//------------------------------// // Chapter 81 // Story: The Darkness in our Souls // by Black Light //------------------------------// Chapter 81 It had been around one week since all the repairs had been completed. Trixie left the day after they were done saying that one day she would return and see us all again. The remaining days after were pretty uneventful. That however changed in one single moment with the arrival of one letter. One letter than I'm sure I'm going to regret having opened. That letter is the reason I was now sitting on a train, traveling to Canterlot, for who knows what time it is now. Twilight was pacing up and down the train car muttering. "A personal summons from the princess. What could she want? Are we in trouble? Oh, I wish I knew what was going on." I rolled my eyes. "Twilight you know the letter was a summons for me. You didn't have to come." I told her. "And furthermore, neither did all of you." I said looking behind me seeing all the other mares I had befriended. "Shadow it's a personal summons from the princess specifically for you. I think there's a big enough question there to take some interest in it." Rainbow said as she sat down next to me. "Sure there's a question, but not every question needs an answer." I told her. "Don't say anything." I added quickly to the end while pointing at Twilight who closed her mouth. "I swear I'm surrounded by inanity." I said leaning my head back. "Then it's a good thing you fit right in." Rainbow told me. I chuckled. "I guess it is." We arrived at Canterlot and were greeted by a small platoon of guards at the train station, that ushered us quickly to the castle. We entered the castle not long after and soon found our way to the main hall. I entered first everypony else following behind me. The princesses were sitting on their thrones and smiled when they saw me. "Ah Shadow, it's good to see you, thank you for coming quickly." Celestia said as I walked in. She looked a bit surprised as the rest of the girls followed behind. "They kind of invited themselves." I said to Celestia. Celestia chuckled slightly. "I understand. Truthfully I'm surprised I didn't see that it was going to happen in the first place." She said. "Anyways. If I may ask, why did you send for me?" I said to her. Both Celestia and Luna became a bit more serious. "There's... a small request we need to make." Celestia said. "You remember the Gala awhile ago where we asked if you would consider becoming an ambassador?" Luna asked me. "Yes, Quite vividly." I responded. "Well...We need to ask you to become one now." Celestia said. "I thought I already told you. I don't want to become an ambassador." I said to them. "We know but...It is an emergency." Luna told me. I paused for a moment. "What sort of emergency?" "There has been many issues with the Griffin Kingdom lately involving land claims. We wish to resolve this dispute, but there was an incident with one of our ambassadors the other day. They are currently in urgent care and nopony wishes to take his place and risk the same result." Celestia told me. "But the dispute need's to be resolved quickly." Luna continued. "Though they would never threaten it directly. They have hinted that if it isn't resolve some griffins may become violent." The girls gasped. "So basically they're saying that if you don't meet their demands you'll have a small scale war on your hooves?" "Correct." Celestia answered. "I've always heard that griffin's were a pretty violent race. Any chance that their threat has weight behind it?" I asked. "It's almost guaranteed that they would, given a reason." Luna told me. "When do I leave?" I asked. "Tonight if possible." Luna told me. "I'll need a few items." I said to them. "They can be supplied." Celestia said. "It almost may be good to take some precautions and have a small escort with you." She said. "Do I have the option to choose the members myself?" I asked. "You can certainly make some suggestions." Celestia responded. "Twilight, Skies, and Rainbow." I told them. Causing everypony in the room to falter slightly. "What?" Celestia asked. "It's a logical group. Rainbow is a capable fighter and I would trust her with my life any day. Twilight is probably the most familiar with customs and other knowledgeable facts. And Skies...well I won't deny but myself having an episode is very possible." I explained. The princesses thought for a moment. "We have no issue with your requests, but it is still up to them if they want to go." Luna said looking to the three. "You can count me in. Like I'd pass this up." Rainbow said. "Chances are my brother would screw up something if I didn't come along." Skies responded. I gave a soft glare at her and she just stuck her tongue out at me. Everypony turned to face Twilight, who was...well, having a Twilight moment. "I'm going to the Griffin Kingdom. I'm going to need more paper...and quills. There so much I could learn from direct observation." Twilight ranted on in her own world. "I think we can take that as a yes." I said with a small chuckle. "Very well then, but we would still like to send one of our own guards as well." Celestia said. "I have no qualms with that." I responded. "Good, there will be a chariot waiting for you at the barracks at seven thirty. The guard will meet you there." Celestia said. "Alright, what do we do until then?" I asked. "Well, you're going to need the proper attire in order to look the role. Luckily we have one of the best seamstresses in Equestria here right now." Luna said looking at Rarity. Rarity's eyes widened and smile grew. "Come along Shadow, I'm going to have to make this suit perfect." She said as her magic encased my tail and began to drag me away. "I'm beginning to regret my decision." I said much to the amusement of the others as I was dragged out of the room. And that's how I now found myself standing at the barracks wearing, in my opinion, one of the most uncomfortable creations in all of pony history. Skies and Rainbow stood next to me trying to contain their laughter, and failing. Twilight was a bit distracted and was going over her checklist for her checklist for the third time. Seriously how many checklist does one pony need? I sighed. 'I hope the guard that the princesses chose out will make this trip at least bearable.' And right on cue a guard came out of the barracks and approached me. I didn't bother to try and figure out if I knew who it was. All the guards armor was enchanted so that they would look exactly alike. The only things I could tell about this guard was that it was a stallion, and he was a unicorn. He walked up too me and saluted. "Sir, Officer Bright Wall reporting." "There's no reason to salute. I'm not really anypony special." I told him. The guard stopped saluting. "Sorry Sir. Force of habit." He told me. "It's fine." I told him. "Just in case things do end up going south. I'd like to know what you specialize in so that I can act accordingly." I said to him. "Sir, my specialty is in barriers. I have the ability to make a shield that can rival even Captain Shining Armor's." He told me. "That's a pretty impressive feat." I said with a small nod thinking back to some of the tales I had heard. "And any other skills that you have?" "I have been told that I can make very good pancakes, sir." The guards said. I just looked at him for a moment not saying anything. "...I can tell that we're going to get along very well." I said with a smile.