It would be Princess Celestia and Princess Luna who would wrap the deathly silence around their hooves and stomp it out. With each clop, heads began to turn, until everypony in the room was staring at Blueblood. Or rather, who was behind him.
"Blueblood." Princess Celestia voice, neither gentle nor cruel, rung out.
Turning, ever so slowly, Blueblood never muttered a word, but under the gaze of both princesses, he lowered his head.
"Look at me." Celestia said, as Blueblood only did so for a moment before once again looking away.
"Look at me." Celestia almost demanded, this time, emotion leaking into her voice.
When Blueblood's stare met Celestia's, he couldn't help but feel only one thing.
"Shame" Celestia muttered out, "Is something that I wished never to teach you, my nephew." Celestia then closed her eyes, as if to steel herself for what was to come, both in words and actions. "When you were born, I held you." she whispered as she barely began opening her eyes once more, "Back then, you used to call me Auntie Cello." she then let out what looked like the mix of a chuckle and swallowing, "When you were too young to know what hatred was" before closing her eyes once more.
Blueblood had expected anger. He has expected to be yelled at. He expected all of the things that he would do is someone under his banner had they done such in his home. But like any foal, he could never anticipate the most hurtful reaction to any of such a age. Disappointment.
"But you are no longer the foal that used to fall asleep between the base of my wings," she said, her eyes opening to show tears forming, "Nor are you so young that in your anger you would only throw a stuffed toy." her voice starting to crack. "I love all of my little ponies. All of them!" she cries out, both in words and onto the floor, "and I still love you..." She whispered, "But I can't sit back any longer as you use me as a shield to hurt your fellow ponies that I love just as much." she loudly states.
Blueblood, having some tears of his own, could do nothing but feel about as small if he were still 4 years old.
"Your royal title shall be stripped from you." Celestia said with drying tears as gasps were heard around the ball room, "as will all privileges and monetary support that goes alongside it." she declares, noticing the utterly defeated look on Blueblood's face as it breaks her own heart.
"But..." Celestia says, earning Blueblood's eyesight once more, "I know of a place along the southern border. It is a rather small settlement of ponies who remain so far out that common everyday needs are often not able to be met." She keeps her gaze onto Blueblood's, "However there remains a need for stewards to watch over and support the needs of all ponies within the settlement on behalf of the Kingdom, along with myself and Princess Luna."
Celestia slightly tilts her head as she continues, "I love all of my little ponies and fear for their safety. Of them losing their way being so far. While there are risks and hardships to be endured, I also feel that being so far away can give one new perspective, and purpose." she then whispers, "Especially if one is in need of a another chance...".
Blueblood merely nods, his head not lowered but not quite held as high as usual. As he stood onto all four hooves, he made one request, "May I have the dignity," he said as he looked at both princesses, "to address the crowd before I go?".
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna both nod.
As Blueblood turns, he noticed many ponies giving him scowls or hurt expressions. "I would apologize," the faces turned more rigid, "But in my current state, the words would not ring true." he continued, "So at the very least, I will not attempt to".
Several of the bearers were about to say something before Blueblood began to speak once more.
"Instead, I will reveal the hidden blade that I had planned to use tonight" Blueblood stated, earning defensive posturing of several bearers and the movement of the princesses between him and the others, "Below these halls, deep within the catacombs beneath us, lays secrets..." Blueblood passes them all as he slowly walks to the doors leading out, "of a very unique person's heart."
"Just remember to turn off the lights when you're done." he finishes just as the large double doors let out a low rumbling as they shut.
Meanwhile;
"Can't believe I just did that." Sentinel internally chastised himself as he walked down the narrow passageways leading through the castle, his destination being the royal gardens. Just as he was walking out into them...
"Sentinel!" yelled Rainbow Dash as she flew over alongside Fluttershy, above of the other bearers.
Sentinel, while already mildly agitated at himself and of what was on his mind, couldn't help but admit that it felt nice. So instead of ignoring them like he needed to, he slowed as to allow them to catch up.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash." Sentinel said but then had to note, "Where are all of your gowns?"
