Fool's Gambit

Chapters

Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI

Chapter I

Cadet Shadow Heart stood perfectly still, her brilliant green eyes staring straight ahead as she gazed across the empty training grounds. With a slight howl, the wind whipped past her, causing her red tail to swish violently through the air. Every couple of seconds she saw her breath in the chilly autumn air as she stood in perfect attention. She could hear the sound of her drill instructor's hooves as he patrolled up and down the line of cadets, but she didn't dare let her eyes move to follow him. Every so often he would stop and give a cadet the stink-eye, daring them to sneeze, cough, or do anything other than show the discipline that he had spent the past two months drilling into their heads.

After about an hour of this, he snorted in satisfaction. “Alright ponies, looks like I was wrong. Looks like you all weren't the pack of mucus munching, hay-eating herd of pansies that I was led to believe,” Sergeant Hard Ball said as he turned his back on the recruits.

Shadow Heart almost let out a sigh of relief. Almost.

“Tomorrow's graduation day, and as of today, you are no longer snot-nosed cadets, but soldiers,” he said as he turned back to the trainees. “Tomorrow, you will be given your proper send off. There will be cake. You are fully expected to enjoy yourselves, because the day afterwards you will be shipped off to your various assignments. Your new commanding officer will then have the distinct privilege of making the next two years of your life a living Tartarus. Do I make myself clear?” He bellowed at them.

“Sir, yes sir!” The cadets responded.

“I can't hear you!” He yelled back.

“Sir! Yes sir!” The cadets yelled back louder.

Sergent Hard Ball took one last look at the assembled cadets, Shadow Heart could have sworn she had heard a pin drop in the silence as the Drill Sergent surveyed the assembled cadets.

“Well then, Privates, with that all being said, you are hereby dismissed!” He shouted.

The relief that the cadets felt at these words was almost palpable.

* * *

As promised, the party had cake. There was also hard cider, snacks and good company, which made speculating on their new assignments all that much more fun. “So, Stop Watch, where are you being posted?” Shadow Heart asked the light green pegasus as she took a swig from her mug.

Stop Watch looked at the slightly inebriated unicorn with a bemused smirk. “Got put on boarder patrol up near the Griffin Empire. How 'bout you?” He said as he cracked a few more peanuts under his hooves.

She snorted into her mug. “Got a freaking cushy job up at the palace. First assignment is to act as a personal aid to some airship captain while he's in town,” she said dismissively.

“Really? Who's that?” Rosy Dusk asked, her bat-wings fluttering slightly.

Shadow gave a disgruntled look towards the peppy, dark blue mare. “I'm supposed to report to a Captain Breeze at the docks at dawn tomorrow, because that's when his ship comes in,” she said as she drained her mug.

Rosy gave her her a thoughtful look. “I've heard of him. He's supposed to be some big important noble in the Night Tribes. He's apparently a count or something."

Shadow just shook her head at that. Just my luck. Not only will I be unable to see any action, but I'll also be babysitting some stuck up thestral noble. Probably a fast-track officer who's never seen a fight in his life.

Not many ponies in the Guard actually wanted to see combat, but Shadow was different. She had been the top of her class and had excelled in every subject. Her particular specialty had been stealth spells, and she had been a terror to deal with during war games.

“Awe, cheer up,” Rosy told her friend. “You're probably being groomed for command! I'll bet you'll be in charge of your own platoon within a month. Two tops!” she told her.

Shadow didn't answer at first. Instead she merely used her telekinesis to refill her mug, then looked Rosy dead in the eye. “I didn't sign on to command a platoon. I signed on to protect ponies. Acting as the personal gofer for some swaggering noble is not my idea of fulfilling that desire. While commanding a platoon seems impressive, and may help me with that goal in the long run, I'd rather have earned it.”

Stop Watch shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, his hoof nervously running through his short, blond mane. “Well, umm... thats, well...” he blustered for a bit, unable to think of anything to say to that. “So! Rosy! Where are you headed off to?” He asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Hmm? Oh! Well, I'm headed off to Dodge Junction. Apparently they've been having some trouble with some monsters from the Everfree Forest who have been ranging too far out from the forest. I'm to report to my platoon leader in the morning to start the journey south!” She said, clearly excited at the prospect.

Great, even Rosy is going to see more action than me. Celestia's light this is going to be unbearable. Shadow thought to herself as she lifted the mug to her lips, but thought better of it at the last moment. Her first assignment was tomorrow, and it wouldn't do her any good if she reported in with a massive hangover.

Sighing slightly to herself, she got to her hooves. “Well, I'm going to call it a night. If I'm ever going to make a good enough impression to be able to see some combat time, I need to start by showing up on time, rested and sober,” she said as she stretched her forelegs.

Both of her friends said their good nights as Shadow left the mess hall. They promised that they would stay in touch, but Shadow Heart wasn't really paying too much attention to them at this point. She was too busy thinking about how badly the following morning was going to suck.

* * *

It was still in the early, pre-dawn hours when Shadow Heart woke up. She had set her alarm bright and early to ensure that she would be on-time for her shift, and thankfully the alarm had preformed its duty with perfection.

That had not made her hate the blasted thing any less, however.

Groggily, she rose from her cot in the barracks and made her way to the bathrooms. After her shower, she took a long look at herself in the mirror. Staring back at her was a light blue unicorn mare with a short, light red mane. She was powerfully built for a mare, but that only spoke of how hard she had thrown herself into her training during boot camp. As she looked closer at her reflection, she could just barely make out her cutie mark from this angle: a stylized silhouette of a lone wolf.

Calmly breathing in, she quickly donned her armor. As she did so, the magical enchantments interwoven in the steel took effect, changing the color of her coat to the regulation white. She had always thought that was cool, the armor allowing her and her fellow guards to blend together. It created the illusion that they were all one pony. It was symbolic of the fact that they all had one purpose: the protection of Celestia's ponies.

However, it doesn't seem like I'll be able to fulfill that purpose much. She thought to herself bitterly as she donned her helmet.

As soon as she was ready, she left the barracks, quietly closing the door behind her.

* * *

She arrived at the Air Dock on time and with three minutes to spare. From her vantage point, she could see Celestia's sun slowly peak over the horizon, making itself known across the land and blessing the world below it with its light. Honestly, the sight from Canterlot city was always a breathtaking one. She wasn't able to fully enjoy the sight, however, as a large, military airship slowly crossed her view.

The airship was a huge beast of a thing. She could clearly see cannon ports lining the sides of the beast, along with two cannon ports positioned at the bow of the ship. The thing didn't have a figurehead, but it did have a name painted in red on the side, proclaiming to the world that The Moon's Ascent had made its way into port.

However, The balloon seemed smaller than it should have been given the size of the gondola and the assumed weight of the cannons. This gave her the distinct impression that there was an enchantment in place to lighten the load on the envelope. Behind the gondola she could see four large propellers positioned at the back and on the wings, allowing the pilot to turn the thing on a dime if he wanted. She could also see mystic runes inscribed on nearly every inch of the ship's balloon and hull.

Before she was able to ponder on the meaning of those runes, however, The Ascent touched down on the tarmac of the Air Dock. Quickly she came to attention as she watched the soldiers aboard the airship run out a gangplank, allowing those aboard to disembark.

Well, here we go... Shadow thought to herself.

Author's Note

Well, here it is! My new story! I hope you guys like it.
Also, to answer anypony who has been following my blog, no. My character hasn't shown his face yet. But he will in the next chapter!

As always, any thoughts, comments or concerns about my story are greatly appreciated, especially any geared towards making me a better author.

Chapter II

Shadow Heart waited patiently at the foot of the ramp as the crew began to disembark. Several of them were carrying luggage and crates of some kind, taking special care to keep the boxes level and steady. Must be carrying something fragile... Shadow thought to herself as they passed her by.

As they walked passed her, she noticed that the crew wore a different style of armor from the standard Guard uniform. While she was wearing full barding that gleamed golden in the morning sunlight, they wore half-barding in a far more muted, dark blue color. She also noted that all the non-pegasus crew seemed to be wearing emergency parachutes as well.

While her attention was diverted elsewhere, she suddenly heard a condescending, petulant voice shout from above. “Now, you lot be careful with that. The contents of those crates are priceless, and I would not have my collection shattered by your incompetent hooves.”

Shadow Heart could have sworn she heard one of the crew mutter at that statement, but she decided to ignore it in favor of examining the source of that voice.

