//------------------------------// // Chapter 26 // Story: The Vanishing Star // by NocturneD85 //------------------------------// The Vanishing Star By NocturneD --- *Click* *Plop* The sound of a luggage carrier snapped open with force as the owner sighed heavily, mumbling to herself angrily over the past few days. Her morning was terrible. Waking up to a sick fiancé next and him making up his mind that he wanted to leave. No convincing was made on her behalf. Nor had she even wanted to put up with a fight with her beloved. “What a wasted opportunity.” She growled quietly. She reached for another pile of clothing and plopped them into the suitcase. “Oh No, Swan Song. I want to leave today. Oh Wait, I got to bolt out into the busy street while I’m sick!” The white Pegasus said in a mocking tone. A second pile of clothing fit snuggly into another corner of the suitcase along with some makeup and books. She forced the top shut and zipped it closed with her teeth. “This whole trip has been one disaster after another.” Swan growled as she plopped onto the bed. She reached for her phone and checked for any messages. “You have three new messages.” The phone announced. “Hopefully not the office calling.” Swan tapped the screen. Another simple button press later, the robotic voice echoed through the tiny speaker. “First message from Bright Eyes at 8:49 AM.” The voice announced. “Uh, Hello Miss Song, this is Bright Eyes back at the lab. This morning I was trying to get into my office but for some reason my card would not let me in. Same with the others, and we really need to get this done. I know, I know, I should take it up with security but… When I went to go, they had to let me enter under guest along with... Everypony else. Just wanted to give you a heads up about what’s going on because, honestly, things have been going alright until this morning. Okay, chow.” “Next message from Bright Eyes at 10:22 AM.” The voice continued. “Hello again Swan Song, this is Bright Eyes. For some reason we cannot access our files even after the tech pony came in to try. Not sure if it is a system crash or some sort of virus. I am terribly sorry for bothering you on your vacation. I am sure we will get our systems back up and get some work done. Again, I apologize, just wanted to update you.” “Next message from Bright Eyes at 12:32 PM.” The voice echoed. “Um... Swan Song? I am not sure how to tell you this. Maybe you knew about it because you are close to Fade Away and his family but. I-I do not know how to word this... Some ponies from the Gifted School Committee came in dressed in suits and told us to stop working. Said we are going under new negotiations. Did.. Did Big Tech merge with another company? Did we get bought out? Are we in financial trouble? N-no, sorry for that. We got the chair ponies discussing with our guests at this very moment. I will keep you updated if you want. Just call me, you know my number. Bye.” “You have no more messages.” The voice finished. The white Pegasus scowled at the sudden news from her own employee. Words failed her as she tried to make any sense from the situation, as she said to herself, “Wh-what? Did Tex actually? N-no.” Swan Song paced back and forth, “N-no. No, he couldn’t have. We were on the verge of a major breakthrough.” If there was a time to go back to get this straightened out, it would be now. First instinct was to call Fade Away and Tex about the sudden news. She cursed as she flicked through her contact list and tapped her fiancé’s number. “Come on, pick up baby.” Swan held the device to her ear as she paced back and forth. Three rings was Fade’s usual limit. Then suddenly she heard a voice on the other end, “You reached my phone. Leave a message and I will get back to you sometime.” “Unbelievable.” Swan moaned, “Baby, this is Swan. Bright Eyes phoned me earlier and said something is going on back at the office that needs your father’s attention. Call me back so we can get the next train out.” She let a loud grunt as she dialed Tex’s number next. “Come on, Come on.” “Hello.” A husky voice answered on the other end. “Big Tex? Oh, Thank Faust you picked up.” Swan sighed in relief but then anxiously explained, “Apparently Bright Eyes called from the office and...” “And what?” He asked. “She said something about ponies in suits showing up and saying to stop what they were doing. As if they are going to be under new management.” Swan quickly explained with worry in her voice. “If this has something to do with the offer Sirius made, then he works quickly.” “Swan Song?” Tex asked. “Yeah?” She answered. “Sirius and the Sparkle clan made very generous offers in the past.” The husky earth pony explained. “I met with him this morning and told him I could not accept his, or his family’s offer.” “Wait. If you said no, then why are ponies at our headquarters?” The white Pegasus asked. “I am just as stumped as you are honey. So I’m going to drop everything and go back to the office.” Tex replied uneasily. “I hate to leave early on a vacation but this has to be dealt with. Don’t worry, I’m going to call our lawyers and sort this out.” “Okay then. Um. Have you heard at all from Fade Away?” Swan asked almost quietly. “Not until last night, why?” Tex asked. “Well, he went out to get Synn after Princess Cadenza and Shining Armor invited him to the ice cream social. I was just wondering if you talked to him.” She asked. “Plus he was a bit under the