"After you left we ditched them!" Applejack eagerly stated.
"Because we were worried about you," Fluttershy said, causing Sentinel's finger to twitch.
"Plus," a pristine as always Rarity said, "We have something we want to show you."
"Oh?" Sentinel asked, "And what might that be?"
"Silly pants!" Pinkie cheered, "You have to follow us down there to see!" she pointed to the valley.
Turning, Sentinel looked down towards the valley as the gears in his mind started to do the same. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck almost tickled as the rigid skin tightened. This hadn't been at all how he had planned the night to go.
"So Twilight," Sentinel inquired, "I've never teleported before. Are you sure you can take all of us?"
"We will have to travel down the cliff side actually," Twilight noted, "I am afraid that I am having some migraines tonight from all the excitement." she gave a bright smile as she spoke, making Sentinel's gaze linger for a few seconds.
Before answering, Sentinel turned around to look upon the castle, earning very worried exchanges between all six equines behind him. He then closed his eyes, muttered something that nopony could hope to make out, before finally replying.
"Lead on".
Back at the ball room
"What a way to make an exit..." Applejack muttered, "Refuse to apologize and then say something like that." She grumbled.
"What should we do now?" Fluttershy asked, rather happy Blueblood didn't use his hidden weapon, but very put off by the notion that the weapon was Something hidden under Canterlot about Sentinel. "How was he going to use that against Sentinel?"
"We won't know until we go down there and find out." Twilight stated, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"You mean unless, darling." Rarity corrected Twilight, "Not all secrets are bad ones, but all secrets are hidden for a very personal reason." She elaborated on her angle.
"Maybe it's a big surprise that he wants to remain a surprise until he can surprise us?" Pinkie surmised, getting mixed reactions from the others on her proposed wisdom, "Oh but what if it's something really dark?" as she slowly twists it, "He did say turn off the lights when we're done!" into something different.
"Well!" Rainbow shouted, jolting all her friends nearby, "I vote for finding Sentinel, have Applejack lasso and tie him up, and then go down there and see!"
"No Rainbow. Rarity is right." Twilight said to Rainbow, getting a nod of approval from Rarity, "If Sentinel has made somewhere his sanctuary then unless invited we shouldn't disrespect his privacy that way."
"Horsecrap." Rainbow declared, giving as much of a glare as she was then given, "If it was all good then Blueblood wouldn't of called it a weapon." Rainbow continued her valid point, "Or did you all forget that already? And Pinkie's point makes sense".
"It did?" Pinkie questions to Fluttershy, who is unsure how to respond back.
The bearers all quieted down, some to try and hold themselves from becoming vested in another argument, and others due to considerations on all perspectives given. They all wanted to help Sentinel, but they also didn't want to lose his trust.
"My princesses, " called out an unknown guard, "We have news on Sentinel's whereabouts."
"Please," Celestia inquires, "Go on."
"He was seen leaving the ball room only to go into the royal gardens. When we were about to go in to follow, he suddenly came right back and then went straight to his room. We've stationed several guards near and outside like you commanded." The guard explained in a rigid posture.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Celestia replied, with a sigh of relief.
"Lieutenant," Luna also inquires, "If Sentinel tries to leave, please detain thee as gently as thy can." She then adds in, "However, if things were to escalate..."
Celestia then watches as Luna passes over to the Lieutenant a magical run of imprinting, showing a foal with pig feet.
"Luna!" Celestia yells in surprise, "Brilliant idea!"
Twilight then gasps, "Is that a imprinting rune?!" she asks in excitement as she trots up to inspect it but in turn frowns, "Why is there a foal with pig feet on it?" she says in a rather flat tone as she squints one eye.
"So what are we doing about the the secrets Blueblood was going to use to hurt Sentinel, or us?" Rainbow questioned rather impatiently.