At the top of the ramp stood a earth pony stallion with a look on his face that simply screamed “pissed off”. His coat was an interesting dark blue, bordering purple color, while his mane and tail were both tri-colored. The primary color in his mane was black, with the two stripes being different shades of gray, one light gray and one slate.

What the stallion was wearing could only be described as gaudy. He wore a bright green suit coat that bot only clashed horribly with his natural coat and mane, but also served to cover up his cutie mark. On his head, he wore a rear-admiral-style hat that seemed to glitter in the early morning rays. As he got closer, she could see that the glittering effect was from all the gems and badges affixed to it.

As he made his way down the gangplank, she couldn't help but feel as if something was... off... about him. Besides the outlandish dress and surly, spoiled disposition. Maybe it was the way he carried himself that screamed “talk of the town”. Or maybe it was the walk that shouted “come and get it ladies”.

Or maybe it was the fangs and the teal, dragon-shaped eyes that looked at her with condescension and arrogance. That might be it.

She suddenly realized, with a start, that this was Captain Breeze, and that all her fears about him had been confirmed.

She thought it odd that earlier, she had assumed that the Captain would be a thestral, based solely on the fact that Rosy said he was from the Night Tribes.

Sure, she knew that the Night Tribes were made up of three different kinds of ponies, with each of the three kinds corresponding to one of the different Day Tribe ponies. However, the Dust Ponies and the Starlight Ponies tended to be far more skittish than their bat-winged cousins, preferring to stay in the mountains and caves that they had made their homes in after the Lunar Rebellion.

Slowly, Captain Breeze approached her and looked her up and down. “I take it that you must be Shadow Heart?” He asked her slowly.

“Sir! Yes sir! Private Shadow Heart reporting to Captain Breeze as ordered sir!” She said as she saluted, silently hoping that she was wrong in her assumption that this was Captain Breeze.

“Well, you've found him Private,” tartarus. “You will be my aid for the duration of my stay here because my crew will be otherwise occupied,” he said as he gestured towards the ponies unloading The Ascent. “In the mean time, I expect to be obeyed to the letter. I also have a few standing rules, and I expect them to be obeyed at all times."

He then walked past her, barely sparing her a glance as he gestured for her to follow him. “Rule one: Stay close. I might need you for something, or someone may make an attempt upon my life,” he said pompously. Shadow Heart just rolled her eyes at this, glad that he wasn't looking at her as she did so. “Rule two: Don't ask questions. Rule three: Always knock before entering my quarters.”

Inward, she groaned. I did not sign up for this load of horse apples. She thought to herself. What she said, however, was: “Sir, yes sir!”

“Good. I'm glad we understand each other,” he said as they made their way through Canterlot City.

Oh, I understand far better then you do. She thought bitterly to herself.

* * *

Three days had passed, and Captain Breeze had made no effort to improve Shadow Heart's impression of the spoiled noble's character; He had cussed out a maid because she hadn't made his bed to his liking, he had complained to the castle chef about the quality of the food, and he had nearly bitten her head off when she hadn't polished his hideous hat to his exact specifications.

Captain Breeze was no Captain of the Guard. He was a spoiled child with a badge and a rank.

Exhausted, Shadow Heart collapsed on her bed, glad for the short respite. Earlier, a letter had come for the Captain, and he had quickly dismissed her, telling her that he would call her when he needed her. That wouldn't be too hard for him either, considering that he had ordered her to move her belongings to the room next to the Captain's.

She let out a dispirited sigh. “Maybe my brother was right. If I had become a merc, I could have helped ponies on my own terms,” she said into her pillow.

She was just about to fall asleep, when she was roused from her dozing by a familiar petulant shout. “Shadow Heart, report immediately to my waiting room. I need you for something.”

Horse apples. She thought to herself as she roused herself from her bed. She didn't bother putting her armor on, considering that she had never taken it off. Inwards, she was almost relieved that she had been roused before she had fallen asleep in the full barding that she wore.

Almost.

She made it to the Captain's waiting room in almost record time, making sure to knock just before she opened the door.

He was standing next to the fireplace with a petulant, thoughtful look on his face as he stared into the ruby glow. “Private Heart, there is going to be a party down at the garden in one hour, and I have to attend. You need to accompany me, so go shower up and dress in your best dress uniform,” he said quietly.

Just great, now I have to deal with him in large numbers. She thought to herself.

She was about to turn and leave, but stopped when she noticed the Captain's demeanor seemed off. She frowned at this. He seemed almost... apologetic...

As if he were capable of feeling sorry for anything. She thought to herself.

Still, she thought it important enough to ask him about it. “Sir? Is there something wrong?” She said carefully.

His head snapped up at that. “I thought I told you no questions!” He barked at her.

“Sir, yes Sir! Sorry Sir! Won't happen again Sir!” she said as she saluted.

“Hmm... see that it doesn't. Now go and get ready, we must not keep the important ponies waiting now, should we?” He asked her in a sing song voice.

“As you say, Sir! By your leave,” she said as she quickly backed out of the room.

* * *

Once the door was closed, Captain Knight Breeze looked back at the letter that sat on the table next to the fireplace. Slowly, he picked it up, then read it one more time to be sure that he had memorized everything written on it. Then, without even pausing, he threw it into the fire.

He donned his hat and suit coat, taking special care to ensure that everything was in order. He then made his way to the door leading out of his apartments, glancing at the fireplace as he passed. Satisfied that the note had been burned to cinders, he made his way to the door.

As he passed, he caught his own eye in the mirror above the waiting room table. He took a second to look himself over one more time, paying special attention to his face. When he found nothing amiss, he nodded to himself, satisfied with what he saw.

“Showtime, boys,” he told the apparently empty room as he left.

* * *

True to the orders she had been given, Shadow Heart was washed and ready just as Captain Breeze left his quarters.

“Ah, good to see you ready for once. Care to see what the upper class is like?” He asked her in a jovial tone. She merely gritted her teeth as he passed, wanting nothing more than to kick him in his large, fat head. However, if she had been that impulsive, she would have never gotten through boot camp.

“Yes sir,” she said mechanically, covering up her irritation with her training.

“Good show. Now, lets get down there. While there is such a thing as fashionably late, we don't want to be too late,” he said as he led the way down to the Canterlot gardens.

As they made their way down, Captain Breeze continued to fill her ears with inane chatter. Constantly talking about this duke that was supposed to meet them there, or that countess who had recently lost her favorite ring. Frankly, she tried to drown it out, seeing as how it was all completely worthless information to her.

If she had been a little more observant, she would have noticed several ponies leave the Captain's apartments as they left the hallway.

Once they made it to the gardens, all of Shadow Hearts fears were made real. The music, while regal and classy, wasn't something she would ever play at any party. The ponies were all dressed to impress, yet remained uncaring about those around them. The food, while expensive looking, came in paltry amounts, as did the booze.

Sorry, fine wine and port. She thought to herself.

The worst part, however, was the looks she was attracting from the assembled nobility. They would give her the once over, then look away dismissively, letting out a slight humph as they passed.

Well, most of them. The one with the white coat and blond mane was staring at her in a way that made her distinctly uncomfortable.

Strike that, he was full on leering at her.

Perfect. I have had it up to here with Captain Breeze, then this plothole rears his ugly head. If he tries anything, I'm going to break both his hocks, I swear.

She shook her head to clear it of the violent thoughts that filled it, and instead concentrated on the couple that was approaching Captain Breeze. The unicorn stallion had a blue mane and white coat, while his light blue gaze sparkled with curious fascination. He was elegantly dressed as well, sporting a well fitted suit which showed off his three crown cutie mark perfectly. Over his left eye he wore a monocle, and at his throat he wore a purple bow tie.

The mare at his side was elegant and stunning, sporting a light pink mane and tail, as well as a white coat and Fleur-de-lis cutie mark. Unlike her date, however, she had opted to arrive at the party without any formal attire.

Shadow Heart also noted that, although the elegant mare's body language said that she was relaxed, her eyes told a different tale entirely. They constantly moved and darted around the room, taking in everything.

Her train of thought was derailed, however, when she heard a voice behind her.

“So, beautiful. Do you come here often?” she heard a drunk voice behind her ask.

* * *

Knight Breeze deftly maneuvered through the crowd, making small talk, yet keeping an eye open at all times.

Suddenly, his crystal ear piece buzzed to life, a familiar voice echoing in his head.

