Shining Armor knocks on a wooden door calling out, “excuse me is anypony home? I need to ask some questions.” He can hear hooves coming to the door and a mare’s voice sounding as if hushing a filly. The door shakes as a lock is unhinged, opening with a light squeak. A caramel coated mare looks at Shining Armor. Her mane dark brown while her eyes a light yellow.
She looks up at him and smiles, “Well hello there sir. How can I help you?” she says.
“Sorry for the intrusion ma’am. I am Royal guard captain Shining Armor and I was wondering if you have seen or heard anything out of the ordinary in the past couple months or so.”
“Hmm no I don’t think so. I mean besides all the travelers and tourists that are coming through due to Princess Twilight opening her castle doors.” She says.
“Okay, one more thing. Has one of those ponies wear a cloak with what looked like stars on it? It would be black with white stars.” Shining Armor says.
The mare puts a hoof to her chin thinking but ends up shaking her head, “No I don’t recall anypony wearing a star cloak of any kind.” She said as a small brown coated filly turns the corner curiously looking up at Shining Armor.
Shining Armor smiles down at the filly and waves before replying, “Alright thank you for your time and if you remember anything or see anything out of the ordinary please don’t hesitate to tell any Royal guardsmen.” He bows his head before turning away to walk down the street. He sighs as he looks around at the houses on the current street. He spots Flash Sentry walking out of a house and bowing his head to a stallion. He sees Shining Armor and trots over. The stallion wears a white shirt with a lightning bolt going through the middle instead of his usual guard armor.
Shining Armor raises an eyebrow as he trots up to him, “Flash why aren’t you wearing your armor? You know that is the only way ponies know your royal guard.” Shining Armor says.
“Exactly! Why would I wear my armor when we are looking for a pony that is running from us? It’s like a beacon saying ‘Hey look over here we are hunting you!’” He says with a joking tone. Shining Armor stares at him with stern eyes but sighs putting a hoof to his forehead. Flash Sentry laughs before looking around the houses on his left. He points at them with a wing, “Have you finished up all these houses already?”
Shining Armor nods, “Yes I have and so far no pony has seen anything out of the ordinary or anypony wearing a cloak. We aren’t getting anywhere this way. There has to be some other way to find this guy.” Shining Armor says as the stallions walk the streets.
Flash Sentry trots next to him taking in a breath, “Yea but it’s not like this was going to be easy to begin with. I mean this guy has been avoiding us for more than twenty years. We were just lucky that Celestia was able to follow the pattern he left to corner him here and surrounded the area with guards.” Flash Sentry says as he raises his head letting the sunlight to hit his face. He lets out a sigh of content, “at least it’s a beautiful day.”
Shining Armor looks up at the clear sunny sky and smiles, “Yea I guess you are right. About the weather I mean. If it is true that the Mystic is here in Ponyville then don’t you think something would have happened by now? I mean we have the buy practically shoved into a corner with some many of us here.” He says enjoying the warm rays hitting his face.
Flash Sentry shrugs as they come upon the end of the street where the park can be seen with the school across the street. Flash Sentry notices students trotting up and down the campus talking to one another while others yawned trying to wake up for their first periods. He smiles and nudges Shining Armor, “It may be the toughest mission we have been assigned but I know I will give it my all. After all, if we don’t find this guy who knows what will happen. We have to protect the future from ponies like the Mystics at all costs.” Flash Sentry says as he turns to Shining Armor, “don’t you think buddy?”
Shining Armor chuckles and nods in response as they watch the students. He tilts his head as he sees Scootaloo meet up with AppleBloom with Sweetie Belle next to her. They have grown up so fast. Where has the time gone? He thinks as he watches the young mares. They laugh together but stop as the bell rings. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom starting trotting into the building but Scootaloo stops and looks over her shoulder as if looking for some pony before trotting in after her friends. Shining Armor trots over to a bench and sits down with Flash Sentry following him but stands instead.