"We've known about Sentinel's need for isolation, at times in great lengths, and of where." Celestia elaborates, "As for what is down there we have pushed aside our own curiosity and ordered all to do the same." She then closes her eyes. "And until further notice, unless there is deemed a reason to intrude, none shall." she commands with finality.
A flash of lightning was quickly followed by the low rumbling of thunder, causing Fluttershy to attach to Pinkie to just patted her head. The other ponies all looked up and around, noticing the sound of gusting wind and pelting rain along with more thunder.
"What the hay is going on here?" Rainbow questioned aloud, "The weather was supposed to clear all night."
"Perhaps a weather pony made a mistake?" Rarity chipped in some reasoning.
"Not something like this!" Rainbow retorted not in anger but agitated confusion. "It would take dozens of weather ponies and almost all day to put something like this together." She concluded, even as the wind was pushing hard enough to make windows creak.
Shining Armor then turned around started walking towards the doorway, leaving the princesses and bearers all giving each other looks of confusion before Cadance spoke up.
"Shining honey, where are you going?" Cadance asked.
"To see Sentinel." Shining replied, turning his head to look at his wife but not stopping.
"Honey," Cadance started to trot to catch up as they were just passing the bearers, "I think perhaps it would be best to leave him be after what all has transpired tonight." She tried to reason.
"Something is wrong." Shining replied, the worry easily heard in his voice, "Very wrong." but before Cadance could question him further even at the behest of the others who were starting to get a little freaked out, "...and please let it be wrong".
That was all it took for all of the bearers to follow suite after Shining and Cadance, with the Solar and Lunar princesses announcing their temporary leave from the ceremony as well. They both knew the consequence of forgoing such feelings, and joined the others.
Not wasting time, they finally arrived at the guarded doorway to Sentinel's bed chambers. With Princess Celestia and Princess Luna leading the group, they all took a small look around but noticed absolutely nothing out of place or of worry.
"Guards, " Celestia addressed the pair, "Report on any and all activity."
"Sentinel has not left since entering his room shortly after he left the royal gardens. He made one request for nourishment that was handled by the service staff." The left guardpony promptly answered.
"He ordered food?" Luna asked, a bit surprised and turning uneasy, and not entirely unnoticed by her sister.
"Luna?" Celestia inquired, now grabbing the attention of the others who saw the unease in Luna's expression.
"Sentinel only consumes those small cubes that thou stated served all of his nourishment needs." Luna then elaborated, "Thou requested, and was honored, that more be created using a replication spell."
"Maybe he just tired of..." Applejack was saying, but never got to finish as Shining shoved the double doors wide open.
"Sentinel?!" Shining called out, receiving only the gusting wind and pelting rain for a response.
"Shining!" Cadance charged in after him, along with the others, "He just ordered some food. Why would..." she then stopped, also noticing that there was no Sentinel in the room.
Princess Celestia looked around, trying to get a handle on the situation when all of the bearers spread out to look for Sentinel. Had things not been as potentially serious as they were, or if the bearers were not calling his name with such concern, she might of laughed at seeing them checking under his bed and barging into his bathroom.
"He's gone..." Twilight whispered, the silence of the others confirmation to her statement.
"Guards!" Luna yelled in her canterlot royal voice, causing the guards at the door along with several from outside the balcony to swoop in and stand at attention. However once all of the guards noticed the atmosphere within the room along with no Sentinel, even they started to worry and elicit confused muzzles.
"We request that the service pony who brought Sentinel his food be brought back and..." Luna was commanding, before some rustling inside the chest at the foot of the bed startled here and the others. The guards all swooped forward, poised for whatever may be inside, as one bucked off the lock and lifted the lid.
"That...thats the maid who brought the food!" One guard yelled out, as they all gathered around as one of the guards lifted the wet and scared out of her mind mare from the chest and untied her bound hooves and muzzle.
"But we both saw her leave with her serving tray..." The other door guard stated in confusion, as the maid started coughing to clear her throat, Fluttershy already going over to check her for any injuries.