weather and decided he wanted to go home later today.” “N-no. He went out this morning?” Tex asked. “And he did not come back yet?” “No he didn’t. I am worried that he might have gotten lost or grew worse.” Swan trembled. “I should have gone with him.” Texan sighed, knowing not many options were laid out for him on the table. “Do you want to go out and look for him? Call Ghendi and we can look together.” “I...I. I will but, you have to get back to the office do you not?” Swan asked with urgency. “Yes, but I’m really stuck in a rut here. Are you sure he’s not still at the ice cream social or something?” Tex answered back. “He left this morning and he has been gone for hours.” Swan brought up. “Maybe he ran into his former family and wanted to talk to them?” Tex pointed out. Swan blinked twice then pondered. “I guess that’s a possibility. Um... I will go check with Mister and Misses Sparkle. You should get back and try to make sense of things.” “I will keep you updated.” Tex hung up. (Hours earlier) “Ugh...” -My head was killing me. My eyes felt like they were ready to explode out of my sockets. I wanted to throw up, and I could not see anything. My vision was nothing but pitch-blackness due to a blindfold plus my legs strapped in place, and I could barely move. I was scared, I mean afraid that I was captured for my stupidity of even going after a pony I barely know. I knew he was a powerful stallion, yet no idea what he was capable of. No idea if I was placed in a jail cell or sitting in some pony’s basement, worse probably a sex dungeon or torture chamber. -Thinking back, I should have just left Sirius alone. What was I thinking? If I confronted him what was going to happen next? Tell him to stop doing what he does? I really screwed up. I was a stick in the mud the entire trip here and could not let things be. My phone was likely gone and being looked at as I speak. There goes family justice or let alone ever understanding what went on. However, I will admit... If things were as bad as grandma Lucrecia said they were, I am glad I ran away. -I rustled around and from what I could tell I was on the cold stone floor laying on my stomach. I started twitching back and forth trying to get into a better position but it was no use. I grunted and moaned trying to support myself, to at least put my back to the wall. IF I could find one in this dark place. Thanks to the sounds of me rustling around I suddenly heard padlock doors turning and cracking open slowly. “Ugh... The hell?” *Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop* “So you finally came around?” A low gruff voice asked with no sense of fury or dread in his voice. “Where-where am I?” “Well my good pony, that is something I am not going to disclose to you until you answer a few questions.” The voice replied. “You are under citizen’s arrest after all.” “I-I... Uh...” “Yeah.. A very good excuse indeed Mr. Fade Away.” The voice chuckled, “I have half a mind to walk into that cell and beat you down myself but that won’t accomplish anything.” “Ugh...” “So... Why did you decide to pay a visit to my humble home?” The voice asked. .... What choice did I have? Yes, I could lie but what good would that do? “Well Mister Fade Away?” “Who-who am I talking to?” Fade asked. “Well, it should be quite obvious Mister Fade Away. You’re talking to I, Headmaster Sirius Sparkle, I run the school for gifted unicorns. One of the well known collectors of exotic arts, as well as the director and face of the Sparkle clan.” Sirius smirked after his proud explanation. “I am surprised that you do not know the top figures in Canterlot.” “Not really a big fan of Canterlot.” Fade remarked. “Shame really.” Sirius chuckled. “Canterlot has been getting a lot of heat these days because of the unfriendliness and superiority complex.” “Ugh... It shows.” Fade grunted as he tried to wrestle free from his restraints. “Where am I?” “A private jail to answer your question. For Equestria’s enemies like spies, traitors, you name it.” Sirius explained, “Mostly threats to the security of Canterlot.” “Or the Sparkle clan...” Fade mumbled. With an easy tilt the much taller stallion nodded in agreement. “In a nutshell, Canterlot is the Sparkle clan’s little garden. Everypony knows that Canterlot is pretty much the capital of Equestria, where our rules and regulations come from. Where most ponies know the elite, nobles, politicians and intelligent scholars reside.” “Or a bunch of assholes..” Fade grunted. Sirius let out a low chuckle, “Hate to say it but I agree with you there.” “Strange.” Fade Away grunted, “I would have thought you’d have been more prideful of Canterlot.” “Oh don’t get me wrong Mister Fade Away, I was born and raised here. I show pride in this city, but there never was a rule about liking it.” Sounds of heavy hooves approached closer and closer to the captive stallion. “I could have left anytime I wanted to and I did, but, plans change. Fate calls you back like a bass to return to its birthplace for a special purpose.” “A-and that is?” Fade tried to regain his balance by sitting up. “To lead. To be a face of something. To carry forward large ideas, to direct them and convince the ponies to make it happen.” Sirius then started to move back to his original position. “And look where it got us.” “A group of fat cats hiding behind masks and robes that take ownership, or get shares of their families accomplishments on a silver platter