//------------------------------// // Master of Shadows // Story: Deadly Courier // by RhetCon //------------------------------// Flutters is good at hand to hand combat. I mean really good at hand to hand combat. Sitting in the infirmary of the castle once again after having my arm accidentally broken, I stared up at the ceiling while Twilight carefully repaired the bone. I couldn’t feel much of anything due to the heavy anesthetics she’d placed in my system. “I should be done in a few moments,” said Twilight. “Take it easy, next time. I can’t continuously heal you like this.” “Hey,” I said. “You’re a princess, right?” “Right.” She said, slowly pouring her magic onto the broken bone. “What about it?” “You must hang out with Celestia all the time,” I concluded. “Maybe you’ll tell me what she’s doing?” “What do you mean?” She asked, confusedly. “When I first came here, she pitted me in a contest against Flutters. Then, after my incident, she sends me off to find a scepter, without any explanation or warning. Now, this morning, she tells me to go to her training room and learn hand to hand combat,” I said annoyedly. “And if you didn’t notice, Flutters is really good at hand to hand combat!” “I’m sure she has her reasons…” she said slowly. “Not even you know?” I asked, with a sigh. “I’m not particularly fond of this running around.” “Again, she probably has her reasons,” she said, finishing up. “I’m going to stop the flow of anesthetics, okay?” “When will it fully wear off?” I asked. “Sometime next week,” she said plainly. “Seriously?” “No,” she said with a chuckle. “It was a joke. In a few minutes, it should be gone.” “Oh,” I said. “Thanks, Twilight.” “No problem,” she said, turning in her swivel chair. “Just heed my warning.” “Oh, uh, Twilight?” I called. “Before I go, can ask you a question?” “Shoot,” she said, turning to face me. “So… Leila was my sister, right?” I asked. “Why is she so important to you three?” Twilight was silent for a minute. She bit her lip. “Celestia… hasn’t told me much, yet,” she said. “I-I’m sure the next time you see her-” “That’s odd,” I said. “You bit your lip. I feel like I know that means something, but I can’t place my finger on it…” “Must just be your imagination,” said Twilight, turning once again in her chair. “Isn’t Fluttershy waiting for you?” “Oh!’ I said. “I forgot about Flutters. I should go tell her I’m okay.” I waltzed out of the door, closing it behind myself. I put my head on the door, laying it back. “Didn’t Leila… Nah, it must’ve been my imagination.” “Finally!” I said stretching myself out. “I finally get some time to myself.” I stood outside of the castle for the first time. Apparently, the castle stood in the city of Canterlot, a high-class society of magical ponies. Huh. I wonder when that stopped being weird enough for me to say it straight. “Now that I think about it, I don’t really have much to do outside the castle…” I said. “Celestia has been gone forever, and Luna only makes herself known at night.” I sighed as I sat on a chair at an outside cafe. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave if you are here to sit and gawk, sir,” said one of the waiters. “Other people eagerly await your seat.” “That’s fine,” I said. “I wasn’t actually doing anything, anyways.” I started to get up, but an arm slowly pushed me down. “Sorry, sir,” said the voice, gravelly and low. My hair on my skin stood up as he walked into view. He seemed clad in black and gray, from head to toe. He also had a gray horn. The only color other than those two was the green and black that made up his eyes, along with the dark purple smoke fleeing from them. “He was waiting for me.” “W-was he?” said the waiter in equal fear. “I-I’m terribly sorry, sir. Continue…” The waiter left the table and the man, I guess you could call him, sat down. “Salutations, Stephon,” his eyes bore into mine with an uncomfortable glare. “It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen each other.” “Has it?” I said nervously. “Yeah, I remember. We went to that party… and had lots of red wine?” He laughed heartily, drawing more attention from the street. “I’m glad you remembered!” he said with a hoot. “I assume you also remembered stabbing me through the heart?” “I…” “Then you and your sister laughed at me for being a weakling?” “I don’t-” “Then took my own