VOLUME FINALE - Chapter 24 - Unholy Pacts
And now for the conclusion to our game of Clue. See if you were right in your suspicions. 
-The princesses were found in a dazed state in their room at Light's Hope. Cause unknown.
-Shining Armor reported them acting normally when he brought them breakfast earlier that morning.
-Rose reports her sensors did not detect any unauthorized personnel entering or leaving the princess' room that night, nor the facility at any time.
-Redheart smelled alcohol on their breath. Further examination showed no sign of physical trauma.
-Luna and Cadance only had a single drink each the previous night.
-Shining Armor also reports Luna asking for some alone time to discuss private matters with Cadance.
-Ember accused Goldstone of committing the crime, as he's been leering at the females all through the summit.
-Goldstone changed glasses with Cadance after he ‘tripped’ and ‘accidentally’ grabbed her backside.
-Fiona and Goldstone talked at length about an unknown topic. Taking into account their past, this is highly unusual.
-Rutherford saw Kane leave the Dining Room during the celebration.
-Tugem followed Kane when he left.
-Rutherford claimed a cupcake tasted bad. Poison or cultural tastes?
-Tugem reports that neither Ikis nor the Marquis ate or drank at the celebration last night.
-Tugem admits to leaving the Dining Room to follow Kane, whom seemed agitated.
-Kane confided in Tugem regarding his defeat by Sereb. Apparently Kane is feeling insecure after suffering what may be defeat for the first time in his life.
-Tugem thinks he saw Fiona drop something into Goldstone's glass while they were talking. However, no harm appeared to befall Goldstone.
-Felix saw Kane looking at Sereb with an angry look on his face for a large portion of the evening.
-Fiona did not see Kane speak to anyone during the evening.
-Felix saw Cadance drop her glass when Goldstone fell and grabbed her backside.
-Fiona confessed to a conversation with Goldstone while Felix returned to their room for a change of raiments. They spoke of monetary policy.
-Fiona confessed to sprinkling Abyssinian Itchweed in Goldstone's glass when he wasn't looking.
-Felix saw Cadance set the glass Goldstone gave her on a tray, empty. It is assumed she drank it.
-Arc sent a sample of Abyssinian Itchweed to be tested against samples of the princess' blood.
-Fiona has submitted herself to face Equestrian justice for potentially accidentally poisoning the princesses.
-Why was Luna also poisoned if only Cadance drank from the tainted glass?
-Both Fiona and Felix have agreed to be held under house arrest pending the lab report.
-Sereb confirms he overheard Queen Fiona talking to Lord Goldstone about monetary policy.
-Kane heard Gestal whispering to his daughter about how to use a bad situation to gain leverage.
-Iris saw Ghaleon watching Goldstone closely. But if that's true, how was Fiona able to poison his glass?
-Iris overheard Lord Goldstone refer to certain diplomats as ‘Equestria’s pets’.
-Ikis claimed to sense something 'out of place' on the air. It was not native to Equestria.
-The Marquis saw Princess Luna pretend to take several sips from her glass before pouring it into a napkin.
-Pinky informed me that the dishes are washed with special detergent to remove EVERYTHING from theme. We won't be able to test them for signs of poisoning.
-Lab results show a similar toxin to the one used to take down Arc during his visit to the Griffon Kingdom some time back. However it has somehow been amplified and altered beyond what the normal antidote can cure.
-Ashe still denies involvement in the assassination attempts in the Griffon Kingdom as well as being responsible for the princess' sudden illness.
-Rarity believe Tugem's clothes were made by a Equestrian seamstress named Inky Rose.
-Trixie senses strange magical emanation inside Light's Hope.
-Rose found strange images on the security feed taken during the celebration.
-Eventide Shine seemed extremely nervous during her interview. She claims Cadance was dozing when she entered.
-Goldstone was caught on camera tampering with the princess' tea pot.
-When confronted, Goldstone was quick to blame everyone else involved.
-Discovering a false bottom in Goldstone's trunk, a leather satchel containing poison was found within.
-When Goldstone learned Arc was the Lord Regent again, he lost his mind and literally had to be dragged away.
Meanwhile, Arc enters his quarters and sighs.
“What a day!”
He removes his war-torn cape and tosses it onto a chair as he heads to the Bathroom. Removing the rest of his raiments Arc steps into the shower and lathers up.
“Hawthorne… what did you really hope to accomplish by impersonating Prince Tugem? Was it merely to disrupt the summit? Or did you have a grander scheme?”
Arc frowns as he rinses the soap from his body.
“Part of me wishes you had been taken alive so I could question you. The other part believes Prince Tugem did us all a favor.”
Shaking his head, Arc ponders the events of the evening.
“The Storm King, Decimus, Tempest, and Hawthorne all working together. How, I don’t know. None of them have anything in common… right?”
A familiar voice rings out.
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
Arc gulps as his pupils shrink.
“T-T-Tempest?!”
He peeks out of the shower to look toward the sink. Tempest sits on her haunches looking angry, as usual. Arc shuts off the water and grabs a towel with his magic.
