//------------------------------// // Shadows Ch. 4 Tor // Story: The Shadows Saga // by Tagshadow //------------------------------// Tag, Twilight and Rarity burst through the door. Tag took in the scene before him, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Celestia were all sitting in the middle of the room, and Spike sat on the bottom stair with a scared look on his face. When he saw Rarity however he seemed to man up. Cute. Beside Celestia was a bubble of yellow light and inside was a pony. The pony inside had all the animalistic rage Tag could remember from the day before. He shivered as those thoughts returned to him. No, now is not the time. He told himself and walked over to Celestia. “… Is this Tor? Is this my brother?” He asked her. Celestia looked at him with sympathy in her eyes. “Yes, this is your brother.” Tag looked at Tor, the same reptilian eyes, and the same deep-rooted yet unexplainable hatred behind them. Tag walked over the bubble and put his hoof onto the smooth surface near Tor. Tor seemed confused but slowly his hoof in front of Tag’s. Tag’s eyes filled with tears. “Please sever the connection.” Tag said his voice cracked with sadness. Celestia nodded and pointed her head towards Tor; at the sight of the sun goddess Tor started snarling again. Celestia closed her eyes and made a cutting motion. Tor sat down hard. Celestia popped the bubble and Tor fell to the ground. Tag quickly ran over to him and helped him up. For the first time Tag looked at his brother. Tor was completely silver; his fur was lighter silver while his mane and tail were a darker colour, both his mane and tail were spiked out. He also seemed much stronger than Tag. Tor’s green eyes opened slowly. “What? Where am I?” Tor was struggling against Tag. Celestia quickly came over to him and put a wing on his shoulder. “Please, be calm.” She said. Tor looked up into her eyes and then away. “What have I done?” He asked. Tag put a hoof around his shoulder. “Nothing wrong.” He reassured Tor. Tor looked at him in confusion. “Who are you?” He asked and Tag winced. Before Tag could say anything Celestia beckoned for them to join her. “Come, now it is time for a story, Tor, all of your questions will be answered.” Tor reluctantly sat beside her. “Princess, please forgive me, I don’t know what came over me.” He apologized. Celestia smiled. “Do not worry, I’m sure you’ll understand soon enough.” Tag sat beside Tor and the rest of his friends joined them. Celestia recounted the story of the war between her, Luna and Discord. Tag was ready for the horrors to come but Tor wasn’t. He wept openly for most of it. When Celestia mentioned that he and Tag were family Tor looked at Tag, Tag returned the look before Tor finally embraced him. Tag sniffled. Is this what it’s like to have a family? He asked himself. Finally Celestia’s tale came to an end, and she asked if Tor had any questions. He had one: “Why didn’t you kill me?” he asked. Silence followed, then Tag spoke up. “Because everypony deserves a second chance.” He said. Tor sniffed and asked another question. “What now?” Celestia smiled. “The very same question Tag had, I suggest you get a job, not to sound harsh. Maybe you should ask your friends like Tag did.” She replied but Tor looked doubtful. “What friends?” He asked bitterly. “We would like to be your friends… if that’s okay with you.” Fluttershy said. “Really?” Tor sounded like he didn’t believe her. That was when Applejack came up to his side. “Of course we’re yer friends! After all that’s happened we wouldn’t leave ya! That jus wouldn’t be right!” She exclaimed. “Yeah! What kind of ponies would we be if we left you alone like that?” Rainbow Dash put in. Tor smiled for the first time. “You see Tor? We’re not alone in this.” Tag said. “After living one day here I believe that friendship can help us get through this.” Pinkie jumped up. “Well DUH! That’s what friendship is for!” She pointed out. “Truer words have not been spoken.” Celestia said. “I’m afraid that it is time for me to go. Tag, Tor I talked with the mayor and have purchased a house for you.” Celestia floated a piece of paper towards the brothers. On it was the address of a house that had been purchased in the name of the Shadows. Both of them were speechless. “Th-thank you, Princess! Is there anything that Tor and I can do to