“Why do you think he came here? Well besides there being no Royal Guards presence here.” Shining Armor asked as he tilts his head to look up at Flash Sentry
Flash Sentry shrugs replying, “I have no idea. It may have been the only place he could go without bringing suspicion and it was just his luck that Twilight is using her castle the way she is.”
Shining Armor nods putting a hoof to his chin thinking, “I see your point and I know what we have to do next.” Shining Armor says stand back up turning to Flash Sentry, “We need to check out the castle for anyone that feels off.” Flash Sentry nods as they turn to walk towards the castle.
Before they can take a step Flash Sentry puts a wing out to block Shining Armor. Shining Armor opens his mouth to ask why but then stops as he follows Flash Sentry’s gaze. He sees a young stallion running down the street with two saddle bags. Do I know that colt? Shining Armor thinks as they watch the colt run to the front of the school and stops to catch his breath. His blue mane catches Shining Armor’s eye as he wipes his forehead.
Flash Sentry nudges Shining Armor asking, “Hey you know that colt?”
Shining Armor nods, “Yea I know him. He was with Scootaloo the other day. She told me that he moved into Twilight’s castle about a month ago and became a student at the school.”
“Well what vibe you get off of him?” Flash Sentry says.
“I’ll tell you when I figure that out.” Says Shining Armor as they continue to watch Fang. Fang goes to pick up the two bags but stops and turns his head. He walks out into the street with the bags and looks around.
“What is he doing?” Said Flash Sentry.
“I’m not sure but we should stay out of sight just in case.” Shining Armor said as the two stallions stayed behind a tree letting their coats getting coated in the shade.
Fang suddenly starts walking toward an alley way. Shining Armor follows him and tenses up as he sees a cloaked pony go into the alleyway with Fang close behind him.
“Did you see the cloaked pony?” Said Shining Armor.
Flash Sentry nods in response. The two guards sit patently as they watch the entrance of the alley. Several minutes go by and Flash Sentry sighs impatiently, “Can we just go and get those two?”
Shining Armor shakes his head, “no of course not! I want to see what happens. Plus I think we need to get the one in the cloak by himself.” Shining Armor says.
“Oh come on! Sitting here is getting so...” Flash starts but is quickly interrupted by a yell and a loud cracking noise that shakes an entire house.
“Answer me damn it!” Comes from the alley way followed by a cough before going silent once again. Shining Armor and Flash Sentry see Fang walk out of the alley way with both of his bags before turning around saying something that they couldn’t hear before trotting up into the school with his gaze toward the ground. The cloaked pony peers out from the alleyway before slowly walking into the street and trotting away back toward the castle.
Shining Armor comes out from behind the tree and gestures Flash Sentry, “We need to follow him and see where he is going.” Shining Armor says as the stallions start trotting after the cloaked pony. Ponys start to flood the streets going about their daily lives. Shining Armor keeps his eyes glued to the cloaked pony, never taking his gaze off of him even for a second. The two guards keep their distance so not to be noticed. The cloaked pony stops at the end of the street before the castle and looks around. Shining Armor and Flash Sentry freeze as the mystery pony combs his surroundings before he slips around the corner going toward the Everfree forest.
Shining Armor and Flash Sentry hurry around the corner so not to lose him and follow him into the woods. Shining Armor squints his eyes letting them adjust to the darkness that came upon them. Twilight wasn’t kidding on how dark this place can be. Flash and I need to be careful in here or we might get lost. Shining Armor thought to himself. The woods creaked and howled with every hoof step they took. Shining Armor’s heart pounded in chest as a twig snaps followed by a loud splash. Calm down its nowhere near you. Just focus on the cloaked pony and nothing else. He thought to himself.
“Hey Shining there is a clearing coming up. We better stick to the shadows and stay quiet. We don’t know if he is going to be alone or not.” Flash Sentry says. Shining Armor nods in response as the clearing became visible to him. The trees parted letting sunlight bath the grass in between a large ring of trees. The two guards darted behind two trees letting the darkness coat their coats as the cloaked pony trots into the middle of the clearing and stands still. He looks around into the trees behind him kicking at the dirt.