once a year.” Fade remarked. Sirius chuckled again, “No point in arguing with that. All for the head family so they can draw up enough money to form an excavation to dig up some fabled ancient invention Van the Great created a long time ago.” “Wh-what?” Fade asked. Sirius sighed, “Pretty much one of the reasons why the main family does what it does. Act like an accountant to keep the branch families in check so they can have shares.” With a disappointing nod he continued, “With an even trade-off. Depending on which family impresses them the most get bigger cuts of the previous statements. Just so the winning family could feel proud of themselves. If the families are lucky enough.. Or, their business that granted them such treasury that is, sometimes they go under or change the branch families for the worse.” Fade remained quiet. “And with some doomed branch family members sometimes selling off their businesses to the main family, hoping to stay afloat is why you got some branch families not wanting to fall from grace and marry into other branches.” Sirius continued talking while pacing back and forth, “Sad that there have been rivals within the branches for Celestia knows how long. Some split off to create their own branch and go through the steps, let themselves branch for a few generations or so, only to go back to square one.” “Ugh...” The captive pony moaned, “How is this even allowed?” “Because the Sparkle clan has been a strong foundation for Equestria for centuries that served royalty the longest out of any other nobles. Hell, if you really want to be blunt about it we pretty much help run this nation.” Sirius shifted his shoulders. “The Sparkle clan specializes in Equestria’s treasury, and Celestia trusts them with full authority.” “After all that, they still want more. The Sparkle clan wants a cut into Big Tech then too, huh?” Fade frowned. “The Sparkle clan makes a lot of investments other than what the branch family bring to the table. I’m surprised that your father held off on a generous offer for so long...” Sirius smirked. “Why he would refuse is a mystery to me. With the clan’s help the company can show the world the wonders.” “He told you no, huh? Well... Good for him.” Fade chuckled. “Why do you really want a stake in Big Tech?” “Should be obvious since you're such a little smart ass.” Sirius leaned his forehead against the cell door. “I get called that a lot.” Fade smirked, “Do you know how many investors and shareholders we already have? An ass load! Not one of them connected to the name Sparkle in any shape or form, and we plan to keep it that way. So if you want a cut, you and your costumed freak superiors can go buck yourselves.” With a heavy sigh, the taller pony paced back and forth slowly. “If the Sparkle clan knows anything about business it’s in getting its way. That’s why we already roused your other shareholders into letting us buy their shares.” “That’s illegal!” Fade mustered enough force from his voice box to yell. “Only for terrorism my friend.” Sirius frowned. “You might as well call the clan terrorists if it plans to do a corporate takeover.” Fade growled, “They practically own everything in Equestria!” A gruff laugh escaped from the taller unicorn, “Great minds think alike.” “You know, for the face of the clan you really don’t show much pride in defending it!” Fade followed up with his insult. “Because I am tired of the whole thing.” Sirius said coldly, “I hate the methods and the morals they practice, it was practically pounded in my head ever since I was a colt. I had to put up with it, and follow up on trying to impress them. It was nothing but backstabbing and trying to get to be the highest up on the ladder.” With a dissatisfied grunt he fumed, “You keep gaining more ground but you keep losing more and more in the process. Your past allies become your future enemies.” “Then why do you not just leave then?” Fade growled. “A bit difficult on my behalf, since I am the one pony trying to take this thing down a new path. The war still currently going on is not helping either.” Sirius growled, “Ignore the online news sites or the television reports about a settlement going on. There are still hired PMC soldiers on the front line fighting the battle for sides waving the bits around. Each side still has unfinished business. Matter of fact... I think I recall one Mister Illusive Lorenzo being a hostage at the Saddle Arabian embassy by a rebel named Malik.” I sat there silently recalling back to the grueling harsh memory of almost killed not once, not twice but over a dozen times because of the extremist wrapped in bandages. For the longest time I wondered if the Black Suns have not come to our rescue the way they did would I even still be alive? Just remembering the details of that twisted freak’s face how his body burnt and to cover it up with bandages makes my skin crawl. Just like grandma Lucrecia said, the only bad ponies in the world are those that would do anything to achieve their own goals and not care about the ones who they hurt. Malik, not only an extreme burn victim, had the ability to shoot blades out of his body and his bones made of near unbreakable steel. If I were to harness power like that, I would not have to be afraid but I was. I eventually copied the elements that made the unbreakable steel into strong supports of the prosthetic limbs. At first, it bothered me that a little bit of Malik is inside every pony