“Ok boss, we're in. Make sure you keep old 'snotnose' at the party for at least ten minutes while we crack the vault. He might have put up an alarm spell,” Rather Dashing said in his ear.

Knight Breeze took a casual look around the room. Ok, Blueblood is over at the refreshment table and... oh that pig...

While the leering attention that Private Shadow Heart was receiving was welcome, it still sickened him to no end. If this had been another time or place, he would have done something about the lecherous young prince.

However, the prince's debauchery would play in his favor, if his rapidly approaching form was any indication. I am so sorry about this. He thought as Blueblood made a beeline towards Shadow Heart.

His attention was interrupted, however, by Fancy Pants as he approached Knight Breeze. “Captain Breeze! How are you doing today, my fine gentle-stallion! It's been so long since your ship has made port. How goes the soldier's life?” He asked jovially.

“Not bad Fancy Pants, not bad. I recently acquired some new pieces from the Duchess of Stalliongrad. She was most hospitable with the transaction, I might add,” Knight Breeze said.

Fancy Pants rubbed his chin with his hoof at this, a thoughtful look on his face. “She had quite the collection. Did she say where she got some of those pieces?” Fancy Pants asked the Captain in a level tone.

“She gave a few hints, but nothing more. I'm actually looking into her sources right now,” Knight Breeze said pointedly.

“Almost got it boss. If it's going to sound an alarm, it would do so in a minute. Make sure he's sufficiently distracted for three while we clear the vault and make our getaway"

“Ah, I see. Well, I won't keep you then. You've given me a lot to think about. Also, keep an eye on your young bodyguard. She seems to have gotten herself in a bit of trouble,” Fancy Pants said as he turned to leave.

Quickly, Knight Breeze turned and looked back to where the Private was, only to groan in frustration at what he saw. Well, on the plus side, he's distracted. On the negative side however, I'm pretty sure Blueblood is going to be screaming bloody murder in 5...4..3... Knight Breeze thought as he watched as the young Private was pushed over the edge.

It didn't help any that Knight Breeze had helped get her to that edge. Honestly, he was surprised that she had lasted as long as she did, given her M.O.

* * *

“You know, I've always loved a mare in uniform. How's about we beat this party and head up to my pad. There I can show you my “Trophy Collection” if you know what I mean,” Blueblood slurred as he hooked a hoof over her shoulders.

“Sir, your attention is both unwanted and uncalled for. Under article XVI of the regulations and laws of the land, I am allowed to use force against any nobility that does not respect my basic rights as an Equestrian. If you do not remove yourself from my person, I shall do it for you,” she said pointedly.

“Aww, cum'on baby, don't be that way...” he said as he moved his hoof lower.

What happened next was something that could be described as equal parts terrifying and hilarious.

Quicker than the eye could follow, Shadow Heart kicked Blueblood's other front hoof out from under him. As the drunk prince face planted into the soil of the garden, Shadow Heart planted her hoof on his face, pinning him to the ground.

“...Listen, 'baby'. You ever try that stunt again, and I will castrate you with the rustiest knife I can find. Do you understand me?”

Blueblood didn't respond to her directly, but instead looked behind her. “Captain, control your dog! This is absolutely disrespectful!” He shouted at Shadow Heart's superior.

The clopping behind her alerted her to her spoiled captain's approach. “Private, release him at once, we shall discuss your punishment later,” he told her.

Private Shadow Heart slowly turned her head, disbelief clearly on her face. “But sir, he attempted to molest me. Under Article-”

“But nothing Private, he's royalty, and as such should be treated with respect,” he said condescendingly.

At that moment, something inside Shadow Heart snapped.

“Excuse me? Respect? If you and your whole freaking class demand respect, I hope you intend to start showing it for once. Respect is something that is earned. It isn't a right that you gain just because you were born into a specific family. Nor is it a privilege of the very wealthy,” she shouted at him as she removed her hoof from the prince's face. “You disgust me! I have done nothing but follow your orders to the letter, and all you have done is complain and abuse your power!”

“Private...” Captain Breeze started to say, but was quickly interrupted.

“No, you don't get to talk. It's my turn, even if it means a court-martialing. My dream was to protect ponies, thats why I joined the guard! Instead, I get saddled with running to and fro at the bequest of a self-centered, egotistical, arrogant, spoiled excuse for a Captain! Then his so called 'noble friend' attempts to make himself familiar with my person...” she paused for a second to catch her breath. “...and I'm the one who needs to be punished? I'm the one who needs to learn respect? You don't even know the meaning of the word,” she finished, breathing heavily.

“...Are you quite finished Private?” Captain Breeze asked her coldly.

“Sir, yes sir,” she said, not bothering to salute as she turned and stormed out of the gardens.

Author's Note

Well, here's the second chapter, and I hope that I did a good job at portraying the characters! I've never been in the army, so I am unsure how a private would actually act in the situation I presented. I just hope I did the scene justice.
Remember, comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated, as well as any advice that you might have. And as always, thanks for reading and following my stories!

Chapter III

Knight Breeze watched as Shadow Heart left, a sour taste lingering in his mouth. I can't dwell on that now, I have a job to do. He thought to himself as he offered a hoof to Blueblood.

“I am so sorry Your Highness. I assure you that she will be sufficiently punished for her lack of respect and insubordination,” he said as he helped Blueblood to his feet.

The arrogant prince massaged his chin, grimacing at the pain. “I will accept your apology on the condition that you allow me the honor of being there when they dishonorably discharge her from the service,” he said, raising his nose high into the air. “Assaulting a prince? Her job is to protect me from these kinds of things.”

Her job is to protect the ponies of Equestria, you self important little... Knight thought to himself. What he said, however, was: “I'm sorry, but a court-martialing is a military affair, and unless you have express permission from the princesses to be there, you cannot attend,” he told him.

He was, of course, lying through his teeth. However, he was banking on Blueblood's ignorance of military proceedings to hold the lie together.

The lie seemed to work, based on the look on Blueblood's face. “Hmm... perhaps I won't attend then. I would never think to bog down auntie Celestia and auntie Luna with such petty details," he said dismissively.

“Sir, we have everything we need. With any luck, he may not ever know that anypony was even in here,” Rather Dashing said in his ear.

Knight Breeze smiled at that, then nodded to Blueblood. “Well, if that is all, then by your leave. I really must retire for the night. I feel positively beat,” he said as he turned to leave.

If he were any other pony, he might have missed what Blueblood said next. However, Knight Breeze was of the night, and his sharp, bat-like ears managed to pick up Blueblood's mutterings just as he turned around.

What he overheard caused his blood to run cold. “...no, I want her brought to me alive. I wish to break her myself...”

Quickly, Knight Breeze left the garden, well aware that he was on a time table now. He had complete faith that Shadow could handle herself in a fair fight.

He didn't trust Blueblood to fight fair, however.

Luckily, neither do I He thought as he keyed his crystal radio. “Rather Dashing, we may have a problem. How many soldiers can you spare?” He asked quickly.

He felt his heart sink when he heard the clear sounds of battle on the other end. “we've run into a slight problem on our end sir. Nothing too serious, just don't expect any help in the next several minutes or so. Blueblood's 'private security' spotted us going out the window,” Rather explained.

This day just can't get much worse, now can it? Knight thought as he pulled off his ugly hat and pulled out his field kit. “Get out of there, lose them, then get to the ship. We need to ensure that they don't know that my name was associated with the job, or everything that we've worked for will be for naught,” he said as he quickly strapped the pack to his back

“What about you, sir?” Rather asked.

“Leave without me. Blueblood has decided to take his anger out on Shadow, and I can't let that happen,” he said.

“Aye aye, sir. Same rendezvous as before?”

“You know me too well, Sergent,” he said, grinning ear to ear.

Breeze had no clue where Shadow had gotten off to, but he didn't let that little fact deter him.

He wouldn't have another one on his conscience.

* * *

Shadow Heart leaned over the railing on the balcony, fuming into the cold autumn night. Luna had raised a beautiful full moon, but that hardly mattered to her at the time.

She was too busy with her thoughts.

She knew that she was in trouble. Not only had she disobeyed a superior officer, but she had also assaulted a prince of the realm! Sure, she had the law on her side, but she wasn't too sure that the justice system would see her through.

Not if it put plotholes like Captain Breeze in command.

Her ears flickered as she heard hoofsteps behind her. “You here to arrest me?” She asked, not even bothering to look.

