//------------------------------// // Shadows Ch. 15 Confirmation // Story: The Shadows Saga // by Tagshadow //------------------------------// Rarity eventually came out of her room much to the relief of everypony in the hall. “Sorry about the wait everypony!” She said sounding refreshed. Everypony just glared at her. “Let’s just report to the princess.” Tome muttered and stalked down the hall followed by Tac. “What’s wrong with Tome?” Rarity asked curiously, Rainbow Dash let out an exasperated sigh. “Because it’s 10!” She cried. “So?” Rarity asked primly as she started to follow Tac. “We’ve been waitin’ out here fer an entire hour!” Applejack said as she too followed. The rest of the group continued on without a word. ---- Princess Celestia was speaking to a grey pegasus with a red and yellow mane. Tor instantly recognized him. “Thunder? Is that you?” He asked in disbelief, Thunder turned around with an equally surprised look on his face. “I should be asking that question!” He said as he trotted up to Tor. Is he friend of yours? Silver asked. Captain of the Manehattan guard and a friend of mine. Tor explained. “What are you doing here?” Thunder asked as he scrutinized Torais. “It’s a very long story that I don’t think is important right now.” Tor said. Thunder let out a little cough. “Not really important? Princess Celestia herself came to pick you up, when you saw her you turned into a monster and on top of that she told me that you won’t be returning to duty!” He exclaimed. “I think that deserves an explanation.” “Of course, sir. But perhaps it would be better if Princess Celestia herself told you.” Tor looked at Princess Celestia for confirmation; she nodded her head in consent. “Perhaps we should get a few seats then.” Tor said and pulled a stool over from the side of the room and sat on it. Thunder followed with a confused look on his face and took a seat. Tor could see Celestia steel herself for the story. Thunder was speechless. He looked at Tor with a shocked face and Tor flinched. I didn’t think he would take it so well in all honesty. Silver said. Thunder struggled to regain is composure. “This is true then?” He asked weakly. Tor nodded slowly. “Yes sir.” Tor said. Thunder looked right into his eyes and Tor shifted uncomfortably. “Make good use of those skills then, try to use them for good.” Thunder said finally. “You mean that you don’t think that I’m some sort of horrible beast?” Tor asked, astonished. “Seeing as you managed to survive two weeks on the Manehattan guard without killing anyone I can see that you’re not a monster.” Thunder explained. “Besides, your not a bad pony. You have a good sense of justice.” Tor was taken aback. “Thank you sir.” He said. Thunder turned back to the princess. “But this is not why I came to Canterlot. “ He said. “The reason I came is because there is bad news from Manehattan.” Silence followed. “What is the news Thunder?” Princess Celestia asked. “This morning I found one of our guards cowering in the barracks. His name is Archer; he was never the most courageous pony but he was shaken up pretty badly. I asked him what was wrong and he muttered something about a pony with a knife and Steel Mail.” Tor recognized the names. Steel Mail was known to be a bit of a bully and Archer was a scaredy-pony. They weren’t exactly his friends but Tor still hoped this wasn’t as bad as it was sounding. “I asked Archer to show this alley but he seemed hesitant. I eventually was able to coerce him into showing me and… I found out why he was so terrified.” Thunder swallowed. “He showed me to the alley; in the far corner I saw Steel Mails’ corpse. His throat had been cut deeply and the ground was covered with a pool of blood.” Silence followed again. “… Were you able to get a description of the pony from Archer?” Celestia asked and Thunder nodded. “He said that the pony was very gray green with a blue mane.” He said. That cannot be good. Silver said. Obviously. What will happen if Tag makes it all the way here? Tor wondered. Twilight looked thoughtful. “It sounds like Tag is under Discord’s control. But we had already assumed that.” She said. “Yes and now that we’ve confirmed it we should make plans for when he gets here.” Tac said. “What are you thinking?” Tor asked. Tac looked unhappy. “I’m afraid that if Tag makes it here then we’ll have to… put him down.” Everypony in the room gasped. “P-put him down?” Rarity asked. Tac nodded somberly. “In all honesty I can’t of any other way that this would play out.” He said. “But ya can’t jus kill him!” Applejack cried. “Princess you can’t just let this happen!