//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Master of Shadows // by pjabrony //------------------------------// “Looking back from the present, Twilight Sparkle, We think that Our failure to anticipate the destruction of the dam was due to wishful thinking. We very much wanted this to be a mere border skirmish, something We could dispel in a day and return to peace in Our home. We were not the first to make such a mistake, but it is still a grievous error.” “It wasn’t really your fault, Princess. Nopony else there thought of it either,” said Twilight. “No, perhaps not, but part of being royalty and getting the finest clothes and the best home is taking responsibility for the realm. In any case, it is a sad fact about battles that no one comes round afterward to sort out which side only made perfectly legitimate mistakes that ought to be canceled out, while docking the other side who fought with devious tactics and evil motivation. In this sense it was Our fault. We had been so convinced that the enemy sought the crop of the flood maples for themselves that we had not thought of a lower motive.” “But still, if the ponies hadn’t fought so bravely, they would have lost outright and Taur would have gotten the town and the maples.” “Would he? We do not think that either factored into his plans at all. We looked in his eyes, you see, and while We can never be sure, We think that there was no desire for anything good in this world. In that attack, all he sought was body count.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We surveyed the survivors. Not more than a tithe of the population had fallen in battle, but only twice that had escaped the deluge. We did not see the mayor. We did not see any of the soldiers of the garrison. A young mare had the courage to ask of Us the question all were thinking. “What are we to do now?” “Does anypony here know the road to Canterlot?” We asked. A few of the survivors nodded their heads or raised their hooves. We continued, “Make your way along that road. We will fly back immediately. We are not abandoning you, but Princess Celestia must know what has occurred here. When We reach the city, We will send out a party to meet you on the road with provisions and protection. The journey will likely take you at least two days, but when you arrive there will be a place for you to stay.” “Forgive me, highness,” the mare said, “but that was not what I meant. I mean, what are we to do now?” We understood. “You may yet return to rebuild. Saddlebrook may rise once more, though your return may be along a different path. Or you may find new homes in Canterlot, or settle elsewhere in Equestria. So long as we have our hooves, our horns, our wings, and our freedom, there is always something to do. But the last of these is threatened, and before we do anything else we must continue the struggle to be free ponies.” Our capacity for bolstering the spirits of ponies who had suffered was being stretched. We wished very much that We could have some pony greater than Us to turn to for comfort. We were tired. We missed Celestia deeply and were eager to return home. When We trusted that the survivors were set on their way, We ascended. The return trip was several hours, and We were alone with Our thoughts. We had hoped the incident would be a chance to show Our mettle. Now all We had shown was that We were incompetent and unworthy of Our crown. We regretted not allowing Celestia to go in Our place. We felt she would have seen what We were too blind to see, and prevented it. When We finally reached Canterlot castle, We flew directly into the main chamber. Celestia was there to greet Us, and We collapsed into her hooves. “Luna, dear sister, You’re alive! We all feared the worst.” “Then, you know of the incident at Saddlebrook?” “No, but ill tidings have been coming in from all over. What happened, sister?” We recounted all that had taken place and ordered the search for the survivors of Saddlebrook. We emphasized Our folly and failure, but Celestia was comforting. “Do not berate yourself, Luna. Both of us underestimated the strength and the depravity of our enemy, this Taur as you name him, and our subjects have paid a bitter price.” “What other injuries upon the land has he wrought?” “Two other towns, San Anponyo and Flankfort, fell in battles while you were gone. There were few survivors, but they too reported being overrun by shades that looked like their loved ones.” “Then this campaign threatens all of Equestria! Beloved sister, is this our end? What are we to do?” We heard the echo of despair of the Saddlebrook ponies in Our voice. “We have called for the evacuation of all nearby towns into Canterlot. All that remains of Equestria will stand or fall here. We will not be caught unawares, and we will fight to the last pony if need be.” And Our sister’s words gave Us hope yet again. We began to consider the practical aspects of what was said. “Will we have room in Canterlot for so many refugees?” “Hopefully. Every home in the city has opened its doors and the stores of food are being emptied and rationed. But you say now more are coming from Saddlebrook? This is good news, but creates a greater need for space.” We pondered the problem, until an idea came to Us. “Celestia, if you will allow. . . “ ********************* The dungeons of Canterlot Castle had been hewn from the rock itself. We rarely had occasion to visit them, and since Equestria had been at peace before the invasion of Taur and his shadow-ponies, the cells contained only petty thieves, con-artists, and vandals. We entered and spoke to the prisoners. “By royal decree of Princess Celestia, all of your sentences are hereby commuted. You are free to go, though We direct you to make no more mischief.” The doors of the cells had been sealed by Celestia herself, and only alicorn magic could open them. We concentrated and unlocked all of them at once. Most of the ponies headed quickly for the doors, but one of the inmates, a brown-coated unicorn who fancied himself the leader, bristled and spoke coarsely. “Watch it, clods. Stay where you are. What is this, lady, some kind of trick?! We step out those doors and you throw us back in for attempting escape?” “There is no trickery. Vacate the cells at once.” “Yeah, right. If Celestia wants to free us, let her bring her royal highness down here herself.” We were tired and had been through too much. Our patience had run out. We stepped into the cell with this boor and faced him down. “Princess Celestia has better things to do than to treat with a dishonored criminal, and these rooms have better duties ahead of them than shielding you from the rain! Now leave before We hurl you out the window.” Our anger cowed him. The prisoners continued trotting out into the hall, and We brought in bedrolls and supplies on a cart, and began to clean the cells. As the line of criminals reached the door, the sharp-tongued one turned back. “What’s with all the bedding, Princess?” “It is none of your concern.” He paused and looked. “Something’s gone wrong, hasn’t it? There’s some disaster and you need the cells to house ponies who have nowhere else to go. Is that it?” We raised Our head and looked, marveling at his perception. “Yes,” We said. “Well, it’ll take you all day to make them up on your own.” And he came back into the cell block and began to lay out bedrolls. Several of the others had lingered, and taking their cue from the gruff unicorn, returned as well. I found myself the unwitting leader of a work detail, as we scrubbed and made ready the refugee camp. When no more could be done, We addressed him once again. “Give Us your name, fellow.” “They just call me Brownie, Princess.” “Well, good pony Brownie, and all of you fine citizens of Canterlot, you were given your freedom today, but you have earned your honor, and can now truly call yourselves free. But We would ask more of you. If you would stand as proud Equestrians, go now and aid in the defense of this city. We do not order this, for you are free to go as you wish, but if you do, and if We live out this struggle, then should you return to this castle you will be welcome in a new capacity: that of honored guest. And then the freed ponies did leave, and We thought in wonder at how much good there was left in Our land, and how much We desperately wanted to save it. But We had little time, and We hurried to return to Our sister and set ourselves for the battle to come. When We told her of the events below, she said, “I am grateful to them for sparing you much work, and now I would spare you more. You have traveled long and had little rest over these last days. Lie down and sleep for a bit, for we will both need to be at our peaks soon, lest we fall.” The fatigue We felt on the journey from the ruins of Saddlebrook had given way to new vigor as we worked. Now that Celestia had spoken of it, We noticed once more how tired We were. We acceded and retired to Our chambers, but not before saying to her, “We hold no fear of a fall. We have perfect faith in you, sister. And you may have it in Us.”