that had one of these things but if I could morph something from evil into something that could help, then who am I to judge? “Matter of fact. I think you were among the hostages once the dossier popped up on the royal negations charter once that event happened.” Sirius added. “Good thing the Black Suns were there to stop Malik from achieving his goal of getting revenge for his former leader. If he gained any ground he would set sights on something else.” “And that is?” Fade asked. “Our progress, our technology, our history, our freedoms. Also the remains of the creature that attacked Canterlot all those years ago.” Sirius listed off. “Reason why, the bones are very valuable on the market and our experts believe there is still some magic on those bones. Been locked up in the vault underground ever since...” “I heard of a dragon attacking Canterlot years ago.” Fade remarked. “It took a lot of ponies to put down, even a king and queen to sacrifice themselves to save the day.” “Yes... It took many good ponies, back when the royal guard meant something. Now its just any young stallion can gain a fast rank because of a family member who writes him up a recommendation when he or she has not earned it. Hell, they can even get to a higher rank by being a princess’s play thing.” Sirius admitted. “But those good ponies that lost their lives that day to a creature that wanted to retrieve something...” “And that be?” Fade shifted himself onto his back. “I said too much then.” Sirius took a step back and sighed heavily. “Unless you tell me why you decided to visit me.” “Yet you had no problem telling me that the clan wants something from all of this?” Fade countered. “That is the main family’s desire not mine. I just want this war to end as much as everypony.” Sirius argued. “And I’ve got plans to do it with the main families funds and tax payer’s bits to make sure that Equestria comes out on top.” Fade smashed his hooves against the bars of the cell door, so strong that it shook the entire cell. The captive pony felt the slight tremor within his prison under his body. Trembling with unsteadiness as he tried to sit back up.“Just so you can be the big damn hero that made the decisions to help end the war...” Fade said sarcastically. “That will be enough.” Sirius said coldly then slowly eased back into a cool demeanor. “You’ve got two options. Give us your share of the company and you can have all the benefits with the clan backing you endlessly. Or... I let you rot here for the rest of eternity and...” Fade Away could not help but laugh at the typical stupid villainous offer. “Oh my stars... You have to be kidding me.” Soon Sirius himself started to laugh at the offer. “Yes, it is one of those kinds of deals Mister Fade Away.” “Ha. I would rather rot in this prison.” Fade laughed harder. Sirius kept a smug look as he used his own magic to lift a familiar device from his breast pocket. “Are you sure? Because I believe, that what I have here belongs to you. A very expensive cell phone.” He waved it back and forth for his own amusement. “Funny thing is. This is a nifty device. Much nicer than my cell. Top of the line?” “That’s mine...” Fade growled. “I am aware Mister Fade Away. But something strikes me odd about what you pack in this thing.” The larger unicorn tapped on the screen a few times to look at a few applications and files. “Surprisingly some of these programs would not have the capacity to fit on a phone with the memory your company offers. Amazing what technology is capable of these days.” Sirius grinned. “THAT IS MINE!” Fade shouted. “HOW DID YOU EVEN FIGURE OUT THAT IT DIDN’T HAVE A REGULAR PASSWORD SYSTEM?” “Well it’s simple. I used a child genius to hack into your phone.” Sirius chuckled. “He was a bit stubborn at first but I convinced him. You should have seen his face once I told him that it was yours after I took out the memory card.” The large unicorn then flung the cell phone directly at Fade Away’s head. With a hard hit, the phone bounced off and smacked downwards onto the hard floor. “That kid spoke very highly of you. Sweet kid too. Has potential himself because he designs mobile armor and putting the final changes on the current one. Too bad he missed the date to when the other branch members were presenting for the family.” Trying to catch his breath from his shout fest Fade Away heaved, “Luc-Lucian Lorenzo?!" “Mmhmm. Smart kid." Sirius chuckled, “But back to what we found on this little ‘’memory stick’’. You’ve got some interesting stuff in there. Something that the press might pay a pretty bit for." Fade kept heaving, “Don’t even think about it." “Really now? We were wondering what happened to the remains of Malik. If I do recall, your company made a staggering deal with the military to copy the element that made his skeleton indestructible.” Sirius smirked. “Or... You did...” Sirius and I continued our talk. More or less, the same thing. Every effort I tried to get Sirius to see things my way would always end with a rebuttal. Let alone, he would explain why his side was the necessary way to go. “The Sparkle clan is exploiting the nation of Equestria for their own gain!" Fade growled. “You got it backwards, my boy. Think about it. Ever since I became the primarch for Sparkle clan things in the economy were finally looking up. Business was getting done where the previous primarchs would have just kept their hooves up their asses. I admit there are