“What are you DOING in here?!”
“I came to discuss something. What’s wrong with you?”
Arc wraps the towel around his midsection. “Well, I WAS trying to clean myself up!”
Tempest rolls her eyes. “Don’t let me keep you from that task. Feel free to continue bathing.”
Arc sighs. “I was about done anyway. Uh… could you leave the room please?”
Tempest glares in the direction of the shower. “Not until you and I have had a talk!”
“But I need to get dressed!”
Tempest raises an eyebrow. “Nopony’s stopping you. Just step out here and do it. That is, unless you need your servant to help you.”
Arc groans as he reaches out and grabs his fresh raiments with his magic. “I don’t have anyone for that purpose. Give me a minute.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not taking my eyes off you until I’ve said a few things. But I’d like to say them face to face.”
Arc mutters under his breath as he dresses. “Pervert…”
A minute later Arc pulls aside the shower curtain and steps out. He looks over at Tempest as she scowls at him.
“Can we at least step into the Living Room?”
Tempest nods. “That would be best.”
The pair leave the room and walk over to the couch. Arc sits at one end as Tempest takes a place at the other.
“I see you’ve regenerated.”
Tempest nods soberly. “Yes. It’s amazing what a little sleep can do in that regard.”
“You’re here about Decimus, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you angry?”
“OF COURSE I’M ANGRY, YOU IDIOT!”
“Did Decimus not… regenerate, or whatever he does?”
“I’m sure he’s fine. But Hawthorne won’t be.”
Arc raises an eyebrow. “Really? I thought everyone in your Council of Shadows was in the habit of cheating death.”
Tempest shakes her head. “Just Decimus and I.”
“So Hawthorne’s gone for good then?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure The Dark One won’t raise him as a zombie, or something?”
Tempest frowns. “This is real-life you moron! Not some dark fairy tale in a book for foals!”
“Okay, okay! Should we get back to Decimus?”
“Yes!”
Tempest takes a few moments to compose herself before continuing.
“I actually came to assure you that despite what happened here today, I still plan to keep our earlier agreement.”
“Thank you. Um… are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Well, you didn’t look so good earlier.”
“Fatigue greatly slows my ability to regenerate. Nothing more. But your concern was misplaced. You didn’t need to send me to the hospital.”
“Yeah, well… call it instinct when someone’s hurt.”
Tempest blushes slightly as she looks away.
“While unnecessary, it was appreciated nonetheless.”
“As long as you’re here, mind explaining something to me?”
“What is it?”
“I want to know what Hawthorne was doing here? I mean, does he have something against Prince Tugem?”
Tempest shakes her head. “No. As for his plan, I’m not really sure.”
“Then why did you come to help him?”
“Because Decimus asked me to.”
“And he came because…?”
“Hawthorne called for help.”
Arc frowns. “So he had his back, huh?”
“On this one I suppose. Normally everypony kinda does their own thing.”
“That doesn’t sound very organized. No one runs their plans past anyone?”
“The Dark One steps in if things get out of hoof.”
“How does he know?”
Tempest shrugs. “He just does. It’s probably best we don’t ask the methods he uses.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Tempest stands and calls forth Light’s Bane.
“In any case, I need to get going.”
“Still tired?”
“There is that, yes. But I also want to make sure Decimus makes it back to our room safely. He’s always out of sorts after losing a battle.”
“Really?”
Tempest smiles and grins wickedly. “Yes. But rest assured I know just what a stallion likes.”
Arc puts a hand to his stomach. “That… is an image that will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
Tempest slashes the air in front of her to open a portal and slowly walks toward it. Stopping, she looks to Arc.
“In any case, I’m sure your creepy looking servant over there would like a word with you. They’ve been waiting patiently.”
“Servant?”
Arc turns to look toward the door as Tempest vanishes from sight. Wiseman looks on silently.
“How long have you been standing there?!”
“Since you walked into the Bathroom.”
“Could’ve said something.”
“It looked like you were a bit busy flirting with Tempest.”
Arc frowns. “I was NOT flirting!”
“Really? For a mare who’s supposed to be your enemy, you certainly treat her well. Ordering her taken to the hospital, protecting her sister, and my personal favorite… caring for her when she was ‘sick’.”
“Sick on several levels you mean.”
“Indeed. But it’s not everyone who could resist the wiles of body building mare in the throes of passion.”
Arc facepalms. “Okay, can we not talk about my sex life right now?”
Wiseman chuckles. “Or lack of one might say.”
“Call it what you want. But I’m assuming you didn’t come here to eavesdrop on my conversations.”
“In reality, I came to give you some very important advice.”
Arc sighs. “Again?”
“Yes.”
“What is it this time?”
“Those around you are not always as they seem.”
Arc rolls his eyes. “Are you kidding?! I could’ve done better with a fortune cookie!”
Wiseman shrugs. “That is the message.”
“Whom is it from though?”
“The Keeper of Time.”