“Yes, in a manner of speaking,” she heard a rough, heavily accented voice behind her.

She quickly ducked, just barely dodging the incoming sap by a hair's breadth. As she raised her head, she quickly found that she had been surrounded by six ponies and a griffin. They each had some form of bludgeoning weapon on hoof, but also appeared to have a blade as well. The armor they wore looked expensive, and definitely not guard regulations (if the spikes were any indication of that sort of thing).

The griffin stepped forward, hefting the club in his grip. “You manage to piss off wrong pony, but don't worry. He forgive. Just come with us and you may only have teeth kicked in. If you don't, no promises,” he said, grinning like a loon.

Shadow Heart glanced around her once more. They had a couple of unicorns, so she couldn't just throw up a shield. Plus, shields had never been her strong suit.

So instead of that, she merely gave a smile, and faded from view.

“What the...”

“You didn't say she had a cutie mark in disappearing!”

“Relax, boys. We've dealt with this before,” the griffin said, trying to calm his troops. “If she wants to attack, will need to drop invisibility. Close ranks, make sure she can't slip past.”

Tartarus, they're actually competent. Shadow thought as she backed closer to the rail.

She might be invisible, but that hardly mattered if you were surrounded. One glance over the balcony told her that jumping wasn't an option, seeing as how the nearest ground was at the base of the mountain. Also, she was trained in stealth and quick take-downs, so she held no illusions about how well she'd do in this fight. Sure, she could probably take five of them, easy. Problem was there were seven of them, each were well armed and armored.

And sadly, she had left her armor and weapon back in her room.

On top of all of that, the griffin looks to be ex-military. Yay me.

“Come out and play... we won't bite...” the griffin said menacingly as he started to advance, brandishing the club in front of him.

Well, it's now or never! Might as well see how many I can take before I die. She thought as she charged her horn.

Her invisibility fell just as the red beam of energy burst from her horn, blasting the griffin in front of her. The griffin flew a good ten to fifteen feet before he slammed hard on the concrete floor, his head making a resounding crack as it connected with the ground.

Now there were six, all of whom were swinging their clubs at her at the same time.

She tried to dodge and weave, and actually managed to hold her own for a minute or two. I think I might actually be able to pull this off! She thought as she blasted two more of them away from her.

However, the rock above her had other ideas, as the pegasus dropped it from above her. She only barely managed to spot it, allowing her to dodge out of the way before it struck. However, she wasn't quite quick enough to completely avoid it.

You might not think that a three pound rock can do much damage, but there you would be wrong. A three pound rock can shatter bones if it has enough force behind it, and this one had fallen fifteen feet before it struck her right foreleg.

Screaming in agony, she collapsed against the railing, cradling her crushed limb with her other foreleg. I've lost. She thought, as she looked up and the enraged earth pony in front of her.

“Now, as we were saying, you're coming with us to see the boss. He wants you alive, but I don't think he'd mind if we roughed you up some beforehoof, though...” He said, grinning sadistically down at the hurt mare.

His compatriots all nodded their assent, matching his grin with grins of their own.

“I hope you don't mind that I interrupt this... lovely fiasco that you've got going on here,” a jovial voice echoed from behind Shadow's attackers.

The thugs quickly turned to see a blue dust pony standing behind the unmoving griffin. At his side was a nasty looking rapier, and on his back was a brown rucksack with more pockets than a drug dealer's trench coat.

“This doesn't concern you nightwalker. Just turn around, and walk away,” the lead ruffian said in a menacing tone of voice.

“Ah! But that is where you are wrong,” Captain Breeze said as swaggered forward, making sure to stomp on the limp griffin's face as he passed. “You see, that right there is my subordinate. As you are probably new to the game, let me set out a few rules. Rule one: Nopony touches my subordinates.”

He never raised his voice, and never stopped smiling. In fact, if his tone of voice was anything to go by, he had just informed the thugs that he was throwing a huge party in their honor.

The voice promised fun. Fun and cake.

Too bad it was a lie.

Shadow Heart shook her head. She was sure she was hallucinating, because she was positive that Captain Breeze had just showed up, armed and apparently ready to fight.

However, his approach was all wrong. She knew the proper way to enter combat, and that was to make sure you had every advantage. This explicitly included the element of surprise, yet Breeze had freely given up that advantage.

What is he thinking? Does he intend to talk them to death? Shadow thought as she watched the Captain calmly face down the four thugs as they surrounded him. Two of which were unicorns, another was a pegasus, and the last happened to be the biggest earth pony that Shadow had ever seen.

“Well, then you'll fetch a pretty penny, I'd wager. Military officers make great slaves. They're strong, healthy, and none too bright. They usually need some 'adjustment' though,” the earth pony said as he charged, swinging his club at the Captain. However, just at the last moment, Knight Breeze tripped over his own hooves, landing on his face, and narrowly dodging the strike. Quickly, he got to his feet, barely avoiding another club strike as he clumsily yanked his rapier from its sheath.

“Rule two: Never admit to the slave trade in my presence,” Knight said, his tone still completely friendly.

"You don't scare us with that toadsticker. Our armor is the best money can buy, and I'd love to see you try and pierce it," the pegasus said as she dived at the stumbling form of the captain.

What happened next could only be described as miraculously hilarious. Knight Breeze would duck, trip, and roll around the other four like a drunken sailor; yet, seemingly by accident, he was never touched. There were plenty of close calls, but nothing connected.

“Rule Three: Always be weary of a grinning opponent,” Knight Breeze said as he tripped under another clumsy club swing.

Eventually, the four thugs threw away their clubs in favor of their swords. However, even the faster weapons had little to no effect on the elusive captain.

"Just-just hold still and let me gut you!" one of them screamed in frustration.

Shadow was baffled and confused. This couldn't be the same pony from before. Captain Breeze was a stuck-up, egotistical plothole, who cared only about himself.

Yet here he was, defending her as if their previous argument had never happened.

What was more astonishing was that he was holding his own, despite his apparent lack of skill.

Then, realization struck her harder than the rock from earlier.

It was a bluff.

Everything the captain did was a bluff. His apparent clumsiness only served to throw his enemies off balance. His tone of voice had been carefully selected to make his enemies think him a fool. His arrogant demeanor and foolish attitude both served to mask his intelligence. Even his stance lied about the stallion underneath.

Captain Knight Breeze had turned deceit into a martial art. And by the looks of things, he was a master at it.

Suddenly, Knight jumped back a full five feet, surprising the four thugs. “Well, it's been fun, but I really must get Private Heart to a doctor. You kids enjoy yourselves, ok?” He said as he sheathed his sword.

“You don't get it... What makes you think we'd let you leave?” The earth pony asked, gasping for breath.

“Rule Four: Never let your opponent plant explosives on your person,” Knight said as he quickly dived for cover.

The resulting explosion was enough to make Shadow Heart's teeth rattle. Shadow almost felt sorry for the poor fools, but the feeling quickly passed as pain lanced up her still broken limb.

After the dust settled, Knight Breeze popped his head out from cover, barely sparing a glance at the smoking corpses he had made. He then quickly rushed over to the injured Private.

“How hurt are you, Private? Can you stand?” He asked, concern clearly registering on his face and in his voice.

She just stared at him for a second, then snapped out of it when he clapped his hooves in front of her face. “Come on, we don't have much time. We need to get out of here before we're spotted.”

“M-my foreleg's completely shattered. I don't think I'll be able to walk anytime soon,” she stammered out.

He shook his head at that. “I guess it can't be helped. Here, get on my back. We need to get you out of here.”

With his help, she managed to climb onto his back, making sure to keep her foreleg steady. However, just as her belly touched his back, she slipped, causing another jolt of pain to shoot up her shattered limb.

She tried to stay awake through the pain, but unconsciousness had other plans.

* * *

Warmth and downy softness surrounded Shadow Heart as she slowly became aware of her surroundings. She felt a dull pain in her right foreleg, however it wasn't nearly as excruciating as she thought it should be.

She seemed to be in a bed of some sort, though how she got there was completely beyond her current understanding.

Either that, or I'm dead, and this is heaven. She thought as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

She found herself inside a richly appointed room, which seemed to follow a very distinct night theme. The room was rather warm, unsurprising considering that a fire was burning in the fireplace.