still some iffy angles. But over the years my term has been pushing for a better nation. Crime is down over seventy percent." Sirius pressed his forehead against the cell door to look at the captive pony. “Think about it, a world with no crimes, no victims, and no pain." “And no choice..." Fade countered. “Who elected you?" “Who elected me? Ponies who thought I would do a better job!" Sirius shouted, “Nopony was going to vote for a pony who tries to be Equestria's white knight, but cannot keep his own act together!" A few seconds pass as the larger unicorn eased away from the cell door, “The problem with any form of democracy is that it does not keep you very safe." “It has its other virtues." Fade grunted. “But you seem to have forgotten them with the buy-outs of companies lately." “I did not forget! I chose peace and security instead." Sirius countered. “That is why we invested so much into pretty much everything!” “You and the Sparkle clan grabbed power!" Fade shouted. “AND WITH THAT POWER... We're trying to make a nation where no eight-year-old would ever have to be abused, feel resented, or abandoned by their abusive father or drunken whore of a mother!" Sirius made his checkmate. -I do not know why. Maybe it was the stinging feeling in my heart or the nagging feel in my brain. Sirius, the stallion keeping me hostage, just countered all my aggressive vocal punches with his own and they were harder than I could ever take. Here I wanted answers, to drill this asshole for setting in motion why my dad did what he did to me... But all I got in return was more political crap on how Equestria really ran. No hope in this stupid nation where it was one giant commercial. More and more I recalled that crime did go down, the orphanage and foster care programs were better than they were back then, and food was widely more available. The truth hurts... Especially after Sirius mentioned my parents the way he did. And I think he knew how to seal the deal. My heart sank... “You win...." --- “Oh! Oh! Can we get another round of ice cream?” A certain pink party pony bounced in desire for more of the frozen treat. “Pinkie darling you already had four banana splits, and a couple slices of ice cream cake.” The white fashion unicorn remarked, “Anymore those sweets will go straight to your thighs.” “Okay Miss, ‘I’ll have a little bite of red velvet cake, then turn into a vacuum.” Applejack brought up and laughed while Rarity pouted to look the other way in embarrassment. “It was simply scrumptious. I could not simply let a delight go to waste.” Rarity’s cheeks burned red. As the three friends squabbled about who ate what, and who ate more, Rainbow Dash finished her third strawberry, lemon and lime ice cream sundae then tossed the plastic serving dish to the trash bin. The flavor still lingered in her mouth while she licked her lips, and she debated with herself if she should get a fourth serving. But then she caught her friend Twilight just sitting by herself. Alone on a bench, overlooking the rest of the parks and watching the happy families spend time with each other. She watched one family play a game of tag and another toss a ball around. Some just sat together on a picnic blanket and enjoyed the surroundings. It was a perfect scene, perfect for families of all sizes to have fun and be together. “Hey Twilight. What is up?” Dash flapped her wings then lowered herself to sit down next to her friend. A small sigh escaped her maw. “Just watching the happy families enjoy themselves.” “Is the princess doing alright? I mean, if you’re not up to talking about it, I’ll totally drop it.” Dash asked while rubbing her own cheek with her hoof. “As far as I know, Rainbow she is fine, just felt ill that one random moment.” Twilight answered without taking her eyes away from the view. “Doctor just told her to relax and get rest from what my brother said.” “So...” Dash leaned forward from her seat, “How is your other brother?” “After what happened a couple nights ago, Van is as distant as ever from us.” Twilight sighed sadly. “He is stubborn and I cannot blame him if he doesn’t want to make it easy for us to be forgiven, but... What my family went through back then, was because he decided he was not going to take it anymore.” “I just find it shocking that your parents were like that back then.” Dash replied. “I mean, they seem so nice once you get to know them.” “Family politics ruined my family Rainbow Dash.” Twilight suddenly clenched her teeth. “My dad would not have been like that if the position that headmaster Sirius is currently in was not so bucking important. We all suffered because of it.” “Jeez. What position is that again?” Dash asked. “That would be called Primarch. Basically, it is a trusted position that gives authority when the six members of the main family relieved themselves of business after an event that needs their knowledge.