“Kronos?! They’ve been sending you to me?!”
Wiseman shakes his head. “I assure you, the situation is more complicated than you know.”
“Any advice on that?”
“Just know that all will be revealed when the time is right.”
Arc frowns. “You sure it won’t be too late? Like at the southern temple?”
“I admit, I wanted to be there sooner. However, the Keeper of Time and I argued about my involvement in any way.”
“So Kronos didn’t want you interfering at all?!”
Wiseman nods. “You could say that.”
“Why?!”
“Potential outcomes and numerous possibilities. It’s really quite complicated and simple all at the same time.”
Arc glares at him. “Thank you for clearing that up.”
“Just don’t take anything at face value tonight.”
“That’s not hard to do.”
“More so than you realize.”
Arc shakes his head. “I just don’t get you sometimes. Ever, actually. Care to answer some other questions for me?”
“Another time. I have places to go and things to see.”
“Of course you do.”
Wiseman nods and fades away. Arc frowns and ponders what he was been told for a few moments before touching his earring.
“Arc to Rose.”
“Go ahead, Arc.”
“Have we had any unauthorized guests since the battle ended?”
“Nope. Everything has been pretty quiet since then.”
“Are you certain?”
“Very. I haven’t stopped tracking since before the summit started.”
“What about during the battle?”
“Even then I continued to monitor the grounds. Every invader was confirmed to be destroyed.”
“I see. Thanks, Rose.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t dally too much longer though. The delegates are having quite the time in the Dining Room.”
“I’ll head over there in a minute. Arc out.”
He touches his earring and sighs.
“What did Wiseman mean? Why does he always have to be so cryptic?!”
Shaking his head Arc heads for the door.
“Might as well get moving. Maybe I’ll find something that loosely explains his warning.”
Leaving his quarters Arc heads for the Dining Room. The sounds of laughter and merriment echo down the corridor. As he enters, Arc sees the diplomats gathered around the large table together. Rutherford grins at Trixie.
“That was quite the battle! Yak impressed!”
“Trixie thanks you for your help, sir.”
“Yak happy to help pony get vengeance on her enemy!”
Sereb nods. “That was very impressive how you stood up to Decimus back there.”
Ember shudders. “Yeah! I thought he’d be the death of you!”
Felix turns to her. “If I may… where did you learn how to fight like that, miss?”
“Trixie learned Illusion Magic as a filly. But the Captain of the Royal Guard taught her how to hone their skills.”
Fiona smiles. “Was he the one who commanded the battle?”
Arc walks over. “Indeed he was.”
All the delegates nod respectfully in his direction.
Iris looks to Trixie. “If I might inquire further, what exactly did you learn from him?”
“To stay calm mostly.”
Sereb raises an eyebrow. “Calm?”
“It helps Trixie think rationally and stay focused.”
Kane frowns. “Was that truly all there was to his teachings?”
“The basis, yes. However, Trixie practiced what she was told every day during training.”
Kane muses to himself. “Calm, huh? Interesting…”
Ikis turns to Arc. “So those were your nation’s enemies, eh Lord Arc?”
“That they are. Truthfully, we’re not fully sure what exactly they’re trying to do.”
Goldstone rolls his eyes. “Come now. You must have some theories at least.”
“They claim to be trying to ward off some great evil that’s supposedly coming to Equestria. But they seem to be more of a threat than any supposed darkness.”
He looks around the table.
“Have any of you heard of the Council of Shadows?”
The delegates look to one another and shrug.
“I thought not. They don’t seem to have much, if any, influence outside of Equestria. At least not that I’ve heard of.”
Gestal frowns. “While the thought of their power being focused against any of our nations is troubling, I will pass this information on to our king upon returning to the Griffon Kingdom.”
Ghaleon clenches his talons. “They step one hoof, talon, claw, or whatever into our lands, and I’ll personally slice it off!”
Ashe turns to him. “Begging your pardon, Lord Arc. Have you considered trying to reach out to them? Perhaps a dialogue could be established.”
“Indeed I have. In fact I’ve had numerous conversations with the mare that spearheaded the attack earlier.”
Ember narrows her eyes. “With Tempest?!”
“Yes. In fact she contacted me just before I came over here.”
Rainbow Dash gasps. “WHAT?!”
Applejack frowns. “Why in tarnation would she do that?!”
Pinkie grits her teeth. “Maybe to cause more trouble?!”
“Not exactly. She just wanted to tell me that she didn’t hold the death of Decimus or Hawthorne against us. That and she would continue to honor the promise she made to me.”
The Marquis looks confused. “A promise?”
“Yes. That she wouldn’t kill anyone else without dealing with me first. That weapon she carries can steal its victim’s soul, after all.”
Rarity shudders. “A truly frightening thought!”
Ikis frowns. “And the souls are the source of her power?”
“She said as much, yes. How did you know that, sir?”
“Such items were experimental many centuries ago. I had forgotten they were even once ideas until you brought it up.”
