Bliss in Darkness

Approach the Podium

"I can't believe I was so blind..."

"Don't blame yourself, Charlie, nopony could have known." Luna tried to comfort me. After the speech I had given to the guards, Celestia retreated to her personal chambers to speak with the Equestrian council, leaving Luna and I free to walk about the castle.

"Yes, nopony could have known. But I could have. I knew this was coming..."

"How did you know? I am fairly certain humans do not possess the ability to read the future." Luna and I came to a halt at the statue of discord, the memory of my missing friends burning in my mind. I could have sworn I saw the statue wink at me.

"I knew because... I just did. That's what humans do, they persist. If there is a way to get what they want, they do it. There are almost seven billion people there, each with their own bright mind to help work out problems. And I was the problem..."

"Why are humans so... evil?" Luna asked, a tear seeming to form in her eye.

"Well they aren't evil... Misinformed and biased maybe, but not evil. What they have been told about me may not have been true. I am very dangerous, and that's all they see. I can not condemn an entire race for wanting to protect themselves from the unknown." I chuckled lightly at this. A few months ago, I would not have said something so profound and accepting. Maybe the ponies had grown on me after all.

Instead of continuing the conversation, Luna simply nodded and knelt closer to me. I ran my fingers through her silky, ethereal mane and smiled. A brief spark of happiness graced me, but I knew it wouldn't last for long. My friends were still out there, and I was the only one with the knowledge and proficiency to save them.

There's something about a sense of impending doom that brings people together. I suppose the same can be said for ponies as well. As I stood there, Luna nuzzling my neck, I couldn't help but feel empowered. The storm was on the horizon, and I was prepared for it.

The seconds stacked to minutes as I sat there in Luna's embrace. My resolve no longer waving, I was untouchable.

"It's show time."

***

"Don't touch me! Buck off!!" A brash voice echoed throughout the room. The owner of the voice was a blue pegasus pony, thrashing in her restraints.

After several more attempts to prod at the wings of the first pegasus, the grey maned man circled around to the other side of the metal table. Over the past few hours, he noticed that it was much easier to bend the yellow one to his will. The black maned man simply watched as his partner manhandled the small, pathetic creature.

A look of unease fell over James' face as his former officer prodded and bent the yellow pegasus. She whimpered and cried with every jerk of her wings. After several seconds of this, James decided to speak up.

"Um... Sir? It looks like you are hurting her..." James looked into the large eyes of the restrained mare.

"Hurting it? I'm sorry James, I don't follow." The grey maned man picked up several large clamps from a box under the tables.

"I just don't see how this is necessary to bring justice to Charles Petersen..."

"These...things... know something about him. The orange one confirmed it. What's wrong with examining them a little while we try to extract the truth from their lies?" Marshall replied, his fingers slowly tightening the restraints around the quivering form before him.

"I suppose... but they are sentient. This all just seems... wrong." James winced as he heard the sound of his former officer stretching the creatures wings. Suddenly, the small yellow mare let out a scream of pain.

"Stop hurting her! Leave us alone you monsters!" The brash voice echoed throughout the room again, obviously fearing for her friend in distress.

"Just remember your training," Marshall grunted as he tightened the clamps, effectively stretching the yellow pegasus' wings to full capacity. "I may not still be your officer, but I still outrank you."

James silenced his thoughts, but a voice in the back of his mind screamed. This is wrong.

As Marshall spoke the password to open the door, James turned around to observe his partners work. Several bruises lined the face of the blue pegasus, her scowls apparent even from the distance. The yellow pegasus, on the other hand, looked broken and pathetic; her wings flayed out like some kind of insect in a collection.

James quickly strode back in to the room, unnoticed by his companion. The yellow pegasus winced away from his as he knelt next to her.

"What is your name, little one?"

"Um... "

"Don't you tell him a thing! He is evil!" Interjected the blue mare. James simply rose from his knee and opened the clamps, prompting a sigh of relief from the yellow mare. He then strode to the other side of the table, kneeling down to face the pegasus.

Eyes squinted, and mouth turned down into a grimace, her face was the very image of defiance. Her eyes glinted with anger and rebellion, yet James could still detect the slightest amount of fear through her facade. He looked into her eyes, respecting her courage in the face of the pain.

"I won't let him hurt you." The black maned man loosened her restraints slightly to relieve some of the pressure.