sword and ended my life with it?!” “I don’t remember!” I yelled back. “I don’t remember stabbing you, killing you, or going to a party with you!” “I don’t remember the party either,” he said looking towards one of the waitresses. He extended his index finger and pulled it back towards him, the waitress unconsciously walking towards him. She fell into his lap, her dead eyes turning towards him. “I’ve heard you are still working for Celestia. How is that working for you?” “I… just got back.” The question of the day: Why was I talking to this guy like he was an old friend? “W-what are you doing?” Sombra slowly ran a hand through the waitress’ hair. “Tell me, Stephon,” he said, moving onto her face. “Have you ever caressed a woman so?” “I don’t think so…” I said, watching the situation, my fists clenched. “W-why are you doing this?” “Is there a problem?” he said, slowly moving down to the girl’s stomach. “I’m just satisfying my carnal desires. I am a man, after all.” “So what?” I asked. “You don’t see me… doing something like that.” He finally reached the bottom of her stomach, just above the genital area. “If you want me to stop, just tell me, okay?” He whispered in the girl’s ear. “As for you, Stephon, if you want to stop me, you have to make me. It shouldn’t be hard. You stopped me when I did it to your sister, after all.” I jumped onto the table, grabbing the man’s neck. My body activated Athena’s Sight instinctively. I was ready to choke this man to death. He smiled. He put his foot on my stomach and forcefully launched me into the air. Without warning, I came sailing towards the pavement, slamming into a table and Athena’s Sight disappeared. I wanted to get up and fight this guy, at least, punch him in the face. I couldn’t remember him, but I knew I hated him. “Who are you?” I asked. “You truly don’t remember?” he asked with a roaring laugh. “This is the first time I’ve heard that I am unmemorable!” “You didn’t answer my question,” I said, pulling the black bar from my back. “Who are you?” Without an answer, he sunk into the ground, disappearing from my sight. Athena’s Si- A hearty kick to the back knocked all of the wind out of me, knocking me to the ground. “Oh?” He asked. “Lost your touch?” I got up just in time for him to bring a knee to my chin. Now fully on my feet, he continued with left and right jabs. I could tell he was playing with me. I was sure that the people at the Cafe would’ve called the police by now, so I glanced at them after being knocked down. They all stood, dead-eyed, just like that girl. The man pulled me up by my hair before headbutting me back down to the ground. “How does it feel, Stephon?” He brought his foot down on my chest, probably fracturing some bones. “How does it feel to be so helpless at my hands?” “If I’m… being perfectly… honest…” I said gasping for air for my deprived lungs. “It feels… pretty bad…” “I want you to feel the hate I felt back then!” he yelled. “You and your sister ruined my life!” “Must’ve been a pretty… bad life,” I said, stalling for time. “What was my sister like?” The man gave another long, hearty laugh. “You really don’t remember, do you?” He said, picking me up off the ground from the color. “Pitiful. Stand.” He pushed me backward making me lean heavily against a wall. “So?” I asked. “What was my sister like?” “Both of you were the same,” he answered. “Both hopped up on false, illegitimate dreams. Take over my kingdom single handily? I thought it impossible. You two, though... You obliterated me!” “Well, if you were acting like you are now, I can see why we-” He brought a fist deep into my gut, making me draw blood. He kept it there and twisted it around. “Does it hurt?” He said. “This is but a fraction of the pain you and your sister caused me!” “Why...” I asked, through the pain. I had to think of a plan. “Why did we attack?” He smiled and wrenched his hand from my gut, dropping me to the ground. “My slaves,” he said. “They bothered you. You hated me for keeping them. You couldn’t leave them alone.” “S-so?” I asked, hacking up more blood. “Didn’t we kill you?” “Nearly,” he said. “I was saved by my new master. In fact, it’s kind of ironic, if you think about it?” “Who is it?” I was about to lose consciousness. “My master?” He asked. “His name would be sullied falling upon your ears.” “Athena’s Sight!” yelled Flutters. I closed my eyes as a big wave of warm liquid poured over me. Unable to open them again, I fell to my stomach and fell unconscious. Thanks, Flutters. “What did I tell you about getting injured?” Said Twilight, paying no more than half of her attention on healing. “You’re interrupting me in the middle of a very important spellbook!” “I thought you read all of the books in your library.” She promptly closed the book. