away, Reeflet at her side as they dived into the ocean. Twilight looked over at Poseidon “I shall inform Princess Celestia of all that occurred. Now, I believe you owe my coltfriend an explanation.” Poseidon looked at me for a moment, then slowly nodded, “Very well, I shall explain why our people reacted as we did, but you may want to discard your trench coat. It’s a bit of a swim.” Here we go again…. __________________________________________________________ Perspective: Fancypants I looked over at Fleur as she went about packing to leave. I had heard what had happened with her and Reeflet. I watched my beautiful wife and wondered just how long she had been harboring those memories. She had noticed my staring and she walked towards me. She spoke in that charming accent of hers, “Mon amour, I know what you are thinking.” “Are you really well, my love?” I asked, “After all, what Sacred Blue did to you…” “Shh,” she said, putting a hoof on my cheek, “there is no need for guilt to enter your heart, mon amour.” “Had I known what had happened,” I sighed. “I wouldn’t have ignored you for so long.” “Remember Trottingham?” she asked. “How could I forget?” I said, smiling at the memory. “I fought for your honor after all.” She put a hoof on where she got hit by that bullet. The scar had long healed but I could tell she sometimes felt the pain. My beautiful wife, marred by the weapon of a mad pony the memory still stung. “The Fancypants I fell in love with,” Fleur said, gazing at me adoringly, “never left me, he was always here. Just as he is now,” she put a hoof on my chest. “Remember how we met?” “How could I forget?” I laughed. “I tried to ask you to dine with me in Prench.” Fleur giggled and recalled, “You said, ‘may I eat your shoes Madame?’ It was quite charming.” “Fleur, I never thought to ask, what was the name of the mare who saved you?” I inquired. She tapped her hoof on her chin in thought and said, “I think she was a friend of the pegasus who told you to ask me in the first place.” She then tilted her head. “I know her name was Rainbow… Rainbow Shine?” “That would be it indeed,” I said. “Whatever happened to her?” Fleur shook her head and replied, “I do not know, I had tried to look her up but all I could find was that she was trying out to be a Wonderbolt. She had a foal however, and that changed everything.” “I’m guessing she knows full well how much life can change course quickly,” I replied. She smiled at me and said, “Also how much pleasure it can give without warning.” She then walked up to me and pressed her lips to mine. I tasted sweet Fleur and held her in my forelegs. I almost lost her once; I’m never going to lose her again… ___________________________________________________________ Perspective: Private Eye I swam to keep up with Poseidon as he led me to a private room in his palace. The Seaponies were in a much cheerier mood with the return of their princess. Some were still weary at me for whatever reason, but I wasn’t focused on them. I was focused on finding answers. Poseidon led me to a darker cavern in his castle and used his horn to light he way. Before me was a strange mural, filled with all manner of pictures and carvings on it. Poseidon pointed his trident like a teacher would at a chalkboard. He pointed to a picture of ponies in a kingdom, happily dancing around a single tower. It was originally part of the Unicorn Kingdom, but we seceded after the Windigo incident in order to gain our independence.” “We have a play we do every Hearth’s Warming Eve,” I pointed out “They never explained what happened to the old kingdoms.” “Most of the old kingdoms died out or eventually merged into Equestria at a later date,” Poseidon explained, then he pointed to another picture of the ponies in prosperity. “Ours was an island nation my father ruled. We were a prosperous kingdom, our location at sea made us invaluable to trade between the nations. Our wealth was quite grand and our people strong.” “So what changed a thousand years ago?” I asked, almost scared to hear the answer. “The grey came,” Poseidon said ominously, he pointed to a picture of a strange unicorn. Unlike the other unicorns in the picture, he was slightly taller, clad in armor and his eyes were green like Saladin’s. “What is he?” I asked. “Nopony remembers nowadays,” Poseidon explained. “I was too young at the time to remember all of the details, but ponies that were alive at the time called him the grey. He had a name, but to say it aloud is considered a grave misjudgment.” Why did he look familiar? Poseidon went on, “The grey came from a kingdom across the sea to the far north. He gave my father, the king at the time, an ultimatum. He would have us surrender our kingdom or he would use his dark power to destroy it for good.” “Judging by the state of things,” I said, gesturing to the ruined cavern around me, “he refused.” “Indeed, and not quietly either,” The seapony king said, gesturing to a depiction of a battle. I noticed an odd detail, on the unicorn king’s soldiers, the carvings all were covered in crystal. “They came as if out of nowhere. Mighty armies of ponies unlike anything my father has ever seen. They had the ability to turn their skin into a substance harder than steel. Our blades shattered as we tried to fight back.” I swam up for a closer look at the ponies, I felt… Crystaallsssss…. “Did you hear that?” I asked Poseidon. The king shook his