Chapter 4
“I’m really happy to get this thing off of my hooves.” I placed the Umbral Shard into the magic suppression box, its interior lined with enchanted gems that literally glowed with power, and shut the lid. I took a moment to make sure the silver engraved rune circles were fully sealed before I was satisfied.
“You did a very good job recovering this, Twilight,” Mom said, locking the capsule with a key. Considering Mom was the senior magus of the Sealed Repository, her compliment wasn’t small praise.
We had come straight to Canterlot after capturing the Shard to intern it in the Sealed Repository—Equestria’s foremost institution for the storing and neutralization of forbidden artifacts and knowledge. The spell I had used to capture the artifact was only a temporary measure, especially with how dangerous it was. An evil artifact prone to possessing anyone it came across was not something I wanted in my bags.
Thankfully, the staff of the Repository was more than ready to assist us. After making sure that I wasn't going to fall over from the injuries I’d sustained battling the Shard, I had been shuffled to one of the smalls rooms designated to process forbidden artifacts. The center of the room was dominated by a basic work table, and all along the walls sat shelves filled with tools and magic components intended to deal with dangerous objects—such as the box we had modified to hold the Shard.
The Repository had a wide variety of options to deal with such artifacts. It would have been better if we could destroy Sombra’s little war machine, but that wasn't something to be attempted lightly. Simply taking a hammer to it wasn't likely to work—and even if it did, there was enough magic packed into the shard that it was liable to cause a thaumaturgical explosion with enough force to level a city block. That had been the case during the Crystal War when Celestia and Luna had dealt with the original set of Umbral Shards. No, instead it needed to be carefully studied first. Maybe then a safe way to disable it could be found. That was one of the major jobs of the Repository.
“I had a lot of help,” I said as I helped her secure the box. “It certainly wasn't easy.”
“I wouldn't expect it to be.” Mom looked me over, frowning at the fresh set of bandages. “The Umbral Shard is a nasty artifact.”
“That's putting it mildly.” I placed my hoof on the box, seeing if I could sense the artifact’s presence through the protective wards. “Sombra was a real piece of work to come up with something like this. I hate the idea of more of these things being around.” It was a good thing Celestia and Luna had already destroyed most of them long ago, and that we had stopped Sombra before he could really get going again. If he had built up any momentum again the results would have been ... bad.
“This Shard's been a running problem for us,” Mom said as she cast some additional protective wards on the box. “It's not the first time we've had it in the Repository, if it’s the specific Shard I think this one is. Every time it's gotten away from us, it's caused all sorts of trouble before we get it back.”
That was worrying to hear. The last thing I wanted was for this thing to get out again. “How did it get out? And then to all the way to Icepeak? That town is pretty far from anywhere important.”
“From our records, we lost it a century and a half ago when a fallen magus stole it.” Mom frowned contemplatively. “The Shard knows how to find the weak-willed.”
That was quite the mystery. I wondered what happened to the Shard thief—or maybe it was more accurate to say that the Shard stole the magus in question? Maybe the magus had died before he could accomplish whatever goal he had in Icepeak. It was possible that the Shard was searching for something around Icepeak, maybe even as part of some long forgotten instructions given by Sombra.
“We might want to have some ponies look around Icepeak to see if there’s anything worth checking out,” I suggested. “The Shard encouraged Professor Spade to dig around there for some reason—or at least I think that was the Shard’s influence. If that's the case, then it was probably searching for something.”
“There’s a good chance that's true,” Mom agreed. “It’s possible the Shard was merely reflecting a portion of the professor’s psyche, but I won’t know that for certain until I have time to properly study it. We’ll arrange an expedition to look into it, in any event. No sense being sloppy with something this dangerous.”
The head archeologist was currently in custody at the local Guard barracks. He claimed he didn't even know what he had done under the Shard’s influence, but we were still holding him until we knew exactly what had happened. I was reasonably sure Spade was being honest about being controlled by the Shard, but there were procedures for incidents like this.
Unable to sense the presence of the artifact, I withdrew my hoof from the box. “Hopefully we can safely destroy the Shard before too long, however this all turns out.”
“That'd be nice.” With everything that could be reasonably done to negate the danger of the Umbral Shard’s power in place, Mom picked up the box and nodded for me to follow as she left the room. We emerged in a stone hallway. The Sealed Repository was carved right into Mount Avalon, and thanks to centuries of expansion through digging into the mountain, the complex was quite large. It was a bit of a necessity to house everything stored here. “We'll certainly try everything we can think of to disable it. We’ve learned a few tricks since last we held it, and I'm pulling records of past encounters to comb over. At the very least, we should be able to keep this thing contained.”