"My little pony," Celestia stepped over and lowered her head as to speak softer, "Please, when you can, we wish to know what happened." She then stepped back as the maid nodded, a few tears still wetting her cheeks.
"I...I wa..was told to bring some food for Mr. Sentinel.." the maidmare explained, "B..but when I had t..tu..turned my back some green magical force kept my mouth closed as... as..." she started wiping tears again, "as something hit me in the back."
"Sentinel would never do such a horrid thing!" Rarity said in shock.
"Yeah Sentinel isn't some meany pants!" Pinkie added in.
"It couldn't of been Sentinel." Twilight declared, "He can't use magic!"
"I...um.." the maidpony started to speak once more, but stopped.
"Go on, if you can please." Celestia gently asked.
"It wasn't Sentinel." the maidpony stated as she went wide eyed, "From the moment I entered the room I felt unsafe! I've been around Sentinel and I've never felt that feeling around him. Not once!"
"Guards," Celestia commanded, "Please take her to the castle infirmary to be checked out, and place a guard on her at all times. Until further notice, the castle is under lock down. Alert all guards and send word to all barracks to be on standby until our return."
"Return?" Cadance asked.
"One of my subjects is now missing and another assaulted while under watch of guards whom I trust with my very life." Celestia said, her eyes narrowed with a deep frown on her muzzle, "The one missing may have left a message," she then continued, "and I believe we all know where."
"I'm going!" Rainbow stated, already headed for the doors quickly followed by the bearers along with Cadance and Shining. Glancing at each other, Princess Celestia and Luna then left Sentinel's room and proceeded to lead the others down into the catacombs of Canterlot Castle.
Within thirty minutes, they had finally come to the pathway leading up to where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna knew Sentinel spent most of his time, alone. They had been vastly curious themselves, but held back their own vices for the sake of their subject's peace of mind and privacy. However now that said subject was missing, most chances are kidnapped with no culprit apprehended, privacy was going to have to be an luxury.
"How could he come down here all the time?" Fluttershy whispered, "It's scary."
"Oh c'mon Fluttershy," Rainbow says grinning, "This is canterlot castle. Whats the worse that going to happen down here that's to be scared of?"
"Oh...I dunno. Maybe things like abductions, ponies getting stuffed into chests, and such...!" Fluttershy replies, while in her usual whisper, with just a bit more flare.
"Oh a snake!" Pinkie calls out, causing Twilight to freak out. "Kidding!" she then says, as Twilight gives the stink eye.
"I just have a real bad feeling about this all," Applejack said, "Like we're going to see something we were never meant to."
"Applejack dear," Rarity said, turning towards her friend, "While I hold the very same conflict as yourself, I have one other that is keeping me from walking away now."
"And that is?" Applejack asked, genuinely curious.
"That the message inside might be one asking for help." Rarity whispered, "Even if it wasn't meant to be." she then continued, "I do not think that I could ever forgive myself, if it was, and we only heard it after it was too late."
Applejack shifts her eyes back and forth a little, and then settles just for a nod, along with all of the others.
"We're here." Princess Celestia announces before a large singular door.
"Well then, lets get going I say!" Rainbow called out as she was feeling in adventure mode.
"Yes." Shining agrees, "Time is of the essence and we've little to spare if Sentinel was ponynapped."
As her horn glowed, Princess Celestia removed the locking enchantment that allowed only Sentinel to operate the door freely. As the magic overlapping the door fainted in glow to finally nothing, she pressed her hoof against it and gave a push. The sudden influx of bright light almost blinded her and all the other ponies behind her, as many gasped and tried to shield their vision. But if the light caused them to gasp, what they would see next would take their words away.
In what would appear to be a room roughly the size of their throne room, was an empty one. No chairs. No tables. No rugs or windows or anything of the like. All they could see was the bare dirty granite floor and some of the most detailed and beautiful paintings many of them had ever seen covering all of the walls. Of each and every one of them.