From somewhere close by, somepony seemed to be humming a lullaby. Shadow groggily tried to focus on the tune. It seemed... familiar, somehow, despite the fact that she was sure she had never heard the tune before.

“Where am I?” she asked the room around her.

“You are in Canterlot Castle, the royal apartments to be precise,” Princess Luna answered. “You really need to be more careful out in the field, my little pony.”

Author's Note

YAY! this story suddenly got 100% cooler because it has 100% more Luna than it did before!

Anyway, I bet you all are wondering "why is he churning out chapters so fast?" and I'll let you in on a little secret: Finals are done and over with, and I'll be headed home soon. However, my plane doesn't leave until the 17th, which means I'm stuck in Idaho until then. I've had a lot of time to brainstorm and write.

I also know what some of you are going to say. "oh, he's turning Shadow Heart into a damsel in distress, there is going to be a stupid love story, Knight Breeze is a bloody Gary Stu. blah blah blah."

The answer is heck no. For one thing, Knight Breeze is already happily married, and the idea of another mare would never cross his mind. He's just not that kind of stallion.

Two, I was trying to show one soldier coming to the aid of another. Shadow Heart is going to kick quite a lot of flank later on, once she is in her element.

Three, I HATE MARY SUES AND GARY STUS. Knight Breeze has plenty of flaws to his character, you just haven't been introduced to the real Knight Breeze yet. All you've seen is his mask, and he actually has several of those.

Anyway, tell me what you think! comments, criticism, all that jazz. Please tell me if I'm doing something wrong, because how else would I learn?

And as always, thanks for reading, liking, favoring, and watching me and my stories! it means the world to me that you guys enjoy my ramblings so much!

Chapter IV

Shadow Heart jolted upwards in shock, attempting to come to attention and salute from her position on the bed. However, she was prevented from doing so by the soft blue glow of the Princess's magic. “Princess Luna! I-” She started to say, but was interrupted by the Princess's soft laughter.

“Calm yourself, Private. You are still very injured, and I do not require any formality from you at this moment,” Luna said as she stood up from her place next to the bed. Quietly, she made her way to the door of the room while Shadow Heart settled back on the bed. Settled, but not relaxed.

Shadow's mind was racing as she watched the Lunar Diarch open the door, then quietly talk with whoever was on the other side. What in Celestia's name happened? Am I in... Luna's bed? She thought in disbelief. Luna finished whatever it was she was doing, then made her way back to the bedside.

“You took quite the beating, Private Shadow Heart. Your foreleg was completely shattered, but we managed to piece it all back together,” Luna said, gesturing to the cast on Shadow's right foreleg as she sat down next to the bed. “We've accelerated your healing as much as we felt was safe, so you should be able to remove the cast by this time tomorrow. I would suggest that you be a little more careful from now on.”

“...How did I get here?” Shadow finally asked after several seconds spent composing herself.

“My agent brought you here after your little encounter,” Luna answered her, smirking a little to herself.

Just then, there was a knock on the bedroom door. "Come in,” she said, her face becoming more serious.

The door smoothly opened to allow the entrance of Captain Knight Breeze. However, something was... different... about the Captain's appearance. At first, Shadow simply thought it was that the Captain was wearing Night Guard armor; but as the Captain drew closer, Shadow Heart suddenly realized what it was.

The Captain's face was covered in scars, with one particularly nasty one passing over his right eye. The sight, as a whole, was a little disconcerting. Especially since she had to reconcile this stallion with the one that had been making her life miserable for the past few days.

The Captain approached the Princess of the Night, then bowed deeply. “Princess Luna, my ship just contacted me, and it is exactly as you feared. With permission, I would like to have Private Heart read in, to avoid any... repercussions... from the party's events,” he said from his prostrate position.

Repercussions? Shadow Heart thought, as The Princess nodded to Captain Breeze. Breeze then stood at attention and turned and regarded the wounded mare. “Private, what I am about to tell you is highly classified, until such a time that the crowns decide to reveal it to the general public. Only myself, the Princesses, Prince Shining Armor, and a few others know any of this. If you reveal it to any other soul, you will be charged with high treason. Am I understood?” He asked, his voice firm, his eyes unwavering.

Mutely, Shadow Heart nodded, unable to take her eyes from the Captain's form. If it were possible, the Captain stood even further in attention. “Some time ago, a few hundred years after the Lunar Rebellion, A cancerous growth sprang up among the noble class. At first, it was only a single pony. But, as time wore on, it grew and festered. Princess Celestia did her best on her own to stamp out the infestation, but since the Lunar Rebellion had taken her sister and co-ruler, Celestia simply could not handle them on her own. She had the rule of a nation, and the responsibility of the sun and the moon to handle, and as such she could only offer a token resistance to the darkness that was growing right under her nose,” as Knight Breeze said this, Shadow Heart couldn't help but notice Luna look away in shame and grief.

“Since my return, my sister has told me of what these so called 'noble' ponies have done in my absence,” Luna said, unable to meet Shadow Hearts gaze. “To say that I am appalled would be an understatement. For this reason, have I commissioned Captain Breeze and his crew to weed out and exterminate this plague in its entirety.”

Shadow Heart waved her hoof a little at this. “Ok, so a cancer has sprung up. What kind? Sedition? Treason? Are they conspiring to preform a coup? Have we been infiltrated by a foreign power?” she asked, a little impatiently.

Luna just looked at her, a expression of distaste on her face. “How I wish it were that! If they were conspiring against us, then my sister would have removed the infection long ago. But as it stands, she cannot move against them without irrefutable proof.”

“No, what the noble class is currently engaged in is something far more repulsive, which they hide under the guise of pirates and robbers. Frankly, the noble caste has hired a number of brigands to steal ponies from their lives. They then torture these victims, and sell them into indentured servitude.”

Luna then turned and looked directly into Shadow Heart's eyes. “They are making slaves of my ponies, Shadow Heart,” she said, fury burning deep withing those turquoise orbs. “And I will not let that stand.”

* * *

Bon Bon woke suddenly to the sound of the crack of a whip, and a sharp pain lancing down her side. Somewhere above her, she heard a rough voice shout “Get up slaves! Time to meet your new masters!”

Quickly, Bon Bon rose to her hooves, confusion and pain still echoing through her brain. What in Equestria is going on here? She thought to herself. She tried to shake the cobwebs from her head, but was interrupted from her thoughts as that terrible whip cracked against her rump.

Bon Bon jumped in pain, her mouth opened in a silent scream while the chains around her ankles clanked noisily. “Get a move on, slave!” The gruff voice yelled behind her.

Bon Bon complied, her mind running in circles as hot adrenalin poured into her brain. She glanced around her and noticed that she was in some sort of pen. She was also not alone.

The pen was roughly fifteen feet in diameter, with horrid, blood-stained wood forming its ten foot high walls. There were a few other ponies in the pen with her, as well as a griffon and a donkey. Bon Bon quickly noted that each of them seemed to be shackled, and each seemed to be wearing a glowing metal choker around their necks. She saw a mixture of emotions on all of their faces, ranging from shock, to despair, to fear. Some were openly crying, while others had a dead, emotionless look on their faces.

Near the back of the pen, though, was the pegasus responsible for her current misery. He was a huge, monster of a brute, muscles clearly seen through his grey coat. He had a purple mane and tail, and at his flank, Bon Bon could see a coiled whip cutie mark.

Terror coursed through her mind as she was herded out of the pen. Where in Tartarus am I? Last thing I remember was taking a train up to Canterlot, then nodding off while Lyra was talking to the conductor. Did something happen aboard the train? She thought to herself as she quickly joined the growing line. They all seemed to be in a hallway of some sort. The walls, floor and ceiling seemed to be made of a rough-cut stone, lending to the feeling that she and the others were underground, possibly an abandoned mine shaft or something similar.

Worry gripped her as she glanced up and down the line. Where is Lyra? Did she get foalnapped too? Does she know that I'm even missing?

She didn't have any more time to dwell on this issue though, as she was roughly grabbed and yanked none-to-gently towards a door. “Get in there, slave! You're first!” He said, as he roughly shoved her through.

Terror and confusion were coursing through her brain as she stood in the semi-darkness. She fought against the tears and the mounting terror as she desperately looked around her. What the...? she thought to herself.

She was interrupted in her bewildered thinking though, as a spotlight suddenly illuminated the area around her, and several things immediately became apparent as she looked around her.