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed at looked at Princess Celestia for an answer, she was silent. “Princess?” Tor asked nervously. Princess Celestia was still quiet. “If Tag is under Discord’s control, couldn’t we memory spell on him like Twilight had?” She asked. “If Tag has only been in Ponyville for a few days I don’t think that there is enough memory to free him.” Tome said. Tor couldn’t think of anything to say. “But we can still try, can’t we?” Twilight asked. “We could try but I can’t promise anything.” Tome sighed. “But what if it doesn’t work?” Rarity asked. “Then we will have to kill him.” Tac said simply. “How can you say it just like that? Condemning a pony to death so easily?” Rainbow Dash cried. Tac’s eye’s flashed and he swung his head angrily. “Do not think that I do so lightly, I do not enjoy condemning a pony to death but it is a necessary part of life of my life. I’ve done this many times but it does not get any easier, I wish that there was a way that we could so this but we need to think about the safety of the princesses.” He said angrily and Rainbow Dash cringed. Tac sighed and closed his eyes tightly. “Forgive me. I forget that Ponyville is lightly touched by affairs such as this.” He apologized. Just then Princess Luna trotted in. “Do we have a plan to deal with Tag?” She asked but when she sensed the tension in the room she froze. “Is something wrong?” “I might be able to cast the memory spell on him but it might not work.” Twilight explained. “And if it doesn’t work?” Luna asked tensely. “Then the guards will be given the order to execute him.” Tor finished. Luna looked at him surprised. “You seem to have accepted it.” She observed but Tor shook his head. “I don’t plan on letting Tag die, I know that the spell will work.” He said. Thunder cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to say it right now but I should probably head back to Manehattan, I must oversee preparations regarding Steel Mail.” “Of course. And thank you for bringing the news despite how grave they are.” Princess Celestia said, Thunder bowed and then trotted out of the room. “What happens now?” Applejack asked. “We can’t just sit around and wait for Tag ta’ get here.” Tac shook his head. “I’m afraid that we might need to, if we were send guards after him they wouldn’t stand a chance and by going out there we leave the princesses without proper protection.” He explained matter of factly and Applejack deflated. “But-“ “But nothing. The safety of the princesses comes first, that is my duty as the royal strategist and I don’t intend to cast it aside for any reason.” He stomped his hoof to make his point. Princess Celestia looked slightly distressed as she spoke out. “Applejack, put your mind at ease, I will do my best to insure that we get Tag back to normal.” Applejack looked unconvinced but bowed to the princess followed by every pony in the room. “Before we are dismissed there is one more thing that must be brought to your attention.” Tac said as he stood back up. “Tor, please tell the princess what you saw last night.” I had completely forgotten about that! He realized. Good thing that Tac reminded you then. Silver commented. “Oh yes… last night I was on the balcony overlooking the castle gardens. I looked toward the statue of Discord and realized that I saw a pony sitting in front of it, when I looked closer I realized that it was Iron Hoof, and that he was talking to the statue.” Tor explained. Celestia’s face grew troubled. “Did you hear what he said?” She asked. “No, I was to far away to hear anything.” Tor said regretfully. Celestia closed her eyes contemplating. “I think that if we don’t know what he said we have no proof of what we all assume, but I shall once again defer unto Tac’s judgment.” She looked at him meaningfully. “We should leave him be.” Tac said. “Why would we do that?” Rainbow Dash asked surprised. “Because we can feed him disinformation. We have to assume that he is sending information back to Discord’s Chaos, and we can give him information that will make them slip up or give us the advantage if you will.” He explained. Celestia sighed. “Thank you Tac. It’s good to know that you’re here.” She said gratefully. Tac smiled uncomfortably. “Please Princess, you are too kind. I am only doing my job.” He murmured. “We shall leave Sir Iron Hoof alone for now. If that is all that you have to report we should prepare a welcome for Tag. Tac… forgive to impose but I require your assistance seeing as Sir Iron Hoof cannot be trusted.” Tac nodded. “Of course Princess it is no trouble.” Tac said. The others took it as a cue to leave and did so. The elements, Spike, and Tor left the throne room. “What do we do now then?” Applejack asked with a resigned sigh. “I think that I’m going to get something to eat, I haven’t had enough time to eat anything today.” Spike said and started toward the kitchen. “Does anypony want to come with?” “I think I’ll go, I haven’t eaten either.” Tor said. “I’m going to the library to do some research.” Twilight announced. “I’ll go with you Twilight, I suppose that reading could help keep my mind off of things.” Rarity said and trotted over to join her. Rainbow Dash gave her wings an experimental flap before speaking. “I’m going to go outside and practice.” She said and flew down the hall. “I’ll join her, I could use some exercise myself.” Applejack said and galloped down the hall after Rainbow Dash. “What about you Fluttershy?” Twilight asked as she turned to the shy pegasus. “Oh, um… I think go to the garden.” Fluttershy whispered. “But what