He then quickly jogged to the far side of the room and spoke the password. A brief look behind his right shoulder revealed two very inquisitive, very relieved faces. He exited the room promptly, and let the door shut behind him.

***

"Celestia, I am ready whenever you are." I spoke up from my seat in the royal dining hall, turned briefing room. After our little moment in the royal gardens, Luna and I were found and escorted back into the castle. Although nopony asked what happened between me and the princess, I could see the wary looks in the guards eyes that told me: We're watching you.

"We still don't have a plan, Charles. Would you like to lend us some of your expertise on the matter of human interaction?" Celestia said as her brow became lined with beads of sweat. It was apparent that she had never had to deal with such an unknown threat, so I took the floor and spoke up.

"Who's in charge here?" I stood from the incredibly uncomfortable equine chair and glanced around the room waiting for somepony to speak up. I barely resisted the urge to face-palm when everypony in the room raised their hoof to Celestia. Some even raised their hooves to me.

"No, I mean military-wise. Which one of you is the captain?" I asked again, rephrasing my question.

"That would be me." A calm voice spoke up from Celestia's left side. I cast my gaze toward the source and found a very firm looking unicorn stallion. His coat was pale white, his mane dark blue streaked with light blue. His eyes were the same shade of light blue that streaked his mane.

"And you are?" I asked, motioning towards him.

"Shining Armour. At your service." The stallion said proudly, his voice showing almost untraceable undertones of desperation.

"You know someone who was abducted, don't you." I asked knowingly.

"Yes sir, Twilight Sparkle. She is my... sister."

"You'll follow my lead?"

"Into Tartarus and back, sir."

"Well then, let's get started." I cracked my knuckles.

***

"Git yer filthy paws off a me!" the orange pony shouted, bucking this way and that in her restraints. James winced as he witnessed his partner practically strangle his captive. Finally getting what he was after, a vial of earth pony blood, Marshall backed off.

"Hicks. They are all the same... so stubborn..."

"Ah'll show you a hick!" The defiant mare bucked again, this time barely catching Marshall in the hip. As the man fell to the ground, screaming in pain, James couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

"What? Ya'll think that's funny? Why don'tcha come loosen this here strap'n Ah'll give ya mah whole comedy routine!" She twisted and writhed and bucked her heart out.

"James! The scalpel and tray is under the table. Prepare me a muscle sample... I'll be back after I visit the-" Marshall grunted in pain, finally being cut off by the steel door sliding shut.

The black maned man knelt down and pulled out the tray. As much as he hated to admit it, Marshall was indeed his superior. Until now, he had always thought highly of the man. Every operation he had been involved in, Marshall was right there along with him. The man had become a second father to him, and James never thought to question.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

A brief second of contemplation later, and James was bearing down on the orange pony, scalpel firmly in hand. He looked at her face, wracked with anger, defiance, and the slightest hint of fear and sadness. James thought long and hard about his decision. Working for the military again was his decision, one he had long contemplated. A chance to catch the infamous Charles Peterson, who killed a whole platoon of his finest men; his best friends.

The military didn't allow for decision making. You did what you were told, and there was always someone above you. James watched the orange pony close her eyes, preparing for the horrific pain that was inevitably coming her way. He was ordered to inflict this pain. And he was honor bound to do his duty to his country.

On the other hand, he was bound to his humanity. He watched the form below him, tough as nails on the outside, obviously terrified on the inside. He held the power over this mare's life, and as a holder of power one must always be responsible with it. Was it right to follow the orders of his government and friend? Or was it right to spare this innocent creature from torture.

'I should have stayed home... My blades don't question.'

His eyes shifted left and right to see if anyone was watching, anyone who would see the crime take place.

That is when he made his decision.

James closed his eyes, gripped the scalpel in his hand, and thrust down in a long, sweeping vertical motion.

***

"Twilight?" Rarity cried. The men had left, and after several seconds the marshmallow mare had gathered enough courage to speak up.

"Yes, Rarity?"

"What did he say to you?"

"He asked my name... and then he told me he would be seeing me again real soon." Twilight recalled the last few events, her voice dreamy and slightly incoherent.

"Twilight... Do you think we will get out of here?"

"I know we will."

Authors Notes: How's everyone doing today? Good, I hope. Sorry for the short chapter. It could be longer, but I decided to split it up and give you guys a taste of what's coming. I hope it's epic enough for all of you!