“Just be careful. The last thing I want is for this thing to get out again.” I frowned as I considered its previous escape. “Especially if it tries to use you or somepony else here. The archeologist who found it didn’t know what he was dealing with until he had been ensnared—and it nearly got Storm too, for that matter.” I winced slightly at the memory. She had been a bit shaken up by the experience afterwards, not that I could blame her. After all, I had nearly been drawn in by it too.
Mom’s head tilted slightly. “Storm had trouble with it?”
I nodded. “She touched it when the archeologist dropped it. Knowing the Shard, it probably drew Storm to stomp on it to try and destroy it.”
“Possibly.” Mom pressed her lips together in thought. “I presume she resisted it in the end? I didn't think she would be too vulnerable.”
“She did. With our help, at least.” My ears wilted as I thought back on the incident. “Even if I’m worried about how much Storm’s getting beat up in my service. I think wearing Shadow’s Armor only encourages her to take greater risks. Shame there isn't much I can do when Storm wants to wear that armor, and I'm not going to order her to stop from using it.” I would feel a lot better about that if not for the record of those who have worn the armor in the past. Those who survived using it immediately turned it back into the Kicker Clan private vault after using it once. The rest didn't live to old age.
“It is an extremely powerful artifact, and no doubt useful for keeping you alive,” Mom pointed out.
“Those were the reasons she gave to me for wanting to keep it.” I grinned for Mom, but I didn’t really feel it. “I guess I should be flattered?”
“She does seem to take her duties very seriously.” There was an audible click as the vault unlocked, then the grinding of gears as the vault slowly opened.
I stepped out of the way of the opening door, waiting to get a peek into its interior. “I can't argue with that. It has taken some getting used to, on top of actually having a guard at all.”
Mom’s horn glowed and the lights inside the vault lit. “It seems like you're managing just fine.”
I wasn't sure what to expect, but the interior of the vault struck me as ... mundane, considering its purposes. Steel containers dotted the large chamber, steel bars subdivided the room, and the walls were covered by lock boxes that were reminiscent of a bank vault. Which, in hindsight, had probably been the intention of the design.
Still, I couldn't help but look around as Mom trotted forward, the box floating in her magic. “I'm figuring it out, I think. You can grow used to anything with time.”
“Glad to hear it.” Mom opened one of the steel crates and placed the box inside of it.
I looked inside of the crate and noted the numerous arcane wards covering the interior. Whoever had built this thing had put a lot of time into its protections. “Though what's bothering me the most is ponies getting hurt on my account.” I shuffled in place. “But that's what they're there for, or so I keep telling myself.”
“Yes, that is their job.” Mom placed a hoof on my shoulder and gave me a comforting smile. “Being in charge isn't easy, dear, but it is part of being a princess. The reason they protect you is because they think you're that important, and you are that important. You’ve saved Equestria how many times now? Not even getting into how many ponies you've helped.”
“I know, I know.” I sighed. “It's all part of the new world I'm in. Responsibilities, duties, ponies I work with... I understand all of this intellectually, but I'm still processing it deeper than that.”
“You’ll figure it out, Twilight,” Mom assured me. “You’re probably the smartest pony I know, and I know you'll adapt to this. Just like you have with every other challenge put in front of you.”
I smiled and nuzzled her, feeling a bit better. “Thanks for the talk, Mom. Even if you didn't exactly tell me anything new.”
Mom nuzzled me back. “Sometimes just going over the right old information helps. Now then, do you want the pleasure of locking this nasty thing up? I think you've more than earned this.”
“Sure.” I grasped the lid of the crate. “It would be my pleasure.”
With the Umbral Shard safely locked away, I made the hospital my next stop. It was no small struggle to keep the hospital staff from giving me a full examination. Little surprise when I was far from being in pristine condition at the moment. All the bandages I was covered in pretty badly undercut any attempt on my part to say that I was fine.
It was a bit weird, actually. I knew I was injured to some degree, but injuries hadn’t bothered me as much since I became an alicorn. That seemed to be one of the perks of my ascension, along with not needing as much sleep, food, or water as I used to. That was always to Storm’s lament, who said I didn't take as good care of myself as I should. Thinking about her brought me back to why I was in the hospital to start with.
Once I convinced the hospital staff that I didn't need emergency attention (again), I got directions to Storm’s room and made my way there, knocking on the doorframe when I arrived. “Hey Storm, how you doing?”
Storm looked up from her hospital bed. She was wearing a light green hospital gown, and Shadow’s Armor was on a stand in the corner. “I am well.” The words were basic enough, but I could hear her underlying grumpiness.