Twilight gasps. “Really?! I’ve never read about such a magical weapon in any of my books.”
A voice rings out from the doorway.
“That’s because such things should not exist.”
Everyone turns to see Tugem enter the room. He walks over and sits down as he looks to Twilight and her friends.
“Your friend is safely in bed.”
Twilight smiles. “Thank you for taking her home, sir. But what did you mean by your earlier comment?”
“The ogres study the land, animals, and elements that make up the lifeforce of nature. My opponent earlier tonight possessed a forbidden aspect of our powers.”
Applejack raises an eyebrow. “Forbidden magic?”
“Yes. Our powers focus on that which makes up life and binds the world together. Earth, fire, wind, and water.”
Rarity frowns. “And they use something similar?”
Tugem shakes his head. “Hardly. They all wielded the fifth element… Shadow Magic.”
Trixie frowns. “I’ve heard of it.”
Pinkie shudders. “Sounds scary!”
Rainbow Dash nods. “I’m glad Fluttershy isn’t around to hear this.”
Twilight looks to Tugem. “What exactly is Shadow Magic?”
“The opposite of life and creation. It is that which can only kill and destroy.”
Kane frowns. “A sobering thought. But they control this power, do they not?”
“Somehow, yes. But one can only speculate just how long that will remain true.”
Ember looks confused. “What do you mean?”
“Such power corrupted those whom used it in the past. For this reason all knowledge of its existence was sealed away by the magic using races long ago.”
Tugem turns to Twilight.
“Your race’s greatest unicorn once dabbled in it.”
“Star-Swirl the Bearded?!”
“From what I’ve read, yes.”
Kane frowns. “Was he corrupted?”
Tugem shakes his head. “No. He was wise enough to turn away from such things before it was too late.”
Arc puts a hand to his chin. “So it’s impossible to control then?”
“That is unknown. One could, at least theoretically, master Shadow Magic and bend it to their will. However, it would take an enormously powerful psyche to keep from being mentally overpowered by it.”
Twilight looks back to Tugem. “Did studies of this give any advice on how to do that?”
“Just one. The only remembered passage written on that matter simply said ‘don’t forget who you are’.”
Goldstone raises an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Tugem shrugs. “Sadly, that’s all we know.”
Goldstone frowns. “Admittedly, it’s not much to go on.”
Arc sighs. “Perhaps that’s for the best.”
Fiona turns to him. “Lord Arc?”
“I don’t mind being powerful. But I’d prefer to be able to control my magical abilities. Not have them control me.”
The Marquis nods. “Well spoken.”
Kane turns to Tugem. “Tell me, do you believe such a feat is possible?”
“Yes, I do. However it’s not something I’d like to attempt. Failure in such an endeavor would be catastrophic.”
Iris looks to Twilight. “Do all unicorns have the ability to use Shadow Magic?”
“Any magic user has the potential to use any kind of magic, provided they have the magical aptitude, a proper spell book, or somepony to teach them. Princess Celestia once showed me a single spell from that particular school of magic.”
Rarity gasps. “She did?”
Rainbow Dash grins. “What was it like?!”
“It was a simple spell. But I could feel the raw power in it. Truthfully, it was a rather frightening experience.”
Tugem continues. “Princess Luna is the land’s current authority on such things, being the Princess of the Night.”
Sereb growls. “That would explain Hawthorne’s plan to incapacitate her.”
Ikis nods. “Along with the Princess of Love for good measure.”
Applejack turns to Arc. “I wonder why he didn’t go after you.”
Ember puts a claw to her chin thoughtfully. “It would certainly have ensured the success of his plan. Without anyone of sufficient power and experience to lead the defense of Light’s Hope, things may have ended very differently.”
Gestal frowns. “Let us be thankful they didn’t.”
Ashe nods. “Such an outcome would have certainly strained the tentative peace our two nations now enjoy.”
Ghaleon scoffs. “Strained? I think shattered would be a more appropriate word. However, perhaps leaving Lord Arc unharmed was not merely an oversight.”
Arc raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean, Arbiter Ghaleon?”
“The risk in doing so was great, but so was the reward. Had they succeeded, their mission to kill everyone here would have gone on without much other than me to stop them. But if they had failed, it would have prematurely tipped the cards in your favor in the form of advanced warning that this matter was bigger than originally thought.”
Fiona turns back to him. “It would appear you were a calculated risk on their part, Lord Arc.”
“That may be. But I can’t help but wonder why keeping the nations apart was so important to them.”
Ember frowns. “We’re a big target as a group, Arc.”
“True. But if their only goal truly is to just stop the coming Darkness, why would they care what the nations do as a whole?”
Ikis shrugs. “It makes little sense.”
Iris sighs. “That may be. But every living creature does things for a reason. I can only assume they are no different.”
Several servants enter the room carrying trays holding crystal glasses of sparkling cider. They set them down as others clear the empty dishes from before the diplomats. Ember takes her glass in her claws and holds it up as she stand.
“As the future Dragon Lord, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend official diplomatic relations with the land of Equestria.”