head and replied with concern, “I have heard nothing, are you alright?” I nodded and said, “Yeah, maybe I’m just woozy after the battle. So what happened next? Did you find a way to counter attack?” “We did,” Poseidon nodded. “We discovered that while blades were ineffective, they still could fall to blunt weaponry. We swapped swords for hammers and magic to counter them. Our victory was near, until…” He gestured to the next picture. It showed the unicorn king standing on a rock outcropping. My eyes grew wide in horror as I saw, that around his neck was Tenacity. This guy had my power, and he used it… I looked at the rest of the shot; it showed the ponies of the kingdom being overrun by the soldiers. Many were being killed by black weaponry held by the invaders. Poseidon went on gravely, “The power of the element increased their strength tenfold. We were no match for them. Our people were slaughtered in the street like animals.” Death…. So much death and pain, caused by my element of Tenacity. Did it really hold such dark power inside itself, or was it simply this grey’s power that tenacity unlocked unknowingly? Either way, I felt a deep feeling of guilt in my heart after looking at the picture. Poseidon looked at me somberly and said, “Now you see the heavy burden you bear.” “How was he stopped?” I asked. “He couldn’t have fought forever.” “Legend has it,” Poseidon explained, gesturing to the image of the unicorn king ,“that a hero came from Equestria and stole the element of Tenacity from him. That hero disappeared and his identity was lost… THIEEFF!!!!!!!!!! I felt a splitting headache right then. What sounded like a thousand voices screaming at once rang in my ears. I covered my ears and flailed like a possessed pony. Trying desperately to relieve the pain in my mind. I closed my grey eyes… _________________________________________________________ When I opened them I saw a strange sight. There standing before me, was the unicorn king from the picture. He was tall, clad in armor and a long red fur lined cape. His coat was a dark grey and his eyes were the same color as Saladin’s. His grin bore sharp fangs and his wild black mane seemed to flow with an unseen breeze. “Thief….” That was all he said, his voice as sinister as a snake. What was he? What did he want from me? I watched his strangely curved horn glow with dark magic. I recognized it, the magic that Saladin used. “Stay your hooves, Sombra!” I heard a voice cry behind me. Suddenly a unicorn was standing before me. He was about my height, his coat was a dark grey as well. His eyes were a deep brown, Nocturne? No, this guy had a black mane and was skinnier. He looked more like a scholar then the lunar stallion. “Back away, Eclipse! We shall have what is rightfully ours!” The dark being declared. “You shall not have this one,” Eclipse said, his voice speaking in a similar manner to Nocturne. “This stallion is well protected by us!” “Your line cannot hope to stop me!” Sombra cried. “For my return is nigh! I shall take dear Aria’s heart and use it to take back what was stolen from me!” “Geez, they never seem to learn do they?” I looked over in shock. There was Littlepip, my descendent standing beside Eclipse. The small framed mare glared at Sombra. “And Velvet Remedy says I’m the one with problems.” “Littlepip?” I asked in shock “How are you here?” “Because fair Private,” I turned and saw Nocturne, clad in his lunar armor walking towards me. “Within every element of harmony…” He turned and gestured to a small army of ponies behind me “Lie the spirits of everypony who used it.” “But Littlepip isn’t born yet,” I pointed out. “It also has those who will use it,” Littlepip shrugged. “That or you’re just going crazy again.” “You are definitely my descendent.” I said as I rolled my eyes and turned back to Sombra. “I may not know all that’s going on, but you’re not using Tenacity’s power for evil ever again!” Suddenly everypony around me started chanting. They were the ones that sang whenever I used Tenacity. I had no idea what was being said the strange tongue, but it caused Sombra to screech in pain. I watched as a bright light shone around me in the dark world. When it was over I stood among all the ponies that have, and would carry Tenacity in their bloodlines. They all closed their eyes one by one, slowly fading. Littlepip remained, her smile evident, “You’ve learned a lot since we met last.” “I have to ask Littlepip,” I inquired to the little mare, “does Tenacity have dark magic in it?” She nodded. “Left over from Sombra’s time with it.” She frowned slowly. “You cannot let him have it again. You must not let anypony else in power use it either. One day, you will be tempted to give it to Celestia and have her use it. You must not, I implore you, Private. You must not let my future come about.” “Your futur-“ I was cut off when a bright light shone again… ______________________________________________________ I blinked open and saw Poseidon looking at me worriedly. “Are you well, Private?” he asked. “I’m fine,” I replied as i shook my head and rubbed it a little. “Just a very weird dream is all.” “Very well,” Poseidon said. “Now I must ask you to not keep that element here any longer. I fear how my people will react if they know I showed you all this.” I nodded and we both swam out, not exactly sure of all that was going on. Littlepip said I was supposed to keep her future from