I gave her the best smile I could under the circumstances. “You're not too uncomfortable are you?”
“As comfortable as anypony can be in a hospital,” Storm said in her usual stoic manner.
I grimaced. “Sorry about that. You know, the whole you being hospitalized over protecting me.” Storm had been more banged up than she had been willing to admit in Icepeak. I wasn't sure how much pain she had been hiding—her armor did have enchantments to suppress the sensation—but the nurse at the Sealed Repository had been insistent on sending Storm to the hospital after looking her over. Storm hadn't exactly been happy when I insisted she go, even if it was for her own good. That behir had gotten in a good hit, and I wanted her to get looked at.
“It is hardly your fault, Highness,” Storm said. “Do not feel guilty. I merely did my duty. Sometimes that comes with risks.”
“I know, but I still do feel guilty about it.” My ears wilted as I sat by the bed. “It's hard not to. It's just how I am.”
Storm nodded ever so slightly. “I know, Highness.”
“It's just...” I took a moment to consider my words. “Taking time to get used to. Becoming a princess, my duties, the palace—all of it. This was never anything I really asked for. It just kinda fell into my back.”
“I think you are doing admirably.”
I smiled. “Thanks. And I do appreciate what you and the rest of my guards are doing. Just because I'm still a bit unsure about everything doesn't mean I don't recognize it.” Now if I could just have them do their jobs without getting hurt on my account...
“We only do our duty. But...” Storm’s eyes looked away from me. “I certainly like to be appreciated.”
I grinned wryly. “How about I get you and the rest of my guard a medal or two? That seems the least you deserve.” I frowned. “It feels like you deserve a lot more than that when you're putting your lives on the line. Especially when all of you got hurt.”
Speedy had needed to have his ribs treated and get a number of stitches, and though Masked was mostly just bruised up, his lip needed a few stitches. Thankfully, all Twinkleshine needed was some rest after channeling so much of her magic. Everyone would recover from what they had gone through at least. Storm hadn't been willing to talk about her injuries, but she didn't look too bad, all things considered. I suppose I should be thankful that was the worst of it.
“Would you do any less for us?” Storm asked.
I shook my head. “No, I wouldn't.” The fact I had thrown myself into danger multiple times for the sake of my friends and others precluded any argument to the contrary.
“I know, and in time they will know that too, if they don't already.” A slight smile creeped onto her lips. “You are my princess. You are also my friend. I value both of those equally, and defend you on both accounts.”
I couldn't help but smile at that. Storm was certainly my dedicated protector, if nothing else. “As long as you don't mind me doing the same.”
Storm gave me a flat look. “Highness, I think you will do that whether I mind it or not.”
I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck. “Guilty as charged?”
Storm cracked a smile of her own, and she actually chuckled. It was nice to hear. Too often she was so stiff and formal, and it felt good to see her relax a little. “Indeed so.”
“Funny enough, it's a little hard for me to stop being who I am,” I said.
“I was about to say as much. You would not be the princess you are if you were less inclined to act so.” Storm fixed me with a wry smile. “Even if it does occasionally vex me.”
“Even when you're friends, sometimes you get on each others nerves.” Even my best friends sometimes bothered me for one reason or another. You just can't have different ponies be together and not have that happen from time to time.
“You do not get on my nerves, Highness. You merely...”
I could tell she was trying to find a diplomatic way to state what she wanted to say, and I offered my two bits. “Take positions that cause certain complications in carrying out your duty?”
Storm nodded. “Not out of any malice, of course.”
“No, of course not,” I said with perfect princessly severity. “I love my guard and fully appreciate all they do for me, as is only appropriate for a princess.” The levity aside, my tone became more serious. “You are going to be okay, right?”
“I will be,” Storm said. “The doctors just want to hold me overnight to ensure that there are no unexpected complications.”
I let out a relieved breath. “That's good to hear.” I didn't expect for Storm to tell me how badly she was injured, but I knew that she wouldn't lie to me about that.
Storm smiled dryly. “While if need be I would be willing to give my life to protect you, I see no need to rush into it.”
“You better not be.” I poked her shoulder. “You're too useful to go die heroically on me.”
“Well, that settles it,” Storm said. “If you are ordering me not to die...”
“Which I am,” I commanded.
“Then I am not allowed to.” Storm tried to stretch out a wing and winced. “I should be ready to return to duty soon enough.”
I knew I should discourage her from returning to duty before she was ready. She was more than stubborn enough to get back to work before she was done healing. “Of course, but first, I'm ordering you to recover fully before you return to duty. I don't want you limping around the castle because you didn't take enough time to let your body heal.”
