Pirates of Equestria

22: Message

The responsibility for avenging Braeburn weighs heavy on Shining Armor as he steps off the deck of the Crystal Princess and onto the dock of the current base of operations. Two weeks have passed since Braeburn died with a week and a half of which being used to search for Sky Runner. Sky’s activity had continued since their encounter and yet he is always a step ahead. The chase is beginning to look like a wild goose chase making the prince feel like he is grasping for the wind.

Shining’s mind dwells on all of the events over the past few months as he struggles to figure out the thoughts of his former friend. In truth, he never could figure the pegasus out but recent events have left him more confused than ever. The assassination attempt itself, the event that triggered it all, was the most enigmatic. If Sky truly was guilty then why would he do such a thing? If Sky was not the perpetrator, then who was really responsible and why commit such an act in the first place?

“SHINING!!!”

The shout from Soarin shakes the prince out of his ponderings and back into the bloody reality he has come to live in. Hanging from the entry way of the base are two bodies, each having experience a different method of death. One is a yellow earth pony with green hair hanging by his neck with two stab wounds in his abdomen. The other is a headless white pony hanging by his forelegs in a crucifixion style. The headless pony’s chest had been sliced open and his ribs pulled back which now hang behind him like a set of bony wings. Blood drips from the carcasses, more so from the headless one. The mere sight alone is enough to make Shining turn and vomit while the smell is suffocating.

“Cut them down…hurk…quickly! And cover the bodies!”

Shining looks up once more to see the headless pony’s disembodied head resting on the head of a blood soaked spear. The prince vomits again and quickly turns to leave. He heads to the edge of the water to soak his head in an attempt to restore his constitution. He looks out at the water struggling to figure out what had happened here. Since neither of the executed were members of the Royal Guard, then why were they being hung at a Guard base?

“Shining Armor?”

The prince never looks back as he knows who is there. “What’s the report Soarin?”

“It seems that both were hung after they died and there is no blood trail. We’re still not sure how they were hung here without any pony seeing. Also, there was a note attached to the headless pony. You may want to look at it. It’s from Sky.”

Shining continues to stare out at the ocean. The gentle waves wash up the sandy shore before retreating back. The ocean breeze blows through his mane as he watches the sun set on the horizon. Such a peaceful sight for such a horrendous day. The prince continues to stare out at the ocean without responding.

“Shining?” Soarin says after a half minute of silence before being cut off.

“I was never able to beat him,” the prince says, never taking his eyes of the ocean.

“I’m sorry?”

“Sky. I was never able to beat him in any kind of fight. Sparring, verbal arguments, and apparently high seas warfare. I think I know why now.”

Soarin sits and listens to the prince, unsure what to say or do.

“He was always more confident in himself than I was of myself. After that day, he never wanted to experience loss like that again and went through great pains to make sure of that.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Soarin exclaims.

“I know how he felt that day now!” Shining says as he slams a hoof into the sand. “On that day I watched him hold her close as she died. When Braeburn died, the same thing happened to me.”

“I’ll repeat my question. What dos that have to do with anything?”

The prince is silent for a moment then finally answers. “I…I don’t…It doesn’t. It’s just been on my mind since the funeral. I guess I just needed to get that off my chest.” He shakes his head to clear his mind then turns to the pegasus. “Let me see the note.”

Shining takes the note from Soarin and looks it over. The paper is ragged and damp from the blood but still readable. Its contents identify the headless pony as a former member of the Royal Guard who was supposed to have died during the assassination attempt as well as a list of several other guards involved in a supposed conspiracy against the crown, some of whom are among those with Shining. A final message is written at the bottom.

‘I advise you to find the conspirators before I do. The two ponies you see are an example of what shall befall any who get in my way. That does include you my old friend.’

As Shining looks over the note and the list of names, he thinks back to the ponies found hung prior to now. Were they possibly conspirators against the crown or hung as a message? There is one way to find out.

“Soarin,” he commands, “I want a list of all of the guards that have been under my command since we began this operation. Once that is done, send a secret letter to Princess Celestia informing her of the possibility of a conspiracy against her and her sister.”

“Right!” the pegasus responds as he starts to leave only to stop short for a last question. “What about any of these supposed conspirators with us now?”

“We need to keep the information about the conspiracy to ourselves. If we told any pony, they would be tipped off and either flee or fight their way out. Either way, we can’t afford to fight or lose as many as the note suggests we have. Besides, there is no solid proof of a conspiracy. Given Sky’s recent life choice, no pony will trust his word alone. When you tell Celestia of the conspiracy do not reveal the source otherwise she may dismiss the possibility.”

Soarin sighs. “Alright. For the sake of Canterlot, I hope you’re right about this.”

Shining stares out at the ocean again as the pegasus flies off. With the possibility of a conspiracy, there is a chance to clear Sky’s name as an assassin. Sadly, it would not change the actions he took following that night. He looks at the note once more and the message at the end. Words on paper could only say what was written. He needs to talk to Sky face to face about this and discover the truth. If the conspiracy was real, Sky is the only one with the truth right now. With Sky’s pirate activities on the line still, perhaps things could be ended with such a face to face encounter. Though such an encounter could prove fatal.