“He looks like he is waiting for some pony.” Says Shining Armor.
“Yea, I agree. Wait some pony is coming.” Says Flash Sentry as the bushes rustle across from them. Shining Armor can make out to other ponys as they break into the clearing. The two new comers walk up to the cloaked pony before looking around the area.
“Did you pass on the message?” Says the stallion who has a yellow coat and a light brown mane with a light brown horn.
“Of course I did, but it almost got me killed. No pony told me the kid could have killed me!” Said the cloaked stallion as he flips his hood off revealing a brown mane and tan body. When he turns to face the other blue coated stallion, who was laughing behind him, a long scar that goes down his neck is visible.
“Oh calm down Gridmire! That brat knows what will happen to him if he did.” Said the blue stallion.
Shining Armor’s ears flick up hearing the cloaked pony’s name. He leans over to Flash Sentry and whispers, “I heard that name from somewhere. We might need to bring that stallion in for some questions.”
Flash Sentry nods, “If you think so then I don’t see why not, but what about the other two?” He says nodding towards the other two ponies.
“That’s a good question. If they get in the way we can bring them in as well, but we will need back up to make sure this good smoothly.” Says Shining Armor.
The blue coated stallion looks at the yellow coated stallion and nods saying, “Make sure that we are alone. We don’t want any onlookers.” The yellow stallion nods and closes his eyes as his horn glows yellow. He lowers his head towards the opposite end of the trees as a yellow net projects from his horn. He slowly turns letting the magical net brush along the trees vibrating against the trees while shimmering.
Shining Armor’s eyes widen turning quickly to Flash Sentry, “Flash get close to me quickly! That’s a radar spell he is using if that hits us he will know we are here.” Flash quickly presses closer to Shining Armor, even to his discomfort while Shining Armor takes a deep breath letting his horn glow blue. I need to cast my cloaking shield. It’s the only spell that would hide us from that spell. Shining Armor thinks as his horn begins projecting a clear shell that wraps its self around the two guards. Shining Armor opens his eyes taking slow breaths to stay concentrated as the detection spell draws near only by a few feet.
“What if this isn’t enough Shining? We won’t be able to call for back up in this magic barrier of yours.” Says Flash Sentry but Shining Armor doesn’t have to time to reply as the detection magic net goes around them brushing against Shining Armor’s spell. Flash tenses up his shoulders and legs as the spell slowly glows over them as if in slow motion. The spell then vanishes with a flash making Flash Sentry let out a sigh of relief.
The yellow coated stallion looks at his companions and nods before trotting up next to Gridmire. The blue coated stallion sighs, “really Gridmire? You just couldn’t be more cautious when coming here you dolt!” he says before his horn glows a dark blue quickly turning to the guards tree and fires a magic bullet. When the bullet hits the tree, breaking it into splinters, both Shining Armor and Flash Sentry come rolling out of the bushes and out into the open. Gridmire and the other two stallions stand still tense as they wait for the dust to clear from the magic bullet’s blast.
“Who’s there!?” Says Gridmire whose horn is glowing a dark yellow.
“Damn it Shining Armor! You said that they wouldn’t be able to detect us with that Cloaking Barrier of yours.” Says Flash Sentry flapping his wings to clear the dust staring down the three other unicorns before him.
“Hey it’s not my fault! That sensor spell of his must have been searching for magical power!” exclaims Shining Armor as his horn glows a bright blue before standing onto his hind legs getting into a fighting stance.
“Whatever, even if that’s the case we have to fight our way out of this now.” Flash Sentry says as he gets onto his hind legs as well putting his hooves up while bouncing up and down with his wings extended.
The blue stallion grinds his teeth seeing the two guards in front of him while the yellow coated one looks at them wide eyed. His body shakes as he looks over them backing up one hoof at a time. The blue coated stallion turns noticing the movement and exclaims, “Where do you think you are going!?”