"What..." Princess Celestia said as the others were still trying to grasp what they were seeing.
"Oh no we ruined the surprise!" Pinkie yelled as she genuinely sounded upset.
As if moth to a flame, each of them started to walk, trot, or fly over to their respective mural reflections. Each of the bearers held upon them their respective elements, with their Cutie marks as a backdrop. Each painting contained a little flavor either in expressions, postures, or accessories.
Even the princesses and prince, all whom have had their paintings done many times over, were rather impressed at the accurate representation of their respective selves. The only one not showing much awe, was Princess Luna, who seemed more guilt ridden than anything at having invaded Sentinel's sanctuary, again.
"They're beautiful..." Rarity said in awe, "I'm beautiful!" and in vain.
"Oh...oh my..." Fluttershy stuttered out, somewhat embarrassed at the thought of being painted.
"The strokes are rather professional," Twilight noted, "and very accurate color schemes!"
"I...." Rainbow said as she held onto the word, "I'm only okay with this because he got my awesomeness down."
"Aha!" Applejack noted with glee, "He painted me all proper!" as she noticed her signature pose.
"I dunno..." Pinkie noted, getting shocked looks from the other five, "I think he forgot my cannon..."
As Shining and Cadance looked onto their own respective intertwined paintings, Shining eyes bulged when Cadance thought aloud, "I wonder how much it would cost to take this wall with us back to the Crystal Empire..."
But it was both Celestia and Luna who noted that at least to themselves that while the paintings while almost perfect, were exactly that, almost perfect. They each reflected on how many times some pony had painted them, either by request or requested, only to have them always come out in the same manner. Perfection. Like a statue, so set in stone, that it felt nothing but rigid and dull. But they both still smiled at the thought of having themselves painted.
"While I am rather shocked, and well complimented, I am also disappointed." Shining said, grabbing everypony's attention, "While this was something I never expected, I am more concerned that this is ALL we found."
Once the realization struck the bearers, they all removed themselves out of their stupor in order to rush around the room desperately looking for clues, only to find none. They were back to square one, and now, feeling utterly guilty.
"Please be okay," Twilight whispered, "Sentinel." as she gathered with the others at the only doorway in or out. Just as they were about to exit, however, Pinkie suddenly jumped and gasped.
"Oh now, we almost forgot to turn out the lights!" Pinkie reminded them of what Blueblood said, right as she also remembered that the single and very bright magic lightstone was too high for her to reach as though she stretched up on one hind leg to try.
"Pinkie!" Twilight yelled, mostly from being frightened yet again, "We shouldn't disturb anything else!" she then droops her ears, "We've already done enough..."
"But!" Pinkie tried to argue.
"Pinkie..." Twilight tried to reason.
"But maybe Blueblood left the light on!" Pinkie reasoned, with actually well thought out logic. "We should do the right thing and turn them back off so when he comes back he won't think we have bad manners!"
"Argh..." Twilight grumbled out, trotting over towards the middle of the room and underneath of the giant lightstone. "Fine!"
If the first impression robbed them of their words, then this one would even take away their breath.
As soon as the lightstone clicked off, the entire room illuminated in glow in the dark paint. However unlike before, it was as if they were in some endless expanse with only themselves lighting the way. Yet, what made them so shocked wasn't the glowing paint but just how personalized each of them had now become.
Gone were the elements. Gone were the crowns and adornments. Even the cutie mark backdrops immediately had ceased to exist even thought they still existed on their painted flanks. All the things that were standard about each of them in their respective everyday lives, were removed. Leaving behind only...
Twilight's Mural
Twilight was climbing a set of stairs, not much different from the time that she was battling Sombra. However watching her were not the eyes of some evil pony dictator, but the loving eyes of her mentor. She looked like she was struggling, the stairs taking their toll on her. Yet in the stead of burden, her muzzle bore one of eagerness and determination for even more.
