Hero in the Dark

{ You Are A Female }

PROCESSING. PLEASE WAIT...
...
PROCESSING COMPLETE. GENDER CHOSEN: FEMALE.

The princesses stare at you in disbelief, their eyes opened even wider. Then a clever grin forms on Celestia's muzzle while Luna groans and rolls her eyes, crossing her arms in the process... almost showing signs of disappointment.

"See, Lulu? I told you that Faust sent in a lady!"

Luna groans again before deadpanning at Celestia. "Okay! So maybe I was thrown off guard by the robe! Doesn't she look like she could be a male, though?! At least with the mask on!"

Celestia shakes her head and replies, "That's what the papers were for! You did read them all the way through, didn't you?"

Luna looks away nervously before muttering, "Um... I may have... just skimmed through them a bit?"

Celestia sighs and plants her face into her palms. Then she groans and shakes her head. "Oh, Luna... what are we going to do with you?"

"Excuse me, Princesses." you finally decide to say. Their attention is quickly drawn back to you as you cross your arms and look at them, slightly amused at their actions.

"As funny as it is to see the two of you debating over my gender, I'm sure the fact that I'm a woman wasn't the reason I was brought here."

The two of them look away sheepishly before Luna looks at you with a shy smile. "You're right... my apologies, Ma'am."

"No need to apologize, Princess... I just know that time is a major factor, considering the current situation." You cover your face with the mask again before looking between the two of them.

Then they nod their heads and motion for you to follow them further into the cave. You do so without hesitation.

"By the way, We couldn't find any documents about your name, Miss... uh..." Luna comments, turning towards you curiously.

You shake your head and reply, "Just 'Anonymous' is all you need to know. Sorry, but I just don't feel comfortable giving out my true identity in a new world... especially with an escaped prisoner from the pits of Tartarus, itself."

They nod their heads in understanding. "No need to apologize... We just needed a name to address you by... that's all."

Your attention is quickly brought to the two guards standing by the entrance of another room. The two of them are unicorns wearing cloaks similar to the one you wear, excluding the mask. The lower halves of their faces are covered with the blue scarves, making it difficult for the untrained eyes to identify them.

They salute you and bow their heads, much to your surprise. Looking towards Celestia, she clears her throat and motions towards them.

"Right. These two are Keen Eye and Silent Talk... members of the Shadow Council. They've been stationed here in Dark Sanctuary to keep you protected, and to serve under your command, so long as it doesn't interfere with the laws too much."

You nod your head before saluting the two of them with respect. "Are there any more?"

Celestia eyes you curiously. "Don't you already know the answer to th-"

"Besides the ten others surrounding us, or the two underground?" you interrupt, catching everyone's attention in the room. Surely they didn't expect you to pull their strings like that.

"Wow... she's good..." you hear a silent whisper from within the six stallions at your right. This makes you smile triumphantly... and silently thank the years of training in the Shadow Council that you've had. They know that you are, what they call, a "Master Nightshade"... a title given only to the best of the best in the Shadow Council... a title you easily gained for acing every single trial you were given without error.

Those who become Master Nightshades are taught a unique ability, allowing them to see through the darkness as clear as the daylight... but the cost is that their sight becomes far more poorer during the day. Luckily the mask that you wear balances it all out, making you see the day and the night equally.

But what the others don't know won't hurt them. Besides, maybe you could use their lack of knowledge to protect them... they are your brothers and sisters now, after all.

Celestia's smile only shines brighter. "I must admit, I'm impressed! You actually had me fooled... and I especially didn't notice the two underground!"

You nod your head and lightly chuckle. "It's nothing major... but I do have to say, it's quite a number of Shadow Council members you have here! In every other district, we usually have about two or three... four, if we're lucky."

Celestia nods her head. "I see your point. Please understand, though, that up here in Equestria, magic is far more common. It wouldn't surprise me if we had even more of the Shadow Council around, if it weren't for the fact that their... 'skill sets' aren't necessarily common anymore, what with the lack of wars and all."

You rub your chin in thought. "Come to think of it, wasn't the last major war two thousand years ago?"

Celestia sighs and closes her eyes, but nods nonetheless. "The Great Griffon War, yes... a little more than two thousand years, even... but I still remember it like yesterday. Countless lives were lost on both ends... and though it was won in our favor, the costs were almost too heavy to bear alone... thankfully Luna was there at that time."

You nod your head in understanding. "At least the Nightmare Curse didn't reach her at that time."

She sighs again and looks away. "I know... but the blood between Equestria and Griffonstone was very tainted... it took us both fifty years to even allow trade between both kingdoms... and a thousand more until we both agreed to allow cross-bordered settlements to be established... and unfortunately, Luna wasn't there at that time." She looks uneasily at her sister, who continues walking straight ahead with the two of you behind her. You don't doubt that she's listening in, though, because you notice her shoulders slump at Celestia's last comment.

Finally you decide to gently pat Celestia on the back of her shoulders, catching her by surprise. "Don't worry, Celestia... Luna's back now, right? So long as you don't let the past bother you, and focus on the present, the future will guide you both on the right path."