“Sir there is no way we can beat those two! Th-the pegasus is Flash Sentry, captain of the crystal empire’s royal guard. He was the number one boxer in the last ten Crystal Games! The unicorn on his right is even more powerful! Shining Armor, captain of Celestia’s royal guard! Also known as the Canterlots shield and husband the crystal princess.” He turns around and starts running yelling over his shoulder, “If you really want to fight them then be my guess but I am out of here!”
“Flash we can’t let him get away!” yells Shining Armor.
Flash Sentry leans forward then flaps his wings once before shooting forward with a large gust of wind zipping past the other two stallions, making them cover their faces from the strong wind. Flash Sentry gets in front of the running unicorn in seconds making the stallion slide on the ground to stop only to meet a fast punch to the face sending him flying backwards. He rolls over and over on the ground before coming to a stop laying on his side. He lifts his head slowly and shaking while staring at Flash Sentry who looks back flicking his mane out of his face.
Gridmire looks back at Flash Sentry with shock of what just happened. What just happened? I saw him flap his wings only once and before I even knew it he had caught up to him. I couldn’t even see that punch! Gridmire thinks as he looks back at the blue stallion next to him. We don’t stand a chance against these two!
“Now are you two going to come quietly or do we need to get rough?” Says Shining Armor.
The blue stallion growls and turns around retorting, “Like hell we would just give up to royal guard scum! Now die!” He lowers his head pouring magical power into his horn before blasting another Magic Bullet at Shining Armor.
Shining Armor sighs and as his horn glows brightly, he thrusts a hoof forward and quickly exclaims, “Go Shining Royal Shield!” A large metal shield ascends through the ground taking the magic bullet’s explosive force. Dust sprays around the battle ground but dissipates revealing the front of the shield. The marvelous defensive weapon is unscathed while the front is blue and silver with a star in the middle.
Shining Armor grins as the shield flashes and disappears, “that wasn’t the smartest move.” He says before running up to the blue enemy stallion.
“Damn you!” said the stallion as he lowers his head firing magic bullet after magic bullet at Shining Armor, who merely side steps each one closing the gap between the two ponys before hitting the blue stallion in the back of his head smashing his face into the ground knocking him out cold.
Gridmire backed away slowly staring in shock as he watches Shining Armor stand back up and turn towards him as the dust clears. He turns to Flash Sentry who trots up to Shining Armor’s side and says, “Alright buddy, either come with us quietly or end up just like you pals here. Well, what do you choose?”
Gridmire chuckles closing his eyes and with a swift motion pulls his hood back over his head before saying, “I don’t know what Kodama was thinking. I mean fighting both The Lighting of the crystal empire and Canterlot’s Shield was a losing battle before it even started.”
Shining Armor’s horn stops glowing as he stares down Gridmire “Take off the cloak and put your hooves over your head! You will not be asked again!” he says as he starts walking up to Gridmire.
Gridmire shakes his head slowly replying, “Sadly I can’t do that Shining Armor. The King would not be happy with me if I get caught with these two so I am going on my way.” He bows his head and laughs as Shining Armor jumps towards him but is blinded by a yellow flash from a teleport spell.
Shining Armor froze but Flash Sentry flaps his wings jumping into the air flying quickly around above the woods but sighs flying back down next to Shining Armor shaking his head, “He must have teleported into a more dense part of the forest. I couldn’t see his exit flash or anything.”
“That’s alright Flash. What matters is that we were able to capture two of them. Let’s get the magic jammer cuffs on them and haul them back to the castle quickly! ” Says Shining Armor as he reaches for a pair of clear crystal cuffs that rest on his armor on his side. The crystal cuffs sparkle in the sunlight as he pulls the blue stallion, Kodama’s, front hooves behind his back locking the cuffs around them with a click before pull his unconscious body up and placing him onto his back. Shining Armor turns seeing Flash Sentry has done the same.
“Why you suddenly in a hurry.” Says Flash Sentry as they start running with the two captives.