On every step behind her, there laid nothing but bare white steps. However on each step her hooves stood upon symbols she understood as the basics to spell casting seemed to be glowing the color lavender. Like glowing lavender strands of energy, they swirled up her fore and hind legs and around her barrel until connecting to the stars on her cutie mark. Symbols on steps not yet reached remained grey, but growing ever more advance in complexity with each step upwards.
"We got a long ways to go..." Twilight whispered to herself, "but at least, never alone." before she looked up at the vacant spaces near Princess Celestia's eyes, "but still lonely..."
Applejack's Mural
Nestled upon a rolling grassy hill under two large apple trees, stood Applejack. She was standing tall with her chest puffed out as she cast her gaze out towards the horizon, with her blonde mane and tail unhindered and flowing in the wind. Her eyes were rather relaxed, giving off the expression of satisfied pride.
Yet underneath the golden strands flowing over her backside, was a yoke. It looked much too big for her, as if it was meant for a stallion. Her stetson, perhaps as much of a representation of Applejack as anything, hung off the side of the yoke. Held over her puffed chest, was an apron. It wasn't until then that Applejack stepped a little closer to get a better look at herself, when she noticed the bags underneath her eyes, and two saplings behind her, one actually taller than herself while the other barely reached up to the underside of her belly, still growing as she stood between them and whatever the shifting winds might bring.
"Now that's more like it..." Applejack whispered to herself as her muzzle started a wide grin until it turned upside down, "Just wish ah knew so we could move forward..."
Rarity's Mural
Cast within one of the famously popular boutiques in Canterlot, Rarity was working on a faceless mare in something like what the bearers wore to the ball. The body type of the mare resembled something closer to Fleur De Lis rather than the typical curvy body type most mares had. Yet, while faceless, the mare was so utterly perfect that in comparison Rarity looked less so.
But Rarity noted on her face there was not even the tiniest hint of jealousy. What she did see was just what she always hoped other would but often didn't, sacrifice. As she gazed upon her mural, Rarity couldn't help but stretch herself just a bit higher, and give herself an genuine smile.
"You go girl..." Rarity whispered to herself, but her eyes widened in shock as she noticed something nestled in the backdrop that had it not been so precious to her, she might of missed it. There was a bright red ruby, in the shape of a heart being buried under a broken hourglass, running out of time.
Pinkie Pie's Mural
Pinkie was, for one of the few in recent times, silent as she looked her mural over. She was painted trotting through a mirror, shattering it into large shards as what seemed to be hidden behind it was a saddened pony with dark clouds above it's head. The large colorful balloons she dragged along with her teeth seem to help shatter the shards into smaller ones, as her body seemed to do the very same. On one of the larger shards the saddened pony's face was shown split down the middle with one of the brightest smiles on it's muzzle.
"Thats right TinTin!" Pinkie said, beaming a wide smile, "No pony can hide from pinkie pie!" she then gave a rather determined grin, "Not even you." her grin remained even as her eyes just slightly watered, "Or myself."
Rainbow Dash's Mural
Rainbow stared at her mural with her head tilted to the side, still unsure what exactly to make of what she was seeing, of herself. She was standing upon a cloud with a stoic expression upon her muzzle as she seemed to watch as many faceless ponies laughed at a defiant little rainbow maned foal as it seemed to standing over a smaller crying butterscotch one with pink hair. The two foals were on a small cloud that looked as if it was slowly floating away from the other pegasi as one of the larger faceless ponies, also with a rainbow mane, had it's back turned to the two.
"Yeah, why don't you look at me now dad!" Rainbow loudly whispered, "Like you ever would..."
Fluttershy's Mural
Fluttershy silently wiped some tears from her eyes, as she strained to keep them clear as she looked at her mural. She walking across a room, much like her own cottage, with a big well fed white rabbit gently nabbed in her teeth by the scruff of the neck. She bore one of the happiest and sweetest looks on her face, clearly full of joy with the rabbit. But before a large mirror she was passing, there appeared to be a much younger version of her.