“Very well then,” Storm said, straining to hide the displeasure in her tone. “Any other orders, Highness?”
“Yep! There was one more thing.” Knowing this was coming up, I pulled out a half dozen books and placed them on Storm’s nightstand. “I brought you some books to read while you're recovering. I've read all of them myself to make sure they’re worth your time, so I know they're all good and I'm sure you'll love them! Maybe we can even have a small book club meeting to talk about them when you finish reading them.” I smiled widely. I didn't want the captain of my guard to be bored during her downtime.
Storm’s eyes flicked from the stack of books and back to me, and she gave me a smile that seemed oddly strained for some reason. “But of course, Highness. Thank you.”
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Aw, that was a nice wrap-up. Pretty entertaining story overall, too. I enjoyed it and am eager to see more.
Huh, thought this would be longer. Not that I am complaining!
Bravo! A thoroughly-enjoyable ponytale! Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Troubleshooting.
A most enjoyable adventure. Well paced, well executed, well done! Thank you for it.
This was an awesome story! I really enjoyed it! There is one thing that I'm a little confused about, though.
Did Breezy tell the officials in Canterlot about what was going on, or did he just think to look for a princess before explaining his problem to anyone? I'm just thinking that it would be very odd if he told the Canterlot guard/mage corps/law enforcement officials that there was a possible giant evil in his town and then just got told to go find the junior princess. Wouldn't the government have something set up to deal with situations like this?
This story puts me in mind of an off-hand line - from one of the original X-Men (Breast) made during a crossover with Spider-Man; a little thing, but one I found appealing: "a little moderate punching and hitting and all's well with the world."
Sometimes, it's nice to have a good old-fashioned whomping of some bad guy, without all the added complications (aliet this was a little higher up the threat and complexity level than the bank-robbery that the heropes had just solved prior to the quote.)
Very nicely done!
That was an enjoyable read, been putting it off for a little too long. Glad I finally took the time to read this!
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Good to hear you all enjoy my story. It's always nice to hear that people enjoy what I've written.
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The officials in Canterlot heard Breezy out, and then escorted him to Ponyville to talk with Twilight, considering this sounded like it had the potential to be a "Princess level threat." The guards that escorted him to Twilight's palace, where they met with Storm, who heard them out, and then escorted Breezy to Twilight to explain what was happening in Icepeak. From there Twilight made a decision on what was to be done.
Not that the government in general didn't have means to react to this crisis, just that given the circumstances, the buck got passed to Twilight.
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I can agree with this. You don't need every story to be some big world-shaking or status quo changing event. Sometimes a threat is identified and dealt with, and the general happy status quo is maintained without massive consequences, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that as long as it's well executed.
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I'm certainly willing to admit my D&D influences. R.A. Salvatore is one of my big influences as a writer, specifically for how I write actions scenes.
7943586 And not just action scenes, from what i can tell. Monsters and spells are also taken directly from the D&D monster manual and player's handbook, like that Bullette, or land shark. Those things are nasty, I've fought them before in a campaign I was a part of a few years back. Also, you may be pleased to hear that this story has inspired a whole adventure arc for a Rifts RPG game that I run with my family.
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Glad to hear it. Get inspiration wherever you can, I say.
I love how you've written everything here. After so many fics, the ending was a bit abrupt to me, but that could well be because I've not been paying attention.
I love the imagery you've used all throughout this!
Yup. A dark-powered version of the sun-powered Crenshinibon. Cool. And just as silly in its choice of wielder and methods, I see. :D If there's a sequel, remember the whole "Drizzt, I love you, you're my perfect wielder! WIELD MEEEEEE!" "No." "GAH!" part. Lots of laughs to be had there, not least of which is imagining Twilight as the Drizzit!
Associating with Twilight means associating with lots and lots of books, better to just accept it now Storm.
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I think the reason they didn’t call for reinforcements was because the shard could have expanded a lot more by the time it took for st least one of them to go aske for more soldiers, all those soldiers to get organized, and then for all of them to arrive.
Still working my way through your story catalogue.
Good seeing more of Twilight and her new guard, though I was surprised that Shadow's armour didn't protect Storm from the umbral shard. You'd think protection from mind control would be a no-brainer, pun not intended. Also good to see where those enormous walking crystal fortresses from Come and See came from. I was wondering about those. If I have one critique, though, it would be that the villain is kinda dull. I mean, I know the characters make fun of him for being a walking cliché, but just hanging a lampshade on it doesn't make him not generic. Still, on the whole, a decent adventure story. Thanks for this one.
That was a good story.