coming about? I wonder what future could be so terrible that she would want me to stop it? Would Celestia really want Tenacity? I hoped it would never come to that. I pray it will never come to that. Tenacity is my burden to bear. I never asked for it, but I shall carry it’s power wisely. _________________________________________________________ Fleur and Fancypants left for Canterlot. Apparently their foal's room was being built and they wanted to be there for its completion. Right now I stood on the deck of the S.S. Water Glide with Grandma in front of me. Twilight and I were just about to see her off. “Are you sure you have to go Grandma?” I asked her. Her green eyes closed and a smile came to her face. “As much as I’d like to spend more time with you. I have other business to attend to” she replied. “It was a pleasure meeting you,” Twilight said, her smile evident. “The pleasure was all mine, dear,” Grandma answered, her green eyes fixed on my marefriend. “I’m happy to see that Private has found such a mare to be his special somepony.” Both Twilight and I blushed at the comment. Grandma said teasingly, “I’m so glad that I have lived long enough to see my grandson find love.” “Grandma,” I groaned, all too similar to when Dad teases me. Grandma then walked to me and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back just as tight. She said to me, I could tell she was fighting to keep in control, “I’m so proud of you, Private. The way you handled yourself, and inspired such loyalty in Twilight. I can say with a firm heart that Irenius and Sparrow have given me a true blessing.” I held Grandma for a moment and replied, “I’m glad that I got to see you. I hope one day, we can all be a family again.” “That’s a long ways away, Private,” Grandma said, breaking the embrace and putting a hoof on my cheek. “I shall do everything in my power to aid you from the shadows. One day, I will get to meet Tailspin and Cross. I look forward to that day with great hope.” With that, Grandma met her sky chariot and flew away with a pair of pegasi carriers. I waved goodbye as Twilight did as well. Twilight then looked at me and asked, “You and she were close?” “Yeah,” I said, smiling a little, “she’s one of the reasons I became a detective. She was the one who taught me how to think like I do. I owe her so much.” I then closed my grey eyes in sadness. “I miss her though.” I felt Twilight press her muzzle into my neck. I smiled and rested my head on top of hers. Twilight always seemed to know what I needed to keep from breaking down. Just one of the many reasons why I love her so… __________________________________________________________ Perspective: Twilight Sparkle I left Private when we got back to Ponyville. He had to pick up Tailspin from his stay at Rainbow’s place. I yawned widely as I entered my home. It was late at night when we got back. Spike was probably in bed right now. As I entered my room I saw Spike, just as predicted, sleeping in his basket. He was starting to get too big for it. Maybe I should consider giving him an actual bed? Good Celestia I was starting to sound like mom when I was little. I used my magic to tuck in Spike a little better. He groaned and curled up tighter in his sleep. I laughed and found my bed. It was then that I noticed a letter lying on my bed. I lifted the note on top of it to eye level and read it aloud softly. My faithful student Twilight, I felt a strange surge of magic today, and I heard about what happened on that ship. I must say you and Private continue to impress me. Knowing you as I do, I’ll bet your curiosity has led you to want to research Tenacity. I have no intentions on deterring you from your venture. In fact, I believe this would be a fine clue for you. Enclosed is a picture made long ago. I believe you will recognize the ponies in it. Your teacher always, Princess Celestia I gave the letter a weary look. A picture that would help me find out about Private’s power? Well, I’m always eager to see…. My eyes grew wide as I pulled out the picture. It wasn’t so much a picture as it was a detailed painting folded up on age old paper. I saw six ponies in it. One was a yellow earth pony stallion with long orange hair and deep green eyes. Beside him was a pink earth pony mare with a long magenta mane and soft glowing blue eyes. No way! They looked just like Applejack and Pinkie Pie! Well, if Applejack was a stallion. I then saw to the right, a cyan pegasus stallion with a long dark blue mane. He didn’t look exactly like Rainbow Dash but he had a similar cutie mark. Beside him was a butter yellow pegasus mare with a shorter pink mane then Fluttershy’s. The contrast between them was quite vast, but the artist depicted them holding one another. They must've been close. The middle couple interested me the most. The stallion resembled Rarity, with a white coat and a long violet mane. He seemed to have a stoic depiction here. Then the mare was the same one I saw earlier! She looked exactly as she did before! Who was she? That’s when I noticed one part wasn’t completely unfolded. I used my magic to unfold the painting and saw a sorry sight. There was one more unicorn; he was a deep grey with a long black mane and soft blue eyes. He looked on the others with such sorrow. As if he wanted to be a part of them too. What did Celestia want me to get out of this and why did the unicorn look so much like Private?