Within her mouth, again, was a rabbit but so small it couldn't of been but a newborn. The hardwood floor was replaced by clouds as she seemed to be running as fast as she can with a light tinge of red running from her nose. To her backside bore the silhouette of light from a doorway with a hoofing pointing out of it.
"H..how..." Fluttershy stuttered out as she wiped her tears, "I..I never told anypony except Rainbow.."
Everypony was admiring their murals, with Cadance being held back by Shining as she seemed to be trying even harder to dislodge their duo mural, when they were pulled out of their concentration when Luna called out to them all.
"A secret doorway!" Luna declares as she rushes to the blackness where a very thin line of light is seen bleeding through, "This must be what Blueblood meant by the turning off the lights."
"But how do we get..." Twilight began to inquire, before the doorway was enshrouded by a golden magical grasp.
"We've wasted too much time already." Celestia stated, as she ripped the doorway off, causing them all to be blinded by the sudden light as it bled into the darkened room they were in.
When they once more gathered their bearings all ventured forth into a much smaller side room. One by one, they stepped in and then suddenly stopped as they all stared in the same direction.
"Hey whats the big deal!" Rainbow said as she trotted into somepony's flank, shaking her head before seeing what the big deal was for herself.
Before them stood a painting of Sentinel himself. He was surrounded by all those within the room along with many of the ponies he'd met and formed friendships with in the castle and Canterlot. The six bearers were standing closest to him, as if guiding him away as they smiled and laughed.
"Look at how many friends Sentinel has now!" Pinkie declared with glee.
"I ain't buying it at face value sugarcube." Applejack stated with a neutral expression, "Every painting back there showed us what we expected to see, in the light." She then snorted a little, "But in the dark..."
"Let me, Applejack." Rarity stated as she used her grasp to deactivate the lightstone above them, causing all of them to call out in shock and sudden induced fear.
"What the hay is that!" Rainbow yells out.
Before them all, where before Sentinel stood surrounded by what any of them could only describe as friendship, now knelt a badly wounded one being ravaged by shadows with glowing green eyes. The depiction was one of being outnumbered, over powered, and on the verge of losing. The shadows had replaced all of the ponies as they assaulted him without mercy.
"Changlings!" Shining screamed, causing everypony to look at him in confused shock.
"Don't you see?!" Shining tried to explain, "One maid entered Sentinel's room and only one came out, but the maid was still in there!" He saw their eyes widen in realization, "That means what came out from the royal gardens only looked like Sentinel!"
"There ain't no way that one changling took down Sentinel!" Applejack declared.
"Maybe they didn't need to." Shining once again intervened, getting looks demanding explanation.
"Think about it, again." Shining said, trying to stay calm. "Every mural here is an abstract of what everypony normally sees, and then whats really underneath." he points one hoof to the mural behind him, "You six are trying to get him to follow you in the light, but attack him in the dark...".
"You mean right now there's changlings masking as the six of us leading Sentinel away?" Fluttershy grasps, looking worried, and maybe a bit angry at the thought.
"...and into a trap I bet." Applejack grimly adds in.
"Thou are truly aggravating, Sentinel." Luna stated, stepping past the others as she stares upon the mural, "To paint what appears to be one's own death, betrayed at the hooves of those that thou called friends..." Luna continues getting hurt expressions from all but Celestia who is glaring at Luna, "When in truth, thou purposely put thyself in mortal danger not to die, but to be saved."
All of a sudden, all of the bearers along with Cadance and Shining took off galloping out of the room, into the next, and finally disappearing into the darkness of the catacombs on the long climb back up, leaving only the princesses.
"Luna." Celestia said, her eyes closed as she shook her head, "That was cruel."
"It was honest." Luna replied.
"I meant that had you not caused them to freak out like that we could of just teleported all of us back to the throne room!" Celestia started to raise her voice as she near the end.
"Less we wish to lose Sentinel, and not just to mortal demise, we mustn't arrive too early." Luna started, as she started charging her horn.
