//------------------------------// // Chapter Five // Story: Past Shadows // by ChaosDragoon //------------------------------// Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly restrained Weaponry as Flash rushed to the Changeling. It conversed as blood spat from its severed hoof. “Come on stay with us,” Flash said before he turned to the police ponies and yelled, “Get a medical kit in here now!” one of the ponies quickly ran out of the room but when Flash tuned back to the changeling it had stopped conversed and its eyes rolled into the back of its head before a hiss of air expelled from its mouth. When the pony ran back into the room with the medical kit. Flash looked at him and shook his head. Weaponry didn’t fight Applejack and Rainbow Dash; he simply watched the events unfold. “What were you doing?” Flash yelled. “My job,” Weaponry said. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had let go of Weaponry and now stood with the police ponies near the door. “Your job is to protect Ponyville and find any changelings hiding as ponies. Not torture a helpless changeling,” Flash argued. He looked at the dead changeling at his hooves and added, “What if he had information we could’ve used? Did you think about that?” “I asked him and he refused to answer. Torture was the only way to get the information out of him,” Weaponry said. “That’s not the way we integrate ponies Weaponry!” Flash yelled as he interrupted Weaponry “Ponies? That thing is not a pony! It’s a filthy changeling or have you forgotten we’re at war with them!” Weaponry argued as it pointed to the changeling. “Celestia and Luna wouldn’t want this. They want to find a peaceful way to end the conflict. They wouldn’t want any pony doing such cruel things to them. Especially someone from the CDF,” Flash said. He had stopped yelling and was now trying to keep the conversation at a normal tone. “Peaceful? These fucking creatures attacked our cities, our villages, our towns! There is no peace to be found. All we can do is kill them before they can do the same to us,” Weaponry yelled. “Look at yourself Weaponry. You’re not doing this for the kingdom you love, for the princesses you’re loyal to. You’re doing it out of spite and revenge. How would Sacred,” Flash said but, before he could finish. He felt his body fall to the ground with a sharp pain in his right cheek. “Don’t you dare bring her into this conversation!” Weaponry said. He then walked out of the room. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and the two police ponies quickly got out of his way still stunned at what just happened. “What was that all about,” Applejack asked as she helped Flash to his hooves. “Flash, are you alright,” Twilight asked as she ran in. Flash nodded before he rubbed his cheek. “I probably shouldn’t have said that, but he’s going about this all wrong. Torchering him wouldn’t have solved anything. Something must be wrong. Even after the incident in the San Palomino Desert he would never do something like that,” Flash said. “That’s just horrible, the way he hurt the changeling. Even if we’re at war, no creature deserves to feel that much pain,” Fluttershy said. “I agree, such actions seem more primal then civilized,” Rarity said. “He’s just a big meanie,” Pinkie said as she gave the two police ponies cupcakes she had taken from the party. “Has anypony seen Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked. The ponies looked around the room but couldn’t find the Cyan Pegasus. Weaponry walked through town grumbling to himself, “Damn Flash, thinking he can just erase everything the changelings have done to Equestria.” “Hey,” Rainbow Dash said hovering next to him. Weaponry didn’t look at her as he started to walk faster. “Don’t ignore me,” Rainbow Dash said before she landed in front of him. “What do you want?” Weaponry questioned. Before she could answer him, he started to walk to the side of her, getting ready to walk away. Rainbow Dash quickly placed her hoof around his shoulder. “I’m just here to talk. So why don’t we talk in there,” Rainbow Dash said before she pointed to a building with neon lights that blinked: Cider Barrel. “What would make you think I’d want to talk, especially with somepony like you,” Weaponry said. “Nopony can resist a free drink,” Rainbow Dash said, leading him towards the bar. Weaponry just sighed. He could have easily gotten away from her grip, but she was right: Nopony ever turns down a free drink and right now he could use one. Weaponry walked into the bar and took a seat at a table near the back. Rainbow Dash walked over to the bartender and ordered two apple ciders. She flew to the table where Weaponry was and placed the cup in front of him. “Now then, Lets chat shall we,” Rainbow Dash said. Weaponry’s horn lit up and the mug lifted from the table and he sipped the cider before placing it back down. “What makes you think I want to talk?” Weaponry said. “I bought you that cider, it’s only fair,” Rainbow Dash said. Weaponry sighed as he started to get up. “Come on, at least hear me out,” Rainbow Dash said before she added, “You and I aren’t so different.” Weaponry stopped and turned to the Pegasus. He then sat back down and listened to what she had to say. “You’re loyal to Celestia correct?” Rainbow Dash said. Weaponry nodded before Rainbow Dash added, “And you’re loyal to the kingdom?” “What are you getting at,” Weaponry said. Rainbow Dash simply picked up her mug and took a large gulp from it and placed it back down. “I know all about Loyalty,” Rainbow Dash said before she sighed and added, “I know what it feels like to have your loyalty tested.” “Again, what are you getting at?” Weaponry spat. “Applejack once told me that there’s a difference between loyalty and recklessness. As the representative of the element I have to differentiate between them,” Rainbow Dash said. Weaponry’s mug lifted up and he took another sip. “I admire your determination to protect your comrades in battle but what you call loyalty is downright recklessness,” Rainbow Dash said. “How would you know what I’m like when I’m fighting alongside them?” Weaponry asked. “Flash told us about your time as a commander in the guard,” Rainbow Dash said. The Mug slammed to the table violently shaking it. “That’s none of your business!” Weaponry shouted. Many of the bar patrons looked at Weaponry who quickly sat back down and sighed. “Look, he told us how you commanded your troops and how you kept them safe, but the loyalty you show towards them is actually recklessness. How do you think they feel as they watch you sustain injury while they come home unharmed,” Rainbow Dash asked. “As long as they get back to their loved ones, I highly think they care,” Weaponry said. “Well how does your family think about all the things you do?” Rainbow Dash said. “Not sure. Mom and little sister are somewhere in Equestria. Not sure where they are,” Weaponry said. “How can you not be sure where they are?!” Rainbow Dash said. “We lived in Ponyville at one time, that’s why I wanted to be sent here. After I joined the royal guard I told them to move away from Ponyville. Told them to not tell me where they’re going for fear that they would be used as negotiating tools by the enemy,” Weaponry said. He seem to just star into his cider as he remembered. He downed the rest of his cider and stood up. “Thank you for the drink,” Weaponry said before he headed for the door. “Hey, I’m not done,” Rainbow Dash said. “Next time, I’ll buy the cider,” Weaponry said before he walked out of the bar and headed towards the Inn. I wonder how they’re doing. If they’re safe? He thought. He hadn’t thought about them in a long time and it brought a smile to his face.