She seemed to be on some sort of stage. To her right was the pony with the whip cutie mark, while to her left was a unicorn that she had never seen before. He was thin, almost emaciated, with a green coat and a gray mane and tail. He looked sickly, judging by how his fur and mane seemed to be patchy and inconsistent. Over his right eye he wore an eye patch, while at his side he wore a regal looking cutlass. She couldn't tell what his cutie mark was though, because of the large, white burn mark that was positioned where it should have been.

In front of her, she could see an audience of some kind. However, she was unable to recognize anypony because everypony in the audience wore brown robes with cowls over their faces.

On the whole, it made her even more terrified. She was about to be sold into slavery, and she couldn't even see the faces of her new owners.

She tried to be brave, but she couldn't stop the shaking as the terrible pony to her right stepped forward. “Mares and gentle-stallions, how much will you bid for this delicious treat? As you can see, she has a lovely coat color, and her mane is a delightful, dual color that is somewhat curly. Perfect for servant duty, as well as...other duties. However, she is an Earth Pony as well, which means she is well suited to bearing heavy loads and working your fields, gardens and factories. The bidding will start at one hundred bits,” he said, as he stomped heavily with his right front hoof.

The bidding seemed to be fast and furious, yet strangely silent, with the sickly unicorn the only one talking. “I have one twenty five, do I see one fifty? One fifty. One eighty. Two hundred!”

On and on it went, as if she weren't even there. She tried to voice her protest, but no sound came from her throat. She felt humiliated, terrified, and utterly helpless.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the bidding over her life seemed to be coming to a close. “Do I hear two thousand two hundred? Do I hear anything higher than two thousand one hundred? Two thousand one hundred going once. two thousand one hundred going twice. Sold! To stallion twenty eight!” Eyepatch said, as he stomped heavily on the podium.

Roughly, Bon Bon was dragged out of the spotlight. She felt so distraught and helpless at that moment, that she almost missed seeing who was shoved on stage after her.

Almost.

She would have gasped if she could, but she unfortunately wasn't given the opportunity as she was roughly shoved out the door. Quickly, she was herded down a corridor, which led to a large wooden door with the number twenty-eight painted in red near the top.

The stallion pulled a key from his key ring, then deftly opened the door and shoved Bon Bon through the opening.

After the monster had locked her in, Bon Bon quietly made her way to a corner of the empty room, doing her best to not stumble over the uneven surface. Once she had situated herself, she finally let herself cry.

In her mind though, she couldn't erase the look of terror on the other mare's face. Bon Bon had never seen Lyra that terrified before.

* * *

Bon Bon was rudely awakened from her uneasy slumber by a swift kick to her gut. “Careful you brute, she is my property, and I would not have her damaged any more by your incompetent care,” she heard a dignified, refined voice say from somewhere close by.

Silently, Bon Bon coughed and wheezed as she tried to get air back into her lungs. She was grabbed roughly by her guard, then blinded as a hood was pulled over her face. Briefly she caught a glimpse of a rather tall form wearing a brown robe and cowl before everything went dark.

Somewhere nearby, she heard her new owner sigh in frustration. “Very well, then. Have her follow me to the teleporter, but be gentle about it. She is a delicate flower, and I would not have her wilt by your mistreatment."

With noticeably more care, she was herded in a seemingly random direction. All around her she could hear the awful sounds of that terrible place. Somewhere nearby, she could hear the sounds of laughter and jeering, accompanied by the sound of a cracking whip and somepony screaming. That soon faded, however, to give way to the sounds of grinding machinery and unintelligible yelling. However, since she was unable to see any of this, she could do little more than imagine what each sound she heard meant. This seemed to drag on for hours, until finally she was forced to stop.

“Are you sure you'll be leaving so soon? The after party has only just started,” Bon Bon heard a female voice say seductively.

“I'm afraid I must, my dear. I have too many pressing issues back at court, and this auction has delayed me enough as it is,” Bon Bon heard her owner say.

“Well then, don't work too hard, love,” the other voice said, disappointment registering clearly in her voice.

“I make no promises, but rest assured. Someday soon, you and I are going to have a long, long 'talk',” the stallion said suggestively.

There was a sharp, gut retching feeling, and briefly Bon Bon's world turned bright green. She collapsed onto the hard, stone floor as soon as solid ground appeared beneath her hooves again.

Quietly, Bon Bon just laid there, crying into the darkness underneath her hood. She expected her new master to yell at her to get up, remove the bag over her head, and begin the nightmare anew. She was expecting another lash from that terrible whip, or even something much, much worse.

She was not expecting hooves to gently encircle her, as the bag was removed from her head, allowing her sight once more.

Briefly, she attempted to struggle against the stallion, until she saw the distinct golden armor of the two Royal Guards standing at attention behind him. Her brain froze as she struggled to understand this new development.

The robed and cowled pony continued to hold her as he gently removed the magical choker from around her throat, allowing her to speak once again. “There, there... Just let it all out... You're safe now,” the stallion said as he gently cradled her in his hooves. “You don't have to be scared anymore, nopony will hurt you here.”

Bon Bon hiccuped gently as she continued to cry into the stallion's shoulder. Somewhere nearby, she heard hooves quietly approach. “I trust everything went as planned?” A soft, feminine voice said.

“Not quite. I will explain later, but for now, we have more pressing issues to deal with. Go make contact with Captain Knight Breeze and let him know of our newest rescue. Be sure that Princess Luna knows of this as well as her special task force.”

Bon Bon pulled away as the other mare in the room quietly left. She looked up at the stallion, tears streamed down her face. “...who are you?” she said, daring to hope that she was indeed safe again.

Hushing quietly, the hooded stallion levitated a tissue from his pocket and gently began to dab at Bon Bon's eyes, drying her tears. There was a slight rustle as the stallion lifted the hood from off his face, revealing a white stallion with a light blue mane. On his muzzle her wore a perfectly trimmed mustache, while over his left eye he wore an expensive-looking monocle.

“My name is Duke Fancy Pants, though my friends just call me Fancy Pants, or Fancy when they are being informal,” he said, smiling down at her as he gently removed the shackles around her hooves. “Welcome to my private villa.”

Author's Note

Well, here's my fourth chapter! Hope you guys like it!
Originally, for this chapter, I had Luna and Knight Breeze give a lot of expositon as to the who, what and how of the depravity of the inner circle. Then a little voice in my head said "too wordy, to much tell, not enough show."

So, instead of telling you about this, I decided on a front-row seat to the action, not to mention a little bit of awesome from Fancy Pants.

Good Guy Fancy Pants will rescue you from slavery, and bring down evil slavery rings.

All while keeping that suit of his immaculate.

As always, comments and criticism are welcome, as long as they are constructive.

Also, thank you so much for your support, and thank you so much for taking the time to read the fan creations of a college kid.

Chapter V

Blueblood was... annoyed. Not only did his agents completely fail to capture the interloper's sister, but somepony had broken into his vault while he was at that ridiculous party.

“Was anything taken?” He asked the kneeling griffin, carefully stepping over the shattered glass that was strewn around the room.

“Not to my knowledge, My Lord. Although you should probably take a look yourself, to ensure that nothing private was stolen,” the griffin said from his position.

Blueblood made his way to the open vault and started to root through the papers there. “What of the intruders. Were you able to capture any of them?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

The griffin flinched at this. “No... My Lord... We tried to follow, but they disappeared. Our unicorns believe it to be some kind of stealth spell,” he said, nervously looking up at the prince.

The unicorn seemed unperturbed by this however. He just continued to rife through the notes from the vault, an uncaring expression on his face while the green glow from his horn flipped a few more pages past his face. “And what of the interlopers? Were you able to identify any of them?”

It would almost be better if he had shouted. The griffin thought to himself as he watched the oddly emotionless pony. “No, My Lord. But their tactics and methods lead me to believe that it was The Corsair.” The griffin said.

With a slight grunt, Blueblood threw the papers back into the vault and resealed it. He then walked over to the full length mirror positioned on the far side of his study. “That insolent dog is getting on my nerves. I was hoping to use that worthless tin soldier at the party to get him to back down, but low and behold, Steel Wing was two steps ahead of me,” he said as he inspected his reflection in the mirror. “Did any of the extraction team survive Captain Swift Wind?”

The griffin shook his head. “I'm sorry sir, the pirate hunter got each of them, then took off with our prize. We're trying to retrieve the bodies now, but they've been taken by the guard as evidence.”