The king and queen of Abyssinia stand with their glasses.
Felix nods. “As will Abyssinia!”
Fiona holds up her glass. “We will show the world our devotion to peace through our own future treaty with Equestria.”
Ikis nods and holds his glass aloft with a tendril. “Even though we were once hunted and imprisoned by the inhabitants of this land, I too would like to extend a tendril in friendship to Lord Arc and Equestria.”
The Marquis nods. “Well said, old friend.”
Tugem stands and raises his own glass. “The ogres too are interested in a lasting peace with this land we share with all ponykind.”
Gestal nods as he gets to his feet. “I’d also like to reaffirm my own nation’s commitment to peace with our neighbors across the sea.”
Twilight stands.
“My friends and I are citizens of Equestria. We freely choose to defend this land from whatever problems arise with the power of the Elements of Harmony.”
Applejack nods happily. “Right!”
Rarity holds her glass up with her magic. “That we will!”
Pinkie giggles. “Bad guys don’t stand a chance against us!”
Rainbow Dash grins. “Yeah! We’ll keep everypony safe, or die trying!”
Sereb turns to Iris.
“Mother? What shall our official stance be on this matter?”
“I too desire peace with this land. However, we cannot ally ourselves with one nation over another due to our traditions.”
Kane nods. “Agreed. Should one military power hold exclusive rights to our clan’s Life Pacts they would hold an advantage over all others.”
Sereb frowns. “But would that not be better than splitting up over many nation’s inhabitants with differing Life Pacts? We might be forced to face one another on the battlefield one day.”
Kane chuckles. “Does that frighten you, Sereb?”
“I would describe it more as concern over fear. Pitting brother against brother does not sit well with me.”
Iris sighs. “That has always been the tradition of our tribe, Sereb. You may not agree with it, but it’s who we are as a nation.”
She turns to Arc as she pushes away her own drink.
“Forgive me, Lord Arc, but we cannot ally ourselves with you.”
Arc nods. “I understand and respect your position, Matriarch Iris.”
“Thank you.”
Sereb turns to him. “You will always have my support, Arc.”
Iris nods. “Rest assured, we are interested in friendship and coexistence. However, that is as far as we are able to go.”
Rutherford picks up his own glass. “Yaks understand wolf’s words! Yaks warriors like them, but have different customs! Yak nation want be friends with ponies too! Friends for a thousand moons! Show them how to be as great as yaks!”
Arc forces a strained smile. “Um… thanks.”
Brightwing giggles. “Every creature agrees! Yay! Brightwing wants to be friends with all of you too!”
She slurps down a glass of cider and burps. Everyone laughs. Ember holds her glass up high and smiles.
“To unity!”
“TO UNITY!”
Arc looks around the table as the others partake. However, as he raises his own glass to his lips a strange feeling washes over him. He mutters to himself…
“Don’t take anything at face value.”
Twilight lowers her now empty glass. “Arc? Is something wrong?”
Applejack smiles as she looks at the glass in his hand. “Don’t worry, sugarcube. I made sure this round of drinks was non-alcoholic.”
“Applejack, is this cider made with the same recipe as before?”
Applejack looks confused. “Of course. Granny Smith came up with it herself decades ago.”
Rainbow Dash nods. “They haven’t changed anything EVER!”
Gestal looks at the empty crystal glass before him. “Was there something wrong with it?”
“I… don’t know. For some reason I had a funny feeling just now.”
Applejack looks at her own glass. “It tasted as it always does.”
Rarity nods. “If something were amiss with the recipe, I do believe she would have tasted it right away, Arc.”
“That much I understand.”
Arc stands and holds his glass up as he touches his earring.
“Rose, scan the contents of my glass.”
“The cider within is consistent with the quality Sweet Apple Acres is well known for.”
Rutherford laughs. “Pony king worry too much!”
“However, I’m detecting a faint but strange aura around the glasses themselves.”
Felix looks at his empty glass. “I don’t see anything.”
Ikis does the same. “Nor do I sense any latent magical energy.”
Cherry calls out to him. “Arc! Your helmet!”
Arc calls forth his helmet and quickly puts it on before looking at his glass intently.
“My glass is glowing faintly! Rose, what is this?!”
“Unknown.”
The delegates look to one another nervously. Goldstone clutches his throat.
“Someone POISONED us?!”
Applejack looks around the room. “Does anypony feel ill?!”
Everyone shakes their heads. Brightwing flutters around overhead giggling.
“Yay, colors!”
She hiccups and falls to the table, knocking over Iris, Sereb, and Kane’s full glasses. Ember jumps up and hurries over to Brightwing. The small dragon’s eyes look around the room although her body does not move.
“Rose, what’s wrong with Brightwing?!”
“She appears to be paralyzed.”
Gestal frowns. “What?!”
Ember picks up one of Brightwing’s leathery wings. “Come on, get up!”
Letting go the wing, it flutters down to the creature’s side. Ashe puts a talon to her forehead.