repay you. I mean it wouldn’t feel right to just take it…” Tag looked at Tor. Celestia laughed. “Tell you what, if you really want to repay me then there is one thing that you can do.” Tag and Tor looked at her. “Anything!” They said in unison, which caused Celestia to laugh even more. She leaned in and whispered: “Live. Now, I must be going. Duty calls!” Celestia called out final goodbyes as she exited the library. There was an awkward silence. Tor was the first to speak. “Now what?” He asked. “Now we have to find a job for you.” Twilight said. “What about Tag?” Tor asked. “I am currently learning how to sew from Rarity over here.” Tag said and pointed to Rarity. “It just occurred to me! You haven’t even been introduced to your friends yet!” He exclaimed. “Let’s go in a circle, then.” Twilight suggested. “Who would like to go fir-“ “ME! ME! I WANT TO GO! PICK ME!” Pinkie cried out. “Pinkie then.” Twilight said. “Okay, okay, I’m Pinkie Pie! But you can call me Pinkie! I’m the premier party planner in all of Equestria! Also I work at the Sugarcube Corner.” Pinkie sat down, up next was Rainbow Dash. “I’m Rainbow Dash, I work as a weather pegasus and am the fastest flyer around!” Rainbow Dash sat down and motioned for Fluttershy to start, then again, finally Rainbow Dash had to push Fluttershy onto her hooves, getting a small chuckle out of the rest of them. “H-hi I’m Fluttershy. I-I take care of the animals outside of Ponyville.” She sat down quickly and poked Twilight who stood up. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia and librarian here in Ponyville.” Twilight sat down immediately followed by Rarity standing up. “Hello Tor! I’m Rarity and I run the Carousel Boutique in downtown Ponyville.” Then Applejack stood up. “And ah’m Applejack, I run the Sweet Apple Acres farm jus’ outside Ponyville.” Tor looked around. “A lot of names to remember.” He said, they all laughed a little. “I’m Tor, you all know that, and I used to work for the Manehattan guard before Celestia found me.” Tor looked around again. “Uh, I don’t suppose any of you have a job that I could fill?” They all thought for a moment. “Ah suppose that you could let ya buck apples on the farm.” She suggested. Tor looked at her confusedly. “Apple bucking?” he asked. “That’s when ya get up to a tree and kick it with yer hind legs so that the apples fall into baskets.” Applejack explained. “You certainly seem strong enough to do it.” She added. “I suppose I could give it a try.” Tor said. “Why don’t you spend the day with yer brother and get settled in.” Applejack said. “We can get you started tomorrow.” She ended. Rarity came up. “I suppose we could start your lessons tomorrow. Come by the boutique by eight tomorrow morning.” She said. “Tor, you can be at the farm by seven and we’ll get ya started. The farm is just out East of Ponyville.” She said. “Why don’t you guys check out your new house?” Twilight suggested. “That would be a good place to start.” Tag thought for a moment. “A good idea.” Tor said. “I guess we’ll go do that now, if you will excuse us; me and my brother have some work to do.” He said and stood up. “It was nice meeting you all.” Tag got up and followed Tor out the door calling out his own goodbyes. ---- “So, where is our house?” Tag asked, Tor pulled out the deed and looked at it. “It says here that the house is on… That Street.” Tor said “What street?” tag asked. “That Street.” “No, what’s the name of the street?” “That’s the name; That Street” “Oh.” Tor laughed and Tag joined in. “Okay then, where is That Street?” “I believe that it is this way.” Tor said and started walking away from the library. Tag jumped to catch up, while he was behind Tor he glimpsed Tor’s cutie mark; it was an obsidian black bow. “Is that why you became one of the guards at Manehattan?” Tag asked and motioned to Tor’s cutie mark. A flash of uneasiness went through Tor’s eyes. “I had never given it much thought, but I guess that would be a good reason. I never really knew about my freakish abilities with a bow and arrow but I know about it now….” Tor trailed off and an awkward silence followed as the two colts continued to walk to their new home. Tor broke the silence. “What happened before they found you?” it was an honest question. “I had just happened to wander into Ponyville and Pinkie found me, she took me to introduce