Blueblood's horn began to glow, causing the mirror in front of him to copy his action. After a second, the surface of the mirror rippled, then calmed. “Go alert the syndicate of this new development. Tell them that The Corsair is now our top priority. I want that pony's head on my desk yesterday,” Blueblood said as he walked through the mirror.

The griffin didn't move immediately. Instead, he waited a couple of seconds to ensure that the creepy prince really was gone. After glancing around to ensuring that he was alone, he quickly turned and ran from the room, slamming the door closed behind him.

* * *

“But... I don't understand. Why did you say that I would face 'repercussions' if I didn't know any of this?” Shadow Heart asked, confusion registering clearly in her voice.

At this, Knight Breeze broke eye contact with her and looked down at the floor in shame. “...That is... largely my fault...” He said, his eyes refusing to meet hers. “You see, I was trying to get the inner circle to trust me more, to think I was one of them. So I needed to make myself appear alienated towards the Guard.”

He inhaled deeply, then exhaled. “I... had read up on your past. Studied how you had a short temper in your younger years, and how you really didn't care for the elite after a group of them tried to force you after getting themselves a little too drunk,” he said. Shadow Heart remembered the incident. The three had ended up in a hospital after they tried to get a little too friendly with her.

“I formed a plan around you. I would treat you horribly, get you angry, make you lash out at me. I'm good at getting into other's heads, so it wasn't hard. I knew that you would get angrier if I was horrid to the staff, and I was banking on you lashing out at me during that party-” He said, but was interrupted by Shadow Heart.

“So wait, you were intending for Blueblood to molest me? You knew he was going to get drunk?” She asked incredulously.

Knight Breeze's head snapped up at that. He looked at her with a shrewed look. “Blueblood has never been drunk in his entire life, nor did he intend to start that night. Nor was I intending for him to approach you at all that night,” he said, his eyes filled with anger.

Before Shadow could say anything else, Knight Breeze trotted over to the door, opened it, then talked with somepony on the other side. Shadow Heart looked on with trepidation as he approached, a newspaper held firmly in his jaw. “I was intending to have you reprimanded after your outburst, then send you off to the griffin borders. Finally see some combat time,” he said as he laid the paper on her lap. There, on the front cover, was a picture of her standing on Blueblood's face. The headline read “Royalty Assaulted by Royal Guard!”

“I was not expecting Blueblood to do the same thing I was doing. Nor was I expecting him to have a camera pony at the party to take a snapshot,” he said, fury burning in his eyes. “Blueblood has sent this picture to every newspaper in Canterlot, starting a smear campaign against the Royal Guard.”

Shadow looked up at him, shock clearly on her face. She tried to get her mouth to work, but nothing seemed to come out. Finally, she managed to choke out a question. “...Why?” She asked.

Knight Breeze just looked at her sadly. “I don't know. I have a few theories, but nothing conclusive. Though I do know why he sent his goons to grab you afterwards,” he said, as Shadow shifted her bandaged arm uncomfortably.

“He was trying to use you to get to Steel Wing.”

She shook her head at this. “Why would she want to get to my brother? What does he have to do with this!? He's just a grunt for the Talons, he wouldn't be any use to Blueblood...”

“...Shadow, Steel Wing leads the Iron Talons,” Luna said, as Shadow looked at her incredulously. “He told you that lie to protect you. Very few ponies know that he is the leader of the largest mercenary group in Equestria. He is a dear friend of mine, and has graciously allowed me to attach one of my ships to his fleet. He has been instrumental in our efforts to uncover the pirates responsible for so much sorrow in our land, and they want him to stop,” she said, while Shadow tried to get her brain to work again.

“However, getting back on topic, you still attacked a Prince of the Realm. Not only that, but you disobeyed the orders of your superior officer. No matter how mitigating the circumstances were, it is still an offense punishable by expulsion from the guard at the very least, with a prison sentence at the very most,” Knight Breeze said, straightening up a bit.

He ignored her sputtering protests, and continued to talk over her “As your superior officer, I hereby suspend you from active duty, effective immediately. Pending an official investigation and military court to resolve this issue, you are to cease all Guard duties and are stripped of your rank and authority. Good day Private,” he said, as he nodded to Shadow Heart. He then turned to Princess Luna. “Princess,” he said, bowing deeply. He then turned and, while still ignoring the sputtering protests of his subordinate, trotted out of the room.

Strangely, Luna had kept herself silent through the whole exchange. Shadow looked up at her, unsure of what just happened, opening her mouth as she did so. However, she stopped once she saw the look on the Princess's face.

Luna seemed to be doing her best not to laugh.

“What are you-” Shadow Heart said, but was interrupted as the door slammed open, revealing Knight Breeze once again.

Only, there was something different about him... again. He had changed his clothes once more. Instead of the Night Sentinel armor her was wearing not two seconds ago, now he was decked out in the gray dress uniform used by the Iron Talons. What was most noticeable, however, was that this new outfit allowed Shadow to finally see Captain Knight Breeze's cutie mark.

It was a kite shield, with a crescent moon superimposed on the front. Flanking the shield, she could see a pair of outstretched wings.

With a distinct swagger, the stallion approached the bed, then leaned against it. “Hi there, my name is Swift Wind, Captain of The Corsair, and second in command of the Iron Talons," he said, as he jauntily flipped a wide-brimmed hat onto his head.

"I heard from my friend Knight Breeze that you are out of a job, and I couldn't help but notice that an opening had just opened up on my ship. To tell you the truth, when I heard that you had let old snot-nose Blueblood have a good taste of the dirt, I stood up and applauded. I like the ponies under my command to have a bit of fire in their blood, especially seeing who our opponents are,” he explained, as he flashed a winning smile while winking at her cheekily.

Shadow's mind shut down at that point, just as Luna burst out laughing.

Author's Note

Well, here's the next chapter! Just a small bit of exposition before we get down to the real meat of the story.

Also, I'M NOT DEAD!

Hopefully this chapter shed a little light on some of your questions, as well as created some brand new ones!

As always, comments and criticism is welcome, so long as it is constructive criticism.

Chapter VI

Time seemed to stop as Shadow Heart just stared in disbelief at the face of the captain. He didn't seem to notice, though, as he just continued to stare at her with that winning smile on his smug face. Finally, after what had seemed like hours, Shadow found her voice. “No.”

Knight Breeze blinked at that, a little surprised at first. “...I'm sorry?”

“I said no. Is this how things go for you? You trash somepony's life, tell them 'Oh, nothing personal, just something else going on.' Then clap your hooves together and expect them to follow you?” Shadow shouted at him as the smile slowly disappeared from his face. “I almost died out there today because you didn't think you could trust me with the details, and now you expect me to just fall in line? How dense do you think I am?”

“I don't, that's why I know you'll come with me,” Knight said as he reached up and removed his wide-brimmed hat. “You are an intelligent, capable warrior, able to hold your own in a fight and trained by the Solar Guard. You are driven, never allowing anything to hold you back from your goals once you set your mind to something. I had no right to take away your career, and for that I am truly sorry. However, it is that drive to accomplish anything that will make you fall in line under my command.”

“I don't follow,” Shadow Heart said as her eyes bored into the captain.

“Private, because of what happened between you and Snot-Nose, you have effectively been taken out of the picture. You cannot continue in the guard because of what you did to him, at least, not until we expose him for the worthless pile of garbage he is. However, you also cannot 'go solo', either,” Knight said as he flipped his hat back on top of his head. “The attack you faced afterwards made you a witness to a crime, which, aside from already being a target because of your connection to Steel Wing, has effectively painted a target where your cutie mark is. What I offer is a way out of witness protection and back into the game. A way to serve your country and your fellow pony, while at the same time allowing you to take a shot at those who are ultimately responsible for your fall from grace.”

“You mean, those other than you?” Shadow snarked at him.

Knight sighed at this and rubbed a forehoof against his forehead. “If it really means that much to you, you can take a shot at me after this is all over. But until then, I ask you to set aside such petty feelings and instead focus on the larger picture,” he said as he turned his back on her and started moving towards the bedroom door. “You don't have to decided now, my ship won't be at the designated pickup point for a few days, which will also give your limb enough time to heal. If you really want to spite me, then fine, go ahead and sulk in witness protection. However, if you decided to actually do something, then simply inform the Princess. She knows how to find me.”

And with that, Knight Breeze left, closing the door behind him with an audible click.