"What do you know that you're not telling me Luna..." Celestia muttered, her horn also starting to glow.
"That, my dear sister, " Luna clarifies, as both their bodies become outlined, "you will have to ask Sentinel yourself."
Elsewhere in Equestria; Valley
"We're almost there." Twilight stated as they slowed down to a brisk pace.
As they traveled just a bit farther, the bearers all stopped and turned around to face Sentinel. They all wore friendly and happy smiles on their muzzles as Sentinel casually looked around. He had noted that some time ago that common noises such as crickets and owls had stopped. He also noted that Canterlot had disappeared from view due to a storm, which he knew while obviously not natural, was not something that would of been done on a night for a ceremony.
"And here we..." Twilight started to declare, but was interrupted.
"They always send the weakest if the ruse fails, you know." Sentinel said, giving the six ponies a rather cold stare. All six tensed up as a few actually took a small step back.
"And weaklings will just not make due, for what I need." Sentinel then removes both of his hands from his side pockets, slowly cracking the knuckles as he closes them into fists. "Leave. Now." He coldly demands, as all six seem to be engulfed in green flames as they shoot into the air and into the tree line nearby.
"Fascinating." Came a rather seductive sounding feminine voice from the treeline. "You suspected, and yet you came without any weapons." the voice continued, "Nor do you comfort yourself among the support of the ponies I see. Solitude is for the weak you know."
"Never heard of less is more?" Sentinel quips to the sound of the voice.
"Need to have something to begin with, no?" Replied the voice.
"I have me." Sentinel retorts. "What do you have?"
"A plan..." The voice says, directly behind him.
Sentinel only enough time to turn and see the glowing green eyes and razor like horn glow before he was blasted by some pseudo like teleportation. Or it had the ability like teleportation to send great distances, but unlike the former, it was more like being shot in an energy encased bullet with an credit giving landing. Of said landing, if it hadn't been for his aura's effects now having instant warmup, he'd of suffered death on impact. As it stands, he was having slight trouble making that achievement.
"Sorry for the rough landing creature," The voice, still not visible from all the dust in the air, said. "But I had to make sure that what I've heard about you was true." The voice started to giggle, "To the point if you ask me."
"...and if you ask me," Sentinel groaned out as his healing and reinforcement aura were not being nearly as potent as before, "I think I prefer the demons." He coughed up some blood ready to clog his voice, "They gloated less."
"Or perhaps you've started to realize that the demons were weaker than what has already proven to be stronger." The voice sounded more and more over confident with each word.
"Oh its not that you're stronger." Sentinel stated as he finally was able to stand up but still concealed in the dust, "Far from it actually," he added, "It's just that its just me now".
"What?" The voice asked, sounding a bit put off and confused.
"The reason my abilities were so strong against the demons," Sentinel began to elaborate as the bones in his left hand started cracking from mending back together, "Was because they used their life force as a fuel source."
"Basically," Sentinel calmly stated, "All I had to do was keep killing them."
"But I can sense your body mending!" The voice rang out, somewhat agitated, "That landing would of killed you otherwise!"
"They still work, bug." Sentinel informed, noting the sound of a growl from beyond the slowly dissipating dust screen, "Not as potent. Nor as long lasting. Hell, for every intent and purpose they are actually everything that a double edge sword should be." but then he gave a grin that nothing else could of seen, "But there is no question in my heart that they are better than ever before."
"By what madness do you come to such an conclusion, creature." The voice said, quite annoyed but genuinely curious.
"Because," he keeps the grin as the dust settles and for the first time he can see his adversary. They covered every position around him for as far as he could see. Not only like the ones he had seen in the books in the royal library, but even slightly larger ones that reminded him a bit of this kind of thing went back home. He was, even at his old best, relatively fucked.
"Its just me." Sentinel started to grin even wider as the first wave shot forward from all around, causing him to be enveloped by the darkness as he reached down to pick up the 6 foot long trunk of a fallen timber.