You could sense Luna smiling at that. Celestia, too, is touched by your words as she nods her head and lets a single stray tear fall from her eyes.

"You're right... we shouldn't let such dark thoughts get in our way."

"Um... Tia?" you hear Luna say. You both look her way, and you stop moving for a moment while Celestia approaches Luna and stands next to her.

In the center of the room, a map table rests, with a holographic image of Equestria on top of it. Inspecting it even closer, you notice that the map is very very active, with miniature figures roaming and flying around it. To the untrained eye, they would be smaller than fleas, and barely able to be noticed... but thanks to your skilled sight, you can clearly see the ponies and other creatures as if they were right there in front of you... even to the smallest of scratches on them.

You also notice a glowing red orb below Canterlot Mountains... and within it, red projections of yourself and those inside Dark Sanctuary can be seen.

"This is the Map Table. It is here that you will be able to see what's going on in the world without having to actually be there." Celestia explains to you.

You nod your head before eyeing the transparent blue orb surrounding Canterlot. Looking to the princesses for advice, Celestia explains.

"That is where your first assignment is. My faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, and her friends from Ponyville are helping plan out a wedding for her older brother, Shining Armor, and her former foalsitter, Princess Cadence. All eight of them are vital to Equestria's survival, and must be protected at all costs."

You cross your arms and eye the table curiously. "So you want me to make sure that nothing happens during that wedding... and should something happen, take care of it and vanish like usual?"

Celestia nods her head but eyes the table uneasily. "Correct... though there's still one catch that you need to be aware of."

You look at Celestia and raise an eyebrow. "Go on."

She sighs before looking you in the eyes. "Due to the secrecy of our assignment, not even the Royal Guards are aware of the main plan. As such, should you have to dispose of someone, you may be pursued as a criminal... and Luna and I may not be there to explain anything to them."

You smile and shake your head. "No need to explain further, Celestia. I promise not to kill any guards, and will only act when necessary."

She smiles warmly at you and lets out a sigh of relief. "Thank you... I will trust in your judgement."

An abnormally tall stallion clears his throat behind her. You notice that he has a dark blue coat and a large, gaping scar over his left eye, which seals it shut as a result. Like everyone else inside here, he's wearing the Shadow Council Uniform.

Celestia lightly chuckles before nodding her head towards him. "It looks like our time here is up." She then walks over to him, and the two leave the area. Luna, however, stays behind. She walks up to you and clears her throat.

"Thank you, by the way."

You tilt your head confusedly, then motion for her to go on.

"Tia has been going through a lot of stress lately. She hasn't had any time to speak to another casually, despite her always being there."

"Ah, I see..." You then cross your arms and eye her inquisitively. "By the way, I could easily tell that you knew I was a woman... why did you address me as 'him', though?"

She smiles slyly at you. "I knew Tia would want to take the 'Older Sister' role again, like she's always done when I'm wrong... and what better way than to intentionally make myself wrong?" She sighs and looks up at the ceiling in thought. "It's been too long since she was able to just let the kingdom wait while she deals with me... but it's something that she's always enjoyed doing. Nurturing those around her, being the loving role model... I just couldn't help bring that happy feeling to her again."

You slightly chuckle at that. "So you intentionally made yourself wrong, just so Celestia could do something she enjoys again?" She nods her head, confirming your deduction. "That's actually quite noble of you, Luna... even though it was just something trivial, like figuring out my gender."

She shakes her head and snickers. "I know, but that's just Celestia for you... always wanting to teach those in need of aid. I believe that's just the influence our mother, Mother Nature, had on her... a loving mother with no limits."

Another Council Member clears his throat, getting her attention again. She chuckles before shaking her head. "Right... time. I better get going before Celly starts worrying about me again... but I hope we meet again soon, Nona!"

You both salute each other, but you tilt your head confusedly at her once more. "Nona?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "I hope you don't mind. 'Anonymous' just sounds like a mouthful, and 'Anon' would be too, um... masculine sounding, if you know what I mean?"

You shrug and nod your head. "Of course. If it helps, you could call me whatever you'd like... so long as it doesn't make me look bad."

You both chuckle before she nods her head again. "Deal. Well, good luck out there, Nona."

"And to you as well... Lulu."

After sharing one more laugh, she turns and leaves to catch up with the others. You, however, turn towards the map table and draw a dagger reverse-handed. The other members of the Shadow Council focus on you, silently awaiting your command.

"Well, boys... looks like we've got our work handed out to us... you know what to do."

As soon as you stab the dagger into the projection of Canterlot, the others nod their heads and disappear within the darkness. You, however, eye the bubble surrounding Canterlot suspiciously. You may have not been told this, but you already have the feeling there's more to this than meets the eye... but they couldn't tell you because of the others listening in.

There's something that you alone need to find quickly... and you feel that the answer lies within Canterlot Castle.

With your goal in mind, you head towards the wall and close your eyes. Then you take a deep breath before stepping forward. Rather than bump into the wall, the world around you shifts, and you feel the presence of the air around you. Your foot reaches the cobblestone floor, as you take your first step into this world as Anonymous... the Hero in the Dark.

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