Shadow Heart sat back, her face a mask of concentration as she mulled over everything she had been told. Slavery? Ponynapping? All terrible, and Captain Breeze does make a compelling argument for my assistance. But then I'd have to work with him... She thought as she settled further into the pillows behind her.

“A bit for your thoughts?” Princess Luna asked gently.

Shadow Heart jumped a little, having completely forgotten that the Princess was still there. “I-I'm not sure what to think. This seems to be the perfect opportunity to fulfill my dream, but I'm not sure I could work with Captain Breeze, not after everything that has happened Your Highness,” Shadow said.

“Ah. A little advice, then, and perhaps some perspective,” Princess Luna said as she rose from her seat. “Do not be so quick to judge Captain Breeze. He is a strong, capable officer, but rarely shows anypony the real pony underneath. Even now, after all that has happened, you have only seen one of the many persona that he has constructed for himself. They have been instrumental in dealing with the deception that he is fighting, but detrimental in building trust and making true friends. He has been playing this game for quite some time, so it is not very easy for him to be truthful with anypony.”

Princess Luna slowly made her way to the door, putting out the lights with her magic as she went. “He may not show it very well, but he is deeply sorry for what he did to you, and is sincerely trying to right that wrong. While I would not presume to instruct you on what you should do in this situation, I would tell you this: The pony that just left, while dishonest, is one of the most loyal ponies that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. If you choose to follow him, then I have no doubt that you will find what you are looking for,” Princess Luna said cryptically as she closed the door behind her.

* * *

“...And you did as they instructed?” she asked as she raised a single eyebrow.

“Yes, Your Majesty, though their ill-conceived slander campaign is doomed to fail, I still followed their stupid plan to the letter,” he answered as he bowed.

“Excellent, those fools leave more crumbs than a larva stealing from the stores. Swift Wind and The Corsair will follow the bait, and the pirate hunter will lead us to him,” she said with a grin. “Just be ready when the time comes; Swift Wind is not to be underestimated. He is extremely fast on the uptake and is a master at coming up with plans on the fly. He may very well sniff out our trap before we are able to spring it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” he said, turning to leave.

“Oh, and Thaddius?” she said, drawing his attention once again.

“Yes my Queen?” Thaddius asked.

“If this succeeds, and you find him again, make sure not to kill him. I need him alive,” she snarked at him.

“Yes, my Queen.”

* * *

It took her a while, but Bon Bon finally managed to get her emotions under control. “Who were they? Those ponies that took me?” She asked the Duke in a quiet voice.

“No need to trouble yourself with those thoughts now, my dear. You only need know that my compatriots and I are working tirelessly in our efforts to put them and their entire operation down,” Fancy Pants said as he stood up. “Guard, see that the young miss is taken care of. I'm sure she is quite famished, and those whip marks need medical attention as soon as possible.”

“Yes sir,” the guard said as he saluted sharply.

“Wait! They still have Lyra! We have to save her! She's a mint green unicorn, with mint green hair and a white stripe running through it! She has a lyre cutie mark and-” Bon Bon cut in hysterically, but was interrupted when Fancy Pants raised a hoof, attempting to calm her down.

“There, there, hold up. We will find her. She is a friend, I take it?” Fancy asked as he raised an eyebrow.

“My best friend, actually...” she said, sniffing a little. “What are they going to do to her?”

Fancy Pants just looked at her sadly, almost as if he were unsure that he should break the bad news. “I'm sorry, miss...?”

“Bon Bon, my name is Bon Bon...” Bon Bon said, dreading what Fancy Pants might say next.

“Well, Miss Bon, I couldn't rightly tell you. It really depends on the buyer, but I can tell you this. Whatever is happening to her, whatever tortures that she is suffering right now, we will stop them. Of this, you have my solemn oath,” Fancy Pants said as he bowed to her.

Bon Bon didn't say anything. She just hung her head as various images of whatever horrific crimes were being perpetuated on her friend danced in her head. It shouldn't have been me. Fancy Pants should have rescued her, instead of me... She thought guiltily, not even realizing that she was gently being shepherded out of the room by one of the Solar Guards.

* * *

Poor girl... Fancy Pants thought as he watched her leave. He had lied to her, though not explicitly. He already knew who had bought Bon Bon's friend, but he was loath to tell her what those two arrogant pigs had in store for the poor mare. Luckily for this Lyra, though, Fancy Pants had had his eye on the pair for quite some time.

This was just added incentive to take those two down.

As soon as Bon Bon had left, Fancy Pants ducked out of the room through the same exit that his partner and wife Fleur-De-Lis had left through, making sure to give the remaining guard instruction that the two of them were not to be interrupted as he passed. It didn't take him long to find the stunning mare, she having retired to their bedroom to make contact with Princess Luna and Captain Breeze as Fancy Pants had requested. In fact, she was was just finishing up the letter when he entered the room.

“How is she?” Fleur asked as she rolled up the scroll, her slight accent bleeding through as she spoke.

“As well as can be expected. It seems she was traveling with a friend when that train came under attack. She was quite distraught about the whole ordeal, so I promised that we would find and save her,” he answered, his voice surprisingly chipper.

She just looked at him at this, a single eyebrow raised in disbelief. “You're really intending on going after her, too. You do know that once we flush out the whole rotten syndicate that we'll save her in the process?”

“Yes, I am well aware of this. However, that hasn't stopped me before,” he said as he wiggled his eyebrows. “Be a dear and add a little something to the letter. Inform the captain to be on the lookout for a certain mint-green unicorn with a lyre for a cutie mark. Make sure to tell him to check on the Count and Countess Jet Set and Upper Crust next as well, it's about time that those two had a little visit...”

* * *

It had been two days, and while Shadow Heart may have healed from her wounds, she still wasn't sure about Captain Breeze's offer. Princess Luna had done much to cast the enigmatic stallion in a more favorable light, but Shadow couldn't help but have her reservations about him. After all, while he hadn't planned for it to happen this way, he was still somewhat responsible for what had happened.

As am I. She thought ruefully to herself. After having time to cool down and think about everything that had happened, she just couldn't bring herself to blame the captain for what had happened. Try as she might, no matter the circumstances, no matter what he had done, she was still the one who had blown up at him, who had stomped a prince of the realm's face into the dirt. Her actions were her own. She hadn't been under any sort of mind control, and while she had been goaded and tormented to the breaking point, the mistakes that she had made were ultimately hers to bear. She couldn't continue to blame the captain for that mistake, especially not when she considered what he was fighting against.

She sighed in aggravation as she slammed closed the book she had been reading, furious at herself and the captain. As much as she'd like to deny it, to tell that smug stallion otherwise, he was still right. She was determined in her goals, and nothing had ever been up to the task of stopping her from reaching those goals.

Not even her own pride.

With this in mind, she stood up and made her way to Princess Luna's private chambers, well aware of the lump that had appeared in her throat. She swallowed nervously as she raised her hoof, well aware that this was a complete turnaround to how she had been acting for the past two days. However, she wasn't about to back out now, and with that knowledge, she gently rapped her hoof against the oak door.

“Come in, Shadow Heart,” she heard Princess Luna say.

How does she do that? Shadow wondered as she entered the Lunar Diarch's private suite. She found the Princess sitting at her coffee table, putting down a book that she had presumably been reading just before Shadow Heart had entered.

“How can I help you, my little pony?” Luna asked as Shadow approached the alicorn.

“I was hoping you could summon Captain Breeze,” Shadow said with a lot more confidence than she felt. “I've made my decision.”

Luna smiled at this, a look of understanding on her face as she studied the mare in front of her. “I hope you are not doing this on my behalf,” she said.

“No, Your Highness, I'm doing this because it is the right thing to do,” Shadow said as she watched Luna pull out a small, dark blue whistle from a nearby cupboard. “The captain and I may have our differences, but this is bigger than the two of us. If I have to bury the hatchet in order to get back out onto the field, then so be it.”

The Princess merely nodded at this as she played a single short note on her whistle. She knew what it was like to swallow your pride.

She was just glad that Shadow Heart had learned that lesson faster than she had.

Author's Note

Well, I finally got around to it! The next chapter is here!

...Yeah, I know, this isn't nearly as popular as my other two stories, but this is where my muse lead me to next. I'll be working on Nautilus Protocol, so expect an update to that story next.

As for this, I know it is a short chapter, but I needed something to connect the dots to what is going to happen next. Hope you all like where I'm going with this!