me to her friends. Twilight could feel Discord’s presence they… totally beat me up.” Tor snickered. ” They contacted Princess Celestia and brought her here, then I reacted much the same way that you did and then they had to restrain me so that Celestia could sever the link, then you know what happened next.” Tor looked thoughtful for a moment. “But what happened when you were wandering? The ponies that you’ve met must have been unsure about you because of your cutie mark.” Tor motioned to Tag’s mark. “Well, the last place that I had visited before here was Manehattan, and they threw me out the day that I got there.” Tag shivered when he remembered the hate in their eyes as he was tossed out of town. “Oh, we’re here.” They stood in front of modest house; it was two stories with windows on all sides. “Let’s look inside, shall we?” Tor asked and walked over to the door. It squeaked a little on its hinges; Tag made a note that he would have to fix that later. The front hall led all the way through the house and out the back door. There were three doors in the hall: one led to a bathroom, one led to the kitchen, and the last one into a living room. The house was scarcely furnished; there was a table and two chairs n the kitchen and one couch in the living room. In the living room was a staircase that led up to the second floor. The second floor was also a hallway with four doors two were bedrooms, one was a bathroom, and the last one was a closet. Like the first floor the bedrooms were sparsely furnished but they both had a bed and a night table. Tag and Tor met up in the hall after exploring. “Obviously we are going to have to get some more furniture, but who could complain?” Tag said and Tor nodded his agreement. “I agree, it’s so hard to believe what has happened in the space of one day…” Tor stopped himself. “Hey, we need to put that past us, how else are we going to fulfill our promise to Celestia?” Tag pointed out. “Yes, what time is it?” Tor asked. “Smooth…” Tag muttered and looked out the window. Tor smiled sheepishly. “Sorry I’m just getting kind of hungry.” Tag nodded, the view from the window at the end of the hall gave a perfect view of the clock tower in the middle of town. “It’s about six. I guess it’s time for dinner.” Tag observed. “Let’s raid the fridge.” He said and walked down to the kitchen. Tor walked in as Tag opened the fridge and gasped, Tor quickly trotted over and joined him. Inside the fridge was… WAS…. a sack. There was a note tied to the sack. Tor pulled it open and read it aloud. “Tag and Tor I realize that this fridge is empty, and thus I feel as though I shouldn’t let you go hungry your first night in your new house. Inside the bag is exactly 100 bits. I would suggest you visit the restaurant across the street. Twilight has told me it has good hay casserole. Princess Celestia.” Tag took out the bag and opened it; it was full of bits. Tag smiled at Tor. “Let’s go out tonight.” The café across the street was not very busy so Tag and Tor were seated in a quiet corner. A cheery earth pony waitress came up to their table to take their order. “Hello and welcome to The How and Hay Café! I’m Silver Platter, and I’ll be your waitress for this evening. Are you ready to order or do you two gentlecolts need some more time?” Her cheeriness was catching; Tag offered her a broad smile before handing her his menu. “I believe that we’re ready to order. I’ll have the hay casserole please.” He said and motioned to Tor. He handed her his menu too. “Make it two please.” He said. With that Silver Platter was off. And an awkward silence filed in. “This is awkward.” Tag announced making all the worse. “Well there is not much to talk about that is… safe for the public.” Tor replied. They sat in silence for a while longer. Tag broke the silence again. “You could tell me about your time working for the guard in Manehattan, if you would like to.” He suggested. “I suppose if it will pass the time.” Tor sighed and collected his thoughts. “When I wandered into town the guard stopped me, they said that it was suspicious that I was coming from the shrine. I argued and then one thing led to another and then I was being interrogated, the captain came to see me personally as I had knocked two of his guards.” Tag snorted. “After sorting out that it was a misunderstanding the captain, a