about what happened at the gala?” Rarity asked. “Didn’t things go horribly wrong before?” “I won’t bother any of the animals, I’ll just fly around a little.” Fluttershy responded and started slowly after Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Gala?” Tor asked. “Oh, right, you and Tag don’t know about that. Spike? Could you explain it to him?” Twilight asked nervously. Spike sighed but nodded his head, “Of course Twilight.” He said and trudged toward the kitchen. Twilight looked after him. “Is it just me or has Spike been… upset today?” She asked Rarity stiffened. “I’m sure he’s just tired. We woke him up, remember?” Tor said, Twilight nodded and trotted toward the library followed closely by Rarity who gave him a look as she passed. Why did you do that? Silver asked. I doubt that it would be a good idea for Twilight to know that Spike visited Rarity last night. I don’t know what he said but it seemed private. Tor explained. Ever the gentlecolt I see. Silver remarked. That has nothing to do with it; I am merely trying to be a good friend. Tor thought. Of course, now let’s get after Spike shall we? Silver asked and Tor noticed the baby dragon disappearing around a corner. He galloped to catch up. ---- “So, what was this ‘gala’ that Rarity mentioned?” Tor asked as he slowed his pace. “Few months ago Princess Celestia invited us all to the Gran Galloping Gala; the fanciest party in all of Equestria.” Spike started. “When we all got there, the girls ditched me, but by the newspaper that I got the next day I could assume that things did not go well.” “What did the newspaper say?” Tor asked curiously. “I think it was something along the lines of: Small Animals Terrorize the Grand Galloping Gala.” Spike recalled with a chuckle, Tor joined in. “I can only imagine.” He said. Spike stopped. “Hey, we’re here already.” He said. Spike pushed open the wooden door and walked in. The kitchen was huge, and Tor could make out a pink blur whizzing around. “Hi Pinkie.” Tor called out as he trotted in. Pinkie stopped in mid air looked at Tor, she smiled and fell onto her hooves. “Heya Tor!” She said excitedly. “I’m making cupcakes for Iron’s surprise party!” She said trotted over to an oven. As she pulled open the door just as a timer went off, Pinkie pulled out a warm batch of cupcakes and placed them on the counter to cool. Spike had stepped over and was reaching for one but Pinkie smacked his claw away. “Hey, I thought I would just try one.” Spike said as he rubbed his claw. “But Spike, these are cupcakes I made SPECIAL for Iron!” She said as she put the cupcakes on a higher counter. Spike’s mouth started to water. “Oh man… Pinkie’s special cupcakes…” He said in wonder. “What’s so special about these cupcakes?” Tor asked as he looked at them; there certainly didn’t appear to be anything special about them. Pinkie looked at him with a smile that was on the borderline of creepy. “Their special because they have a SECRET ingredient in them!” She said still smiling. Tor backed off and cleared his throat. Why did that scare me so much? Silver shuddered. I wish I knew; that was just creepy. Tor agreed. “Anyway Pinkie is there anything left in the fridge?” Spike inquired as he took a seat at the table. Pinkie stuck her front half into the fridge and came out with a full cake. She placed on the table in front of him. “Here you go! I just made it!” She said proudly. Spike looked at it with a strange look on his face. “You mean you JUST made it or you made it today then put it in the fridge?” He asked uncertainly. Pinkie giggled. “I just made it silly, in the fridge.” She said and got him a fork. “Dig in.” She continued cheerfully and then went back to making cupcakes. Tor trotted over to the table. “How could she possibly have made that in the fridge just now?” He asked as he poked at the cake cautiously. “Back in Ponyville we’d just say she Pinkie being Pinkie if that helps you put it into perspective.” Spike explained but Tor wasn’t convinced. “No, really. Is Pinkie some kind of magical earth pony or something?” Tor asked as he got out a fork of his own. Pinkie had turned back into a blur that went around the kitchen in the blink of an eye. Tor sat down to Spike who was also watching Pinkie. “No, she’s just… it’s not really… uhhhh.” Spike struggled for an answer. “Pinkie Pie is a puzzle that has no answer I guess, nopony knows how she does the things that she does.” Pinkie pranced over the table to get to the oven. “That can’t be possible, every puzzle has an answer.” Tor said through a mouthful of cake. Spike shook his head. “Not this one, I asked how she does it one time but she just muttered something about a fourth wall.” Spike mumbled around some cake. Tor raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that an actor’s term?” He asked. “I wouldn’t know.” Spike swallowed. “Do you know anypony who might? I’m really curious now.” Tor asked. Spike looked thoughtful for a moment but he frowned. “Rarity… Rarity might.” He said at last. Tor stood up. “Thank you, I guess I’ll get going then.” He said and trotted out of the room.