“Because he said “The King”. If that means what I think it does then we need to get back and tell Princess Twilight.”
“Right, I don’t know what is going on but if you are sure then let’s pick up the pace.” Says Flash Sentry as they start running back to Ponyville.
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Scootaloo sits on a bench in the Ponyville hospital looking down at the floor in worry. She sighs but as she brings her head up Apple Bloom rubs her shoulder with a hoof. Scootaloo looks at her, who softly looks back giving off a reassuring look, but then turns to the glass room in front of them. Two nurse ponies were looking over a bed where the battered Rumble lays. His head is wrapped up in white bandages while being covered by a white blanket. His dark blue mane covers part of his face as he sits up in his bed making the nurses jump a little. One of the nurses nod to the other and heads towards the door pushing it open.
She looks at Scootaloo and Apple Bloom and says, “Okay you two can come in now but not for very long cause he needs his sleep.” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo stand up and trot inside nodding to the nurses.
Rumble blinks and looks around confused before seeing the two mares, “Where am I? What happened to Flare and Fang? Ack!” he says before putting a hoof to his head wincing.
“Calm down Rumble! You are in the hospital and you have a small concussion.” Says Scootaloo who trots up and sits down on a chair next to Rumble’s bed.
“Ugh that explains why I feel like crap.” He says laying back down. He turns his head to look at Scootaloo who looks at him with somber eyes. He puts a hoof on hers and smiles saying, “Hey what’s with that look? I’m alight Scootaloo.”
She pulls her hoof away and gives a small smile to him, “Sorry I just a little shook up from what happened...” Scootaloo trails off while her smile disappears, “You know... with Fang getting hurt.” She stops and gets off the chair and trots out of the room.
Rumble watches her then looks at his hoof seeing a tear droplet. He looks at Apple Bloom asking, “What happened after I got knocked out?”
Apple Bloom sits in the chair Scootaloo left and sighed tilting her hat down, “When you knocked out Flare went after Scootaloo. He said what he always wanted to for a long time, but when Fang heard him he...” She stops for a moment pushing her hat back up and taking a deep breath before starting again, “He got up and tackled Flare to the ground and starting beating him. Flare kept yelling for him to stop but Fang wouldn’t listen. He just kept hitting him over and over till Flare’s blood was all over his hooves.” Apple Bloom starts shaking as she continued, “It was terrible to watch Rumble. It was like Fang was a completely different pony from who we know.”
Rumble looks at Apple Bloom and puts a hoof on hers trying to calm her down, before looking out the window of his room to see Scootaloo. She was looking at the entrance of the hospital as if waiting for somebody. “How bad did he beat Flare?”
“The doctors said that he had five skull fractures and a broken muzzle that could possibly make him unable to talk for a while.” Apple Bloom replies.
Rumble’s eyes widen. He did all of that to Flare after taking such a beating? Fang you are one scary stallion.
Scootaloo wipes her face and takes a deep breath before pushing back into Rumble’s room giving a small smile, “Sorry about that Rumble. I-I just needed a minute to absorb what has happened.” She says as she pulls up another chair next to Apple Bloom.
Rumble smiles at her, “its okay Scootaloo. After what happened anypony would need some time.” He says before poking her nose with his hoof laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun slowly begins to set as Fang looks at the hospital and sighs. His nose bleed from his beating earlier had dried up as well as his cuts along his shoulders and flanks. The bruises on his ribs, chest and the right side of his head have turned a black and blue. He holds up his left front leg as he began to limp slowly over to the building. When he gets up to the building he takes a deep breath and pushes the door open with his good leg. His eyes take a moment to adjust as he sees the white walls and floors of the lobby. Nurse ponies go about their jobs from pushing an injured pony in a wheel chair to filling out clip boards. Fang takes a few more steps into the building before stopping. His eyes widen as a sharp pain stabs his side making him stumble and crying out in pain. He falls to the ground gripping his right side as a nurse rushes over to him and calls for a doctor.