“F-father. I… I don’t feel so well.”
Twilight looks around the room. “Everypony please stay… calm…”
Trixie frowns. “Twilight, you don’t look so…”
She puts a hoof to her forehead. Everyone does so as well except for Arc, Sereb, Kane, and Iris. One by one the delegates fall over. Sereb and Iris hurry over to help.
“Rose, send for Nurse Redheart right away!”
“I’ve already notified her, Arc. She should be there in two minutes.”
“Good! I…!”
He stops talking as Wiseman’s words again come to him. Iris looks to Arc.
“What should we do, Lord Arc?!”
“Medical help is coming. Right now we need to find who did this.”
Kane frowns. “But who is to say they’re still in Light’s Hope?”
“Just a hunch. Sereb, tell all the servants to come out and help.”
Sereb nods and runs toward the Kitchen door. “Very well.”
A few moments later the servants emerge from the Kitchen. They hurry to aid the delegates. Sereb rushes over to his mother.
“Where did Arc go?”
“He stepped down the corridor for a moment.”
Trixie looks over from Prince Rutherford’s side. “Lord Arc said he’d return momentarily.”
Kane sniffs the air. “Odd. I still have his scent.”
“As do I. brother.”
Iris looks confused. “What could it mean?”
“Unknown, mother. But we shall soon see.”
Meanwhile, Arc looks over the group from inside his magic cloak. Looking at everyone one by one with his helmet on. Eventually his eyes settle on a single individual. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists Arc throws off the robe, reaches out a hand, and begins channeling a Telekinesis Spell.
“I’VE GOT YOU!”
A young mare is thrown across the room into a wall. Arc holds her there as he walks over to her angrily. Trixie appears horrified.
“Sir?!”
Arc glares at the mare. “WHO ARE YOU?!”
The mare appears visibly shaken.
“I… I’m Eventide Shine, sir! D-don’t you remember interviewing me the other day?!”
Arc nods angrily. “Yes! I interviewed Eventide Shine all right! But you aren’t her!”
“But… but I am!”
“Then why are you hiding behind that disguise?!”
“Please sir! I don’t know what you’re talking about! Go ask Princess Luna! She’ll vouch for me!”
Sereb walks over. “Arc, my nose tells me this is the same mare who’s been here the whole summit.”
Eventide Shine nods frantically. “It’s the truth, sir! Please let me down!”
Iris turns to him. “Her body language and scents are that of one whom is being truthful, Lord Arc. Is it possible you’ve made a mistake?”
“Trixie agrees. Nopony is right all the time.”
Arc shakes his head. “Not a chance! Eventide Shine is an Earth Pony!”
Kane looks confused. “But that is what she is!”
Arc glares at the mare. “No! This is a unicorn!”
Sereb raises an eyebrow. “But she has no horn.”
“Yes she does. I’m looking right at it.”
“Sir, please stop! I haven’t done anything wrong!”
Arc calls forth a gauntlet and extends the magic blade. He slowly brings it toward the nearly frantic mare.
“I’m going to slice the air just above your head! You know what this blade will do to your horn?!”
“But… but I don’t HAVE a horn!”
“Then you have nothing to worry about.”
As Arc brings his arm around, Eventide Shine screams out angrily. A magical explosion suddenly pushes Arc away from her. He slides across the tiles on his feet as the mare falls to the floor. She looks up at him, clearly furious.
“Fine! Let’s cast off these illusions!”
Her appearance melts away to reveal that of a unicorn. Trixie gasps.
“What the…?!”
Arc frowns. “Who are you really?! What have you done with Eventide Shine?!”
The mare rolls her eyes. “Done with? Eventide Shine doesn’t really exist, you fool!”
Iris’ eyes grow wide. “What?!”
“She’s just an alias I’ve been using for some time now. My real name… is Sunset Shimmer! A name you will not soon forget!”
“What are you doing here?!”
“Watching Hawthorne screw up originally.”
Sereb bares his teeth. “Arc, just give me the word and I’ll tear this traitor apart!”
“No. I want her alive.”
Sunset Shimmer laughs. “That’s not going to happen!”
Arc points his magic blade at her as Nurse Redheart enters the Dining Room. “What have you done to the delegates?!”
“Don’t worry about them. The effects of the spell I cast on those glasses are temporary.”
Sereb growls. “Why are you here?! You have to know Hawthorne is dead!”
“Of course I know that! And with his death HIS mission is a failure. I’m simply trying to salvage what’s left of it. Never let a good catastrophe go to waste.”
Arc scoffs. “Salvage it? By temporarily paralyzing everyone? I would’ve thought a member of the Council of Shadows could do more.”
“Oh, but I have!”
Sereb glares at her. “How so, witch?!”
Sunset shakes her head. “You’re all so dim! Very well… let me put the pieces together for you.
She looks at Arc.
“The Storm King is quite the mechanic and chemist. But even he didn’t have the power to supercharge that Sanguine Azolla.
Arc clenches a fist. “You did that?!”