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “I cannot imagine my dad taking that much responsibility without going mad. There are limits though from what princess Celestia explained.” “So a six-in-one package deal, huh?” Dash asked. “Kind of a broker for information as well.” Twilight added. “Whoa.” Dash chuckled. With a swift glance out into the park view, she enjoyed the scene as well. “Kind of nice, huh?” “Yeah.” Twilight sighed. “Just wished the family could forget everything and just for once get along.” “Hey Twilight?” Dash asked. “Yeah?” Twilight turned her head. “Remember when you received that wedding invitation to Shining Armor and Cadence’s wedding? How we were all invited and such with tasks to do.” Rainbow pointed out. “Yes?” Twilight asked. “You never really talked much about your family, and honestly that was a shock to me when you read that letter off. You never mentioned you had a brother in the first place.” Dash brought up. “Uh huh.” Twilight nodded. “And?” “With Shining Armor, then another brother just so happens to show up. Do you have any other siblings we do not know about?” Dash asked. “I mean... I am sorry for digging into your business, but... You never really talked about your family all that much. I mean... I know why now but...” Twilight sighed again. “Yeah my family is not something I like to talk about.” “Sorry then.” Dash apologized. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.” “No. No.” Twilight smirked. “I held this off long enough. To answer your question, I actually did have two more brothers but they were taken away from my parents. As my brother Van, you just met some time ago, well... He was a twin.” “Whoa. Freaky stuff.” Dash added. “His name was Von and a lot of ponies considered him the smartest between him and Van.” Twilight confessed, “Somehow I think deep down... My family liked him more than Van.” “Wow.” Dash mumbled. “Von was always the first to mature too. He talked first, walked first; he was the prized child, while Van was a close second. Problem was that even with the family politics involved, it did not save him from getting abused.” Twilight explained sadly. “Difference between him and Van now, Von really has no intention of forgiving my parents.” “Von... Von...” Rainbow tapped her chin repeatedly trying to think back to where she heard the name before. “Have we met him before by any chance?” “In a way you and the others have.” Twilight raised her hoof, “Remember Illusive Von Lorenzo?” Dash raised an eyebrow, “The one pony with the long gold hair, and had the females going gaga over him?” “Yup.” The purple unicorn replied. “Seriously? That’s your brother?” Dash raised her voice in question in disbelief, “Him and Fade do not look anything alike! Wait... oh right... Fade or Van was blue. So that means...” “Yup.” Twilight frowned, “Von is hiding behind a disguise spell too.” “So. What was it like growing up with him? I mean... For the time.” Dash asked. “Well Von and Van were... Let’s just say they always tried to compete with each other, but never let it get the best of them. Very rare these days, and they always seemed happy.” The purple unicorn smirked, “Von was like any other brother, and we would pester each other sometimes. He practically gave me my first book to read and liked reading to me. Van though, always had that knack in making me feel better when I was down about something. Those two even built me a castle made out of books one day in my room and made me a princess, told me that they’ll do anything they wanted me to do...” “That sounded pretty nice of them to do. All my brothers did for me was let me throw firecrackers with them.” Dash laughed, “Oh man, the trouble we got into.” Twilight could not help but laugh as well. “But seriously those two really knew how to play a good game of pretend. One would always volunteer to be the dragon, while the other one would be the knight in shining armor. I think Van really liked playing the dragon and he always tried to mix it up too, like one time he pretended the dragon was the good guy that time around.” The two continued to laugh at the silly idea. Rainbow then wondered. “Hey Twi? Didn’t you say you had another brother, too?” Twilight’s last shred of happiness then flew from her expression and replaced with disappointment. “I met him a few times actually and he seems to be doing pretty well. Sad that my parents had to give him up because he was born after Van disappeared and society still saw them as monsters. I never got to see him when he was a baby either... My parents never got to name him either. That honor went to the family that received him during the arrangement.” “Wow. That is rough.” Dash slid her arm around her friend for comfort. “Just remember, we are here for you Twilight.” “Thanks... I really need the support.” Twilight pulled out her tablet that deemed her a winner of the Big Tech contest. “I should have never asked for this thing if I knew it would just bring misery.” “Does that thing get Angry Squirrels on it?” Dash smiled as she watched her friend play with the device. Twilight frowned, and Dash backed off a little, “Uh... I mean, how you would know that this would all happen just because of that... neat little thing. It is not as if it was planned or something. You know like a ninja sneaking into the company and taking the winning tablet only for you to have it.” “Rainbow Dash. Not only does that sound stupid but impractical.” The purple mare quickly glanced at her friend. “Well, yeah but...” Dash frowned and tried scooting away from her friend. “Your friend we got to meet just a couple days ago...” “Ghendi.” Twilight nodded. “Yes what about him?” “N-nothing. It just seems that things are... Well that he just so happens to be buddy-buddy with your long lost brother. How did that happen?” Dash brought up. The purple unicorn paused, then looked down at her tablet. “Well... My family was friends with his but I highly doubt Van would remember, because when