Fang’s vision gets blurry from the pain as the doctor gets up to him. He says something but Fang couldn’t understand him. His ears began to ring and time started to seem slow as two more nurses come over with a stretcher. Fang takes a soft breath and opens his mouth to say something but the words don’t come as he loses consciousness.
Fang slowly opens his eyes to a bright white light, which makes him squint, but he tilts his head over to the right. He sees a heart monitor, a transfusion bag and transfusion tube attached to his arm. When his eyes adjust back to normal he sits up and pulls the blanket off. He sighs looking down to see his stomach wrapped in tight white bandages. So that’s what that pain was earlier. I didn’t realize that I even had broken ribs. He thinks as he rubs his head then his face. He stops when he over his right eye feeling a bandage around it and drops his hoof down to his left arm which was in a red cast. Concussion and a broken arm? Man I was more messed up then I thought. He thinks to himself as he pulls out the transfusion tube with his teeth getting down onto the floor. I don’t need to stay here. I only needed them to patch me up. He thinks as he trots with a small limp to the door, but as he gets to up to the door it slowly opens. Fang freezes and backs up as Scootaloo trots into the room. Her ears are up but droop down as she shuts the door. She stays silent while looking at Fang keeping her wings folded. The air feels heavy on Fang’s shoulders as he lowers both his ears and looks down away from her gaze down toward his hooves.
Scootaloo finally breaks the silence saying in a normal and stagnate tone, “Where do you think you are going Fang? After four hours of hiding or, whatever you were doing, you come to hospital. Then once they give you the help you needed you just leave in a drop of a hat?” Before Fang could even open his mouth to reply Scootaloo continues on with her tone getting more aggressive, “What kind of macho crap are you trying pull huh! Trying to show off to every pony that you can just trot away after being beaten up so badly?!” She says. Fang opens his mouth to reply but stops as he raises his gaze to look into hers only to see tears running down her cheeks.
“How selfish can you get!? Making us all worry about you!?” She says sobbing before continuing by only saying, “Making me worry...” She lowers her head down letting her tears fall onto the floor before trotting up to Fang pushing her head into his chest.
Fang looks down at her as she cries into his chest. He lowers his head placing it on hers before wrapping his good leg around her saying in a soft tone, “I’m so sorry I had you so worried Scootaloo.” She wraps her wings around him pushing her head into his neck saying, “Just promise me that you won’t ever do this again. Please promise me Fang.” Scootaloo says with a soft tone.
Fang rubs her back replying, “I promise.”
“You better mean it buddy.” Says Rumble as Sweetie Belle pushes him into the room in a wheel chair with Apple Bloom close behind.
“Yea no kidding! You had us totally stressed out.” Says Sweetie Belle.
“Ya’ll should never leave your friends hanging like that.” Chimed in Apple Bloom who tilted her hat back giving off a soft smile looking at Scootaloo and him.
Fang looks at the four ponies in front of him and smiles letting a tear run down his cheek as he says, “Sorry guys. I just lost my head for a bit.”
“We don’t want your apology! Just get your ass back into bed and get better.” Said Rumble who just smiles. “And when your better you just have to teach me some of your moves.” He says with a joking tone before a nurse pony opens the door.
“Alright every pony visiting hours are over now so you will have to come back tomorrow.” The nurse pony says before retreating out the door.
“Well I guess we will see you after class Fang.” Says Sweetie Belle who smiles and uses her magic to push Rumble’s wheel chair. The stallion waves his good bye followed by Apple Bloom who shuts the door behind her. Scootaloo remains pressed against Fang but retracts her wings softly before whipping her face with a hoof. She looks up at him and gives off a warm smile before leaning in to give him a soft kiss on his cheek.