“I helped. Then there was the matter of administering the poison.”
Sereb growls. “How?!”
“It was a simple task, really. I just made sure it was applied to the rim of their glasses.
She grins wickedly.
“I knew they might pretend to drink in order to keep a level head. That’s why I insisted that the poison be altered especially for this event.”
Iris growls. “Altered?!”
Sunset nods. “Instead of ingestion, it can pass directly through the skin. By putting it to their lips, they inadvertently poisoned themselves. Regardless of if they took an actual sip or not. However, that was not the greatest achievement of the night.”
Arc frowns. “You did more?!”
“Yes indeed. By adding to our council’s numbers.”
“What?!”
Sunset Shimmer looks to Kane.
“To me, beast!”
Kane runs over to her. As he approaches, Sunset Shimmer deftly jumps onto his back. He turns to face the others as Iris glares at him.
“Kane, what are you doing?! You know it is customary only to allow those whom are worthy to ride us!”
“She is indeed worthy, mother.”
Sereb gasps. “B-brother?!”
“Sereb, you became strong after you formed a Life Pact with Lord Arc. Much stronger than even I.”
Arc frowns. “And you want that too?!”
Kane nods. “Precisely. I will train under my new mistress and eclipse you yet again, Sereb.”
“Brother, you cannot be serious!”
“I am. Sunset Shimmer is more powerful than you know. Even more so than Lord Arc himself is.”
Sunset nods smugly. “That I am! With the power of The Dark One, I’m unstoppable!”
“We’ll see about that!”
Arc charges his Hand Cannon and fires a powerful shot at Sunset Shimmer. She rolls her eyes as her horn glows. A small portal opens up and engulfs the blast before closing.
“What the…?”
A portal opens behind him. The blast flies out and strikes Arc in the back knocking him toward his assailant. Chuckling, Sunset Shimmer jumps forward and hoofs Arc in the face before blasting him point blank with a magical shot of her own. The force knocks him back into the table and deftly propels Sunset Shimmer onto Kane’s back again. She looks down at her astonished mount.
“You see how a little strategy can make all the difference, beast?”
Kane nods. “Yes, mistress.”
She pats his head.
“You did very well last night too.”
Sereb snarls. “Brother! What…!”
Sunset grins wickedly. “Nothing much. He unknowingly helped lure the filthy ogre back to his quarters after I may have tipped his glass with a Telekinesis Spell.”
Arc grits his teeth. “So Prince Tugem didn’t really spill his drink.”
“No, I did. He went to his room with Kane for a fresh tunic to save face. Very predictable, really.”
Iris nods angrily. “Where your Judge Hawthorne was lying in wait to capture him and take his place.”
“Very astute, matriarch. It appears you may not be a dim as I originally gave you credit for being. Our mole rejoined the festivities, did his best to pass on testimony which would cast suspicion to the griffon delegation when the hairless ape interviewed him, and stirred everypony up with accusations once the news of the crime was announced by the self-proclaimed Lord Arc. But that was only the start of it.”
Sunset smiles at him.
“Kane here didn’t even notice the switch at first. He honestly thought nothing was amiss. Hawthorne played his part so well, he was able to convince this beast to join us and add his strength and loyalty to his plan.”
Kane nods. “Yes. He asked me to redirect attention to Lord Gestal with my personal testimony. It was a simple task, as all of you already thought little of him.”
Goldstone frowns inwardly as he lies on the floor.
“Planting the poison in his luggage was simple enough with my disguise and magical prowess. Make it appear he’s guilty, you drag him off, we continue with the summit, diplomatic relations with the Griffon Kingdom crumble, I leave with everypony else, and nopony is the wiser to the truth.”
Arc clenches his fist. “But then Rose found the evidence proving there was more going on. That Goldstone couldn’t have committed the poisoning.”
Sunset frowns. “Yes. I suppose no plan is without its flaws. While I knew my cloaked presence in Dining Room was a calculated risk, I had to be sure the princesses had indeed poisoned themselves.”
Arc frowns. “But you knew I could see through such disguises, didn’t you?”
Sunset grins wickedly. “Oh, yes indeed… had you been there.”
Sereb growls. “What are you saying?! There is no possible way you could have made sure he wouldn’t have attended!
“Really? Do you honestly believe I didn’t have a plan to keep his occupied?”
Arc narrows his eyes. “What did you do?”
Sunset shrugs. “Very little really. I merely went into the Everfree Forest to look for some kind of… advanced distraction. But what I found was far beyond anything I had expected.
Iris gasps. “The Ursa Major and her cub?!”
“Precisely. It was a simple matter to stealthily goad her toward your base.”
Arc raises an eyebrow skeptically. “They weren’t already heading this way?”
“Oh they were. However, it appeared the Ursa Major along with her cub had cold feet.”
Sereb growls as Sunset. “What did you do to them?!”
Sunset smiles wickedly. “There are any number of spells that can inflict pain without actually harming its victim. Doing so merely prodded them on. The rest of that story all of you already know. Very impressive handling of the situation I might add. Foolhardy and inefficient, of course. But I can’t argue with the final results.”