pegasus named Thunder, apologized and offered me a job because of my cutie mark.” Tor thought for a moment. “The next two weeks were fairly uneventful, I had the best skills with a bow and arrow on the guard and was always called up for emergencies. I lived in the barracks and got to know the other guard ponies as well. I remember the day when you would’ve been in Manehattan, the other guards were muttering something about a strange pony but I didn’t think much of it; that sort of thing happens often. And then was the day Celestia came and caught us by surprise, I barely remember much after that except waking up in the library.” Silver Platter walked up with another waiter carrying their food. “Here you go, colts! Enjoy and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.” She walked off to attend to others. Twilight was right; the casserole was amazing! “Mmmmm.” Was all Tag could say between heaping spoons of casserole. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Tor scolded. Tag swallowed. “Don’t start on me! I haven’t had anything since breakfast and I’m STARVING!” he cried. “Don’t complain, I didn’t even get to have breakfast and I haven’t said a word.” Tor scolded Tag. “Touché.” Was Tag’s only reply before he resumed his eating. They payed for their meal and left, it was dark by the time they reached their house. Tag walked over to the window. “It’s dark enough that I can’t see the clock so I think it is safe to assume that it’s bedtime.” Tag said dryly and Tor chuckled. “Good point, besides, we have work tomorrow.” Tor reminded him. Tor up the stairs and Tag followed. “This will be my bedroom.” Tor said and walked in. “Goodnight, Tag.” He finished. “Goodnight brother.” Tag said and walked into the other room. ---- Tag woke up in the darkness, he wasn’t sure why. Then he heard it; a noise out in the hall. Tag waited and sure enough he could hear what sounded like hoofsteps going down the stairs. Tag crept out of bed and down the hall by the time he got to the bottom stair he heard the creak of the door and a muffled curse. Tag recognized the voice as Tor’s. Obviously. He thought. Where is he going? Tag decided that he would follow Tor and find out. The night was warm and Tor seemed to not know here he was going. He was ambling around almost, except that he was looking for something. Eventually Tor came to the outskirts of Ponyville, he stopped for a moment before continuing on. Tag was getting a little nervous about Tor’s destination but he calmed down when he saw Tor stop beside a lake sitting underneath a tree. Tag crept up to the tree to get a closer look, Unfortunately he stepped on a twig; the resounding snap was deafening in the silence. Tor’s ears perked up. “Come out Tag, I know that’s you behind the tree.” Tag shuffled out from behind the tree like a guilty school filly caught stealing chalk. Tag took a seat beside Tor; they sat in silence for a while. Eventually Tag spoke. “What are you doing out here?” He asked. Tor was silent for a while longer before replying, “Wondering.” He said at last. “What about?” tag asked. “If we can really do it.” Tor said flatly. Tag’s eyebrow went up. “What do you mean?” Tag was genuinely curious. “Can we really live? I don’t mean existing, but can we really be happy? After what has been dumped on our heads one has to wonder if we can truly be happy.” Tag thought for a moment. “Believe me when I say that it is possible, you just have to let it into you. Rarity was kind enough to show me that last night.” Tor raised an eyebrow. “N-not like that!” he stuttered and Tor let out a small laugh. “Is it really as wonderful as you say it is?” There was hesitation in his voice and Tag winced. “After what happened after my… release… I was feeling the same way that you do, I was doubtful and doing my best not to show it. I’m not ashamed to admit that I broke down in Rarity’s kitchen after cutting vegetables for soup. Rarity told me that everypony deserves second chances and I took it to heart. I’m sure that Applejack will be the same way tomorrow. You just have to believe.” Tag took a deep breath; that had come from out of nowhere, but he hoped that it would assuage Tor’s fears. Tor looked thoughtful and they sat there for a long time. Tor stood up. “I hope that what you say is true, I believe you.” Tag stood up as well. “Let’s go home.”