I first met Ghendi... He was just a baby while I was leaving the toddler stage myself... Van never did like royalty, and was a bit scared because my dad would try to pound the idea of the Sparkle family has to serve royalty...” “Doesn’t quite answer the question Twi.” Dash frowned. “I do not know honestly. I guess it is a coincidence.” The purple unicorn shifted her shoulders. Still the idea boggled her mind but then the idea of the prosthetic limb came into play. “So... What do you think of Ghendi out there?” Dash looked out to see the white Kirin-unicorn hybrid playing a game of tag with his younger sibling, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Spike. More like a game one of one-sided tag where the children teamed up and chased the Kirin from one side of the park to the other while laughing. The Kirin decided to let the children walk away with the win, so he slowed down a bit for them to catch up. He jumped over a few professional cut hedges throughout the park despite the children trying to find other ways around it. Poor Applebloom and Scootaloo jumped headfirst into the bush and hopped out the other end while Sweetie Belle just bounced around the thing. “Come on girls. You will never get those cutie marks if you cannot catch me!” Ghendi laughed as he pretended to tease the competition. Heck, it worked as the fillies raced faster and faster after him. Synn practically was the fastest out of the five kids while Spike lagged behind with his little stubby dragon legs, if not he probably would give up and get more ice cream. “We got em’ now!” Applebloom hollered with excitement. Ghendi smirked and took a dive by thrusting his metal limb forward so he could tumble over easily. That he did as he turned over on his side he rolled repeatedly until he came to a full stop. The Cutie Mark Crusaders then pounced on top of their prey, trying to pin the stallion’s legs down to make sure he does not escape. Apple bloom somehow brought out rope then hog-tied the Kirin. “YAY!” The girls cheered. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Kirin Catchers!” “We get a cutie mark yet?” Scootaloo asked. The girls looked at their own flanks to see that their sides were still bare. Not soon after a disappointing moan, the older mares trotted up to the three to view their handy work. “Well that is a nice catch ya three have there.” Applejack obviously proud of her sister. “No cutie mark though.” Applebloom moaned. “It will come in.” Ghendi wiggled slightly. “Trust me.” “Well Twi, Applebloom tied up a Kirin for ya.” Applejack laughed as the others joined in. Twilight was madly blushing while Ghendi rolled back and forth trying to loosen the rope to escape. “GHENDI!” A mare screamed from a distance. “The heck?” Rainbow Dash eyed the screaming mare flying her way towards them. “Hey, that’s Swan isn’t it?” “Yeah that is actually.” Twilight squinted her eyes to make sure. “Whatever it is, she looks scared.” The white Pegasus quickly touched down to the fresh cut green grass to face the group of friends. Tears streaming down her cheeks and hair a mess, Swan tried to keep calm but it was no use. Her eyes instantly locked onto the Kirin. “Ghendi... Please.” Swan heaved. The Kirin craned his neck upwards to the white Pegasus. “Something happen?” “Have any of you seen Fade Away?” The Pegasus shown signs that she was crying with the mascara oozing from around her eyes. “He won’t pick up his cell, and I think he might be in trouble.” “Whoa whoa. Back up.” Ghendi instantly hoisted himself up despite his legs being tied together. “Maybe he is with Tex and Betsy?” “No, Tex said he has not seen him. Plus Tex went back to the office because something is going on at HQ!” Swan kept heaving between breaths and tried her best not to cry. “The last I saw of Fade he was mad that I let Synn go with Shining Armor and Cadence to the ice cream event! He said he was going to get Synn back and wait for a train so he can go home. He was sick also! I should have never let him go!” “Go home? But we’ve still got a few days left here.” Ghendi let his eyes widen. “HE JUST HATES IT HERE OKAY!” Swan shouted. “EVERYDAY SOMETHING HORRIBLE HAPPENED! Either from his stupid father or asshole brother, now this Sparkle clan business... HE HATES IT HERE! HE NEVER WANTED TO COME BACK!” Twilight felt her heart sank when her future sister-in-law said that. The Kirin heard enough and with a twinge, he snapped the rope he was hog tied with into pieces. He stood firmly and with a determined look... “Listen and listen well." Ghendi firmly said. “Swan, I want you to take Synn back to the castle. If Betsy is out here somewhere I want you get her, too." He turned his neck towards the girls, “Same with you girls. Take your siblings, or guests, whatever you have back at the castle. Ask the princess to form a search party..." The Kirin started to walk away from the group. “Where are you going?" Twilight stepped forward. The Kirin stopped dead in his tracks and turned his neck again. "I am going pay a friend a visit. Then hope to see if they can help." "Onii-san?" Synn trotted with his little hooves up to his brother. "What's going on?" Ghendi knelt down to eye level to the smaller Kirin hybrid, "Look things are okay right now. Fade just needs my help right now and it might take awhile. So I want you to be a good boy okay?" The smaller unicorn threw his little fore legs around his brother, he knew when his brother