Iris grins. “But now you have revealed yourself. We now have the name, face, and scent of our enemy.”
Sunset rolls her eyes. “That matters little, as you cannot do anything to stop me, the Council of Shadows, or your own traitorous son!
Sunset turns to look Arc in the eye.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, fool. For without you playing my little game so perfectly, I never would have had such amazing results. A weak member eliminated from the Council of Shadows, and a new, strong one to take their place.”
Sereb growls menacingly. “Release my brother, you witch!”
“I think not, mongrel. In any case, I need to get back to our base.”
She casts a strange spell and a portal opens behind her. Kane turns to walk through it as Sunset Shimmer looks back at Arc and smirks.
“Do try to stay alive, won’t you? I’d hate for Tempest to finish you off before you and I have had time for a… proper sparring match.”
Kane disappears through the portal with his new mistress. Sereb runs after them.
“Get back here!”
Iris lunges forward to block Sereb’s advance.
“No, Sereb. Do not follow them.”
“But she has taken my brother!”
Iris shakes her head. “No. He has a Life Pact with that mare, and must honor it.”
“But…!”
Iris interrupts as she turns to look at the closing portal. “You of all should understand the bond between rider and steed.”
Arc walks over to Sereb and puts a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry too much about Kane. He’s pretty tough.”
“That much I know.”
Arc turns to Iris. “His joining The Shadow Council is still quite troubling. Tell me, is there any way to break that pact?”
“Only by the death of his rider can he be released from her service.”
Sereb bares his teeth. “I will tear out that witch’s throat myself!”
Iris shakes her head. “Unlikely. Her power was certainly formidable.”
Arc nods. “Agreed. That and I get the feeling they’ll cross our paths again sooner or later, big guy.”
“How can you be so certain of that?”
Iris turns to her son. “Think about it, Sereb. The rider certainly wants a rematch with Lord Arc, as will Kane.”
“Perhaps. Tell me, mother, do you believe Arc and I could defeat her on the field of battle?”
Iris turns back toward the others as they begin to regain their senses.
“Time will tell, Sereb. Sooner or later… time will tell.”
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what a nice revilation. and then the new member, like a hydra, lopp one head off and it grows 2 new one's ^^
truly awesome volume final
10622610
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.
But I do wonder... where will Arc go from here?
Ahh, evil version,demonic inbound eventually?
Thing is with the Hydra, Ive never seen anyone keep hacking the heads off untill it has so many heads, its a headball, and has no way of reaching the ground with its f eet. Thenyou drop it off a tall cliff or in a fluidic medium it cant breath or otherwise survive?
Or leave it floating in the air till it starves etc?
Trouble with evil organistations, so difficult to stop it self destructing through infighting.
10624003
Generally speaking, groups of evildoers are usually led by the smartest and/or the strongest. The Council of Shadows is held together by The Dark One, as no one is more powerful then he is, nor can he be killed.
This story genuinely reminds me of fable with the two sides fighting for the same goal with different methods
11296405
I've taken a few things from Fable, yes. For example, Wiseman. He's kinda like Theresa inasmuch as he mysteriously shows up, gives somewhat vague instructions, and leaves the heroes to do all the real work.
There's also a scene later in the story that I loosely based on the part of the game where you storm the castle to overthrow Logan.
May I ask why the same note is in 3 chapter after we found out who did it I mean it had the same ending with gold stone being dragged off
11379217
The author's notes were still there to say that this matter was not yet over.
Holy fuck this story is just getting more and more convoluted, to the point it's causing me physical pain in the form of a headache. Honestly, a lot of words have been written, yet so far nothing of substance has been said thus far imo.
Honestly the character I hate the most is this story so far is this "Wiseman" guy. Honestly, he says he's helping. Yet so far all he's done is convolute things with his needlessly cryptic answers and has so far caused almost nothing but more problems.
To be frank, unless something truly important happens in the next few chapters, I'm probably just gonna skip forwards until something does, and continue to do so after the fact.
So let me get this straight:
Shadow Magic: Unnatural force of pure destruction
Council of Shadows: Named for their use of said magic
The Dark One: The leader of the Council of Shadows.
Plan: Disrupt negotiations of peace to keep all nations separate, and then invade and conquer all nations to bring them all under the control of the Council of Shadows.
Conclusion: The Dark One has a plan to save us all from a great Darkness.
Did I get that right? What the hell are these ponies smoking? Aside from the fumes of their own magic. Obviously the actual plan and the plan as the Council of Shadows understand it are only one and the same until the Council of Shadows controls the world. Then The Dark One will go all 'your usefulness has ended' and unleash those dark beings upon the world to solidify the control his pawns oh so helpfully handed to him. How can they call this being The Dark One and think he's the answer to a great Darkness rather than the Darkness itself? The Dark One, All Caps, is the most stereotypical name for the Darkness in the history of ever! Even more so than The Master of Darkness!