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m bored,” she said. “You got to fight King Sombra while I was in here perfecting illusion magic.” “So that was his name…” I said. “Besides that, that sounds like fun.” “No,” she said, giving me her full attention. Her magic flow increased. “Did you thank Fluttershy yet?” “The only thing I remember is being yelled at by you,” I said. “I woke up in here. Did Flutters carry me in here?” “She informed Celestia and had you teleported here.” Twilight stopped using magic. “Okay, seriously, stop taking so much damage.” “And how do you suggest I do that?” I said, getting up. “If you want to take less damage, stop getting hit.” She tapped her head. “Pure wisdom right there.” “If there was ever a time for easier said than done, it’s right now.” Before Twilight could retort, the door burst open, a distraught Flutters entering the room. Once she did, she regained her composure. “Thank goodness,” she said with a deep breath. “You’re alright.” “As fit as a fiddle,” I said. “Hey, Twi, what’s a fiddle?” “Did you just call me ‘Twi’?” asked Twilight. I slapped my forehead. “Sorry about that,” I said. “I did it to Flutters, too. I don’t know why.” “That’s what you used to call me,” she said, excitedly. “Are you regaining your memories?” “I think so,” I said, slowly getting excited as well. “Twi kinda rolls off the tongue better, you know?” “I think so,” she said. “I should really get back to writing this report to Princess Celestia. Plus, you might want to check the basement.” “The basement?” I asked. “Sombra’s down there,” she said. “He has something to tell you.” “H-he does?” I sighed. “I’m not sure I want to listen.” “It’s about Leila,” she added, turning around. “You should listen.” I nodded and headed out of the door, Flutters following suit. “Oh yeah!” I said. “Thanks so much, Flutters. How did you know I was in trouble?” “My birds,” she said. “They told me something bad was happening to you. I rushed over as fast as I could.” "They... told you?" "Yes..." she sid quietly. "I can talk to animals." “You learn something new everyday,” I said. “I heard you activated it. How did it feel your first time?” “Just amazing,” she said. “I felt like I could see everything.” “Yeah, it feels like that,” I said. “ I feel like you’re amazing sometimes.” “W-what do you mean?” She asked. “You and I are much different,” I said. “You’re great at fighting, you’re a great shot, and you’re so determined to help.” “Thank you…” she said quietly. We reached the door to the underground cellars, guarded by two guards. “Princess Luna is waiting for you,” said a guard. “The cell is the on the far left.” “Thank you,” I said, opening the door. A large set of stone stair led downwards. Following them down, the air became damp and the walls, moldy. Once we reached the bottom, five cells could be seen. Near the left one, a small blue light illuminated the space. Luna stood at the bars, carefully watching the inside. Once I could see who was inside, my stomach threatened to regurgitate whatever it had inside. A bloody, messy lump was tied to the wall. Deep gashes and bruises could be seen on Sombra’s skin. Nevertheless, the pony smiled. “Finally,” he said, panting. “How long did you plan on keeping me waiting-” A slash of blue light cut inside the cells, warranting a long, painful howl of laughter from Sombra. “Be silent.” Said Luna. I felt a bit of fear for Luna, but as she turned to me, she made sure to smile. “He will be quiet. Ask him.” “Oh…” Flutters was almost white, rather than her normal yellow. “I… I…” “Flutters?” I asked. “You should go.” “Yes,” said Luna, covering her in magic. “Once he is done, I will send Stephon to your house. He will console you if need be.” She didn’t say anything as she was teleported away. I turned to the maniacal Sombra with a gulp. “Now that your friend is out of the picture,” said Sombra. “Where should I begin?”