talked like that something serious was going to happen. "Just listen to whatever Swan says and stick by her okay?" Ghendi returned the hug and gave a small kiss on Synn's forehead. "Okay..." Synn sadly stepped away. "I'll be back." Ghendi smiled. Then he ran off and disappeared into the crowd of ponies enjoying their day. "Girls?" Twilight asked her friends. "Do what Ghendi said, I'm going to go off too." "But..." Fluttershy tried to say. "Just do it please?" Twilight grunted then trotted off herself. -They say once life throws you lemons, that you make lemonade. To me, that was a half-truth. I finally gave in and honored the Sparkle clan of having shares, but on my terms. One, if they let the company run as it has been doing for years without meddling, two, they have to let me have all the information I could possibly desire. I am sorry Tex... -I am sorry... I was not going to get out of this without my reputation tarnished that I made a deal with the military and spent a very pretty bit on getting the remains of Malik when he should have been buried. His skull mounted in my own study where many would pass by it everyday and cringe at the thing, but would never know it came from a terrorist. The Sparkle clan finally had dirt on me to ruin my image, detailing my plans and future projects. I never thought I would be saying this to myself but... I am a dumb ass for not backing up my data into a separate file, just as if I kept promising I would erase that video of Ghendi being stood up. -Within a few hours the transaction was done. The clan now had their claws dug into Tex’s hard work. By just signing my name, it felt like signing my soul away. I should have just let Sirius expose me, and then I could give back the stupid medal that I don’t even want. I was let go hours before and allowed to leave. However, Sirius granted me to dive into the projects the Sparkle clan has invested in. I asked Sirius if I could see their biggest investment... He of course acted chummily towards me now, as if we were friends the entire time. I really wanted to smack him down. -Sirius escorted me along with a few personal guards dressed in custom purple armor with a reddish six-point star as their symbol. More and more I thought about where I went wrong. Was it where I revealed myself to my family? Where I told Twilight the truth back at the birthday celebration? Alternatively, was it where I picked up Ghendi? Or hell, the part where I ran away? Maybe it was I being born. I boarded a heavy industrial elevator with Sirius and the guards. He pressed the button to one of the sub-basement levels and I waited. Watching the flashing lights from the day sky disappear with every floor passing. Down, down, down further into the pits underneath Canterlot where I had no idea that something like this could even exist even near the castle. Down below were multiple hangars and bunkers that the clan invested in incase a magic nuclear fallout ever happened. More and more, it felt like descending into the pits of Tartarus and waiting to come face to face with the devil himself. -The elevator eventually stopped ,and I was told to move forward and not be scared. Told I should embrace what would eventually become mine if I wanted to share. Great, what I always wanted. A vault bunker miles deep under Canterlot, then again it would probably explain why the castle is embedded on the side of a mountain I guess. Hallway after hallway, security checkpoint after checkpoint we finally made it. Huge metal doors and what might lie behind it. The doors slowly opened with a gust of steam and siren lights going off and on. Once the doors were fully open, I stepped forward to see the Sparkle clan’s biggest investment. It was... a giant suit of armor or big robot if you want to call it, only that it was still incomplete from what Sirius told me. “Mister Fade Away!” -I turned my head to see a familiar youth... Lucian Lorenzo waving at me to get my attention. Thank Celestia for a familiar face in here. Him, along with his father Sheen walked to my side along the metal catwalk while he observed other workers putting the machine together piece by piece. “Lucian?” Fade smirked. “My, you’ve grown since the last I saw you.” “Well...” The teen unicorn blushed. “I did, I guess. But what are you doing here?” “Well, you could say that I... Finally let the clan invest into my company.” Fade frowned. “Oh...” Lucian nodded, “Guess that’s the only way we get our projects off the ground now a days...” Fade sighed, “Tell me about it.” He craned his neck up to look at the giant machine. “So... This it?” “Oh, yes.” Lucian smiled, “One of my bigger designs finally got approved a year ago, and here we are trying to finish it off. Only a few set backs.” “Amazing...” Fade pondered. “Why does it look more like a dragon though?” “Well that is the beauty of it.” Lucian’s father, Sheen stepped in. “The creature that attacked Canterlot years ago... Its skeleton is the base structure, and we just built around it.” -The creature that my grandmother described to me as; something that crawled out of Tartarus is now right in front of me. The thing that almost killed Twilight just hanging there with strong steel supports for its massive body. The eyes were covered with some sort of thick red diamond glass.I could still feel its evil presence from it just being a skeleton covered in machine parts. -My eyes... Were hurting again... To Be Continued...