“I will come back after school, so you better be here when I get back.” Scootaloo says before trotting out of the room waving a wing in goodbye. Fang watched her go with a light red face rubbing the spot she kissed with his good hoof. He smiles and climbed back onto his bed, pulling the covers over himself, he looks at the ceiling and chuckles. I have met some incredible ponies in this town haven’t I? To think after what they saw they would only care if I was okay. He thinks as he softly turns onto his side before looking at the window watching the warm glow of the orange rays of sunlight begin to dissipate behind the horizon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gridmire pants as he runs through the streets of ManeHatten. The moonlight shines overhead making the city streets glow white. The buildings stay quite while trash cans are rustling in the wind. Gridmire makes his way to a warehouse in the corner of the city. The warehouse has rusted patches scattered throughout the walls. It rests in a lot that hangs below a bridge that has constant carriages running across drowning out any noise that comes from it.
He stops at a rusty blue door and stands panting. Once he catches his breath he pushes the door open and walks inside. He hears a large amount of voices of several ponies inside. Once he comes to the open room of the warehouse he sees 100s of uni-corns. On the right side he notices cages with mares inside. They wear tattered clothing and their manes are frizzed and tangled, like they haven’t had a bath in months. At their hooves were rusty shackles they were locked to the cage bars. On the left side were tables, where uni-corns were organizing money into suit cases. Each one would put the money into a counting machine before strapping a paper band around them and putting them into the suit case that rested to their right.
Gridmire began walking down the middle of the ware house and up to the back where a velvet banner hangs from the ceiling. On the banner was a symbol of two uni-corn horns cross, this made Gridmire gulp nervously. Just tell him what happened straight up. Don’t hesitate just do it! He thinks to himself as he comes up to a large metal chair in the shape of the sun resting on the back. A dark blue stallion sits in it with his head on one hoof letting his blue horn be shown. His eyes are a sharp yellow and his mane a bright green, while his legs and chest are built.
Gridmire immediately bows getting as low to the ground as possible before saying, “I am back King.
King smiles and sits up to look down at the bowing stallion, “Welcome back Gridmire. I hope you have good news. I haven’t had the best day, so I could really use some cheering up.” King says.
“W-well King, sir I managed to pass him the message b-but...” Gridmire begins but is interrupted by the King, “Spit it out!”
“Both Kodama and Sand Stream were captured by two Royal Guardsmen. They must have tailed me after I gave the message. They were so strong! We just didn’t even stand a chance.” Says Gridmire who shakes nervously.
King sighs and gets up from his chair trotting over to Gridmire, who shakes in his bowed state saying, “How disappointing. That you three were no match for two royal guardsmen.” He stops when he gets in front of Gridmire and slowly bends down so he is almost eye level with Gridmire, “You disgrace me Gridmire! How dare you lose to a bunch of weaklings!” King yells before kicking Gridmire in the ribs sending him flying backwards only to stop midair from a levitation spell from King, who then throws him into the wall behind his chair. Gridmire is slammed again and again against the wall of the warehouse before being thrown back to King’s hooves, where he coughed up blood. “If you ever disgrace me again Gridmire I promise you that I won’t show you this kind of mercy again. Do you understand!!” King exclaims as Gridmire shakes his head before collapsing, coughing.
King turns around and takes a deep breath before shouting out into the warehouse, “Every pony listen up!” With that one shout every pony turns their head and silence takes over. King smiles licking his lips before shouting, “The royal bitchs have gotten in my way for far too long! So how about we show them what the strongest race of pony can do! Let’s show them what we of the Uni-Corn Triad can do!” With every statement King says the stallions cheered and raise their hooves cheering his name. King held his hooves a part taken in the cheers before saying, “We are going to Ponyville! So pack your bags!” He lowers down onto all fours and walks back to his chair before sitting down while the crowd of uni-corns cheered his name.
Gridmire shakenly stands up, “King I forgot to mention that he sent a message back to you.”
“Oh did he now? What did he say?” says King who fixed his gaze on Gridmire.
“He said that if you ever go after him again that he would kill you.” Gridmire says
King starts laughing putting a hoof to his head, “Oh that boy still has his humor I see. Well its time he learns that he can’t threaten me without losing his life.” He says calmly but with a stern one.